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MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Emerson Community,
May is Asian Pacific Islander Month. We are so happy to partner with our families to celebrate and validate the diverse experiences and backgrounds of our Asian community at Emerson. Here are some of the ways we will commemorate this month:
The Last All School Meeting will be held on Friday, May 21 and we will be asking for student performances and interviews of Asian elders. Here is a Guideline/ Script which can be used for these conversations. As always, send your Kindergarten -Grade 2 performances for MollySalyk@berkeley.net and Grade 3-5 to Loribarnes@berekley.net. Don’t forget to submit All School Meeting Parent Permission Form.
Throughout the month, teaching staff will implement lessons that amplify Asian voices and experiences. These lessons are crafted by BUSD Instructional Services and adapted for our Emerson community.
You can continue the conversation at home by taking advantage of the Library Services team’s list of AAPI books; these reading lists, organized by grade level, represent books published in recent years that are devoted to uplifting Asian-American and Pacific Islander history, celebrating heritage, affirming identity, and promoting antiracism. Sharing these books is one part of our effort to develop anti-racist consciousness with and for our youth and ensure they know they are not alone and that they can speak out to help stop the spread of bigotry.
PTA is hosting an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month ZOOM Meet Up tomorrow, Friday, April 30 at 6:00 pm. You are invited to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85616790299?pwd=V1MrVjMzaHNqM2h2YUdSNnhESkNuZz09
Meeting ID: 856 1679 0299
Our goal is to counter the exacerbated anti-Asian sentiment created by hateful rhetoric surrounding Covid-19. Research indicates (reported) violence rates increasing 150% between 2019 and 2020 in major cities, and 68% specifically against Asian WOMEN. According to the Pew Research Center survey, “three in 10 Asian Americans (31%) report having experienced racial slurs or racist jokes since the beginning of the pandemic.” This is happening at work, at school, in public, across ages and class. Assume that it has happened to every Asian American you know. Let’s do our part at Emerson to stand as Allies against Asian Hate.
Thank you for your support,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Friday, Apr 30: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Meet Up @6pm via zoom
Wednesday, May 12: PTA Association meeting via zoom
Monday, May 17: Malcolm X Birthday, NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, May 19: School Site Council, 5:30pm
Friday, May 21: All School Meeting, 8:30am
Friday, May 28: Spirit Day, Theme = Summer Day
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL
Friday, Jun 4: Last Day of School
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.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Meet Up
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM)!
Let's connect as a community, when our unity matters more than ever. Families of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestry, and those who self-identify as those cultures, please join us for a Meet Up via Zoom, hosted by Mia Villanueva, Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell, and Rana Cho.
Consider takeout from your favorite API restaurants for the Meet Up so we can break bread and support our community businesses at the same time. Here's our inspiration: #iwilleatwithyou https://www.instagram.com/p/B-chMxIASoT/
Friday, April 30, 2020, 6pm via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85616790299?pwd=V1MrVjMzaHNqM2h2YUdSNnhESkNuZz09
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
May 3-7 is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week at Emerson
Let’s work together to show our Emerson Teachers & Staff how much we love and appreciate them!
Here are 3 ways you can share your appreciation:
#1 Virtual Tribute- Record a tribute for Emerson Teachers and Staff
Virtual Tribute to Teachers and Staff - Click here and complete a recording right on your device. If you're having technical difficulties, email your file to roselynn20@gmail.com
#2 Personal Letters/Notes and/or Flowers
Show: Your gratitude for teachers and staff How: Letters, cards, drawings, photographs, flowers, plants, love! Bring these to school! Note that teachers in Distance Learning will receive your cards and flowers, too, so please send them to school! Plans are underway so they can receive them by special courier! When: All next week (May 3-7)
#3 Lend a Hand!
There are more festivities planned for the staff as a whole and we could use several helping hands. For questions/information on how to help with some other surprise efforts, contact Rose Lynn at roselynn20@gmail.com or 626.695.0687. Big thanks to several folks who’ve already shared their time and talents!
New! Contactless Farm Box
Ecology Center's Youth Environmental Academy (YEA) is excited to pilot a new contactless Farm box Pickup on Saturdays in partnership with the Berkeley Farmers' Markets! Order here <https://ecology-center-youth-farm-box.square.site> through their Square site, or direct by calling them at 510.697.4808 (they also accept CalFresh/EBT by phone!). On Thursdays, select your pickup window, order and pay online or by phone; on Saturday AM, YEA staff will gather veggies and pack your box. Check out their website for more information!
CHECKING IN WITH DISTANCE LEARNING FAMILIES, TEACHERS, and STAFF
Did you know:
Distance Learning students make up the largest elementary school in the district right now? As of 4/20, 750 students were enrolled in DL; approximately 18% of TK-5 students that comprise 27 classrooms, per Michelle Sinclair, the DL Administrator!
Last week, we shared a letter from concerned members of the Emerson community and wanted to share the responses the signers received for transparency (please use the “outline” navigation along the left hand side to access responses directly) https://docs.google.com/document/d/19jImluoa1EJRF4RCc3LBEAQkRYP8wGclcaK9evi6Ac4/edit?ts=607fab9e
This week, DL families are working on projects like materials distribution, connecting friends that are missing each other, and other supports as we learn about them. If you’d like to volunteer to help out with upcoming needs (particularly in materials distribution, please email me so we can connect you to classrooms needing an assist!
Again, please consider joining the Berkeley Unified Distance Choice Advocates Facebook group (link here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537409180744349) – to stay apprised of what’s going on for DL Kids and their families around the district.
Questions? Email Cielo Rios at cielo@magicspoon.net
COVID TESTING
Student & Staff Covid Testing takes place on Fridays - April 30, May 14, and May 28.
Forms to register your child are available from Ms. Michelle, Office Assistant, between 8:00 - 8:45 am in front of the school. You may also register electronically by following these steps:
One time registration form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5619f4c1079c4526a99df0a20180817e
The Patient Test Request Form will need to be completed EACH Thursday night or Friday morning of testing (testing is every two weeks)
If you do not currently have insurance: Uninsurance Program.
Picture Day in the Park
Roots & Shoots Photography is hosting a 2nd safe, socially-distanced Picture Day in the Park the morning of Sunday, May 16 at Willard Park in Berkeley.
HERE is the order form to sign up if you are interested. Please read all information carefully, and if you have any questions, reach out to them directly at grow@roots-shoots.com. They will be happy to assist you! :)
NUTRITION
All meals (breakfast and lunch) are free to all students through next school year - June 2022.
You are encouraged to take advantage of these free meals. For students who are not in person at Emerson, BUSD has Grab and Go Meal sites at Washington, Rosa Parks, BAM, Willard, Longfellow, King and BHS. Distribution is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:45 - 11:00am. BUSD provides meals to cover 7 days a week both breakfast and lunch. Families can go to any of those sites, food is free to any child ages 18 and younger. This information is covered in detail on the website at berkeley.net.
Virtual Second Saturdays at BAMPFA
Here's what's coming up next, on Saturday, May 8. If you'd like to attend, please sign up next Wednesday or Thursday (May 5 or May 6).
Virtual Gallery + Studio: Mixed-Media Takarabako - 12:30 PM (For ages 6-12)
Make your own beautiful takarabako (treasure-chest box) from a simple pattern and materials found at home in this workshop with artist Beth Krebs.
Virtual Roundtable Reading: Hannah Saves the World by A.M. Luzzader - 2:30 PM (Recommended for ages 8+)
Hannah thinks it might be up to her to save the world! As she and her best friend Mia investigate the mysterious spaceship hovering in the stratosphere, they find unexpected clues to other unsolved mysteries in their town. Enjoy reading from this sci-fi/mystery adventure story with other kids!
Join the BearFacts Team for 2021/22
The team of BearFacts editors assembles this newsletter each week to help Emerson families stay informed and connected. It’s a minimal time commitment and valuable work you can do from home, and there’s training and support offered along the way! The BearFacts editors are part of the larger PTA communication team. Curious? Reach out and we can tell you more! Please contact Jen Petrucelli (jenpetrucelli@gmail.com) and Ashleigh Kanat (ashleigh.kanat@gmail.com).
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