Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Emerson Families,

It is such a joy to be the Principal of Emerson! Part of the reason I enjoy serving the Emerson community is because of our shared core values. Working together we create an inclusive environment, where students learn to respect each other and their differences. We have high academic expectations and we learn in a safe environment. This week, we finished our first trimester and teachers met with parents to share student progress. To prepare for conferences, the staff reviewed academic data, identified students who need extra support, and created plans to build upon students' strengths in the next trimesters.

Big Shout out to the Emerson parents who are helping in many ways this school year. This past Sunday, Ms. Cielo Rios led a team of volunteers to build the annual Dia de Los Muertos Ofrenda in the library. Students and staff are encouraged to bring a photo or memento to honor loved ones who have passed away. Thank you to the PTA After School Program Group, led by Ms. Rana Cho, who set up a robust offering of enrichment classes. We appreciate Ms. Eleanor Hollander who has stepped up to Lead the Kindergarten Tour Committee this Winter. Keep your eye out for the Heart of Emerson Fundraising Campaign Kick-Off in November, led by Kindergarten parents Ms. Stephanie Boys and Ms. Liz Valley. We could not do it without all of these wonderful parent volunteers and we are so grateful for all you do!

The Emerson Community would like to give a special thank you to Mr. Steven Wilson and Mrs. Jessica Wilson for the many hours they have spent organizing and hosting the Cal Football Parking fundraiser! The understanding is that each Grade Level takes a turn volunteering to supervise the blacktop during Cal Game Days. We would like to give special thanks to the parents who stepped up to work the Cal vs. UW game on Saturday, October 22. Robert Lewis, Michelle Falise and Ken Braslow: we appreciate you!

As we move further into fall, we need to be prepared for another possible COVID-19 surge. Indicators show that cases are on the uptick in Europe, which means that we may see more cases in the Winter months ahead. I would like to remind you to keep your child at home and test them for COVID-19 if they are showing signs of illness. Alert Leahlopez@berkeley.net if your child is absent and Covidcase@berkeley.net if your student tests positive. At Emerson, we will continue to practice our mitigation strategies, which include open windows and doors, the use of our new overhead ceiling fans and air filters, along with frequent hand washing and sanitizing. If your child is a close contact you will get a letter unless we enter a surge, in which case the notification policies change. I encourage you to take advantage of flu shots and stay up to date with covid vaccinations and boosters. We will send COVID-19 testing kits home with students before Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks. Let us all stay safe and healthy as we move into the Holiday Season.

Thank you for your support,

Jana Holmes

UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

October 27: Parent Teacher Conferences (Special Minimum Day Schedule)

Friday, October 28: No School

Saturday, October 29: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - 1st Grade hosts (more info here)

Monday, October 31: Halloween March after Lunch/Recess (Caregivers welcome)

Tuesday, November 8: Election Day

Friday, November 11: No school (Veterans’ Day)

Saturday, November 19: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - All Grades host

Saturday, November 25: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - Kindergarten hosts

Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!

Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.

VOLUNTEER KINDERGARTEN TOUR GUIDES NEEDED

Share your love of Emerson with prospective Kindergarten families - be a tour guide! Tours will take place Thursdays from 8:15 am to ~ 9:45 am, November 10 - January 26.

If you are new to the role and would like to buddy up with an experienced tour guide for your first tour, we’ll be glad to make that happen. We’ll also provide you with talking points, answers to FAQs, and other information to make the job easy and fun.

Sign up here to be a tour guide.

Can't make the early morning hour? No problem! We need volunteers to staff the Emerson table at the BUSD Kinder Fair on Saturday, December 3 and Kinder Information night on Thursday, January 19 in the Emerson Library at 7pm.

Sign up to help here to staff an Emerson table.

Please email Eleanor Hollander with questions: Eleanor.Hollander@gmail.com.

ART CORNER - Dia de los Muertos Calaveras

In 2017 I was lucky enough to go to Oaxaca, Mexico for "Muertos." I showed third grade artists a slideshow with examples of all the beautiful artistry of the holiday: decorated gravesites, parades of costumed revelers, so many beautiful altars, and of course, skulls and skeletons. The artists drew their own calaveras (skulls) and added color with markers. They cut them out and glued them to a colored background to which they added more colorful accents: stickers and metallic marks and tissue paper "pops."

Lucy Ames, Art Teacher (she/her)

Picture of colorful skulls made from construction paper and markers, and hanging from clothespins.

LIBRARY CORNER

October is a busy month! Currently on display in the library, we have some beautiful books out for Fillipinx American History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and of course, Halloween! Always feel free to email me for book suggestions or requests for you and your family to read at home: rachelbudge@berkeley.net

Picture of children's books on a table with titles like "Journey For Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong" and "Pan de Sal Saves the Day" next to a pink, printed sign that reads "Filipinx American History Month!"

A picture of children's library books on a table with titles like "Poultrygeist" and "Just Say Boo!"

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

It was wonderful to share with our community this past Sunday and build our community Ofrenda to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. This year, we have cempasúchil, papel picado, mariposas, and some very special custom calaveras and chiquitito perritos made by Emerson students! We invite you to share an image, a favorite item or a special note to include on our Ofrenda this year in honor of loved ones who are no longer with us.

Your student may also get a paper craft Nicho (picture frame) or Calavera mask that they can assemble and decorate at home to bring in to contribute to the altar. (Please email equity@emersonelementary.org so we can help get one to your student.) Be sure to include your student’s name and classroom on any items shared so we can return them to you.

The picture shows a colorful ofrenda. There's a table with decorated skulls, colorful textiles and orange and yellow flowers. Hanging off the table and strung over it are delicate pieces of multi-colored paper with intricate designs cut into them.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS COMMUNITY EVENT AT BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL

BUSD is partnering with BAHIA, Inc., Latinos Unidos de Berkeley, and many other community organizations on October 29 to host Día de los Muertos: Sacred Footprints, a community event held from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Berkeley High School. This community event is free & open to all.

BUSD will share student poetry and information about district services and will recognize Latinx staff. There will be an ofrenda (altar) and art exhibition, children’s activities, a Lowrider car show, Mariachi & performances, raffles, bike repair and tune-ups, arts and crafts vendors, a food pantry, and flu vaccines. Visit the Bahia website for the event schedule and how to participate in the community ofrenda & raffle.

DIWALI

Picture of hands, decorated with henna designs cupping a candle.

"Happy Diwali" by Shrini Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

What is Diwali?

By Rahul Brown, Emerson Parent

Diwali is a five-day festival of lights which falls in October or November and is celebrated worldwide by more than a billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and even some Buddhists. The holiday symbolizes a spiritual victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. The festivities correspond to the homecoming of Prince Rama and his wife Sita after years of exile, as recounted in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, wherein every home in his kingdom lit small lamps, or diyas, to illuminate his return to the palace. Diwali also honors Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, who is bound to bring her good fortune and prosperity where goodness, knowledge, and light prevail. In addition to lighting diyas, Diwali is often celebrated by exchanging sweets, buying a new pair of clothes, and lighting some fireworks! This year, Diwali falls on Monday, October 24th, though the festivities officially run October 22nd - 26th.

How to celebrate, Emerson style: Do 5 random acts of kindness this week, and then light a diya or candle as you share the stories with your family. Sharing stories of practicing kindness and generosity only makes the light and goodness of these small acts grow, and you’ll be inviting the true spirit of this holiday into your life year round as the ripples keep spreading!

FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

On October 25, 2022, we celebrated Larry Itliong, a Filipino activist who centered his advocacy for those without a voice; he was a community organizer and a trailblazer for civil and labor rights. After securing eight-hour work days and overtime pay by forming the Alaska Cannery Workers, Itliong emerged as a leader in the Filipino-American community and brought his advocacy to Stockton, CA after serving in WWII. There, Itliong helped organize the first agricultural strike in 1948; in 1956, he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union; he also helped create the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), and went on to advocate for grape workers in Coachella Valley and also worked with Mexican labor leaders, voting to lift the voices and support the farm workers toiling in the grape fields in Delano, CA. Larry Itliong is also in the California Hall of Fame, where he is recognized as one of the most important civil rights leaders of the 20th century, and a father of the West Coast labor movement.

Celebrate this life and work of Larry Itliong by listening to the song "Our Friend, Larry Itliong" Official Music Video by AJ Rafael with your student and share more about the history of labor rights work in California; share this poster of Larry Itliong, and check out this incredible book, Journey for Justice, the life of Larry Itliong. Enjoy a video response by some Emerson kids made last year in response to the Larry Itliong story and a poetry reading by Pinay Youth leaders, BHS Senior Juniper Dorado, Castro Valley Senior Zoe Dorado and recent OSA graduate Aly Mohar performed at SF City Hall last year. "Dahil Sa'yo" was written by Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate Zoe Dorado. (link starts at the beginning of the poem)

Drawing of a man in a straw hat, wearing glasses and with his chin tilted, looking off into the distance.The sky behind him is colored orange. The picture says "October 25 Larry Itliong Day" and also October is Filipino American History Month.

Find Emerson Online

Website: https://emersonelementary.org/

Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb

Facebook: www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers and posted online at emersonelementary.org.

BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.

If you have a news item or announcement to include in the BearFacts News, please send an email to bearfacts@emersonelementary.org. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. Send images as an e-mail attachment and include alt-text. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.