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 Holidays and New Year 2022! We have a busy week ahead of us as we prepare for Winter Break. This is a good time to thank you for your generosity in spirit, support, and donations during the first portion of the school year. We couldn't do this important work without your partnership!
As you know, we experienced an uptick in COVID-19 cases after the Thanksgiving break. Please keep in mind the CDC and Alameda County Office Education Travel Advice, which can be found here. In summary, unvaccinated individuals should quarantine for at least 7 days, and take a Covid test before returning to school. According to the CDC, one is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the second shot in a two-series Covid vaccination schedule. Your absences will be excused due to post-travel quarantine; just be sure to let Leahlopez@berkeley.net know.
We are pleased to send home the IHealth Home Covid Rapid Test with every student prior to Winter Break. These kits are provided by the Alameda County Office of Education in partnership with the City of Berkeley Health Department. We are asking each family to voluntarily give their student the Rapid Test twice before returning to school. The first test should be administered on Thursday and the second on Sunday prior to the return to school on Monday, January 3. If the result is positive, you should NOT send your child to school, but alert the Emerson office and follow up with a PCR test from your physician, local health pharmacy, or the testing center at Berkeley Adult School. The testing center at Berkeley Adult School will be open all day, extended hours, on Monday, January 3, and Tuesday, January 4. You can reach me at Janaholmes@berkeley.net with questions regarding positive covid cases during the Winter Break. I will check my emails periodically.
The Superintendent’s Office will begin vaccination requirement messaging after Winter Break. Families who have not submitted their vaccination information are encouraged to do so via email to vax@berkeley.net. The Grades 6- 12 vaccination deadline is January 3. Grades K-5 have a March vaccination deadline. You can read the district vaccination policy here: District Vaccination Policy.
Big Shout out to all the families who have donated to the Berkeley Schools Fund, who partnered with the Office of Family Engagement and Equity to donate to Emerson families in need. Due to your donations, we were able to provide holiday gift cards to 20 families in need during this holiday season. This is truly a generous and caring community, and we thank you for spreading joy. A Big Smile to the local organization, Our City Center, for donating additional gift cards and toys to Emerson families. We appreciate Lily Howell, OFEE Coordinator, who managed these gift-giving efforts.
Our holiday wish for your family is health, happiness, and safety.
Sincerely,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
December 20 - 31: Winter Break - 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.
2022 Read-a-Thon: Seeking Parent Volunteers
The 2022 Read-a-Thon team (Jeannie Wang - Emerson Literacy Coach and Ashleigh Kanat - 4th grade parent) is looking for some additional help this year as we start planning the Spring Read-a-Thon, which will be in March. We're looking for help coordinating reading logs and entering minutes and helping with prizes. The time commitment for one or two volunteers will include a few planning meetings in February and then about 5 to 10 hours, spread out in March. This is a much-loved, community-building fundraiser that encourages READING. Please join us! Contact ashleigh.kanat@gmail.com for more information.
Please Donate Clothing to the Emerson Office
The Emerson office requests any and all donations of spare bottoms, preferably unisex, boys and girls sweatpants sizes 7-12.
The office will also gladly accept returned clothes they have loaned students so far this year.
HOLIDAY APPRECIATIONS
Here is more gratitude for all the ways our Emerson community has said thank-you to all the adults who make Emerson such a special place. So many of you have opted into contributing to your grade level collections and/or to the school-wide collection. A big thank you to our Grade Parents for taking on collections in their grade communities, and to Michelle Medeiros for leading our school-wide collection. Together, we are able to wish each Emerson Staff a happy holiday as they round out this unprecedented fall season. Staff always appreciate the special notes and small treats prepared by their Emerson students, so keep those coming too!
WHERE'S WALDO - EMERSON'S COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Did you know our school directory can be found on our school website? Playdates, ride shares, resource sharing and more can be possible when Where’s Waldo is complete! It’s all available securely online and printable. Paper submissions are being updated as they come. If you have not done so already, please create an account to access the directory, make your own updates, and adjust your preferences by using the email you provided. Click here for the steps to joining Where's Waldo! Questions: email emersonschoolnews@gmail.com
STEM Ambassador Tutoring Program - Free
The CalTeach program is a teaching credential program for STEM majors at UC Berkeley. Free virtual tutoring program grew out of an effort to meet the needs many families currently have while they are at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, during the transition back to in-person, free virtual tutoring through the STEM Ambassador Enrichment Program will continue online in the spring serving K-12 students. If you are interested, sign-up HERE.
Questions? Contact CalTeach Student Services Coordinator by email: advising_calteach@berkeley.edu.
COVID Vaccine and Testing Resources
COVID vaccinations are available at a number of locations within our community. Please review and share this document for vaccine and testing locations often. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available. If you have information to add to this list, please email emersonequitypta@gmail.com.
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