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,
This week we officially welcome Spring! It doesn’t seem like we had much of a Winter, which worked well for the students eating outside but might set us up for a difficult fire season. Let’s hope for the best and try to conserve our water.
If you turn on the news, you will see the horrifying images resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If you would like some resources to talk to your children about this challenging time, Ms. Marlies, our School-Based Therapist has provided these resources: Helping Children Cope with Unsettling TImes and Talking to Children about War by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. At Emerson, we will continue to provide the children with unconditional support, both academically and emotionally.
The BUSD Oratorical is coming up soon. Submissions are due by Thursday, March 31, at the latest. They can be emailed to Lilyhowell@berkeley.net. There are several groups of students who have been working with Mr. Phil and Lily during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade lunch on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Here is the flier with more information: here is the flier.
Thank you for your support of the Read- A- Thon! The final reading logs are due back to the classroom teachers on Friday, March 25th. The students really got involved, with many of them choosing to read during recess. A portion of the funds we raised will be dedicated to updating the teacher’s classroom libraries. We are pleased to be able to use the funds to support teachers and encourage even more reading!
COVID cases continue to be on the decline on campus. Masking is now optional, both indoor and outdoor. We will continue to test on Friday mornings and we ask that you monitor your child for COVID symptoms. If your child stays home from school due to illness we will need proof of the negative COVID test upon their return. Email absences and negative covid test results, with student name and date, to Attendance Clerk Leahlopez@berekeley.net.
We hope you had a chance to read your child’s Second Trimester Report Card. We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher via email or phone call if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your support and take care,
Jana Holmes
Lunar New Year 2022:
Class videos, courtesy of Volunteer Mr. Phil
Ms. Totten https://youtu.be/lTIqfpU-MdA
Ms. Weddle https://youtu.be/v3GnT4TonG8
Ms. Suzuki https://youtu.be/mE7H0Vp5Znk
Ms. Stuppi https://youtu.be/Dfv9wm6dLPs
Ms. Salyk https://youtu.be/pmQuLtwMbpA
Ms. Melgoza https://youtu.be/TpLnqDDLrXM
Ms. Medina https://youtu.be/hDIZM-6A11Q
Ms. Kyla https://youtu.be/RdhZ6uvD73s
Ms. Carter and Ms. Bella https://youtu.be/87UfgDcvOxQ
Ms. Davis https://youtu.be/FAJcD2VeE8A
Ms. Campbell Lewis https://youtu.be/Rs6pq60ILAU
Mz. Grz https://youtu.be/s_J9XrU4ieE
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
March 25: Emerson Read-a-Thon Logs Due
March 24: Ethnic Studies in BUSD: Listening Circle for Parents and Caregivers of Black and African Descendant Children, 7 pm Zoom Link
March 29: Listening Circle for Parents & Caregivers of Children of Arab American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American Heritage 7 pm Zoom Link
April 4-8: Spring Break
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 Logs Due Tomorrow
Thank you, Emerson students, for participating in this year’s Read-a-Thon. Great job! 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 tomorrow, March 25th, to be eligible for the prizes.
Questions: contact Ms. Jeannie at jeanniewang@berkeley.net or Ashleigh Kanat at ashleigh.kanat@gmail.com. We’ll announce prize winners during the May All-School Meeting.
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
ETHNIC STUDIES IN BUSD: LISTENING CIRCLES
Purpose of the Listening Circle: Share ideas about how children should learn about their history and their heritages in our schools as we expand Ethnic Studies throughout all the BUSD grade levels.
FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN OF BLACK & AFRICAN DESCENDANT CHILDREN
When: Thursday, March 24 from 7-8 PM
Where: zoom link HERE Flier in English is HERE
Co-Hosted by ADAC, PCAD and BUSD’s Ethnic Studies TSA & PD Coordinator
FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN OF ARAB AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN HERITAGE
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.
Co-Hosted by BUSD’s AAPI Community Group and Ethnic Studies TSA & PD Coordinator
FOR ALL STAFF/CAREGIVERS/PARENTS/STUDENTS:
Complete and share this brief survey on Ethnic Studies in BUSD
For more information, visit BUSD Ethnic Studies website
Teacher’s Corner
2ND GRADE ARTISTS' SCENES FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD INSPIRED BY JACOB LAWRENCE
Second grade artists looked at the work of Jacob Lawrence, including his book Harriet and the Promised Land. They noticed that his colors were mostly dark or muted and that he included the North Star as a symbol of hope. Artists created their scenes by first painting the landscape then adding details and cut-out people colored with colored pencil. Jacob Lawrence is sometimes called a "story painter" so we, too, thought about what story our art was telling about the people heading north to safety.
- Lucy Ames
Critical District Surveys: Complete Today!
BUDGET SURVEY
It’s not too late to fill out this BUDGET PRIORITY SURVEY to help the district understand community priorities for 2022-2023 to be approved in June. The district has pre-identified topics on the survey already and they have included space for your direct input district Please take a moment to fill this survey in to ensure the Emerson community is represented with your feedback and ideas!
Budget Priority Townhall on March 15, 2022 - Review the presentation HERE.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SURVEY
The Berkeley Unified Board of Education is asking for your help in selecting our next superintendent. To ensure this is a collaborative and inclusive process, the Board is providing an anonymous online survey and encourages your participation. This is an opportunity to receive input from students, staff, parents, and the community. Take the survey at this link now. This survey will be open from Wednesday, March 16 to Friday, March 25, at 4:00 PM.
Stay tuned HERE for information on the ongoing process
Order the 2021-2022 Yearbook!
All Grades represented!!
The book + plus tax is ONLY $20!
Orders need to be placed online by Friday April 29th.
link.entourageyearbooks.com
Search for Emerson Elementary in Berkeley
The PTA wants every 5th grader to get a yearbook. If you can pay, please do.
Any purchasing questions please contact David Miller at dmiller297@yahoo.com
Books will be distributed the last week of school
Where’s Waldo Delivered
Where’s Waldo is Emerson’s Family Directory. It is available online on the Emerson PTA website. One print copy was sent home for each household last week. If you did not receive it, you may request one from emersonschoolnews@gmail.com
Set up your online access to Where’s Waldso!
Sign up one time! Adjust your preferences and use the search features to find information.
New Users: Create an account at https://emersonberkeleypta.membershiptoolkit.com/ with login and password.
Returning Users: Log in at link above, update your information anytime.
Click here for detailed instructions to set up your online access to Where's Waldo Emerson directory.
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