Emerson Cheetah Check-In!
Emerson Parent Newsletter: July 2020
Vision
Mission
We are a relationship-centered school:
students are known, valued and celebrated.
We support all students:
academic and social emotional programs meet students where they are and accelerate them forward.
We are committed to equity:
we eliminate racial, socioeconomic and gender inequities through culturally relevant learning experiences.
We are a learning community:
with a learning stance, we use inquiry and reflection to improve our practice.
Hello Emerson Families!
I hope you are well, and have enjoyed the summer!
We are so excited to welcome you, or welcome you back to Emerson. We know that this is likely the most unusual start to the school year any of us have ever had. The team of teachers and staff at Emerson are resilient, student-centered and committed to working collectively. Amidst tremendous challenge we are preparing to provide a high quality, thoughtful experience for our children to make it a year of learning and growth. Our values of relationship & equity will guide us, as we work in innovative ways to support our students together!
As school approaches we want to keep you informed about what the first two weeks of school will look like. We welcome you to our first day of school on Monday, August 10. As labor negotiations evolve between our district and unions we will know more about the specifics of the school day (including length of instructional day, and what online learning will look like, and more). In the meantime below is an outline for what to expect the first few weeks.
COMMUNICATION
Talking Points
We will be using “Talking Points,” as our main communication to our families. This will be used both school wide and for individual classes. You can download the free Talking Points app or use it through your text messages. Next week, your child’s teacher will reach out to you via Talking Points to introduce themself.
Note: If you'd like to add a parent/guardian to Talking Points Communications, just respond to a TP message with the guardians, name & number, and we will add them.
Google Classroom
All teachers will be using google classroom to organize their work for students, post announcements, and receive student work and take daily attendance. Google Classroom will be accessible through Clever. Your child’s teacher will reach out through Talking Points to help get your student connected to their new online classroom.
SeeSaw
In addition to google classroom, TK-2nd grade classes will be using the platform SeeSaw for students to access their work. SeeSaw will allow students to send their teachers work in a format that is accessible for younger students.
FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL
The first two weeks will be focused on supporting our students and families to get adjusted to distance learning.
Technology Distribution
Emerson is committed to making sure that all students have a Chromebook and internet access so they can fully engage in distance learning. OUSD has asked families that have the means to purchase a device for their child, please do so. Chromebooks will be available for loan from Emerson, to any student that does not have one.
On August 6th and 7th from 1-4pm, pick-up a Chromebook to borrow, IF your child needs one.
*If you already have a borrowed computer from Emerson, but it is not working, return it at this time and we will lend you a different computer.
If you haven’t filled out the Emerson Family Technology Survey yet, please do so by clicking this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiSZPFxbUkNIdDPpTkPSnVXhXlhZZfFsyNkR3-A4kRhxeI2Q/viewform
Attendance
This year teachers will be taking daily attendance to track student’s engagement in distance learning. This is required for all California students, per state law (AB 77 / SB 98). Examples of “engaging/participating in distance learning” are logging into a live on-line class, logging into google classroom, platforms or apps, responding to an email, text (to the teacher of record), or completing an assignment for the day.
Home Visits
Teachers will be making one-on-one contact with each family from their classroom during the first two weeks of school. These “home visits” will either happen virtually or in a socially distant way, depending on the comfort level of all parties involved. This will be an opportunity to discuss your student’s strengths, challenges during distance learning and your concerns/questions around distance learning. Teachers will also provide a checklist with expectations for their students and parents can use this as a way to support your child during the school day.
Morning Meetings
Starting on Monday, August 10, teachers will be hosting morning meetings, immediately following our whole school Welcome Back Kick-Off! These morning meetings will be a space where students can get to know their new teacher and peers, teachers can set norms around distance learning, and start to create daily routines around the first two weeks of school. We hope all of our students will participate in these meetings especially since it will be our way of creating community for our students and class.
Academics
Instruction during the first two weeks of school will be varied. Students will be supplied with a variety of work they can do at home, independently, while teachers and families work together creating systems for successful distance learning.
Materials
In the first two weeks of school, teachers will be in contact with parents regarding plans to pick up materials (notebooks, books, instructional materials, etc).
Please reach out with questions.
Much appreciation,
Heather Palin
Principal @ Emerson
Meet Our New Teachers!
Ms. Muslimah Mohammed, Teacher on Special Assignment
I am Muslimah Mohammed, and I've been a professional educator of children for almost 30 years. I come to Emerson fresh off of a four-year stint as one of 4 district-wide instructional coaches for new as well as veteran teachers, the most rewarding job I have ever had. I am overjoyed to be joining this school community because of the staff. The leadership is exceptional, the staff is stellar, and everyone is on one accord and committed to the success of our children. This is the place for me to be.
Ms. Laura Aviles, 1st Grade Teacher
Ms. Sierra Balatan, 4th Grade Teacher
My name is Sierra Balatan and I am the new 4th grade teacher! I am beyond excited to be part of the Emerson Elementary Community and collaborate with an amazing team of staff and parents that deeply cares about the students. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in Teaching from USC. In the past 5 years I have gained experience teaching and working with different age groups from kindergarten through college. I am committed to educate and empower every student to succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Ms. Annabelle Nash, 4th/5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Angelica Hilliard, Pre-K SDC Teacher
Hello Emerson families, my name is Angelica Hilliard. I am excited to return to Emerson as a PreK SpEd teacher. I started my career in 2015 at Emerson as a paraprofessional and worked in various early childhood education classrooms throughout the district.
I am a bay area native that has almost 20 years of experience in the medical field and advocating for children and families of diverse populations and different socioeconomic backgrounds. I look forward to working with families and having fun.
Food Distribution
Going forward Food Distribution will continue for all OUSD students and families. Nearby Food sites will be Hoover & Sankofa, continuing with Monday's & Thursday's from 8am-Noon.
Also want to shout-out the team at Emerson that has been doing food delivery to families in need, and supporting at hub sites, all summer long! You Rock!
Emerson Elementary School
Email: heather.palin@ousd.org
Website: https://www.ousd.org/emerson
Location: 4803 Lawton Avenue, Oakland, CA, USA
Phone: 510-654-7373