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MONTHLY MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Emerson Families,

Students have a legal right to a safe education, free from harassment. The office has copies of the BUSD School Board Policy 5111.5, which prohibits Immigration activity on campus. If you or someone you know needs help, we encourage you to reach out to Lilyhowell@berkeley.net, the Family Engagement and Equity Coordinator.

Berkeley Unified School District and Emerson continue to honor the history and achievements of Black Americans during Black History Month. As recognized through the School Board’s Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter (2020). We invite caregivers to use the updated Black Lives Matter Reading Lists on our library website! These reading lists, organized by grade level, feature recently published books that cultivate Black joy, pride, and love and celebrate the incredible contributions and history of the Black community. Most of these books are available in our library as physical and/or ebooks. Clicking on a book cover will bring you to an ebook, if one is available. Enjoy!

Emerson students are encouraged to participate in our Black History Oratorical Contest. This year’s theme is 100 years of Black History. The Emerson Competition will take place during the March 7 All-School Meeting. As in years past, we will assemble a panel of Emerson judges to honor our site participants.

Come join us- it’s not too late to build community through the Emerson Equity Circle. Meetings are held in the Library on alternating Wednesday evenings throughout February and early March. This year, a book study is facilitated by Educational Consultant Pamela Harrison Small. Dinner and childcare for Emerson students are provided at each session. It is not too late to join. RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/EquityCircle2026

We are pleased to host an Author Visit in Emerson Library on Wednesday, February 26th, from 6:00- 6:45 pm. Marissa McGee will read her book “Free the Curls, “which is an empowering book about a young African American girl. Light refreshments will be served. We hope you will join us. You can learn more about the book and author here.

Students will receive the mid-year assessment scores on Thursday, Feb. 5, and Second-trimester report cards on Thursday, February 19th. Please check your child’s Look Folder and backpack, and if you have any questions, please reach out to your student's teacher.

Take care,
Principal Holmes

UPCOMING EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Friday, Feb. 6: PTA Coffee on the Yard, 8:00am

Friday, Feb. 6: All School Meeting, 8:30 - 9:30am (Multi-purpose Room)

Tuesday, Feb. 10: PTA Board Meeting, 7:00 pm (virtual)

Friday, Feb. 13: Lincoln's Birthday Holiday; No School

Monday, Feb. 16: Presidents Day Holiday; No School

Thursday, Feb. 19: “I am a Performer” Music Assembly, 8:20am caregivers welcome (Multi-Purpose Room)

Thursday, Feb. 26: Black History Month Read a Loud: “Free the Curls” read a loud by Marissa Mc Gree, 6:00- 6:45 pm (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.

LIBRARY CORNER

The Black Lives Matter Reading Lists have been updated on our library website! These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent books published recently that are devoted to cultivating Black joy, pride and love, and celebrating the incredible contributions and history of the Black community.

Winter Equity Circle: Jan. 28 - April 8, 2026

The PTA Equity Team is excited to invite you to be part of the 2026 Equity Circle! This is a warm, welcoming space where Emerson families, caregivers, and staff come together every two weeks to learn, discuss, listen, and take action toward equity in education.

With guidance from Ms. Pamela Harrison-Small, Racial Justice and Educational Equity Strategist, we’ll explore identity, talk about academic gaps by race at our school and in the district, and build community-driven solutions that help every student thrive.

Next Sessions: Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 11, Mar 26, Apr 8 (from 6 - 8 pm) (Emerson Library)
Dinner and childcare (for Emerson students) will be provided.

We’d love for you to come to all the sessions—but even if you can only make a few, we’d be thrilled to have you!

Please RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/EquityCircle2026 so we can plan food and childcare.

Heart of Emerson T-Shirt Orders

Hey Emerson community, get your t-shirts here!! To celebrate meeting our Heart of

Emerson fundraising goal, each student/staff member can order a FREE t-shirt!

Extra t-shirts can be ordered for $15 each.

Fill out the order form to claim your free shirt and specify your desired size(s).

https://tinyurl.com/EMERSONtshirt2026

Orders will be taken through Thursday, 2/19 so don’t delay!

Email fundraising@emersonelementary.org with any questions.

check out our new EMERSON FAMILY DIRECTORY!

You can access the new ONLINE Family Directory here:

https://emersonelementary.org/directory

Anyone who is in the directory can log in via Google or Yahoo to access. Note that anyone, not just Gmail users, can create a Google account with their existing email address to access.

Families can submit their information or updates via the "Update Your Information" link. Responses are manually reviewed by our webmaster before access is provided.

This is a new platform and a work in progress. Please email us with any questions or concerns at communications@emersonelementary.org

The Family Directory is organized by the Emerson Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The Emerson Elementary Family Directory is a tool for families to coordinate and communicate. For example, families have used the Family Directory to coordinate carpools and playdates outside of school hours.

The Family Directory is not used by Emerson Elementary School administration to contact families; School Administration communications are sent using the Remind Application

FIND EMERSON ONLINE

Website: https://emersonelementary.org/

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

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 - 2.05.2026