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 Community,
Well, we had about 5 days in 2021 before a major crisis ensued. The Insurrection at the Capitol was certainly another wake-up call that America is in turmoil and needs a great deal of intervention and healing. It can be tough to know how to talk to our elementary students about these sensitive topics. According to my experience and research, we can help by facilitating honest discussions with students that do not pass our adult burdens onto them. It is important for us to create a safe environment for children’s questions to be asked and emotions to be expressed. At Emerson, we have ongoing conversations about social justice and equity that continue throughout the year. And then we acknowledge these painful, yet teachable moments to promote critical thinking in ourselves and our youngest citizens. If you tuned into the Principal’s Message during last week’s All School Meeting you would have heard that I attempted to do just that. In the months ahead we will continue to hold conversations addressing racism, civil rights, white privilege, and what it means to be an ally during our MLK Jr Assembly, Black Lives Matter week, and Black History Month Assembly and lessons.
If you would like some resources to partner with the school in these courageous conversations here are some places you can start. These are provided by our School-Based Therapist, Ms. Marlis Rosmark, and our Emerson PTA Equity Group:
- Sesame Street in Communities:
https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/traumatic-experiences/
- How to talk with your kids about the news: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/news.html
- How to talk with your kids about difficult news by the American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/topics/talking-children
- Helping children cope with terrorism by the National Association of School Psychologists.
-A link to the 13 Principles from Black Lives Matter that is elementary friendly
-Embrace Race https://www.embracerace.org/
-Conscious Kid: https://www.instagram.com/theconsciouskid
We are extremely pleased by the enthusiasm shown from our Emerson students for the upcoming MLK Jr Holiday celebration. We have over a dozen student submissions that we will present this Friday at 9:00 am during our All School Meeting. We also look forward to learning more about the 1963 Children’s March from our School Librarian Ms. Rachel. Thank you Ms. Melgoza, first-grade teacher, for helping us plan this event. We hope you enjoy your long weekend as a time to reflect and recommit to creating a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all.
Take good care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Friday, Jan 15: Dr Martin Luther King Jr All School Meeting, 9-9:45am
Monday, Jan 18: Dr Martin Luther King Jr Holiday, No school for students
Wednesday, Jan 20: She Persisted, Virtual Musical Event, 4-5 pm
Wednesday, Jan 20: School Site Council meeting, 5:30-7:00pm
Thursday, Jan 21: Racial Equity Discussion, 7-8:30pm
Monday, Jan 25: Staff Development Day, No school for students
Find more dates/details: emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
Congratulations to January Shoutouts
Hello, Emerson Community! We want to celebrate and congratulate our January Shout Out Students! Please check out this Flipgrid to see special video shout outs from your teachers. https://flipgrid.com/+januaryshoutouts
As always, have a fine, fine day!
Love, The Emerson Staff
She Persisted: The Musical — Special Field Trip with Guest Speaker
Next Wednesday, as many celebrate a day that will also be very special in Berkeley history as Kamala Harris, one of the city's own daughters, makes history in Washington D.C., BUSD students are welcome to a district-wide event organized by Willard Ambassadors.
BUSD students are invited to a special "virtual event" to watch the hit musical She Persisted with a very special BUSD-exclusive visit with its co-creator, writer and lyricist Adam Tobin. She Persisted is a story about women's rights, based on Chelsea Clinton’s best-selling book of the same name. A kid makes a trip to a Women's History Museum that soon turns into a time-traveling adventure. During her journey through time, she encounters many inspiring women who made history. Here is a website with more information about the play.
All students and teachers in BUSD are welcome. The watch party via Zoom will be on Inauguration Day, January 20th, 4-5pm, using this link: tinyurl.com/ShePersistedBUSD
Any questions, contact Emerson/Willard mama Michelle Hlubinka at binka@mit.edu
Green Program for 4th and 5th Graders
Check Out Coach Robinson’s New PE Website
The website is full of health and fitness tips and includes links to videos. Bookmark it and check back often - it’s a work-in-progress and more material is being added. Let's stay healthy together!
We're looking for Spring Enrichment Recommendations...
In this era of zoom learning, we are looking for recommendations for fun and engaging after school enrichment classes that other Emerson students might enjoy. We're collecting a list to share with Emerson families along with the Spring 2021 BUSD catalog of online enrichment classes.
Please send ideas and recommendations to: emersonenrichment@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Thank you from the Heart of Emerson
We did it together! We reached our donation goal for the Heart of Emerson fundraising campaign! Thank you Emerson families, staff, and community for being a part of the Heart of Emerson. Stay tuned for the Emerson PTA's announcement and school-wide gift (T-shirts for all students and staff).
Support Emerson PTA - BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
The Emerson Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) brings together parents/guardians, teachers/staff and friends of Emerson to work for a positive school experience for all children at our school. As a member, you can vote on programming and spending decisions. Parents, guardians, extended family members or friends of all Emerson students are invited. Please renew membership every year. Please sign up ONLINE at https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/pta-membership. A donation of $10/person is suggested but NOT required. For questions, contact cluetters09@gmail.com.
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.
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