Emerson's Enquirer
September 26th, 2019
Principal's Corner
Dear Emerson Families,
Here are some important topics for the coming month:
Veteran’s Day Celebration
As Veteran’s Day approaches, we would like to once again pay homage to the men and women who have served and are serving our country. We are asking Emerson families who have a close family member currently serving or who has served in the past, to send in photo and/or description of that service member.
The photos and descriptions will be used to make a video collage, which will be presented to the entire school on Monday, November 11th. We will need these photos/descriptions by October 25, 2019. In order to submit, please use the link here.
Please provide the following information with the photo:
Name
Rank
Branch
Emerson student with whom they're related
Where he or she is stationed (active duty) or was last stationed (veteran)
Why he or she decided to join the service
If you have any questions or are struggling to attach your information to the Google Form, you can email them directly to me at salaimo@d64.org or our Instructional Technology Coach, Beth Rihtar at erihtar@d64.org. You can also call the main office at (847) 318-8110 for further assistance. These videos and photos will only be used for this event.
Our plan is to place this presentation on our website for District 64 and the community to view.
If you have a military service family member, we truly hope that you participate in this honorary event. The previous video was a great way to highlight the courageous efforts of your family members. Please help us to make this a truly memorable event.
Park Ridge Historical Society Event & Raffle
A limited number of School District 64 middle school students have been invited to attend a Park Ridge Historical Society program featuring a visit from Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Both Emerson and Lincoln middle schools will hold random drawings to select among those interested. The former Senator, Secretary of State, First Lady and Presidential Nominee will attend a program at the Pickwick Theater on Friday, Oct. 11.
The event includes the premiere of a new documentary, “Dare To Dream,” chronicling Secretary Clinton’s experiences as a child and young adult in Park Ridge. The program will also preview the Society’s new exhibit: “Trailblazing Women of Park Ridge,” set to open in the spring of 2020.The program will last from 9:45 to 11 a.m. at the Pickwick, with students leaving the school at approximately 9 a.m. and returning at approximately 11:30 a.m.
The Historical Society graciously invited more than 400 students, mostly from middle schools and high schools, to be part of the audience at the Pickwick. The guest list will include 100 students from each Lincoln and Emerson middle schools.
To select among those interested, each student will receive a permission form on Friday, September 27. Parents who grant permission for their child to attend must sign the form; students are to return signed permission forms by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Permission slip forms can be returned to the front office or the homeroom teacher. Each school will hold a drawing on Thursday, October 3 and selected students will be notified on Friday, Oct. 4.
A similar drawing will determine staff chaperones for the event.
Secretary Clinton attended Field Elementary School from kindergarten through grade 6, from 1952-1959. She then attended Emerson Junior High School for grades 7 and 8 from 1959-1961. (The junior high school she attended was later demolished). In November 2016, the District 64 Board of Education named the Learning Resource Center at Field School in her honor.
Maine South Tours
Maine South is hosting upcoming tours for new parents whose oldest child is beginning high school. Register on the Class of 2024 site on the Maine South page. Any questions can be directed to cbednarek@maine207.org.
Teen Leisure Clubs (TLC)
Our TLC clubs are up and running. Please encourage your child to join an after-school club. You can view the clubs, information about them, and when they meet on the TLC website linked here.
Picture Retake
Picture retake date is Fri., Oct. 25, 2018. If your child missed the first picture day or you would like a new picture taken, please make sure you fill out the paperwork. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.
Eighth Grade Promotion
8th grade parents, please mark your calendars. The Eighth Grade Promotion Party will take place on Friday, June 5th, 2020. The 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will be at Maine East High School on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. As we approach this date, more information will follow.
After-School Support Program (ASSP)
Emerson offers ASSP to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students after school from 3-4pm. This program allows students to receive extra support from a certified teacher. This program is scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. To find the full schedule, please visit our calendar here.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Finally, I just want to remind you that Parent-Teacher Conferences are October 7th, 10th, and 17th from 3:30-7:30pm. If you have not set an appointment to meet with your child’s teachers, please do so as soon as possible. Please contact your child’s teachers or visit their team website to make an appointment.
We look forward to continuing with this great start to the school year. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact a member of our office staff.
Best,
Mrs. Samantha Alaimo
Principal
Emerson Middle School
#WeAreEmerson
Inspire every child to discover, learn, achieve, and care.
Emerson Behavior Team’s S.O.A.R.S. Update September 2019
Welcome to Emerson’s Second Step Program!
This program supports social-emotional learning by educating our students in accepted and expected behaviors that are outlined in our S.O.A.R.S. behavior matrix. S.O.A.R.S. is an acronym that means the following: Showing respect, Offering empathy, Acts safely, be Responsible for learning and behavior, and Show self-regulation and self-awareness. We introduced the S.O.A.R.S. matrix to all students at our first school-wide assembly on Monday, August 26.
The Second Step program is designed to promote skills and attitudes that increase students’ success in school, help students get along with others, and prevent violence, bullying, and substance abuse. Second Step is based on research in three key areas: early adolescent development, risk and protective factors, and instructional practices to support the program’s goals. Select this link to read more information about Second Step. We will teach students these skills through our S.O.A.R.S. Day activities that will occur twice a month. These activity days will include lessons and guided practice that support social-emotional learning. Lessons are specific and appropriate to each grade level.
Students at Emerson received direct instruction on social-emotional learning on both September 06th and September 20th. Students met in extended homeroom periods to receive direct instruction, participate in simulations, and have meaningful discussions about their focus topics.
October Notes from the Gym…
Fall will soon arrive and so will the cooler weather. A reminder to all students that they may wear a sweatshirt and/or sweatpants, over their uniform, during PE class. However, please note that this should not be what the student has worn to school and these items should be kept in the student’s PE locker.
Throughout the month of September students have actively participated in Ultimate Frisbee, Fitness Testing, Flag Football and Cross Country Wednesdays. As September wraps up and October rolls in, students will move into Lacrosse (while still continuing with Cross Country Wednesdays) and Soccer. Lacrosse learning outcomes encompass the ability to develop basic skills required to play the game successfully, as well as work with peers to achieve a common goal. Soccer, on the other hand, essentially provides the chance for students to elevate their heart rate in the target zone of 160-180 bpm, thus improving their cardiovascular endurance. In addition, students will continue to have the opportunity to choose their level of play--competitive or recreational--for these units. We believe by giving students choice in levels, it maximizes their participation, keeps them engaged, and ensures safety for all.
During Cross-Country Wednesdays in October, students will continue to train to improve their cardiovascular endurance, a health-related fitness component, and understand pacing better. In addition, all students will participate in two all-class meets. The goal for students is to complete the mile long course (on the field, sidewalk, and up/down hills) and get their best place possible. In turn, a class average will be found determining which class won the meet overall. Ask your student how he/she finishes in their races? And if they improved from the first to second meet?
As October comes to a close, PE classes will move indoors and begin our Basketball/Fitness Center unit. Classes will rotate into the fitness center to learn how to properly use our weight machines and bikes. Students will also explore with our Polar heart rate watches to better understand how hard they are working. The goal is always for students to work hard and do their personal best. These watches show students exactly that!
One additional side note… Intramurals continue throughout the school year and are always held right after school from 3:00-4:00pm. The after school activity bus will be running for students to take home at 4:00pm. For more information regarding dates and activities please click the link below.
6th Grade Social
Spirit Wear!
PTO Queen of Hearts
ELF to host Third Annual Halloween Hustle
ELF, the Park Ridge Elementary Learning Foundation, will host its third annual Halloween Hustle 5k Run and Walk in Hodges Park at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. This family-friendly fun run will help ELF raise money to fund innovative grants that are awarded to District 64 schools.
While the race won’t be timed, it includes an inter-school competition component. Runners can align themselves with a specific school when they register; the school with the highest participation percentage will win the highly coveted ELF Trophy to proudly display for an entire year. So be sure to affiliate yourself with your school of choice.
And, because it is a Halloween-related event, runners are encouraged to wear costumes for the event. There’s something for everyone – The event is stroller-friendly for those too little to run. The littlest runners will have a loop around Hodges Park allowing kids from 1-5 to race against each other and pick up a medal for their efforts. There will also be a modified 3K route for those who aren’t quite up to a 5K distance yet.
ELF needs parents, teachers and families to come and cheer on the runners and to help with the "day of" event logistics. If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up here. For sponsorship opportunities, click here. Registration is available now on the Halloween Hustle website.
IMPORTANT HEALTH REMINDER FOR PARENTS OF CURRENT 6th GRADE STUDENTS:
Deadline for Health documents for entering 6TH GRADE
If you have not already done so, this is a reminder that October 15, 2019, is the State of Illinois and District 64 deadline for submitting proof of health requirements (physical examination and documentation of immunizations) for entry into 6th grade. Failure to comply with the October 15th deadline will result in your child’s exclusion from school beginning on October 16th.
If you have questions or concerns regarding these requirements, please contact your school’s Building Nurse directly.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Margaret Temari, RN, M.Ed., PEL-CSN
Facilitator, School Health Services
A note from District 64 School Health Services
To all District 64 Families:
Autumn days predictably bring cooler weather, changing colors and of course, cold and flu season. Since influenza viruses vary from year to year, it may be difficult to predict the flu season's beginning and peak. Flu activity in the U.S. peaks between December and February, but can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May.
Current recommendations state that everyone 6 months of age and older, especially those at high risk, receives influenza vaccination annually. To prepare your family for the 2019-20 Influenza Season, please visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for basic flu facts, prevention tips, and treatment information by clicking here.
For Your Good Health,
Margaret Temari, RN, MEd.
Certified School Nurse & Facilitator, School Health Services
See what’s going on in our community!
Park Ridge-Niles Community
From the library to the park district, our communities of Park Ridge-Niles have lots to offer. For information on all the latest happenings, be sure to check the Community Info & Events webpage.
Hillary Rodham Clinton program
A limited number of School District 64 middle school students have been invited to attend a Park Ridge Historical Society program featuring a visit from Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Both Emerson and Lincoln middle schools will hold random drawings to select among those interested.
The former Senator, Secretary of State, First Lady and Presidential Nominee will attend a program at the Pickwick Theater on Friday, Oct. 11. The event includes the premiere of a new documentary, “Dare To Dream,” chronicling Secretary Clinton’s experiences as a child and young adult in Park Ridge. The program will also preview the Society’s new exhibit: “Trailblazing Women of Park Ridge,” set to open in the spring of 2020.
The program will last from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. at the Pickwick, with students leaving the school at approximately 9:30 a.m. and returning at approximately noon.
The Historical Society graciously invited more than 400 students, mostly from middle schools and high schools, to be part of the audience at the Pickwick. The guest list will include 100 students from each Lincoln and Emerson middle schools.
To select among those interested, each student will receive a permission form on Wednesday, September 27. Parents who grant permission for their child to attend must sign the form; students are to return signed permission forms by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Each school will hold a drawing on Thursday, October 3 and selected students will be notified on Friday, Oct. 4.
A similar drawing will determine staff chaperones for the event.
Secretary Clinton attended Field Elementary School from kindergarten through grade 6, from 1952-1959. She then attended Emerson Junior High School for grades 7 and 8 from 1959-1961. (The junior high school she attended was later demolished). In November 2016, the District 64 Board of Education named the Learning Resource Center at Field School in her honor.
New District Transportation Email Address
The district has a new transportation email address (transportation@d64.org). This email is to be used for all busing related questions.
The link below will navigate you to the district bus information page.