Best in Nation

Emerson Students Excel at USA-SOS Internet Safety Challenge

Letter from the Head of School

Dear Parents,

This past weekend, my family and I had the pleasure of watching our first U of M football game.  Our house is close to the stadium, and in prior weeks we’d watched with fascination the circus-like atmosphere preceding each game.  On a whim, we decided to get tickets, and it couldn’t have been a better game – beautiful weather, a packed stadium, and a decisive 31-0 victory (sorry, Brigham Young fans!).

One thing I noticed, both during last Saturday’s game and on previous home games, is that our phone and internet connections have been spotty.  During the game, I wasn’t successful in sending out photos to friends, and text messages took their sweet time getting to their intended recipients.  I assume that any time you pack 100,000+ people and their phones into close proximity, services might be compromised.

At first, I cursed this lack of connectivity, having enjoyed smooth and speedy service at every other hour in the week.  But I’ve now come to view Saturday home game time as an intentional time to get away from screens – a sort of enforced technology vacation.

During our 6th grade parent coffee, we talked about the seductive nature of screens, and how we can best educate students in using technology appropriately.  This talk, and last week’s game, also reminded me that we as parents are constantly modelling for our children.  If we allow ourselves to be interrupted by our phones when we’re together as a family, we are demonstrating this as acceptable behavior.

So maybe it’s best to think about weekend time as “tech time outs” – a chance for all of us to put away our phones, and get outside while the weather is still good.  In doing so, perhaps we’ll make a new family memory in the process.

Be well,
John

All School News and Info

Conference Sign-Ups Now Open

Please Sign Up Before Oct. 12 at 9:00pm

We apologize for the website hiccup that prevented parents from signing up at the original opening last Sunday. Sign-ups are now open, and more information on how to sign up is linked below.
+ More information about conferences and how to register

Childcare Available During Conferences

 + Contact Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org to register or to ask questions.

Tuesday and Wednesday

• Regular child care is available from 2:45 – 6:00pm at the normal rates.
• All students in the building must sign into the after school program in the library while parents attend conferences.
• Child care ends at 6:00pm on Wednesday, even though Middle School conferences run until 8:00pm. Normal late fees of $4/minute apply.

Thursday

• Full day child care is available from 8:00am – 3:00pm at $55/day.
• After care is available from 3:00pm – 6:00pm at $6/hour.
• Hourly child care during conferences is available at $10/hour. Reservations required.
• Send your child with a lunch if he/she will be with us from 12:00pm – 12:30pm.
• Reserve your space: bethm@emerson-school.org

Friday

• Full day child care is available from 8:00am – 6:00pm. More information will be available soon.

Next ESPO Meeting is October 7

ESPO meets monthly in the AIC

The next ESPO meeting is this Wednesday, Oct. 7, 8:30am, in the AIC.  At the start of the meeting, John Huber will be seeking feedback on our Curriculum Nights, and he will be discussing snow / cold day closures, parent / teacher conferences, and upcoming professional days off.
+ ESPO meeting minutes, agendas and other information

ESPO’s Fall 2015 Teacher Conference Potluck

Food and Volunteers Needed Wednesday, Oct. 14

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences. Many teachers will only have a short break that doesn’t allow them to leave, so ESPO parents generously provide a potluck dinner to get them through to the end of the night.
+ Learn more and volunteer

Auction Planning Starts Soon

Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9am in MS Conference Room 218

The Auction isn’t until March 11, but planning is already underway. Join us at our first meeting and learn how you can help prepare for the year’s most fabulous party, whether in a leadership or committee role, or with fun one-day tasks. Please contact Beth Anderson (734-665-5662, ext. 305) to let her know if you can attend, or if you’re interested but can’t make it. We’d be thrilled if you just showed up too!
+ Learn more and volunteer

Earn Thousands for Emerson by Shopping

Shop at Stores that Give to Emerson

Clip Box Tops and Labels for Emerson

Parents can also help Emerson raise $1,000 through Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education, just by clipping the labels on many items you already buy. Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to BTFE and LFE. If you have box tops or labels at home, Emerson’s BTFE and LFE collection container is located in the Fish Bowl.
+ Learn more or contact Dana DeBord, BTFE and LFE Parent Coordinator

Lower School News and Info

Lower School Conferences

• Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3:30pm – 6:00pm
  Regular child care available 2:45pm – 6:00pm
• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 3:30pm – 6:00pm
  Regular child care available 2:45pm – 6:00pm
• Thursday, Oct. 15, 8:00am – 2:00pm
  Full-day and drop-in child care available 8:00am – 6:00pm, email bethm@emerson-school.org to register

Middle School News and Info

Middle School Conferences

• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 3:00pm – 8:00pm
  Child care ends promptly at 6:00pm and the normal late fee of $4/minute applies. No child care available 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
• Thursday, Oct. 15, 8:00am – 3:00pm
  Full-day and drop-in child care available 8:00am – 6:00pm, email bethm@emerson-school.org to register

Father Gabriel Richard High School Info

Admission information, including Ann Arbor placement testing dates, open house dates, and application info is now available.
+ Learn more about FGR High School admissions

Community News and Events

Helping Your Anxious Child: A Group for Parents

4-Week Group Starting Soon

This is a four-week group for parents of children dealing with anxiety and stress at the start of the school year. Dr. Beth Pearson will be teaching parents practical strategies from evidence-based approaches, including what to say, tips, exercises, and how to avoid accidentally increasing fears.
+ Learn more

Eighth Grader, Kendra Wolter, in Ypsi Youth Theatre’s presentation of Twisted Tales of Terror

Friday, Oct 16 – Sunday, Oct 18 at the Riverside Arts Center

A night of chills! An evening of frights! A barrel of laughs! Ypsilanti Youth Theatre presents Twisted Tales of Terror. A storyteller too silly to be sinister and her husband, a hunchback with a heart of gold, decide to guide their audience through some of the world’s most famous horror stories, but the witches, mummies, werewolves and vampires have other ideas about how their stories should end. An uproarious comedy suitable for all ages of children and monsters.
+ Times, ticket and venue information

Fall Auditions open for the Boychoir of Ann Arbor

Boys aged 7 1/2 to 17 are eligible, auditions are by appointment

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor announces Fall Auditions for all three of its choirs. The Boychoir’s training programs enhance the musical education boys are already receiving through school or private lessons. We focus on competency in sight-singing (reading music) as well as vocal training through semi-private voice lessons.
+ Learn More