BearFacts News
March 1, 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Families,
I'd like to give you an update on how Emerson stays prepared in case of emergency. Each year we establish or reconvene our Safety Committee charged with reviewing our Safety and Disaster plans. We plan the annual drills and create a set of practice scenarios. All staff members have assigned duties during an emergency. We meet in our Emergency Response Teams and visit the Safety Container on the yard to inventory supplies. This year we have made it a point to have half of our drills during the regular school day and half of them after school.
We have monthly fire drills during which we practice a quick and safe exit from the building followed by accounting for every child. Three times a year we hold Duck and Cover drills during which we practice how to be as safe as possible during an earthquake. We also hold a third type of drill which is a combination Lock Down/Evacuation drill. This drill is to practice what we might do if there was a police action in the area and we were ordered to lock down or, in a worst-case scenario, an armed intruder was on campus and we needed to respond with a combination of lock down and evacuation.
During an Armed Intruder Drill, we are very careful to practice in as non-threatening manner as possible. Teachers explain the process in advance, and, during the drill, we emphasize that we are practicing. I am so impressed with how our staff and students have responded during these drills. The entire school has been able to evacuate within 2 minutes in a safe and secure manner. Of course, in the case of real emergency, we would need to respond rapidly in ways that we have not rehearsed. It is my deep hope that we never have to put our practice into real action, but, being able to respond quickly and think on our feet is essential. We will continue to practice and reach out to the parent community for ways in which we can partner in this area.
Warmly,
Ms. HodgeUpcoming Events & Important Dates
- Friday, March 2, Free coffee and baked goods on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
- Friday, March 2, Family Art Night, 6-8pm
- Wednesday, March 7 – March 20, PTA online auction
- Tuesday, March 13 Parent puberty education workshop
- Friday, March 26, Silent auction party (6-9pm)
- Monday, April 2 – Friday, April 6, NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
Family Art Night TOMORROW
(Friday, March 2 from 6–8pm)!
This is a fun-filled family event you won't want to miss! Join us for free pizza, salad and 6 stations of creative fun. Projects range in style and difficulty - there is something fun for everyone! Projects include Printmaking, clay exploration, decorative tiles, and MORE!
We still some volunteers to make this event happen!
Please sign up here http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4caeac29a57-emerson
Email christina.marie8908@gmail.com with any questions!
any questions
Get Ready to Bid Online!
Check out Emerson’s ONLINE AUCTION Catalog at bit.ly/EmersonAuction2018 and start strategizing! The online auction opens MARCH 7th. Please share the link with neighbors, friends, and family for great buys and a winning way to support our school.
Auction Party Volunteers Needed!
Step up and help make the March 23rd Auction Party a big success. Sign up for one of the many volunteer opportunities – big and small – at www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f44a8aa23a2f94-emerson4.
Buy Party Tickets & Reserve FREE Childcare!
Come support our amazing school on March 23rd from 6 - 9 pm at St. John's Church, 2727 College Avenue!
Buy your Auction Party tickets now at bit.ly/EmersonAuction2018. Ticket prices too high for your family's budget? Select the “Pay What You Can” option.
Reserve free childcare for the night of the Auction Party (for kids ages 5 – 12) at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCYGFDQ.
Parent Puberty Education Workshop: How to Become an "Askable Parent"
All parents welcome at this PTA-sponsored event.
On Tues, March 13th, 6:30 to 8 in the Emerson Library sex education expert Jennifer Devine, founder of Superstar Health Education, provides parents with a workshop to review the health education program on puberty that will be offered to all Emerson 5th grade students the following week. Parents will develop skills to talk to children about puberty, the teen years, sexual health, and growing up. Parents of children of all ages welcome!
Join Emerson’s PTA Board for the 2018-2019 School Year!
The Emerson PTA sponsors programs and activities that enhance the education and school experience of all students. Please support Emerson by joining the PTA Board and helping to make programmatic and funding decisions on behalf of our community.
Being a part of the Board is an excellent opportunity to get to know other parents, to learn about and influence the workings of the school, and to share your skills and ideas to benefit all of our children.
For more information, contact Ashleigh Kanat, PTA Vice President, or David Rose, PTA President, on the school yard or via email at emersonbearcubspta@gmail.com.
PTA Board elections will take place at the PTA Association later this spring. We invite interested parents to submit their names, preferably by April 1st.
Weekly Zumba at Emerson: 5:30-6:30pm; $5 per class (no childcare).
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org
Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)
About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email.
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. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2018. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705