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,
Thank you for completing your survey to indicate your decision to send your child in person or remain in distance learning. No matter your decision, we remain one Emerson family and we understand that each family’s circumstances are different. We hope to share more specific details about the schedules, teacher assignments, staggered bell schedules, and special offerings soon. I will continue to host a “Coffee with the Principal” on Thursday mornings to answer questions and help us all prepare for the changes ahead. I am confident we can work together to successfully navigate the changes ahead of this spring.
One very key component to a smooth start to the day will be your completion of the Daily Health Survey every single evening before your child comes to school. Your responses to the Daily Health Screener will be required and necessary for your child to enter the campus for each school day. The questionnaire verifies whether or not your child has tested positive for Covid-19, if your child has been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive and whether or not your child is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” your child should not come to school. If the health screener is not completed, a staff member will go through the screener questions with your child, which will delay their entry to the campus and may lead to your being called to return to school to pick up your child and take them back home. We will rely on each family taking the time to complete this form before your arrival on campus each morning.
Should your child exhibit symptoms of COVID, test positive, or come into close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID, you can expect the following from Emerson’s COVID team:
Your child will be escorted to an isolated room or area.
You will receive a call and/or text from a COVID team member to notify you and request immediate pick up of your child.
You will receive preliminary information about how your child should isolate or quarantine (depending on the circumstance).
We will strongly encourage you to contact your child’s medical provider and, if necessary, to get your child tested.
Should your child have to remain in isolation or quarantine, we will help you work with their teacher to set up a distance-learning plan.
Throughout this process, we will work closely with Berkeley Public Health to support their case investigation and contact tracing efforts.
You also can expect that:
All students and staff will receive health screenings before entering the school building every day.
Any student or staff member who exhibits COVID symptoms will be sent home immediately.
If your child was in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more cumulatively over 24 hours) with an individual who tested positive, we will send emails/letters to provide more information and recommended next steps.
Should there be a known positive case in the school community, we will send a communication notifying all parents, guardians, and staff.
In all cases, we will respect the confidentiality of our students, staff, and families. We will not release the names or other identifying information about any members of the Emerson community who test positive, except information that we are legally required to share with the local health department.
Importantly, if you need bus transportation to Emerson, you must reach out to the Transportation Department as soon as possible. Due to social distancing on the bus, transportation offerings will be limited for general education students. Special education students will have priority. All students who take the school bus must complete the Daily Health Screener before boarding the bus. Parents can submit requests via email at transportationdept@berkeley.net or call 510- 644- 6182. Once bus transportation requests are submitted, parents will be contacted with a start date, schedule pickup and drop-off times.
Thank you for your support during this time of transition. We can do this together!
Take care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Friday, Mar 12 - Sunday, Mar 21: Emerson’s 2021 Read-a-Thon (see message below)
Monday, Apr 5 - Friday, Apr 9: Spring Recess (No School)
Tuesday, Mar 23: TK- Grade 2 Distance Learning Teacher Assignments Sent by District Office
Monday, Mar 29: Emerson Campus Reopens for In-person Learning for TK-2nd grade
Tuesday, Mar 30: Grades 3-5 Distance Learning Teacher Assignments Sent by District Office
Monday, Apr 12: Emerson Campus Reopens for In-person Learning for Grades 3-5
Find more dates/details: emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
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.
Read-a-Thon Update
Emerson students - you rock! You’re challenging yourselves and discovering new types of books to read. Keep up the great work - you have a few more days left to read, read, read. The Read-a-Thon ends at the end of the day on March 21.
Don’t forget to use the reading log to record your minutes. Your classroom teacher will let you know how to turn in your reading log. Please make sure it’s turned in by March 26 to be eligible for the prizes.
If you have any questions, contact Ms. Jeannie at jeanniewang@berkeley.net or Ashleigh Kanat at ashleigh.kanat@gmail.com.
CHECK OUT THE “DAD’S PAD”
The “Dad’s Pad” is a new offering by the BUSD Office of Family Engagement & Equity. This group will be an exciting space for African American fathers and father figures to regularly come together, under the Leadership of Dr. Khalid White, to build community in an empowering space. Please sign up now if you are interested.
ZOOM FRIENDLY RULE REMINDERS
Be prepared for class by wearing clothes, putting away toys and ready to participate
Be aware of your surroundings- remember your teacher and class can see behind you. Try to find a quiet place to join the Zoom meeting.
Mute yourself when you enter the meeting use the microphone bottom and wait for the teacher to call on you to unmute.
Raise your hand and wait for the teacher to call on you- take turns and practice being patient.
Be respectful- contribute to class positively and be a Zoom leader by participating responsibly.
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.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. Typically, it is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and posted online at emerson.berkeleypta.org. During Distance Learning, it is only posted on the website.
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 emersonschoolnews@gmail.com. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2020. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705