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BearFacts News                 
May 9, 2019


Message from the Principal

Dear Families,
 
Thank you so much for the beautiful bouquet of flowers and the gift certificate you gave to me via the PTA in celebration of Administrators' Day last week. Not only did you include one of my favorite flowers (Star Gazer Lilies) in the arrangement, you have provided means and incentive for my husband and I to go down the street to my favorite restaurant (Kirala) for a lovely meal and evening together. Much thanks, much love, and much appreciation to everyone for your kindness and generosity.
 
On behalf of the teachers, I would also like to thank you for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. It is such a nice start to the day to find the staff lounge filled with coffee, fruit, baked goods and other treats for a lovely brunch and what a lift to get flowers and little notes throughout the week. We feasted at a lovely luncheon on Wednesday and there couldn't be a better way to end the week than with Mini Massages on Friday. The teachers work very hard and what a nice way to show them how much you care!!!
 
One final note, don't forget that next Thursday, May 16th, is Open House, from 6:00 - 7;15. This is a wonderful opportunity to see what your children have been working on in their own classrooms and to visit other classrooms as well. You should also plan to stop by the art room to pick up your child's portfolio of work for the year. We'll be parking cars on the school yard so please, keep your children with you inside during the event. I hope to see all of you there. 

Sincerely,
Ms. Hodge


 

Upcoming Events & Key Dates

  • Thurs., May 9 & Fri., May 10: Teacher appreciation week continues!
  • Thurs., May 9 Bike to school day
  • Mon., May 13: Spring music concert, 10:30am.
  • Tues., May 14: Asian Pacific heritage day, 11:30am (lunch recess)
  • Thurs., May 16: Open House, 6-7:15pm
  • Fri., May 17, Free coffee & baked goods on the yard 8:10; Leila's Quest for Flight by Golden Thread Productions (a play!) to celebrate Arab-American History Month, 8:30-9:30am
  • Mon, May 20, NO SCHOOL (Malcolm X Day)
  • Tues, May 21 – Fri, May 24 Last week of PTA Enrichment classes
  • Wed., May 22, School Site Council (SSC), 5:30pm – 6:30pm
  • Thurs., May 23,  PTA Association Meeting, 6:00pm – 7:30pm Meet Principal Jana Holmes
  • Fri., May 24: Spring PTA Enrichment class performance, 5-6pm
  • Mon., May 27: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
See full calendar here:

https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/upcoming-events
 
Got Books?

May Is Emerson Book Drive Month! We need BOOKS, BOOKS, and more BOOKS! Please donate new/gently used children's books of all levels (K - 5th grade). Books will be collected for our summer book giveaway and classroom libraries.
 
Bring books to Ms. Jeannie's room (across from the Main Office) or to Ms. Zoe in the Emerson Library. Contact Ms. Jeannie for any questions: jeanniewang@berkeley.net
Deadline for Read-a-thon this Friday, May 10th
 
Get those Read-a-thon reading logs and pledges in! Deadline is this Friday, May 10th. Please send the manila envelope with the log form and pledges into school with your child this week. Even if your child did not collect pledges we want your child’s reading minutes to count! Cool prizes for the top readers and classes! Winners will be announced at the June all school meeting.
End-of-the-Year Party

The end of the school year is just around the corner and it's time to start getting ready for our big End of the Year Event.

This event will be held at Emerson on June 6th from 6pm-8pm. All families, children, grandparents, alumni, and community members are invited for dinner and a celebration.

 Click here to find out how to help with the End of Year Party  

Thank you!
BUSD Helps Families Access Food
 
Food insecurity affects almost 1 in 3 families in Berkeley schools. On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, a group of parent volunteers assembles and delivers more than 350 bags of free groceries to Berkeley school sites. Lily Howell, Emerson’s wonderful Family Engagement Specialist, works with the Family Pantry volunteers to deliver food to Emerson families as needed.
 
If you are interested in volunteering: You can support the Berkeley Schools Family Pantry program by volunteering to bag groceries from 11-1 pm on a Friday at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Or you can sign up to deliver food bags to one of the school sites, including Emerson. In fact, we need an Emerson driver on May 24th! Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c49a8a829abfb6-family1 . Or, for more information contact Emerson alumni parent, Whitney Morris at whitneybmorris@hotmail.com.   
 
If you are interested in receiving a bag of groceries: Please contact Lily Howell, Emerson Family & Engagement Specialist at 510-295-7791. Bags of groceries always include a variety of fresh produce, beans, tuna or peanut butter and usually rice or bread. There are 3 more distributions this year on May 10, May 24, and June 14.
Teacher Appreciation Week Continues Today & Tomorrow!
 
Send in your notes of gratitude, flowers, and words of thanks! What better way to show your love to Emerson’s treasured teaching staff!
Bike to School Day is TODAY, Thursday, May 9th!

Bike to School Day is TODAY! Gather your friends and neighbors to celebrate using pedal power to get to and from school. Bike commuting is good for our health, the community, and the planet. Be part of the solution and a “roll” model for others!

Stop by the Claremont Library on the way to school (starting at 7:00am) for treats, goodies, and free safety checks.

When you arrive at Emerson, all riders will be greeted with stickers, healthy snacks, and high fives. Don’t forget to wear your helmet!

For more information, visit http://alamedacountysr2s.org/plan-an-event/bike-to-school-day. Questions? Contact: Meg Kunchai at meg.kunchai@gmail.com.
Join the PTA Board! Two Vital Roles Need Volunteers!

Communications Leader Needed!
 
Do you want to help out at Emerson? Are you interested in what’s happening around the school but can’t be there during the day? The position of communications vice president is open for 2019-2020. It is a great role for someone who wants to know what is happening but needs to volunteer from home. The role includes: overseeing a group of editors who publish Bearfacts each week, sending out occasional email blasts, updating PTA publications at the beginning of the year, and coordinating with the website administrator and other PTA members about ongoing events.  While communication with the PTA Board is necessary, attendance at PTA Board meetings is voluntary. If you are interested in knowing more please contact Sarah Patrick (campfiregirl@gmail.com).

Fundraising Leader Needed!

Our most urgent need for next year is to identify someone (maybe you!)  to lead our fundraising strategy and provide coordination support to our volunteers who lead fundraising events. This is a Board position that works closely with the President and the Treasurer. While there is a lot that is fairly well established, there is also latitude to do it your own way. We can provide more information and training! Please email Stephanie Sidebotham at sidboth@gmail.com for more information.
Asian Pacific Heritage Day -- May 14

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and we’ll celebrate with Emerson students on May 14 during lunch recess. We’re looking for parents/family members to help on this day. To volunteer, email Mia (emailmiav@gmail.com) or Rose Lynn (roselynn20@gmail.com).
Join us for the Spring Enrichment Performances
 
Friday, May 24th - 5pm-6pm in the Cafetorium
 
Performances from students in Music & Dance, 
Capoeira, and Choir
Pop-up gallery featuring work from Art, Letterforms, 
and Comic Book Arts classes.
Light snacks will be served. 
Do you love Friday Coffee?

Friday coffee volunteers are ready to pass the torch and need dedicated parents to take over next year (training this spring).

Make Friday coffee your own: want to make it every other week or once/month? Want to experiment with another time so more people can attend?

Interested? Contact: michaelpatrickray173@gmail.com or dawsonmorton@me.com.

 
Let the festivities begin...
 
To celebrate Susan Hodge's incredible career as an educator at Emerson, the PTA is hosting a party in her honor on Sunday, June 9th at the Lake Temescal Beach House from 3:30 to 7:30. All parents are invited and encouraged to celebrate with us. This event will be for adults only.
 
Please help us plan by doing to the following: If you have any questions or comments, please email Christina Collinsworth at Christina.Marie8908@gmail.com.
Remember! No School on:
Monday, May 20th (Malcolm X Day)
Monday, May 27th (Memorial Day)
Donate to the Heart of Emerson!

Our goal this year is to raise $550 per child, and we can't do it without you. If you are a new parent, hopefully you are feeling how special our community is. If you are returning parent, you know how lucky we are to be a part of this incredible school. Help us foster and grow Emerson's culture by donating to the Heart of Emerson. Donate online at https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/heart-of-emerson or click on the logo below. For more information, please email heartofemerson@gmail.com.

Shop for Emerson!
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Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

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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

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Emerson PTA · 2800 Forest Ave · Berkeley, CA 94705 · USA

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