News & Blog

Family Newsletter – Apr. 25, 2014

Letter from Jerry

Jerry's Call to ParentsHello Parents,

You’ve seen the fences going up, the gaga pit moved to a new location, and more people with tool belts on campus. You may have even seen love notes written upon the portable classroom building. What does it all mean?

The portable classroom is being prepped for its long awaited dismantling so thatBuilding STEAM can begin! Beginning next Friday, more fences will be installed around this “Learning Cottage,” as it has been affectionately named, so that the demolition can safely begin. The construction area will be unavailable to Middle School students, and there will be new routes to follow for recess, arrival, dismissal, and emergency exits.

We could not be starting construction this quickly without the generous support of our families. Thank you to all of the families who have already given to this campaign. With your help, we can raise $500,000 by June 30th and match the $500,000 challenge—getting us to our $3M+ goal. By meeting this challenge, we will keep the construction schedule on track and potentially allow your students to be using the arts and innovation center before next school year is complete!

Please join the excitement, and help us meet this challenge by contacting me orSue Johnson.

See you tonight at Passport to the World!
Sincerely,

Jerry Loewen
Head of School

All School News

Blood Drive on Tuesday, Donors Needed

Jab donates blood at the 2013 Blood Drive

April 29, 2pm – 7:30pm

Please schedule your blood donation today and save a life. WIthout enough pre-registrations, the Red Cross may consider canceling our drive. Contact Joyce for questions.
+ Schedule your appointment to donate blood

Passport to the World Tonight

Friday, April 25, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Every three years, Emerson School celebrates unique cultures and traditions from around the world at our Passport to the World event. This year, 34 countries will be represented—many by students and families with personal ties—through clothing, food, music, and displays. Activities will include a drum circle, Greek, Indian, and Irish dancers, Spanish guitar, and much more.Suggestions

  • Look for Lenny and Lee as you pull in for parking directions. Please consider carpooling to be a good world citizen and maximize the number of parking spaces for families.
  • In an effort to be good world citizens, we will be using compostable paper plates and glasses. Five gallon containers of water will replace individual bottles, and families are encouraged to bring their own water bottle. Students can have their passport stamped on a special designed page for bringing their own water bottle and being a good citizen.
  • Families are asked to bring a dish (sweet or savory) to share at our international food festival. Many families write a story about the food they bring to be put on display. A special table with food prepared by families of children with allergies will be available.
  • Be a volunteer. This is a massive undertaking that doesn’t work without everyone’s support.
    + See openings and volunteer.

Thank you to ESPO for coordinating this wonderful event for the Emerson community.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon

May 6, 11:30am – 1:00pm
In appreciation of the Emerson Faculty and Staff, please join us in offering a western-style barbecue luncheon. You can sign up below or contact co-chairsMelissa Knauth (713) 882-7781 or Debi Rasche (734) 355-8969 if you have questions.

Contribute Food

Please bring your favorite homemade or store bought barbecue sides and desserts for the luncheon.

Volunteer

Please help set up, decorate, serve the luncheon, or cover a teacher’s classroom (or playground) so they can enjoy their lunch.
+ Sign up

 

Re-Enroll in Kroger Community Rewards

You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time.

  1. Create an Account if you don’t already have one.
  2. Sign into Kroger’s Community Rewards program
  3. Enter Emerson’s group number: 82607
  4. Choose Emerson School and click Enroll

Lower School News

K and 1st Grade Art and Music Sharing Time

Tuesday, April 29 at 1:00pm (K) and 2:00pm (1st)

Happy Birthday Emerson! The Kindergarten and First Grade classes are celebrating Emerson’s 40th birthday on Tuesday, April 29th. Family members are welcome to join the “party!” Students will share their music in the library and then walk around and view the art show.

Dress for the performance in bright, colorful, casual & comfortable clothing. * No additional “costumes” are needed.

Kindergarten
1:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
1:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
1:40 pm – Students may leave school with their families or check into childcare

+ Watch a live video stream
(Additional childcare will be provided, until the end of the school day, for the Kindergarten students that are not taken home after the performance.)

First Grade

2:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
2:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
2:40 pm – Students may leave school or check into after-school childcare
+ Watch a live video stream

If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Borton (Mrs. B), K-1 music teacher.

 

New Lower School Music Teacher Named

Matt McCoyMatthew T. McCoy will be Emerson’s new Lower School Music Teacher and Chorus Director at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Matt brings more than 24 years of teaching experience, most recently as a professor teaching future elementary and secondary music educators at Kansas State University.

Matthew will be the successor to Judy Barthwell, who is retiring after 12 years of teaching music at Emerson. Judy will obviously leave big shoes to fill, but the stellar reputation she helped build attracted many outstanding candidates for this position.

Community News & Events

Mom to Mom Sale

Saturday, April 26, 9:00am – 1:00pm

The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more

U of M’s Life Sciences Orchestra Performance

Sunday, April 27 at 4:00pm

The Life Sciences Orchestra ­is made up of doctors, scientists,  and others ­who will celebrate the long-awaited arrival of spring with a concert of three works by Russian composers: Alexander Borodin¹s symphonic poem.
+ Learn more