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 St. Patrick's Day! This week marked a major shift in the pandemic. For the first time, in two years, masks have become optional for students and staff. This change in policy follows the recommendations of the California and Berkeley Health departments. Masking is still “strongly encouraged” and many staff and students continue to wear them, especially inside the school. As a staff, we have discussed this change with the students, while emphasizing how important it is to respect each individual’s decision. Please partner with us to have similar conversations at home, to clarify your expectations regarding masking. We will continue to conduct COVID testing on Fridays, wash and sanitize frequently, use air purifiers, and eat indoors (weather permitting).
We hope you are enjoying the Read-a-Thon and that you are able to log your child’s progress on the tracking sheet through Sunday, March 20th. Remember all independent reading that is not part of the assigned classroom reading counts, including homework, during lunchtime, Kids Worlds, and weekends. Our goal is 100% participation. The Read-a-Thon is a fun and academic fundraiser for Emerson. Big Smile to Ms. Jeannie, Ms. Rachel, and PTA Volunteers Ms. Kanat and Ms. Paine. It’s wonderful to see this Emerson tradition continue!
Don’t forget we are accepting submissions for the BUSD-Sponsored Oratorical Festival. This year’s theme is “Get up, Speak Up, Demonstrate Black Resilience and Joy.” If you have questions or your student has a video submission, please email Emerson’s OFEE Coordinator, Lilyhowell@berkeley.net by Thursday, March 31, at the latest. For more information, here is the flier.
Mark your calendars for the Cesar Chavez Day Celebration on Wednesday, March 23rd at 8:30 am. We are thrilled that Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno (BFM) will be on campus for a live presentation. Last year we were happy to broadcast them during a special Zoom meeting, and this year will be even better in person. The mission of BFM is to empower and educate the general public by providing a greater understanding and appreciation for Mexican culture and folklore through music, dance, and traditional art forms. We invite the Emerson Parents to join us outside, on the playground, for this PTA-sponsored event.
Please check your child’s backpack for report cards, which will be sent home this afternoon (Thursday). If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your child’s teacher via email or a phone call.
Thank you for your support and take care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
March 11-20: Emerson Read-a-Thon
March 29: Listening Circle for Parents & Caregivers of Children of Arab American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American Heritage
May 7: Emerson Move-a-Thon (formerly called “Walkathon”)
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.
Read-a-Thon is underway
Emerson students - you rock! You’re challenging yourselves and discovering new types of books to read. Keep up the great work - you have a few more days left to read, read, read. The Read-a-Thon ends at the end of the day on March 20th. Don’t forget to use the Reading Log to record your minutes. Your classroom teacher will let you know how to turn in your reading log. Please make sure it’s turned in by March 25th to be eligible for the prizes. Questions: contact Ms. Jeannie at jeanniewang@berkeley.net or Ashleigh Kanat at ashleigh.kanat@gmail.com.
Emerson PTA Updates
Are you the next PTA Board member?
Do you want to represent the Emerson community? Help shape Emerson culture? One of many ways to serve Emerson, the PTA Board is visible and vital to supporting Emerson with fundraising, community building, and advocating in the greater Berkeley community.
It’s barely spring, but it’s time to plan our PTA Board for 2022-2023. Please consider nominating yourself or another Emerson community member. Our Election meeting, the third and last of our Association meetings, will be on May 17th. Please contact us (emersonbearcubspta@gmail.com) with your interest, nomination, and questions about the board roles, and feel free to reach out to current board members as well.
Save the Date: Move-a-thon - May 7th
It’s time to MOVE! You’ve heard of the Read-a-thon, next up is the May Move-a-thon*!
Our priority is physical fun and community building, students AND families ON campus finally OH MY! Join the planning of our biggest (and first in three years) community event with Move-a-thon Committee lead and kindergarten parent Elise Kneram (kneram.elise@gmail.com).
*formerly the Walk-a-thon, renamed to be inclusive of abilities in our Emerson community
Listening Circle for Parents & Caregivers of Children of Arab American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American Heritage
Purpose of the listening circle: For family members and caregivers/parents of children of Arab American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American heritage to share their ideas about how their children should learn about their history and their heritages in our schools as we expand Ethnic Studies throughout all the BUSD grade levels.
Arabic interpretation will be provided.
When: Tuesday, March 29 from 7-8 PM.
Where: zoom link HERE; Flier in English is HERE; Flier in Arabic is HERE.
Teacher’s Corner
1st Grade Artists' Elmer's Day Parade!
David McKee's book Elmer is a great story about a patchwork colored elephant who thinks he needs to be elephant colored to be loved. Of course by the end he realizes that his friends love him just as he is, and they decide to celebrate him with an Elmer's Day Parade once a year where they all dress themselves up to be more colorful like he is. For this project, first grade artists created a beautiful paper by rubbing crayons over many different texture plates. They cut their own loom out of the paper and then did a weaving with paper strips. Finally they created a head, tail and feet and glued them all together. This was a project packed with learning and the young artists did so well.
- Lucy Ames
District Budget Priority Survey
Berkeley Unified is planning out how they will spend money next school year...
And invites you to complete this budget priority survey to help the district understand community priorities for 2022-2023 that will be approved in June. The district has pre-identified topics on the survey already and they have included space for your direct input as well— so you can share your thoughts directly with the district, especially if you weren’t able to attend the Budget Priority Townhall on March 15, 2022.
Please take a moment to fill this survey in to ensure the Emerson community is represented with your feedback and ideas!
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