Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com
RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER WINTER BREAK
Happy Winter Break! Covid-19 test kits will be sent home this weekend in students’ backpacks. Please read this letter from the District Nurse regarding directions for Winter Break Safety Precautions:
DECEMBER ALL SCHOOL MEETING
If you missed the December All School Meeting, check out the video recording created by our talented volunteer, Mr. Phil:
HEART OF EMERSON FUNDRAISING
Last call for donations before we head into Winter Break! Of course you are welcome to donate in the new year as well, but the funding collected by year-end will determine the range and scope of offerings the Emerson PTA is able to secure for the following school year. Donate and continue to track our progress here: https://emersonelementary.org/heart-of-emerson
Congratulations to our Giving Tuesday winners! Katie Caygill-Knapp and family (pictured above) won tickets to the Oakland Zoo, and Adriana Mendoza won a $50 Topgolf voucher! Thanks to everyone who has donated to Heart of Emerson so far.
As the 2023 calendar year draws to a close, a reminder that your donations to the Heart of Emerson are fully tax deductible. Didn’t get a receipt? Email fundraising@emersonelementary.org
UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES
Friday, December 22: Fall PTA after school classes end
December 25 - January 5: Winter Break — NO SCHOOL
January 1 - February 2: Round 1 enrollment dates for 2024- 2025 school year https://www.berkeleyschools.net/admissions/
Thursday, January 18: PTA Association Meeting #2
Saturday, January 20: Winter Equity Circle series kick-off, 10am-2pm (Library) Dinner and childcare are provided - RSVP here. (Subsequent sessions will be on Thursday evenings through the end of February).
Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!
Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING
You are invited to the January 18, 2024 PTA Association Meeting!
We are proud to present the Workshop topic: POSITIVE PARENTING & DISCIPLINE
Presenter Merlin Edwards II, Educate Me Too Consulting, will share strategies to nurture your student to become strong and resilient as they grow.
Time: 6:30 - 7:15pm
Where: Emerson Library
Childcare & food provided!
We hope to see you there!
EQUITY CORNER
WINTER EQUITY CIRCLE SERIES KICKS OFF IN JANUARY!
The PTA welcomes you to sign up for the Winter Equity Circle. We will meet for six sessions, with a kick-off on January 20, and subsequent meetings on Thursday evenings through February (1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/22, 2/29). Dinner and childcare are provided - RSVP here. Hear from a past participant about her experience participating in a past Equity Circle here: Why Equity Circle? and visit our program site at https://emersonelementary.org/equity.
PTA AFTERSCHOOL CLASSES FOR SPRING 2024
As we head into Winter Break, the PTA Afterschool Classes Team is already planning the Spring 2024 Session!
Our goal is to provide EVERYONE at Emerson with after school on-site care options. PTA Afterschool Classes are a complicated and time-consuming project, which is why some BUSD elementary schools do not even offer PTA Afterschool Classes.
In addition to enrichment, PTA Afterschool Classes provide an unmet need for part-time afterschool care for up to a third of our Emerson families.
Registration: January 12 (subject to change)
Program Dates: January 30 - May 24
REDUCED Schedule: There will only be ONE class after main dismissal (2:25p - 3:25p on M/T/Th/F, 1:30p - 2:30p on Wednesdays)
TK/Kindergarten Classes: 1:30p - 2:20p M/T/W/Th/F (depends on instructor availability)
Instructors: similar to Fall 2023, note that we'll have Spanish Language (not Mandarin)
The number of scholarships depends on paid spots meeting minimum class enrollment. Due to the reduced schedule, there will be fewer scholarships in Spring 2024 compared to Fall 2023. Families can sign up for PTA Afterschool Classes even if they are already enrolled in LEARNS/Kids’ World, and they can request scholarships as well.
Unless noted otherwise, scholarships are funded by each instructor, NOT the PTA (1 scholarship per 6 or 7 paid enrollments), and those spots are held for ONLY scholarships. The Team works with Lily Howell (lilyhowell@berkeley.net) of the Office of Family Engagement and Equity (OFEE) to proactively offer scholarships to families who might not otherwise reach out.
To request a scholarship for your child, please fill out this form:
If you find value in these after school classes providing on-site care for part-time needs, please volunteer to help or lead this program for Spring 2024 and the future. This program cannot continue without the addition of more volunteers, and currently it is short-staffed. Join us at: enrichment@emersonelementary.org
ART CORNER WITH MS. AMES
Even though it doesn't snow in Berkeley, we love to use snowy scenes as an inspiration in art class. There are so many great children's books and other sources of wintry art. Kindergartners created mixed media snow people using paper, buttons, fabric and more. First graders created snow globes by coloring a coffee filter with marker and then spritzing it with water to spread the colors to look a little bit like the Northern Lights.
LCAP LISTENING SESSIONS
BUSD District Leadership will begin hosting listening sessions for the community in January. You are encouraged to attend one of the following listening sessions:
1/10/24, 10am - 12pm (location/format TBD)
1/11/24, 6pm - 8pm (BHS Library)
1/16/24, 6pm - 8pm (Virtual)
1/23/24, 6pm - 8pm (location/format TBD)
What is the LCAP?
A key accountability requirement of the state’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the LCAP is a three-year plan that every district and charter school must create and update annually with input from the community. The LCAP is intended to explain how the district will use state funds to improve educational outcomes for all students based on eight state priorities, with special attention to high-needs students for whom the district receives additional money.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
BUSD Community, we encourage you to join the City of Berkeley in celebrating Black History Month this February!
You can participate in the Black History Month Contest with an original piece of visual art, oral tradition, music, literature, historical exhibit, or dance.
Entries are due by February 3rd, and a community celebration will take place on February 17th, from 12-5 pm at the Henry Ramsey Senior Center.
Cash prizes will be awarded to winning entries! See details in the flyer linked below and reach out to berkeleyblackhistory@gmail.com with any questions.
FIND EMERSON ONLINE
Website: https://emersonelementary.org/
Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)
About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers and posted online at emersonelementary.org.
BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
If you have a news item or announcement to include in the BearFacts News, please send an email to bearfacts@emersonelementary.org. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. Send images as an e-mail attachment and include alt-text. The submission deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2023. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
