Letter from Jerry

Hello Parents,

One tried and true ritual of the new school year is this formal reminder of safety precautions related to dropping off and picking up students. Please review the list below in order to fully embrace the mindset that driving in and out of school requires a much higher level of awareness and vigilance than the many other roads you travel each day.

Do not use cellphones while driving.
Pull all the way forward, even if it means your child may need to walk a bit further.
Be sure your visor name tag is visible from the outside of your car so we can call ahead for your child. The darkened strips at the top of windshields are hard to read through, so please be sure the tag is low on the visor.
Use the walk-in spots at the end of the parking lot if you intend to walk in with your child and/or meet him or her at the end of the day.
Use the crosswalks to cross the parking lot.
If you anticipate you will be sitting still for 10 seconds or more, turn off your engine, save some fuel, and reduce the emissions we are all breathing along the curbside (learn more about this ESPO Anti-Idling initiative).
Drive in the two lanes that are marked throughout the parking lot. At no point should the traffic narrow down into one lane.
Do not use cellphones while driving.

Thank you for your attention to these safety tips. Enjoy your weekend. We look forward to seeing all of you at our curriculum nights beginning next Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Jerry Loewen
Head of School

All School News

Order Pizza Lunch Through ESPO Email

Pizza Lunch Begins Friday, Sept. 19

If you have not already ordered Pizza Lunch and would still like to, please email Lisa Lee, ESPO Pizza Lunch Chair, at emersonpizzalunch@gmail.com. Any changes to your orders will have to be emailed to emersonpizzalunch@gmail.com, and these changes will not be included in the first Pizza Lunch next Friday, September 19.

School Resources You May Not Know Of

Counseling and Learning Support

To support students with whatever emotional or learning needs that may arise, Emerson maintains a full-time support staff. Please contact us if we can help you or your child.

Counselor: Carrie Berkley
Learning Support Specialists: Cindy Annchild and Nancy Laitner
Math and Learning Support Teacher: Mary Spaller
Tutors: Joyce Gerber and Deb Pulte

+ Contact Learning Support

Classroom and School Webpages

Many teachers and programs maintain webpages with useful information and resources. Check out Jan’s new technology page.
+ School Info & Resources

Carpool Map

Find families who live nearby and are interested in carpooling. Only families who voluntarily opt in to participate are visible on the map, and only those who participate can view it.
+ Carpool Map

Calendar Subscriptions

You can subscribe to Emerson’s calendars for your preferred calendar (Google, Apple iCal, Outlook, etc.) and always have the most up-to-date information.
+ Calendars

After School Program

Available as needed, students can drop in before or after school and parents will only be billed for the time they use.
+ After School Program

Register for Enrichment Classes and Lessons

Enrichment Class Registration is Now Open

Classes begin Sept. 15 and run for 10 weeks. Classes fill quickly, so you are urged to register as soon as possible. Please email Beth Muszkiewicz to register, or with any questions.
+ Fall classes, times, and more info

Fall Music Lessons

Students can take quality private music lessons right here at Emerson School. We have a variety of experienced music instructors available throughout the week. Please email Rose Hacker to sign your child up, or with any questions.
+ Times, instructor bios, and more info

Alumni Achievement

Five Alums Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Five Emerson alums were among the 93 Washtenaw County high school students named 2015 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Fewer than one percent of high school seniors qualified to be semifinalists. Congratulations to:

Michael Halloran (Skyline)
Nishant Kheterpal (Skyline)
Joshua Krivan (Skyline)
Emily Newman (Pioneer)
Alexander Wegrzyn (Greenhills)

+ Ann Arbor News story

Student Achievement

Caswell Students Supporting Diabetes Research

Finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes will require a lot of support, and Emerson students Rollie Caswell (8th), Lance Caswell (4), and Lucas Caswell (3) are doing their part. For the seventh year, they are participating in theJDRF One Walk (Sept. 28) as part of team 3 Caz 4 a Cure. Together with parents Trey and Elizabeth Caswell, their team has raised tens of thousands of dollars to turn Type 1 into Type None.
+ Read more

Earn Thousands for Emerson by Shopping

Shop at Stores that Give to Emerson

Last year parents, faculty, and staff earned more than $4,700 for Emerson School just for doing their normal shopping at Arbor Farms, Busch’s, Hiller’s, Kroger, Meijer, and Target. See how easy it is to join in, and contact Beth Anderson with any questions.
+ Learn more

Clip Box Tops and Labels for Emerson

Parents can also help ESPO 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

Kindles to be Chosen for Reading Challenge

All submissions for the Summer Reading Challenge (grades 2-8) must be submitted to Linda by Sept. 22 to be entered in the drawing for one of three Kindles generously donated by an Emerson grandmother. To enter, students must:

Read a book he/she has not previous read.
Email a summary to Linda by September 22, stating the author, title, a little of the story, and why this book was or was not a worthy read.

Only submissions from Emerson students will be accepted, but younger students and/or students without email accounts may dictate their submissions to parents. Students can only enter once.

One Kindle will be presented to a 2nd or 3rd grade student, another will go to a 4th or 5th grade student, and the third will be given to a student in the middle school. Previous winners are asked not to enter so that others may have a better chance of winning.

Free Tickets to The Princess Bride

Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1:30pm at The Michigan Theater

Emerson School is sponsoring the screening of The Princess Bride, part of the Michigan Theater’s Family-Friendly Film Series. Kids receive free admission, and Emerson parents will receive complimentary tickets worth $10. A new Emerson movie trailer be screened prior to the film.

Lower School News

Lower School Curriculum Night

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Teachers will present snapshots of what will happen in your child’s classes this year. Teachers also look forward to meeting with you during conferences on Oct. 15th and 16th to discuss your child’s individual performance. If you have any concerns or questions before that time, please feel free to contact your child’s teachers by email or phone.

Grades K-2: Visit individual Specials classrooms from 7:00 – 7:30pm and then go to your child’s Homeroom from 7:35 – 8:05pm
Grades 3-5: Go to your child’s Homeroom from 7:00 – 7:30pm and then visit individual Specials classrooms from 7:35 – 8:05pm

Child Care Available for Lower School Curriculum Night

6:45pm – 8:30pm
Open to all Emerson students and siblings aged 4 and up
$10 per child, charged to your account at the end of September
Held in the Middle School, sign in outside Room 213
Supervised by After School Program Staff Members
Reservations required by Friday, September 19th

+ RSVP to After School Program Assistant Beth Muszkiewicz

Book Quest for 4th and 5th Grade Starts Soon

Book Quest, led by Emerson Librarian Linda, is a reading program where teams of students read and discuss five assigned books. They meet once a week through November. When all of the books have been read, each team will be assigned a book for which they will create a challenge to present to the other teams. It culminates with all participants meeting after school on Friday, November 21, to complete the challenges and then join for a family potluck dinner.
This Book Quest round is open to students in grades 4 and 5 only. Book Quest for grades 2-3 will happen in the new year.
+ Contact Linda Laksminarayanan to learn more

Lower School Continuing Orchestra

Rehearsals start next week. The Grade 2/3 Orchestra meets on Thursday and Friday, and the Grade 4/5 Orchestra meets on Wednesday and Friday. The classes start at 2:50PM and end at 3:25PM. Please remember your instrument!

Lower School Continuing Band

Rehearsals will begin on Sept. 22. Please note this change.

Middle School News

Middle School Curriculum Night

Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6:45pm (class begins at 7:00pm)

Join us for an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about the exciting learning happening in middle school. You will visit each of your child’s classes, getting a sense of what it’s like to be a middle schooler, so arrive at 6:45pm to get their schedule and make it to your first period on time at 7:00pm.
+ Questions? Contact Andy Zimmer

Sports Update

Soccer Team Defeats WCA 2-1

Emerson kicked off the 2014 season on Tuesday, hosting Washtenaw Christian Academy. The 2014 Emerson team is the biggest ever, with 36 kids on the roster, but this day, with the 8th grade away at camp, 18 Eagle 6th and 7th graders took on a Wildcats team with some unusually large middle school students. The 2-1 victory put to rest the worries of the 6th and 7th graders…
+ Read more

Community News & Events

Lexington Bach Festival

Through Sept. 14th in Lexington, MI

Ms. Capozzoli is performing with the orchestra this weekend. If you want to make a trip to the beautiful town of Lexington this weekend to hear some amazing music, please visit the website for more info.
+ Learn more

Author Philippa Gregory at Nicola’s

Sept. 19 at 7:00pm

News York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory will be at Nicola’s Books to sign autographs. Her books have been turned into the Starz original series The White Queen.

MAGC Gifted Education Conference

Excelling with the Common Core

Oct. 11, 8:00am – 4:45pm at MSU Campus

Meet other parents and educators and learn strategies for identifying, raising, and educating gifted kids. Speakers, vendors, and school representatives will be on hand, including Emerson School.
+ Learn more

Testimonial

Emerson Fact