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

UPCOMING KEY DATES

Thursday, Nov. 12: TK/ Kinder Tours Begin, 8:30 am

Saturday, Nov. 14, 10am: 🍂 Fall Festival! 🍁 10 am- 1 pm (volunteers needed- sign up Here)

Tuesday, Nov. 17: School Site Council, 6:30 pm, join Google Meet Here

Saturday, Nov. 21: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser (volunteer here)

Monday, Nov. 23- Friday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Break

Saturday, Nov. 28: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser (volunteer here)

Thursday, Dec. 3: Picture Retakes

Friday, Dec. 4 , 8:00am: Coffee On The Yard

Friday, Dec. , 8:30am: All School Meeting (Multipurpose Room)

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.

November All School Meeting

Check out the November All-School Meeting, created by our Videographer, Volunteer Mr. Phil.

Enjoy the wonderful student performances, student shout-outs, and learn more about the Heart of Emerson Fundraising Campaign 2026. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/JkL5Zvu1Yyk

Fall Festival - Saturday, November 14, 2026 [Volunteers Needed!]

To make the day a success, we need volunteer help. Please sign up for a shift here.

Fall Festival - Saturday, November 14, 2026

Join us for our upcoming Fall Festival on Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM—a free, joyful celebration for our entire Emerson community!

HEART OF EMERSON FUNDRAISER

Every dollar funds the things that make Emerson great:

🧷Essential office and campus supervision support

🎪School-wide events for students and their families at no cost

☕️Coffee and treats at every All School Meeting

📚Books and programming for Emerson’s awesome library

A gift of $650 covers the cost for one student. Give today and watch our progress thermometer climb: emersonelementary.org/heart-of-emerson

TK and Kindergarten Tours

Our TK and Kindergarten tours begin on Thursday, November 12th, and will run through Thursday, January 14th.

If you or someone you know is a parent of an incoming student, please have them contact the front office to schedule an in-person tour. Additionally, first-round registration for elementary and middle school for the 2026 school year opens in January.

Visit the district website for complete enrollment details: https://www.berkeleyschools.net/admissions/

Join Us for the December 2nd Equity Shelf!

We’d love to have you join us for the next meeting of Equity Shelf, Emerson’s PTA-sponsored book club on Wednesday, December 2nd!

We had a wonderful conversation at our November gathering, welcoming both new caregivers and returning readers. It was great to see the group growing, and we hope to keep the momentum going! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or coming back for another conversation, we’d love to see you there. Come share your perspectives, hear from others, and connect with fellow Emerson caregivers.

Our next read is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, a gripping dystopian novel set in a near-future America devastated by social and economic collapse. The story follows a teenager determined to build a new community centered on change and possibility. Along the way, it explores survival, faith, leadership, and the pursuit of a more just future amid catastrophe.

Meeting Details

Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 5:30–7:30 PM (Dinner at 5:30 PM; book club discussion begins at 6:00 PM
Location: Emerson Elementary, Library Room

Dinner and childcare will be provided!

Please RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/Dec-2026-Equity-Shelf

[Photo alt text: The November Equity Shelf meeting]

CAL FOOTBALL PARKING FUNDRAISER

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 with The Big Game parking on Saturday, November 21 and Saturday, November 28.

Emerson Picture Day (Retake!) on Thursday, Dec 3, 2026

HELP WITH MORNING AND AFTERNOON DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

Emerson gates open from 8:00–8:10 am, with no supervision before 8:00 am.

Morning Entrances:

Lower Forest Avenue Sliding Gate: Supervised by Principal Holmes and staff. Bikes may be walked in and parked under the breezeway.
Forest Avenue Front Doors: Supervised by Ms. Michelle, Attendance Clerk.

Drop-Off & Traffic Guidelines:

Rolling Drop-Offs: Located on Piedmont Avenue, assisted by volunteer Mr. Bob.
Intersection Crossing: Crossing Guard available at Forest and Piedmont Avenues.
School Bus Zone: Piedmont Avenue drop-off at 8:00 AM.

Safety & Courtesy: Please obey speed limits and traffic signs. Do not double park or make illegal U-turns, and remain courteous during drop-off and pick-up.

Food Pantry - Monday, Nov. 16, 2026 at Malcolm X Elementary

On Monday, November 16th, OFEE and BFN will host a food pantry at Malcolm X Elementary School, 1:30 p.m.- 3 p.m.

Families and staff are welcome to pick up fresh produce, frozen items, and shelf-stable groceries.

EMERSON FUNDRAISER - Shop at Five Little Monkeys November 1-15!

The Five Little Monkeys fundraiser kicks off next week! Shop between November 1-15 and they will donate 15% of the pre-tax total back to Emerson. Shop in person or online using EMERSON2026.

Take advantage of free delivery over $100 and free in-store pick-up when shopping online.

Five Little Monkeys offers free gift wrapping and a unique selection of educational toys, games and books for children. Stock up on birthday gifts, holiday gifts, and more!

Support Emerson and a local business at the same time - see flier for details:

HOLIDAY GIFT CARD FUND: SUPPORT BUSD FAMILIES

Holiday Gift Card Fund: Support BUSD Families

BUSD's Office of Family Engagement & Equity (OFEE) asks for your support of our annual Holiday Gift Card Campaign. Help us raise $25,000 to provide $50 gift cards to district families facing added financial strain and the loss of school meals during winter break. Every dollar directly supports BUSD students and their families. Thank you for considering!

"The holiday gift card program brings me a tremendous sense of relief and comfort during some of the most challenging times of the year. Knowing that my family is valued and included reminds me that we truly belong to a community built on compassion and generosity."

- BUSD Parent & Holiday Gift Card Recipient

We ask for your generous support of this year's Gift Card fund. Donations can be made HERE.

The Berkeley Public Schools Fund is proud to be the fiscal sponsor for this program.

PTA CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

We are still looking for volunteers for:

Finance Team
Volunteer Coordinator
Safe Routes to School Liaison (for Spring events)
Movie Night

Many hands make light work! If you are interested in Volunteering with the PTA, fill out: Our Back to School Questionnaire or just get in touch.

Rachel Terp: president@emersonelementary.org

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.

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/

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 - 11.12.2026