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UPCOMING KEY DATES

Friday, September 11: School Site Council Nominations close at Noon

Saturday, September 12: Black to School Event at Willard Middle School

Saturday, September 19: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser

Saturday, September 25: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser

Wednesday, September 30: Equity Shelf Book Club 5:30-7:30, Library

Saturday, October 2: All-School Meeting and PTA Coffee on the Yard 8:30 am

October 26- October 29: Parent Teacher Conferences and Minimum Day ALL WEEK

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.

Thank you, Volunteer Mr. Phil!

The September All-School Meeting featured a special tribute to our very own Phil Spielberg, who has dedicated countless hours to supporting the Emerson Community as our Videographer and supplier of the "Caught Being Good" rewards. We truly appreciate him and are excited to continue our partnership. Take a moment to review the All-School Meeting and hear from both current and retired community members who share how much Mr. Phil enhances our community. We had a wonderful time singing a special song for him and listening to his former students and current staff members, Mr. Asante and Mr. Taveo. Click here to check it out.

Nominations for School Site Council and Planning & Oversight Committee Representative

We are actively seeking parent and community members to fill key leadership roles for the 2026–2027 school year. Nominations close on Friday, September 11, 2026.

School Site Council (SSC): Oversees and approves the Single Plan for Student Achievement while managing state and federal fund allocations. SSC meets monthly via Google Meet, with a mandatory district-wide committee training scheduled for Thursday, October 8, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Planning & Oversight (P&O) Committee Representative: We need one representative to review district plans and budgets for over $33 million in BSEP local tax funding, as well as revenue generated by the BERRA tax supporting BUSD educator recruitment and retention.

To submit a nomination or learn more, please complete the at bit.ly/EmersonSSCNom

Marcella Bella Glass at the Solano Stroll, 9/13

Did you know that our incredible Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Bella, is also a talented artist?!

Come see Ms. Bella's beautiful stained-glass artwork at the Solano Stroll on Saturday, September 13th! Her booth will be at Solano Avenue and Tulare Avenue.

Equity Shelf Book Club!

Join us on Wednesday, September 30th for the first meeting of the 2nd annual Equity Shelf, Emerson’s PTA-Sponsored Book Club! We’ll explore books that inspire conversations about equity and community. Participating in Equity Shelf is a great way to meet fellow Emerson caregivers and build community!

Our first read is The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee.

First Meeting: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Dinner at 5:30 PM; Book Club starts at 6:00 PM)

Location: Emerson Elementary, Library Room

Dinner and Childcare will be provided!
Please RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/September-Equity-Shelf

Apply for School Meal Benefits by Sep. 30th

We need your help! Every year we ask all students to complete the free and reduced lunch application form even if you believe that you do not qualify. The funds we receive from the state and federal government help support school interventions. The application is due by September 30th. Apply Online for School Meal Benefits by scanning the QR code or going to https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx.

SEPTEMBER IS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH

Do your best to have your child to school on time each day by 8:00 am.

The gate closes at 8:10 am and breakfast is served.

Instruction begins promptly at 8:20 am each day.

Check out this infographic that shows data to support the importance of each day of schooling, especially important in the foundational early elementary years

If your child needs to miss school, call or email the attendance clerk at Leahlopez@berkeley.net

EMERSON FALL BEUTIFICATION FAMILY PROJECT

Come join Gardening Teacher Ms. Jeannette to spruce up the Emerson garden area and playground.

Meet on Saturday, September 26, to spread mulch in the garden area.

Time: 10 am - Noon

Who: Emerson Families

CAL FOOTBALL PARKING FUNDRAISER IS HERE!

Emerson is in the unique position that we can open our blacktop and charge cars to park for Cal Football games!

We have a dedicated list of annual patrons who give back to our school by parking here, instead of elsewhere.

Our football parking fundraiser should earn $15,000+ for the school, which goes toward field trips,

materials and supplies, and much more. We need volunteers to work the fundraiser on game days.

Please sign up for a block of time, and you will receive directions before the event.

If you have questions, you can direct them to: anna.thanukos@emersonelementary.org.

We need your help to make this happen!

Sign up here: bit.ly/EmersonParkingFun

We need help on Saturday, September 19, as well as other days throughout the fall.

PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Emerson Families Old and New:

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the PTA's First Association Meeting after Back to School Night. If you are interested in Volunteering with the PTA, fill out: Our Back to School Questionnaire or just get in touch.

And remember you can also connect by signing up for:

● Family Directory: emerson-family-directory.web.app

● Your grade's WhatsApp group - Ask around!

● BearFacts Newsletter - emersonelementary.org/bearfacts-signup

● Emerson PTA calendar and sync it to your own - emersonelementary.org/calendar

● SignUp Genius volunteering app -signupgenius.com/register#/registration

Yours,

Rachel Terp

Emerson PTA President

president@emersonelementary.org

Thank you!

The Emerson PTA hosted a delicious staff lunch last Friday.

What a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend and commemorate our first All-School Meeting of the Year!

The burritos, sides, drinks and desserts were yummy and there was plenty.

Take a look at the Office of Family Engagement and Equity Newsletter:

Click HERE for the Newsletter

or scan the QR code

Save the Date: Willard Middle School Black to School

You are invited to the Black to School Event at Willard Middle School

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Location: Willard Middle School

2425 Stuart Street

Update your student's emergency information in the district Infinite Campus Portal

Each year we ask all parents to complete the Annual Update process in IC to ensure that we have the most up-to-date emergency contact and health information.

We also distribute important notices and collect important documents through this process.

While we have been sending weekly reminders to all parents who have not yet completed it, as of today, only about 60% of parents districtwide have started or completed this process.

Here are the directions to update your information: bit.ly/4y6W7g6

check out our new EMERSON FAMILY DIRECTORY!

You can access the new ONLINE Family Directory at: 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 - 9.10.2026