BearFacts February 8, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

February 8, 2018

Dear Families,
 
Thanks so much for turning out for the Pancake Breakfast. I think this was the most well attended school breakfast I can remember. The pancakes, sausages, and fruit were scrumptious and it was really nice to see so many folks enjoying the food and company together. And we got great weather too! (I remember the time we cooked the sausages and pancakes inside due to bad weather. We filled the entire cafetorium with smoke and could only see each other from the hips on down. Quite memorable and a little bit scary.) A huge shout out to all those planners and coordinators, mixers, flippers, scoopers, and servers. Thank you for helping with set up and clean up, and for enhancing this already wonderful community of families and staff. Nice work everyone!
 
Speaking of eating, we are just about out of paper plates again. We use them daily in the lunch room to help students warm their leftovers and other lunch items that you send. If you can drop some off, various sizes are also good, it would be much appreciated. 

Thanks,
Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Friday, February 9, Black history month assembly, 8:30am
• Friday, February 9, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
• Monday, February 12th, The 100th Day of School
• Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19th, No school (Lincoln’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day)
• Wednesday, February 21, School Governance Council Meeting, 5:30pm
• Monday, February 26, PTA spring enrichment classes begin
• Friday, February 23, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
• Monday, February 26, PTA spring enrichment classes begin
• Friday, March 2, Coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
• Friday, March 2, Family Art Night, 6-8pm

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

Enrichment Classes - Payment Due This Friday

Hi Everyone, if you registered for PTA Enrichment Classes for the spring, you will receive your invoice this week at the email you used to register. Payments are due this Friday. After that, we will open up classes to students on the waitlist.

Another Successful Emerson Pancake Breakfast!

The Pancake Breakfast last Saturday was a great success – thanks so much to everyone who came out! We had great weather, great pancakes, and a great turnout! Big thanks to the awesome crew who volunteered on a Saturday and made it all happen – from the big shop, griddling, serving, and all the clean-up. Many thanks to: Christina Collinsworth, Alex Winnicki, Traci Roberts-Camps, Sarah Herbelin, Ashleigh Kanat, Josh Nathan (aka Larry Bird), Sandra Guzman, Daniel Frydman, Jenny Patro, Samantha Lekus, Josh Lachs, Nathan Stahlhut, Robert Kopf, Thuan Tran, Heather Fernandez, Susi Hesse, Oliver Hesse, Delilah Raybee, Stephanie Sidebotham, Maggie Robinson, Michelle Hlubinka, Cynthia Campbell, Eric Thompson, and Mr. Rafael. And a special thanks to Peet's on Domingo in Berkeley who donated the coffee!! 

Auction Crowdsourcing!

In our effort to make this year's auction a full community event and darn fun party, we are inviting every family to contribute to a theme basket to be auctioned. These treasure troves of goodies will be hot tickets! Each grade will have a theme and families can make a donation to fill out that basket. More information will be coming to you via your room parent. Please make your donation in February! Here are the themes and some ideas of things to contribute:

Kindergarten: Mom-cation - bubble bath/bath salts, wine, mani/pedi gift certificate, face masks, lotions, gift cards to restaurants/massage/salons, robe, slippers, pass to Claremont.

1st Grade: Barfly (Cocktail/Wine/Coffee) - Alcohol, mixers, bar tools. cocktail books, shot glasses, wine, decanter, wine opener, good coffee beans, french press, coffee scoop, Swell or other nice travel mugs, Peet’s/Starbucks/Cole's/Philz coffee cards.

2nd Grade: Fun in the Sun - Sunglasses, kindle/e-reader, beach towels, portable speaker, beach blanket, sand toys, sunscreen, tote, beach hat...

3rd Grade: Sweat and Om - Yoga mat, fitbit, dumbbells, resistance bands, water bottles, Lululemon/Athleta gift certificates, gym/cycling/yoga/pilates/daily method passes.

4th Grade: Sweet Tooth - baking supplies, measuring spoons, measuring cups, nice baking mixes, decorations, ice cream maker, popsicle molds, ice cream bowls and scooper, gift certificates to Ici/Three Twins.

5th Grade: Family Game Night - classic games (monopoly, scrabble). New Games (sequence, scattergories), card games (uno, exploding kittens) candy, popcorn.

Be creative!!! All donations welcome! Questions? Contact Mindy Szelap at mszelap@gmail.com.

Emerson Auction Party March 23rd, 6–9pm 
 
Online Auction (March 7th through March 21st ) followed by Silent Auction & Party (Friday, March 23rd, 6–9pm). Online Auction includes great deals on summer camps, dining, local services and more. 

The Silent Auction & Party includes free childcare provided by our friends at Kids World. Come eat, drink and hang out with a terrific group of grownups from the Emerson parent community. More information soon on how to bid online, where to buy tickets for the party, and how you can help.

This week’s Zumba class has been rescheduled for Thurs, Feb 8 so that it doesn't interfere with the PTA Association Meeting. Class is from 5:15-6:15pm; $5 per class (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click here to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2018. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts February 1, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

February 1, 2018

Dear Families,
 
I want to thank so many of you for coming out for our rally and march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. back on January 12th. I was glad that you could be there with us for the amazing performances by the Kindergarten, Second, and Fourth Grade students. The students did a great job thanks to the planning and practice with their classroom teachers, enhanced by you as an appreciative audience.
 
If you enjoyed that assembly or even if missed it, I have another opportunity for you to celebrate with us. Please come to our next special assembly starting at 8:30 on Friday, February 9th, in celebration of Black History Month. Students in First, Third, and Fifth grades will be performing this time and, professional acapella group, SoVoSo, will be performing as well. It should be an awesome show - don't miss it. Thank you, Ms. Carter, for bring SoVoSo to us, and to the PTA for sponsoring the show.
 
Thanks,
Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates
 

• Friday, February 2, All School Meeting (8:30am) & Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
• Friday, February 2, Entering K & Middle school applications due to BUSD admissions office
• Friday, February 2, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Closes, 6pm
• Saturday, February 3, Pancake breakfast (8:30-10:30am, free)
• Wednesday, February 7, PTA Association Meeting – everyone welcome (5:30 – 7:30pm)
• Friday, February 9, Black history month assembly
• Monday, February 12th, The 100th Day of School
• Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19th – No school (Lincoln’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day)
• Wednesday, February 21 – School Governance Council Meeting, 5:30pm
• Monday, February 26 – PTA spring enrichment classes begin
• Friday, February 23, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)

 
Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
 

Free Pancakes for Everyone This Saturday, February 3, 8:30-10:30am!

Come enjoy some pancakes and sausages this Saturday, February 3, from 8:30-10:30 am when the PTA hosts its annual pancake breakfast!! The entire Emerson community is invited to this special winter event so pack up the kids and come hungry. There are a couple slots open if you want to volunteer!  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44A9A82BA3FA7-pancake3

 

Spring PTA Enrichment Classes Registration closes on Friday

This is a reminder that the deadline for registering for spring enrichment classes is this FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd at 6pm. Go to enrich.hero.net to check out the great lineup. Scholarships are available and we will try to accommodate up to two scholarship classes per student. Paper registration forms and assistance are available in the school office with Lilly Howell, the Emerson equity coordinator. Questions? Email us at emersonenrichment@gmail.com

PTA Board Elections
Join the PTA Board for the 2018-2019 school year! PTA Board Elections will take place at the PTA Association Meeting on April 18th.  We will be sending out more information later, but consider supporting Emerson by being a part of the PTA board.
 
Being on the board is an opportunity to share and implement ideas that benefit all our children. We need motivated people to fill key positions related to event planning, community outreach, and fundraising. In the interest of continuity and stability, we ask that volunteers make a two-year commitment.
 
Email emersonbearcubspta@gmail.com for more information or to submit your name by March 1st.

BUSD Budget Reductions

A series of economic and fiscal factors are putting pressures on school district budgets across the State of California. One of these is the fact that for several years state education funding has not kept pace with expenses. Furthermore, the mandate for funding state employee pensions has risen significantly (an estimated $1.3 million annual increase for Berkeley each year through 20-21), and school districts have needed to address employee compensation after several lean years during the Great Recession (2007-2012).
 
To ensure that the Berkeley Unified School District can continue with a balanced budget that earns a positive certification from the Alameda County Office of Education, the Board has set the goal of cutting $1.8 million in costs for the 2018-19 school year. Since some General Fund cuts were already made for this current fiscal year, some difficult decisions will have to be made about reducing services, programs, and/or staffing.
 
The School Board will be discussing the budget at its upcoming meeting at the BUSD building, Allston entrance, on Weds, Feb. 7 at 7:30pm after Emerson's PTA Association meeting.

 

Emerson Auction Party March 23rd, 6–9 pm 
 
Online Auction (March 7th through March 21st ) followed by Silent Auction & Party (Friday, March 23rd, 6–9 pm). Online Auction includes great deals on summer camps, dining, local services and more. 

The Silent Auction & Party includes free childcare provided by our friends at Kids World. Come eat, drink and hang out with a terrific group of grownups from the Emerson parent community. More information soon on how to bid online, where to buy tickets for the party, and how you can help.

 

Next week’s Zumba class has been rescheduled for Thurs, Feb 8 so that it doesn't interfere with the PTA Association Meeting. Class is from 5:15-6:15pm; $5 per class (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts January 25, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

January 25, 2018

Dear Families,
 
This is another reminder that the due date for registering your 5th graders for Middle School is Friday, February 2nd. Enrollment Packets were sent to every current 5th grade family several weeks ago so you should have all forms and requirements on hand. If you need help, please drop in or contact Lily Howell, our Family Equity Coordinator, on Wednesday—Fridays at Emerson or email her at lilyhowell@berkeley.net.

You'll need current report cards, proof of address in Berkeley, etc. so you should not wait until the last minute. Also, the Student Enrollment Office at 2020 Bonar St. cannot take an incomplete application, so all the more reason to take care of this now if you haven't done so already. If you did not receive this packet in the mail, please update your current mailing address at 2020 Bonar St. so that you will receive all future mailing. 
 
In addition, if you happen to have an incoming K student, Friday, February 2nd is also the due date for Kindergarten enrollment. In order to get school placement in the first round, be sure to meet this deadline. Please pass this information on any friends and acquaintances who have children ready for K in the fall.
 
Much Appreciation,
Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Friday, Jan. 26, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Opens
• Friday, Jan. 26, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
• Monday, Jan. 29, No School (Staff development day)
• Friday, February 2, All School Meeting (8:30am) & Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
• Friday, February 2, Entering K & Middle school applications due to BUSD admissions office
• Saturday, February 3, Pancake breakfast (8:30-10:30am, free)
• Wednesday, February 7, PTA Association Meeting – everyone welcome (5:30 – 7:30pm)
• Friday, February 9, Black history month assembly (8:30am)
• Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19th – No school (Lincoln’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day
• Wednesday, February 21 – School Governance Council Meeting, 5:30pm
• Monday, February 26 – PTA spring enrichment classes begin
• Friday, February 23, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

Kindness Challenge and Emerson Day (January 26)!

Don’t forget: Students should wear Emerson t-shirts, sweatshirts, or anything in Emerson colors (blue and yellow) on Friday, January 26th!

Free Pancakes for Everyone!
 
Come enjoy some pancakes and sausages on Saturday, February 3, from 8:30-10:30 am when the PTA hosts its annual pancake breakfast!! The entire Emerson community is invited to this special winter event so pack up the kids and come hungry.

We could use a couple more folks to help with clean up, so please sign up here if you can help out: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44A9A82BA3FA7-pancake3

 

PTA Association Meeting: Emergency preparedness! February 7th, 6-7:30pm (5:30-6pm pizza!)

All Emerson families are invited to the PTA Association meeting to discuss emergency preparedness with special guest speakers from CERT and our local firehouse. Also, hear from the Emerson Safety Committee on our school’s efforts! Pizza and salad in the Cafeteria from 5:30 - 6:00p, followed by presentation and discussion, 6pm - 7:30pm. Everyone welcome!

The Association will be voting on amendments to the 2017/18 budget and will be asked to approve disbursements since the last Association meeting in October.  A link to the Treasurer's Report is here.  The report lists disbursements and the proposed amendments to the budget.  Here is a link to the current budget with the blue text showing the proposed amendments.

Please let us know if you are able to attend! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S2S3SND

 

Register for Spring Enrichment Classes

Hello Emerson families! Registration for our spring enrichment classes opens this Friday, January 26th and closes the following Friday, Feb. 2 at 6pm. We have the same great lineup of classes. Please check out the catalog that comes home with your student, and go to enrich.hero.net to register.

One change for spring - we will offer up to two scholarship classes to students in need. Please check that you are interested in a scholarship when registering. Questions? Email: emersonenrichment@gmail.com

Mark Your Calendars ** March 23rd from 6 – 9 pm ** Emerson Auction Party
 
This year we’ll have an Online Auction followed by a Silent Auction & Party. The Online Auction will include great deals on summer camps, dining, local services and more. It will run from March 7th through March 21st.
 
On Friday, March 23rd, 6 – 9 pm, you’re invited to Emerson’s 2018 Silent Auction & Party! Free childcare will be provided by our friends at Kids World. Come eat, drink and hang out with a terrific group of grownups from the Emerson parent community. We’ll have a special menu of fantastic items to bid on that you won’t want to miss!
 
More information soon on how to bid online, where to buy tickets for the party and how you can help make both activities a great success for our school!
 

Girls on the Run Starts again in February!

Girls on the Run is back for its fourth season at Emerson! We focus on girls’ empowerment while training for a 5K run in May. GOTR is open to girls in grades 3-5, with practices on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:30-3:45 p.m. starting February 27. Online registration opens soon at www.gotrbayarea.org, or you can enroll using the paper forms in your child’s folder. Fee is sliding scale.

Call/email/text Michele Byrnes for more information: (510) 282-4741, micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com.
 

Help us Expand Discovery Zone!

Discovery Zone is a sensory-based recess in the garden area offered during lunch recess on Fridays. Kids draw, play with play-dough, blocks and other toys. It’s a great opportunity for unstructured, quieter play. We would like to offer this recess on other days, and we depend on parent volunteers to make this happen! Can you volunteer 2-4 times/month from 11:30 - 12:45? Call/email/text Michele Byrnes: (510) 282-4741, micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com.

 

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

Organize an Event for the Emerson Auction!

Organize an Event for the Emerson Auction!

Help make the 2018 Emerson Auction a huge success! Fun events and activities hosted by Emerson families like yours get lots of bids. Donating an event to the auction is a great way to build community and raise money for our school!
 
Events can be for kids, grownups or families. You can host them on your own or team up with other families. They can take place at your home or in a public place, like a park or the school yard. Here are some examples from previous years:
 
FOR KIDS: Cupcake decorating party / Coding and pizza party / Movie and pizza night / Face painting party / Scavenger hunt at a park / Ice cream party / Chess lesson / Afterschool play date at a park
 
FOR GROWNUPS: Wine tasting / Theme dinner party / Poker night / Game night / Computer training / Make-up lesson party / Shopping and champagne at a local boutique  
 
FOR FAMILIES: Tamale-making lesson / Tour of Pixar Studios/ Tour of Golden Gate Fields / Picnic and a hike in Tilden
 
Excited to host an event? Interested, but want some help figuring out an idea?
 
Please contact Michele Byrnes at micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com. 
 
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
 
p.s. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: this year’s auction party will be on Friday, March 23rd, from 6-9pm at St. John’s Church. FREE CHILDCARE provided by Kids World at Emerson during the event!
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts January 18, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

January 18, 2018

Dear Families,

I am sure most of you have heard by now that Coach Donte, our PE coach, has been out with a knee injury that he sustained in mid-December while playing basketball. He had surgery recently and is now working on recuperating. It will of course, take time. I am sure you join us in sending him our best wishes for a speedy recovery. 
 
Teachers have been doing their best to continue providing PE and conditioning classes as often as they have been able. Meanwhile, the YMCA is working hard to find a sub for Donte while he works on getting well. Coach Juana will start subbing Mondays through Wednesdays, beginning this week, and we are still waiting for a substitute on Thursdays and Fridays. 
 
I know this is frustrating for everyone, especially Donte! Thank you for your patience and understanding while we adjust to this unexpected situation. 

Sincerely,

Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Friday, Jan. 19, Free coffee on the yard, 8:00-8:30am
• Friday, Jan. 26, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Opens
• Friday, Jan. 26, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30)
• Monday, Jan. 29, No School (Staff development day)
• Friday, February 2, All School Meeting (8:30) & Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30)
• Friday, February 2, Entering K & Middle school applications due to BUSD admissions office
• Saturday, February 3, Pancake breakfast (8:30-10:30, free)
• Wednesday, February 7, PTA Association Meeting – everyone welcome (5:30 – 7:30pm)
• Friday, February 9, Black history month assembly (8:30am)
• Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19th – No school (Lincoln’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day)
• Monday, February 26 – PTA spring enrichment classes begin

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

---

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

-- Martin Luther King Jr. from Strength to Love, 1963

---

Kindness Challenge and Emerson Day (January 26)!

Emerson is participating in the Great Kindness Challenge the week of June 22-26.  Students will receive a checklist with ideas of how to be extra kind or be kind in a new way. Check them off as you go. There is no limit to how many acts of kindness you can do, we encourage you to come up with new ideas and share them on the poster in the hallway by the Library. 
 
The week will end with a celebration! On Friday, 1/26, Students should wear Emerson t-shirts, sweatshirts, or anything in Emerson colors, blue and yellow! There will also be an all school dance party to celebrate the students filling up the "caught being good" bucket with over 200 CBGs!
 

Free Pancakes for Everyone!

Come enjoy some pancakes and sausages on Saturday, February 3, from 8:30-10:30am when the PTA hosts its annual pancake breakfast!! The entire Emerson community is invited to this special winter event so pack up the kids and come hungry. Interested in volunteering? Sign up here: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44A9A82BA3FA7-pancake3
 

PTA Association Meeting: Emergency preparedness! February 7th, 6-7:30pm (5:30-6pm pizza!)

All Emerson families are invited to the PTA Association meeting to discuss emergency preparedness with special guest speakers from CERT and our local firehouse. Also, hear from the Emerson Safety Committee on our school’s efforts! Pizza and salad in the Cafeteria from 5:30 - 6:00p, followed by presentation and discussion, 6pm - 7:30pm. Everyone welcome!

Hey entering K and Middle School Families

Don’t forget… documentation and applications are due to BUSD admissions on or before Friday, February 2nd!

The 2018 Emerson Auction Is Coming! 

Mark your calendars: the 2018 Emerson Auction is just two months away. This year we’ll have an Online Auction followed by a Silent Auction & Party. The Online Auction will include great deals on summer camps, dining, local services and more. It will run from March 7th through March 21st.  

On Friday, March 23rd, 6 – 9 pm, you’re invited to Emerson’s 2018 Silent Auction & Party! Free childcare will be provided by our friends at Kids World. Come eat, drink and hang out with a terrific group of grownups from the Emerson parent community. We’ll have a special menu of fantastic items to bid on that you won’t want to miss!  

More information soon on how to bid online, where to buy tickets for the party and how you can help make both activities a great success for our school! 
 

Thank you, Emerson Families!
 
Great news: thanks to you, Emerson families, we've reached the PTA's $60,000 goal for the Fall 2017 Heart of Emerson campaign. To celebrate, we've hung 300+ CDs decorated by Emerson students (including yours) on the fence by the monkey bars...come take a look!

Although the campaign is over, we still need to raise around $35,000 this school year to support the great work taking place at Emerson every day.

Please show your support by participating in the 2018 Emerson Auction March 23rd and the Read-a-thon in April. If you haven't donated yet, please consider making a gift of any amount by dropping off cash or a check (made out to "Emerson PTA") in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office. Every donation helps, no matter the size!

A big "thank you" to all Emerson families for everything you do to support our children and our school!
 

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

Heartbeat of Emerson January 17, 2018

Welcome to The Heartbeat, a message from the Heart of Emerson
(Mirar abajo para español)

Great news: thanks to you, Emerson families, we've reached the PTA's $60,000 goal for the Fall 2017 Heart of Emerson campaign. To celebrate, we've hung 300+ CDs decorated by Emerson students (including yours) on the fence by the monkey bars...come take a look!

Although the campaign is over, we still need to raise around $35,000 this school year to support the great work taking place at Emerson every day.

Please show your support by participating in the 2018 Emerson Auction in March and the Read-a-thon in April. If you haven't donated yet, please consider making a gift of any amount by dropping off cash or a check (made out to "Emerson PTA") in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office. Or, you can click the button below to donate online. Every donation helps, no matter the size!

A big "thank you" to all Emerson famliies for everything you do to support our children and our school!

Bienvenidos a El Latido, un mensaje de El Corazón de Emerson

Una gran noticia: gracias a ustedes, las familias de Emerson, hemos alcanzado la meta de la PTA de $ 60,000 para la campaña Heart of Emerson del otoño de 2017. Para celebrar, hemos colgado más de 300 CDs. decorados por los estudiantes de Emerson (incluido el suyo) en la valla junto a las barras del patio de juegos... ¡vengan a echar un vistazo!
 
A pesar de que la campaña ya ha terminado, todavía necesitamos recaudar alrededor de $ 35,000 este año escolar para apoyar el gran trabajo que se lleva a cabo en Emerson todos los días.
 
Por favor, demuestren su apoyo participando en la Subasta de Emerson 2018 en marzo y el Read-a-thon en abril. Si aún no han donado, consideren donar cualquier cantidad depositando dinero en efectivo o un cheque (a nombre de "Emerson PTA") en la caja segura de Heart of Emerson afuera de la oficina. O también, pueden hacer clic en el botón de abajo para donar por internet. ¡Cada donación ayuda, no importa la cantidad!
 
¡Un gran "gracias" a todas las familias de Emerson por todo lo que hacen para apoyar a nuestros niños y nuestra escuela!

Copyright © 2016 Emerson PTA, All rights reserved.
You are subscribed to this list because you are associated with a child at Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley, CA.

Emerson PTA
2800 Forest Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705

HeartOfEmerson@gmail.com

BearFacts January 11, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

January 11, 2018

Dear Families,

Next Wednesday is our monthly School Governance Council (SGC) meeting. We gather on or about the 3rd Wednesday of each month to handle our duties as the oversight community for Emerson's site plan and local, state, and federal budgets. All of our meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend. We'll be gathering from 5:30-7:00pm in the Emerson Library on Wednesday, January 17th, to continue our review of student performance data, hear updates about safety preparedness and our Emerson Safety and Disaster Plans, as well as hearing updates from parents who attend district committee meetings as representatives of the Emerson community. We hope that you will join us next week.

Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Jan. 11, K info night at Emerson (for prospective K families), 7-8pm
• Friday, Jan. 12, MLK Rally at 8:30am followed by march to College/Ashby
• Friday, Jan. 12, Last day of fall PTA enrichment classes
• Friday, Jan. 12, Free coffee on the yard, 8:00-8:30am
• Friday, Jan. 12, Enrichment Class Performances in the cafetorium, 5-6pm
• Monday, Jan. 15, No School (MLK day)
• Wednesday, Jan. 17, SGC meeting in the library, 5:30pm - all welcome
• Friday, Jan. 19, Free coffee on the yard, 8:00-8:30am
• Monday, Jan. 22, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Opens
• Friday, Jan. 26, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30, free)
• Monday, Jan. 29, No School (Staff development day)

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

-- Martin Luther King Jr. from Strength to Love, 1963

Free Pancakes for Everyone!

Come enjoy some pancakes and sausages on Saturday, February 3, from 8:30-10:30am when the PTA hosts its annual pancake breakfast!! The entire Emerson community is invited to this special winter event so pack up the kids and come hungry. Interested in volunteering? Sign up here: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44A9A82BA3FA7-pancake3
 

Hey Fifth Grade Families!

Don’t forget to check out middle school information on BUSD’s website (google: “steps to Middle School Enrollment”). The last South zone info. night will be held on Wednesday, January 17th at 7pm at Longfellow Middle School. Applications are due February 2nd.

Emerson’s Auction Party - Save the Date!

Emerson’s 2018 Auction Party will be on March 23rd from 6-9pm and it’s going to be out of this world!

The Auction Party is Emerson’s #1 fun opportunity for grown ups!

We'll have food, cocktails, and music - and loads of opportunities to bid on amazing items and support our school.Please mark your calendars:

Emerson’s Auction Party
Friday, March 23rd, 6-9pm
St John's Church (just 1 block from Emerson)
FREE childcare provided by Kids World

Auction Volunteers Needed
We’re looking for parent volunteers to:

1. Create our first ever Wine Wall
2. Ask local businesses for donations (We have all the materials. We just need folks to take a neighborhood stroll and encourage your favorite business to support our school.)
3. Plan the food and drinks for the Auction Party
4. Decorate the party space

Interested? Sign up at http://bit.ly/AuctionCommittee and help make the 2018 Emerson Auction a success! For more info, contact Christina Collinsworth, Auction Lead, at Christina.Marie8908@gmail.com or 925.719.2322.  

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts January 4, 2018

BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

January 4, 2018

Dear Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful winter break and a Happy New Year. As we start off 2018, it is time to enroll new students for the 2018-2019 school year. If you have an incoming Kindergartner or know someone who does, you have the month of January to complete and turn in the enrollment package. You can go online at the BUSD website or stop by 2020 Bonar Street for requirements and paperwork. If you have a current fifth grader, it is also time to complete enrollment for middle school. Middle school enrollment packages were sent to your current mailing address. If you did not receive the packet, you should update your mailing address at the BUSD office on Bonar St. and also pick up a new enrollment package.
 
The deadline for the enrollment in both K and 6th is February 2nd. In all cases, you need to be sure to turn in your school preference form and all other paperwork on time to be given a school assignment in the first placement round. If you have any questions, you can check in with me or contact the BUSD office in downtown Berkeley.
 
Ms. Hodge
 

Upcoming Events & Important Dates
 

• Friday, Jan. 5, Free coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
• Thursday, Jan 11, K info night at Emerson (for prospective K families), 7-8pm
• Friday, Jan 12, MLK Rally and march (details to come)
• Friday, Jan 12, Last day of fall PTA enrichment classes
• Friday, Jan 12, free coffee on the yard, 8:00-8:30am
• Monday, Jan 15, No School (MLK day)
• Wedsnesday, Jan 17, PTA board meeting, 7pm
• Monday, Jan 22, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Opens
• Wedsnesday, Jan 24, Teacher & Staff Appreciation Luncheon (sponsored by 2nd Grade)
• Friday, Jan 26, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30, free)
• Monday, Jan 29, No School (Staff development day)

 
 
Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

Enrichment Update

Enrichment Update - End of Session Performance & Spring Registration
Mark your calendars for the end of session performances for our Fall Enrichment Classes:
 
Broadway Music & Theater: Final performances will be held during the regular class times on Tuesday, January 9th.

Fall Enrichment Performance for Capoeira, Yoga and Choir: Join us in the cafetorium on Friday, January 12th from 5-6PM to watch some amazing student performances. 

Get Ready for Spring Enrichment! Registration will open January 22nd and classes begin Monday February 26th. All of our instructors will return for spring.
The Emerson Enrichment Team
Emersonenrichment@gmail.com
 

Food Bank Donations—Thank you!

Thank you to all the families who participated in the collection drive! We raised $642! The money was sent to the Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sonoma County's largest food bank serving over 82,000 families. Thank you again for your generosity!

Fifth Grade Families: Middle School Enrollment Info

Be sure to check out middle school information on BUSD’s website (google: “steps to Middle School Enrollment”). South zone info nights are 7pm: for Willard (January 10) and Longfellow (January 17). Applications due February 2nd.

East Bay Free Fitness
Looking for a fun, free way to get some outdoor exercise with a great community? Come check out East Bay Free Fitness, starting January 10th! Join us for weekly, free outdoor workouts for ALL fitness levels on Wednesday mornings at 6:30 AM, Lakeside Park at Lake Merritt. No sign up necessary, just show up! More information at www.facebook.com/eastbayfreefitness


Kids are welcome, and workouts will be finished by 7:15 at the latest.
Feel free to contact Katy Davis katydavis17@yahoo.com (mom of Tommy Fisher in Ms. Woolridge’s K class) with any questions (including setting up carpools, biking or running pools to get to and from Lakeside Park).
 

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts December 14, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

December 14, 2017

Dear Families,
 
Just a short note to thank you all for being champions for Emerson. I appreciate the countless ways that you contribute to making our school function and our students thrive. I am so grateful for our collaboration and meaningful work together.
 
I wish you all a peaceful and pleasurable winter break and I hope you can get some rest as well! See you all back at school on Tuesday, January 2nd. 
 
Warmly,
Susan Hodge

---

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Dec. 14, Winter Program Multicultural Bake Sale, 6:30 – 8pm at Willard Middle School Auditorium (2425 Stuart Street, Berkeley)
• Friday, Dec 15, Coffee on the yard at 8am & Last day of school before winter break!
• Monday Dec. 18- Monday Jan. 1 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
• Friday, Jan. 5, Coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
• Friday, Jan 12, MLK Rally and march (details to come)
• Friday, Jan 12, Last day of fall PTA enrichment classes
• Monday, Jan 15, No School (MLK day)
• Monday, Jan 29, No School (Staff development day)

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

+++++++++++++++++++++
 
Save the Date for PTA Enrichment Class Performances
Friday, Jan. 12 from 5-6pm
 
++++++++++++++++++++

A Note About Make-Up School Photo Delivery
 
Dear Emerson Families: Just wanted to let you know that if you took a make up photo in late November, it will not be delivered until January. If you wish to order a digital image or expedite your order for the holidays, please contact us directly: grow@roots-shoots.com.

---

Listen up, Emerson!

Did you know that Berkeley Public Schools have free audiobooks for all K-8 students to listen at home? It’s Tales2Go.

Listen to books at home or on the road during Winter Break and help our school win the Golden Headphones award, while enjoying good literature to boot!

Details are on BUSD library website, http://sites.berkeley.net/busdlibrary/tales2go. You will be guided through the initial set-up of Tales2Go on your phone, tablet or computer. It’s free & easy!

---

Raise money for Emerson shopping on AMAZON! 
 
Raise money for Emerson while you’re doing last-minute holiday shopping on Amazon.com! Just use this link bit.ly/emersonamazon and raise money for our school at the same time! Help Emerson Amazon meet our 2017-2018 fundraising goal of $5,700.

---

Thank You & Happy Holidays from the Heart of Emerson!

Thanks to the many families who have supported our school with donations of $2 and up. If you have a chance to include Emerson in your year-end giving, there’s still time to show your support by:

• placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s Look Folder, or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
• clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or at emerson.berkeleypta.org.

Have a wonderful wonderful winter break! Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

---

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

---

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts December 7, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

December 7, 2017

Hello Families,

As winter break approaches, I'd like to invite all of you to our annual Winter Program on Thursday, 12/14, from 6:30 to 8:00 at the Willard Middle School Cafeteria. Students in all grade levels will perform: students in K-2 will be singing, children in third grade will be singing and playing recorders, and 4th and 5th graders will be playing their instruments. There will also be an amazing bake sale at the back of the cafeteria – see signup below. I hope each and every one of you can join us. Be sure to arrive early for a good seat. Thank you in advance to parents Bob Chamberlin and Deirdre Tansey for planning set up at Willard and to Jan Davis, our amazing music teacher, for coordinating the performances that evening, and to the teachers for being there to help out and supervise.  
 
We continue to work on raising money to support our Emerson program. Our Walkathon team just exceeded their goal of bringing in $20,000 - so thank you families for pitching in. As you get ready to close out the year, I'd like to invite you to consider one more donation. If you are able (and would like a tax deduction as well) please give to the Heart of Emerson. They have made giving very easy, just go to donate online to make your donation. The funds raised are used to pay for our amazing art teacher, our super PE program, our wonderful Bilingual office assistant, not to mention field trips, teacher mini-grants for special classroom supplies and many other things. Give if you are able - every little bit helps.

Warmly,Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Dec. 14, Winter Program Multicultural Bake Sale, 6:30 – 8pm at Willard Middle School Auditorium (2425 Stuart Street, Berkeley)
• Friday, Dec 15, Last day of school before winter break!
• Monday Dec. 18- Monday Jan. 1 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
• Friday, Jan. 5, Coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
• Friday, Jan 12, MLK Rally and march (details to come)
• Friday, Jan 12, Last day of fall PTA enrichment classes
• Monday, Jan 15, No School (MLK day)
• Monday, Jan 29, No School (Staff development day)

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

+++++++++++++++++++++
 
Emerson's website has a new look!

Visit emerson.berkeleypta.org for information on upcoming events, school info, volunteer opportunities and more!If you have comments or corrections, fill out the contact form on the website or email Katherine Cunningham at katherinekay@gmail.com.
 
++++++++++++++++++++Show your love for Emerson by donating to the Heart of Emerson by December 31st

Thanks to the generosity of 83 Emerson families, we are less than $10,000 away from reaching our goal of $60,000 to pay for art and PE classes, field trips, family and cultural events and much more.

Now we are looking for donations from at least 42 more families to reach both our fundraising and family participation goals. When we receive donations (in any amount) from half of Emerson families, every student at Emerson’s artwork will be added to the sparkling Heart of Emerson display on the fence by the monkey bars!
Thank you to all the families who have generously donated so far. If you haven't yet had a chance to give, please show your support by:
 

• Placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s Look Folder, or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
• Clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or at emerson.berkeleypta.org.

Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

Holiday Gift Card Thanks!

Many THANKS to our wonderful Emerson Community who came through during our Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive!

We were able to help several families with their holiday meal. EMERSON ROCKS!

Additionally, we will be able to give a helping hand to our community during the Winter Holidays also due to your generosity. 
 

Listen up, Emerson!
 

Did you know that Berkeley Public Schools have free audiobooks for all K-8 students to listen at home? It’s Tales2Go.

Listen to books at home or on the road during Winter Break and help our school win the Golden Headphones award, while enjoying good literature to boot!

Details are on BUSD library website, http://sites.berkeley.net/busdlibrary/tales2go. You will be guided through the initial set-up of Tales2Go on your phone, tablet or computer. It’s free & easy!

A message from the Spirit Committee!
We would like to help the fire victims of the Napa and Sonoma county fires this holiday season. Each class will have a collection box for money donations. Our donations will be gathered and given to The Redwood Empire Food Bank which is Sonoma County’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving 82,000 individuals and families. We will collect cash donations because this allows the food bank to buy exactly what is needed when it is needed. Donations will be accepted from November 27-December 8th in your child's classroom. We hope you will participate, every dollar counts!!

Bakers Needed for the Multicultural Bake Sale at the Winter Concert!
The Winter Concert is right around the corner - Thursday, December 14th! In addition to the amazing performances, we are looking forward to Emerson's 2nd annual Multicultural Bake Sale. The theme is holiday treats from different cultural backgrounds and will highlight a diversity of holiday celebratory foods. The bake sale will serve the triple purpose of 1) celebrating the wonderful diversity of our community 2) providing much needed food items to prevent total kid/parent meltdown during the performance 3) raise money for Emerson!If you are able to bring a baked treat to sell, please sign up here:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0F48AFAE292-multicultural1 OR you can email Rachel at rachel.antell@gmail.com.

Season’s Greenings

This time of year is full of celebration and merriment, as well as a bit of chaos and a lot of TRASH. Let’s all do our part to help reduce Emerson's environmental footprint by greening up your classroom's holiday fest! In advance, Emerson families can plan to buy compostables (paper plates, cups, napkins, pizza boxes, paper bags = ALL compostable! NOTE: The jury is out on the “compostable" plastic cups and utensils, save money and buy paper!) For drinks, avoid bottled water, juice boxes, and juice pouches. Serve using pitchers, bowls, utensils, and table coverings that can be washed and re-used or recycled.

Even if you don't give a hoot about saving our natural resources, think of the big bucks wasted on BUSD's disposal budget. (The more material we keep out of the trash, the less this costs our district overall, and the more money we have for education!) Think Before You Throw, and Know Where It Goes.

Volunteer Board of Fame!

Have you spotted your name on the volunteer board of fame in the hallway?

Your child/ren definitely have! This is just to show how grateful and proud we are to have such an amazing community surrounding our school. "When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school and the schools they go to are better." (From a book: A New Generation of Evidence: The Family Is Critical to Student Achievement by Anne Henderson and Nancy Berla - https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED375968)
 
If you have not volunteered yet, not to worry! There will be plenty of opportunities coming in the school year! Watch out for signup genius. If you noticed a volunteer name that has not been posted, email Vivi Andrijani (jvhipona@gmail.com)
 

Hour of Code next steps
 
Did your student come home wanting to program after getting a taste of computer code in Hour of Code Week? Visit code.org for more quick, self-led tutorials you can do with your child featuring kid-favorites from Minecraft (https://code.org/api/hour/begin/mc), Frozen (https://studio.code.org/s/frozen/reset), Moana (https://hourofcode.com/moana), Star Wars https://code.org/starwars, Angry Birds https://studio.code.org/hoc/reset, and dozens of other puzzles and approaches, all on https://code.org/learn. We also recommend the Scratch tutorials (and for early readers, Scratch Jr.(http://www.scratchjr.org/teach/activities))—that team helped make Monday's first-ever programmable Google Doodle (https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-50-years-of-kids-coding) which has several entertaining puzzles. Celebrate seasonally with Google’s winter wonderland Code Lab (https://santatracker.google.com/intl/en/codelab.html).
 
Finally, a HUGE HoC thank you to the many parent volunteers who took time out of their day to share their love of being creative with computers and problem-solving who helped make Emerson’s Hour of Code 2017 a success!
 

2017 Walkathon Results:
Thank you Emerson, we reached over our $16K goal and made a whooping Net $20,000 by last Friday.
Here are some of the highlights:
We had 196 walkers (2/3 of total students) with 26 Mega Walkers and 114 Super Walkers.
Super Mega Walkers with 34 laps (13.6 miles): 4th grader Sadie Byrnes & 3rd grader Benjamin Fisher McCrum.
For Walkathon Photos go to: bit.ly/emersoncreepycrawly  (#emersoncreepycrawly)  

 

Hey Fifth Grade Families
 

Be sure to check out middle school information on BUSD’s website (google: “steps to Middle School Enrollment” or go here). South zone info nights are 7pm: for Willard (January 10) and Longfellow (January 17). Applications due February 2nd.

AMAZON Holiday Shopping is here!!

Thank you for your Thanksgiving-break holiday shopping. Your Amazon shopping by using the link: bit.ly/emersonamazon has generated $472 for Emerson just for the month of November. Please don’t forget to use the link for the upcoming Winter holiday! Help Emerson Amazon meet 2017-2018 goal of $5700.
 

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts November 30, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

November 30, 2017

Hello Families,

Prior to break, while chatting with some Emerson parents at a meeting, the topic of dogs on or near campus came up. I've had dogs and cats most of my life and I am definitely an animal lover. However, not all children or families are comfortable around dogs and many dogs are unpredictable around children and/or other dogs.

I hope many families continue to walk to school and that you enjoy bringing your dog along with you. I am requesting that you also help everyone feel safe and secure by not bringing dogs on campus, tying them up on the rolling gate, or standing with them in the high traffic area outside the gate. Just being off to the side out of the entrance area would help a lot. Thank you very much for your consideration of others and for your cooperation in this matter.

Warmly,Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Nov. 30, Dine Out 4 BUSD Gardening & Cooking Program, 8:00am-12pm
• Friday, Dec.1, Coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
• Saturday, Dec. 2, BUSD Kindergarten Fair at Le Conte Elementary, 8:00am-1pm
• Monday, Dec. 4-Friday, Dec. 8, Hour of Code 2017
• Wednesday, Dec. 6, PTA Board Meeting, 6:00- 7:30pm, Emerson Library
• Thursday, Dec. 14, Winter Program 6:30pm at Willard Auditorium
• Monday Dec. 18- Monday Jan. 1 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
• Friday, Jan. 5, Coffee on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am

Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar

+++++++++++++++++++++
 
Emerson's website has a new look!

Visit emerson.berkeleypta.org for information on upcoming events, school info, volunteer opportunities and more!If you have comments or corrections, fill out the contact form on the website or email Katherine Cunningham at katherinekay@gmail.com.
 
++++++++++++++++++++DONATE NOW to the Heart of Emerson!
Please help raise $60,000 by December 31st to pay for art and PE classes, field trips, family and cultural events and much more! If you haven't yet had a chance to give, please show your support by:

• placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s Look Folder, or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
• clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or at emerson.berkeleypta.org.

Every dollar counts -- and when you donate (any amount!) your child(ren)'s artwork will be added to the display on the fence by the monkey bars! Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

Dine Out to Support BUSD on Thursday, Nov. 30
On Thursday, November 30th (today!) BUSD is partnering with local restaurants throughout Berkeley for a food-filled day and night in support of garden and nutrition education for all Berkeley Public Schools.

Dine Out at participating businesses and support our 13 educators and over 7000 students at 17 school gardens and 5 kitchen classrooms. 

When you Dine Out at one of the participating restaurants and a percentage of your check will go to BUSD! The list of participating restaurants is growing and can be found at https://berkeleydineout.tumblr.com/
 

A message from the Spirit Committee!
We would like to help the fire victims of the Napa and Sonoma county fires this holiday season. Each class will have a collection box for money donations. Our donations will be gathered and given to The Redwood Empire Food Bank which is Sonoma County’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving 82,000 individuals and families. We will collect cash donations because this allows the food bank to buy exactly what is needed when it is needed. Donations will be accepted from November 27-December 8th in your child's classroom. We hope you will participate, every dollar counts!!

Bakers Needed for the Multicultural Bake Sale at the Winter Concert!
The Winter Concert is right around the corner - Thursday, December 14th! In addition to the amazing performances, we are looking forward to Emerson's 2nd annual Multicultural Bake Sale. The theme is holiday treats from different cultural backgrounds and will highlight a diversity of holiday celebratory foods. The bake sale will serve the triple purpose of 1) celebrating the wonderful diversity of our community 2) providing much needed food items to prevent total kid/parent meltdown during the performance 3) raise money for Emerson!If you are able to bring a baked treat to sell, please sign up here:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0F48AFAE292-multicultural1 OR you can email Rachel at rachel.antell@gmail.com.

Hour of Code Next Week! 
Emerson joins thousands of schools worldwide during National Computer Science week for Hour of Code, a global movement to introduce kids to coding while making it fun. Find your child's Hour of Code time slot and sign up at http://bit.ly/EmersonHOC2017 if you’d like to volunteer (no coding or computer experience needed). Learn more about Hour of Code at http://hourofcode.com. Contact Henry Sobel (henry@hugemedia.com) or Katherine Cunningham (katherinekay@gmail.com) with any questions.

THANK YOU EMERSON for helping us meet our
2017 Walkathon $16K GOAL!!!

2017 Walkathon Photos are here!
Go to: bit.ly/emersoncreepycrawly (#emersoncreepycrawly)

The Walkathon Award Ceremony is tomorrow:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1st at 8:30 am

Special thanks to Erin Tsuchimoto for leading the Book Fair at the
Walkathon! Mr. Mopps brought in almost $470 for Emerson!

We would also like to honor a couple of parent captains whom we
missed, Mindy Szelap and Ben Siebel.
 

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts November 2, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

November 2, 2017

Dear Families,

The first trimester of the year ended on Friday, October 27th. Teachers have been busy over the last several weeks assessing students individually in reading, administering trimester I math assessments and writing prompts, and giving a spelling assessment in most grades as well. Teachers use this information along with evaluation of student class work such as math assignments and exit tickets and daily writing, class and home reading logs, and teacher observation, to complete each report card. Teachers include detailed comments in an effort to give you a thorough picture of how your child is doing at school in relation to the grade level standards and expectations. 
 
Parent teacher conferences begin next week. This is your chance to meet with your teacher to review your child's report card and have a conversation about how it has been going. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions, share information or concerns and, most of all, to celebrate your child's progress. Teachers are sending home conference reminders and are counting on you to be there at your assigned time. If you need to change your appointment, be sure to contact your teacher or the office ahead of time. 
 
School dismisses early during conference week, Monday - Thursday, November 6th - 9th. Please be sure you have made arrangements to pick your child up early all week. Students who ride the bus must be met at their bus stops an hour to 75 minutes early as well. If students are not met at the bus stop, they will be brought back to school and you will need to make arrangements to pick them up here. Kids' World will begin early and will end at the regular time so no need for special arrangements there.

• Kindergarten @ 12:30
• 1st - 3rd @ 1:05
• 4th and 5th @ 1:10

Lastly, we have a special request. Parking around Emerson can be tricky on the best of days. It is even more challenging for teachers and staff to park on street sweeping days, the 3rd Friday and the 4th Tuesday. If you are parking for drop off on street sweeping days, we ask that you park on the street sweeping side of the street. You will have plenty of time to move your cars before 9:00, when ticketing starts, and the teachers will have more space to park their cars and get inside to start work. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. It would be much appreciated by all.
 

Sincerely,
Susan Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Nov. 2, Día de los Muertos event at lunch recess
• Friday, Nov. 3, No school (parent-teacher conferences)
• Friday, Nov. 3 to Friday Nov 10, No enrichment classes. Classes resume Nov 13.
• Nov. 5-8, Shortened days (parent-teacher conferences)
• Monday, Nov. 6, Kids Kreations online orders due
• Thursday, Nov. 9, Racial Equity Study Circle #4, 6-8pm
• Thursday, Nov. 9, Romeo & Juliet performance, 8:30am
• Friday, Nov. 10, No school (Veteran’s Day)
• Friday, Nov. 10 - Sun, Nov 12, Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore Fundraiser
• Wednesday, Nov 15 - Make-up school pictures
• Thursday, Nov. 16, Racial Equity Study Circle #5, 6-8pm
• Friday, Nov. 17, Coffee on the yard + All School Meeting at 8:30am

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar

Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive

This year we would like to come together as a community to support each other during the Holidays. We are taking supermarket gift card donations (preferably Safeway, Grocery Outlet, or Food Maxx) to distribute to Emerson families who can benefit from extra help for Thanksgiving. Please bring gift cards to the front office or to the Family Engagement Office now through Friday, Nov. 17. If you would like to receive a gift card look for a flyer coming home in your child’s folder or contact Lily Howell, Family engagement specialist, at 510-295-7791 or lilyhowell@berkeley.net.  

Dia de los Muertos is Here

Emerson families our Day of the Dead Altar or Ofrenda is up and ready to view in our school library...It is breathtaking!  

These Ofrendas are built during Dia de los Muertos to honor the lives of those who have passed.  They are beautiful creations constructed with Love and Care in Mexico and Mexican-American communities.  
 
We would like to invite you to help us personalize it.  You can contribute by bringing in photos, and or mementos of loved ones that are being remembered. Fresh Marigolds are also welcome.
***
Dia de los Muertos a llegado:
Familias de Emerson, nuestro Altar o Ofrenda del Día de los Muertos, está lista para verse en la biblioteca de nuestra escuela ... ¡Es impresionante!
 
Estas Ofrendas se construyen durante el Día de los Muertos para honrar las vidas de aquellos que han fallecido. Son bellas creaciones construidas con Amor y Cuidado en México y en America Central. 
 
Nos gustaría invitarlos a que nos ayuden a personalizarlo. Puede contribuir al traer fotos o recuerdos de sus seres queridos que se recuerdan. Fresh Marigolds también son bienvenidas.

Kids Kreations

Have you placed your Kids Kreations orders yet? Deadline extended. Orders are now due Monday, November 6th. Online orders only. Please go to: 

http://www.kidskreations.us and enter your child's name where it asks for the ART ID CODE. If you need any assistance ordering or have any questions, email Emerson mom Kathleen Mason: kathleenmason1@gmail.com.  Kids Kreations make wonderful gifts that you, your child, and your whole family will cherish for years. Thank you!

. ❤  Sign up to Lead K Tours - Volunteers needed!

Share your love of Emerson with prospective K families - be a tour guide! Tours will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to ~ 10am, November 14 through December 14 and ~ January 05 through January 25. If you are a new tour guide, you will buddy up with an experienced tour guide your first tour (and be provided talking points, answers to FAQ’s, etc). If interested, sign up below to be a tour guide, or email Liz White with questions (lizowhite@gmail.com).

K Tour sign-up:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4da5a82eaafd0-emerson

Buy Books and Raise Money For Emerson!

Mrs. Dalloway's bookstore (2904 College Ave.) will reimburse Emerson School for 20% of the total purchases made by the school community between November 10-12. This is a great opportunity to stock up on holiday gift items such as children's books, cookbooks, adult fiction and nonfiction, gardening books, merchandise, art, and gift certificates for teachers, family, and friends. 

Online sales welcome: shop at their online store: http://www.mrsdalloways.com/

Please make sure to keep your receipts (or, for online purchases, print out your order confirmation email) and turn them in to the Mrs. Dalloway's box in the front office no later than Friday, November 17.
 
Questions? Email Rachel: rachel.antell@gmail.com

REMINDER: No PTA Enrichment Classes Friday November 3rd through Friday, November 10th
 
For parents with children in After School PTA Enrichment Classes: During Parent-Teacher Conference week, we will not hold Enrichment Classes. There will be no enrichment classes starting Friday November 3rd through Friday November 10th. Classes will resume on their regular schedule Monday, November 13th.
 
Questions? Please email EmersonEnrichment@gmail.com.

Fourth graders are entitled to a free National Parks pass

Ffor their entire fourth grade year (through Aug 31), 4th graders get into National Parks for FREE.  If you don't have it already, get it here:
https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/
 

Weekly Zumba Classes
Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts November 16, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

November 16, 2017

Hello Families,
 
I just have a few brief announcements for you this week. I know you have all been waiting and will be glad to hear that your Roots and Shoots pictures are coming soon. We are in the final stages of proofing class photos, then the packages will be on their way. Meanwhile, note that we rescheduled Make-Up Picture Day for Tuesday, November 28th, so you'll have enough time to review your packets beforehand if you want your child’s photo re-taken. 
 
On another note, lost items are building up again, so we'll be going through the Lost and Found before Thanksgiving Break and will be donating the remainder to a local church or charity. Please stop by and check out the racks by Monday, the 20th if you are looking for any missing items.
 
Finally, don't forget that there are only 2 days of school next week before we break for Thanksgiving. I am wishing you a wonderful break and I hope you get some nice rest, relaxation and good food with family and friends.
 
Warmly,
 
Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Nov. 16, Racial Equity Study Circle #5, 6-8pm
• Friday, Nov. 17, Coffee on the yard; All School Meeting 8:30am
• Wednesday, Nov. 22 – Friday, Nov. 24: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday).
• Monday, Nov 20-Friday, Nov 24: No PTA Enrichment classes
• Tuesday, November 28th.
  Make-Up picture day

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar/
 
+++++++++++++++++++++
 
Make-Up Picture Day
Picture Day portraits are still being processed by Roots & Shoots. More details to come once they are delivered to the school. In the meantime, the date for make-up picture day has been moved to Tuesday, November 28th.

Roots & Shoots will automatically take portraits of students who were absent. After receiving your portraits, if you decide you would like a re-take you must contact Roots & Shoots Photography directly no later than Monday, November 27th and plan to return your original package. Feel free to email or call with questions–email is best: nikki@roots-shoots.com/ 510-859-4148.
 
++++++++++++++++++++

Mrs. Dalloway’s Fundraiser Receipts Due
Thank you to all who participated in the Mrs. Dalloway’s fundraiser this past weekend! Please remember to turn in your receipts to the box in the front office by Friday, November 17!!! Questions? Email Rachel: rachel.antell@gmail.com

Dine Out to Support BUSD on Thursday, Nov. 30
On Thursday, November 30th, BUSD is partnering with local restaurants throughout Berkeley for a food-filled day and night in support of garden and nutrition education for all Berkeley Public Schools.

Dine Out at participating businesses and support our 13 educators and over 7000 students at 17 school gardens and 5 kitchen classrooms. 

When you Dine Out at one of the participating restaurants and a percentage of your check will go to BUSD! The list of participating restaurants is growing and can be found at https://berkeleydineout.tumblr.com/
 

BUSD Kindergarten Fair – Volunteers Needed!
The BUSD K Information Fair is scheduled for Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 10:00 AM—1:00 PM at Le Conte Elementary School. 

Parent volunteers needed to talk to prospective Emerson families at this event.  If you are interested and able to help or would like more information, please contact Susan Bessler at suebessler@yahoo.com

Wednesday Volunteer Needed in Emerson Library
Students check out a lot of books -- those books all need to get back on the shelves!  Ms. Zoe is looking for a volunteer that can help shelve books any time between 8:00 and 2:30 on Wednesdays.  Can you help out?  Email Ms. Zoe to arrange a time zoewilliams@berkeley.net.  
 

DONATE to the Heart of Emerson!
Help our community raise $60,000 by December 31st. Join the 60+families whose gifts have already gotten us halfway to our goal. Funds pay for art and PE classes, field trips, family and cultural events and much more! If you haven't yet had a chance to give, please show your support by:

• Placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s Look Folder or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
• Clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or at emerson.berkeleypta.org.

Every dollar counts! And, when you donate (any amount!) your child(ren)'s artwork will be added to the heart-shaped display on the fence by the monkey bars! Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

Emerson Community Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive
This year we would like to come together as a community to support each other during the Holidays. We want every family to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving. We are accepting donations of supermarket gift card (preferably Safeway, Grocery Outlet, or Food Maxx) to distribute to Emerson families who can benefit from extra help for Thanksgiving. We will be collecting supermarket gift card donations for our families through Friday, Nov. 17th.
 
Please bring gift cards to front office or to the Family Engagement Office. If you would like to receive a gift card please contact Lily Howell, Family Engagement Specialist, at 510-295-7791 or lilyhowell@berkeley.net

No PTA Enrichment Classes Thanksgiving Week--Nov 20-24
This is a reminder that there are no enrichment classes Thanksgiving week --November 20-24. Classes will resume on their regular schedule Monday, November 27th. Questions? Please email:
EmersonEnrichment@gmail.com

No BearFacts During Thanksgiving Break
There will be no BearFacts newsletter next week due to the Thanksgiving break.  The next deadline for submissions will be Monday, November 27th.

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts November 9, 2017

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BearFacts News

Message from the Principal

November 9, 2017

Dear Families,

I hope you have been enjoying your parent teacher conferences this week. As a teacher, I always appreciated the opportunity to have one-on-one time with parents and guardians to review student progress and strategize around challenges if need be. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend these important meetings. 
 
Another meeting I am inviting you to attend is next week's SGC (School Governance Council) meeting. On Wednesday, November 15th, we'll be meeting in the library from 5:30 to 7:00pm to see a presentation on the range and types of intervention supports and services we offer at Emerson. Please join us to learn about reading, writing, and math supports, counseling and special presentations on friendship and bullying, family engagement supports, Positive Behavior Supports and the many other ways we work together to create a safety net for our students. SGC meetings are always open to the public and we hope you will attend. We have light snacks, and, while we don't have babysitting services, students can read books and play on computers in the corner while we meet. 
 
Finally, I'd also like to invite you to a short but special performance by the Berkeley High School Jazz Band on Tuesday, November 21 at 8:55am. We'll be right here in the Emerson cafeteria so feel free to join us. What a great way to send us off for Thanksgiving Break. 
 
Sincerely, 
Susan Hodge
 

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• November 6-9, Shortened days (parent-teacher conferences) & No PTA enrichment classes (classes resume 11/13)
• Thursday, Nov. 9, Racial Equity Study Circle #4, 6-8pm
• Friday, Nov. 10, NO SCHOOL (Veteran’s Day)
• Friday, Nov 10 – Sun., Nov 12, Mrs. Dalloway’s Fundraiser
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, Make-up school pictures & SGC Meeting, 5:30-7:00pm
• Thursday, Nov. 16, Racial Equity Study Circle #5, 6-8pm
• Friday, Nov. 17, Coffee on the yard; All School Meeting 8:30am
• Wed., Nov. 22 – Fri., Nov. 24: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday).

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar

Emerson Community Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive
 
This year we would like to come together as a community to support each other during the Holidays. We want every family to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving. We are taking supermarket gift card donations (preferably Safeway, Grocery Outlet, or Food Maxx) to distribute to Emerson families who can benefit from extra help for Thanksgiving. We will be collecting supermarket gift card donations for our families through Friday, Nov. 17th.
 
Please bring them to front office or to the Family Engagement Office. If you would like to receive a gift card look for a flyer coming home in your child’s folder or contact Lily Howell, Family Engagement Specialist, at 510-295-7791 or lilyhowell@berkeley.net. 

Buy Books and Raise Money For Emerson – THIS WEEKEND!

Mrs. Dalloway's bookstore (2904 College Ave.) will reimburse Emerson School for 20% of the total purchases made by the school community this weekend, November 10-12. This is a great opportunity to stock up on holiday gift items such as children's books, cookbooks, adult fiction and nonfiction, gardening books, merchandise, art, and gift certificates for teachers, family, and friends. 

Online sales welcome: shop at our online store at http://www.mrsdalloways.com/

Please make sure to keep your receipts (or, for online purchases, print out your order confirmation email) and turn them in to the Mrs. Dalloway's box in the Emerson front office no later than Friday, November 17.
 
Questions? Email Rachel: rachel.antell@gmail.com
 

A few Kindergarten tour Volunteers still needed!

We still need a few more tour guides to make incoming K tours happen! Share your love of Emerson with prospective Kindergarten families! Tours take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to ~ 10am, starting November 14 through the end of January. Please sign up below! Questions? Email Liz White (lizowhite@gmail.com).

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4da5a82eaafd0-emerson

BUSD Kindergarten Fair – Volunteers Needed!
 
The BUSD K Information Fair will take place Saturday, December 02, 2017, from 10:00 AM—1:00 PM at Le Conte Elementary School. We need parent volunteers to talk to prospective Emerson families at this event.  If you are interested and able to help or would like more information, please contact Susan Bessler at suebessler@yahoo.com.

Don’t Forget: Walkathon Pledge Envelopes with donations are due Tuesday, November 14th.

• Online Pledges: bit.ly/walkathonpledge
• Pledge Request Letter: bit.ly/walkathonpledgerequest

All Super Walkers, Top walkers and top money earners will be honored at All School Meeting on Friday, 12/1.Emerson PTA Membership Drive – FINAL DAYS TO SIGN UP!
 
Thanks to all the parents and teachers who have signed up for the Emerson PTA! So far, we have 211 member sign-ups. Can you help us meet our goal of getting 300 member sign-ups this school year? Please sign up as the drive ends Friday, November 17.
The more members we have, the stronger our voice in the community. Your child also gets a treat when you sign up.

• Membership gives you the power to vote on decisions related to your child’s health, safety and education, including how the budget gets spent. 

• Membership does not require any time commitment, and both non-members and members are invited to all PTA events. 
• No payment is required to join, and families must sign up each new school year (your membership from last year does not carry over). 

There are 3 ways to get a sign-up form:

• Your child’s Look folder
• The envelope on the PTA bulletin board outside the office
• Email Elif at elifkale@yahoo.com or Liz at tungelizabeth@gmail.com and we can email the form to you.

Thanks for supporting Emerson PTA!

Now is a great time to donate to the Heart of Emerson! Join the 62 families whose gifts have already gotten us halfway to our goal of raising $60,000 by December 31st. If you haven't yet had a chance to give, please take a moment to show your support by:
 

• Placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s “Look Folder” or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
• Clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or on the Emerson PTA website at emerson.berkeleypta.org. 

Every dollar counts -- and when you donate (any amount!) your child(ren)'s artwork will be added to the fabulous heart display on the fence by the monkey bars! Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

Fourth graders are entitled to a free National Parks pass

For their entire fourth grade year (through Aug 31), 4th graders get into National Parks for FREE.  If you don't have it already, get it here:
https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts October 26, 2017

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BearFacts News

October 26, 2017

Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Creepy Crawly Walk-A-Thon this weekend. The weather couldn't have been better. I love that we actually took over the whole street for walking and that our "runners" could get that extra exercise they crave. We loved the book fair, the food at lunch, and the treats. The only problem was that I think I ate too many cookies!

I want to specifically thank Vivi Andrijani and her right-hand helper, Mary Mathaisell, for making this event happen. They gave countless hours ahead of time here at Emerson and at home planning, creating, and organizing. They were also awesome at coordinating all the amazing team captains and volunteers (see page 2 for all the main players). What a great partnership!Thank you also to those captains, team leads and folks who volunteered on the front lines. It is a significant commitment and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to all the families for coming out and participating in the walk itself and finally, let's give a big thumbs up to all those walker/runners who put in the physical effort! Great job everyone; now let's get those pledges in!

Sincerely,
Susan Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Thursday, Oct. 26, Racial Equity Study Circle #2, 6-8pm
• Friday, Oct. 27, Free Coffee and Pastries on the yard, 8am
• Tuesday, Oct. 31, Halloween parade, 12:45pm
• Thursday, Nov. 2, Día de los Muertos event at lunch recess
• Friday, Nov. 3, No school (parent-teacher conferences)
• Nov. 5-8, Shortened days (parent-teacher conferences)
• Thursday, Nov. 6, Racial Equity Study Circle #3, 6-8pm
• Thursday, Nov. 9, Romeo & Juliet performance, 8:30am
• Friday, Nov. 10, No school (Veteran’s Day)
• Friday, Nov. 17, Coffee on the yard + All School Meeting at 8:30am

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar

Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive

This year we would like to come together as a community to support each other during the Holidays. We are taking supermarket gift card donations (preferably Safeway, Grocery Outlet, or Food Maxx) to distribute to Emerson families who can benefit from extra help for Thanksgiving. Please bring gift cards to the front office or to the Family Engagement Office now through Friday, Nov. 17. If you would like to receive a gift card look for a flyer coming home in your child’s folder or contact Lily Howell, Family engagement specialist, at 510-295-7791 or lilyhowell@berkeley.net.  

Kids Kreations
This fundraiser for Emerson offers you the chance to order from a wide variety products featuring your child's artwork. Look for our display table with samples in the main hallway! To order, go online: http://www.kidskreations.us and enter your child's name where it asks for an Art ID Code. Last day to order is Friday, Nov. 3. Your child's face will light up when they see their art keepsake. ❤  

Emerson K Tours - Volunteer Tour Guides Needed!
Do you love Emerson? Want to share your love with prospective Kindergarten families? Then be a tour guide! Tours will take place at 8:30 am, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from ~ November 14 through December 14 and ~ January 05 through January 25. We are looking for 12-14 experienced and new tour guides, ideally with each person leading at least two tours. You do not need to be an expert on Emerson to play this role! Interested? Email Liz White (lizowhite@gmail.com) and we will get back to you with more detail. 

Creepy-Crawly Walk-A-Thon was a tremendous HUGE success!!! 

Roughly, we had 198 students registered and 182 came to walk last Sunday. The kids really had a great time. The Mr. Mopps book fair, photo booth, face painting, pumpkin weight guessing and SPECIAL SUPER WALKER prizes were such a hit!! Families socialized, cheered the kids, enjoyed delicious Mexican and Ethiopian food, baked goods, coffee, and lemonade while the kids walked and enjoyed their snow cones. Cal athletes from rowing, track & field and water polo teams even showed up to cheer on the walkers.

A very special THANK YOU goes out to our Creepy Crawly Walk-A-Thon t-shirt sponsor The Grubb Company in Berkeley, Mr. Mopps for donating 15% sales back to our school, our tireless Emerson parent bakers, and to all of our walk-a-thon captains: Zoe Beach, Robin Stults , Stephanie Meade, Thuan Tran, Michel Byrnes, Eunice Park, Erica Wandner, Simone Schell, Jeffrey Hipona, Jody Stillwater, Ana Smith, Michele Falise, Catherine Cunningham, Liz Tung, Scott Johnson, Michele Falise, Mary Mathaisell, Michael Schumaker, Tamara Pattison, Nina Goldman, Stephanie Sidebotham, Mr. Rafael De La Torre, and Mr. Phil Wiegand who ensured that all went smoothly. And of course the success would not have been possible without the support of all the amazing VOLUNTEERS!! (HALL OF FAME coming soon)  

But WAIT!! We are not done quite yet! Please remind your students to collect those PLEDGES for their hard work! Creepy Crawly Walk-A-Thon aims to meet its net goal of $16,000. Last year we exceeded our goal at $16.8K. Family, friends and neighbors can make pledges with cash and/ or checks – please fill out pledge envelope & return in student look folder. Pledge Envelopes with donations are due by Monday, November 14th.

• Online Pledges: bit.ly/walkathonpledge
• Pledge Request Letter: bit.ly/walkathonpledgerequest
• Remember: All Super Walkers, Top walkers and top money earners will be honored at the All School Meeting on Friday, December 1st.
• Creepy-Crawly Walk-A-Thon photos: We will upload in Google Photo soon #emersoncreepycrawly. If you don't want your photo uploaded, email Vivi Andrijani at jvhipona@gmail.com

REMINDER: No PTA Enrichment Classes Friday November 3rd through Friday, November 10th
 
For parents with children in After School PTA Enrichment Classes: During Parent-Teacher Conference week, we will not hold Enrichment Classes. There will be no enrichment classes starting Friday November 3rd through Friday November 10th. Classes will resume on their regular schedule Monday, November 13th.
 
Questions? Please email EmersonEnrichment@gmail.com.

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare)

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705

BearFacts October 19, 2017

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BearFacts News

October 19, 2017

Dear Families,

We are all so saddened by the losses suffered by our neighbors to the north of us. I know that many of you have relatives and/or friends who have been affected by these terrible fires. Please let us know if there are any special accommodations your family might need right now.

I want to thank you for your flexibility and support while we at school worked to face the challenges of poor air quality in Berkeley. Whenever I requested it, many of you were able to come and pick your children up early from Kids' World, which lowered our numbers and really helped on those long afternoons while the students had to continue to stay inside. Thank you for adjusting your schedules to make that happen.

Also, thank you for staying in close contact. Folks contacted us through REMIND, phone, email, etc., to send information, request clarification, ask questions, or to simply send a thumbs up. I feel that we were communicating well throughout. If you are not getting this information, be sure to see the BEAR FACTS news for ways to sign up for these important communication links.

Ms. Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Friday, Oct 20, Free Coffee on the yard (8am after drop-off)
• Saturday, Oct. 21, Racial Equity Study Circle #1, 9am-2pm
• Sunday, Oct. 22, The Emerson Walkathon!, 11am-3pm
• Thursday, Oct. 26, Racial Equity Study Circle #2, 6-8pm
• Tuesday, Oct 31, Halloween parade, 12:45pm
• Thursday, Nov 2, Dia de los Muertos
• Friday, Nov 3, No school (parent-teacher conferences)
• Nov 5-8, Shortened days (parent-teacher conferences)
• Friday, Nov 10, No school (Veterans’ Day)

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar/
Emerson’s creepiest fundraiser, full of fun and prizes!
REGISTRATION IS EXTENDED to Friday, October 20th—and you can register on the day of the event!!

Volunteers still needed!! Please help us and SIGN UP at:  bit.ly/emersonwalkathon to volunteer!!

The Creepy-Crawly Walk-A-ThonisTHIS COMING SUNDAY, Oct 22nd, 2017 (11AM to 3PM) at Emerson. Free lunches for registered walkers; lunch & snacks for sale (cash only) for families.

Tons of fun activities!! Zombie face painting~photo-booth with lots of props~pumpkin-weight guessing~music~prizes~fun socializing with your Emerson community.

Students can earn SUPER CREEPY-CRAWLY-WALKER prizes & awards by:

•          Getting 10 pledges or more, OR raising $100 or more. Pledges can be made by: Cash, Check or Online (go to bit.ly/emersonpledge)

•          Or Just by walking (or skipping, jumping, freestyling) laps according to student’s grade! K=5; 1st=10; 2nd&3rd=12; 4th&5th=15

REMEMBER: You can turn in pledges now thru Nov 14th. Top walkers and top money earners in each grade will be honored at an all-school meeting awards ceremony on Dec 1st.

Class with the most student walker participation will get PIZZA AND ICE CREAM PARTY!!See you at the Creepy Crawly Walkathon!!!
Mr. Mopps’s Book Fair Sun, Oct 22 (at the Walkathon)Mr. Mopps' is hosting a children's book fair at the walkathon.  Buy a book for a teacher, stock up on birthday gifts, or shop early for the holidays. Gift cards can also be purchased. 15% of ALL sales donated back to Emerson.
Respook, Rewear, Rescare Returns!Let's go GREEN for Halloween! Bring any clean and reusable costumes to the Costume Recycling box outside Ms. Jeannie’s room. We’ll help your costumes find new bones… er… homes! You don’t have to donate to get a “new to you” costume.Kids Kreations
Keep an eye out for your child's personalized stickers featuring their very own artwork, along with a Kids Kreations brochure, coming home soon in their Look Folder.

This is a wonderful fundraiser for Emerson and offers you the chance to order from a wide variety of products featuring your child's artwork.

It's not too early to think about holiday gifts for friends and family, from beautiful pieces of jewelry, to iPhone cases, to portfolios, to matted prints, and so much more.

Look for our display table with wonderful samples at this Sunday's Walk-a-thon. Your child's face will light up when they see their art turned into a keepsake ❤
Buy Books and Raise Money For Emerson!
Mrs. Dalloway's bookstore (2904 College Ave.) will reimburse Emerson School for 20% of the total purchases made by the school community between November 10-12.

This is a great opportunity to stock up on holiday gift items such as children's books, cookbooks, adult fiction and nonfiction, gardening books, merchandise, art, and gift certificates for teachers, family, and friends.

Online sales welcome: shop at our online store at http://www.mrsdalloways.com/
Please make sure to keep your receipts (or, for online purchases, print out your order confirmation email) and turn them in to the Mrs. Dalloway's box in the front office no later than Friday, November 17.

Questions? Email Rachel: rachel.antell@gmail.com
Emerson PTA Membership Drive Continues
Did You Misplace Your PTA Membership Form? Thanks to the 165 parents and teachers who have become members so far.

Help us reach our goal of having 300 members this year. The more members we have, the stronger our voice can be in and beyond our school. Please fill out and become a member!

Please find another form in your child’s Look Folder this week. When you return a membership form, your child will get a small treat from their teacher.

Thank you for supporting the Emerson PTA! For questions, reach out to Elif Kale-Lostuvali (elifkale@yahoo.com

Calling All Dads!
Emerson Dad Nathan Stahlhut here (Dad to 2nd Grader Ryan). I’m looking to start an Emerson Dad’s Club - will you join me? The Dad’s club would be an informal arm of the PTA targeted towards ‘hands on’ volunteers (paint a classroom?, serve the pancake breakfast?); fundraising (run a car wash?); and socializing (monthly beers anyone?).

If you are a dad who wants to be involved but doesn’t quite know how, this is your chance.

Please reach out to me at emersondadsclub@gmail.com and let’s start the conversation.

This club is not a full-time commitment and will be a lot of fun, good for our kids, and a great support to the school.Emerson Celebrates Dia de los Muertos - Volunteers Needed!

• 10/20: construct altar/ofrenda
• 10/25 & 10/26 (12-1pm):
  5th grade parents (sugar skulls)
• 11/2: serve Pan de Muerto and Hot Chocolate (10am-1pm)
• 11/6: take down altar/ofrenda

To help contact: marjhenriquez@gmail.com

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare)

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 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 © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705

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Emerson PTA · 2800 Forest Ave · Berkeley, CA 94705 · USA

BearFacts October 12, 2017

BearFacts News

October 12, 2017

A Message from the Principal

Dear Families,
 
This week I'd like to let you know how we manage lost belongings at Emerson. First, we ask that you label as many items as you can, including backpacks, lunch boxes, jackets, sweaters, etc. I would venture to say that for some families, the price of one sharpie marker and its regular use could save you hundreds of dollars over the course of your child's stay at Emerson. Money well spent!
 
When we do find items left out and about, they are relocated to the lost and found area on the breezeway. We keep a table there along with a coat rack. We try to keep items organized so that those passing by can see them. I check and tidy the area regularly and always make sure that labeled items are returned to their owners.
 
Every 3 to 5 weeks we spread out the contents of the lost and found on the cafeteria tables and have all the students walk through to try and identify their personal belongings. We write names in whatever the children find and we bag up the remainder for donation.
 
A lot of items actually get lost during Kids’ World because the children are moving from location to location, they often take out lunch boxes for snack and the go to and leave the yard several times during the afternoon. These transitions are all opportunities to forget ones belongings. Kids' World staff helps out by reminding students and collecting items left behind.
 
You can help out by labeling items ahead of time, checking the lost and found regularly and making a plan for your own child. If forgetfulness is a current habit, you could work out a daily plan to help build responsibility. A mental or written checklist for you and your child at the end of the day could help. Finally, if you pick up your students at the end of the day, especially from Kids' World, have your child check to see if they have their belongings, especially their jackets. Please involve your child in this process -- a little planning ahead of time and ongoing vigilance could go a long way in building life long habits of responsibility and organization. 
 
Thanks,
 
Susan Hodge

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Oct-16-18, 5th Grade Camping Trip @ Camp Arroyo
• Saturday, Oct. 21, Racial Equity Study Circle #1, 9am-2pm
• Sunday, Oct. 22, The Emerson Walkathon!, 11am
• Thursday, Oct. 26, Racial Equity Study Circle #2, 6-8pm
• Tuesday, Oct 31, Halloween parade, 12:45pm

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar

Emerson’s creepiest fundraiser, full of fun and prizes!

Volunteers Needed!! Please help us and SIGN UP at bit.ly/emersonwalkathon to volunteer!!
 
Creepy-Crawly Walk-A-Thon is on October 22nd, less than TWO weeks away!! Please return registration forms by Monday, October 16th,  and keep collecting pledges.

Sample pledge letter that can be printed or emailed to family, friends, and co-workers can be found on bit.ly/emersonwalkathon under Forms & Pledge Request Letter.
 
SUPER CREEPY-CRAWLY WALKERS:  
It's a great time to encourage your kids to earn 2017 Walkathon Super Walker customized ribbons by doing one or more of the following:

• Getting 10 pledges or more; OR
• Raising $100 (Pledge On-line at:  bit.ly/emersonpledge) or more; OR
• Walking (or skipping, jumping, freestyling) a bunch! 
  • Kindergarteners - 5 laps
  • 1st graders - 10 laps
  • 2nd/3rd graders - 12 laps
  • 4th/5th graders - 15 laps

 Top walkers and top money earners in each grade will be honored at an all-school meeting awards ceremony on Dec 1st.Class with the most student walkathon participation will get PIZZA AND ICE CREAM PARTY!! 
 
See you at the Creepy Crawly Walkathon!!!Books and Cookies This Friday (10/13)!
 

What:  Wonderful free books and yummy cookies are available for students/families.
When:  One Friday a month from 5:00-6:00pm
Where: Emerson’s main hallway
Who:  Lily Howell, Family Engagement/Equity Coordinator & Ms. Jeannie, Literacy Coach
Why:  

• Do you need contact information for available community resources?
• Do you have questions about your child’s reading and/or writing?
• We are happy to offer any assistance you may need!

Emerson PTA Membership Drive Continues

Thanks to all the parents and teachers who have signed up for the Emerson PTA. So far, we have 119 new member sign-ups. Can you help us meet our goal of getting 300 total member sign-ups this school year? With membership, you have the power to vote on decisions related to your child’s health, safety and education, the PTA budget and proposed grants.

Please fill out the sign-up form you received in your child’s Look Folder, or help yourself to the forms on the PTA board outside the main office. There is no time commitment! A donation of $10 is suggested but not required. Each parent, guardian, extended family member or friend of an Emerson student is invited to sign up. Note that membership needs to be renewed EVERY year. For every membership form completed, your child will get a small treat from their teacher. For questions, reach out to Elif Kale-Lostuvali (elifkale@yahoo.com).

Thank you for supporting the Emerson PTA!
 

Calling All Dads!
 
Emerson Dad Nathan Stahlhut here (Dad to 2nd Grader Ryan). I’m looking to start an Emerson Dad’s Club - will you join me? The Dad’s club would be an informal arm of the PTA targeted towards ‘hands on’ volunteers (paint a classroom?, serve the pancake breakfast?); fundraising (run a car wash?); and socializing (monthly beers anyone?).
 
If you are a dad who wants to be involved but doesn’t quite know how, this is your chance.

Please reach out to me at emersondadsclub@gmail.com and let’s start the conversation.

This club is not a full-time commitment and will be a lot of fun, good for our kids, and a great support to the school.

Emerson Celebrates Dia de los Muertos - Volunteers needed!

• 10/20: help us construct the altar/offrenda
• 10/25 (12-1pm) & 10/26 (12-1pm): 5th grade parents needed to help 5th graders make sugar skulls
• 11/2: serve Pan de Muerto and Hot Chocolate to the whole school (10am-1pm)
• 11/6: help us take down the altar/offrenda

To help with Dia de los Muertos, please contact: marjhenriquez@gmail.com

Emerson Equity Circle

Emerson is convening Equity Circles to engage parents and teachers in “real talk” about improving achievement and parent engagement from diverse backgrounds: Saturday, October 21st (9am - 2pm); and then Thurs. 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 and 11/30 from 6:00pm-8:00pm, childcare and food provided. There is a minimum 12-hour time commitment. Equity Circles will be facilitated by Pamela Harrison-Small and supported by the Emerson PTA. All parents and teachers are invited. Interested? Email jean kawahara: j.kawa@mac.com, Marjorie Henriquez: marjhenriquez@gmail.com or Emily Nathan: enathan7@gmail.com 
 

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare)

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

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