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 Caregivers,

Thank you for your patience with the Shelter-In-Place that occurred on August 29, 2023. The safety procedures were implemented in response to a bomb threat that was made at nearby Chabot Elementary in Oakland. This horrible threat was made to discourage Affinity Playdates for families of color in OUSD. Our Superintendent Ford Morthel and local police decided to secure the Emerson and John Muir campuses out of an abundance of caution.

I am thankful that the Emerson staff responded quickly with the goal of keeping our students safe. I appreciate that some parents have contacted me directly with feedback. Emerson staff had an emergency meeting after school to discuss what went well and where we can improve.

We realize that safety emergencies do occur and we will fine-tune our response to each unique situation. If your child would like to debrief with one of our School Therapists, please email me at janaholmes@berkeley.net.

If you are not signed up for the Remind messages, which is our primary communication tool in an emergency, please do so by sending a text to 81010 @7f6fb.

Take care,

Jana Holmes

MESSAGE FROM THE PTA PRESIDENT

Dear Emerson Families,

I hope this message finds you in high spirits and looking forward to the exciting school year ahead. It is with great pride and honor that I assume the role of PTA President for the 2023/2024 academic year. Together, we have the power to make a positive impact on our children's education and create memorable experiences for them.

As an integral part of our school community, your feedback and input are invaluable to us. We strive to create the most effective Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) that caters to the needs and aspirations of our students.

To achieve this, we kindly request you to take a few minutes to fill out our PTA survey by clicking on the following link: https://forms.gle/LX23hCunjYeq8tNp8

Your participation in this survey will provide us with essential information about your expectations, concerns, and suggestions regarding the PTA. By understanding your perspective, we can tailor our initiatives and activities to better serve our students and families.

As a PTA, our primary goal is to serve as a bridge between you and your child's school. We are here to facilitate volunteering opportunities and encourage your involvement in both classroom-specific activities and wider school events. Your active participation will not only strengthen the bond between families, but it will also enrich the educational journey of our students.

I invite you to join our PTA by clicking on this link https://emersonelementary.org/pta-membership

By becoming a member, you will have a voice in shaping our future plans and initiatives. We are currently in the early stages of planning some truly extraordinary events, so your input is vital to ensure we cater to everyone's needs and preferences.

Additionally, I would like to echo Mrs. Holmes' call for improved attendance. We understand that life can sometimes throw unexpected challenges our way, but we firmly believe that consistent school attendance plays an integral role in your child's academic success. If there is anything we can do as a PTA to support you in ensuring your child arrives at school on time every day, please do not hesitate to reach out. Together, we can find solutions that benefit everyone involved.

Calling All Superheroes: Join the PTA and Save the Day!

We have an urgent need for volunteers, and trust me, we have plenty of spots where you can shine like the stars you are. Whether you're a master organizer, a creative genius, or just someone with a big heart and willing hands, we've got a place for you!

So put on your cape (or your Emerson t-shirt), unleash your inner superhero, and let's make some magic happen! Remember, volunteering is not just about making a difference; it's also about having fun along the way.

Ready to join us? Sign up now and get ready for an adventure like no other!

With gratitude,

Merlin Edwards II

UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Thursday, August 31: Registration opens for PTA After School Classes

Thursday, August 31: Back To School Night, 5:30pm-7:00pm (Emerson blacktop)

Friday, September 1: Coffee on the Yard, 8:00am (Emerson blacktop)

Friday, September 1: All School Meeting, 8:30am (Emerson blacktop)

Monday, September 4: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Tuesday, September 5: Registration for PTA After School Classes closes

Monday, September 11: First Day of PTA After School Classes

Friday, September 21: PTA Equity Committee program - Cultivating Cross-Cultural Compassion: Mirror/Window Books, 5:30pm (Emerson Library)

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.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School Night is TONIGHT (Thursday, August 31), from 5:30-7 pm. Come to the Emerson blacktop to hear a message from the principal and PTA president and then head to your child’s classroom to meet your child’s teacher and hear about the exciting year ahead!

We will offer limited child care for families who have no other option. Mr. Sam, Campus Supervisor, will watch Emerson students (no babies or siblings) from 6:00- 7:00 pm on the playground while parents visit the classrooms.

There will NOT be snacks- please plan accordingly.

If you would like childcare, please RSVP with an email with your Emerson student's name(s) to leahlopez@berkeley.net

ART AT EMERSON

Every student at Emerson will come to art once a week. Here is the approximate schedule below: please try not to send your child to school in their best clothes on art day - Thank you!

TK: Wednesdays 8:20-9:05

K: Mondays 10:35-11:15 and 11:55-12:35

1st: Wednesdays 11:55-12:40 and 12:45-1:30

2nd: Tuesdays 12:20-1:05 and 1:30-2:15

3rd: Wednesdays 9:15-10:00 and 10:15-11:00

4th: Mondays 12:50-1:35 and 1:35-2:20

5th: Mondays 8:40-9:25 and 9:30-10:15

I will hold onto almost all of the art so that it can get safely home in their portfolio in May. Sometimes I send seasonal art home during the year, but generally it is either on display at school or stored by class. If you ever want to see it, let me know.

If you are interested in volunteering in your child's art class, please let me know -- I love to have more helping hands in the art room. lucyames@berkeley.net

I am looking forward to another creative year with Emerson's artists!

Ms. Lucy Ames

PTA AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLASSES

Hi! We're Rana, Jenny, and Chelle, the Emerson PTA Enrichment and School Support Team that programs the PTA After School Classes. Our goal is to provide EVERYONE at Emerson with after school on-site care options.

In addition to enrichment, PTA After School Classes provide an unmet need for part-time after school care for up to one third of our Emerson families. Our team prioritized providing classes everyday for Kindergarten/TK, classes everyday for all grades after dismissal, and two class subjects each day.

Families can sign up for PTA After School Classes even if they are already enrolled in LEARNS/Kids World, and they can request scholarships as well.

Registration for PTA After School Classes opens at noon on Thursday August 31. We have a robust roster of returning classes like Chess, Robotics, Ukulele and some new ones, including Mandarin and Coding. Spanish with Maestra Medina will return for Spring 2024.

Instructions for how to register and class descriptions will be sent home in Look Folders before August 31st, and also sent through Remind.

Scholarships are available; please email requests to: enrichment@emersonelementary.org

We suggest you create your profile at Homeroom.com (if you haven't already) before August 31st.

PTA After School Classes for Fall 2023 run from September 11 through December 22, excluding BUSD holidays.

URGENT NEED for our Enrichment Team: boots-on-the-ground Class Managers who can manage the first two weeks of parent volunteers (affectionately "cat herders"!) and emergencies as they arise. This is a recurring role, separate from one-time volunteers for the 15-minute shifts during the first two weeks. Ideal volunteers for Class Managers: lives near school, flexible afternoon schedule (at least one day of the week). We need you to launch this program! Please help out, especially if you sign up for After School Classes!

Email: enrichment@emersonelementary.org

PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE ON THE YARD

Meet your fellow Emerson parents and get your morning Joe. Please join us on the black top for Coffee On The Yard on Friday September 1st at 8am before the All School Meeting (at 8:30am). All are welcome!

WHERE’S WALDO SCHOOL DIRECTORY

The “Where’s Waldo” secure online directory is a great parent resource to connect with other Emerson families (think carpools and playdates). To have your family’s information included, please fill out your info at:

emersonberkeleypta.membershiptoolkit.com

CALL FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR 2023-24!

JOIN THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Want to help ensure that Emerson students have safe and green ways to get to school? Join the Safe Routes to School committee! Our first event is International Walk and Roll to School Day, Wednesday, October 4. Email Kevin (kevin.jude@emersonelementary.org) if you're interested.

LOOKING FOR A NEW YEARBOOK EDITOR

Hello Emerson Community! We currently have no one handling the 2023-24 Emerson Yearbook. It can be a solo project, or you can assemble a team of contributors. Online yearbook platforms are available to streamline designing and printing the book, and handle orders—we are happy to share what we've used recently. The bulk of putting Emerson's yearbook together happens January to April, though it's nice to start capturing photos now. If you're interested in taking this on, reach out to Michelle Falise (mfalise@gmail.com). The kids love the book, and it's a nice send off at the end of the school year!

BECOME A GRADE PARENT

Calling all COMMUNITY-BUILDERS, CONNECTORS, and those looking to get involved – the Emerson PTA and your grade cohort NEEDS you! Grade Parents are critical connectors between the PTA, classroom families, and teachers. Please consider signing up.

You can find out more about what it means to be a Grade Parent here: https://bit.ly/GradeParents

Sign up by email/text: Krysten Curtis, PTA Executive Vice President

krysten.curtis@emersonelementary.org or 415-694-3479

Thank you for considering this important role!

BEARFACTS EDITORS WANTED

Enjoying this newsletter? Want to get involved and help folks stay informed? The Emerson communications team is looking for a few good editors for the weekly BearFacts newsletter. All the work can be done from home. No experience necessary, we’ll train you! The more volunteers we have, the easier the workload. We would love to see some new faces!

Interested? Please contact Carol (carol.wang@emersonelementary.org) to learn more.

EQUITY CORNER

The PTA's Equity Committee Presents the first of two Meetings on the Bridge for the 2023-2024 school year.

Join us in the Library on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm for Cultivating Cross-Cultural Compassion: Mirror/Window Books for Fostering Children's Global Awareness.

Let's learn together about mirror and window books, and how we can cultivate our children's global awareness and cultural compassion through reading! This event is open to parents, caregivers, educators, and staff.

Dinner and childcare provided. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/MOB92123

SAVE THE DATE: Our last “Meetings on the Bridge” will be on Thursday, October 12, 2023

Microaggressions: Navigating Cultural Boundaries and Empowering Caregivers to Discern Between Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation

Latest Emerson Equity Committee's Meeting on the Bridge flyer

INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) DASHBOARD

Did you know BUSD has an Air Quality Response Plan for our schools? In addition to valuable information to learn more about how Air Quality might impact our community (in the event of particulate from fires, etc), Berkeley Unified has created a public dashboard that utilizes data from Indoor Air Quality sensors at each school site that can help our community understand air quality factors in our schools and in our students’ classrooms.

To use this dashboard, first click into the Emerson location (see below)

Map showing the Emerson School site on the BUSD air quality dashboard

Then click on the Blue Circle (this is the number of total sensors – at Emerson, there are 18 units). Each classroom is then listed out by EES # XX, once you click into this, there is a breakdown of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), Temperature, and Relative Humidity.

Map view showing clicked on Emerson site and expanded sensors for each classroom.

Occasionally, a classroom sensor may be temporarily unavailable, but it is still tracking data; you can request a copy of the data by emailing the district’s Public Information Office

Expanded view of a single classroom air quality sensor information

From here, you can click on each of the 4 categories to check on classroom temperature, VOCs, Co2 levels, and relative humidity. Please share this resource with members of your community— each site within BUSD has these sensors!

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.