Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
Since our ribbon cutting for the Arts and Innovation Center last month, we have been quite busy preparing for the multitude of uses long envisioned for our new space. Teachers are moving into the space with increasing regularity for grade level movies, low impact physical educations classes, debates, early morning childcare, Middle School lunch, band and orchestra rehearsals, all school assemblies, with an even greater variety to come.
One of the most exciting things are the new events that can now take place thanks to this space. From providing an open mic venue for students, teachers, parents, alums, and artists from outside Emerson to perform on stage in front of a very friendly audience, to giving live access to an exclusive TED conference as it happens on the West Coast, to learning from authors, thought leaders, and innovators as they present to our community, this new space is creating new and wonderful opportunities for our community.
Despite all that is new, many long-standing traditions remain. The Middle School Play, a production of two one-act plays, will be performed in the Middle School Black Box Theater. We are calling this production our farewell to the Black Box, as all our lights and sound systems will be fully operational by next fall for the Middle School Musical. Gifted and This is a Test will be performed on Thursday, March 5th, Friday, March 6th, and Saturday, March 7th, and tickets will be made available soon.
Lastly, this month’s ESPO and Meet the Head of School meeting will be in our new Presentation Room. Come enjoy the comfortable seating this coming Wednesday morning, February 11th at 8:30am.
Stay safe and warm this weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
All School News
Hearing and Vision Screening
Feb. 25 – 27, Grades K – 5 and 7th
Parent Information/Feedback Forms will be sent home early next week with your student(s). Please complete and return the form to the Lower School Office if your child is currently under care.
New Special Events and Performances
Feb. 25, 7:00pm: Community of Stars Open Mic Night
Do you or your child want to perform on Emerson’s new stage? Want to witness some of our school’s talent? Join other students, alums, parents, and teachers at our first community Open Mic night.
Performers will be given five minutes each to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc.—let your talent be your guide.
+ Sign up to perform
Mar. 17, 10:00am – 7:00pm: TED2015 Live Simulcast
TED: Ideas worth spreading
The annual TED Conference set the stage for every great TEDx video you have seen. This year, our community can see TED2015 as a live simulcast at the inaugural TEDxEmersonSchool event.
+ Get an idea of what to expect from the TED Conference
Each TED event shares ideas based on a theme, and the TED2015 theme is Truth or Dare. Twenty presenters will spread their ideas in short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less) and we hope you will join us for some or all of it.
+ Learn more about TED
+ Register to attend (limited space)
April 2, 7:00pm: Richard Sheridan on Joy in Education
Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Ann Arbor’s Menlo Innovations, has recently written a book called Joy, Inc. In it, he describes how he created a joyful culture at Menlo, and he describes how any organization—including schools—can follow similar methods for a more passionate team.
Richard is a dynamic speaker who has presented around the world. His presentation will be about Joy in Learning, and Emerson is excited to provide a venue for Richard to speak with our community. This event is open to the public and will appeal most to an adult audience.
(Registration information coming soon)
Emerson Curriculum Maps Are Online
The enduring understandings, essential questions, content, and skills that provide the structure for what students are learning at Emerson.
Support the Emerson Auction
Friday, March 13, 2015 at Barton Hills Country Club
+ Auction info and forms
Check your mailboxes for your invitation and reply by February 13th to be entered into a special drawing! Additional reply cards are available online or with Mrs. G. and Mrs. Hodges in the lower and middle school offices.
RSVP final deadline is Monday, March 2nd. Don’t delay, the Auction has sold out the last three years.
We still need restaurant gift certificates for our Restaurant Raffle and wine for our Wine Pull. Wine should be valued between $25-$100 per wine bottle, and restaurant gift certificates can be for any amount. All donations should be delivered to Emerson by Wednesday, Feb. 25th to be included in the catalog.
To donate items, please complete an online donor form or email a print donor form to Beth Anderson. To donate wine, please email Wine Pull Coordinator Lisa Huczek.
Register for Summer Camp Now
Summer at Emerson camp registration is now live and open for everyone to register. Dozens of camps have already filled, so register soon for the most selection.
+ Register online
+ More camp information, including the 2015 brochure
Financial Aid and Sibling Enrollment
Sibling Enrollment
If you would like to discuss or apply for sibling enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Admission Director Jackie Ebels.
+ Contact Jackie Ebels
Apply for Financial Aid by Mar. 14
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
Lower School News
Lower School ERB Testing Continues
Lower School: Wednesday, Jan. 28 – Wednesday, Feb. 4
All 4th – 8th grade students will take the standardized Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). These tests will once again be given online with Emerson technology, and classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Find answers to more frequently asked questions
+ Unanswered questions? Contact Jan Walker or Renee Durrant
Girls on the Run Registration Open
Registration Closes on Feb. 19
The nonprofit Girls on the Run program uses a fun, ten-week running program to help girls learn about expressing themselves, making good choices, creating healthy habits, and serving their community. The program culminates in a non-competitive 5k event on May 17.
- For girls in grades 3 – 5
- Mondays and Thursdays, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
- March 9th – May 21st
- Sunday, May 17th celebration 5K at EMU
- Coached by Elizabeth Sweeney, mother of 4th grader Elena Sweeney and Erin Swenon, GOTR volunteer
Middle School News
Make Third Trimester Elective Choices by Monday
Register for Electives Through RenWeb by Feb. 9
Middle School elective descriptions are available on the Emerson School website. Students must make their selections through RenWeb no later than noon on Monday, Feb. 9. Elective forms are only available through the RenWeb student account.
+ Third trimester elective descriptions
+ Instructions on how to sign up
Middle School Dance Next Friday
Friday, Feb. 13, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Pizza and snacks will be served.
Community Events
A Musical Celebration of Chinese New Year
Saturday, Feb. 21, 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Rackham Auditorium
Xiaojing Tabitha Yang, Emerson’s Chinese teacher, invites everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Feb 19 this year) at the Confucius Institute of UM reception and concert This concert features five vocalists from Wu Han Conservatory of Music, China, who will sing a program of folk and arts songs from Hubei, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other cultural and ethnic regions of China.
+ Learn more
Ermine at the Comic Opera Guild
Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8:00pm and Sunday, Mar. 1 at 3:00pm
Ermine was a huge hit in its day, eclipsing the initial run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mokado. As with so many light operas of the late 19th century, it fell from the repertory on the 1920’s, with the onset of the Jazz Age. It opened in 1885 and came to the US in 1886. Emerson science teacher Pat Petiet is a regular Comic Opera Guild performer.
