BearFacts News                 
January 16, 2020

Dear Emerson Community,

I hope that this newsletter finds you and your family well.  During this time of year, it becomes especially important for us all to get the rest and nutrition we need so that we do not get sick.  As you may have heard, the flu bug is particularly strong this Winter season. 

Here at Emerson, we provide time for students to wash hands before they eat lunch.  You can help us by encouraging hand washing and keeping your child home when they are demonstrating symptoms of illness. According to the Alameda County Department of Health, if your child has a fever of 101 or higher they should stay home until the fever is below 101 for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. In addition, if your child has vomited or had diarrhea, keep your child home until they have not had symptoms for 24 hours.  Finally, if your child has severe coughing, wheezing or strep throat, a healthcare provider should be contacted and your child should stay home for at least 24 hours after an antibiotic is begun.  Please don’t forget to contact the front office and let us know if your student will be absent from school.  Let’s keep everyone healthy by taking the necessary precautions during these cold indoor months.

On Friday, January 17, 2020 we will have a special MLK Jr Day Assembly and March in observance of this important holiday.  We will share a video about MLK Jr, enjoy special presentations from the Kindergarten and Second Grades, sing whole school songs and march in the community with our signs and banners.  Feel free to join us in this inspiring and educational experience. In observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day, school will not be in session on Monday, January 20, 2020.  For many, this is not a “day off” but a “day of service”. If you are interested in finding a volunteer opportunity, I wanted to share this resource with you:  

https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve-your-community/mlk-day-service

You can narrow down your search by location and the kind of service you're interested in. 

As we look forward to Black History Month, 3rd through 5th-grade students have an opportunity to participate in the 3rd Annual 2020 BUSD Black History Oratorical Fest.  This year’s theme is Black History, Past, Present, and Future.  Students who are interested in performing should come to the main office this Friday during lunch to meet with Lily Howell, Office of Family Engagement and Equity Coordinator at Emerson.  We hope many students will be interested in celebrating Black History, which is all of our history, as it is relevant to everyone. 

You are invited to join us for the Family Literacy Night on Wednesday, January 22nd from 6:00- 7:00 pm in the Cafeteria. This will be a fun evening that engages your students in reading and provides you tools you can use at home. Please RSVP at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCNHNNR so we can get a headcount for pizza. We invite you to stay for a brief PTA Association meeting afterward.  See below for more details.

Have a great day and thank you for your support,