Emerson's Enquirer
December 19th, 2019
Principal's Corner
Hello Emerson Families,
As we close out December and begin our two week hiatus, I would like to take a moment to wish every Emerson family a safe and happy holiday! I look forward to what 2020 will bring for our students and their journey through middle school. Thank you for your continued support this school year.
Please take a moment to read through this week’s updates. As always, please call or email a member of our office staff with any questions or concerns! Take care!
Emerson’s Open House Night
I would like to invite you to Emerson's Open House event on Wednesday, January 22nd from 7-8pm. This evening gives you and your child the opportunity to visit the amazing encore classes that Emerson offers. All of our offerings will be on display for families to see.
At 7:00pm, Mr. Benka, Mr. Majewski and I will present an informational session in the Multipurpose Room to all sixth grade parents.This presentation is intended for those who have not been through the elective selection process for choosing 7th grade classes with your child. During this session, we will explain the expectations of taking a foreign language class and filling out the elective form. At 7:30pm, we invite you to walk-through the school in order to see some of these choices in action.
Also during this evening, we will be hosting the fifth grade orientation from 6-7pm. Due to the expected number of families attending this evening, we are asking you to please carpool. We will have extra parking on the blacktop next to the music wing on Greendale Ave., however please plan accordingly as the parking lots will fill up.
8th Grade Promotion Announcement
While the eighth-grade promotion ceremonies for students at Emerson Middle School and Lincoln Middle School will continue as separate events this spring, due to construction in Maine Township High School District 207, both will be held at the same venue. The two programs will be held at different times on Monday, June 8, 2020 - one day earlier than originally planned - at Maine East High School.
The Emerson event will begin at 6 p.m. while Lincoln’s ceremony will start at 8 p.m. Each program will run for just under one hour. Additional details will be announced in the spring.
8th Grade POWER Event
Registration for 8th grade POWER is now open and the deadline is set for January 19th. The event itself will take place at Emerson on Friday, February 28, from 3 to 9:00pm.
It is highly encouraged that you sign your child up to attend this wonderful, educational, uplifting event, exclusive to our 8th graders in the district. POWER is a one-night event and experience they won’t forget. The registration for this event can be found by clicking on the link below. Information about the event can also be found on both the Emerson and Lincoln Home Pages. We truly value this unique evening and your child’s participation in it.
What is POWER?
POWER is a one-day experience, designed to develop leadership skills and promote healthy choices for our eighth graders from Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools. The program also strives to teach young people the skills needed to develop healthy peer relationships, resist negative peer pressure, and promote responsible decision-making through powerful presentations and guided group mentoring from local high schools.
Any other questions, and or concerns, please do not hesitate to get a hold of:
Myra Russell at Emerson mrussell@D64.org or
Kate May at Lincoln kmay@d64.org
*If you have any trouble registering your child, please contact, Valerie Varhalla, at the District 64 office at: vvarhalla@d64.org BEFORE the January 19th registration deadline.
Smartwatches at Emerson
We do not allow these in school. Students must keep them at home or in their lockers. Our 2019-2020 District 64 Student-Parent Handbook outlines this guideline here:
Any digital communications device (e.g., “smart” watch, GPS tracker, etc.) must be kept in the student’s locker during the school day.
Maine East Incoming Freshman Information
Counselor Registration Meetings are January 8th-February 7th
Information and updates can be found on the Class of 2024 website.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Michael Wartick (mwartick@maine207.org)
Maine South Incoming Freshman Information
Individual Counselor Meetings are January 22nd, 29th, and February 5th.
This information can be found on the Class of 2024 website.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Melissa Pikul (mpikul@maine207.org).
Feed My Starving Children
Emerson will be visiting Feed My Starving Children again this year as a group on Saturday, January 4th. This event was well-attended last year, and it was worthwhile for all. Not only did this event allow our Emerson families to meet and interact with one another, but it also allowed us to make a global impact on those in need. To view more important information about this event and to sign up, please click here.
Best,
Samantha Alaimo
Principal
#WeAreEmerson
Inspire every child to discover, learn, achieve, and care.
Art Student Volunteers Sign-Up for Open House 2020
Who? You : ) Grab a friend from class and have them come with you too!!
What? Demonstrate some of the skills you have learned in art recently (work on perspective drawing, building something with clay, working on a drawing or painting, etc) or even working on a current project from class.
When? Wednesday, January 22nd Arrive about 6:45 p.m. so we can make sure you are set and ready. You can be picked up at 8:15 p.m.
Where? Emerson Art Rooms
Why? So kids can see the awesome art that students get to make at Emerson!!
How? Ask your parent(s) if you are free and if they can give you a ride. Then, respond and sign up on the Google Doc when you get the Open House email from your Art Teacher!!
**If you want to leave for a little while to go look around at Open House that is ok!
That is why we are having 2-3 kids for each project demonstrating...so you can
each get away for a little while.
**If you need service hours bring your form with you and we can sign it.Thanks so much!!
Mrs. Dziedzic, Mr. Marx and Mr. Perl
Join the Spelling Bee!
Spelling & Vocabulary rounds will be included at the School Spelling Bees.
✔ Additional Spelling Bee information is available on the school websites and by direct
link https://sites.google.com/d64.org/district64spellingbee/home
✔ Study Guides and Additional Information about School Spelling Bees are available by registering: Emerson Registration Form
✔ All of the top-spelling students who participate will be recognized; the District 64 winner will move on to the regional competition!
✔ Questions? email Ms. Hrobsky at ehrobsky@d64.org
POWER 2020 Is Coming!
POWER 2020
POWER is a one-day experience, designed to develop leadership skills and promote healthy choices for our eighth graders from both Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools. POWER ultimately seeks to bring together middle school youth, community members, middle school staff, and high school leaders to develop trusting relationships as well as providing a framework for understanding one’s self and others. The program also strives to teach young people the skills needed to develop healthy peer relationships, resist negative peer pressure, and promote responsible decision-making.
General Topics covered at POWER
Self – Esteem, Communication, Peer Pressure, Decision Making,
Positive Thinking, Alcohol and Drug Awareness
Registration Information
Where:Emerson Middle School
When: February 28,
Lincoln students will take a bus from Lincoln to Emerson.
However, ALL students must have a prearranged ride home from Emerson at 9pm. There will be NO bus service home from this event.
Time: 3:00-9:00pm
Participants must be available for the entire POWER program.
Participants will not be dismissed early for games, practice, appointments, or other obligations as an important part of POWER is the experience your students will go through from beginning till end. Appropriate behavior is expected and parents will be called to pick-up students who choose not to follow this guideline.
ATTENTION...THIS IS AN
ONLINE REGISTRATION & PAYMENT!
All registration forms must be correctly completed and turned in with payment online using MySchoolBucks through the District’s Website. You can access this through either middle school’s link or RevTrak. Please complete the registration form at the same time that payment occurs to avoid complications.
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 3
AND CLOSES DOWN JANUARY 19
NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 1 / 19.
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS
Preview the Book Fair!
Are you an aspiring young author ready to share your work with others?
The Young Authors Contest is an independent, voluntary at-home project for students interested in writing and publishing their work for others to read. Click Here to Download more information, and for Important dates in 2020.
Emerson students email Ms Contreras at kcontreras@d64.org
January Notes from the Gym…
During the month of December, the students at Emerson participated in our tumbling unit. This unit students focused on strength and flexibility. They used different tumbling elements and balances to create either an individual or group routine. The tumbling unit was the first unit of the 2nd trimester.
In addition to tumbling, students also participated in choice activities, and even got to do some stress relaxation in the gym. All these activities led up to the beginning of winter break. We also had a visit from our SRO Officer Regal who gave a presentation to all of our students.
When we come back after the new year, the students of Emerson are all going to choose what unit that they want to participate in next. Rhythmic gymnastics and Fitness Challenge are the choices, which should lead to some fun and creative moments during the second trimester.
As the new year approaches, we encourage you to find time to exercise of the winter holidays. It is a great way to burn off the great food we consume over the holidays, but it also allows use to relieve stress in our everyday lives. Everyone can benefit from exercise so feel free to do it as a family!
Coffee with the Director of Student Services
District 64 hosts Special Olympics info meeting
Join us for an informational meeting about the Special Olympics program at Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 for the Spring 2020 season. There will be an informational session to parents at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 23 in the south gym of Carpenter Elementary School, 300 North Hamlin Avenue. The session will include a discussion of program opportunities, details regarding the season, and an opportunity to meet the coaches.
Special Olympics is an athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, ages 8 and up with disabilities. District 64 competes in the Region Spring Games held at Prospect High School at the end of April. If you would like to consider this opportunity for your student, please attend to gain more information.
Planning for the Future of Children with Special Needs Parent Workshop
Find out more about Extended School Year (ESY)
What is extended school year? District 64 Park Ridge-Niles provides Extended School Year (ESY) opportunities to qualifying students within the district generally beginning mid June for no less than 60 hours. Although the calendar/schedule is reviewed and determined annually, ESY has generally been scheduled Monday through Friday, following the Worlds of Wonder (WOW) program.
FALL 2019 HEALTH REMINDERS FROM SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
Important Message from D64 School Health Services
As we near winter break, family schedules become even busier, with holiday celebrations, travel, and more opportunities for children to play with one another. Please take the time to check your child’s head for the presence of head lice and nits (eggs) now, during break, and prior to return to school in January. If nits or live lice are found, all household members should be examined and treated if needed.
If your child has an active infestation (live lice), you should notify parents of your child’s playmates, so that steps can be taken to prevent further spread. In addition, please contact the health office at your child’s school.
Head lice are spread most commonly by head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact with someone who already has head lice, and less frequently, by sharing clothing or belongings onto which lice may have crawled.
Prevention Measures:
Avoid head-to-head contact during play (sports activities, sleep-overs).
Do not share items such as hats, caps, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair accessories, combs, brushes, or towels.
Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have been in recent contact with a person with head lice.
Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items worn/used by the affected person during the 2 days before treatment, using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
Vacuum floors and furniture. However, spending excessive time and money on house cleaning activities is unnecessary; rather, efforts should be concentrated on treatment of live lice and removal of nits from affected persons.
For more information, please visit the District website at:
http://www.d64.org/health-services/health-safety-tips. Please scroll down the page to the section titled “Head Lice.”
Margaret Temari, R.N., M.Ed.
Facilitator, School Health Services
Tips for cold weather safety
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.
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.