BearFacts News - 4.10.2025

 
 

Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com


MONTHLY MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Emerson Families, 

We are in the final stretch of the school year! With just nine weeks left, let’s finish strong. Past experience has shown that students make strong academic strides in the spring, which sets them up for success the next school year. For this progress to happen, your child needs to be at school on time and regularly. Let’s build on the momentum from the March Madness Attendance Challenge and continue to show up for school no later than 8:10 am each day. Don’t forget to notify our friendly Attendance Clerk, Leahlopez@berkeley.net when your child stays home sick, has a medical appointment, or other excusable absence. 

Staff will administer the Literacy and Math Spring Assessments in April. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 will take the DIBELS reading fluency test. In addition, students in Grades 3-5 will take the STAR reading and math assessments. It is important for students to participate in these assessments so we can monitor academic progress and create support plans.

Keep an eye out for Summer School registration. Due to funding constraints, space will be limited this year. Registration for the after school program, Kids World, will also open soon. Families are asked to register for the after school program every year, whether they are a current participant or not. As in the past, Kids World will have limited space available. 

You may be aware that BUSD is facing 8 million dollars in budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year. The PTA has created a plan to support our school community. We will present and vote on the plan at the PTA Association Meeting on Tuesday, April 29, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Emerson Library. We will also enjoy a special presentation from BUSD Instructional Technology Teacher on Special Assignment, Jennifer Nguyen. The workshop is titled Students and Technology: A Discussion on Using Technology at Home, Tips for Balancing Media Use, and Ways to Keep Students Safe. Childcare will be provided for Emerson students. We hope you will join us. 

Thank you for your support, 

Jana Holmes 


UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Friday, April 11, 8:00 am: PTA-Sponsored Coffee on the Yard (Emerson blacktop)

Friday, April 11, 8:30 am: All School Meeting (Multi-Purpose Room)

Tuesday, April 15, 6:30 pm: School Site Council. Join us via Google Meet here: https://tinyurl.com/EmersonSiteCouncil

Thursday, April 17, 7- 9 pm: Parent's Night Out, at 5 Tacos & Beers (2914 College Ave.) RSVP: Events@EmersonElementary.org. Brought to you by the Emerson PTA 

Friday, April 18, 8:30 - 9:30 am: Science Assembly for students, presented by the Lawrence Hall of Science

Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: BUSD Climate Fair (Willard Middle School

Saturday, April 26, 10:00 - 11:30 am: African American Success Framework, Middle School Transition Fair (MLK Jr. Middle School, 1781 Rose St., Berkeley

Sunday, April 27, 1:00 - 3:00 pm: BUSD Rainbow Families Playdate (Berkeley Arts Magnet Elementary School, 2015 Virginia St, Berkeley)

Sunday, April 27, 2:00 pm: Emerson Earth Day Campus Clean Up, (Emerson Playground & Garden Areas)

Tuesday, April 29, 6:00 - 7:15 pm: PTA Association Meeting, Topic: Your Student and Tech, by Jennifer Nguyen, BUSD Instructional Technology (Emerson Library)

Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!

Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.


PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

READ-A-THON UPDATE

You read in your sneakers, you read in your socks,
You read in the library curled up like a fox.
You read about heroes, and planets, and bees,
About oceans and potions and tall, twisty trees!

From fantasy lands to nonfiction delight,
You read in the morning, and you read at night.
You read during recess (what fun! What a feat!),
And sometimes while munching a lunchtime treat!

So, here’s to the readers, and those who inspired—
The caregivers, teachers, and friends who never tired.
Emerson, hooray! What a wonderful crew—
This Read-A-Thon magic was all thanks to you!

Congratulations to the Emerson readers and all those who supported them! Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 readers in each grade at the next all school meeting on Friday, April 11th. We’ll also have class prizes and an all-school prize! Details to come.

If you’d still like to donate, or have friends and family who would like to, please forward this link far and wide: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/emersonele2025 

Donations will be accepted until April 28th.

Way to go Emerson!

Questions: contact Ms. Thomaes at  marieevethomaes@berkeley.net 


Emerson yearbook

Emerson Yearbooks from the past five years.

https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/Emerson2025GoBearCubs

If families need help paying for the yearbook, please reach out to Lilyhowell@berkeley.net.

Questions:  Contact Agnes Kwan (agnesandmike2013@gmail.com

and Aly Mostel (aly@alymostel.com).


PARENT’S NIGHT OUT on Thursday, April 17th

Hosted by the Emerson PTA Community Team 

Hey Emerson Parents! 

Join your fellow parents (Daisy - 3rd, Elise - 3rd & K, Maddy - 1st, and Steph - 1st) for a fun and casual Parents' Night Out at:

  • 5 Tacos & Beers on College Ave.

  • Thursday, April 17th

  • 7:00–9:00 PM

Enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar while you mix, mingle, and make new parent pals!

This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to feel more connected within our school community.

RSVP or reach out with questions at: events@emersonelementary.org

Want to get more involved with the PTA? We’d love to chat!


Emerson earth day CAMPUS CLEANUP

Image of two individuals picking up trash near water (lake or river).

EQUITY CORNER

ARAB AMERICAN & SOUTH ASIAN, SOUTHWEST ASIAN, NORTH AFRICAN (SSWANA) HERITAGE MONTH

In April, as part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, we continue the celebration of Arab American & South Asian, Southwest Asian, North African (SSWANA) Heritage Month at BUSD. Together we recognize and uplift the Arab American and SSWANA communities that contribute so much to the strength of BUSD and recognize their many contributions made locally and around the country. 

Arab American & SSWANA Heritage Month Resources

Visit the district’s Arab American and SSWANA Heritage Month Resources web page where you will find reading lists by grade level, family guides for celebrating Arab American & SSWANA Heritage Month, teaching resources, staff posters, and much more.

READING LISTS:


District-sponsored events

Movie Poster. City landmarks/buildings in background. Person in a wheelchair with communication device.
Images of students. Image of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School entrance.

FIND EMERSON ONLINE

Website: https://emersonelementary.org/

Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb

Where’s Waldo School Directory: emersonberkeleypta.membershiptoolkit.com

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 © 2025. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

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