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,
The anticipation is growing for our transition into the new distance learning program and our return to in-person. After a full year of uncertainty, challenges, and trials, we are entering into yet another shift. As excited as we are, we still ask for your patience and understanding. The pandemic is not over, we must follow strict safety protocols dictated by federal, state, and local health agencies. You can find more information from the district for elementary families at: https://www.berkeleyschools.net/important-information-for-elementary-families-spring-2021/
For students who are remaining in distance learning, Kindergarten through second-grade families should have received classroom teacher assignments earlier this week. Students in 3rd through 5th grades will be notified of their classroom assignments by Tuesday, March 30th. Ms. Michelle Sinclair, former Principal of Craigmont Elementary School, will be the Administrator in charge of the distance learning program. Our Emerson staff is collaborating regarding creative ways to maintain community with our families who are continuing in distance learning. We will provide more information about the April and May All School Meetings and other Special Events that we encourage our distance learning students to attend.
For students returning to campus, bear with us before and after school. It will take a while to get all the students on campus and release them at the end of the day. We do not have the capability to supervise students before and after school and parents are not allowed on campus, so please be on time. Following health guidelines, the front office will be closed to parents.
Complete the health screening every single morning, before bringing your child to school. Your responses to the Daily Health Screener will be required and necessary for your child to enter the campus for each school day. The questionnaire verifies whether or not your child has tested positive for Covid-19 if your child has been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive and whether or not your child is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” your child should not come to school.
The school day is from 8:00 to 1:00 pm. Kindergarten students are released 15 minutes earlier at 12:45 pm each day.
Here is our staggered start schedule:
Last name A- K arrive on campus between 8:00- 8:10 am
Last name L- Z arrive on campus between 8:10- 8:20 am
Students will be offered breakfast when they arrive on campus. They will eat it outside before going into the classroom. Please remember to dress your child in layers, as they will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Also, if you are sending your child with a lunch, make sure they can open everything inside the lunch themselves and that nothing needs to be microwaved.
To expedite the morning check-in process please come to campus with a piece of paper with your child’s first and last name written on it. We will refer to this paper to find your child’s name in our Health Screening spreadsheet.
Kinder and 1st-grade students may complete the health screening and enter the school on Garber street (behind the school). At the end of the day, Kindergarteners should be picked up at 12:45 pm on Garber street. 1st-grade students should be picked up at 1:00 pm on Garber Street.
Second, through fifth-grade students should complete the health screening and enter through the gates on the blacktop according to the staggered start times associated with families’ last names. At the end of the day, which is 1:00 pm, please return to the gate area on the blacktop and staff will assist you to locate your child.
Importantly, if you need bus transportation to Emerson, you must reach out to the Transportation Department as soon as possible. Due to social distancing on the bus, transportation offerings will be limited for general education students. Special education students will have priority. All students who take the school bus must complete the Daily Health Screener before boarding the bus. Parents can submit requests via email at transportationdept@berkeley.net or call 510- 644- 6182. Once bus transportation requests are submitted, parents will be contacted with a start date, schedule pickup and drop-off times.
If you are returning in person, we ask that you kindly return any district/ school computer that you may have at home. In-person teachers will use the computers from time to time in the classroom and we would like to have them back. Also, we will need them for the Spring STAR Assessment and the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress which is typically administered in May. You may send computers back to school with your child- and please don’t forget the send the charging cord, too.
I will be holding the third Coffee with the Principal this Thursday, March 25 at 8:15 am. If you weren’t able to make it to this morning’s Coffee with the Principal, please watch the recording which will be sent out via Remind. One thing we have learned during this pandemic is that change is constant. My goal is to keep you updated. Please stay engaged this Spring as we continue to adjust and refine our practices and policies per the Health Guidance. Thank you for your support and patience - we appreciate the Emerson community!
Take good care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Monday, Mar 29: Emerson Campus Reopens for In-person Learning for TK-2nd grade
Tuesday, Mar 30: Grades 3-5 Distance Learning Teacher Assignments Sent by District Office
Monday, Apr 5 - Friday, Apr 9: Spring Recess (No School)
Monday, Apr 12: Emerson Campus Reopens for In-person Learning for Grades 3-5
Find more dates/details: emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
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 Update: Reading Logs Due Tomorrow
Thank you, Emerson students for participating in this year’s Read-a-Thon. You’re amazing!! 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 26th 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 an upcoming All-School Meeting.
Announcement from Ms. Ames
Please bring your Pizza Box Art Kits back to school.
We will be doing art in the regular classrooms, so it would be great to have all of your materials with you. There should be a pouch full of supplies (gluestick, sharpie, crayons and/or markers, etc.) and a lot of different papers in the box. Please bring it all back for use at school---- and also include any extra drawing paper that came home in the library bags last month. Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to doing art with you at school!
Ms. Ames
Yearbook Update
Sadly, there will not be an Emerson community yearbook for 2020-21. We realize that with an old link, you can still navigate to the ordering page, and place an order. Please refrain from doing so.
There is currently exploration into a smaller book for 5th graders—meaning it would include photos of the 5th graders, plus the Emerson staff—but NOT kindergarten through 4th grade. IF this goes ahead, we will reach out with details to 5th grade families in April.
If you've already ordered for a student in a lower grade, we will contact you and offer to cancel.
We're hopeful that the next school year will be conducive to producing the yearbook once again!
ZOOM FRIENDLY RULE REMINDERS
Be prepared for class by wearing clothes, putting away toys and ready to participate
Be aware of your surroundings- remember your teacher and class can see behind you. Try to find a quiet place to join the Zoom meeting.
Mute yourself when you enter the meeting use the microphone bottom and wait for the teacher to call on you to unmute.
Raise your hand and wait for the teacher to call on you- take turns and practice being patient.
Be respectful- contribute to class positively and be a Zoom leader by participating responsibly.
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. Typically, it is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and posted online at emerson.berkeleypta.org. During Distance Learning, it is only posted on the website.
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. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2020. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705