Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com
Message from the Principal
Dear Emerson Families,
Happy Halloween, Días de los Muertos, and Welcome to Fall. With the welcome rains, it seems that we can finally say goodbye to the fire season. We anticipate the approval of the Pfizer vaccine very soon, and BUSD is working to set up Saturday Vaccination clinics at several Elementary Schools. Once we have more information we will share it. In the meantime, thank you for your vigilance to keep our children and community safe.
Let us continue to keep sick children home from school. Please let Ms. Michelle, Attendance Clerk (leahlopez@berkeley.net), and your child’s teacher know of any absences. The office staff will let you know the steps to return a sick child to school, which include either a supervised negative covid test result or a doctor’s note of clearance. You may now take your child to get a supervised COVD test in the back parking lot of the Berkeley Adult School, Monday through Friday, from 2:00- 4:30 pm. These are rapid tests that do qualify to return a child to school if negative. Forward copies of the results to Ms. Gaby (Gabriellaparra@berkeley.net or Ms. Michelle (Leahlopez@berkeley.net).
Please keep in mind that Parent Conferences take place this week, and we will not have school on Friday. We hope you found the time to connect with your child’s teacher useful. We enjoy partnering with you.
We want to thank the PTA, for the many ways they have supported our school community. When the school busses were out of commission last week, our parents offered each other rides and made sure each child made it safely to school. In addition, projects have been completed around the school, such as the Días de los Muertos Ofrenda, which is a Latinx cultural tradition, honoring deceased loved ones with a beautiful altar. The PTA closet was also cleaned out and organized by a team of parents. Last, but not least, PTA Volunteers host the Cal Football Parking for each home game, which raises money for the school. Thank you, parents, for your dedication and support to our school!
This past month we also kicked off several of our student clubs/activities. Ms. Salyk is leading a group of students who are interested in environmentalism in a Climate Action Committee. Coach Robinson is training a group of 5th Grade students to be a Restorative Peace Team during Kindergarten through 3rd grade recesses. Office of Family Engagement / Equity Lead, Lily Howell and I met with our 5th Grade Student Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC group gives advice about how to make the campus safer and inclusive for all students. The SAC will plan student Equity Based activities for this year. And as always, we celebrate our students through the Students Performances, Caught Being Good Rewards, and Student Shout Outs, highlighted in the All School Meetings.
Finally, I want to thank the parents who met last week for our first School Site Council Meeting. Betsy Hayes was elected as Chairperson and Karla Crowley Schlags as Secretary. We reviewed how the COVID-19 funds provided by the state and federal government are being used at Emerson. We will meet once a month, on the second Monday, from 6 -7 pm. Stay tuned for Zoom link invites, as the school community is welcome to attend.
Have a good long weekend, with no school on Friday, Oct. 29.
Take care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Week of October 25: Parent Teacher Conferences - MINIMUM DAYS (Kindergarten students will be released at 12:30, grades 1-5 will be released at 1:10)
Thursday, October 28: Halloween Parade 8:45 - 9:10 am
Friday, October 29: Parent Teacher Conferences (NO SCHOOL for Students)
Saturday, October 30: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - 1st Grade
Thursday, November 11: Veterans’ Day (NO SCHOOL)
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.
Heart of Emerson: Art Video and CD Heart Pictures
Donate to the Heart of Emerson fundraising campaign! Every dollar counts! The PTA spends $680 PER STUDENT on programs like Art and PE and family engagement opportunities. If you can, please pay $680 PER STUDENT or more to cover for other students. Check out this heartwarming video of students sharing their perspective about Art. In addition, students created CD hearts in Art class that are installed on the fence around the Emerson school yard. Special thanks to Michelle Falise for the CD art installation and Mr. Phil for putting the Art video together (with a big thank you to Ms. Davis's class for their participation). Thanks in advance for your support!
Third Graders honor Dia de los Muertos in art class.
After reviewing what we already knew about Dia de los Muertos, 3rd graders enjoyed seeing photos that Ms. Ames took a few years ago when she visited Oaxaca, Mexico for Muertos. They drew their own "calaveras" (skulls) and then decorated them with marker and tissue paper "pops."
Berkeley, Escucha, Estamos En La Lucha: Uplifting our Legacies of Resilience & Resistance
Thursday, October 28th | 7:00-8:30pm Zoom Link
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, join us for a panel discussion followed by Q&A. Panelists will explore the meaning of Latinidad in our classrooms and how we can teach with Latinx student success at the forefront. We will hear testimonios from our comunidad to better understand the lived experience of Latinx educators, students, and families. In addition, we will discuss why enhancing the climate and culture in our schools not only benefits Latinx students but all students. This event will provide an opportunity to learn more—directly from BUSD’s Latinx community—what this month is meant to honor. Click here for more information.
Filipinx American History Month
October 25 is Larry Itliong Day in California to honor the Filipino labor leader who led the great Delano grape strike in 1965. Larry Itliong immigrated to the United States in 1929 when he was 15 years old. He had wanted to be a lawyer, however he faced racial discrimination that barred him from his dream. He worked as a farm laborer and over time, he recognized how poorly the Filipino workers were paid. Larry started organizing farm workers to demand fair wages and became a Filipino-American labor leader.
In 1965, Larry Itliong led the famous Delano grape strike. He convinced Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, leaders of the National Farm Workers Association, to join the strike. The two organizations merged to form the United Farm Workers (UFW) and both Filipinos and Mexicans fought together for fair wages. During the strike, households stopped buying grapes and union workers in California dockyards let non-union grapes rot in port. The Delano grape strike lasted for 5 years and ended when new labor contracts were signed that included pay increases and health benefits.
This strike was an incredible moment in American history for social and economic justice because it demonstrated the effectiveness of boycotts, strength in unions, and working together for the greater good. The UFW set the working standards for farm workers across the United States.
Enjoy this song: "Our Friend Larry Itliong" by AJ Rafael
BUSD AAPI Survey Due Oct 31
BUSD Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) invite you to take this brief survey about community safety and access to district resources. This survey is for students, staff, alumni, and caregivers of all ethnic/racial backgrounds with a focus on AAPI community needs and experiences. Survey responses are due by October 31, 2021. Personal data will be kept confidential. Questions can be directed to busdaapis@gmail.com
Translated SURVEY LINKS below as available >> Click to begin:
English Survey
Chinese Survey
Farsi Survey (intro only)
Hindi Survey
Korean Survey
Japanese Survey
Spanish Survey
Thai - Survey
Vietnamese Survey
More information about BUSD AAPIs and the survey: This group was established earlier this year during the Spring 2021 in response to increasing anti-Asian harassment in Berkeley and across the nation. We are releasing this community survey to better understand the extent to which racism and xenophobia have impacted the experiences of Asian Americans at BUSD. We hope this data will also help guide our work with BUSD leadership to identify possible solutions that would improve your and your family’s experience and safety in BUSD.
The primary audience for this survey is AAPI students (ages 5-18), families, teachers and staff at BUSD. However, allies of the AAPI community are also welcome and encouraged to respond with their perspective. Please help us spread the word about this survey to those who you think would be interested.
How to Connect!
Do you want to talk to another parent about Emerson, learn ways to connect with other families and support the school? Here are four things you can do:
1) Visit the PTA table on Friday mornings at drop-off!
2) Set up your profile in Where’s Waldo, Emerson’s online family directory.
3) Join the PTA .
4) Learn about the Heart of Emerson campaign!
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.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 emerson.berkeleypta.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 emersonschoolnews@gmail.com. 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. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2021. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705