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MONTHLY MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Emerson Families,

Happy New Year! We are excited to welcome you back to Emerson. We will kick the year off with a PTA-sponsored Coffee on the Yard Friday morning at 8:00 am, followed by the January All School Meeting at 8:30 am. We hope you can join us. Later this month, students will celebrate the Lunar New Year with a special Lion Dance and Percussion performance by Leung’s White Crane Association.

As our world continues to change, many in our community are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress. In response, the PTA is sponsoring an Association Meeting with the topic of “Supporting Student Anxiety” on Thursday, January 23rd at 5:30 pm in the Emerson Library. Join us to learn about strategies to support your child. Mel Darling, Emerson School-Based Therapist, will be our presenter. In addition, Emerson staff will receive their training, which will equip us with strategies to help regulate stressed-out students and de-escalate triggers. Working together, we can support our community as we adjust to the complexities of our times.

We look forward to celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, January 17th. You are invited to join us for a gathering in the Multi-Purpose Room at 8:30 am. We will honor his legacy by singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, by James Weldon Johnson, which is widely recognized as the Black National Anthem. Afterwards, we will march off campus down College Avenue, with our banners and signs, in honor of the holiday. We invite you to partner with us to highlight the importance of this day and Dr. King’s lasting impact.

As we celebrate the 100th Day of School on Thursday, January 30th, take a moment to consider the next school year. Prospective Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Families are invited to an Informational meeting on Thursday, January 16th at 6 pm in the Emerson Library. This is an opportunity to meet these Teachers, Administration and Interventionists. Families enrolling rising TK/ Kinder or 6th-grade students should follow the district registration guidelines closely. The first Round of applications are due between January 6 and February 7, 2025. Please visit https://www.berkeleyschools.net/admissions/ for more information.

Thank you for your support of Emerson,

Jana Holmes

UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Friday, January 10, 8:00 am: PTA Coffee On The Yard (Emerson blacktop)

Friday, January 10, 8:30 am: January All School Meeting (Multipurpose Room)

Thursday, January 16, 6:00 pm: TK/Kindergarten Info Night (Emerson Library)

Friday, January 17, 8:30 am: MLK Jr. Celebration and March (Emerson Library and off-campus)

Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (NO SCHOOL)

Thursday, January 23, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: PTA Association Meeting with special talk, “Supporting Student Anxiety” (Emerson Library)

Monday, January 27: Staff Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)

Friday, Jan. 31, 8:30 am: English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting (Emerson Library)

Friday, Jan. 31, 6 - 8:00 pm: PTA Movie Night, Kinder - 2nd Graders only

Saturday, February 1: Winter Equity Circle Kick Off

Friday, February 7, 8:30 am: All School Meeting and Emerson Oratorical Contest

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.

2025 BUSD ORATORICAL CONTEST

Students in Grades 3-5 are invited to participate in the BUSD Oratorical Contest. The first BUSD Black History Oratorical Fest Competition was held in 2018 with the purpose of uplifting Blackness while providing Berkeley students with an opportunity to shine through public speaking. Students recited published or original speeches, skits, spoken word, and poems from educators, entrepreneurs, government officials, and other authors related to that year’s theme. This year’s theme is the Harlem Renaissance. Students who wish to participate should connect with Lily Howell, Emerson’s OFEE representative, for more details.

The Emerson contest will take place during the February All School Meeting on February 7th. The finalists will compete in the annual district contest, which is in March 2025.

ART CORNER

5th GRADE PAPER SCULPTURES INSPIRED BY CHARLES MCGEE

Charles McGee was a Detroit-based artist whose art was inspired by nature, even though it was often black and white and did not look recognizable. He was interested in all of the contrasts of nature– dark and light, tiny and huge, organic and geometric. Using just Sharpies and paper, 5th grade artists created many different patterned papers focusing on contrasts, or differences.

The students then cut the paper into strips and glued them onto mat boards to create these cool relief sculptures.

TWO UPCOMING BUSD EVENTS

LOCAL FILM PREMIERE OF "COUNTED OUT" AT OXFORD ELEMENTARY

As a part BUSD’s Meeting of Math Minds initiative, BUSD is hosting a free community screening & discussion of the film “Counted Out” on Thursday, January 30th, 5:30-8:30 pm in the Oxford Elementary auditorium (2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley). The film shines a light on math as the foundation of democracy and economic opportunity.

Watch the trailer and register for your free spot here. Flyer can be viewed here.

BUSD can’t wait to see you at the Oxford Auditorium on January 30th!

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY COMMUNITY LISTENING AND LEARNING SESSION (K-12)

BUSD will host the fourth elementary school literacy community listening session in BAM’s library on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 5:30pm. This event will be an opportunity for community members to learn more about our second pilot curriculum. RSVP form HERE

Free Behavioral Health Coaching for Families with kids age 0-12

BrightLife Kids, a CalHOPE program by Brightline, provides free behavioral health coaching to all California families with kids between the ages of 0-12. No costs attached. No insurance required. No referrals needed.

Video or chat-based 1:1 coaching
Diverse, bilingual coaches
On-demand digital tools
Coach specialists to manage complex needs and referrals

Soluna, a CalHOPE program by Kooth, is the all in one mental health app for California youth and young adults to destress, reset, and seek support. Always free. Always anonymous.

Scheduled or drop in 1:1 coaching
Diverse, bilingual coaches
Interactive and sightful tools
Moderated community forum, self-support articles and more

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.

BearFacts News - 01.09.25