Now, children ages 3-5 can have the same unforgettable Summer at Emerson experience during Preschool Camp. It's a new partnership with Allen Creek Preschool, which brilliantly blends its early childhood expertise with the intimate, ...
Now, children ages 3-5 can have the same unforgettable Summer at Emerson experience during Preschool Camp. It’s a new partnership with Allen Creek Preschool, which brilliantly blends its early childhood expertise with the intimate, absurdly fun camps Summer at Emerson is known for.
All preschool camps will be held at Allen Creek and are open to all students ages 3, 4, and 5, regardless of school attended—even if he/she is not enrolled in school yet. If your child is currently attending Young 5s and will start kindergarten in the fall, preschool camp at Allen Creek is the perfect fit!
Preschool camps are held in the mornings from 9:15am-12:15pm, hoping to accommodate families attending both Summer at Emerson camps and Preschool Camp at Allen Creek.
ONE OF 96 TEAMS ADVANCING TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
(See more photos here)
The Emerson School EAGLES robotics team (EAGLES), which competes with hundreds of other Michigan middle schools in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics ...
The Emerson School EAGLES robotics team (EAGLES), which competes with hundreds of other Michigan middle schools in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics program, is currently ranked 10th in the nation out of nearly 2,000 teams. The EAGLES team was part of the three-team alliance that took first place at the Dec. 1 state qualifying tournament in Mason, Mich., and students are now preparing for the State Championship on Dec. 14 and 15 in Battle Creek, Mich.
“Everyone on the team participated and came together at the Mason tournament,” said Diego Del Rio, Emerson 8th grader and EAGLES team member since the Robotics Program was founded in 2015. “There were so many nights we stayed late practicing and ate dinner together, so I was glad to see it all pay off. Now we have a chance to qualify for the World Championships, but I’m just as excited to compete with and learn from some of the best teams in the country at States.”
The EAGLES team is made up of 11 middle school students from Emerson School. It is one of 75 Michigan teams have already earned one of the 96 State Championship bids, with the final teams being decided after this weekend’s last round of tournaments.
“This is only our team’s second year competing at this level, so going to States is an amazing achievement,” said Marchell Burgess, Robotics Program Coordinator and 4th grade teacher at Emerson School. “Our kids have really had to figure things out on their own because they don’t have the high school support most teams do. I’m so proud of that and the character they’ve shown all along the way.”
In the spirit of cooperation, all teams compete as part of two- and three-team alliances. At the Dec. 6 tournament, the EAGLES competed in the final round alongside the CSPA Miners from Brighton (the alliance captains) and the Classical Engineers from Bedford Junior High. In addition to being part of the tournament’s first place alliance, the EAGLES were honored with the event’s Inspiration Award, which is given to the team that inspires others, serves as a role model, is a top contender, and is a gracious competitor.
Emerson’s two other robotics teams, which compete with other elementary school teams in the FIRST Lego League programs, also qualified to go to the State Championships. That means all three teams in the Emerson Robotics Program will be at States for the first time ever.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Visit http://www.firstinspires.org for more information.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Eagle middle school soccer team wrapped up another successful season, ending the regular season at the top of the league table, and then playing dominantly in ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Eagle middle school soccer team wrapped up another successful season, ending the regular season at the top of the league table, and then playing dominantly in the tournament from the opening kick-off to the final whistle.
Michael Needham scored barely a minute into the first game against Steiner School, and the Eagles never looked back. With captain Lance Caswell on the bench, recovering from an injury earlier in the week, and the dangerous Vince Vartanian also resting in anticipation of a stern test in the following morning’s season ending game, Emerson put together a rock-solid performance, suffocating the Storm offense, maintaining possession, and creating many scoring chances. Converting enough of those chances to lead comfortably 4-0 late in the game, the Eagles did give up a goal in the last few minutes, but the outcome was never in doubt, and the team was able to ride the momentum of their 4-1 victory into the championship game the next morning.
Saturday was chilly and damp, but the rain held off. Under the weather, however, was Loui Gabaron, Emerson’s swift left mid, and the Eagles were also without the services of forward Neel Moudgal and outside back Michelle Mobius. Still, things looked promising with the return of Lance and Vince. Emerson faced another team of ‘Eagles’, from Ann Arbor Christian School, who had earned their way to the championship game by virtue of an upset of Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth the previous evening, 2-1, in a shootout.
Emerson jumped out ahead with another early goal, and, if anything, were even more control throughout the game than on the previous evening. Vince Vartanian’s speed and explosiveness to the ball added yet another dimension to an already balanced attack and relentless defense. On the subject of defense, 6th grade center back Talen Pilz, and classmate Naveen Owens, a transplant from striker to the outside back position for this occasion, played with skill and assuredness beyond their years. Ava Heung, at the other outside back, completed the back end of the Emerson Diamond Defense, which left keeper Ian Lewis with precious little in the way of work on the way to a clean sheet. Seventh grade outside mids Dominic Schuster and Lachlan Rae made many runs down the sidelines en route to effective crosses into the opposing penalty area. 8th graders Vince, Michael, and Lance repeatedly were too much to handle in the center of the field. 6th grade wing forward Fred DeBord came oh so close to finishing on three different balls to his post. In the end, Emerson put away 6 of the chances they created, for a resounding 6-0 final score, and the championship.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
Emerson Soccer got off to a strong start in the 2018 season, hosting Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth on September 13. The first quarter of the game was a back and forth affair, but ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
Emerson Soccer got off to a strong start in the 2018 season, hosting Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth on September 13. The first quarter of the game was a back and forth affair, but the Eagles started to assert themselves and find their rhythm. In the 20th minute, Michael Needham found Vince Vartanian with room to shoot, and Vince buried it for the first goal of the season. Just before the half, Fred DeBord made it 2-0 on a back-heel off a scramble at the corner of the net, and the tone was set. Vince’s second made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, then served Lance Caswell in front, and Lance brought the score to 4-0. Michael Needham got his second, followed closely by a Spiritus Sanctus tally which made it 5-1, but Lance got his second to return the lead to 5, and Arjun Bajaj finished off a pass from Vince to cap the scoring at 7-1.
Steiner School was next to come to Bateson Field, on September 18, and the Eagles picked up where they’d left off, Vince again opening the scoring, followed closely by Naveen Owens, who made it 2-0 in the 12th minute. Naveen’s corner 3 minutes later found Loui Gabaron, who headed it in, and then Loui put in his second of the season to bring the score to 4-0. Vince finished the scoring for the first half, and things didn’t last much beyond that. Arjun scored twice to open the second half, and then Dominic Schuster’s goal ended the game 20 minutes early with the Eagles 8th of the day.
Emerson went on the road on the 20th, travelling north to Ann Arbor Christian School’s field to take on the ‘other’ Eagles team. AACS had a couple games under their belt, including an 11-0 victory that suggested this game would be considerably tougher than Emerson’s previous two, and that suggestion was borne out. The two teams feinted and parried for a good 20 minutes before Vince Vartanian put Emerson up 1-0 on a strong shot from just inside the right corner of the penalty area, inside the far post. That lead held into the second half, Emerson generally having the better of the play but unable to add on, when AACS was able to score off a scramble in front of the Emerson net. The resulting tie was short-lived, as Michael Needham gave Emerson the lead back in the 40th minute, followed by numerous additional Emerson chances that were turned away by the AACS keeper. In the 50th minute Vince struck again, giving Emerson a bit of breathing room with a 3-1 lead. AACS did manage to cut the lead to 3-2, but Emerson was generally putting a great deal of pressure on the AACS goal, hitting the crossbar, a post, and getting off a number of strong shots that the keeper barely turned away. In the end, Emerson went home with a hard-fought, very sweaty, 3-2 victory, and a strong grip on first place in league play.
Emerson plays at home twice this coming week. On Tuesday, 9/25, Washtenaw Christian visits, and on Thursday, 9/27, Steiner comes back for a ‘friendly’. Both games begin at 4:15.
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums listed below on being named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only 114 high school seniors were selected from Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, and we're so proud to see our ...
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums listed below on being named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only 114 high school seniors were selected from Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, and we’re so proud to see our students representing such a large part of that group.
For context, 10% of Emerson’s 2014-2015 graduating class became National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! And Emerson students represent more than 6% of the semifinalists in Washtenaw and Livingston County, despite representing less than 1% of the overall student population.
See the news stories announcing these outstanding students via the links below.
+ MLive: 109 Washtenaw County students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists
+ The Livingston Post: Five county students named National Merit Semifinalists
Merci beaucoup to all of the French World Language students from Emerson School who finished among the best in the country in the 2018 National French Contest.
Gold Award Recipients (95th National Percentile):
Celine Duenyas ...
Merci beaucoup to all of the French World Language students from Emerson School who finished among the best in the country in the 2018 National French Contest.
Gold Award Recipients (95th National Percentile):
Silver Award Recipient (90th National Percentile):
Bronze Award Recipients (75th or 80th National Percentile):
Honorable Mentions (55th to 70th National Percentile):
By Marchell Burgess, Rising Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Rising Robots on an outstanding season. As a second year team, they attended the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament on Saturday, ...
By Marchell Burgess, Rising Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Rising Robots on an outstanding season. As a second year team, they attended the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament on Saturday, December 16th. These ten 4th and 5th graders were required to present a science project, attend an engineer judging review, demonstrate how they worked as a team, and compete with their robot. They competed hard in each of these areas, giving their best on all accounts. Each of them added valuable skills to the team and its success, representing Emerson very well. A huge thank you for working so hard all season, and a heartfelt thank you to their mentors – Sachin Kheterpal, Michael Wilson, Tamara Faber-Doty, and Terence Groening – who spent countless hours leading them through the season. All their hard work paid off when they were awarded the Strategy and Innovation Award for the state tournament. Well done, Rising Robots!
By Marchell Burgess, E.A.G.L.E.S. Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson E.A.G.L.E.S. robotics team for an outstanding rookie season! They placed 4th at the Mason Qualifier, allowing them to be ...
By Marchell Burgess, E.A.G.L.E.S. Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson E.A.G.L.E.S. robotics team for an outstanding rookie season! They placed 4th at the Mason Qualifier, allowing them to be alliance captains for the finals—a huge honor. After competing hard all day long at the Oxford Qualifier, and performing the “Play of the Day,” the team finished in 6th place, performing well against some very strong, well-established teams. These students represented Emerson so well and showed what true leaders and great engineers they really are. A huge thank you for working so hard all season, and a heartfelt thank you to their mentors who worked equally hard to lead them through this entire season. Well done, EAGLES.
Now, children ages 3-5 can have the same unforgettable Summer at Emerson experience during Preschool Camp. It's a new partnership with Allen Creek Preschool, which brilliantly blends its early childhood expertise with the intimate, ...
Now, children ages 3-5 can have the same unforgettable Summer at Emerson experience during Preschool Camp. It’s a new partnership with Allen Creek Preschool, which brilliantly blends its early childhood expertise with the intimate, absurdly fun camps Summer at Emerson is known for.
All preschool camps will be held at Allen Creek and are open to all students ages 3, 4, and 5, regardless of school attended—even if he/she is not enrolled in school yet. If your child is currently attending Young 5s and will start kindergarten in the fall, preschool camp at Allen Creek is the perfect fit!
Preschool camps are held in the mornings from 9:15am-12:15pm, hoping to accommodate families attending both Summer at Emerson camps and Preschool Camp at Allen Creek.
ONE OF 96 TEAMS ADVANCING TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
(See more photos here)
The Emerson School EAGLES robotics team (EAGLES), which competes with hundreds of other Michigan middle schools in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics ...
The Emerson School EAGLES robotics team (EAGLES), which competes with hundreds of other Michigan middle schools in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics program, is currently ranked 10th in the nation out of nearly 2,000 teams. The EAGLES team was part of the three-team alliance that took first place at the Dec. 1 state qualifying tournament in Mason, Mich., and students are now preparing for the State Championship on Dec. 14 and 15 in Battle Creek, Mich.
“Everyone on the team participated and came together at the Mason tournament,” said Diego Del Rio, Emerson 8th grader and EAGLES team member since the Robotics Program was founded in 2015. “There were so many nights we stayed late practicing and ate dinner together, so I was glad to see it all pay off. Now we have a chance to qualify for the World Championships, but I’m just as excited to compete with and learn from some of the best teams in the country at States.”
The EAGLES team is made up of 11 middle school students from Emerson School. It is one of 75 Michigan teams have already earned one of the 96 State Championship bids, with the final teams being decided after this weekend’s last round of tournaments.
“This is only our team’s second year competing at this level, so going to States is an amazing achievement,” said Marchell Burgess, Robotics Program Coordinator and 4th grade teacher at Emerson School. “Our kids have really had to figure things out on their own because they don’t have the high school support most teams do. I’m so proud of that and the character they’ve shown all along the way.”
In the spirit of cooperation, all teams compete as part of two- and three-team alliances. At the Dec. 6 tournament, the EAGLES competed in the final round alongside the CSPA Miners from Brighton (the alliance captains) and the Classical Engineers from Bedford Junior High. In addition to being part of the tournament’s first place alliance, the EAGLES were honored with the event’s Inspiration Award, which is given to the team that inspires others, serves as a role model, is a top contender, and is a gracious competitor.
Emerson’s two other robotics teams, which compete with other elementary school teams in the FIRST Lego League programs, also qualified to go to the State Championships. That means all three teams in the Emerson Robotics Program will be at States for the first time ever.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Visit http://www.firstinspires.org for more information.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Eagle middle school soccer team wrapped up another successful season, ending the regular season at the top of the league table, and then playing dominantly in ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Eagle middle school soccer team wrapped up another successful season, ending the regular season at the top of the league table, and then playing dominantly in the tournament from the opening kick-off to the final whistle.
Michael Needham scored barely a minute into the first game against Steiner School, and the Eagles never looked back. With captain Lance Caswell on the bench, recovering from an injury earlier in the week, and the dangerous Vince Vartanian also resting in anticipation of a stern test in the following morning’s season ending game, Emerson put together a rock-solid performance, suffocating the Storm offense, maintaining possession, and creating many scoring chances. Converting enough of those chances to lead comfortably 4-0 late in the game, the Eagles did give up a goal in the last few minutes, but the outcome was never in doubt, and the team was able to ride the momentum of their 4-1 victory into the championship game the next morning.
Saturday was chilly and damp, but the rain held off. Under the weather, however, was Loui Gabaron, Emerson’s swift left mid, and the Eagles were also without the services of forward Neel Moudgal and outside back Michelle Mobius. Still, things looked promising with the return of Lance and Vince. Emerson faced another team of ‘Eagles’, from Ann Arbor Christian School, who had earned their way to the championship game by virtue of an upset of Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth the previous evening, 2-1, in a shootout.
Emerson jumped out ahead with another early goal, and, if anything, were even more control throughout the game than on the previous evening. Vince Vartanian’s speed and explosiveness to the ball added yet another dimension to an already balanced attack and relentless defense. On the subject of defense, 6th grade center back Talen Pilz, and classmate Naveen Owens, a transplant from striker to the outside back position for this occasion, played with skill and assuredness beyond their years. Ava Heung, at the other outside back, completed the back end of the Emerson Diamond Defense, which left keeper Ian Lewis with precious little in the way of work on the way to a clean sheet. Seventh grade outside mids Dominic Schuster and Lachlan Rae made many runs down the sidelines en route to effective crosses into the opposing penalty area. 8th graders Vince, Michael, and Lance repeatedly were too much to handle in the center of the field. 6th grade wing forward Fred DeBord came oh so close to finishing on three different balls to his post. In the end, Emerson put away 6 of the chances they created, for a resounding 6-0 final score, and the championship.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
Emerson Soccer got off to a strong start in the 2018 season, hosting Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth on September 13. The first quarter of the game was a back and forth affair, but ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
Emerson Soccer got off to a strong start in the 2018 season, hosting Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth on September 13. The first quarter of the game was a back and forth affair, but the Eagles started to assert themselves and find their rhythm. In the 20th minute, Michael Needham found Vince Vartanian with room to shoot, and Vince buried it for the first goal of the season. Just before the half, Fred DeBord made it 2-0 on a back-heel off a scramble at the corner of the net, and the tone was set. Vince’s second made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, then served Lance Caswell in front, and Lance brought the score to 4-0. Michael Needham got his second, followed closely by a Spiritus Sanctus tally which made it 5-1, but Lance got his second to return the lead to 5, and Arjun Bajaj finished off a pass from Vince to cap the scoring at 7-1.
Steiner School was next to come to Bateson Field, on September 18, and the Eagles picked up where they’d left off, Vince again opening the scoring, followed closely by Naveen Owens, who made it 2-0 in the 12th minute. Naveen’s corner 3 minutes later found Loui Gabaron, who headed it in, and then Loui put in his second of the season to bring the score to 4-0. Vince finished the scoring for the first half, and things didn’t last much beyond that. Arjun scored twice to open the second half, and then Dominic Schuster’s goal ended the game 20 minutes early with the Eagles 8th of the day.
Emerson went on the road on the 20th, travelling north to Ann Arbor Christian School’s field to take on the ‘other’ Eagles team. AACS had a couple games under their belt, including an 11-0 victory that suggested this game would be considerably tougher than Emerson’s previous two, and that suggestion was borne out. The two teams feinted and parried for a good 20 minutes before Vince Vartanian put Emerson up 1-0 on a strong shot from just inside the right corner of the penalty area, inside the far post. That lead held into the second half, Emerson generally having the better of the play but unable to add on, when AACS was able to score off a scramble in front of the Emerson net. The resulting tie was short-lived, as Michael Needham gave Emerson the lead back in the 40th minute, followed by numerous additional Emerson chances that were turned away by the AACS keeper. In the 50th minute Vince struck again, giving Emerson a bit of breathing room with a 3-1 lead. AACS did manage to cut the lead to 3-2, but Emerson was generally putting a great deal of pressure on the AACS goal, hitting the crossbar, a post, and getting off a number of strong shots that the keeper barely turned away. In the end, Emerson went home with a hard-fought, very sweaty, 3-2 victory, and a strong grip on first place in league play.
Emerson plays at home twice this coming week. On Tuesday, 9/25, Washtenaw Christian visits, and on Thursday, 9/27, Steiner comes back for a ‘friendly’. Both games begin at 4:15.
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums listed below on being named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only 114 high school seniors were selected from Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, and we're so proud to see our ...
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums listed below on being named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only 114 high school seniors were selected from Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, and we’re so proud to see our students representing such a large part of that group.
For context, 10% of Emerson’s 2014-2015 graduating class became National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! And Emerson students represent more than 6% of the semifinalists in Washtenaw and Livingston County, despite representing less than 1% of the overall student population.
See the news stories announcing these outstanding students via the links below.
+ MLive: 109 Washtenaw County students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists
+ The Livingston Post: Five county students named National Merit Semifinalists
Merci beaucoup to all of the French World Language students from Emerson School who finished among the best in the country in the 2018 National French Contest.
Gold Award Recipients (95th National Percentile):
Celine Duenyas ...
Merci beaucoup to all of the French World Language students from Emerson School who finished among the best in the country in the 2018 National French Contest.
Gold Award Recipients (95th National Percentile):
Silver Award Recipient (90th National Percentile):
Bronze Award Recipients (75th or 80th National Percentile):
Honorable Mentions (55th to 70th National Percentile):
By Marchell Burgess, Rising Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Rising Robots on an outstanding season. As a second year team, they attended the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament on Saturday, ...
By Marchell Burgess, Rising Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Rising Robots on an outstanding season. As a second year team, they attended the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament on Saturday, December 16th. These ten 4th and 5th graders were required to present a science project, attend an engineer judging review, demonstrate how they worked as a team, and compete with their robot. They competed hard in each of these areas, giving their best on all accounts. Each of them added valuable skills to the team and its success, representing Emerson very well. A huge thank you for working so hard all season, and a heartfelt thank you to their mentors – Sachin Kheterpal, Michael Wilson, Tamara Faber-Doty, and Terence Groening – who spent countless hours leading them through the season. All their hard work paid off when they were awarded the Strategy and Innovation Award for the state tournament. Well done, Rising Robots!
By Marchell Burgess, E.A.G.L.E.S. Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson E.A.G.L.E.S. robotics team for an outstanding rookie season! They placed 4th at the Mason Qualifier, allowing them to be ...
By Marchell Burgess, E.A.G.L.E.S. Robots Coach and Emerson 4th Grade Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson E.A.G.L.E.S. robotics team for an outstanding rookie season! They placed 4th at the Mason Qualifier, allowing them to be alliance captains for the finals—a huge honor. After competing hard all day long at the Oxford Qualifier, and performing the “Play of the Day,” the team finished in 6th place, performing well against some very strong, well-established teams. These students represented Emerson so well and showed what true leaders and great engineers they really are. A huge thank you for working so hard all season, and a heartfelt thank you to their mentors who worked equally hard to lead them through this entire season. Well done, EAGLES.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Middle School Soccer Team wrapped up an undefeated season this past weekend, winning the AAIAA tournament to go with their regular season championship. This ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
The Emerson Middle School Soccer Team wrapped up an undefeated season this past weekend, winning the AAIAA tournament to go with their regular season championship. This marks the sixth consecutive season championship for Emerson.
After enjoying a bye in the first round, by virtue of their first place season finish, the Eagles held Washtenaw Christian without a shot on goal en route to a 6-0 decision in the semifinals. In the final game, the Steiner School Storm jumped ahead early, on a well-placed shot from the corner of the 18-yard box which curled inside the far post. From that point the Eagles took control of the game, maintaining a large advantage in possession, denying any more scoring chances, and creating many of their own. Emerson drew even mid-way through the first half, when Noah took the ball deep down the right touch-line, then sent a fine cross to Trevor Finnegan attacking the far post, and Trevor out-touched the keeper to tie the score. The second half was more of the same, Emerson controlling the ball and creating chances, and eventually scoring the winning goal when Loui Gabaron drove a shot from inside the left edge of the penalty box over the reach of the Storm keeper and just inside the top right corner. From there, the defense took over, denying Steiner any sort of attack over the final few minutes, and the Eagles took home their third undefeated season in the past four, and their sixth consecutive championship.
By Leslie Cappozoli, Emerson Orchestra Director
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SHAR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS AND WINNERS!
Many of Emerson's talented string musicians prepared auditions and performed in the SHAR Scholarship Auditions last week. ...
By Leslie Cappozoli, Emerson Orchestra Director
Many of Emerson’s talented string musicians prepared auditions and performed in the SHAR Scholarship Auditions last week. The judges enjoyed listening to the students and faced a difficult decision. Mr. Hook, who listened to the auditions, wrote, “I was extremely impressed by all the students. They had all obviously prepared for this and put real effort into it. Please extend my and Tina’s appreciation to them and their families for caring so much about music, and about Emerson. You have a great group of students there!”
To celebrate the auditions, all of the students who participated will take part in a fun field trip to SHAR to see how an instrument is crafted. Two of the students received generous scholarships that will help support their private music study. Congratulations to Maya Thornton and Mara Krupka! We are so happy for you! Thank you to our friends at SHAR for this incredible gift to our school and for the instruments that we lovingly use every day.
MAYA THORNTON
“I started to play the cello in kindergarten. I chose cello because my brother was playing it. My teacher is Melissa Kraut. My first teacher was Suzanne Smith, and she moved to Vermont. I really like the cello because of how it sounds. With cello, even when you think you’ve covered it all, you discover a whole new world. I think the Emerson orchestra is fun, and I like playing in concerts!”
MARA KRUPKA
Mara started playing cello 5 years ago when she was inspired by her cousin! Music, as well as the way the cello makes the music sound, are a way to forget work and school, to relax, to have fun, to be creative and goofy, to compose and to hang out with friends! Mara studies with Ken Ishii and was a former student of Martin Torch-Ishii. She is delighted to receive this scholarship and will be using it to take MORE cello lessons and to prepare for high school auditions.
Congratulations to the eighty-two Emerson students who participated in this year's Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad which was held on Saturday, June 3rd, at Pioneer High School. Emerson was one of 42 schools from the county who ...
Congratulations to the eighty-two Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad which was held on Saturday, June 3rd, at Pioneer High School. Emerson was one of 42 schools from the county who competed, and our 2nd–5th grade students represented Emerson so well—we are very proud of their participation and achievements!
See more photos from the event
2nd Grade:
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
If you see an event coach from Emerson, please take time to thank them for their time, commitment, and expertise. They are the reason Emerson students are able to participate in this great community-wide event!
Grades 2-5 WESO Coaches: Pallavi Jha, Angela Kasmer, Hasan Shanawani, Nicki Pilz, Bisher Akil, Ingrid Arias, Luis Del Rio, Jamie Sinha, Wei Cao, Xianglei Huang, Julie Lee, Nghi Tran, Ruchika Kheterpal, Sachin Kheterpal, Kara Bloom, Gail Krieger, Kris Nicolich, Terence Groening, Pepijn Bruienne, Thor Helgeson, Rashmi Chugh, Natalie Goodwin-VanOyen, Carol & Scott Drain, Amitabh Sinha, Elizabeth Molina Sweeney, Sundu Brahmasandra, Lonnie Shea, Bing Chen, Carolyn Norton, Ann Wann, Michele Thomsen, Pete Pandolfi, Jeanne Wei, Michelle & Corey Weaver, Sonal Owens, Stephanie Zabinko, Varsha Moudgal, Vivek Moudgal, Michael Loszewski, Ratin Akhoury, Margaret Hicken, George Zhang, Bryan Begola, Venkat Rao, Paul Boucher, and Mike Wilson.
Thank you to parents who volunteered their time and skills at the event: Maria Bichakjian, Becky Wancier, Christy Nakashima, Jessica Lowen, Vanika Lath, Steve Strauss, Lori Pearson, Andrea Zamansky, Thor Helgeson, Beth Helgeson, Allison Hong, Eleanor Sun, Janice Huber, Melissa Cash, Christine Kim, Jennifer Vivekanand, David Ammer, Liz Tolbert, Elizabeth Caswell, Jan Hewitt, Lin Zhang, Abbie Lawrence, Renee Mondano, Lisa Ranzini, Leigh Pearce, Christa Harrison, Priya Rajagopel, Fred Corbett, and Robert Chen .
Emerson must provide an event supervisor each year in order to participate in WESO… special thanks to our event supervisors: Mike Wilson (Water Rockets) Terence Groening (Gravity Racer), and Debra Meyer (GENE-ius) Event Supervisor. Thank you to Katsuyo Thornton as well for all her work with Photon Phun.
Thank you to the many parents that helped with the ice cream party and brought food on Saturday—all help was appreciated!
And finally… thank you to Emerson colleagues who helped along the way: Mike Wilson, Marchell Burgess, Robin Joye, Rose Hacker, Wei Cao, Mike Shaw, and all the Emerson teachers who shared their rooms so we could practice!
Kelly Vohland
Head Coach
EMERSON SCHOOL RECEIVES 10 INSTRUMENTS, LONG-TERM SUPPORT
See photos of gift presentation and performance
SHAR Music (SHAR), an Ann Arbor-based global supplier of string instruments and accessories, has made an gift valued at ...
See photos of gift presentation and performance
SHAR Music (SHAR), an Ann Arbor-based global supplier of string instruments and accessories, has made an gift valued at more than $20,000 to benefit students at Emerson School. The gift includes eight cellos and two basses—more than doubling the number of instruments available to students—the repair and maintenance of Emerson’s instrument inventory, and the creation of a new music scholarship program to provide lessons for a to-be-determined number of students. The gift will benefit students attending Emerson School in Ann Arbor, and will help offset some of the costs associated with music study.
“Music has a profound ability to enrich the lives of children,” said Eric Hook, President of SHAR, “Emerson’s long-standing commitment to music as a core part of its curriculum really stood out. It’s obvious these instruments will be used and loved for years to come, and we’re excited about the start of a long-term relationship today.”
The 10 instruments were presented by Hook and Tina Avsharian, COO of SHAR Music, during a special event at Emerson School on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. SHAR made a three-year commitment to the maintenance and repair of Emerson’s string instruments, and a pledge to continue to support and educate Emerson students through special performances and workshops.
“SHAR’s gift allows Emerson to provide instruments to budding cellists and bassists,” said Leslie Capozzoli, Orchestra Director at Emerson. “Low string instruments provide foundation and balance that are essential for full, beautiful sound. However, they can be costly and present transportation challenges. Getting a bass from the car to the orchestra room is an especially tall order for our members in second grade! We are delighted that we can make playing the cello or bass at school easier for our students and their parents. SHAR’S incredible generosity will have a profound impact on our instrumental program for years to come.”
As part of the event, students were treated to an inspiring performance by Tina Avsharian (violin), Paul Cheng (violin), Aaron Prior (viola), Anthony Marchese (cello), and Aaron Johnson (bass). Students also participated in an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” where they could handle instruments, learn how they’re played, and begin making sounds. The students who currently play a stringed instrument enjoyed their own presentation. They learned about caring for their instrument and selecting instrument accessories, and each left with a special bag of music gifts from SHAR.
About SHAR Music Company
SHAR Music is a family owned business in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a market leader in North America as a supplier of string family instruments, bows, sheet music, cases, strings, and accessories. It was founded by Michael Avsharian, Sr. in 1962 and now employees more than 100 individuals and has customers in all states/provinces and more than 60 countries.
Congratulations to the following French World Language students for their performance on the National French Contest!
Platinum Award Recipient (Highest score in level/division—National rank 1)
Shailen Chugh (8th grade)
Gold ...
Congratulations to the following French World Language students for their performance on the National French Contest!
Platinum Award Recipient (Highest score in level/division—National rank 1)
Gold Award Recipient (Students in 95th percentile)
Silver Award Recipients (Students in 90th or 85th percentile)
Bronze Award Recipient (Students in 80th or 75th percentile)
Mention d’honneur Recipients (Students in 70th, 65th, 60th, 55th, or 50th percentiles)
— By Señora Lopez, Spanish Teacher
Students Earn 13 Medals and 7 Honorable Mentions
Congratulations to several Spanish students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2017 National ...
— By Señora Lopez, Spanish Teacher
Congratulations to several Spanish students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2017 National Spanish Examinations. Students from Emerson School earned 4 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals, along with 7 honorable mentions.
“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 157,000 students participating in 2017.”
Students from Emerson School have a long history of high achievement on these exams. The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Congratulations to the following students:
Silver
Tiffany Li
Zoe Beekman
Bronze
Julian Skifstad
Honorable Mention
Ben Faulkner
Sylvie Swerdlow
Nathan Stotlar
Sebastian Oliva
Gold
Will Collin
Grant Murphy
Olivia Rasche
Meredith Vohland
Silver
Ben Colis
Hannah Halberstam
Bronze
Rory Conlin
Shruthi Chakravarthy
Nikhil Gunaratnam
Kajal Patel
Honorable Mention
John Evangelista
Sophie Fetter
Zack Kubisiak
Congratulations to all of the students on the Emerson track team, who earned a big first place victory at the Greenhills Track Meet on April 26, 2017! The camaraderie and support you showed each other was equally impressive!
+ See ...
Congratulations to all of the students on the Emerson track team, who earned a big first place victory at the Greenhills Track Meet on April 26, 2017! The camaraderie and support you showed each other was equally impressive!
+ See photos
3200M Run:
1st Place – Anthony Van Oyen
200M Relay (Girls):
1st Place – Emerson School
800M Run(Girls/Boys):
1st Place – Luka Hecht
1st Place – Marin Heusel
2nd Place – Emily Cooper
3rd Place – Andreanna Ulery
3rd Place – David Benkes-Toth
1600M Run (Girls/Boys):
1st Place – Lacy Cooper
2nd Place – Shailan Chugh
3rd Place – Anthony Van Oyen
5th Place – William Collin
6th Place – Diego Del Rio
100M Dash:
2nd Place – Aly Pacifico
400M Dash:
1st Place – Luka Hecht
3rd Place Shailan Chugh
800M Relay:
1st Place – Emerson School (Boys)
70yd Dash (Girls/Boys):
2nd Place – Kit Belovin
3rd Place – Josh Moss
200M Dash (Girls):
2nd Place – Abby Pacifico
3rd Place – Esme Cohen
400M Relay (Girls/Boys):
1st Place – Emerson School
1st Place – Emerson School
Long Jump (Girls/Boys):
1st Place – Gabby Pacifico 11’10”
1st Place – Luka Hecht 12’9″
2nd Place – Lydia Hall
2nd Place Ben Faulkner 14’8″
Shot Put:
2nd Place – Meredith Gilbert ‘767
Total Meet Placement:
1st Place – Emerson School (Boys) 120pts
1st Place – Emerson School (Girls) 108pts
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director at Emerson School
The question I hear the most from the parents of our middle school aged students is “Why?” This can come in response to something a child did, something they said, or ...
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director at Emerson School
The question I hear the most from the parents of our middle school aged students is “Why?” This can come in response to something a child did, something they said, or something that happened to them. When this same question is posed to the child, the response is often in the form of an honest and truthful, “I don’t know.” I believe that.
Often our children are struggling with comprehending why they do, in fact, do many of the things they do. But as our knowledge and understanding of the brain grows, we are able to attribute reasons to this time honored tween question of “Why…?” Here are some examples from my experience as a middle school educator over the last ten years, along with the neuroscience:
Why would you do that?
We’ve all asked this of our adolescent children. Impulse control is something all parents of adolescents struggle with. The irrational impulse to engage in semi- to very risky behavior is at an all-time high. Adolescents brains are guided during this time by a very active limbic system, along with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. This combination creates a child with heightened emotional state, along with the inability to make rational decisions, especially in times of stress or anxiety (see: around peers). Our goal as parents is to encourage our children to identify risky situations and learn how to step away from these situations prior to them learning the hard way. Our goal as teachers at Emerson is to recognize and value mistakes as learning opportunities. Conversations around these mistakes guide students to uncovering alternative paths in the future and helping them develop the skills to manage these situations in the future.
Why won’t you commit to anything?
Students at this age are often experimenting with their identities and interests. The potential to form new neural-pathways through the increased grey matter and myelin formation in the brain presents adolescents with heightened interest in new ideas and the ability to learn. Our goal as parents is to encourage our children to experiment and experience many different and unique experiences, in order form the pathways for lifelong learning. We offer a variety of changing electives at Emerson so students are challenged to learn through multiple modalities and experience new things. Students will often gravitate toward the familiar and comfortable; however, our jobs as educators is to challenge that status quo and push them into new challenges.
Why won’t you go to sleep?
Adolescent children NEED sleep. During deep sleep (REM sleep) our brains go through a cleansing process that removes unused and unneeded neurons and myelin, thus strengthening those pathways that have been recently activated (i.e. reinforcing learned concepts and skills). When children do not enter this sleep stage, they miss out on the beneficial process. Our tween children are also growing more and more connected through technology and devices. Unfortunately, the blue light emitted from LED screens can disrupt and disturb the release of melatonin in the brain, the chemical we use to calm down and fall asleep. Our goal as parents is to limit the exposure to blue light to at least two hours before bedtime.
Why would you send that?
As mentioned earlier, our tween children have a heightened emotional state which is compounded by a need to feel connected and secure with their circle(s) of friends. With the growth of technology, our children are posed with the engaged in dialogue and relationships that exist in cyberspace, the context of which often live on into perpetuity. While, when we grew up our conversations disappeared the minute they left our lips, our children can read, look at and re-read the texts, Snaps, posts, and pictures from friends around the world. This complex social network combined with their underdeveloped prefrontal cortex creates a dangerous environment, in which our children sometimes struggle to appropriately manage. Our goal as parents is to proactively talk with our students about appropriate use of technology, work through ground rules and guidelines for usage (often using an activist approach, in which are children are actively involved in the development of these rules), and ultimately support them when they make mistakes (which they will).
Emerson A Team - 2017 Quiz Bowl State Champs!
A team of four 8th grade students from Emerson School in Ann Arbor won first place at the Michigan Middle School Quiz Bowl State Championships. It took place on Saturday, March 18, ...
Emerson A Team – 2017 Quiz Bowl State Champs!
A team of four 8th grade students from Emerson School in Ann Arbor won first place at the Michigan Middle School Quiz Bowl State Championships. It took place on Saturday, March 18, 2017, and included 27 teams from throughout Michigan. This is only Emerson School’s third year participating in Quiz Bowl competitions.
“It is a very friendly, civil competition, but we really wanted to win,” said Zach Halberstam, an 8th grader and member of Emerson’s A Team. “We played a great team in the final round. It was the fourth time we’d faced this team, and they beat us every time except this one—it felt really good.”
Thousands of middle schools across the U.S. compete in National Academic Quiz Tournaments’ Quiz Bowl competitions, which have been compared to team Jeopardy for students. Two teams compete head-to-head, racing to buzz in first and correctly answer questions from all areas of knowledge, including history, literature, science, fine arts, current events, sports, and popular culture.
“There’s nothing better than seeing your students achieve their goals,” said Bryan Seymour, Emerson Quiz Bowl Coach and 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher. “This team had been talking about winning States since they took 2nd place in 2016, and it came down to one final question in a close match. When our team answered it and secured the championship, the audience erupted. They’ll remember that feeling for the rest of their lives.”
A total of five teams from Emerson School qualified to compete at the 2017 Quiz Bowl state championships, and four of the five teams finished in the top 10.
Team – Finish at 2017 MI State Championship:
Team Member (grade)
“I was very proud of all our students’ performance and sportsmanship throughout the tournament,” added Seymour. “They’re not only strong competitors, but they win with grace and foster a positive and supportive environment.”
The top teams 160 teams in the United States qualify to compete at the National Championship, which will take place in Dallas, Tex., May 12-14, 2017. Six teams from Michigan will compete at Nationals, including two teams from Emerson School.
Each year, schools in our community apply to earn Green School Status through the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program. Schools can received one of three statuses, Green, Emerald, or Evergreen, by completing ...
Each year, schools in our community apply to earn Green School Status through the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program. Schools can received one of three statuses, Green, Emerald, or Evergreen, by completing environmental activities in four categories and earning 10, 15, and 20 points respectively. Emerson completed multiple initiatives in all four categories, earning 20 points, and has once again earned Evergreen status—the highest level achievable—for 2016-2017.
The four categories include:
Michigan Green Schools began as an idea from students and teachers of Hartland Consolidated School District in Livingston County in the fall of 2005. In the first year of the program, 18 schools participated. The program has grown in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties with as many as 50 schools participating each year.
+ Learn more about the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program
By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students become literary critics. Each class chooses a category for their award, designs a medal, nominates books, and narrows down their ...
By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students become literary critics. Each class chooses a category for their award, designs a medal, nominates books, and narrows down their final selections for a final vote by all students in grades K – 8. Below are the six winners of the 2017 Emerson Book Awards, along with the honorable mentions.
Using technology as our voting tool, we have had 215 voters for our Emerson Book Awards. These awards are created, defined, and selected by the 4th and 5th grade classes. Then Lisa Wilson, Emerson Tech Integrator and Teacher, helped us by creating a form for all of the votes to be recorded safely and securely. Here are the winners and the other nominees
The winners are (Drum roll please)…
B.O.S.S.A (BEST OF SARAH SWISS AWARD)
Best Graphic Novel (Sarah Swiss’s class)
GIGGLING GUMMY BEARS AWARD
Best Humorous Book (Mrs. Burgess’s class)
MIDNIGHT AWARD
Best Page-Turner (Rob Bauman’s class)
CREATIVE CREATIVITY AWARD
Most Creative Book (Mrs. Chenier’s class)
HAT (HILARIOUS, ARTISTIC, TERRIFIC) PICTURE BOOK AWARD
Picture books (Mrs. Kime’s class)
CRIKEY! I’M A GIRAFFE AWARD
For Horror/Scary Books (Connie Weber’s class)
Nicola’s Books will have a display of the choices and the winners in their children’s department after St. Patrick’s Day. Be sure to go in to see them and perhaps thank the bookstore people for giving us a chance to display our student selections.
By Bryan Seymour, Quiz Bowl Coach and 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher
What a great past week for Emerson Quiz Bowl! Participating in Livonia St. Michael's annual Quiz Bowl competition, Emerson's A Team racked up a perfect 10-0 ...
By Bryan Seymour, Quiz Bowl Coach and 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher
What a great past week for Emerson Quiz Bowl! Participating in Livonia St. Michael’s annual Quiz Bowl competition, Emerson’s A Team racked up a perfect 10-0 record to bring home our first ever Quiz Bowl tournament championship! Congratulations to Anders Ruiter-Feenstra, Josh Moss, Shailen Chugh, and Zach Halberstam for this achievement!
Emerson’s B Team matched the A team and started the day off with a 5-0 record, and finished with an excellent 3rd place finish—congrats to Grant Murphy, Joseph Alphonso, Mateo Gonzalez, and Terence Ashforth! This is the highest position that two Emerson teams have ever finished at a Quiz Bowl tournament.
Emerson had three other teams finish between 10th and 13th place (out of 22 teams)—records to be proud of! These teams were led by 8th graders Conor Pyle, Esmé Cohen, Hayg Balis, Steven Theisen, and Will Collin, 7th graders Julian Toogood and Phillip Crumm, and 6th graders Andrew Grier, Arjun Bajaj, Kira Saporsky, Maya Mustata, and Michael Needham. Four of Emerson’s players finished in the top 10 of the tournament – Maya (10th), Terence (8th), Julian (7th) and Zach (1st) out of 107 total participants. Because of their performance at this tournament, Emerson has qualified two teams for the Middle School National Championship Tournament in Dallas in May. We are looking forward to this opportunity!
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson girls basketball team's seasons got off to shaky starts this week, as they collectively dropped three games. On Tuesday, the varsity opened at St. ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson girls basketball team’s seasons got off to shaky starts this week, as they collectively dropped three games. On Tuesday, the varsity opened at St. Mary’s, and had a hard time generating offense in a 32-10 defeat. Thursday the girls hosted Spiritus Sanctus of Ann Arbor. The junior varsity got off to a slow start, trailing 10-2 after the first quarter. The margin stayed around 10 points until the last quarter, when the girls made a bit of a run, closing to 22-16 for the final score. The varsity kept it close through the first half, but their offense faltered in the second half while SSAA cranked things up, pulling away for a 31-14 final score.
Next week the girls will host Ann Arbor Christian Tuesday and Steiner School Thursday.
By Bryan Seymour, Quiz Bowl Coach and 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Congratulations to Emerson’s Quiz Bowl team for their performance this past weekend at Detroit Country Day. Emerson’s A team made it to the Championship Division ...
By Bryan Seymour, Quiz Bowl Coach and 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Congratulations to Emerson’s Quiz Bowl team for their performance this past weekend at Detroit Country Day. Emerson’s A team made it to the Championship Division and finished 3rd overall (out of 24 teams) with an 8-2 record. Both losses were close matches – our team of Anders Ruiter-Feenstra, Hayg Balis, Josh Moss, and Shailen Chugh should be proud! Emerson’s B team (Conor Pyle, Esmé Cohen, and Phillip Crumm) also competed very well, finishing with a strong record in the First Division. Emerson’s C team had an excellent day, persevering through three straight loses to start the day to win seven straight matches, finishing on several high notes! Congrats to Arjun Bajaj, Dereck Russel, James Ulery, and Kira Saporsky! Finally, two Emersonians (Shailen Chugh and Esmé Cohen) finished in the top 10 of all competitors (110 total) – the first time Emerson had more than one top 10 finisher. Looking forward to the next tournament!
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Both of Emerson's middle school boys' basketball teams won their league tournament this weekend. The varsity (7th and 8th graders) fended off a tough, ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Both of Emerson’s middle school boys’ basketball teams won their league tournament this weekend. The varsity (7th and 8th graders) fended off a tough, determined challenge from St Paul in their championship game. St Paul battled back from an 11-point 2nd quarter deficit to tie the game in the 4th quarter, butt Emerson finished strong and closed it out for a 38-34 victory. The junior varsity (5th and 6th grade) tournament was hosted at Emerson, and it was an exceptionally exciting affair. On the first day of the tournament, after Emerson jumped out to an 18-5 halftime lead over Ann Arbor Christian and then cruised to a 34-19 victory, 8th seed Steiner School surprised everyone with a great effort against top-seed Spiritus Sanctus. On day 2, Emerson faced St Paul, and it was a battle, with Emerson winning each quarter by a very slim margin on the way to a 42-30 victory. 4th seed Washtenaw Christian upset 1 seed Spiritus Sanctus, 37-24. Christ the King and Ann Arbor Christian had an epic battle – a buzzer-beater by AACS sent the game to overtime, and then a buzzer beater by CTK won it in overtime, 42-40. Saturday morning the previous night’s magic wasn’t there for CTK, as St Paul won easily to open the day. Spiritus Sanctus held off a 4th quarter rally by St Mary’s, winning 33-30, and earning a trip to the 3rd place game against St Paul. In the championship game, Emerson and WCA had a terrific game. Emerson got out to a small lead, and nurtured it until only about one minute remained in the game, when the tournament’s dominant player, WCA’s point guard, gave the ‘Cats the lead, 40-39. Emerson responded, regaining the lead at 41-40, then getting a defensive stop, and then killing the final 30 seconds with great ball movement. More so than any other team that made it to the final day of the tournament, Emerson showed offensive balance and team defense. By making it hard for WCA’s point guard to go to his right, Emerson was able to, just barely, get the job done defensively, and with five 5th graders (no names on purpose, as this was all about team effort) each contributing significantly for the great bulk of their own scoring, the Eagles brought it home. Spiritus Sanctus and St Paul closed the tourney with an exciting game for 3rd place honors. SSA got out to an 8-1 lead, but St Paul had a big 3rd quarter, building a 19-14 lead and maintaining that 5-point margin well into the final stanza, when SSA closed the gap, tied it, and finally came away with a 31-29 win. It was, I think, the best, most competitive JV tourney I’ve witnessed in my 22 years at Emerson, and it was accompanied by fine sportsmanship on the part of players and coaches alike. With each intense, emotional finish, there were, of course, some tears shed, but in every instance the coaches were able to have their kids leave justifiably proud and happy with their efforts. Kudos all around
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson boys basketball teams closed out 2016 with an away date at St Paul, followed by a game at home for the JV against Steiner.
Against St Paul on ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson boys basketball teams closed out 2016 with an away date at St Paul, followed by a game at home for the JV against Steiner.
Against St Paul on Monday, word has it, the JV won a pretty hard-fought battle, while the cold-shooting varsity dropped their game 26-20.
Wednesday’s JV game with Steiner was not so hard fought, and, as I witnessed it, I can give a much more complete picture than just the brief summary I relayed of the St Paul games. The boys got off to a sluggish start offensively, unable to put points on the board through the first 3 minutes, though they did only allow Steiner 2 points in return. Midway through the first quarter a lineup change got things moving a bit faster, with Idrys Cotton leading the way. Idrys drove to the basket, drew a foul, and sank both free throws to tie things up, then scored two field goals to give the Eagles a 6-4 lead at the break. The offense matched the defense in the 2nd quarter, putting up 12 while Steiner could again only muster 4, and Emerson went into half-time up 18-8. In the 2nd half the defense really went to town, and, save for one bit where an Eagle who shall remain nameless did what the great Ernie Harwell would describe as ‘he stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched it (sic) go by’ – it being the person he was supposed to be guarding in this case, not a fastball – allowing an uncontested layup, Emerson very nearly put up a shutout for the whole half. As it happened, the Eagles outscored their opponents 20-2 over the last 2 quarters to go into the holiday break with a 38-10 victory.
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee Director and Emerson Athletic Director
Kids in grades 4 through 8 participated in the Emerson Geography Bee Tuesday afternoon. One of the stronger and more balanced field in memory was reduced to ...
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee Director and Emerson Athletic Director
Kids in grades 4 through 8 participated in the Emerson Geography Bee Tuesday afternoon. One of the stronger and more balanced field in memory was reduced to nine finalists, all middle school students. Diego Del Rio finished 5th, and then Maya Mustata and Julian Toogood battled through a lengthy tie-breaker to determine the 3rd place finisher, with May edging out Julian. Shailen Chugh and Robert Yang were the two who made it into the Championship Round, and Robert got the better of Shailen by one slim point to claim the championship. All the contestants earned my eternal admiration, but Robert gets the extra-special bonus of taking a test to try to qualify for the State Geography Bee. Way far cool!
Food, Fun, and Service to Our Community
Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, 7:30am – 9:00am
On Thursday, December 22, Emerson Middle School's NJHS and volunteers have invited all Emerson students to the 7th Annual Pancake Breakfast, held from ...
Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, 7:30am – 9:00am
On Thursday, December 22, Emerson Middle School’s NJHS and volunteers have invited all Emerson students to the 7th Annual Pancake Breakfast, held from 7:30am–9:00am. This event is optional, but we hope many students will partake in the pancakes. Parents are more than welcome to join in the breakfast as well.
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together and supports Emerson’s community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and the Toasty Toes Project coordinated by current 5th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao. Any student who brings in one or more pairs of new socks for the Toasty Toes Project will receive $1.00 off the pancake breakfast.
Cost and Timing
The cost of the breakfast is $5.00 and can be billed to student accounts. Funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and any student who brings in one or more pairs of new socks will receive $1.00 off the pancake breakfast. The pancake breakfast includes up to three pancakes, toppings, and a drink.
Ingredients and Allergy Info
GFS pancake mix (contains: wheat, milk, and eggs), GFS canned strawberry topping, GFS whipped topping, and Mrs. Butterworth syrup. Drinks will be either water or Country Time Lemonade.
For students with allergies, we will have separate breakfast stations with a separate peanut-free and egg-free pancake option (this option does contain gluten) and a wheat-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free option.
Thank you for your support. Any questions, please contact Kelly Vohland or Carol Kelly.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson boy's basketball teams both won their home games against Ann Arbor Christian Tuesday, but in almost diametrically opposed fashion relative to each ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson boy’s basketball teams both won their home games against Ann Arbor Christian Tuesday, but in almost diametrically opposed fashion relative to each other.
The junior varsity dominated from the opening tip, getting eight players on the score sheet while holding their opponents without a field goal for the entire second half on the way to a 31-5 victory.
The varsity had a much tougher go of it, facing the only team to have beaten them this season. AACS got the lead early, and maintained it, holding a 16-10 edge as halftime neared. Emerson scored twice in the final minute of the half, closing to 16-14, then continued their pressure through most of the third quarter, resulting in an 18-3 run that saw a 6-point deficit turn into a 9-point lead. AACS was never able to recover from that 6-minute onslaught, and the game finished 36-31 in Emerson’s favor. Jaden Thomas and Nikhil Gunaratnam shared scoring honors for Emerson with 8 each, negating the 14 points of the AACS high scorer, and Emerson got scoring from 8 additional players, showing too much balance for the other 4 AACS players who got on the score sheet to overcome.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson JV boys suffered their first loss of the season Monday, at the hands of Spiritus Sanctus Ann Arbor. The kids got off to an uncharacteristically ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Emerson JV boys suffered their first loss of the season Monday, at the hands of Spiritus Sanctus Ann Arbor. The kids got off to an uncharacteristically shaky start, falling behind 20-8 at the half, and were never able to completely close the gap in a 30-23 final. The varsity gained a measure of revenge for their young brethren, and the only thing that wasn’t characteristic was the absence of team leader Gabe Kellman. The team put up another shutout period, racing out to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, stretching the lead to 24-7 at the half, and coasting to a 44-26 final.
Tuesday, the JV boys turned things around, taking a page out of the varsity playbook—a shutout quarter. Ahead 8-4 after the first quarter, and maintaining that lead at the half, 12-8, the kids blanked their opponents in the third, pushing the margin to 20-8, then cruising through the fourth to win 30-16. Balanced scoring, another characteristic of the youngsters, was evident again, with 9 different players contributing points, after only 5 did so in Monday’s game. Perhaps the varsity game from the day before served as a reminder—the older kids got scoring from 8 players, and kept all but 3 of their opponents off the score sheet.
The boys have their final regular season home games next week, hosting Steiner on Monday and Ann Arbor Christian on Tuesday.
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Emerson's boys had another fine week on the basketball court. On Tuesday, Washtenaw Christian came to play. In the JV game, WCA had the top scorer, but the ...
By Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Emerson’s boys had another fine week on the basketball court. On Tuesday, Washtenaw Christian came to play. In the JV game, WCA had the top scorer, but the balance of Emerson was too much for the visitors to handle, and the young Eagles won handily, 32-21. Nine players scored in the game, six were Eagles, and the top five scorers of those Eagles are 5th graders: Idrys Cotton, JD Hatch, Carson Strauss, Lucas Nor and Nikash Bhagat. The varsity game was somewhat similar. Tough Emerson defense only allowed three visitors to score at all, and only two of them hit a field goal. Emerson threw a shutout in the 3rd quarter, marking the 4th game in this young season that the Eagles have held an opponent scoreless for an entire period. The Eagles, meanwhile, got scoring from eight players on the way to swamping WCA by a 38-11 score.
Thursday it was Christ the King as the opponent, and the results weren’t altogether different. The JV again got balanced scoring, and seven of the nine Eagles to put up points were 5th graders. Emerson raced out to a 23-6 half-time lead and then cruised to a 30-15 victory. The varsity pitched another 2nd quarter shutout, led at the half 14-9, then pulled away through the entire second half for a 34-15 win. Best ‘think before you speak’ moment was in the 4th quarter, when a WCA player could be heard on their bench, telling a teammate on the court to not worry about Gabe Kellman, because supposedly “he can’t shoot”, when in fact Gabe already had already scored more field goals than the entire WCA team would finish the game with. Go figure, Go Eagles!
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By Coach Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Emerson 'Gobbles' Up St. Paul Before Thanksgiving Break
The Eagles boys basketball teams went into the holiday break on a winning note, each handling the ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Emerson Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
The Eagles boys basketball teams went into the holiday break on a winning note, each handling the visitors from St. Paul.
The JV jumped out to a 12-2 lead after the first quarter, and then cruised to a 37-22 victory, with Nikash Bhagat leading all scorers with 12 points, and Lucas Nor close behind with 10.
The varsity got off to a quick start, too, jumping out to a 5-0 lead early, but then saw St. Paul go on an 8-0 run, before going on a 17-5 run of their own to regain the lead and go into the half up 22-13. St Paul had a strong third quarter to get back within a point, but in the fourth Gabe Kellman, Nikhil Gunaratnam and Jaden Thomas combined to ‘squash’ St. Paul’s hopes: Gabe’s final 5 of his game high 18 points, plus his defense, and his court sense helping Nikhil get his final 6 of 10 points off open looks, and feeding Jaden to get his final 4 of 9 points from nice passes inside. St Paul actually got scoring from 7 players, compared to Emerson’s 5, but Gabe, Nikhil and Jaden were the top three in the game, providing inside, outside and full-court games that resulted in a 43-33 final score in the Eagles’ favor.
By Coach Lenny Dale, Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Emerson's boys varsity basketball team had their home opener Thursday evening, after an up and down start on the road. Having overwhelmed Spiritus Sanctus, but ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher
Emerson’s boys varsity basketball team had their home opener Thursday evening, after an up and down start on the road. Having overwhelmed Spiritus Sanctus, but then falling at Ann Arbor Christian in a tight one, Emerson hosted Steiner School.
The Eagles had a hard time getting going offensively, but the defense threw a shutout through the first nine (minutes), by which time the offense was starting to get it in gear, and Emerson took a 16-2 lead into the halftime intermission. It was more of the same in the second half, the lead growing, the defense stifling and, save for 3 Steiner points in the last minute, the final opponents tally would have been the same paltry 6 that Spiritus Sanctus managed. The Eagles, meanwhile, put up a well-balanced 44, all coming in the paint, 9 players scoring, Gabe Kellman and Nikhil Gunaratnam sharing high game honors with 10 apiece, Joseph Alphonso chipping in 8 and Maoz Bareket 6. Perhaps the most telling statistics were the 27-12 edge in rebounding, along with 10 steals (to none) and 2 blocked shots (also to none).
Emerson next hosts St Paul Tuesday, 11/22, before heading into the Thanksgiving break.
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Updated Nov. 12, 2016, and to be reflected in the 2017-2018 Family Handbook.
Dress Code & Appropriate Clothing Policy
We are committed to empowering students to grow as responsible decision-makers. Therefore, the primary ...
Updated Nov. 12, 2016, and to be reflected in the 2017-2018 Family Handbook.
We are committed to empowering students to grow as responsible decision-makers. Therefore, the primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents / guardians.
We require students to wear appropriate clothing when attending school, which means wearing an appropriate and opaque top, bottom, and footwear. We have three basic standards to help guide students and families in making appropriate clothing decisions for school.
All clothing worn to school:
Any images or language depicting or referring to violence, hate speech, illegal activity or profanity are prohibited.
Appropriate shoes for outdoor and P.E. activities are expected and required. Indoor P.E. requires clean shoes solely for use within the gym.
Classes that include attire as part of the curriculum may include assignment-specific dress as determined by the teacher.
We encourage all students to keep a change of clothing in their backpack or locker for emergencies.
If, in the judgement of a teacher or administrator, these standards are not being followed, this will be communicated to the student and/or the student’s parent(s)/legal guardians(s). The student may be required to change clothes before returning to class. Should a student continually break these standards, disciplinary or remedial action will be taken.
Passport to the World: Emerson's triennial celebration of cultures, heritage, and diversity
Passport to the World is an ESPO-sponsored celebration held every three years. Emerson families are given the opportunity to showcase the ...
Passport to the World is an ESPO-sponsored celebration held every three years. Emerson families are given the opportunity to showcase the diversity of heritage and culture at our school. So get ready to travel the world on April 21, 2017.
You will be invited to travel from one corner of the globe to another in our very own gymnasium while collecting stamps in an Emerson passport. Along the way, you may wish to view or participate in various performances, and sample foods from each country.
Please Consider Being an Ambassador
The 2014 Passport to the World was a huge success because of the tremendous participation we had from our Emerson families. Please consider being an ambassador to a country. It may be a country where you are from, studied/worked, or even your favorite travel destination. Feel free to team-up with another Emerson family to showcase your country with a table-top display and activity. Families with Middle School students, please reach out to your student’s Middle School Advisor so you can work together. Every family is encouraged to bring a dish to share (perhaps an old family favorite).
If you would like to become a country ambassador, please email your name(s) and country to Caroline Begola at carolinebegola@gmail.com by December 19th, 2016.
Questions?
Should you have further questions, feel free to discuss this special event with any of the Passport committee:
We forward to hearing from you!
— The ESPO Passport to the World Committee
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The Emerson Geography Bee, open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, at 11:15, in the library/media center. There is no cost, and registration couldn't be easier—just give Lenny Dale a ...
The Emerson Geography Bee, open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, at 11:15, in the library/media center. There is no cost, and registration couldn’t be easier—just give Lenny Dale a piece of paper with your name and the letters GB legibly written on it before he leaves school on Friday, December 16.
Bee questions cover a wide range of topics. Sample questions from previous years can be found on the National Geographic website. The school bee winner gets to take an on-line test to try to qualify for the state bee.
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New, Affordable, 5-Week Format for Middle School Students
Wednesdays, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Oct. 26 - Nov. 30
In response to Emerson family feedback for a shorter, more affordable Dale Carnegie training experience, we are pleased to offer ...
Wednesdays, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Oct. 26 – Nov. 30
In response to Emerson family feedback for a shorter, more affordable Dale Carnegie training experience, we are pleased to offer this five-week program which includes the most essential components of the full 8-week course, in a powerful and concise format. Any students in grades 6–8 are welcome, including students from other schools.
For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Carly Meloche at cmeloche@emerson-school.org by October 19, 2016.
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
The Emerson middle school soccer team wrapped up their season Saturday as they hosted the AAIAA tournament. Top seed by virtue of their perfect regular ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
The Emerson middle school soccer team wrapped up their season Saturday as they hosted the AAIAA tournament. Top seed by virtue of their perfect regular season record, Emerson had a bye Friday, and started Saturday’s play against Washtenaw Christian, winners Friday against Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth. The Eagles prevailed, 4-1, on goals from Zack Kubisiak, Gabe Kellman, Michael Michaliska and Terence Ashforth. The win notwithstanding, Emerson’s play was ragged in the second half, lacking the quickness and intensity shown in the final games of the regular season.
Still, the win put the Eagles in the championship game, against 2-seed Ann Arbor Christian, who were there after edging Steiner School. Prior to the championship, Steiner battled to 3rd place, knocking off SSP and WCA back to back.
The final was as a final should be – tense, and hard fought. Gabe scored first, but AACS tied the scored before the half. Gabe scored twice more in the second half, but, just as Emerson might have been able to feel they were safely ahead, or perhaps because of it, AACS struck back twice to tie the score. The Eagles had a few chances that very narrowly missed. One, on a scramble in the AACS crease, was covered by the keeper just before it crossed the line. Another, a beautifully lofted pass from Gabe to Zack, who ran onto it and chipped it, on the bounce, over the keeper, but inches wide right.
Tied 3-3, the game went to over-time. The best chance came when Zack fed a wonderful through ball to Gabe, who ran onto it and tapped it past the on-coming keeper, but a brilliant play by an AACS defender saw it swept away inches from crossing the line.
After overtime came a shootout. Each team put forward 5 shooters, and each team switched to a new keeper. Emerson shot first, scored, Gabe saved the first AACS shot, and Emerson went in to the last round of the 5 shots ahead 1, but AACS saved the last Emerson shot and then scored to tie, moving to a sudden death shootout. Zack, just like the first time around, calmly and cleanly scored again, and then Gabe saved the next AACS shot and it was over. It goes in the books as a 4-3 win, with Emerson completing an undefeated, untied season
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By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson's middle school soccer team secured its fifth consecutive regular season championship on Monday, dominating Steiner School in an 8-1 win. Gabe ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson’s middle school soccer team secured its fifth consecutive regular season championship on Monday, dominating Steiner School in an 8-1 win. Gabe Kellman scored 2 minutes into the game, then got what would prove to be the eventual game-winner in the 13th minute. Zack Kubisiak and Samuel Bechar each scored late in the first half to give the Eagles a 4-0 edge at intermission. Gabe scored again in the opening minute of the second half, and, after Steiner got on the board in the 35th minute, Samuel got his second to return the margin to 5 goals. Grant Murphy made it 7-1 mid-way through the half, and Loui Gabaron concluded the scoring with 4 minutes left.
Ian Lewis made two strong saves in goal, and, in anticipation of being shorthanded for the upcoming tournament, various combinations of Kieran Heung, Gillian Giordano, Steven Theisen, Hayg Balis and Alexander Bauer were tried and generally showed themselves as capable back lines.
By Coach Bryan Seymour, Cross Country Coach and Language Arts Teacher
Strong Finishes in Two-Mile County Farm Park Race
The Emerson cross country runners performed very admirably in their most recent 2 mile race at County Farm Park ...
By Coach Bryan Seymour, Cross Country Coach and Language Arts Teacher
The Emerson cross country runners performed very admirably in their most recent 2 mile race at County Farm Park while running with St. Francis, St. Thomas, St. Paul, and Honey Creek. On the girls side, sixth grader Katarina Bauer finished 2nd in the 5th/6th grade race, while fifth grader Ava Hall finished 2nd in the varsity (typically 7th/8th grade) race! For the boys, sixth grader Anthony Van Oyen finished in a comfortable 1st place, while eighth grader Conor Pyle finished in 4th place with three other Emerson runners coming in 7th, 8th, and 11th to give Emerson a solid score for the second race in a row. Looking forward to Friday’s meet at Emerson – come cheer on your Eagles XC team at 4pm!
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Oct. 3: Second Half of Season Starts With Win Against Washtenaw Christian
The Emerson Middle School soccer team hosted Washtenaw Christian Academy Monday, to ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
The Emerson Middle School soccer team hosted Washtenaw Christian Academy Monday, to begin the second half of their season. Gabe Kellman had the scoring touch early, including a header off a corner from Zack Kubisiak, staking the Eagles to a 2-0 lead, before WCA scored on a well-struck free kick from 25 yards out that came down under the cross bar and just inside the post to keeper Thor Helgeson’s right. Gabe got the goal back soon enough, though, for his hat trick, and Zack kept assisting on goals, setting up Arjun Bajaj and Luka Hecht, both before the half, and Emerson was comfortably ahead, 5-1. In the second half, Steven Theisen converted a nice lead pass from Gabe, and Grant Murphy twice found the net, bringing the final score to 8-1 in favor of the Eagles.
For all the offensive fireworks, it was the defense that, yet again, quietly did yeoman’s work. Gillian Giordano, Luka, Kieran Heung, Alexander Bauer, and Steven shared duty along the back 3, and Gabe, Steven and Grant shared time at defensive center mid, forming a defensive diamond that consistently shut down the opposition.
The Emerson Middle School soccer team earned their 7th win without a loss Tuesday, besting St. Francis, 7-0. The Mustang keeper played an excellent game, the final score notwithstanding. The Eagle defense completely shut down the Mustangs until the final few minutes, when St Francis was able to muster a few chances against a younger Emerson back line. The Eagle keepers, Michael Needham, Ian Lewis and, at the end, Luka Hecht, handled everything that came their way though, and the duo of Gabe Kellman and Luka provided more than enough scoring. Gabe scored four on the day, and Luka added a hat trick, while a number of others came close, but couldn’t quite finish. Part of the issue was generally slow ball movement.
Emerson plays at Ann Arbor Christian on Thursday, and will need to get cleaner finishes, and quicker play overall, if they are to continue to their season undefeated.
The Emerson Middle School soccer team went up US23 to take on Ann Arbor Christian School Thursday afternoon, for a match-up that would go a long way toward determining the AAIAA regular season champion. AACS had been the only team to score more than a single goal and also to hold a lead against the Eagles this season, and playing them on their home pitch in the unseasonable heat promised a hard-fought game.
The game opened with both teams making runs deep into their offensive zones, and AACS had a decent chance early, but their shot from the corner of the 18-yard box crossed outside the far post. Emerson gradually began to have the better of the play, though unable to quite punch through the AACS defense, which was bringing all but one player back into their 18-yard area, clogging things up. Finally, in the 16th minute, Gabe Kellman held the ball at the corner of the 6-yard box, turned two defenders, fed Luka Hecht directly in front of the goal, Luka buried it, and the Eagles started finding creases, gaps, and the net. Gabe had a shot blocked, but Lance Caswell was there to put away the rebound, and then Gabe scored two in a row, followed by Luka getting his second just before the half. What had been a fairly tense game was suddenly 5-0, and the Emerson kids were feeling confident about the way they were playing. Gabe scored on a free kick in the second half, and, while AACS did score midway through the period, the Eagle defense was able to reassert itself. The AACS midfielder who had scored a hat-trick in the first meeting between the teams was visibly frustrated by the defensive attention of Luka, who was on him like spots on dice throughout this game. Zack Kubisiak quickly got that one goal back, re-establishing a 6-goal margin at 7-1, and then Zack added the coup de grace, bringing the final tally to 8-1. It was all over but the shouting. Once again, the Eagle defense was suffocating, with Kieran Heung, Julian Skifstad, Gillian Giordano, Alex Bauer, Gabe, Luka, Zack, and, frankly, the entire team making life miserable for AACS.
Emerson is in commanding position to be the season champs, with a perfect record through 8 games. Two games remain on the regular season schedule – a home game Monday, 10/10, with Steiner School, followed by a trip to Washtenaw Christian on Thursday, 10/13, both starting at 4o’clock.
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By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Librarian
Thursday, Oct. 6 in the Emerson Library for Grades 4–8
New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is coming to Emerson to share her latest book, Ashes, which completes the trilogy ...
By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Librarian
New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is coming to Emerson to share her latest book, Ashes, which completes the trilogy that began with Chains and continued with Forge. This trilogy is about two young people, Isabel and Curzon, who are trying to shed the chains of slavery in New York City. By the this third book they have survived being at Valley Forge, but are soon reported as runaways and are being pursued by people eager to take away the freedom they gained earlier. Now they are trying to make their way South to free Isabel’s little sister who has been enslaved there.
Laurie Halse Anderson has been commended in many reviews for her historical accuracy. This trilogy will bring the American Revolution into clear focus and highlights parts of our history that often go unnoticed. Copies of the books will be available for purchase and signing by the author at the time of the event.
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Win Against Steiner Moves Emerson Record to 4–0
The Emerson Middle School soccer team made the short trip to Steiner School Thursday evening, and came away ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
The Emerson Middle School soccer team made the short trip to Steiner School Thursday evening, and came away with their 4th win of the young season. Emerson kept the ball in the Steiner end for the great majority of the first half, and the relentless pressure was reflected in the 5-0 score at intermission. While the defense prevented even one shot on the Emerson goal, the Eagles’ Gabe Kellman found the back of the Steiner net four times, with an assist or two from Zack Kubisiak, who also scored ‘the other’ goal.
Steiner mounted a bit more offense in the second half, but never truly threatened, with only a couple so-so shots from poor angles. Gillian Giordano, meanwhile, added a goal for Emerson, to push the lead to 6-0, and many other teammates came close. Zack finished the scoring with two more, and the defense held tight for another shutout, this time 8-0.
The Eagles will next host Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth on Thursday, 9/29.
By Coach Bryan Seymour, Cross Country Coach and Language Arts Teacher
Boys Team Finishes with Perfect Score, Girls in Top 2
Emerson’s Cross Country Team ran a meet at Greenhills last Thursday, Sep. 22, against both Greenhills and ...
By Coach Bryan Seymour, Cross Country Coach and Language Arts Teacher
Emerson’s Cross Country Team ran a meet at Greenhills last Thursday, Sep. 22, against both Greenhills and Hillel Day School. They performed extremely well on a difficult two-mile course. As described by a few of the runners, it is very green, and very hilly. Nonetheless, Emerson’s boys team was able to place the first 5 runners (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place—a perfect score and a rare cross country feat) as well as 8 of the first 10 finishers. Ralph Dixon, Luka Hecht, and Anthony VanOyen led the way for the Eagles. The girls team also performed well, with Lucy Mehraban finishing second and Cate Weiser crushing her time from the same course last season. The team looks forward to continuing its success this upcoming Thursday at County Farm Park.
Lower School & Middle School Dates
Thursday, October 13, 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Child care available 2:45-6:00pm. Child care ends promptly at 6:00pm and the normal late fee of $4/minute applies. No child care available 6:00pm – ...
Please call the main number, 734-665-5662, or email:
By Jennifer Tanau, Lower School Art Teacher
The Lower School art classes will once again participate in the Square 1 Art fundraiser. This fundraiser is an opportunity for families to purchase mugs, greeting cards, t-shirts, phone ...
By Jennifer Tanau, Lower School Art Teacher
The Lower School art classes will once again participate in the Square 1 Art fundraiser. This fundraiser is an opportunity for families to purchase mugs, greeting cards, t-shirts, phone cases, pillow cases, and key chains—just a few of huge array of items available—and many families like to use these as gifts for the holidays.. Purchasing items is completely optional, but the proceeds will offset some of the cost of buses for the Toledo and Detroit art museums trips in the spring.
How It Works:
Although the Middle School doesn’t participate in this as a school, if your child is interested in doing it on their own, you can visit Jennifer Tanau in the Lower School art room before or after school to get supplies. All work must be back to her by October 18. Other family members can participate as well. Students could send more than one image if you wanted them to create a specific type of image for a special purpose. If you have something in mind, discuss it with your child and have them talk to Jennifer, who is happy to help.
You can check out the items using the link to the company’s website below, or check out some of the items in the small showcase outside the Middle School office entrance.
https://www.square1art.com
First K-2 Sing-Along Unleashed the Wiggles and Voices!
The first K-2 sing of the year, where students get to sing, move, and have a little fun together. Students are working out their wiggles in this ...
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By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson Eagles Defeat AACS 7–4
Emerson's middle school soccer team hosted Ann Arbor Christian Tuesday. Before the game, as they approached their bench, a ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson’s middle school soccer team hosted Ann Arbor Christian Tuesday. Before the game, as they approached their bench, a couple AACS players told Emerson coach Lenny Dale ‘You’re going down’. Emerson’s Eagles, 4-time defending AAIAA champs, seem to have a target on their collective back.
Emerson got off to a nice start, scoring 5 minutes in. AACS was not without offense of their own, however, countering Emerson attacks with pressure of their own. AACS tied the score midway through the first stanza, on the skill of their fast and skilled center-mid, who split the Emerson defense and placed a strong, accurate shot in off the post to keeper Michael Needham’s right. As the half grew late, the same attacker created separation with his speed at the top of the box and again fired a strong shot into the side panel, and Emerson found themselves behind for the first time this season. Maybe those AACS players, with their ‘You’re going down’, knew something. Emerson came back to tie the game just before the half, and then went about trying to find a way to slow down AACS and their center-mid.
Luka Hecht came up with part of the solution – moving from striker to sweeper, Luka took responsibility for AACS’ primary offensive threat, at the same time giving backs Alexander Bauer, Julian Skiftstad, and Kieran Heung a chance to rotate and rest, with Gillian Giordano joining the back-line corps. The change worked, though the same opponent was able to finish his hat-trick in the second half. Emerson gradually pulled ahead, as Gabe Kellman and Zack Kubisiak brought too much finesse for AACS to handle. Gabe tallied 4 goals on the day, 2 directly off assists from Zack, and Zack showed his own ball control and scoring touch with 2 goals of his own. Emerson came away with a 7-4 win. Going down? Not today.
Finding a way to counter the AACS game plan was a good sign. Giving up 4 goals, 3 off defensive mistakes, is a big concern. Scoring 7, particularly those 6 after falling behind 2-1 late in the first half, was nice. Playing such capable competition should give the kids a better idea of the work that needs to be done to improve, and the contribution each Emerson player is best suited to make in the effort to make this the best team it can be.
The adventure continues Thursday, when Emerson visits Steiner School, which should be no pushover.
Band and Orchestra Starts Next Week
It's Not Too Late For Your Child to Join!
Be a part of an amazing team, make music with friends, build your skills and your love of music! Participate in fun concerts and trips! Visit the website ...
Be a part of an amazing team, make music with friends, build your skills and your love of music! Participate in fun concerts and trips! Visit the website for complete details and registration. Lower school continuing Band and Orchestra classes start next week and the beginning classes start the week of October 3.
+ Learn more at www.emerson– school.org\bandandorchestra
Dear Parents,
This past Saturday, I broke my iPhone. It happened for the most clichéd of reasons—I dropped it when I was taking a selfie. When I picked it up, the touchscreen was mostly dead, and I was no longer able to enter my passcode. As my phone was fairly old, I decided to wait until Friday to pick up a new one.
And thus began my week without a functioning smartphone.
Not long ago I read in a survey that adults check their phones more than 200 times a day. And soon after I broke mine, I realized how true this was for me. Want to check the weather in the morning? I’ll look on my phone—oh, wait, it’s broken. Hanging out at a coffee shop? Dang, no phone. Needing directions?Hm, do they still sell paper maps at gas stations? After four days, I was still so habituated that I would reach for my phone at any quiet moment in the day, then pause, and remember that it wasn’t working.
So what have I learned from my week without a smartphone?
So as with most new technologies, for all we gain (novelty, connectivity, utility), we also give up something in return.
As we begin our new school year, I encourage you to talk with your children about these trade-offs, and consider how they impact our day-to-day interactions. For my part, when I get my new phone at the end of this week, I’ll try to retain some of what I learned, and find time for stillness, contemplation, and simplicity.
Happy September,
John Huber
Lower School parents and students are invited to Lower School Curriculum Night. This year will have a slightly revised format, with a combination of teacher presentations and student-led sharing of their daily experiences in homeroom and specials classes.
Students will be with parents for most of the evening, so childcare will be unavailable during Curriculum Night. Younger siblings should stay at home.
Curriculum Night is a chance for you to become familiar with your child’s teachers and classrooms, but you will have an opportunity to discuss his/her individual performance at Parent-Teacher Conferences in just three weeks. Conference sign-ups will open on Sunday, Sept. 26, and an email with instructions will be sent soon.
Last year parents, faculty, and staff earned more than $4,784 for Emerson School just for doing their normal shopping at Arbor Farms, Busch’s, and Kroger. See how easy it is to join in, and contact Beth Anderson with any questions.
+ Learn more
+ Email Rose Hacker to sign up
+ Fall Enrichment Classes (new additions)
+ Fall Music Lesson
Join other parents at the first Emerson School Parent Organization meeting of the year. You’ll hear an update from Head of School John Huber and have an opportunity to be involved in the events, activities, and initiatives spearheaded by ESPO—all benefitting your students. New this year, parents are asked to please bring their own beverages in lid-covered containers, as refreshments will not be provided.
Please sign up to help with an ESPO Pizza Lunch on a Friday! It’s fun, easy, and a very small time commitment. Choose a Friday that works for you—opportunities are available throughout the year—and enjoy the smile on your child’s face when they see you helping out at school!
+ Sign up to volunteer
Parents are invited to start the school year with a cup of coffee and candid conversation with Head of School John Huber. It’s a great opportunity to meet John, and to share whatever is on your mind—the good and the bad.
To accommodate working parents, these coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, reservations required). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
Whenever possible, please avoid bringing in known allergens to school, particularly if they can be easily avoided. For example, we have a number of community members with allergies to air fresheners and perfumes, and we kindly ask that these not be brought in to school.
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to perform—not compete—and share their talents and passions. Sing, play, read, dance, joke, act, etc. in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
Current middle school families are invited to learn more about their child’s experience in middle school. Families will follow a typical middle school schedule and learn about grade level academics, our enrichment courses, the electives their child has selected, and how we will support the social and emotional growth of their child through advisory.
Current and future middle school families are invited to learn how Emerson will support them in the transition to high school. We will share information on the high school placement process, what local schools require (and when), and how we can support families in the high school selection process.
Local relationship consultant, Annie Zirkel, will present to current and future middle school families about the impact that triggers can have on students and adults. She will discuss the physiological impact of being triggered, the neuroscience behind the triggered brain, and how we can support students when they are triggered. We may even learn more about how we can support ourselves when we are triggered. Please visit Annie Zirkel’s website for more information on this session (http://www.anniezirkel.com/)
In this webinar, parents will become aware of the pressures on girls today and the hidden culture of girls’ relationship aggressions. Parents will take away new skills to help girls handle conflicts directly and effectively; know and express their emotions in healthy ways; handle teasing and “mean words”; speak with authority, be unafraid of making mistakes; and become strong leaders. This session is for parents of girls ages K-12.
The Washtenaw Area Council for Children will lead current and future middle school families through an exploration of the world of technology at our students’ fingertips. They will share data on current trends and challenges, as well as provide strategies for helping your child handle this unprecedented access to information. The WACC will also share information on cybersafety, strategies for protecting your child in this age of access, and what concerning behaviors adults should watch out for in their children.
From ISACS website: Damour will hit the highlights of her New York Times best-selling book to help girls’ parents, educators, and advocates understand why teenage girls sometimes confusing and dramatic behavior is actually predictable and normal. Damour will explain the seven developmental transitions that turn girls into grown-ups and help the adults form happier, healthier relationships with the teenagers in their care. This webinar is for parents and all who work with girls ages 10-19.
The Lexington Bach Festival is this weekend in Lexington, Michigan. Located north of Port Huron, this beautiful lakeside town is host to a great festival of classical music. Ms. Capozzoli enjoys playing in the festival orchestra and having the opportunity to work with the outstanding guest artists!
+ Learn more
Make a Red Cross blood donation during the month of September, and you’ll not only save a life, but receive a free haircut from SportsClips
+ Learn more
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Eagles Soar Over Mustangs 8–0
Emerson's middle school soccer team hosted the Mustangs of St. Francis Thursday evening. Emerson didn't get off to as blazing a ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson’s middle school soccer team hosted the Mustangs of St. Francis Thursday evening. Emerson didn’t get off to as blazing a start as in their opening game, though the Eagles certainly had the better of the play early on. This time around it took seven minutes to get on the board, rather than 12 seconds, and it was Kieran Heung who did the honors. The Mustang keeper came up big time after time, but had no answer for Zack Kubisiak, who tuned him up for a hat trick over a 15-minute stretch of the first half. Gabe Kellman finished the first half scoring, and then started it again for the second stanza, growing the Emerson lead to 6-0. Zack got his fourth of the game midway through the half, and Michael Needham put the icing on the cake late, bringing the final score to 8-0.
Michael had a couple nice saves in goal in the first half, and Ian Lewis stopped a number of Mustang shots in the second to preserve the shutout.
Emerson travels to Ann Arbor Christian on Tuesday, 9/20, for what is likely to be the toughest contest of the season, and a bit of a grudge match.
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
Emerson Kicks Season Off With 8–1 Win Over Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth
The Emerson Middle School soccer team got off to a fast start, with Gabe Kellman scoring ...
By Coach Lenny Dale, Soccer Coach, Athletic Director, and Phys. Ed. Teacher
The Emerson Middle School soccer team got off to a fast start, with Gabe Kellman scoring 12 seconds after the opening whistle, and the team scoring 5 goals in the first 10 minutes of their opener at Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth. It took the rest of the first half to get the kids on the same page of ‘no more scoring allowed,’ and by that time the Eagle lead was 8-0. Spiritus Sanctus managed a goal in the second half, but other than that Emerson was able to play a pretty good game of ‘possession’, working on moving the ball and getting everyone involved, which should come into play when the competition gets tougher this season.
An EPIC Day in the Middle School
Emerson. Perseverance. Integrity. Compassion.
A two-day EPIC Adventure kicked off in the Middle School today. Challenging activities and community service projects are bringing students together and ...
A two-day EPIC Adventure kicked off in the Middle School today. Challenging activities and community service projects are bringing students together and teaching them what it means to be a middle school student at Emerson.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
Welcome back! It’s such a joy to begin the new school year, as we celebrate Emerson’s 43rd year of operations
My first question – how did you do you on your summer homework? (I’m guessing that there may be a few panicked gasps of, “What summer homework?“) Back in June, I assigned a list of 10 summer activities, and encouraged everyone (students and families alike) to complete at least 7 of the activities. So in the spirit of full disclosure, I’ll grade myself:
So here’s a little secret: it’s not too late to complete this “summer” homework! And while I wouldn’t recommend an outdoor music concert in January, you can complete most of these activities at any point this school year.
I particularly encourage all of us to try to achieve more “screen-free” time this coming year. I received an important reminder of this from Screenagers, the documentary we showed this past month. The more we as parents interrupt our evenings with laptops and phones, the more we demonstrate attention to screens as a positive behavior.
So, what are your new goals for the new school year?
Have a most joyful start to school,
John Huber
Tomorrow is the final day to place all lunch and milk orders—all optional. Pizza lunch is ESPO’s biggest fundraiser for the school, and wildly popular with students.
Ordering Pizza Lunch and Milk
Please place your orders in RenWeb for Friday Pizza Lunch and/or Washtenaw Dairy milk for lunch. Here’s how to order:
Ordering Lunches From What’s Cooking!
Hot lunches are available from What’s Cooking!, which will be delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with some exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
No yearbook orders at this time. Look for more information on ordering yearbooks in January, which will include color pages, new design, and custom pages.
Curriculum night will have a combination of teacher presentations and the opportunity for students to take the lead and sharing their daily experiences. You will spend time together with your child in homeroom classrooms, tour specials classes, and see student work on display in the hallways. More info will be forthcoming.
Please sign up to help with an ESPO Pizza Lunch on a Friday! It’s fun, easy, and a very small time commitment. Choose a Friday that works for you—opportunities are available throughout the year—and enjoy the smile on your child’s face when they see you helping out at school!
+ Sign up to volunteer
Whenever possible, please avoid bringing in known allergens to school, particularly if they can be easily avoided. For example, we have a number of community members with allergies to air fresheners and perfumes, and we kindly ask that these not be brought in to school.
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends. Email espo@emerson-school.org with any questions.
Parents are invited to start the school year with a cup of coffee and candid conversation with Head of School John Huber. It’s a great opportunity to meet John, and to share whatever is on your mind—the good and the bad.
To accommodate working parents, these coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, reservations required). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
There is still time to sign up for after school enrichment classes and music lessons, which begin the week of September 19.
+ Fall Enrichment Classes (new additions)
+ Fall Music Lesson
Join other parents at the first Emerson School Parent Organization meeting of the year. You’ll hear an update from Head of School John Huber and have an opportunity to be involved in the events, activities, and initiatives spearheaded by ESPO—all benefitting your students. New this year, parents are asked to please bring their own beverages in lid-covered containers, as refreshments will not be provided.
If your student takes any prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications, please return the appropriate form linked below to the office with their medication. All medications must be stored in the office and can only be administered under the supervision of faculty or staff.
+ Prescription Medication Form
+ Non-Prescription Medication Form
Due to changes in the AAPS bell times, Emerson’s bus routes have been substantially cut. Only one morning and one afternoon stop will be available. If your child will ride the bus, you must complete the contact information form below and on the Emerson Website, and they must ride on a regular basis.
+ Register at www.emerson-school.org/bus
We are trying to add a second afternoon drop off but they are unable to accommodate us at this time. Please contact Durham Bus Services directly if this impacts your child getting to Emerson on time (Durham Bus Service 734-994-2330).
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. Of course, you can also opt out at any time.
+ Participate in the Carpool Map
Please return your child’s sports physical to the office if they plan on playing on an Emerson sports team. Students will not be allowed to participate in team practices or games until these are received. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
How do we best prepare our students for their future? The award-winning documentary Most Likely to Succeed explores this question, and you’re invited to join fellow parents, educators, and community members for a special screening at Emerson.
MLTS looks at the impact of learning environments, building on passion and expertise, giving students a voice, and leveraging partnerships with parents and school community. This film reaffirms some of the great things we are doing in our schools, and raises questions about what else can be done to provide our students with the best education.
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to perform—not compete—and share their talents and passions. Sing, play, read, dance, joke, act, etc. in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
If you’ve never picked up or dropped off a child at Emerson, or if you just need a refresher, this video will give you an overview of the process and etiquette.
+ Watch the video
The last day for Middle School students to complete an Add/Drop request is Wednesday, September 14. Students should visit Beth Muszkiewicz in the Middle School Office if they are interested in changing their schedule.
If you have not already ordered your books, please do so using the link below. MBS Direct is offering free shipping on orders over $99 Aug. 22–24.
+ Order Middle School books online
Welcoming New Students on Their First Day of School
Top Tips From Veteran Students
Being new is often intimidating, which is why these Emerson students are sharing their best tips and suggestions for starting the school year off ...
Being new is often intimidating, which is why these Emerson students are sharing their best tips and suggestions for starting the school year off right. It includes helpful advice, like how to respond to yogurt sword fight requests.
+ Watch the welcome video
Dear Parents,
It’s Thursday afternoon on the last week before the start of school, and I have just returned to my office after walking around the hallways. The classrooms look beautiful, the grounds look fantastic, and everything is in its proper place. There’s a certain stillness of the campus, a feeling of something big about to begin. It’s like the moment of nervous silence as runners take their mark on the starting line, as they wait for the starting pistol to fire.
We’re ready.
We are ready! Our faculty and staff have taken part in a rich, engaging week of professional development in preparation for our students’ return. We have learned how to use technology to best support all our students through universal design. We have talked about how to be brave in our words and our deeds on topics of diversity, equity, and justice. We have reviewed our obligations as mandated reporters in ensuring that all students are safe. And most importantly, we have met to discuss your children, our students, so that we may best educate our many students and hit the ground running.
I hope that you all enjoy this long Labor Day weekend. Rest up—school is starting soon!
Be well,
John Huber
Full day of school on Sept. 6, except kindergarten (half days with dismissal at 11:45am until Monday, Sept. 19), and 1st grade (half days with noon dismissal until Monday, Sept. 12).
If you’ve never picked up or dropped off a child at Emerson, or if you just need a refresher, this video will give you an overview of the process and etiquette.
+ Watch the video
If your student takes any prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications, please return the appropriate form linked below to the office with their medication. All medications must be stored in the office and can only be administered under the supervision of faculty or staff.
+ Prescription Medication Form
+ Non-Prescription Medication Form
Due to changes in the AAPS bell times, Emerson’s bus routes have been substantially cut. Only one morning and one afternoon stop will be available. If your child will ride the bus, you must complete the contact information form below and on the Emerson Website, and they must ride on a regular basis.
+ Register at www.emerson-school.org/bus
We are trying to add a second afternoon drop off but they are unable to accommodate us at this time. Please contact Durham Bus Services directly if this impacts your child getting to Emerson on time (Durham Bus Service 734-994-2330).
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. Of course, you can also opt out at any time.
+ Participate in the Carpool Map
Students can drop into the After School Program before or after school—no registration or pre-payment required. There’s also enrichment classes and music lessons available for all students.
+ More After School Program info and news
+ Fall Music Lesson
+ Fall Enrichment Classes
The 2016-2017 Family Handbook is now available for download. Families can also find it on the Emerson website at any time, and all new families will receive a printed copy at the New Family Welcome.
+ Download the 2016-2017 Family Handbook
After dropping off the kids on the first day of school, parents and caregivers are invited to come together, share some summer stories, and celebrate the new school year in style with complimentary Mighty Good coffee and Washtenaw Dairy donuts! Stay and chill a bit, or grab a donut and run—it’s all about the WELCOME BACK!
Parents are invited to start the school year with a cup of coffee and candid conversation with Head of School John Huber. It’s a great opportunity to meet John, and to share whatever is on your mind—the good and the bad.
To accommodate working parents, these coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, reservations required). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
You can now download the calendar with all of this year’s events, breaks, and happenings, or subscribe to the online calendars and always be up to date.
+ Download the 2016-2017 School Events Calendar
+ See and Subscribe to the Online Calendars
Please return your child’s sports physical to the office if they plan on playing on an Emerson sports team. Students will not be allowed to participate in team practices or games until these are received. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
The State requires all schools to collect immunization records for 7th grade students before they can start school. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends. Please RSVP to attend ASAP—it really helps with ordering food. Email espo@emerson-school.org with any questions.
Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program—no previous experience required. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year will have new opportunities for our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to perform—not compete—and share their talents and passions. Sing, play, read, dance, joke, act, etc. in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
Please place your orders in RenWeb for Friday Pizza Lunch and/or milk for lunch—all optional—by Sept. 6. Here’s how:
Orders will be billed as they are placed. Last week’s newsletter incorrectly stated parents would be billed in October, as they had been in previous years.
Lunches will once again be provided by What’s Cooking!. These lunches are an optional service delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with some exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
All students new to Emerson need to complete a Health Appraisal Form, available below or from most doctors’ offices. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
+ Health Appraisal Form
How do we best prepare our students for their future? The award-winning documentary Most Likely to Succeed explores this question, and you’re invited to join fellow parents, educators, and community members for a special screening at Emerson.
MLTS looks at the impact of learning environments, building on passion and expertise, giving students a voice, and leveraging partnerships with parents and school community. This film reaffirms some of the great things we are doing in our schools, and raises questions about what else can be done to provide our students with the best education.
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Middle School students are invited to audition for the 2016 musical, The Little Mermaid Jr. A sign-up sheet will be posted for each audition day outside of the Arts and Innovation Center. More information is linked below, or you can contact Musical Director Julie Moon at jmoon@emerson-school.org with questions.
+ Learn more
Lear more about the compassionate, innovative, and creative educators working with your students this year.
*A couple inaccuracies were corrected after these were emailed earlier this week.
+ Meet the 6th grade team
+ Meet the 7th grade team
+ Meet the 8th grade team
+ Meet the World Language team, Enrichment team, Learning Support team, and Admin
If you have not already ordered your books, please do so using the link below. MBS Direct is offering free shipping on orders over $99 Aug. 22–24.
+ Order Middle School books online
All Middle School students must complete the online tutorial linked below by the end of the first week of school (Sept. 9). Doing so will demonstrate their understanding of the rights and responsibilities of using technology at Emerson, as outlined in the Acceptable Use Policy.
+ Review the Acceptable Use Policy
+ Complete the online tutorial
Please review the list of supplies suggested for each grade level.
+ See the school supply lists
Register to Attend the ESPO Back-to-School Picnic
Sunday, Sept. 11, 4:30pm – 7:00pm on the Emerson Playground
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be ...
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends.Please RSVP to attend by Monday, August 29—it really helps with ordering food. Emailespo@emerson-school.org with any questions.
Dear Parents,
Please welcome our newest member of the Emerson learning community, Brittney Papadopoulos, who will be Emerson’s new K-2 Learning Specialist. She comes with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an M.Ed. in Reading, both from Harding University.
Brittney is making the move from Tennessee, where she has been serving as Director of the Donald F. Andrews Reading and Writing Center & Student Athlete Academic Success Program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College (try saying that title three times fast). Prior to serving as Director, she was an elementary school teacher in both Tennessee and Arkansas, as well as Lead Reading Assistant Professor at Chattanooga State.
Welcome, Brittney!
John Huber
The 2016-2017 Family Handbook is now available for download. Families can also find it on the Emerson website at any time, and all new families will receive a printed copy at the New Family Welcome.
+ Download the 2016-2017 Family Handbook
Full day of school on Sept. 6, except kindergarten (half days with dismissal at 11:45am until Monday, Sept. 19), and 1st grade (half days with noon dismissal until Monday, Sept. 12).
After dropping off the kids on the first day of school, parents and caregivers are invited to come together, share some summer stories, and celebrate the new school year in style with complimentary Mighty Good coffee and Washtenaw Dairy donuts! Stay and chill a bit, or grab a donut and run—it’s all about the WELCOME BACK!
Parents are invited to start the school year with a cup of coffee and candid conversation with Head of School John Huber. It’s a great opportunity to meet John, and to share whatever is on your mind—the good and the bad.
To accommodate working parents, these coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, reservations required). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
You can now download the calendar with all of this year’s events, breaks, and happenings, or subscribe to the online calendars and always be up to date.
+ Download the 2016-2017 School Events Calendar
+ See and Subscribe to the Online Calendars
Please return your child’s sports physical to the office if they plan on playing on an Emerson sports team. Students will not be allowed to participate in team practices or games until these are received. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
The State requires all schools to collect immunization records for 7th grade students before they can start school. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program—no previous experience required. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year will have new opportunities for our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to perform—not compete—and share their talents and passions. Sing, play, read, dance, joke, act, etc. in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
Please place your orders in RenWeb for Friday Pizza Lunch and/or milk for lunch—all optional—by Sept. 6. Here’s how:
Orders will be billed as they are placed. Last week’s newsletter incorrectly stated parents would be billed in October, as they had been in previous years.
Lunches will once again be provided by What’s Cooking!. These lunches are an optional service delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with some exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
Lower School: 1:30pm–2:30pm
Middle School: 1:30pm–3:00pm
All families starting their first year at Emerson are invited to a New Family Welcome, where you will learn all about your new school, meet faculty and staff, and meet other new families.
+ Middle School schedule
All students new to Emerson need to complete a Health Appraisal Form, available below or from most doctors’ offices. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
+ Health Appraisal Form
How do we best prepare our students for their future? The award-winning documentary Most Likely to Succeed explores this question, and you’re invited to join fellow parents, educators, and community members for a special screening at Emerson.
MLTS looks at the impact of learning environments, building on passion and expertise, giving students a voice, and leveraging partnerships with parents and school community. This film reaffirms some of the great things we are doing in our schools, and raises questions about what else can be done to provide our students with the best education.
align=”left”>
Middle School students are invited to audition for the 2016 musical, The Little Mermaid Jr. A sign-up sheet will be posted for each audition day outside of the Arts and Innovation Center. More information is linked below, or you can contact Musical Director Julie Moon at jmoon@emerson-school.org with questions.
+ Learn more
Lear more about the compassionate, innovative, and creative educators working with your students this year.
*A couple inaccuracies were corrected after these were emailed earlier this week.
+ Meet the 6th grade team
+ Meet the 7th grade team
+ Meet the 8th grade team
+ Meet the World Language team, Enrichment team, Learning Support team, and Admin
If you have not already ordered your books, please do so using the link below. MBS Direct is offering free shipping on orders over $99 Aug. 22–24.
+ Order Middle School books online
All Middle School students must complete the online tutorial linked below by the end of the first week of school (Sept. 9). Doing so will demonstrate their understanding of the rights and responsibilities of using technology at Emerson, as outlined in the Acceptable Use Policy.
+ Review the Acceptable Use Policy
+ Complete the online tutorial
Please review the list of supplies suggested for each grade level.
+ See the school supply lists
Register to Attend the ESPO Back-to-School Picnic
Sunday, Sept. 11, 4:30pm – 7:00pm on the Emerson Playground
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be ...
Please join us for the annual Back-to-School picnic, hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends.Please RSVP to attend by Monday, August 29—it really helps with ordering food. Emailespo@emerson-school.org with any questions.
Dear Parents,
We know you get a lot of email, so Emerson will continue to condense as much as possible and make it easy to digest. Here’s what to expect:
Please commit to skimming the newsletter, at a minimum
Not everything will pertain to you, but they are organized so you can find the items that are by reading the headline. If it’s relevant to you, you’ll find more details below. Example:
Details about the topic, who to contact for questions, etc.
+ Link for more information or contact
Look at the newsletter calendar for what’s ahead
The newsletter calendar will have all of the school activities and events for the next two weeks or more, including athletics, band and orchestra, and theater arts. You can also subscribe to the online calendarsand always have them on your phone or computer.
Full day of school on Sept. 6, except kindergarten (half days with dismissal at 11:45am until Monday, Sept. 19), and 1st grade (half days with noon dismissal until Monday, Sept. 12).
You can now download the calendar with all of this year’s events, breaks, and happenings, or subscribe to the online calendars and always be up to date.
+ Download the 2016-2017 School Events Calendar
+ See and Subscribe to the Online Calendars
Please return your child’s sports physical to the office if they plan on playing on an Emerson sports team. Students will not be allowed to participate in team practices or games until these are received. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
The State requires all schools to collect immunization records for 7th grade students before they can start school. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
If your student plans on riding an Ann Arbor Public Schools bus to or from Emerson this year (available to all families who live in the AAPS district), AAPS now requires you to register before the school year begins. See the Family Handbook for more information.
+ Register at www.emerson-school.org/bus
Beyond Measure follows a new vanguard of educators across the country who are pioneering a fresh vision for American schools. Pulling from expert research in education, child development, and cognitive and neuroscience, these leaders are creating a new type of classroom. They’re leading schools that redirect our focus away from homework, prizes, top grades and test scores. And they’re making room for curiosity, engagement, creativity, collaboration and independent thinking. By putting innovative models into practice, they’re finding inspiration in doing things differently – and changing how and what we teach.
This is a Thriving Child A2 community event, which means our entire community is invited to attend.
Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program—no previous experience required. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year will have new opportunities for our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more
Please place your orders in RenWeb for Friday Pizza Lunch and/or milk for lunch—all optional—by Sept. 6. Here’s how:
Your account will be billed in October for milk and the first semester of Pizza Lunch. It will be billed again in February for the second semester of Pizza Lunch if you choose to continue it.
Lunches will once again be provided by What’s Cooking!. These lunches are an optional service delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with some exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
Lower School: 1:30pm–2:30pm
Middle School: 1:30pm–3:00pm
All families starting their first year at Emerson are invited to a New Family Welcome, where you will learn all about your new school, meet faculty and staff, and meet other new families.
+ Middle School schedule
All students new to Emerson need to complete a Health Appraisal Form, available below or from most doctors’ offices. Please email yours to Joan Gregorka, or drop them off in the Lower School office ASAP.
+ Health Appraisal Form
Middle School students are invited to audition for the 2016 musical, The Little Mermaid Jr. A sign-up sheet will be posted for each audition day outside of the Arts and Innovation Center. More information is linked below, or you can contact Musical Director Julie Moon at jmoon@emerson-school.org with questions.
+ Learn more
Lear more about the compassionate, innovative, and creative educators working with your students this year.
*A couple inaccuracies were corrected after these were emailed earlier this week.
+ Meet the 6th grade team
+ Meet the 7th grade team
+ Meet the 8th grade team
+ Meet the World Language team, Enrichment team, Learning Support team, and Admin
If you have not already ordered your books, please do so using the link below. MBS Direct is offering free shipping on orders over $99 Aug. 22–24.
+ Order Middle School books online
All Middle School students must complete the online tutorial linked below by the end of the first week of school (Sept. 9). Doing so will demonstrate their understanding of the rights and responsibilities of using technology at Emerson, as outlined in the Acceptable Use Policy.
+ Review the Acceptable Use Policy
+ Complete the online tutorial
Please review the list of supplies suggested for each grade level.
+ See the school supply lists
If you haven't already, parents can order Middle School books for the 2016-2017 school year now via the link below.
+ Order your 2016-2017 Middle School books ...
If you haven’t already, parents can order Middle School books for the 2016-2017 school year now via the link below.
Congratulations and thank you! Emerson families answered the challenge and proved we're a community committed to giving by reaching 75% participation in the Annual Fund. Because of this record-setting participation, an anonymous donor ...
Congratulations and thank you! Emerson families answered the challenge and proved we’re a community committed to giving by reaching 75% participation in the Annual Fund. Because of this record-setting participation, an anonymous donor has made an incredibly generous $25,000 Challenge Gift to Emerson!
In addition to setting a new participation record—rocketing past the previous year’s 68% participation—our community set a new record for total dollars given to the Annual Fund at $250,446! These dollars fill the gap between tuition and the actual cost of running the school, providing for financial aid, new classroom resources, and special experiences for your children.
Thank you to everyone who gave to the Annual Fund. Every gift, big and small, made a difference!
Congratulations to the Emerson Class of 2016!
+ See more pictures of graduation on Facebook
Letter from the Head of School
Dear Parents,
Your Summer Homework Assignment (for students and their parents):
Please ...
+ See more pictures of graduation on Facebook
Your Summer Homework Assignment (for students and their parents):
Please complete up to 7 of the following summer activities. Extra credit for completing all 10.
Have a great and glorious summer!
John Huber
Student medication will be available for pick-up in the offices through June. Please pick up any you would like to save by June 30.
Please stop by the Fishbowl to find any items your child may have left by Wednesday, June 22. Any unclaimed items will be donated.
“Students launched a high-altitude weather balloon 98,000 feet into the atmosphere, conducted experiments, saw the curve of the earth with GoPro camera footage, and found it when it returned to earth using a GPS tracker. None of that would have been possible without Annual Fund dollars.”
— Michael Wilson, K-3 science teacher and Annual Fund participant
Annual Fund gifts helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school. If you have already made a gift to the Annual Fund (giving to financial aid at the Auction counts) thank you very much. Your support is deeply appreciated! If you have not yet made your gift, please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by giving at emerson-school.org/give.
100% Class Participation!
Congrats to Marchell Burgess’s 4th grade class, which has reached 100% participation in the Annual Fund—a first, and something to be celebrated!
Grade Level Giving Percentages: K: 79%, 1st: 71%, 2nd: 69%, 3rd: 72%, 4th:86%, 5th: 66%, 6th: 66%, 7th: 68%, 8th: 38%
A Dale Carnegie course is coming to Emerson in the fall for Middle School Students! Watch this short video to learn more, and contact Rose for more info or to reserve your space now.
+ Watch this video to learn more
+ Contact Rose at rhacker@emerson-school.org for more info and to reserve
New Openings in Popular Summer Camps
A few more openings have just become available in the popular camps listed below. Register online for these and many other camps this summer.
Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was diagnosed with AML leukemia in March. Jill has conquered her first round of chemo, but now she needs to find a bone marrow donor.
Find out if you are a qualified donor for Jill (age requirement is 18-44) by joining theNational Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. It is as simple as giving a saliva sample, and you can do it one of two ways:
+ Read the complete letter from Jill’s family here
+ Learn more about the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry and join
The Ann Arbor District Library has a large summer reading program with multiple way to collect points that can be traded for books and other items. Register at the library or online, and get more information about recording what is read, attending events, and tackling on-line challenges.
+ Learn more
Did you know that every Emerson student, no matter where they live, is eligible for an Ann Arbor District Library card at no charge because we are a school in the area? All you need to do is bring some proof that the child attends Emerson (a photo in the yearbook, the school ID that came with class pictures, a report card, etc.) and they will issue a library card good for one year. This can be done at any branch. Then you can sign up for the reading program at the same time.
The school year ends on a high, joyful note, thanks to Field Day games, Carnival dunk tanks, 8th grade vs. faculty competitions, and games led by Middle School students, and enjoying the wealth of talent at Talent Shows. Thank you to all of the parents who help make these activities possible,
Congratulations to the 4th grade team of Emerson School girls who finished their field hockey season undefeated, 7-0! And they did it while focusing on having fun!
Language Arts: Write Source and Write Source Skills Book
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, and grammar book)
Algebra: Algebra 1
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook); Bantam New College Latin/English Dictionary
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, workbook, and grammar book)
Randie Jo Evans (class of 2015) recently won the Michigan Justin Morgan Horse Association’s Youth of the Year contest, and this fall she’ll compete in Youth of the Year National Finals in Oklahoma City. She and two teammates also earned first place in the 2016 Michigan 4-H Equine Educational Expo’s Hippology event, and will represent Michigan in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup’s Hippology contest this fall in Louisville, KY.
4th Grade Wax Museum A2's Hot New Attraction
Push the button in front of one of the 4th graders' displays, and their historical figure comes to life and tells his/her story. It's like a wax museum, full of history and information, but ...
Push the button in front of one of the 4th graders’ displays, and their historical figure comes to life and tells his/her story. It’s like a wax museum, full of history and information, but so much more lifelike and creative.
+ See more photos on Facebook
Dear Parents,
This past May, the Emerson Board of Trustees elected its slate of officers and members. Please join me in congratulating our newest trustees and officers, and giving our great thanks to our retiring trustees.
New to the 2016-2017 Board are the following trustees:
The members of the 2016-2017 Executive Committee are as follows:
Finally, we say farewell to two outstanding trustees who are completing their terms of service.
If you are interested in learning more about our trustees, head on over to ourwebsite to read their biographies. And if you’d like to learn how you might participate on our committees, please email the Chair at board@emerson-school.org to share your interest.
Be well,
John Huber
Please send a lunch with students the last week of school, June 13–16. Main Dish, milk orders, and Friday Pizza Lunch ended on Friday, June 10. ESPO will provide complimentary pizza for all students on Wednesday, June 15, but please send a snack if your child would like one.
Student medication will be available for pick-up in the offices through June. Please pick up any you would like to save by June 30.
“If you could spend a morning in one of our science classrooms (and I would be so pleased if you did), you would quickly see evidence of specific things that make a profound difference in the educational experience of our kids. For example, good quality tools and hardware empower lab work, field work, and real world, hands-on investigations. A perfect example are the 12 new microscopes that we were able to purchase after significant contributions from Emerson families. In my years at Emerson, at least one thing has become crystal clear. Truly excellent education requires investment from all of us. It is my pleasure and honor to work in a community of givers. I encourage all of us to contribute as we can and to take pride in our collective accomplishments. Thanks you!!”
— Tim Wilson, 6th Grade Science Teacher and Annual Fund donor
Annual Fund gifts helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school. If you have already made a gift to the Annual Fund (giving to financial aid at the Auction counts) thank you very much. Your support is deeply appreciated! If you have not yet made your gift, please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by giving at emerson-school.org/give.
Class Giving Percentages: K: 71%, 1st: 64%, 2nd: 63%, 3rd: 61%, 4th:78%, 5th: 61%, 6th: 66%, 7th: 64%, 8th: 36%
A few more openings have just become available in the popular camps listed below. Register online for these and many other camps this summer.
Field day is a day of games, pizza, extended recess, dunk tanks, and so much fun. ESPO coordinates, and parents make it a success. Please sign up to join in on the fun by supervising an activity.
+ Questions? Contact Stephanie Zabinko at szabinko@aol.com
+ Volunteer to supervise a Field Day activity
The last official day of school for grades K-7 (excluding Band and Orchestra performing at graduation) will be Thursday, June 16, 2016. This day will be used for school-wide awards and events as we have done in the past. Then on Friday, June 17, our regularly scheduled graduation exercises will be held in the Arts and Innovation Center, with Band and Orchestra performing as before. Our 8th grade families (including siblings) are invited to attend graduation.
As this was a change to this year’s schedule, free childcare will be provided for Emerson students in grades K-7 on Friday, June 17 from 7:30am–12:00pm. Reservations are required.
+ Email Beth Muszkiewicz to reserve childcare for your child
Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was diagnosed with AML leukemia in March. Jill has conquered her first round of chemo, but now she needs to find a bone marrow donor.
Find out if you are a qualified donor for Jill (age requirement is 18-44) by joining theNational Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. It is as simple as giving a saliva sample, and you can do it one of two ways:
+ Read the complete letter from Jill’s family here
+ Learn more about the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry and join
This year’s used book sale was a special labor of love because we knew that every penny earned would be donated to the American Cancer Society in honor of our much loved first grade teacher, Jill Nolan. People of all ages were generous with their donations of books and their shopping money as well. The annual joy of seeing children carefully select the perfect books for themselves of others and then carefully count out their change was augmented by the thoughtful children who would spontaneously decide to give the last of their change as a donation for such a good cause. Some people even brought in larger amounts with the express purpose of donating. We are so lucky to have such caring and generous people as a part of the Emerson family. The American Cancer Society now has an additional $491.32 because of your thoughtfulness. Happy summer reading to all. — Linda Lakshminarayanan, Librarian
Please return any books or movies that you have borrowed before the end of the school year. School accounts will be charged the replacement cost of materials not received by the library by June 15, 2015.
The Ann Arbor District Library has a large summer reading program with multiple way to collect points that can be traded for books and other items. Register at the library or online, and get more information about recording what is read, attending events, and tackling on-line challenges.
+ Learn more
Did you know that every Emerson student, no matter where they live, is eligible for an Ann Arbor District Library card at no charge because we are a school in the area? All you need to do is bring some proof that the child attends Emerson (a photo in the yearbook, the school ID that came with class pictures, a report card, etc.) and they will issue a library card good for one year. This can be done at any branch. Then you can sign up for the reading program at the same time.
ESPO Positions Need Parent Volunteers
Help wanted. No experience required. Compensation: none. Benefits: the feeling that comes from volunteering and being involved with our Emerson community. There are a number of positions still available for next year’s ESPO. Particularly, we need a Co-Chair and Pizza Lunch Volunteer Chair and Co-Chair. What a great way to meet other families and to give back to the School.
+ More information and openings
+ Contact Chair Diana Rooks dskaram@umich.edu or Co-Chair Elizabeth Caswellewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu for additional information
Please tell us what is working and what could be better at Emerson by participating in this anonymous and confidential survey. Make your voice heard, whether you’re delighted or frustrated, and we promise to use the insight to make Emerson even better.
+ Participate in this quick parent survey
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
Language Arts: Write Source and Write Source Skills Book
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, and grammar book)
Algebra: Algebra 1
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook); Bantam New College Latin/English Dictionary
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, workbook, and grammar book)
We are eager to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students, recognize our soon-to-be graduates, and have some good fun together.
+ See the original, detailed email from Andy Zimmer
There are five summer book options, and students should choose at least one to read this summer. Students will join a discussion group for their book during the 2016 EPIC days in September. If they read more than one (or all five!) you can select your favorite and join that book club for the discussion. Buy the books through your favorite local or online retailer, or order one of these books through Emerson’s textbook retailer, MBS Direct at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/emerson-school.htm.
+ See descriptions of all five books
Emerson alum Orly Rubinfeld is working hard to raise $170,000 to build a music school in Meru. Just $1 from every music student in the state of Michigan would accomplish that, and 2,000 students from five schools will benefit.
+ Learn more
Randie Jo Evans (class of 2015) recently won the Michigan Justin Morgan Horse Association’s Youth of the Year contest, and this fall she’ll compete in Youth of the Year National Finals in Oklahoma City. She and two teammates also earned first place in the 2016 Michigan 4-H Equine Educational Expo’s Hippology event, and will represent Michigan in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup’s Hippology contest this fall in Louisville, KY.
Top of the Park starts on June 10! Check out all the great family-friendly events atwww.a2sf.org.
By the Emerson School Business Office
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for ...
By the Emerson School Business Office
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
Once MBS receives your books, you will receive an email confirmation. You will receive another email confirming the buyback value of your books. Please allow approximately 2-4 weeks for the entire process to occur.
Please remember, MBS may not purchase all the books that you would like to sell during this time because of their supply and demand. However, feel free to check MBS’s website at a later date. MBS does not purchase workbooks and pays very little for paperbacks.
Below is a list of the books by grade to keep for the following year. DO NOT sell back.
6TH GRADE BOOKS TO KEEP FOR 7TH GRADE
Language Arts: Write Source and Write Source Skills Book
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, and grammar book)
7TH GRADE BOOKS TO KEEP FOR 8TH GRADE
Algebra: Algebra 1
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook); Bantam New College Latin/English Dictionary
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, workbook, and grammar book)
The 2016/2017 Middle School Books will not post on the MBS website until July 1, 2016. Prior to July 1, 2016 the 2015-2016 Middle School Book list will still be posted.
Beat Saber Practice in Kindergarten Music
May the Beat Be With You
These kindergarten students are practicing rhythm using "beat sabers," and working hard to become Jedi Knights of music. The beat is strong with these ones.
+ Watch ...
These kindergarten students are practicing rhythm using “beat sabers,” and working hard to become Jedi Knights of music. The beat is strong with these ones.
+ Watch the video on Facebook
Dear Parents,
With the school year racing toward completion, we have been busily securing some wonderful new teachers to fill positions made vacant by our retiring/relocating veterans. Hundreds have applied, giving us a robust pool of truly exceptional educators to select from. Please join me in welcoming these standouts to Emerson this fall:
Additionally, I must share with you that two great teachers will not be returning at the close of this year. Jeri Elie, our incredible Middle School French teacher these past 26 years, has decided that the time is right to retire, so this will mark her last year at Emerson. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Jeri about foreign language teaching and yearbook advising, and her deep care and great spirit have been evident in both domains. Jeri is also a tireless advocate for her students, and I have been moved by the depths of her care and attention. Au revoir, Jeri! Replacing Jeri in the Middle School will be our own Sarah Longcore, who will also continue to teach 2nd & 3rd grade French.
Finally, 6th grade Social Studies teacher Justyna Delaj has recently shared that she will be stepping down from Emerson at the end of this school year. Her husband has received a wonderful new position in NYC, and after careful consideration, she and her family have decided to make the move east. Though Justyna has only been at Emerson for two years, she’s made an incredible impact on our program and our students. We will miss you! A posting for her position will be made available soon.
Be well,
John Huber
Please send a lunch with students the last week of school, June 13–16.
“The entire 4th grade is using Chromebooks in our classrooms thanks to the Annual Fund. They have been a transformative resource for Web-based research, as well as designing, writing, and presenting. Students are even using them in science, music, and Chinese classes. We’re proud—and incredibly grateful—to be part of a community that makes things like this possible.”
— Rob Bauman, Marchell Burgess, and Sarah Swiss, 4th Grade Teachers and Annual Fund donors
Annual Fund gifts helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school. If you have already made a gift to the Annual Fund (giving to financial aid at the Auction counts) thank you very much. Your support is deeply appreciated! If you have not yet made your gift, please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by giving at emerson-school.org/give.
Class Giving Percentages: K: 71%, 1st: 64%, 2nd: 59%, 3rd: 58%, 4th:78%, 5th: 57%, 6th: 64%, 7th: 64%, 8th: 34%
The last official day of school for grades K-7 (excluding Band and Orchestra performing at graduation) will be Thursday, June 16, 2016. This day will be used for school-wide awards and events as we have done in the past. Then on Friday, June 17, our regularly scheduled graduation exercises will be held in the Arts and Innovation Center, with Band and Orchestra performing as before. Our 8th grade families (including siblings) are invited to attend graduation.
As this was a change to this year’s schedule, free childcare will be provided for Emerson students in grades K-7 on Friday, June 17 from 7:30am–12:00pm. Reservations are required.
+ Email Beth Muszkiewicz to reserve childcare for your child
In March, Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was suddenly diagnosed with AML leukemia. Jill has conquered her first round of chemo and is now back in the hospital undergoing her second round of chemo. Now she needs to find a bone marrow donor.
You can find out if you are a qualified donor for Jill (age requirement is 18-44) by joining the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. It is as simple as giving a saliva sample, and you can do it one of two ways:
+ Read the complete letter from Jill’s family here
+ Learn more about the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry and join
Help wanted. No experience required. Compensation: none. Benefits: the feeling that comes from volunteering and being involved with our Emerson community. There are a number of positions still available for next year’s ESPO. Particularly, we need a Co-Chair and Pizza Lunch Volunteer Chair and Co-Chair. What a great way to meet other families and to give back to the School.
+ More information and openings
+ Contact Chair Diana Rooks dskaram@umich.edu or Co-Chair Elizabeth Caswellewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu for additional information
There are five summer book options, and students should choose at least one to read this summer. Students will join a discussion group for their book during the 2016 EPIC days in September. If they read more than one (or all five!) you can select your favorite and join that book club for the discussion. Buy the books through your favorite local or online retailer, or order one of these books through Emerson’s textbook retailer, MBS Direct at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/emerson-school.htm.
+ See descriptions of all five books
Middle Schoolers Return From Class Trips
The 6th grade class went to Ohio, 7th grade to Washington D.C., and 8th graders to the Florida Keys. These trips are both fun and educational, which means jam-packed days filled with new ...
Dear Parents,
This past week, I had the pleasure of chaperoning our incredible 6th grade class trip to Ohio, pictured above in this week’s newsletter. (I’m hiding in the background wearing a blue hat and looking off-camera.) And now that I’m back, I must share with you an amazing discovery—not one from the trip, though, but one I found in my office upon my return.
On my desk stood an immense stack of thank-you letters to our Annual Fund donors. Last weekend’s $25,000 challenge gift announcement clearly motivated many of you to make your Annual Fund gifts—thank you!
We plan to break all participation records this year, and we are well on our way. Come join the many, many families who make support of Emerson a philanthropic priority. Please take a moment to read Michelle Borton’s note below to learn more about how your participation in our Annual Fund benefits our students, and how to get your contribution in before it’s too late. The clock is ticking—please make your gift today!
Be well,
John Huber
Students had a great time exploring the outdoors, doing teamwork activities, fishing, and just being kids with their friends.
+ More photos on Facebook
“When you walk into the Band and Orchestra rooms or onto the stage in the Arts and Innovation Center you’ll find evidence of the Annual Fund everywhere you look. It’s in the instruments my K-1 students are using, the music that the band and orchestra students perform, and the technology that allows us to share it with our families.
Thank you for your support and for making a difference in our future!”
— Michelle Borton, K-1 music teacher, Band director, and Annual Fund donor
Annual Fund gifts helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school. If you have already made a gift to the Annual Fund (giving to financial aid at the Auction counts) thank you very much. Your support is deeply appreciated! If you have not yet made your gift, please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by giving at emerson-school.org/give.
Online: By credit card
Curbside drop-off: cash or check accepted from your car
Offices: Send cash or a check with your child to drop off
Call: Beth at 734.665.9005, x305
Now is the time to free up bookshelf space and donate to the annual Used Book Sale. Books (no textbooks please), movies, games, and puzzles for all ages are welcome, but remember that kids of all ages will be looking through them (i.e. please do not send inappropriate books). Children’s books will all be just 10 cents, and books for adults and games will never be more than 50 cents. And for every 10 items donated, the family gets one item of their choice for free.
The Library ELFs (Emerson Library Friends—5th grade volunteers) will help with the sale and has chosen to donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society, in honor of Jill Nolan. Additional volunteers are needed 7:30–9:00am and 2:15–3:00pm each day, and to set-up on Wednesday 3:00–6:00pm.
+ Contact Linda the librarian with questions or to help
The last official day of school for grades K-7 (excluding Band and Orchestra performing at graduation) will be Thursday, June 16, 2016. This day will be used for school-wide awards and events as we have done in the past. Then on Friday, June 17, our regularly scheduled graduation exercises will be held in the Arts and Innovation Center, with Band and Orchestra performing as before. Our 8th grade families (including siblings) are invited to attend graduation.
As this was a change to this year’s schedule, free childcare will be provided for Emerson students in grades K-7 on Friday, June 17 from 7:30am–12:00pm. Reservations are required.
+ Email Beth Muszkiewicz to reserve childcare for your child
In March, Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was suddenly diagnosed with AML leukemia. Jill has conquered her first round of chemo and is now back in the hospital undergoing her second round of chemo. Now she needs to find a bone marrow donor.
You can find out if you are a qualified donor for Jill (age requirement is 18-44) by joining the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. It is as simple as giving a saliva sample, and you can do it one of two ways:
+ Read the complete letter from Jill’s family here
+ Learn more about the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry and join
Family-Friendly Open Mic Nights are a stage for kids to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc. Each performer has about five minutes each to share their talents and passions in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
+ Learn more and sign up at www.thrivingchilda2.com
Many families have asked about seeing Screenagers, Beyond Measure, and Most Likely to Succeed, so we are planning to screen all three of them at Emerson. Please help determine the best dates and times by completing the survey linked below. We will schedule them when it works best for the most families, and all movies will be open to the community.
+ Two-question date/time survey and movie descriptions
Help wanted. No experience required. Compensation: none. Benefits: the feeling that comes from volunteering and being involved with our Emerson community. There are a number of positions still available for next year’s ESPO. Particularly, we need a Co-Chair and Pizza Lunch Volunteer Chair and Co-Chair. What a great way to meet other families and to give back to the School.
+ More information and openings
+ Contact Chair Diana Rooks dskaram@umich.edu or Co-Chair Elizabeth Caswellewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu for additional information
Emerson 2nd grader Chloe Eavy will be performing at the C.A.S Ballet Theatre School’s Recital in Mendelson Theatre at U of M. Go Chloe!
+ Learn more
Lucy Mehraban, a 5th grader at Emerson School in Ann Arbor, has won 2nd place in the national InvestWrite writing competition. InvestWrite is the culminating activity for The Stock Market Game, an online financial market simulation ...
Lucy Mehraban, a 5th grader at Emerson School in Ann Arbor, has won 2nd place in the national InvestWrite writing competition. InvestWrite is the culminating activity for The Stock Market Game, an online financial market simulation for students in grades 4–12, and more than 13,000 students participated in the 2016 competition.
“Lucy had a personal goal of becoming a better writer this year, and it is hard to imagine something more validating than this,” said Ellen Chenier, Lucy’s 5th grade teacher at Emerson School. “InvestWrite gives our students a chance to demonstrate the real-world finance and business concepts they’ve learned. Lucy’s essay certainly did that, and it was an outstanding example of her expository writing skills.”
Lucy’s classmates Alexandra Ulery, Kira Saporsky, and Katie Swallow were also recognized at the awards ceremony for winning first place in the state of Michigan for The Stock Market Game. This team of students’ invested $100,000 in the simulated stock market and earned a bigger return than any other students in the state.
The InvestWrite competition challenges students to write an essay describing a company they think is a good long-term investment, and to explain why. InvestWrite and The Stock Market Game are components of a daily classroom economy program Mrs. Chenier and her 5th grade teaching partner Jen Kime facilitate, which gives students first-hand experience buying and selling goods, marketing, running businesses, paying taxes, and investing.
Emerson Students Shine at Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad
Congratulations to the 77 Emerson students who participated in the 2016 Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad. An incredible 83% earned a medal, and as you can see from ...
Congratulations to the 77 Emerson students who participated in the 2016 Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad. An incredible 83% earned a medal, and as you can see from the smiles, embraces, and jumps for joy, everyone had fun! Most importantly, we are so proud of the sportsmanship and spirit our students displayed.
+ Read more and see the list of all participants and awards
+ More photos on Facebook
Dear Parents,
When the London Tube system was constructed, its design handbook mandated:
Every Underground station should include at least one moment of delight and surprise, to improve customers’ journeys and the working environment for staff.
I love seeing our own elements that, intentionally or unintentionally, cause moments of delight at Emerson. Right now, as I type this, I see students climbing up the large rock in the grassy front yard of the school. Does the rock serve a purpose? No. Do students like it? Absolutely! I see this as well with the colorfully painted letters near the curb that young children hop on as they enter the building.
In that vein, I hope you find the same delight and surprise that new and prospective families will when exploring our school on Google Maps. This 360-degree tour was completed last weekend, and the timing captured all our beautiful student artwork on display, preserving some of the joy that makes Emerson so wonderful. Click here to come and play!
Be well,
John Huber
The last official day of school for grades K-7 (excluding Band and Orchestra performing at graduation) will be Thursday, June 16, 2016. This day will be used for school-wide awards and events as we have done in the past. Then on Friday, June 17, our regularly scheduled graduation exercises will be held in the Arts and Innovation Center, with Band and Orchestra performing as before. Our 8th grade families (including siblings) are invited to attend graduation.
As this was a change to this year’s schedule, free childcare will be provided for Emerson students in grades K-7 on Friday, June 17 from 7:30am–12:00pm. Reservations are required.
+ Email Beth Muszkiewicz to reserve childcare for your child
In March, Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was suddenly diagnosed with AML leukemia. Jill has conquered her first round of chemo and is now back in the hospital undergoing her second round of chemo. Now she needs to find a bone marrow donor.
You can find out if you are a qualified donor for Jill (age requirement is 18-44) by joining the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. It is as simple as giving a saliva sample, and you can do it one of two ways:
+ Read the complete letter from Jill’s family here
+ Learn more about the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry and join
Your annual fund gift helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school, and it gets us closer to the goal of 75% family participation. Please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by making your tax-deductible gift at emerson-school.org/give.
Online: By credit card
Curbside drop-off: cash or check accepted from your car
Offices: Send cash or a check with your child to drop off
Call: Beth at 734.665.9005, x305
Emerson loves its Halloween Carnival. Are you interested in helping plan next year’s celebration? We are seeking committee chairs for areas such as Haunted House, Orange Café, Carnival Games, Entertainment, Logistics, and more. Our first meeting is Wednesday, May 25 from 8:30am-9:30am in the MS Commons. If you cannot attend, but are interested in volunteering, please contact Elizabeth Caswell at ewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu.
Now is the time to free up bookshelf space and donate to the annual Used Book Sale. Books (no textbooks please), movies, games, and puzzles for all ages are welcome, but remember that kids of all ages will be looking through them (i.e. please do not send inappropriate books). Children’s books will all be just 10 cents, and books for adults and games will never be more than 50 cents. And for every 10 items donated, the family gets one item of their choice for free.
The Library ELFs (Emerson Library Friends—5th grade volunteers) will help with the sale and has chosen to donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society, in honor of Jill Nolan. Additional volunteers are needed 7:30–9:00am and 2:15–3:00pm each day, and to set-up on Wednesday 3:00–6:00pm.
+ Contact Linda the librarian with questions or to help
The Family-Friendly Open Mic Nights just keep getting better. Check out this video with Mrs. B explaining how they work, and sign up to perform at the June 1 Open Mic Night—the last one of the year.
+ Learn more and sign up at www.thrivingchilda2.com
Help wanted. No experience required. Compensation: none. Benefits: the feeling that comes from volunteering and being involved with our Emerson community. There are a number of positions still available for next year’s ESPO. Particularly, we need a Co-Chair and Pizza Lunch Volunteer Chair and Co-Chair. What a great way to meet other families and to give back to the School.
+ More information and openings
+ Contact Chair Diana Rooks dskaram@umich.edu or Co-Chair Elizabeth Caswellewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu for additional information
Overviews for the three positions listed below have been posted on the Emerson website at www.emerson-school.org/employment. If you have any interest, or if you know of someone who might be a good fit, please visit the site to learn more.
Ann Arbor Rowing Club and the University of Michigan Men’s rowing team will be hosting National Learn to Row Day. Please tell your friends, co-workers, family, etc. to come on out and learn more about the sport on beautiful Argo pond. Emerson’s own Jennifer Conn and Lisa Psarouthakis are involved.
+ Learn more
CSI Camp is a free weeklong camp through the Washtenaw Area Council for Children that teaches middle school kids everything there is to know about cyber safety.They will learn valuable skills, like how to stay safe and respectful on the Internet, with fun activities, games, and snacks.
+ Learn more
Dear Emerson Community, As many of you know, in March, Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was suddenly diagnosed with AML leukemia. This came as a shock to all of us and has been quite devastating. However, Jill and our ...
Dear Emerson Community, As many of you know, in March, Jill Nolan (1st Grade Teacher at Emerson School) was suddenly diagnosed with AML leukemia. This came as a shock to all of us and has been quite devastating. However, Jill and our family have been blown away by the support and love that they’ve received…it has been incredibly uplifting.
Jill conquered her first round of chemo in the hospital (she spent four weeks there), was declared to be in remission (woohoo!) and was able to come home to spend about a month healing and enjoying life. She was back in the hospital last week for round two of chemo (a shorter stay this time).
Moving forward, we are looking for a bone marrow donor for Jill. She and our family would be grateful if anyone would be willing to see if they are a qualified donor (age requirement is 18-44). It is as simple as just giving a saliva sample. This is extremely time sensitive, so our ask would be that if you are interested in seeing if you are a donor, that you get tested soon.
If you are interested and/or willing to do this, please join the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which is where the doctors are looking for Jill’s match. You can do it one of two ways:
Thank you for considering registering for such an important cause,
The Nolan Family
By Kelly Vohland, Science Olympiad Head Coach and Emerson 4-5 Science Teacher
+ See more photos on Facebook
Congratulations to the 77 Emerson students who participated in this year's Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, held ...
By Kelly Vohland, Science Olympiad Head Coach and Emerson 4-5 Science Teacher
Congratulations to the 77 Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, held on Saturday, May 14, at Pioneer High School. Emerson was one of 40 schools from the county who competed, and our grade 2-5 students represented Emerson so well—we are very proud of their participation and achievements!
Congratulations to our terrific Science Olympians:
Emerson took home medals in 29 events this year, with 83% of participants earning a medal and 60% placing in the top 5!
If you see an event coach from Emerson, please take time to thank them for their time, commitment, and expertise. They are the reason Emerson students are able to participate in this great community-wide event!
5th Graders Earn Major Achievements in Economy Competitions
Congratulations to Lucy Mehraban on winning 2nd place in the InvestWrite competition—2ND IN THE NATION! And to Kira Saporsky, Katie Swallow, and Alexandra Ulery, who won ...
Congratulations to Lucy Mehraban on winning 2nd place in the InvestWrite competition—2ND IN THE NATION! And to Kira Saporsky, Katie Swallow, and Alexandra Ulery, who won 1st place in the state in The Stock Market Game—another huge achievement.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
It is May, and with May comes warmer weather, blooming flowers, and (at least for me) a little seasonal sneezing. But May is also the busiest month of the school year, a time when it seems that we pack as many events, projects, activities, performances, and field trips as we can into the calendar. This is why it surprises me when those outside of school say to me, “Well, you must be winding down by now.” How little they know! This is when we get wound up, in what I affectionately refer to as the Hundred Days of May. It’s impossible to be bored, when every day brings something new and wonderful!
So, to that end, I’ll keep this message short, with only one request. Please take extra time to look through both our newsletter and our teachers’ messages for important dates and deadlines. It is so easy to rush through these important messages, but do know that we try to keep our parents informed without being overwhelmed with daily reminders. Take a moment this weekend to update your calendars and plan out these next five weeks of school.
And with that, I’m off to help with the Lower School Science Olympiad! Or is it the Alumni Dinner and Middle School Art & Music Performance? Or the 6th grade Ohio Trip? Or the Piano Recital? Or the…
Be well,
John Huber
In addition to getting signatures, students look forward to seeing the ads their families create for them. You can purchase space in this year’s book at the following rates:
Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad space to leave a farewell message. Students can contact yearbook@emerson-school.org for questions or help.
+ More info and resources at www.emerson-school.org/yearbook
Overviews for the three positions listed below have been posted on the Emerson website at www.emerson-school.org/employment. If you have any interest, or if you know of someone who might be a good fit, please visit the site to learn more.
Our entire alumni community of former students, parents, and teachers is invited to join for some food, fun, and reminiscing. We’ll provide the Q’doba, and you provide the stories and connections. If your alum played in the Band or Orchestra, they’re invited to perform on stage with the middle schoolers in their final concert of the year.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Help wanted. No experience required. Compensation: none. Benefits: the feeling that comes from volunteering and being involved with our Emerson community. There are a number of positions still available for next year’s ESPO. Particularly, we need a Co-Chair and Pizza Lunch Volunteer Chair and Co-Chair. What a great way to meet other families and to give back to the School.
+ More information and openings
+ Contact Chair Diana Rooks dskaram@umich.edu or Co-Chair Elizabeth Caswellewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu for additional information
Emerson loves its Halloween Carnival. Are you interested in helping plan next year’s celebration? We are seeking committee chairs for areas such as Haunted House, Orange Café, Carnival Games, Entertainment, Logistics, and more. Our first meeting is Wednesday, May 25 from 8:30am-9:30am in the MS Commons. If you cannot attend, but are interested in volunteering, please contact Elizabeth Caswell at ewcaswell@alumni.duke.edu.
Your annual fund gift helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school, and it gets us closer to the goal of 75% family participation. Please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by making your tax-deductible gift at emerson-school.org/give.
Thank you to the 51% of families who have already given to this year’s Annual Fund. Please join them.
K: 63%, 1st: 61%, 2nd: 56%, 3rd: 56%, 4th: 73%, 5th: 52%, 6th: 61%, 7th: 60%,8th: 32%
Online: By credit card
Curbside drop-off: cash or check accepted from your car
Offices: Send cash or a check with your child to drop off
Call: Beth at 734.665.9005, x305
An Emerson education includes learning about service, and many students have taken the initiative to create drives that support causes they believe in.
Emerson 6th Grader Gabby Taichman is collecting art supplies to give children the ability to express their creativity. Art supplies will be donated to Peace Neighborhood in Ann Arbor and Grace Girls Home in Sri Lanka (our partnering school in Sri Lanka), who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl May 5–19.
+ Learn more and see items requested by grade level
The Family-Friendly Open Mic Nights just keep getting better. Check out this video with Mrs. B explaining how they work, and sign up to perform at the June 1 Open Mic Night—the last one of the year.
+ Learn more and sign up at www.thrivingchilda2.com
Students can now select their 2016-2017 first trimester electives. The elective forms will close at noon on Monday, May 16.
+ Elective descriptions
+ Directions on how to sign up
This special performance will feature the premier of Simple Springtime, written by Allen Borton, the band performance of Go West and William Tell Overture, and the orchestra performing The Magical World of Pixar. Then the band and orchestra will join together to perform An American Rhapsody in the style of Aaron Copland—a challenging and beautiful piece that we hope you will enjoy.
Flipside Art Studio is a new, 1500 square-foot art instruction center opening in downtown Ann Arbor, and it is hosting an Open House this weekend. See the space, make some art, and check out all of the opportunities to learn about art. It’s owned by Emerson parent Mary Kay Stevanus, which is a great bonus reason to pop by.
+ Learn more
Shoes of any size and shape are being requested for the Shoes for Love collection. All shoes will go to orphanages in Ecuador, Burkina, Faso, Africa, or Haiti, and can be dropped off in a bin located inside the main entrance.
+ Learn more
Ann Arbor Rowing Club and the University of Michigan Men’s rowing team will be hosting National Learn to Row Day. Please tell your friends, co-workers, family, etc. to come on out and learn more about the sport on beautiful Argo pond. Emerson’s own Jennifer Conn and Lisa Psarouthakis are involved.
+ Learn more
CSI Camp is a free weeklong camp through the Washtenaw Area Council for Children that teaches middle school kids everything there is to know about cyber safety.They will learn valuable skills, like how to stay safe and respectful on the Internet, with fun activities, games, and snacks.
+ Learn more
In just the second year of competing in National Academic Quiz Tournament's (NAQT) Quiz Bowl competitions, a team of Emerson students finished tied for 33rd in the nation. Proud Quiz Bowl coach Bryan Seymour helped sum up the magnitude ...
In just the second year of competing in National Academic Quiz Tournament’s (NAQT) Quiz Bowl competitions, a team of Emerson students finished tied for 33rd in the nation. Proud Quiz Bowl coach Bryan Seymour helped sum up the magnitude of this achievement:
“We were 33rd out of 160, which is top 20 percent of those invited, which was top 15 percent of the country, so that means we were top 3 percent of the country,” said Seymour. “[Emerson math teacher] Bill Wood taught me that math, though some Quiz Bowlers probably could have taught it to me.”
Several thousand middle schools compete in Quiz Bowl, but only 160 teams make it to the National Championships. Emerson’s finished second in the state to earn their invite to the national tournament. At the national tournament, qualifying for the final playoff round was a nail-biting experience.
“The second to last game came down to the second to last question, and the last game came down to the last question—we won them both!” added Seymour.
Quiz Bowl has been compared to team Jeopardy for students. Two teams compete head-to-head, racing to buzz in first and correctly answer questions from all areas of knowledge, including history, literature, science, fine arts, current events, sports, and popular culture.
+ Final National Championship rankings and game history
+ More about Emerson’s 2nd place state finish
+ About NAQT Quiz Bowl competitions
4th and 5th Grade Art and Music Night
The 4th and 5th grade Art and Music Night was full of surprises and laughter, but the music and singing were still the highlight. It was an amazing performance by our students!
+ More ...
The 4th and 5th grade Art and Music Night was full of surprises and laughter, but the music and singing were still the highlight. It was an amazing performance by our students!
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
As promised, I’ll be sharing staffing updates with you in our weekly newsletter, and I’m delighted to write to you about another position. Lisa Psarouthakis will be Emerson’s new Director of Admissions, starting this July.
Many of you have had the pleasure of knowing Lisa as Emerson’s Assistant to the Head of School, a role she has successfully filled since 2006. This has afforded her the opportunity to observe admissions firsthand. During her interview, she impressed all of us with her deep research into enrollment trends and new initiatives, and it is clear that she is eager and ready to take on the challenges of this new position. Lisa also possesses outstanding interpersonal skills that will enable her to serve as an excellent first point of contact for new families.
Lisa has made many strong connections with our community partners and has provided numerous tours of our school. She has served as liaison for parents and secondary school representatives, helping to ensure that Emerson’s many graduates are prepared for their next steps. Additionally, Lisa has been acting secretary of the Board of Trustees during her tenure. She has also held various leadership positions at Emerson, including chair of the Health and Safety Committee, member of the Risk Task Force, and member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. And, under her direction, Emerson has implemented ALICE protocol training for the safety of our students and employees.
Prior to Emerson, Lisa served as a substitute teacher for Ann Arbor Public Schools, as well as Research Associate for the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and Legal Assistant for the offices of Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone. Lisa has a Bachelors of General Studies and a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She is active in the Ann Arbor Rowing Club, and has been a sustaining member of Junior League of Ann Arbor since 1999. Please welcome Lisa into her new role!
With Lisa’s move into the new position, we will be doing some adjusting to the available staff positions at Emerson. Please keep an eye on the Employment page of our website, and we will provide new listings soon.
Take care,
John Huber
Sending out a very big thank you to the Emerson parents who helped with the Teacher Appreciation Luau on Tuesday. The teachers had a wonderful time together and really appreciated all of the yummy food you all provided. It was a lovely feast with pulled pork and a large variety of Hawaiian dishes as well as your own specialties. Thank you also for those who were able to volunteer. In the end, there were plenty of parents to help serve the food and all classrooms were covered so that teachers were able to eat together. We couldn’t have done it without you! Don’t forget, if you sent containers or serving utensils, please be sure to stop by the kitchen to pick them up. Mahalo! — Michelle Weaver, Chair
And a special thank you from all of the faculty and staff who felt spoiled, loved, and full after one of the favorite events of the year!
No other changes other than the date.
In addition to getting signatures, students look forward to seeing the ads their families create for them. You can purchase space in this year’s book at the following rates:
Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad space to leave a farewell message. Students can contact yearbook@emerson-school.org for questions or help.
+ More info and resources at www.emerson-school.org/yearbook
Our entire alumni community of former students, parents, and teachers is invited to join for some food, fun, and reminiscing. We’ll provide the Q’doba, and you provide the stories and connections. If your alum played in the Band or Orchestra, they’re invited to perform on stage with the middle schoolers in their final concert of the year.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Your annual fund gift helps fill the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school, and it gets us closer to the goal of 75% family participation. Please join the 100% of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by making your tax-deductible gift at emerson-school.org/give.
Thank you to the 51% of families who have already given to this year’s Annual Fund. Please join them.
K: 63%, 1st: 61%, 2nd: 56%, 3rd: 56%, 4th: 73%, 5th: 52%, 6th: 59%, 7th: 58%,8th: 32%
Online: By credit card
Curbside drop-off: cash or check accepted from your car
Offices: Send cash or a check with your child to drop off
Call: Beth at 734.665.9005, x305
Springtime in Michigan means many things—beautiful flowers, warm breezes, cool rain… and occasionally, ticks. During past springs, the tick typically seen in or around Emerson’s nature center has been the American Dog Tick, the most common tick found in Michigan. This is not the kind of tick that carries Lyme disease. Spring is an active time for these critters, so checking your child for ticks after they have played outdoors is always recommended this time of year.
An Emerson education includes learning about service, and many students have taken the initiative to create drives that support causes they believe in.
Emerson 6th Grader Gabby Taichman is collecting art supplies to give children the ability to express their creativity. Art supplies will be donated to Peace Neighborhood in Ann Arbor and Grace Girls Home in Sri Lanka (our partnering school in Sri Lanka), who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl May 5–19.
+ Learn more and see items requested by grade level
Students can select their 2016-2017 first trimester electives beginning today, Friday, May 6 at 3:00pm. The elective forms will close at noon on Monday, May 16.
+ Elective descriptions
+ Directions on how to sign up
This special performance will feature the premier of Simple Springtime, written by Allen Borton, the band performance of Go West and William Tell Overture, and the orchestra performing The Magical World of Pixar. Then the band and orchestra will join together to perform An American Rhapsody in the style of Aaron Copland—a challenging and beautiful piece that we hope you will enjoy.
Alumnae Melanie Zwegers (also daughter of Jennifer Conn) will be reading fromInto the Garden, her delightful book of poetry for young and old, as part of Nicola’s Books’ Children’s Book Week.
+ Learn more
Shoes of any size and shape are being requested for the Shoes for Love collection. All shoes will go to orphanages in Ecuador, Burkina, Faso, Africa, or Haiti, and can be dropped off in a bin located in the Fishbowl.
+ Learn more
Documentary filmmaker Beth Murphy will be screening her latest film, What Tomorrow Brings, which sheds light on the social and political issues affecting girls’ education in Afghanistan. It will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker. Admission is free, and there will be a small reception afterwards with Middle Eastern appetizers and time to mingle and meet Beth Murphy.
+ Learn more
Hands Across the Water Adoption/Foster Care agency in Ann Arbor is hosting a five week Adopted Children’s Group at its agency April 14- May 12 for children ages-8-12 who have been adopted. There is a $20 fee and group sessions are on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 p.m., which will consist of peer discussions and fun learning activities.
+ Learn more here or contact Julie Emerine
CSI Camp is a free weeklong camp through the Washtenaw Area Council for Children that teaches middle school kids everything there is to know about cyber safety.They will learn valuable skills, like how to stay safe and respectful on the Internet, with fun activities, games, and snacks.
+ Learn more
Students in BeKindToOneAnother Elective Spreading Joy
Inspired by Ellen's #BeKindToOneAnother campaign, Emerson 6th graders in the BeKindToOneAnother elective surprised their peers' with a bag of goodies on each of their lockers this ...
Inspired by Ellen’s #BeKindToOneAnother campaign, Emerson 6th graders in the BeKindToOneAnother elective surprised their peers’ with a bag of goodies on each of their lockers this week. #Proud.
Dear Parents,
If you saw my auto-reply email message earlier this week, you know that I was off campus for a series of professional activities in Chicago. I began the week as part of an ISACS accreditation team visiting the Latin School of Chicago—an outstanding K-12 school with more than 1,100 students—and ended at a workshop held by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) titled “Recruitment and Retention Strategies of Diverse Employees.” It made for a week that feels as long as that last sentence! But both activities allowed me to observe best practices from other schools striving for excellence, and I look forward to using what I have learned to help shape Emerson’s future.
All this said, it’s good to be back at Emerson, playing Mastermind with the 1st graders during a rainy indoor recess!
Take care,
John Huber
On May 3rd, ESPO will be hosting a Hawaiian Luau for our annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. We are looking for many volunteers to bring food, help serve, and cover the teacher’s classrooms so that they may join the festivities together. Below are 2 different sign-up sheets for food and volunteers. Be sure to check both of them out. Thank you in advance to parents who are willing to help. The teachers surely appreciate it too! — Chair Michelle Weaver
+ Contribute food
+ Volunteer
Be a pint-size hero by donating blood. Mr. Wilson is coordinating this annual drive with Marchell’s and Sarah’s 4th graders, and their goal is 50 pints. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Sign up to donate today
In addition to getting signatures, students look forward to seeing the ads their families create for them. You can purchase space in this year’s book at the following rates:
Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad space to leave a farewell message. Students can contact yearbook teacher Jeri Elie for questions or help.
+ More info and resources at www.emerson-school.org/yearbook0
Bravo to our 2nd and 3rd grade artists, musicians, and vocalists who performed so beautifully at Art & Music Night. And thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and parents who helped bring it all together.
+ More photos
An Emerson education includes learning about service, and many students have taken the initiative to create drives that support causes they believe in. These are two starting soon.
MK Coolican, Amy Sanders, and Cate Weiser are holding a food drive for children with food allergies. Food Gatherers has specifically suggested the following products: peanut butter substitutes, e.g. Soy Nut Butter or WOW Butter, Enjoy Life products, and gluten-free products (especially noodles). Students from all grades are invited to participate, and collection bins will be located at every entrance, in the fishbowl, in the Lower School and Middle School commons, in the library, and near the offices.
Emerson 6th Grader Gabby Taichman is collecting art supplies to give children the ability to express their creativity. Art supplies will be donated to Peace Neighborhood in Ann Arbor and Grace Girls Home in Sri Lanka (our partnering school in Sri Lanka), who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl May 5–19.
+ Learn more and see items requested by grade level
This special performance will feature the premier of Simple Springtime, written by Allen Borton, the band performance of Go West and William Tell Overture, and the orchestra performing The Magical World of Pixar. Then the band and orchestra will join together to perform An American Rhapsody in the style of Aaron Copland—a challenging and beautiful piece that we hope you will enjoy.
Before the concert, our alums are invited to the annual Alumni Dinner, where they can reconnect with classmates, faculty, and staff, and enjoy some good food. All alums, young and old, are invited to attend.
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
Emerson students in grades 6–8 are invite to a docent-led tour of the museum’s newest temporary exhibit: Villas of Oplontis near Pompeii. Each tour will be about 45 minutes, and families will see more than 200 objects from Italy that have never been seen in the U.S.
+ Learn more and sign up
Wednesday, Apr. 27, 6:30pm–8:00pm
Father Gabriel Richard High School invites you to Freshmen Welcome Night, dedicated to addressing frequently asked questions regarding the first-year high school experience to ensure that both parents and students understand the various processes within the school. Current students will be leading fun activities to help acclimate incoming students to their new school while parents will have additional time to speak with our faculty and staff.
Andy Griffiths is the author of many popular books, including the popular series that began with The 13-Story Treehouse. He is now celebrating the release of The 52-Story Treehouse, and Emerson students are invited to see him read at Nicola’s.
According to Linda, Emerson’s Librarian, “Everyone who has seen his presentation agrees that it is one of the funniest book talks ever, with kids literally rolling on the floor. If that’s not enough, I’ll take the first 10 2nd–5th graders who tell me they will attend, and then come to the presentation, out for an ice cream cone at Dairy Queen. (Any other folks who come to the presentation are welcome to come to Dairy Queen, too. Parents will need to accompany their children to Dairy Queen.)”
+ Email Linda for details or any questions
The 2016 theme is Taking the World by Storm, and one of the event organizers is Emerson alum Olivia Popp. This is the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event, where high school aged students share their ideas, vision, and innovation to contribute to and influence the future of Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Hands Across the Water Adoption/Foster Care agency in Ann Arbor is hosting a five week Adopted Children’s Group at its agency April 14- May 12 for children ages-8-12 who have been adopted. There is a $20 fee and group sessions are on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 p.m., which will consist of peer discussions and fun learning activities.
+ Learn more here or contact Julie Emerine
By Gabby Taichman, 6th Grader and collection coordinator
As can be seen in our halls and classrooms, art and creativity is an important part of the Emerson experience. Unfortunately, some children do not have access to art and craft ...
By Gabby Taichman, 6th Grader and collection coordinator
As can be seen in our halls and classrooms, art and creativity is an important part of the Emerson experience. Unfortunately, some children do not have access to art and craft supplies. The focus of this project is to give children the art and craft supplies to express their creativity. We are asking the entire Emerson community to work together to donate the items listed below. The Art supplies will be donated to Peace Neighborhood in Ann Arbor and Grace Girls Home in Sri Lanka (our partnering school in Sri Lanka), who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl May 5–19.
We thank you in advance for your help, cooperation, and enthusiastic participation!
All art and craft supplies will be accepted, but the following items are suggestions for each grade level:
On Tuesday, May 3, 1:30pm–2:30pm, let one of our students show your family—children too—around the school. You'll see why gifted and talented students thrive at Emerson, from the small classes and 8:1 student to faculty ratio, to the ...
On Tuesday, May 3, 1:30pm–2:30pm, let one of our students show your family—children too—around the school. You’ll see why gifted and talented students thrive at Emerson, from the small classes and 8:1 student to faculty ratio, to the variety of subjects and depth of learning that happens when curriculum is driven by engaging and passionate faculty rather than tests.
What you won’t find: Any pressure to apply or enroll—that’s a promise. But, if you have any questions while you’re here, teachers, staff, and parents will be available during the tours.
Please join us. We’d love to share our school with you.
Student-Led Tours of Emerson School
Tuesday, May 3, 1:30pm–2:30pm
Please register at www.emerson-school.org/studenttour if you are interested in joining us. Cancellations are okay, but this will help us plan accordingly.
2nd Grade Coffeehouse Poetry
Motivated by the crowd's snapping fingers, these 2nd grade beatniks each shared their original poetry on stage at the Emerson "coffee house." It was totally groovy in every way.
+ See more ...
Motivated by the crowd’s snapping fingers, these 2nd grade beatniks each shared their original poetry on stage at the Emerson “coffee house.” It was totally groovy in every way.
+ See more photos
Dear Parents,
I want to thank you all for allowing me to indulge in an April Fool’s Day newsletter right before break, and I appreciate your good humor. No, we have not received a donation of the abandoned quarry next door. And while rock climbing and outdoor pyrotechnic experiments might be fun to contemplate, I would draw the line at downhill mountain biking, and I know that Beth Anderson would draw the line at an auction held outdoors in a tent at the bottom of a quarry!
Speaking of the outdoors, Earth Day is coming up on Friday, April 22. As we recently shared, we are proud to be certified as a Michigan Green School through the Livingston and Washtenaw Green Schools Program. This year we achieved Evergreen status, the highest level achievable, through our efforts on recycling and reducing, energy use, environmental projects, and other nature studies. A small sample of some activities are listed below:
In celebration of Earth Day, we ask you to help us fulfill our Green School initiatives by taking part in our Anti-Idling campaign. Cars which idle unnecessarily during drop-off and pick-up add more exhaust fumes into the air, and this air pollution harms not just the environment, but also our young students’ health and well being. Our parents and students will be sharing information with you next week to encourage you to turn off your vehicle during curbside. I thank you in advance for your help in keeping our curbside greener!
Take care,
John Huber
Congratulations to Emerson’s chess team members Jack Hauptman, Eleanor Klinger, Parini Rao, Jay Vijan, and Jack Huber (not pictured) on their 4th place tournament finish in Lansing. Jack Hauptman even earned a bronze medal! Many thanks to all of the parents for their support and to our Coach John Smalec for his time and passion.
In the spirit of Earth Day, please protect our environment and children’s health by turning your car off instead of idling at morning and afternoon pick-up. If you are going to be standing still for 10 seconds or more, turn off your engine. It is simple, effective, and something we can do every day.
+ Learn more
Be a pint-size hero by donating blood. Mr. Wilson is coordinating this annual drive with Marchell’s and Sarah’s 4th graders, and their goal is 50 pints. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Sign up to donate today
An Emerson education includes learning about service, and many students have taken the initiative to create drives that support causes they believe in. These are two starting soon.
MK Coolican, Amy Sanders, and Cate Weiser are holding a food drive for children with food allergies.
Food Gatherers has specifically suggested the following products: peanut butter substitutes, e.g. Soy Nut Butter or WOW Butter, Enjoy Life products, and gluten-free products (especially noodles). Students from all grades are invited to participate, and collection bins will be located at every entrance, in the fishbowl, in the Lower School and Middle School commons, in the library, and near the offices.
Gabby Taichman is coordinating a collection of art supplies and school supplies to benefit Peace Neighborhood and Grace Care Center.
Families received an email earlier this week about what’s ahead for 2016-2017. Some faculty and staff are retiring, some are changing responsibilities, and some services are being improved. If you missed this email, please click the link below to learn more.
+ See the original email
Emerson openings are posted on the employment page. If you know someone who might be a good fit for a position at Emerson, please direct them to www.emerson-school.org/employment to learn more.
Each year, ESPO and parent volunteers generously host a lunch to show their appreciation for Emerson teachers and staff. Volunteers host the event, from set up and decorations, to hosting the event and cleaning up afterwards. A sign-up link will be included in next week’s newsletter, but if you have questions or want to get involved before then, please contact chair Chair Michelle Weaver.
“This year’s theme is Hawaiian Luau, so be sure to don your grass skirts and surfer shorts (not required) to help us celebrate our wonderful teachers and staff.” – Michelle
In addition to getting signatures, students look forward to seeing the ads their families create for them. You can purchase space in this year’s book at the following rates:
Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad space to leave a farewell message. Students can contact yearbook teacher Jeri Elie for questions or help.
+ More info and resources at www.emerson-school.org/yearbook0
Band and Orchestra Concert and Alumni Dinner
This special performance will feature the premier of Simple Springtime, written by Allen Borton, the band performance of Go West and William Tell Overture, and the orchestra performing The Magical World of Pixar. Then the band and orchestra will join together to perform An American Rhapsody in the style of Aaron Copland—a challenging and beautiful piece that we hope you will enjoy.
Before the concert, our alums are invited to the annual Alumni Dinner, where they can reconnect with classmates, faculty, and staff, and enjoy some good food. All alums, young and old, are invited to attend.
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
Middle School students are encouraged to participate in this fun, school-spirit-building activity. The themes for each day are:
Wednesday, Apr. 27, 6:30pm–8:00pm
Father Gabriel Richard High School invites you to Freshmen Welcome Night, dedicated to addressing frequently asked questions regarding the first-year high school experience to ensure that both parents and students understand the various processes within the school. Current students will be leading fun activities to help acclimate incoming students to their new school while parents will have additional time to speak with our faculty and staff.
Congratulations to Randie Jo Evans (class on 2015) on earning four first place medals and one second place medal at the regional high school Science Olympiad competition. According to Tim Wilson, “Randie Jo was absolutely phenomenal in literally leading her team to a first place finish. She probably set an all time record for Brighton High School.”
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
The 2016 theme is Taking the World by Storm, and one of the event organizers is Emerson alum Olivia Popp. This is the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event, where high school aged students share their ideas, vision, and innovation to contribute to and influence the future of Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Hands Across the Water Adoption/Foster Care agency in Ann Arbor is hosting a five week Adopted Children’s Group at its agency April 14- May 12 for children ages-8-12 who have been adopted. There is a $20 fee and group sessions are on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 p.m., which will consist of peer discussions and fun learning activities.
+ Learn more here or contact Julie Emerine
WHAT’S AHEAD |
• General • Athletics • Band and Orchestra • Theatre ArtsApril 15 3:00pm Book Quest Finale for Grades 2-3April 18–22 Middle School Spirit Week April 18 April 20 April 21 April 26 April 26 April 27 April 28 May 2 |
EMERSON FACEBOOK |
See the unique learning experiences students have every day at Emerson. Facebook.com/TheEmersonSchool |
Interdisciplinary Art/Literature Project Takes Students to U of M Museum
On Wednesday, these 5th graders visited the U of M Art Museum with their elder buddies from Silver Maples to learn about Celadon pottery, its earliest ...
On Wednesday, these 5th graders visited the U of M Art Museum with their elder buddies from Silver Maples to learn about Celadon pottery, its earliest beginnings, and how it changed and evolved. It was the culmination of an interdisciplinary art/literature project that combined art history with historical fiction that students, elders, and museum docents all read.
+ See more photos
Dear Parents,
Before you depart for your well-deserved Spring Break, on this first day of April, I wanted to bring to your attention a wonderful opportunity for Emerson.
At the beginning of this calendar year, StoneCo made a public donation of the 262-acre former sand and gravel quarry located on Zeeb Road to Ducks Unlimited to support wildlife conservation efforts. I am pleased to share that Ducks Unlimited has in turn donated the entire parcel to Emerson School. This is an unexpected and incredible donation, and we are deeply humbled by the generosity of the organization.
Many families may be familiar with the former quarry, as it joins Emerson’s property along the southern edge, and it is currently fenced off to prevent students from entering the space due to the steep drop. With this recent donation, however, we are eager to fully utilize the new space for active student use. Assistant Head Peggy Wilson is working with our physical education teachers to incorporate outdoor rock climbing for the spring. Be assured that we will follow all proper safety procedures so as to minimize risk. We will also make the space available for recess sledding in the winter. Additionally, the deep pit lends itself to science experiments, and so Middle School Director Andy Zimmer is currently developing student electives for the fall, including a unit on pyrotechnics. He is also pleased to introduce a downhill mountain biking activity for the students. Assistant Director of Development Beth Anderson is beginning plans to stage Emerson’s first ever outdoor tented auction.
I hope that you join me in our excitement over this new development. I encourage you to share with me additional ideas for the new space as we begin to brainstorm ideas. Before you pass along this news to your child, though, I would encourage you first to consider today’s date, and recognize that perhaps in this one instance, my newsletter contains fabrications appropriate for the date.
I wish you a happy Spring Break!
Take care,
John Huber
Psychologist Roger Lauer has a long-standing relationship with Emerson School. He will be joining us at the upcoming ESPO meeting on on April 13 to discuss the impact of multimedia multitasking, and how it impacts our lower and middle school students.
Enrichment Classes let children dive even deeper into the subjects they love. Parents can now register for Spring Enrichment Classes, which begin the week of April 11 and end May 26. Class registration is on a first-come first-served basis, and most fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
+ See class times, descriptions, and how to register
Thank You for Another Successful Auction
Thank you to everyone who participated in what preliminary numbers suggest will be one of Emerson’s most successful Auction ever. More than $202,000 was raised, including $5,925 from the Online Auction—and $66,000 raised for Financial Aid!
It takes a special community to host an Auction like this, and it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers who devote countless hours to its success. And, of course, the generosity of our community is awe-inspiring, from the items donated to the bids made. Thank you to everyone who gave, big and small, and supported learning and financial aid at Emerson.
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
Thank you to all of the parents who cooked, baked, smoked, and bought so much delicious food for Emerson teachers. If you have containers, dishes, and utensils you haven’t picked up yet, they are in the Fishbowl.
In addition to getting signatures, students look forward to seeing the ads their families create for them. You can purchase space in this year’s book at the following rates:
Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad space to leave a farewell message. Students can contact yearbook teacher Jeri Elie for questions or help.
+ More info and resources at www.emerson-school.org/yearbook
Changes were made to the spring parent-teacher conference format in all three grade levels, and we want to know what you thought. Please help improve the conference experience for both families and faculty by participating in this quick four-question survey.
Please provide any and all anonymous feedback using this online form
The 2016 theme is Taking the World by Storm. This is the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event, where high school aged students share their ideas, vision, and innovation to contribute to and influence the future of Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Each year schools in our community apply to earn Green School Status through the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program. Schools can received one of three statuses, Green, Emerald, or Evergreen, by completing environmental ...
Each year schools in our community apply to earn Green School Status through the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program. Schools can received one of three statuses, Green, Emerald, or Evergreen, by completing environmental activities in four categories and earning 10, 15, and 20 points respectively. Emerson completed multiple initiatives in all four categories, earning 20 points, and has moved up from its 2014-2015 Emerald status to Evergreen status—the highest level achievable—for 2015-2016.
The four categories include:
Michigan Green Schools began as an idea from students and teachers of Hartland Consolidated School District in Livingston County in the fall of 2005. In the first year of the program, 18 schools participated. The program has grown in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties with as many as 50 schools participating each year.
+ Learn more about the Livingston & Washtenaw Green Schools Program
Nature vs. Greenhouses: Testing Climate Change
How would climate change impact agriculture? These 8th graders built greenhouses so they use the scientific method to find out.
+ See more photos
Letter from the Head of ...
How would climate change impact agriculture? These 8th graders built greenhouses so they use the scientific method to find out.
+ See more photos
Dear Parents,
A few weeks back, we sent out our 2016-2017 major dates calendar. I’d like to draw your attention to a few changes for next year, as well as an important update for this year’s graduation.
For next year’s calendar, we have designated four days as “inclement weather make-up days.” In the event that we get a bad winter (of the sort that I’m told happens around here!), and we have an extensive number of school days cancelled, we will utilize these days to restore some time in the calendar for the students. The academic administrators and I would make a decision as to when to restore days, and we would announce it to the community in a timely fashion.
The order in which we’ll put days back in the schedule is as follows:
What this means for you: Should your vacation plans include on one of these days, please be aware that one or more of these days could be restored to the academic calendar. Also, please note the remote possibility of a change to the date of Graduation 2017. Let’s hope we don’t get that much snow!
Based upon feedback from the school community, we have made adjustments to the year end so as to best support our graduating 8th graders and their families.
For this June, the last official day of school for grades K-7 (excluding Band and Orchestra performing at graduation) will be Thursday, June 16, 2016. This day will be used for school-wide awards and events as we have done in the past. Then on Friday, June 17, our regularly scheduled graduation exercises will be held in the Arts and Innovation Center, with Band and Orchestra performing as before. Our 8th grade families (including siblings) are invited to attend graduation. Additionally, all our faculty and staff will now be able to be part of this important gathering.
As this is a change to this year’s schedule, free childcare will be provided for Emerson students in grades K-7 on Friday, June 17 from 7:30am–12:00pm (for 2017 Graduation, childcare will not be offered).
What this means for you: If you are in need of childcare for Friday, June 17, please email Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org to register. Additional reminders will be sent as we we get closer to the date.
Take care,
John Huber
Enrichment Classes let children dive even deeper into the subjects they love. Parents can now register for Spring Enrichment Classes, which begin the week of April 11 and end May 26. Class registration is on a first-come first-served basis, and most fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
+ See class times, descriptions, and how to register
Each year schools apply to earn Green, Emerald, or Evergreen School status by completing environmental activities satisfying 10, 15, and 20 points respectively. Emerson completed multiple initiatives in all 20 categories, and has moved up from Emerson to Evergreen status—the highest level achievable.
+ Learn more
Psychologist Roger Lauer has a long-standing relationship with Emerson School. He will be joining us at the upcoming ESPO meeting on on April 13 to discuss the impact of multimedia multitasking, and how it impacts our lower and middle school students.
Emerson School’s water is regularly and independently tested by Washtenaw County, and it continues to be within normal drinking water standards. To note:
The Auction is more than a fundraiser; it’s community, fun, friendships, and making things possible for our kids. Thank you to all of the attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and advertisers who make it happen—what a beautiful community!
+ See photos of the 2016 Auction
We are always striving to improve. Please help us understand what’s working and what could be improved by participating in this quick eight-question survey. Survey closes on Sunday, March 27 at 11:00pm
+ Participate in the Auction Survey
Two adorable Auction class projects can now be ordered: The kindergarten photo memory game ($30) and 3rd grade still life photo book ($40). Email Beth Andersonto order (school accounts cannot be billed).
+ Learn more
Thank you to all of the parents who cooked, baked, smoked, and bought so much delicious food for Emerson teachers. Parent-teacher conferences make for a 13-plus hour day for most teachers, and your generosity fuels everyone as much as the food.
Can you volunteer for a couple of hours on one of these days? It’s a great way to meet other parents, see kids during the school day, and to be a meaningful role in ESPO’s biggest fundraiser for the school
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
Congratulations to Emerson alums Marie Rucinski and Ian Yi on being invited to perform in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Orchestra this May. AlumnaCalise Wang was also invited to perform with her string quartet in the Festival.
Congratulations to Emerson 6th grader George Tukin on being awarded Honorable Mention at the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers Guild Competition on March 12!
The 2016 theme is Taking the World by Storm. This is the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event, where high school aged students share their ideas, vision, and innovation to contribute to and influence the future of Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Backstage at the All School Band and Orchestra Concert
Last Wednesday, Emerson musicians came together for the biggest performance of the year, and they were brilliant! Special thank you to David Ammer for taking these photos and ...
Last Wednesday, Emerson musicians came together for the biggest performance of the year, and they were brilliant! Special thank you to David Ammer for taking these photos and sharing them with our community.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
Each year, students in grades 4-8 complete the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) assessment, published by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Your child’s assessment results will be coming to you today, and I encourage you to read the accompanying letter and explore the resources available for parents.
I pledged to myself that I’d also write about the CTP in this week’s newsletter, but I must admit that I’m feeling conflicted about it. On the one hand, parents should have a measure of Emerson students’ overall achievement, as well as a clear picture of their own child’s academic strengths and areas of growth, as assessed by a neutral outside party. The CTP is a useful diagnostic tool for charting students’ progress and providing feedback to teachers and administrators.
On the other hand, we are not a school that puts primacy on standardized test-taking, nor do we seek to teach to the test. I imagine that some of you have enrolled your children at Emerson specifically to avoid a narrow test-focused culture present in public schools. Also, as it’s an admission requirement for applicants to perform well on intelligence tests, it should not surprise us that students will continue to perform well on the CTP. Additionally, one test result is only a snapshot, and there is more value to be gained in analyzing your child’s trends over multiple assessments.
This aggregate information, though, does help to present a picture to you of our student population. Our mission is to provide instruction for gifted and for academically talented students. This independent assessment confirms that our students are high-achieving, and they perform well on standardized testing with our enriched curriculum and whole-child approach.
OK, enough handwringing. Here are the results for our school as a whole (average of all grade level scores):
I am pleased to share that the strong overall performance shown above also translates to each grade level. In all grades, Emerson School medians are at or above both independent school norms and top-performing public/suburban school norms. This is true for all subtests completed.
I hope that this information helps to present an overview of our students’ performance, without overemphasizing the weight of the CTP. After all, to paraphrase the old emergency announcement they used to broadcast on the TV—this is only a test.
Take care,
John Huber
Thirteen Emerson students participated in the Quiz Bowl Middle School State Championships last Saturday. Impressively, the team comprised of Kendra Wolter, Brian Hussey, Anders Ruiter-Feenstra, and Zach Halberstam finished 2nd! In doing so, they qualified for the Middle School National Championships, which will take place May 6–8 in Atlanta, Georgia. CONGRATULATIONS QUIZ BOWLERS!
Emerson School’s water is regularly and independently tested by Washtenaw County, and it continues to be within normal drinking water standards. To note:
The online scheduler is open through March 22nd at 9:00pm.
+ More information and grade-specific notes about registering
Oh, what a night! Thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors, donors, faculty, and staff who made this fantastic school event possible. Auction purchases will be charged to credit cards next week, and receipts will follow.
The Online Auction is now live, and there are 83 incredible items available, including hotel stays, jewelry, food deals, a year of unlimited carwashes, and much more. Please take a look at the items and remember that every bid supports students at Emerson School.
+ Visit the Online Auction at www.emerson-school.org/onlineauction
Two adorable Auction class projects can now be ordered: The kindergarten photo memory game ($30) and 3rd grade still life photo book ($40). Email Beth Andersonto order (school accounts cannot be billed).
+ Learn more
On Wednesday, March 23, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences until 8:00pm. 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
Can you volunteer for a couple of hours on one of these days? It’s a great way to meet other parents, see kids during the school day, and to be a meaningful role in ESPO’s biggest fundraiser for the school
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
New Roundabout at Scio Church and Wagner
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is building a compact urban roundabout at the intersection of Scio Church Rd. and Wagner Rd. to reduce congestion. Construction will begin in the summer of 2017. The public is invited to learn more about the project on Wednesday, March 23, 5:30pm to 7:30pm at an information open house. The meeting will be at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD).
+ Learn more
Emerson 7th grader Lacey Cooper is performing in the Michigan Opera Theater’s production of The Tender Land. This is a professional production!
+ Learn more
Emerson alums performing in The Addams Family Musical at Greenhills include Jacob Berger, Hannah Bloomfield, Alexis Burke, Riley Pohlman, Molly Rose Powers, Isabelle Ross and Will Urquhart, and crew members include Annika Morrison and Allison Pinto
+ Learn more
Emerson students Janna Jacobson, Victoria Lee, Anna Michelle Nicklas, Asha Owens, Maggie Wancier, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer, as well as alumnaeAlicia Bertsch, will be skating in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 74th Annual Ice Show, Melodies of the Sea. Best of luck Emerson skaters!
+ Learn more
U of M child development researchers working in the Living Lab Program will be presenting exciting findings from its latest studies. There will be lots of room for discussion about child development, with a great mix of parents, teachers, researchers, and students in the room.
+ Learn more
The 2016 theme is Taking the World by Storm. This is the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event, where high school aged students share their ideas, vision, and innovation to contribute to and influence the future of Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
By Bryan Seymour, Emerson Quiz Bowl Coach and Language Arts Teacher
On March 12, 13 members of Emerson’s Quiz Bowl team competed in the Middle School State Championship. Quiz Bowl is a scholastic competition in which two teams ...
By Bryan Seymour, Emerson Quiz Bowl Coach and Language Arts Teacher
On March 12, 13 members of Emerson’s Quiz Bowl team competed in the Middle School State Championship. Quiz Bowl is a scholastic competition in which two teams compete using buzzer systems to answer questions from a broad range of areas including literature, history, science, math, art, current events, and pop culture (like Jeopardy). One of Emerson’s teams (composed of Kendra Wolter, Brian Hussey, Anders Ruiter-Feenstra, and Zach Halberstam) finished 2nd in Michigan! In doing so, they qualified for the Middle School National Championship tournament which will take place May 6-8 in Atlanta, Georgia. Quite an accomplishment!
Editors Note: This is just the second year that Emerson students have competed in Quiz Bowl. We are proud to see so many students choosing to participate and doing so well. A special thank you to Bryan Seymour, Quiz Bowl Coach and Language Arts Teacher, for introducing Quiz Bowl to Emerson and helping our students thrive.
Learning About Animals Up Close at The Creature Conservancy
Connie's and Mrs. Chenier's 5th grade classes visited the Creature Conservancy to see, touch, and learn about some fascinating creatures last week.
+ More ...
Connie’s and Mrs. Chenier’s 5th grade classes visited the Creature Conservancy to see, touch, and learn about some fascinating creatures last week.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
The first time I ever talked about a presidential election in a school took place over 35 years ago. I was nine years old, and the conversation occurred in the boys’ bathroom of Richardson Elementary School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
I was standing at a stall when another student walked in, stood beside me, and asked, “Who are you voting for, Reagan or Carter?” Having been raised by staunch conservatives, I quickly replied, “Reagan.” Never mind, of course, that I was much too young to vote, and that our school hadn’t even announced its mock election yet. I was firm in my support, based solely on my parents’ frequently stated preference.
My classmate looked at me, said, “You’re dumb,” and walked out the door.
His words stung. Why was I dumb for agreeing with my parents? His words ended up further reinforcing my stated opinion, if for no other reason than to assure me that he must be dumb for supporting the other side.
At its root, I believe there is a natural urge to pick a side. It helps us to feel a sense of alignment and belonging. For example, we cheer for the U of M, or we root for MSU. Automatic vs. manual, cats vs. dogs, Jets vs. Sharks, us vs. them…the list of rivalries goes on.
Therefore it’s no surprise that talk of presidential elections has permeated our classrooms, and our teachers have observed discussions among our students about the primary contenders. I’ve even heard that one three-year-old said he’d be voting for the “Duck.” (I believe he confused Donald Trump with Donald Duck.)
An additional challenge in this election cycle has been how to frame such discussions when the debates have veered into the inappropriate. A recent NPR article highlighted the difficulties facing parents and educators when those running for office use insults and bullying behavior.
Our teachers understand these challenges. We will seek to frame these discussions in positive and age-appropriate ways. We also know that a diversity of opinions supports deeper thinking, and there is little value in proselytizing. If we are to truly prepare our students for life outside of Emerson, we need to ensure that our students are on the path to becoming an educated electorate.
After all, it’s easy to pick sides in a rivalry. Much harder to think critically, weigh contrary views, and make informed decisions. I know that our students are ready for the task.
Take care,
John Huber
As a reminder, Monday will be a 9:00am late start. Childcare will be available beginning at the regular 7:30am start time.
The online scheduler is open through March 22nd at 9:00pm.
+ More information and grade-specific notes about registering
On Wednesday, March 23, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences until 8:00pm. 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
Alum Chris Klein in NCAA Swim Finals
Congratulations to Emerson alum Chris Klein, who was part of U of M’s Big Ten Championship-winning swim team that’s now headed to the NCAA Finals—all while maintaining a 3.98 GPA in mechanical engineering!
+ More
Can you volunteer for a couple of hours on one of these days? It’s a great way to meet other parents, see kids during the school day, and to be a meaningful role in ESPO’s biggest fundraiser for the school
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
New Roundabout at Scio Church and Wagner
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is building a compact urban roundabout at the intersection of Scio Church Rd. and Wagner Rd. to reduce congestion. Construction will begin in the summer of 2017. The public is invited to learn more about the project on Wednesday, March 23, 5:30pm to 7:30pm at an information open house. The meeting will be at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD).
+ Learn more
Emerson 7th grader Lacey Cooper is performing in the Michigan Opera Theater’s production of The Tender Land. This is a professional production!
+ Learn more
Emerson students Janna Jacobson, Victoria Lee, Anna Michelle Nicklas, Asha Owens, Maggie Wancier, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer, as well as alumnaeAlicia Bertsch, will be skating in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 74th Annual Ice Show, Melodies of the Sea. Best of luck Emerson skaters!
+ Learn more
Middle School Learn to Row
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
2016 Emerson Play Opens Tonight
The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery
Friday, March 4 at 7:00pm and Saturday, March 5 at 2:00pm
Get your tickets today for this limited-seating performance by an all-star cast of Emerson Middle ...
Get your tickets today for this limited-seating performance by an all-star cast of Emerson Middle School students. Tickets are available online and at the door.
+ Get your tickets
+ More photos of the preview performance
Dear Parents,
This past week, I took part in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference, a gathering of more than 5,500 educators, trustees, and school leaders. Space doesn’t permit me the ability to relate to you the true essence of the sessions and workshops. Probably for the better, though—one speaker made the strong argument that the most effective way to engage readers in a school newsletter is with that most ubiquitous online viral clickbait—the listicle. And so boldly I share with you, in short-form style, some takeaways of the NAIS Annual Conference.
#1 – Randi Zuckerberg, author of Dot Complicated, said that when she began her career in marketing, she was upset to be assigned to the digital and interactive marketing department, because she thought it would be a “dead-end career”.
#2 – Kevin Carey, author of The End of College, warned us that student loan debt in America has reached $1.3 trillion.
#3 – I had the pleasure of speaking with nine other heads of school in a talk titled “Ten Heads, Ten Years, Ten Lessons”. We lamented that we didn’t have a picture of us from ten years ago, and the likely reason was that none of us would have had an iPhone in our pockets…because there weren’t any iPhones ten years ago.
#4 – Brian Stevenson, lawyer and social justice activist, shared that there are 3.2 million people in prison today. This number has climbed from 370,000 in 1972.
#5 – Google’s Chief Education Evangelist Jaime Casap recalled the days in which we used to dial up the Internet at home, and if it was busy, we were okay with that. Now, he says, if the Wi-Fi is slow at an educational conference, he’s seen “teachers turn into a mob.”
#6 – One head of school related a story in which her school suffered from a lice infestation (students and teachers), cars stuck on a muddy field, and an emergency evacuation of the building due to a gas odor—all within one school day.
#7 – In 2003, 6% of high-income families requested financial aid. In 2015, the percentage had climbed to 24%.
#8 – One speaker shared research that the four key success factors for teachers are (a) strong relationships with students, (b) a strong pedagogy, (c) cultural fit with the school, and (d) growth mindset.
#9 – The faculty and administration of Fenn School in Massachusetts retold their 20-year path toward diversity, inclusivity, and justice—all achieved with 300-plus elementary and middle school boys.
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students become literary critics. Each class chooses a category for their award, designs a medal, nominates books, and narrows down their final selections for a final vote by all students in grades K – 8. Below are the six winners of the 2016 Emerson Book Awards, along with the honorable mentions.
+ See the winners and the student-designed awards
Online reservations have ended, but you can still register to attend until we reach capacity by contacting Beth Anderson, 734.665.9005, x.305. You can browse thecatalog online now, and look for it in backpacks on Tuesday.
You Don’t Need to be Present to Enter or Win
Teacher Experience and Restaurant Raffle tickets can now be purchased in Emerson’s offices, at After Care, or you can complete the order form sent home in backpacks on Monday. Tickets will also be on sale at morning curbside next Tuesday and Thursday.
+ Download a raffle ticket order form
+ About the Teacher Experience Raffle (Tickets: $10/each)
+ About the Restaurant Raffle (Tickets: $20/each)
The online scheduler will be open Sunday, March 6, at 9:00pm through March 22nd at 9:00pm.
+ More information and grade-specific notes about registering
On Wednesday, March 23, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences until 8:00pm. 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
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is building a compact urban roundabout at the intersection of Scio Church Rd. and Wagner Rd. to reduce congestion. Construction will begin in the summer of 2017. The public is invited to learn more about the project on Wednesday, March 23, 5:30pm to 7:30pm at an information open house. The meeting will be at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD).
+ Learn more
Brief job descriptions for Emerson’s Director of Development (currently open) and Director of Admissions (beginning for 2016-2017 school year) are now available on Emerson School’s website. Please share these openings with anyone you think might be interested..
+ Learn more
Although MathCounts has ended, students in grades 5–8 can continue their work on Fridays, 3:00pm–4:00pm, as part of a Competition Math Club. This club will prepare them for future math competitions, and will continue to be led by Emerson alum and MathCounts coach Hojin Han. The level of mathematics will range from algebra through higher level (high school and beyond) mathematics. Students should be self-directed and focused, motivated to attempt challenging math problems, and have a love of math. Cost is free, and the club will meet in room 205 beginning this Friday, Feb. 26.
Emerson students Janna Jacobson, Victoria Lee, Anna Michelle Nicklas, Asha Owens, Maggie Wancier, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer, as well as alumnaeAlicia Bertsch, will be skating in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 74th Annual Ice Show, Melodies of the Sea. Best of luck Emerson skaters!
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students become literary critics. Each class chooses a category for their award, designs a medal, nominates books, and narrows down their final selections for a final vote by all students in grades ...
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students become literary critics. Each class chooses a category for their award, designs a medal, nominates books, and narrows down their final selections for a final vote by all students in grades K – 8. Below are the six winners of the 2016 Emerson Book Awards, along with the honorable mentions.
+ See more photos of the award winning books
FANTASTIC PHANTOM FANTASY AWARD
Best Fantasy Book
OLDBERRY AWARD
Best Action/Adventure Book
WHITE WILLOW AWARD
Best Fiction Published 2005-2015
POSITIVELY PERFECT PICTURE BOOKS AWARD
Best Picture Book
1, 2, 3, MUNCH ON ME, MYSTERY AWARD
Best Mystery Book
THE ELM TREE AWARD
Best Realistic Fiction
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is building a compact urban roundabout at the intersection of Scio Church Rd. and Wagner Rd. to reduce congestion. This construction project will begin in the summer of 2017.
The public is ...
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is building a compact urban roundabout at the intersection of Scio Church Rd. and Wagner Rd. to reduce congestion. This construction project will begin in the summer of 2017.
The public is invited to learn more about the project on Wednesday, March 23, 5:30pm to 7:30pm at an information open house held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD).
Middle School Quilting Elective
Passion for quilting? There's a class for that at Emerson, and these students are unleashing their creativity to make some beautiful examples.
+ More photos
Letter from the Head of ...
Passion for quilting? There’s a class for that at Emerson, and these students are unleashing their creativity to make some beautiful examples.
+ More photos
Welcome back from Mid-Winter Break! Whether you spent the week zip lining in Mexico, visiting friends out of state, or just relaxing by the fire at home, I hope that you had a most joyful week.
We are back to school, ready to roll up our shirtsleeves and get to work. And just as our students are pulling out their planners and looking ahead to March, I ask you to do to the same. I wish to draw your attention to two important and time-sensitive deadlines fast approaching.
First, our Auction RSVP date is Tuesday, March 1. This is the event of the season, a great way to connect with Emerson families and friends, all the while supporting our students and our program. We look to have a record turnout of faculty and staff in attendance at this year’s Auction, so come join the fun!
Then, just a few days later, our re-enrollment deadline is Friday, March 4. In order to secure your child’s placement for the 2016-2017 school year, it is critical to complete and return your contract, along with the deposit, by this date. Contracts that arrive after our deadline will be accepted only as space allows.
Many thanks for your time and attention to these important deadlines!
Welcome back,
John
Although MathCounts has ended, students in grades 5–8 can continue their work on Fridays, 3:00pm–4:00pm, as part of a Competition Math Club. This club will prepare them for future math competitions, and will continue to be led by Emerson alum and MathCounts coach Hojin Han. The level of mathematics will range from algebra through higher level (high school and beyond) mathematics. Students should be self-directed and focused, motivated to attempt challenging math problems, and have a love of math. Cost is free, and the club will meet in room 205 beginning this Friday, Feb. 26.
Order your Emerson School apparel online today at www.emerson-school.org/apparel and it will be ready for pick-up at Emerson the week of March 14. These are break-even prices to make showing your school spirit as affordable as possible for families like yours.
+ Order online at emerson-school.org/apparel
Get your tickets today for this limited-seating performance by an all-star cast of Emerson Middle School students. Tickets are available online and at the door if still available (shows will likely sell out in advance).
+ Get your tickets
RSVPs will be accepted through next week until we are sold out. The Auction has reached capacity every year, so please don’t delay!
+ RSVP Online by Thursday, March 3
+ To volunteer or ask questions, contact Beth Anderson, 734.665.9005, x.305
Tickets for the Restaurant Raffle ($20) and Teacher Experience Raffles ($10) will be available for purchase in the Lower School and Middle School offices, in Lower School After Care, and at home using an order form being sent home with your youngest child on Monday. You do not need to be present to win.
+ See the Teacher Experience Raffle items
+ Purchase Restaurant Raffle Tickets online (also available in the offices)
We need time to package items and create displays for the big event. Thank you!
Brief job descriptions for Emerson’s Director of Development (currently open) and Director of Admissions (beginning for 2016-2017 school year) are now available on Emerson School’s website. Please share these openings with anyone you think might be interested..
+ Learn more
To keep Pizza Lunch running smoothly, we need parents to volunteer for a pizza lunch shift. Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents, to peek in at your child during the school day, and to give a bit of your time to support ESPO’s largest school fundraiser.
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
Thank you to our kindergarten parents for making time for prospective Emerson kindergarteners to visit, just like you did last year.
The Lower School Conference schedule has been adjusted to coincide with the Middle School schedule and provide more evening opportunities for families to meet with teachers. Additional information about conferences and how to sign up will be communicated soon.
The Comic Opera Guild is offering free tickets to Emerson students and a parent for this weekend’s performances of The Barber of Seville at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater on U of M’s campus. Please visit their site for more information on showtimes and let ticket booth employee know that your child is an Emerson student for free admittance. Thank you to retired Emerson teacher Pat Petiet for making this possible for Emerson families!
+ Learn more
Emerson students Janna Jacobson, Victoria Lee, Anna Michelle Nicklas, Asha Owens, Maggie Wancier, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer, as well as alumnaeAlicia Bertsch, will be skating in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 74th Annual Ice Show, Melodies of the Sea. Best of luck Emerson skaters!
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Due to severe weather, Emerson School will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 25. All school activities have been canceled. Please stay safe and warm.
Due to severe weather, Emerson School will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 25. All school activities have been canceled. Please stay safe and warm.
Feel the Love Throughout Emerson
Can you feel it? Look for inspirational hearts spreading love on the walls throughout the school. It's all thanks to the Middle School students in the Be Happy mindfulness elective.
+ More ...
Can you feel it? Look for inspirational hearts spreading love on the walls throughout the school. It’s all thanks to the Middle School students in the Be Happy mindfulness elective.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
Every year that I have ever worked in a school, there’s always a dip in February, when the winter seems to drag on, the cold viruses keep circulating around, and daylight can’t come soon enough. And thus it is a wonderful and glorious thing to enjoy Mid-Winter Break, so that we can take the upcoming week to pause from the daily activities of school. Whether you are travelling with friends, visiting family, or just relaxing at home, I hope that this break allows you to refresh and recharge.
I find that the best cure for the winter blues is to set a future date on my calendar for a festive activity. So, looking beyond our Mid-Winter Break, what wonderful new event can we look forward to? I wish to direct your attention to a very joyful and convivial gathering—our incredible Annual Auction. Each year we bring together hundreds of Emerson parents, faculty, and staff to support the school and enjoy each other’s company. Our Auction takes place on Friday, March 11th – but if you want to be sure to get your seats, you’ll need to RSVP by March 1st. Our seats fill quickly, so you’ll want to respond soon. Please return your response card, or if it’s easier, go to emerson-school.org/auctionrsvp to register online.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Take care,
John
Brief job descriptions for Emerson’s Director of Development (currently open) and Director of Admissions (beginning for 2016-2017 school year) are now available on Emerson School’s website. Please share these openings with anyone you think might be interested..
+ Learn more
While reviews on sites like GreatSchools.org, PrivateSchoolReview, andSchoolDigger.com should always be taken with a grain of salt, they are places prospective families look when considering Emerson for their child. Please consider adding your opinion, ensuring these review are representative of our school community.
+ GreatSchools.org
+ PrivateSchoolReview
+ SchoolDigger.com
All Financial Aid Applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be submitted by February 15, 2016. This allows your award to be included with your re-enrollment contract. You can use your 2014 W2 if your 2015 W2 information is not yet available.
Please submit your applications ASAP. Decisions about Financial Aid will be made immediately following the Feb. 15 deadline, and aid may not be available to late applicants.
+ More info about applying for Financial Aid
+ Apply for Financial Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4JYYZ
Although it’s very convenient to pull up to the front of the building and run in for a quick minute, please be aware that if emergency vehicles need access to the fire lane, they will have no problem either blocking in any cars parked in the lane, or working around (or through) them, if necessary.
Our spring term of Pizza Lunch begins on Friday, February 5th. ESPO has finalized updating everyone’s pizza orders, but to keep things running smoothly we need parents to volunteer for a pizza lunch shift. Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents, to peek in at your child during the school day and to give a bit of your time to support ESPO’s largest school fundraiser.
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
Congratulations to Diana Rooks, who won a $75 gift certificate to West End Grill in the early registration raffle. Parents can still register through March 1, either by submitting the reply card mailed to you or online here.
+ Register online to attend and/or sponsor the auction
+ Advertise
+ Volunteer—It’s fun
We still need restaurant gift certificates for our Restaurant Raffle and wine for our Wine Pull. Wine should be valued between $25-$100 per wine bottle, and restaurant gift certificates can be for any amount. All donations should be delivered to Emerson by Wednesday, Feb. 24th to be included in the catalog.
+ Donate an item
+ To donate wine, please email Wine Pull Coordinator Hanna Song
Calling all poets and artists! The Auction decorations committee is looking for lots of poems on our auction theme, “starry night” made by the children from all grades. These can be short poems, like a haiku to more elaborate poems. Anything is welcome as long as it has to do with “STARS”. If your child would rather draw a star or a starry night picture, they can do that as well or in place of a poem. We will be framing these lovely pieces of work in 4×6 frames and displaying them throughout the auction. For a 4×6 card to write/draw on, please come by the office and see Mrs. G or Beth Anderson. When completed, they can be turned into Mrs. G in the Lower School office. Thank you! — Christine Kim, Auction Decorations Chair
Thank you to our kindergarten parents for making time for prospective Emerson kindergarteners to visit, just like you did last year.
Middle school can be a big transition, and this is an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect, regardless of where your child will be attending. Topics will include adolescent neuroscience and brain development, how to support adolescents through this transition, technology use in adolescence, and the transition from a single homeroom to multiple classes with multiple teachers.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
Emerson students Janna Jacobson, Victoria Lee, Anna Michelle Nicklas, Asha Owens, Maggie Wancier, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer, as well as alumnaeAlicia Bertsch, will be skating in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 74th Annual Ice Show, Melodies of the Sea. Best of luck Emerson skaters!
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center. Middle school students can give it a try in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Experiments on the Power of Water
A book can explain the ways water is constantly changing our landscapes—erosion and deposition creating rivers, landslides, lakes, etc.—but real understanding happens when you observe it in action ...
A book can explain the ways water is constantly changing our landscapes—erosion and deposition creating rivers, landslides, lakes, etc.—but real understanding happens when you observe it in action like these 8th grade scientists are doing.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
Sometimes, the oldest methods still have great value. I say this not just as a classics major and former Latin teacher, but also as a new resident of Ann Arbor, making my way in my newly adopted city.
If you haven’t experienced an out-of-state move recently, you may have forgotten what it’s like to be brand new in a community. Where do I go for groceries? What’s the best place to get my shoes repaired? Which doctor should I choose, which plumber, which accountant? It can be daunting and exhausting, having to think about each and every decision. And while technology has provided us with multiple ways of getting reviews and recommendations, it’s often an overwhelming amount of information. Worse yet, online reviews are not always that reliable. Are those five-star rankings really from satisfied customers, or from paid promoters?
Fortunately, Emerson has provided me with a wonderful transition team to offer advice and provide recommendations. And in this way, the old method – word of mouth – has been the best. We highly value the recommendations of friends and family, even more so in this age of information. According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust word-of-mouth over any other form of advertising.
So to that end – as we look ahead to welcoming a new group of Emerson students and families for the 2016-2017 school year, I encourage you to share your child’s positive experiences with the greater community. Let your friends know the way your child has been challenged and nurtured. As I’ve shared in previous newsletters, so many of our parents and alumni speak highly of Emerson and would recommend us to others, so make your voices heard. As the old line goes – if you like us, tell a friend, and if not, tell us.
P.S. According to word of mouth, Emerson’s Auction is a fun event. I hear you should go!
Take care,
John
Attend the 8:30am ESPO Head of School Update to hear Emerson School Counselor Carrie Berkley talk about student’s emotional well-being.
All Financial Aid Applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be submitted by February 15, 2016. This allows your award to be included with your re-enrollment contract. You can use your 2014 W2 if your 2015 W2 information is not yet available.
Please submit your applications ASAP. Decisions about Financial Aid will be made immediately following the Feb. 15 deadline, and aid may not be available to late applicants.
+ More info about applying for Financial Aid
+ Apply for Financial Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4JYYZ
Support the Emerson Auction
Check your mailboxes for your invitation and reply by February 12th to be entered into a special drawing! New this year, you can also register online to attend.
+ Register online to attend and/or sponsor the auction
+ Additional Auction info and forms
We still need restaurant gift certificates for our Restaurant Raffle and wine for our Wine Pull. Wine should be valued between $25-$100 per wine bottle, and restaurant gift certificates can be for any amount. All donations should be delivered to Emerson by Wednesday, Feb. 24th to be included in the catalog.
+ Donate an item
+ To donate wine, please email Wine Pull Coordinator Hanna Song
Calling all poets and artists! The Auction decorations committee is looking for lots of poems on our auction theme, “starry night” made by the children from all grades. These can be short poems, like a haiku to more elaborate poems. Anything is welcome as long as it has to do with “STARS”. If your child would rather draw a star or a starry night picture, they can do that as well or in place of a poem. We will be framing these lovely pieces of work in 4×6 frames and displaying them throughout the auction. For a 4×6 card to write/draw on, please come by the office and see Mrs. G or Beth Anderson. When completed, they can be turned into Mrs. G in the Lower School office. Thank you! — Christine Kim, Auction Decorations Chair
Our spring term of Pizza Lunch begins on Friday, February 5th. ESPO has finalized updating everyone’s pizza orders, but to keep things running smoothly we need parents to volunteer for a pizza lunch shift. Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents, to peek in at your child during the school day and to give a bit of your time to support ESPO’s largest school fundraiser.
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is open to Emerson girls in grades 3–5, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, March 7th – May 20th. A 5K celebration will also be held on Sunday, May 15 at the U of M North Campus. The cost is $150
+ Register online by Feb. 15
A Giro cycling shoe was found in the Emerson School parking lot. Two are better than one, so if this is your long lost shoe, please claim it in the Middle School office.
Thank you to our kindergarten parents for making time for prospective Emerson kindergarteners to visit, just like you did last year.
To understand what makes Emerson’s Middle School so special, parents should experience it in action. This Information Meeting will be during the day so parents can tour the school while it’s abuzz, see learning happening in classes, and ask faculty and staff questions.
+ Please email Jackie Ebels, Admissions Director, if you might attend
Middle school can be a big transition, and this is an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect, regardless of where your child will be attending. Topics will include adolescent neuroscience and brain development, how to support adolescents through this transition, technology use in adolescence, and the transition from a single homeroom to multiple classes with multiple teachers.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
Students can now select their electives on RenWeb. The elective forms will close at noon on Monday, Feb. 8th.
+ Learn more
Celebrate the Year of the Monkey with Ann-Hua Chinese School of Ann Arbor. Learn about the celebration, enjoy crafts with the kids, and delight in entertainment.
+ Learn more
A dark and fantastical comedy about sad endings, strange beginnings, and the unlikely people who get you from one place to the next. This event supports the kite network, a organization founded by Emerson parents providing peer-to-peer to support for grieving adults in our community. Use the code “kite” for a discounted ticket rate.
+ Learn more
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
Summer Camp: June 27 – August 19
Online registration for Summer at Emerson 2016 opened to to the public on February 1st. Dozens of camps have already filled, so please register ASAP for the best selection of camps.
+ Camp information ...
Online registration for Summer at Emerson 2016 opened to to the public on February 1st. Dozens of camps have already filled, so please register ASAP for the best selection of camps.
+ Camp information now online at emerson-school.org/summer
+ Online Camp registration
In addition to Summer Camp, we are offering a brand new Spring Break Camp the week of April 4-8. Spring Break Camp is a one-week option of morning and/or afternoon camps while we are off school that week. Registration for Spring BreakCamp is done the same way and during the same time frames as Summer Camp.
Returning Summer Campers
If your child has attended summer camp with us in the past or was a participant in the Middle School Musical this fall, your login and password are the same; an option to reset your password is found on the registration page.
+ Online Camp registration
First Time Summer Camp Registration
If this is your first time at summer camp, please create an account anytime between now and when registration opens on Sunday.
+ Create a Camp account online
Middle School Intersession Week
Passion Projects Presented by Students Today
Emerson Middle Schoolers spent the week discovering, understanding, and cultivating their passions in a weeklong activity called Intersession Week. The ...
Emerson Middle Schoolers spent the week discovering, understanding, and cultivating their passions in a weeklong activity called Intersession Week. The resulting Passion Projects included working machines, videos, presentations, food drives, dances, software, music, and more—all meant to make an impact on the world. This picture is Tiffany Li (right) and Mara Krupka (left) giving their presentation about female empowerment at The Center for Empowerment.
+ See more photos
Dear Parents,
We have a talented and dedicated staff here at Emerson. Back in 2014, when I was in the process of considering Emerson both as a prospective head of school and a prospective 3rd grade parent, one of this school’s great attractions was our faculty’s depth of experience. Indeed, from my very first meetings with the teachers and administrators, I could tell that they were thoughtful professionals with deep knowledge in how best to educate our children and lead our school. The statistics help to tell the tale—the average tenure of our faculty and staff is more than 12 years, and roughly two-thirds of our teachers possess a master’s degree or greater.
I take this opportunity now to highlight those teachers and administrators who have reached milestone years of service here at Emerson. Note that these milestones are just for tenure here at Emerson, and they do not begin to account for the many years of professional achievement prior to arriving here.
Celebrating their 5th year at Emerson: Beth Anderson, Carol Kelly, Mike Wilson
10th year: Marchell Burgess, Sue Johnson, Robin Joye, and Lisa Psarouthakis
15th year: Cindy Annchild, Carrie Berkley, Joan Gregorka, Julie Moon, andKathy Salley
25th year: Miriam Del Valle and Peggy Wilson
Please join me in thanking these wonderful members of the Emerson community for their many years of exemplary service! They are what make our school outstanding.
Take care,
John
Ann Arbor Public Schools, which provides bussing for Emerson Students, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 1. As a result, no bus service will be available for students on this day.
All 4th and 5th grade students will take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Makeup tests will be held Feb. 11-12 for any illness or bereavement.
+ Please see this comprehensive FAQ for more information about ERB testing
School lunches can be ordered for students, delivered Monday through Thursday, from What’s Cooking! LLC. New orders must be placed by this Sunday, Jan. 31 for the 2nd semester; first semester orders do not carry over.
+ Place your lunch order with What’s Cooking! by Jan. 31
+ Detailed ordering instructions
Our spring term of Pizza Lunch begins on Friday, February 5th. ESPO has finalized updating everyone’s pizza orders, but to keep things running smoothly we need parents to volunteer for a pizza lunch shift. Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents, to peek in at your child during the school day and to give a bit of your time to support ESPO’s largest school fundraiser.
+ Sign up for a Pizza Lunch shift
Congratulations to 7th grader Ella Cunningham and 8th grader Josh Moss, who were recognized as two of the top middle school musicians in Michigan at the All State Band this past Saturday; to 8th grader Austin Zeglis, who was one of only 14 students selected to have their original compositions presented at the Honors Composition Concert; and to the many Emerson alums who performed with the All State Band and Orchestra!
+ Read more
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is open to Emerson girls in grades 3–5, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, March 7th – May 20th. A 5K celebration will also be held on Sunday, May 15 at the U of M North Campus. The cost is $150
+ Register online by Feb. 15
Support the Emerson Auction
+ Auction info and forms
Look for your invitations in the mail next week, and let us know if you would like one mailed to family and/or friends. To volunteer or ask questions, email Beth Anderson or call 734-665-5662 x305.
Contribute to Class Baskets: Each grade’s Class Basket Chair is assembling a unique basket of goodies to be part of the silent auction. Reply to the email they sent if you would like to contribute.
Donate Your Own Item: Donate an item, restaurant gift card, wine, tickets to an event, etc. Just complete the online form and we’ll collect or pick up your items later.
+ Donate an Item
Join a group of volunteers in the Fish Bowl for an easy way to participate and have fun.
All Financial Aid Applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be submitted by February 15, 2016. This allows your award to be included with your re-enrollment contract. You can use your 2014 W2 if your 2015 W2 information is not yet available.
Please submit your applications ASAP. Decisions about Financial Aid will be made immediately following the Feb. 15 deadline, and aid may not be available to late applicants.
+ More info about applying for Financial Aid
+ Apply for Financial Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4JYYZ
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc. Each performer has five minutes each to share your talents and passions in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
To understand what makes Emerson’s Middle School so special, parents should experience it in action. This Information Meeting will be during the day so parents can tour the school while it’s abuzz, see learning happening in classes, and ask faculty and staff questions.
+ Please email Jackie Ebels, Admissions Director, if you might attend
Middle school can be a big transition, and this is an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect, regardless of where your child will be attending. Topics will include adolescent neuroscience and brain development, how to support adolescents through this transition, technology use in adolescence, and the transition from a single homeroom to multiple classes with multiple teachers.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
Students can select their electives on RenWeb beginning Monday, Feb. 1 at 3:00pm. The elective forms will close at noon on Monday, Feb. 8th.
+ Learn more
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 7:00-8:30pm at Community HS
Families interested in applying for Community High School’s freshmen slots should attend one of the five scheduled orientations. Applications are available now and the application deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm.
+ Learn more
The Father Gabriel Richard High School Hockey Team invites all Middle School students to come check out a game against Jackson Lumen Christi. Admission for students: Bring a canned good to support the Emergency Food Program through CSSW. Adults: $5. The new team locker room will be open for tours following the game.
+ Learn more
Celebrate the Year of the Monkey with Ann-Hua Chinese School of Ann Arbor. Learn about the celebration, enjoy crafts with the kids, and delight in entertainment.
+ Learn more
In case you missed the opportunity to learn about this topic at Emerson, you can see the same experts from the University of Michigan Depression Center and for a presentation about depression and anxiety in adolescents.
+ Learn more
By Michelle Borton, Emerson Band Director and Music Teacher
Emerson was well represented at the Michigan Music Educators Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.
Congratulations to Ella Cunningham (oboe) and Josh Moss (alto saxophone) for ...
By Michelle Borton, Emerson Band Director and Music Teacher
Emerson was well represented at the Michigan Music Educators Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.
Congratulations to Ella Cunningham (oboe) and Josh Moss (alto saxophone) for their wonderful performance with the All State Band this past Saturday in DeVos Hall. Ella and Josh were recognized as two of the top middle school musicians in the state of Michigan. They joined 98 other talented students under the direction of Angelo Woo, Director of Instrumental Music at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, CA. The students also had the wonderful opportunity to have a question and answer session with Richard Meyer, a composer who wrote one of the pieces that the All State Band performed at their concert on Saturday.
Congratulations to Austin Zeglis for being selected as one of the Honor Composition Winners for his rock composition, Ruby on Fire. From all the student submissions in Michigan, only 14 K-12 composers were selected to have their compositions presented at this concert. The MMEA Honors Composition Concert is an outstanding event that provides an opportunity for students to compose and perform original music. Austin was invited to perform his composition at the Michigan Music Conference, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year’s Honors Composition Concert took place on Saturday, January 23, 2016 in the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.
Congratulations also to our many Emerson Alums that performed in the Huron Band and Orchestra, the Huron Jazz Band, the Saline High School Band programs and the High School All State Band and Orchestra Ensembles. It fills our hearts with such joy to see you and hear what outstanding musicians you have become! We are so proud of all of you!
Support the residents of Flint by donating water at Emerson School this Monday. Jugs of water and cases of individual water bottles will be collected by students at curbside drop-off and pick-up. Thank you to Emerson 5th grader ...
Support the residents of Flint by donating water at Emerson School this Monday. Jugs of water and cases of individual water bottles will be collected by students at curbside drop-off and pick-up. Thank you to Emerson 5th grader Caroline Robinson for prompting our school’s participation in this county-wide initiative.
+ Learn more
Water Drive for Flint on Monday, Jan. 25 at Emerson
Drop Off Bottles/Jugs Curbside
Support the residents of Flint by donating water at Emerson School this Monday. Jugs of water and cases of individual water bottles will be collected ...
Support the residents of Flint by donating water at Emerson School this Monday. Jugs of water and cases of individual water bottles will be collected by students at curbside drop-off and pick-up. Thank you to Emerson 5th grader Caroline Robinsonfor prompting Emerson’s participation in this county-wide initiative.
+ Learn more
Dear Parents,
Earlier this week, I had a uniquely Emersonian conversation during dismissal with one of our Middle School students. We were both standing at the curb, I with my stop sign and he with his backpack, when he turned to me and asked, “Do you agree with Marcus Aurelius that all things are opinions, and there aren’t actually facts?” We then engaged in a short philosophical discussion on the nature of matter, the existence of universal truths, and how age can affect pragmatism.
I share this story with you for two reasons. First—wow! There aren’t many middle schools where these types of conversation naturally spring up during dismissal. How wonderful to witness that our students are engaged in deep thinking about philosophy, and to see that they have the confidence to strike up conversations on weighty topics with adults.
Since then I’ve reflected on his question further, and wondered about the slippery nature of truth. We all have beliefs, honed by our personal experiences and prejudices, and often we equate these with truths. This is why it is so helpful to hold up our beliefs to the scrutiny of research and analysis. Not easy to do, but if we want to model this for our students, we need to engage in deep thinking ourselves and make our thinking visible, as Ron Ritchhart encouraged us in his presentation this week.
One belief that many of us have as parents is that we best prepare our children for success by actively engaging with them in their schooling. It stands to reason that increased involvement will result in students performing better—yes?
Actually, according to recent research, maybe not. In their groundbreaking meta-analysis, researchers Keith Robinson and Angel Harris reviewed over 60 studies of parental involvement and child success. They found no connection between the two, and even more interestingly, they discovered that at times, such involvement can work against children’s academic progress. As Dana Goldstein wrote in her bluntly titled article in the Atlantic, “Don’t Help Your Kids With Their Homework,” many well-intended parenting interventions can actually bring down test scores.
So what does work? The authors noted that there are some positive practices that parents can follow, such as reading aloud to young children, and talking to older children about their school activities. In general, though, their advice to us is that parents do best when they “set the stage and then leave it”—meaning, give students the space to thrive and grow, then allow them to do so.
Take care,
John
Ann Arbor Public Schools, which provides bussing for Emerson Students, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 1. As a result, no bus service will be available for students on this day.
If you would like to make changes to your ESPO Pizza Lunch order, please do so by Friday, Jan. 22. Orders will continue as-is for the 2nd semester, starting Feb. 5, if no changes are made.
+ Email pizzalunch@emerson-school.org by Jan. 22 to make changes
School lunches can be ordered for students, delivered Monday through Thursday, from What’s Cooking! LLC. New orders must be placed by Jan. 22 for the 2nd semester; first semester orders do not carry over.
+ Place your 2nd semester order with What’s Cooking! by Jan. 22
+ Detailed ordering instructions
During the weeks of Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2015, all 4th-8th grade students will take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Makeup tests will be held Feb. 8-12 for any snow days, illness, or bereavement.
+ Please see this comprehensive FAQ for more information about ERB testing
All Financial Aid Applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be submitted by February 15, 2016. This allows your award to be included with your re-enrollment contract. You can use your 2014 W2 if your 2015 W2 information is not yet available.
Please submit your applications ASAP. Decisions about Financial Aid will be made immediately following the Feb. 15 deadline, and aid may not be available to late applicants.
+ More info about applying for Financial Aid
+ Apply for Financial Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4JYYZ
If you have been considering contributing to the Emerson Auction, now is the time. To volunteer or ask questions, email Beth Anderson or call 665-5662 x305.
+ Auction info and forms
+ Donate an Item
Class Basket Deadline: Jan. 27 (contact grade class basket leaders)
Forms Deadline: Jan. 29th, delivery Feb. 24th
Consider what you might enjoy winning. Anyone can donate an item or get together with friends to donate a themed basket. Suggested items include:
+ Advertise in the Auction Catalog
Ad Deadline: February 8
+ Be a Sponsor
Help defray auction expenses with your cash donation.
Catalog Inclusion Deadline: Feb. 22
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is open to Emerson girls in grades 3–5, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, March 7th – May 20th. A 5K celebration will also be held on Sunday, May 15 at the U of M North Campus. The cost is $150
+ Register online by Feb. 15
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc. Each performer has five minutes each to share your talents and passions in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
To understand what makes Emerson’s Middle School so special, parents should experience it in action. This Information Meeting will be during the day so parents can tour the school while it’s abuzz, see learning happening in classes, and ask faculty and staff questions.
+ Please email Jackie Ebels, Admissions Director, if you might attend
Middle school can be a big transition, and this is an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect, regardless of where your child will be attending. Topics will include adolescent neuroscience and brain development, how to support adolescents through this transition, technology use in adolescence, and the transition from a single homeroom to multiple classes with multiple teachers.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
New this year, Middle School students will be taking part in a week-long immersion experience where they can identify, explore, and share their individual passions. It’s being called Intersession Week 2016, and it will take place Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29th (intentionally coinciding with ERB testing).
+ Learn more
Families interested in applying for Community High School’s freshmen slots should attend one of the five scheduled orientations. Applications will be available Jan. 4 and the application deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm.
+ Learn more
Wednesday, January 27 at 4:30pm
Upperclassmen at Skyline will welcome incoming freshman and guide tours for parents and students. Families will learn about enrolling, core content, support services, graduation requirements, and more.
+ Learn more
The Father Gabriel Richard High School Hockey Team invites all Middle School students to come check out a game against Jackson Lumen Christi. Admission for students: Bring a canned good to support the Emergency Food Program through CSSW. Adults: $5. The new team locker room will be open for tours following the game.
+ Learn more
A Celebration of Peace at Emerson
This morning was a celebration of peace in the Lower School. Students marched carrying posters they designed, sang together, and remembered the life of Martin Leuther King Jr. If that wasn't ...
This morning was a celebration of peace in the Lower School. Students marched carrying posters they designed, sang together, and remembered the life of Martin Leuther King Jr. If that wasn’t beautiful enough, check out their artwork and posters on display in the main entrance hallway.
+ More photos
Dear Parents,
First, a short announcement: I encourage you to RSVP for this coming Tuesday’s talk with Ron Ritchhart. Ron serves as Senior Research Associate at Harvard Project Zero, part of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and he will be discussing how parents and teachers can best help our children become deep thinkers and learners. A number of our faculty members have already been utilizing the findings presented in his books, Creating Cultures of Thinking andMaking Thinking Visible. More information on Ron can be found here. I look forward to seeing you at his talk!
This past fall during my weekly coffees with parents, one of the questions that arose is, “How do we know that an Emerson education works?” One way a school can measure its worth is to survey young alumni (and their parents) to see how successfully they have entered secondary school. And so we did just that, surveying all freshman and sophomore families this past November, and I wish to share the overall results with you now.
Mind you, there are some inherent limits to this information. As pleased as I am with the response rate (27% participation of alumni and their parents), a higher percentage would give greater significance to the information. Also, we don’t have comparative data from the previous year. But this is a start, and over time, we’ll be able to get an even stronger understanding of our strengths and areas of growth.
One particular parent comment caught my eye, and I will close my letter with it:
“We are very pleased with how Emerson prepared our kids, but it goes beyond academics. We appreciate that they are citizens of the world, know how to debate with respect, and are more mature than their peers. We thank the teachers at Emerson for their openness, drive for excellence in the students, and treating the students like young adults.”
Take care,
John
Full day child care is available at Emerson from 8:00am–3:00pm for $55 each day, with aftercare available 3:00-6:00pm at $6/hour. Space is still available, though limited and registration is required.
+ Register by emailing Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org
If you would like to make changes to your ESPO Pizza Lunch order, please do so by Friday, Jan. 22. Orders will continue as-is for the 2nd semester, starting Feb. 5, if no changes are made. A letter from ESPO with your child’s current order will be sent home by backpack on Jan. 11
+ Email pizzalunch@emerson-school.org by Jan. 22 to make changes
School lunches can be ordered for students, delivered Monday through Thursday, from What’s Cooking! LLC. New orders must be placed by Jan. 22 for the 2nd semester; first semester orders do not carry over.
+ Place your 2nd semester order with What’s Cooking! by Jan. 22
+ Detailed ordering instructions
Free | Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7:00pm, in the Arts and Innovation CenterRon will share his 25 years of research on how students learn, how to teach for understanding, and the cultural forces shaping how students think. Parents and educators will learn how we can work together to help children develop into thinkers and learners.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
All Financial Aid Applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be submitted by February 15, 2016. This allows your award to be included with your re-enrollment contract. You can use your 2014 W2 if your 2015 W2 information is not yet available.
Please submit your applications ASAP. Decisions about Financial Aid will be made immediately following the Feb. 15 deadline, and aid may not be available to late applicants.
+ More info about applying for Financial Aid
+ Apply for Financial Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4JYYZ
The Auction helps make Emerson an even better school community for our children by supporting academic enrichment, professional development, updated technology, financial aid, and more. Invitations mail in early February.
+ Learn more at www.emerson-school.org/auction
Sponsor: Help defray auction expenses with your cash donation.
Invitation Inclusion Deadline: January 18th
Catalog Inclusion Deadline: February 22nd
Advertise: Place an ad in the Auction catalog to promote your business.
Deadline: February 8th
Donate Items: Consider what you might enjoy winning
Forms Deadline: January 29th
Items Due: February 24th
+ Complete the donation form to donate an item
+ Class Baskets: Stephanie Zabinko
+ Donations, Volunteer, Ads & Sponsorships: Beth Anderson or 665-5662 x305.
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc. Each performer has five minutes each to share your talents and passions in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is open to Emerson girls in grades 3–5, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, March 7th – May 20th. A 5K celebration will also be held on Sunday, May 15 at the U of M North Campus. The cost is $150
+ Register online by Feb. 15
During the weeks of Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2015, all 4th-8th grade students will take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Makeup tests will be held Feb. 8-12 for any snow days, illness, or bereavement.
+ Please see this comprehensive FAQ for more information about ERB testing
Check the mail for your invitation in early February. If you would like to donate an item to the Auction, please complete the donation form online.
+ Donate an item for the Auction
+ Lean more, including how to sponsor, advertise, or donate an item
+ Questions? Email Beth Anderson or call 734-665-5662, ext. 305
Emerson 5th graders will venture into the Middle School to get a taste of life as a 6th grader. Students will meet their future teachers, visit classes, spend time with current middle schoolers, participate in team-building games, and have opportunities to ask any questions they might have. It will be a fun and informative morning for all.
(Parents do not need to do anything, this is just an FYI)
Parents of current Emerson 4th and 5th graders are invited to sit down for lunch with Andy Zimmer, Emerson’s Middle School Director, and other teachers and staff. This very casual setting is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Middle School at Emerson. Please bring your own lunch.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
To understand what makes Emerson’s Middle School so special, parents should experience it in action. This Information Meeting will be during the day so parents can tour the school while it’s abuzz, see learning happening in classes, and ask faculty and staff questions.
+ Please email Jackie Ebels, Admissions Director, if you might attend
Middle school can be a big transition, and this is an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect, regardless of where your child will be attending. Topics will include adolescent neuroscience and brain development, how to support adolescents through this transition, technology use in adolescence, and the transition from a single homeroom to multiple classes with multiple teachers.
+ Please email Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director, if you might attend
New this year, Middle School students will be taking part in a week-long immersion experience where they can identify, explore, and share their individual passions. It’s being called Intersession Week 2016, and it will take place Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29th (intentionally coinciding with ERB testing).
+ Learn more
Families interested in applying for Community High School’s freshmen slots should attend one of the five scheduled orientations. Applications will be available Jan. 4 and the application deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm.
+ Learn more
Wednesday, January 27 at 4:30om
Upperclassmen at Skyline will welcome incoming freshman and guide tours for parents and students. Families will learn about enrolling, core content, support services, graduation requirements, and more.
+ Learn more
Saturday, Jan. 16, 8:00am–6:00pm at Saline High School
The Skyline High School Crew Team is hosting the 6th Annual Ann Arbor City Dodgeball Tournament. Adults and students in grades 6 and up can register through Jan. 15th for $100 per team (7-10 people per team).
+ Learn more
Prospective parents asked for more opportunities to learn about Emerson School, so we have created several new events for parents to see the school in action, meet faculty and staff, and understand why students thrive here.
You can ...
Prospective parents asked for more opportunities to learn about Emerson School, so we have created several new events for parents to see the school in action, meet faculty and staff, and understand why students thrive here.
You can also find the same information with a personal tour at a time that is convenient for you. Please contact us or complete an online tour form to schedule a visit.
We begin making decisions about admission in March. Because of small class sizes, many grades reach capacity, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure your child is considered for enrollment.
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
New this year, Middle School students will be taking part in a week-long immersion experience where they can identify, explore, and share their individual passions. It's being called ...
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
New this year, Middle School students will be taking part in a week-long immersion experience where they can identify, explore, and share their individual passions. It’s being called Intersession Week 2016, and it will take place Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29th (intentionally coinciding with ERB testing).
During this week, students will use the following schedule for each day:
The week may end with a call to action or a prototype of a potential impactful product; however, the greatest value of student participation will be in the process of identifying, exploring, refining, and sharing their passions.
Parents are Encouraged to Participate
As part of this learning experience, we would like to leverage the wealth of expertise and knowledge in our community by inviting parents to serve as resources, role models, and coaches during Intersession Week. While our students’ passions have yet to be determined, we anticipate needing experts in engineering, medicine, technology, environment, business, community development, among many others.
Parent experts are welcome to join us for all or part of this week (primary need is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Students may interview, ask for feedback, look for advice, or share results with our parent experts. No prior training or experience is necessary.
Why?
This mission-driven experience will equip our students with new skills in critical thinking, perseverance, entrepreneurial thinking, and effective communication—all skills that will help them become successful and empowered citizens of our community. Research also supports the development of these skills for future success in school and life.
In Coordination with DistinguishMe
This week-long experience is being developed in coordination with DistinguishMe, which is an organization devoted to inspiring students to discover their passions. DistinguishMe co-founders Dr. Matt Gibson (Director of Undergraduate Programs at the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship) and Moses Lee (Founder of Seelio) are helping design and implement Intersession Week at Emerson.
For more information on DistinguishMe, please explore the following links:
TOPIC: How to Support Your Child's Development as a Thinker and Learner
Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7:00pm in Emerson School's Arts and Innovation Center
Ron Ritchhart is a Senior Research Associate at Harvard Project Zero, and he has spent ...
Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7:00pm in Emerson School’s Arts and Innovation Center
Ron Ritchhart is a Senior Research Associate at Harvard Project Zero, and he has spent the past 25 years researching how students learn and become thinkers. His findings have been the basis for several renowned books, including Making Thinking Visible and his newest book Creating Cultures of Thinkers.
In this presentation, Ron will share research on how students learn, how to teach for understanding, and the cultural forces shaping how students think. Parents and educators will learn how we can work together to help children develop into powerful thinkers and learners.
This presentation is free and open to the community. It is presented by Emerson School, but no Emerson School affiliation is necessary to attend.
+ Register to attend (space is limited)
+ Learn more about Ron Ritchhart
Dr. Jerry Miller: Anxiety and Asynchrony in Gifted Children
At ESPO Meeting this Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 8:30am in the Arts and Innovation Center
Learn from Dr. Jerry Miller about the anxiety and asynchrony often observed in gifted ...
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! What a joy it was to see our faculty and students returning to school. So many smiling faces – but if we’re honest, a few yawns and sleepy stretches as well. It’s not always easy to get back into the routine of waking up early for school, especially when it stays dark until after 8 am!
In the spirit of new, we’re pleased to welcome a few new faces to Emerson. First, we are happy to have Mia G. and Olivia B. begin the new year with us. Mia joins her brother here at Emerson, and Olivia comes to us via Australia. Welcome, Mia and Olivia!
Additionally, we have recently hired our new Director of Business Operations. Dan Rigato (pictured here) has over 15 years’ experience in both finance and human relations for small and midsize businesses, as well as over 20 years of supervisory experience. Most recently he served as Employee Benefits Administrator for the City of Las Vegas, overseeing employee benefits for its 3,000+ members. Born and raised in Michigan, Dan holds a bachelors and an MBA from Wayne State University. Previous to his work in Las Vegas, Dan was Director of Finance and Operations for Plymouth Technology, and a VP of Finance and Administration at Bouquet & Company, a property and casualty insurance agency. Dan has also served as an adjunct professor at UM Dearborn, teaching undergraduate finance classes. On a personal note, Dan and his wife reside in Monroe with their two grandsons. He enjoys the outdoors, gardens, plays baseball and wallyball (rebound volleyball), and is an avid hockey fan. Please join me in welcoming Dan to Emerson!
Take care,
John
Full day child care is available at Emerson for $55 each day, with aftercare available 3-6pm at $6/hour. Space is limited and registration is required.
+ Register by emailing Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org
If you would like to make changes to your ESPO Pizza Lunch order, please do so by Friday, Jan. 22. Orders will continue as-is for the 2nd semester, starting Feb. 5, if no changes are made. A letter from ESPO with your child’s current order will be sent home by backpack on Jan. 11
+ Email pizzalunch@emerson-school.org by Jan. 22 to make changes
School lunches can be ordered for students, delivered Monday through Friday, from What’s Cooking! LLC. New orders must be placed by Jan. 22 for the 2nd semester; first semester orders do not carry over.
+ Place your 2nd semester order with What’s Cooking! by Jan. 22
+ Detailed ordering instructions
Winter Enrichment Classes let children dive even deeper into the subjects they love. Parents can now register for Winter Enrichment Classes, which begin the week of Jan. 11 and end Mar. 18. Class registration is on a first-come first-served basis, and most fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
+ See class times, descriptions, and how to register
Free | Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7:00pm, in the Arts and Innovation Center
Ron will share his 25 years of research on how students learn, how to teach for understanding, and the cultural forces shaping how students think. Parents and educators will learn how we can work together to help children develop into thinkers and learners.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
A stage for students, parents, and teachers to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc. Each performer has five minutes each to share your talents and passions in front of a laid-back and supportive audience of families from schools throughout the greater-Ann Arbor area.
+ Learn more and register at ThrivingChildA2.com
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is open to Emerson girls in grades 3–5, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, March 7th – May 20th. A 5K celebration will also be held on Sunday, May 15 at the U of M North Campus. The cost is $150
+ Register online by Feb. 15
During the weeks of Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2015, all 4th-8th grade students will take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Makeup tests will be held Feb. 8-12 for any snow days, illness, or bereavement.
This year the Middle School students will take the online tests on their own devices. Students in grades 4–5 will take their tests in their classrooms on their Chromebooks. Classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Please see this comprehensive FAQ for more information about ERB testing
Check the mail for your invitation in early February. If you would like to donate an item to the Auction, please complete the donation form online.
+ Donate an item for the Auction
+ Lean more, including how to sponsor, advertise, or donate an item
+ Questions? Email Beth Anderson or call 734-665-5662, ext. 305
New this year, Middle School students will be taking part in a week-long immersion experience where they can identify, explore, and share their individual passions. It’s being called Intersession Week 2016, and it will take place Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29th (intentionally coinciding with ERB testing).
+ Learn more
Families interested in applying for Community High School’s freshmen slots should attend one of the five scheduled orientations. Applications will be available Jan. 4 and the application deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm.
+ Learn more
Saturday, Jan. 16, 8:00am–6:00pm at Saline High School
The Skyline High School Crew Team is hosting the 6th Annual Ann Arbor City Dodgeball Tournament. Adults and students in grades 6 and up can register through Jan. 15th for $100 per team (7-10 people per team).
+ Learn more
Singing No School Tomorrow at the Winter Sharing Celebration
We hope you enjoy the Winter Break with family and friends. Happy Holidays from everyone at Emerson School.
+ Watch the video
Letter from the Head of ...
In lieu of a letter from the Head,
I offer you this short poem instead.
Winter Break has come again!
A chance to set aside my pen
and read a book inside my den.
(I thought it snowed in Michigan!)
Please take this chance to reconnect
with family, friends, and those select
relations whom you so respect.
(Forgive if I am too direct.)
This doggerel verse may not be clear,
but sentiments should be sincere.
Your time to break is coming near,
We’ll see you in the brand new year!
John
Our youngest musicians and vocalists put on an incredible concert last night. For many it was their first performance, others were proudly leading by example, but every one of them were stars.
+ More photos
On Monday, Dec. 14, more than 200 Emerson School students traveled to destinations around the world on 3D virtual field trips. Google Expeditions provided 3D Cardboard viewers and phones for every student, a facilitator, and a tablet that allowed Emerson teachers to lead virtual journeys to historical sites, Mars, underwater reefs, National Parks, and dozens of other landmarks…
+ Read more
+ More photos
+ Watch a video of 2nd graders on an Expedition
During the weeks of Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2015, all 4th-8th grade students will take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) standardized tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Makeup tests will be held Feb. 8-12 for any snow days, illness, or bereavement.
This year the Middle School students will take the online tests on their own devices. Students in grades 4–5 will take their tests in their classrooms on their Chromebooks. Classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Please see this comprehensive FAQ for more information about ERB testing
A new Emerson Geography Bee champion was crowned on Tuesday. Shailen Chugh edged out two-time defending champ Casey Lewis in the championship round. Shailen will now take a written test in an attempt to qualify for the state geography bee, which will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016…
+ Read more
Winter Enrichment Classes let children dive even deeper into the subjects they love. Parents can now register for Winter Enrichment Classes, which begin the week of Jan. 11 and end Mar. 18. Class registration is on a first-come first-served basis, and most fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
+ See class times, descriptions, and how to register
Thank you to the 34% of families who have already made a pledge or donated to the Annual Fund. If you’ve not yet made your gift or pledge, please know that gifts at every level are important; we value your participation!
K: 42%, 1st: 39%, 2nd: 34%, 3rd: 28%, 4th: 62%, 5th: 32%, 6th: 36%, 7th: 38%,8th: 23%
Our offices are closed beginning at noon on Friday, Dec. 18th and hand deliveries should be made before that date.
+ Make your gift by credit card online
+ Print a reply card to accompany a check or credit card gift in person or by mail
+ Questions? Please contact Beth Anderson at (734) 665-5662 x305.
Thank you to everyone who supported the UNICEF Halloween fundraiser, which raised $410.23!
Emerson students have been participating in Hour of Code, which is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. Students and parents can continue to learn about coding at the Hour of Code website linked below.
+ Learn more
Emerson School will once again participate in the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO), a county-wide science event scheduled for May 14, 2016. All students in grades 2-5 are encouraged to participate, and parents are needed to coach teams.
+ More info, including event descriptions and resources
+ Register online by Dec. 21
Emerson 5th graders will venture into the Middle School to get a taste of life as a 6th grader. Students will meet their future teachers, visit classes, spend time with current middle schoolers, participate in team-building games, and have opportunities to ask any questions they might have. It will be a fun and informative morning for all.
Representatives from the following high schools will be visiting Emerson to share information about their programs with 7th and 8th graders. Parents are welcome to observe the presentations and stay after for a brief Q&A with the representatives.
• 1:00-1:20 – Cranbrook
• 1:20-1:40 – Father Gabriel Richard High School
• 1:40-2:00 – Early College Alliance
Session 1 was on Wednesday, Dec. 16 with Community, Steiner, and WIHi. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Lisa Psarouthakis.
Families interested in applying for Community High School’s freshmen slots should attend one of the five scheduled orientations. Applications will be available Jan. 4 and the application deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 at 4:00pm.
+ Learn more
Emerson 4th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao have coordinated the Toasty Toes Sock Drive for several years and provided hundreds of socks to families in our community. Collection boxes are located throughout the school and near entrances, but families are encouraged to bring their socks on Friday, Dec. 18 to receive $1 off their Pancake Breakfast (see above).
+ Learn more
Emerson School is First in Ann Arbor to Utilize New Product in Classrooms
+ See more photos at www.facebook.com/theemersonschool
+ Watch a video of 2nd graders on an Expedition
On Monday, Dec. 14, more than 200 Emerson School ...
+ See more photos at www.facebook.com/theemersonschool
+ Watch a video of 2nd graders on an Expedition
On Monday, Dec. 14, more than 200 Emerson School students traveled to destinations around the world on 3D virtual field trips. Google Expeditions provided 3D Cardboard viewers and phones for every student, a facilitator, and a tablet that allowed Emerson teachers to lead virtual journeys to historical sites, Mars, underwater reefs, National Parks, and dozens of other landmarks.
“It was super fun!” according to Emerson 5th grader Michael Mychaliska. “My class is getting ready to study the Civil War, so we went to a bunch of different scenes in the Battle of Gettysburg. The best part was that it was interactive—the image is all around you, everywhere you look—and teachers could point you to a certain place.”
Eighteen classes of Emerson students were among the first in Ann Arbor to experience this new product, which combines virtual reality panoramas—360 degree photo spheres, 3D images and video, ambient sounds—with informative details, points of interest, and questions for students. Each Expedition took students to places that brought abstract concepts to life and gave a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.
“This was an incredible tool for linking learning to real places,” said Beth Nazario, Emerson Middle School language arts and social studies teacher. “We went to Gallipoli, in Turkey, and saw one of the best preserved WWI battlefields. As a class we were able to zoom in on tombstones and look at dates, and students really took to heart that some of the soldiers were only 13 or 14 when they died—the same age as them. You can look at pictures, but you can’t understand the magnitude of these events until you do a 360, see the geography, and take in the scene as a whole.”
Teachers appreciated the 130-plus destinations they could travel to with their class, covering a wide range of topics and interests already being studied in class. The accompanying annotations and curriculum, with contributions from the Wildlife Conservation Society, PBS, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and the Palace of Versailles, were robust and proved very helpful in guiding students through each Expedition.
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee coordinator and host
A new Emerson Geography Bee champion was crowned on Tuesday. Shailen Chugh edged out two-time defending champ Casey Lewis in the championship round. Shailen will now take a written ...
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee coordinator and host
A new Emerson Geography Bee champion was crowned on Tuesday. Shailen Chugh edged out two-time defending champ Casey Lewis in the championship round. Shailen will now take a written test in an attempt to qualify for the state geography bee, which will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016.
Sixteen Emerson students participated, with six advancing beyond the 7 preliminary rounds. Among the final four were two elementary students, Maya Mustata, the 3rd place finisher, and Katarina Bauer, who finished 4th, signalling that competition in the near future should remain strong.
What a Performance at Seussical's Opening Night!
Bravo to the Seussical Jr. cast and crew who treated our community to an outstanding musical on Thursday night! WOW! And an extra round of applause to the teachers, parents, and ...
Winter Break is almost upon us! Just one week from now, we will gather our students together in the Arts & Innovation Center for a winter sharing celebration, filling the room with songs and joyful noises. Then at noon (or 11:45am for our Kindergarteners), we will dismiss our students and faculty to begin their much-deserved and well-earned break.
Before we close out the calendar year, I want to thank all of you who have helped to make our fall Annual Fund campaign a success. Our entire faculty, staff, and board made their pledges this past September. At last count, the number of current parent donors contributing this fall had almost doubled, and of this group, participation from new families has almost tripled. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of 100% parent participation.
Your Annual Fund gift supports our many excellent programs at Emerson. It seems that every day I come to Emerson, there’s something scheduled to delight and surprise. To name just a few recent examples, our HydroFest Science Fair brought together students and families for an evening of scientific wonder; our Middle School Soccer Team once again achieved victory in our athletic league; and our band and orchestra concerts have given our talented musicians many opportunities to shine. We simply couldn’t do it without your help.
For those who haven’t participated in the Annual Fund yet, I encourage you to make Emerson a philanthropic priority before the calendar year ends. Please click here to go to our secure website to make your gift. Join the many, many families who have already done so, and help us to enrich our program for our students.
With deepest thanks,
John
Tickets are almost sold out for the Saturday performance, and tonight’s tickets are going fast. Invite friends and family and get your tickets ASAP.
+ Tickets and more information about the show
All Emerson students in grades 4–8 are welcome to participate in the free, fun competition. Signing up is very easy: Students write their name and the letters “GB” on a piece of paper, then hand it to Lenny Dale any day between now and when he leaves school on Friday, Dec. 11. Understand that Lenny thinks kids should learn to deal with deadlines, and this one is firm. There is no ‘too early’, but there is definitely ‘too late’.
Google is bringing its new Google Expeditions product to Emerson for an entire day on Monday, Dec. 14. This new virtual reality program will allow teachers to take their classes on one of 135 virtual field trips related to your child’s current studies. Students will be immersed in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and give a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.
Please check the Lost and Found for any missing items before Thursday, Dec. 17. Any unclaimed items will be packed up and donated to a local charity.
Your Emerson Auction Parent Packet will be sent home on Tuesday, December 8th via backpack mail. Invitations will be mailed in early February. We are looking forward to another fabulous evening that greatly benefits your children.
+ Contact Beth Anderson to learn more about the Auction
2016 Auction Leadership
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson’s community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and any student who brings in one or more pair of unused pair of socks will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. This sock drive will support the 2015 Toasty Toes Sock Drive current 4th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao have coordinated for several years.
+ More info
Winter Enrichment Classes let children dive even deeper into the subjects they love. Parents can now register for Winter Enrichment Classes, which begin the week of Jan. 11 and end Mar. 18. Class registration is on a first-come first-served basis, and most fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
+ See class times, descriptions, and how to register
Thank you to the 30% of families who have already made a pledge or donated to the Annual Fund. If you’ve not yet made your gift or pledge, please know that gifts at every level are important; we value your participation!
Our offices are closed beginning at noon on Friday, Dec. 18th and hand deliveries should be made before that date.
+ Make your gift by credit card online
+ Print a reply card to accompany a check or credit card gift in person or by mail
+ Questions? Please contact Beth Anderson at (734) 665-5662 x305.
Current Giving Level by Grade:
K: 42%, 1st: 36%, 2nd: 34%, 3rd: 25%, 4th: 54%, 5th: 27%, 6th: 32%, 7th: 32%,8th: 18%
The Emerson Auction Parent Packet was sent home in student backpacks on Tuesday, Dec. 8th. Make sure to take a look for information about volunteering, donating items, sponsorship, and advertising in the catalog.
+ Contact Beth Anderson to learn more about the Auction
What you consider excess is something our young readers hope to win. For the past 20 years, Linda has hosted a contest in the library that awards students with prizes for reading. Everyone wins, but prizes are running dangerously low. Please bring your unwanted toys (e.g. fast food toys, goodie bag toys, things your child has outgrown) to Linda, and she will ensure it makes a child very happy.
Middle school students in the Upcycling elective need it. Below is a list of items students have requested for their upcycling projects (reusing discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original).
+ See a list of requested junk
Emerson School will once again participate in the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO), a county-wide science event scheduled for May 14, 2016. All students in grades 2-5 are encouraged to participate, and parents are needed to coach teams.
+ More info, including event descriptions and resources
+ Register online by Dec. 21
Emerson 4th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao have coordinated the Toasty Toes Sock Drive for several years and provided hundreds of socks to families in our community. Collection boxes are located throughout the school and near entrances, but families are encouraged to bring their socks on Friday, Dec. 18 to receive $1 off their Pancake Breakfast (see above).
+ Learn more
Does your student have an idea worth spreading? For the first time, middle school students can audition to be a speaker, host, or performer in the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event. Every high school in Ann Arbor participates in this incredible student-led, student-attended event.
+ Learn more and sign up to audition
Emerson alum Lily Hetherman has a role in The Girl in the Book, which is opening tonight at select theaters throughout the U.S., including Quality 16 in Ann Arbor. Look for Lily in the bookstore scene.
Emerson 1st grader Joesph Ranzini will be a Toy Soldier in this modern interpretation of the classic Nutcracker ballet. His sister Liliana will also perform as one of the mice.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th graders Sophia Hildebrandt and Asha Owens will perform a duet on ice as part of the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s 2015 Winter Exhibition.
Looking for something festive and fun for family this holiday season? Emersonalum Alexis Huczek will be performing in Flowers, Soldiers, Chocolate and Snow, as part of The Nutcracker, presented by the Dance Alliance.
+ Learn more
Emerson students and alums Jada Wooten, Danielle Stevanus, Olivia Hollenbeck, Gigi Hauptman, Ellie Kim, Amelia Lunde, Adelyn Mazak, Amy Pandofi, Ella Sinha, and Faith Pearson will be performing in The Nutcracker with Ann Arbor Dance Classics. Break a leg!
+ Learn more
Celebrate the holidays with selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, festive carols, a sing-a-long with the Detroit Children’s Choir—all featuring the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra. Use the promo code “JOLLY” to receive $5 tickets to Santa’s Little Helpers!
+ Learn more
Emerson School will once again participate in the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO), a county-wide science event scheduled for May 14, 2016. This is the 14th annual Science Olympiad for area elementary students in grades ...
Emerson School will once again participate in the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO), a county-wide science event scheduled for May 14, 2016. This is the 14th annual Science Olympiad for area elementary students in grades 2-5.
Last year’s Olympiad was a challenging, fun, and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Many parent coaches want to coach again the following year because it is so enjoyable to work with a small group of students, and to be part of the Emerson team at this huge community-wide event.
How to Register (deadline: December 21)
Parents of interested students should review the event descriptions and complete the Student Registration Form by December 21. A registration form should be submitted for each child.
+ Registration form
+ Event descriptions
Dates and Additional Resources
Team Selection
Teams are selected by Kelly Vohland. It is a difficult process that attempts to provide all students with one of their top choices. Parents and students should be flexible with team choices as most events only allow two or three students on a team at each grade level. Please do not list names of students you would like to have on your child’s team in your registration.
Coaches Needed (The Number of Coaches Limits the Number of Teams)
The number of teams Emerson can have is dependent on the number of coaches that volunteer, so please consider coaching. Coaches also get to lead their child’s team, which is a great experience for both. Please contact Kelly if you have any questions regarding the time commitment or responsibilities involved with coaching.
A Coaches’ Workshop will be offered for all Event Coaches, typically in January, where they can find out more details about the event they are coaching and ask questions of the Event Supervisor (the person who is in charge of the event and its rules). If you would like to coach but are unable to attend the meeting, you will be able to find the event guidelines/details posted on the WESO website shortly after January meeting.
Middle School Science Olympiad
Middle School students also participate in the Science Olympiad. For more information about Emerson’s Middle School Science Olympiad team, please contact Tim Wilson.
135 Destinations for Classrooms to Explore in 360º Virtual Reality
Google is bringing its new Google Expeditions product to Emerson for an entire day on Monday, Dec. 14. This new virtual reality program will allow teachers to take ...
Google is bringing its new Google Expeditions product to Emerson for an entire day on Monday, Dec. 14. This new virtual reality program will allow teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips related to your child’s current studies. Students will be immersed in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and give a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.
+ Watch a brief video about the Google Expedition program
Note: Google requires students to be at least 7 years old to participate, so only grades 3–8 will participate. Timing and logistics may also prevent other classrooms from participating.
Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, 7:30am – 9:30am
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson's community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s ...
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson’s community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and any student who brings in one or more pair of unused pair of socks will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. This sock drive will support the 2015 Toasty Toes Sock Drive current 4th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao have coordinated for several years.
On Friday, December 19th, Emerson Middle School’s House A (one of three student “house” groups in the Middle School) has invited all Emerson students to their 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast, held from 7:30–9:30am. This event is optional, but we hope many students will partake in the pancakes! Parents are more than welcome to join in the breakfast as well.
Cost and Timing
The cost of the breakfast is $5.00 and can be billed to student accounts. Funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year. Any student who brings in one or more pair of unused pair of socks will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. The pancake breakfast includes up to three pancakes, toppings, and a drink.
Ingredients and Allergy Info
GFS pancake mix (contains: wheat, milk, and eggs), GFS canned strawberry topping, GFS whipped topping, and Mrs. Butterworth syrup. Drinks will be either water or Country Time Lemonade.
For students with allergies, we will have separate breakfast stations with a gluten-free pancake option (this option is not nut-free or egg-free), as well as a separate peanut-free and egg-free pancake option (this option does contain gluten).
Thank you for your support. Any questions, please contact Kelly Vohland or Andy Zimmer.
How to Bake a Cell in 4th Grade Science
Step 1 - Mix and knead your membrane to create a nice wall. 2 - Sprinkle your nucleus. 3 - Add chocolate chip vacuoles (white chocolate if you want your cell to be wilting). 4 - A generous ...
Throughout the fall, I had the pleasure of meeting with many of you in my weekly Coffees with the Head, hearing your thoughts about Emerson and offering my take on a wide variety of educational topics. I enjoyed these coffees greatly, and I thank everyone for taking time to meet with me. The final count: 200-plus cups of coffee brewed, 75-plus parents in attendance, and 18 hours of conversation.
I once shared with a fellow head of school that I’d be holding parent coffees, and he replied, “Why would you do that? They’ll be nothing but gripe sessions.” It’s a cynical viewpoint, and one not proven by my experiences here at Emerson. Overwhelmingly, our parents expressed great joy for our school. Receiving multiple accolades were our talented and caring faculty (first and foremost), our robust After School Program, our academics, our buddy opportunities, our focus on the whole child, and our multiple arts and athletic offerings.
Some new ideas have been borne from these conversations. For example, after receiving requests to hear more on gifted education and school counseling, we have invited both Dr. Jerry Miller and our own Carrie Berkley to speak with parents in upcoming ESPO meetings. Also, we piloted a new structure for Middle School fall conferences in order to allow parents to meet with more teachers, and we’ll be seeking to expand on this in the future. Finally, we introduced math clubs for grades 3–5 as a means of providing students with joyful exploratory math activities outside of the curriculum.
While there was high overall satisfaction, some topics resonated over multiple coffees as areas needing further consideration:
I have shared these and other topics with our faculty and administrators, and I look forward to using them as a springboard for further school self-reflection and improvement.
As we look to the 2016-2017 school year, I’ll continue with these morning coffees, and I’ll seek opportunities to bring two grade levels together. This will allow for some cross-grade-level discussion, as parents in the older grade can share their experiences and knowledge with parents in the younger grade.
Take care,
John
Congratulations to the three Emerson students who have been selected to perform in the All-State Band and All State Orchestra concert. More than 2,000 students from across the state of Michigan auditioned for the ensembles, and Joss Moss(saxophone), Ella Cunningham (Oboe), and Austin Zeglis (a contest-winning composition he wrote) were chosen to perform with about 350 other musicians at the DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids.
All Emerson students in grades 4–8 are welcome to participate in the free, fun competition. Signing up is very easy: Students write their name and the letters “GB” on a piece of paper, then hand it to Lenny Dale any day between now and when he leaves school on Friday, Dec. 11. Understand that Lenny thinks kids should learn to deal with deadlines, and this one is firm. There is no ‘too early’, but there is definitely ‘too late’.
Thank you to everyone who everyone who volunteered to bake, package, and sell items for the ESPO Bake Sale. This year, $2,537 was raised, and the funds will go to support new technology for Emerson students. Special thanks to Mary Kay Stevanus and Michelle Ferguson for chairing this massive, delicious event.
Please check the Lost and Found for any missing items before Thursday, Dec. 17. Any unclaimed items will be packed up and donated to a local charity.
Please refrain from parking curbside in the fire lane in front of the school. The after-school bus needs access until at least 3:30pm, and emergency vehicles may need access at any time. Thank you for making the extra effort to park in a designated spot.
What you consider excess is something our young readers hope to win. For the past 20 years, Linda has hosted a contest in the library that awards students with prizes for reading. Everyone wins, but prizes are running dangerously low. Please bring your unwanted toys (e.g. fast food toys, goodie bag toys, things your child has outgrown) to Linda, and she will ensure it makes a child very happy.
Middle school students in the Upcycling elective need it. Below is a list of items students have requested for their upcycling projects (reusing discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original).
+ See a list of requested junk
Your Emerson Auction Parent Packet will be sent home on Tuesday, December 8th via backpack mail. Invitations will be mailed in early February. We are looking forward to another fabulous evening that greatly benefits your children.
+ Contact Beth Anderson to learn more about the Auction
2016 Auction Leadership
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson’s community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and any student who brings in one or more pair of unused pair of socks will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. This sock drive will support the 2015 Toasty Toes Sock Drive current 4th grader Parini Rao and alum Anvit Rao have coordinated for several years.
+ More info
Does your student have an idea worth spreading? For the first time, middle school students can audition to be a speaker, host, or performer in the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event. Every high school in Ann Arbor participates in this incredible student-led, student-attended event.
+ Learn more and sign up to audition
Looking for something festive and fun for family this holiday season? Emerson Alum Alexis Huczek will be performing in Flowers, Soldiers, Chocolate and Snow, as part of The Nutcracker, presented by the Dance Alliance. See these talented girls perform a holiday favorite on Sunday, December 13th at Saline High School.
+ Learn more
Emerson students and alums Jada Wooten, Danielle Stevanus, Olivia Hollenbeck, Gigi Hauptman, Ellie Kim, Amelia Lunde, Adelyn Mazak, Amy Pandofi, Ella Sinha, and Faith Pearson will be performing in The Nutcracker with Ann Arbor Dance Classics. Break a leg!
+ Learn more
Celebrate the holidays with selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, festive carols, a sing-a-long with the Detroit Children’s Choir—all featuring the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra. Use the promo code “JOLLY” to receive $5 tickets to Santa’s Little Helpers!
+ Learn more
Emerson 2nd grader Chloe Eavy (playing Toy Bear) performed with 8th grader Kristen Umbriac (playing Girl and Mouse) in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for the Performing Arts.
Emerson alums Nia Moore, Lindsay Michaels, and Cammie Treiber are on Skyline Pom and invite 5th-8th graders for a pom clinic on Jan. 30. Please register by Jan. 8.
+ Learn more
Students have spent months rehearsing and countless hours learning lines, choreography, and songs for this fun, all-ages musical. Tickets are going fast, and the entire community is invited (friends, family, neighbors, ...
Students have spent months rehearsing and countless hours learning lines, choreography, and songs for this fun, all-ages musical. Tickets are going fast, and the entire community is invited (friends, family, neighbors, fans of great live theater). Get your tickets today before the shows sell out.
Showtimes
+ Tickets are available now at www.emerson-school.org/musical
About the Musical
The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child who gets in trouble for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge—not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
Congratulations to the Emerson 4th and 5th graders, who competed in their first robotics competition on Nov. 21! These students have been building, programming, and problem solving together since July, practicing and learning ...
Congratulations to the Emerson 4th and 5th graders, who competed in their first robotics competition on Nov. 21! These students have been building, programming, and problem solving together since July, practicing and learning together as one team, though they competed as separate grade level teams at the competition.
Students did exceptionally well against competition largely made up of older students—many in middle school. They even earned the event’s Rising Stars trophy, despite being a brand new team.
Thank you to the generous parents, teachers, and alums who encouraged and coached our budding robotics team. It would not have been possible without them.
Emerson Musical Tickets are Now Available: Seussical Jr.
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:00pm; Friday, Dec. 11 at 7:00pm; Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2:00pm
Students have spent months rehearsing and countless hours learning lines, choreography, ...
Dear Parents,
When we return to school on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, please pull forward after dropping your children off and enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee. It’s a small token of appreciation for our families who continue to give so generously of their time and resources to Emerson. Staff and volunteers will be serving up the coffee, so you don’t even need to get out of your car.
Most families will make an Annual Fund gift this year, and Giving Tuesday is a great time to make yours and check it off the list. Curbside coffee volunteers can accept Annual Fund gifts by check, credit, cash, or pledge, or you can always make your gift online now at www.emerson-school.org/give.
Thank you for everything you do. We look forward to seeing you on Giving Tuesday.
Sincerely,
Sue Johnson and Beth Anderson
The Emerson School Development Office
Congratulations to the 4th and 5th graders who competed in their first robotics competition on Nov. 21. These students have been building, programming, and problem solving together since July, and they did exceptionally well against competition largely made up of older students—many in middle school—even earning the event’s Rising Stars trophy. Thank you to all of the parents, teachers, and alums who encouraged and coached this impressive team!
+ More photos
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Book Fair. Your purchases added dozens of books to classrooms and the Library, and it also raised $2,882.48 for the Library. A special thank you to Alison Buchanan and Katherine Arst, who did such an incredible job chairing this massive undertaking.
We’d love to have an Emerson parent or friend coach Emerson’s 3rd-5th grade Girls on the Run team this year. Training is provided and you’ll receive a discount registration for your child. Practices will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:30pm at Emerson, March 7 through May 20, with a celebratory 5K on Sunday, May 15. Please contact Rose Hacker with any questions.
+ More information about Girls on the Run
+ Sign up to be a Coach online
All Emerson students in grades 4–8 are welcome to participate in the free, fun competition. Signing up is very easy: Students write their name and the letters “GB” on a piece of paper, then hand it to Lenny Dale any day between now and when he leaves school on Friday, Dec. 11. Understand that Lenny thinks kids should learn to deal with deadlines, and this one is firm. There is no ‘too early’, but there is definitely ‘too late’.
Emerson 8th grader Kristen Umbriac (playing Girl and Mouse) will be performing in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for the Performing Arts. Kristen will perform in all shows over Thanksgiving weekend: Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:00pm; Sat Nov. 28 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:00pm
+ Tickets available online or at 763-TKTS
Does your student have an idea worth spreading? For the first time, middle school students can audition to be a speaker, host, or performer in the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event. Every high school in Ann Arbor participates in this incredible student-led, student-attended event.
+ Learn more and sign up to audition
Looking for something festive and fun for family this holiday season? Emerson Alum Alexis Huczek will be performing in Flowers, Soldiers, Chocolate and Snow, as part of The Nutcracker, presented by the Dance Alliance. See these talented girls perform a holiday favorite on Sunday, December 13th at Saline High School.
+ Learn more
Emerson students and alums Jada Wooten, Danielle Stevanus, Olivia Hollenbeck, Gigi Hauptman, Ellie Kim, Amelia Lunde, Adelyn Mazak, Amy Pandofi, Ella Sinha, and Faith Pearson will be performing in The Nutcracker with Ann Arbor Dance Classics. Break a leg!
+ Learn more
Emerson alums Nia Moore, Lindsay Michaels, and Cammie Treiber are on Skyline Pom and invite 5th-8th graders for a pom clinic on Jan. 30. Please register by Jan. 8.
+ Learn more
2015 Emerson Science Fair: Hydrofest
More than 80 students created exhibits for the Science Fair, which tapped into water in all three states to showcase their knowledge and curiosity. A special thanks to Emerson's 4th-5th Grade ...
In less than a week, it will be Thanksgiving. Many of our families will gather together in this annual celebration of the harvest season to enjoy a sumptuous meal together, watch a parade, and maybe catch a football game. I for one count Thanksgiving as my favorite holiday, both for its humility (no one complains about “Thanksgiving decorations” starting too early) and its focus on family and food.
It is also a season of giving thanks. In this spirit, I want to shine a spotlight on three outstanding Emerson educators who have collectively dedicated over 55 years of service to our students. These three professionals will be retiring at the close of the 2015-2016 school year, and I ask that you join me in thanking them for their hard work, deep compassion, and many achievements.
Cindy Annchild arrived at Emerson in 2001, and she has helped to shape our successful Learning Support Program. Cindy is a true child advocate, and the joy she feels in helping students achieve is readily apparent. Cindy is an optimist at heart, always cheerful, always striving to make the school (and the world) a better place. She is the consummate team player with her colleagues, working collaboratively to problem-solve issues facing our students. We will miss her warmth, her wit, and her wisdom!
At the end of this school year, Marcia Keys will have completed her 27th year at Emerson. Marcia’s deep passion has been the education of gifted students, and this has been evident in her great success teaching Kindergarten. She is a dedicated researcher and a lifelong learner, always on the lookout for new materials and strategies. So many prospective families coming to Emerson have developed their first impressions based upon Marcia’s clear presentations at Open Houses. Marcia combines a loving, affectionate manner with a firm, sensible guidance of children, and we wish her well in retirement.
Jan Walker joined our Technology Team at Emerson in 1999. In her role as Lower School Technology Teacher, she has been a continual source of information on the latest and greatest educational resources for the faculty. Jan guides “digital immigrants” with infinite patience, humor, and kindness. She also helped streamline our process of administering the ERB tests, for which we are thankful. Jan is a lover of animals (as you can see when entering her classroom), as well as Halloween, having organized our Carnival for many years. Best wishes to you, Jan!
Take care,
John
PS: In two weeks, I’ll share a summary of feedback received from my Coffees with the Head. Stay tuned!
ESPO really needs parent participation to make the Bake Sale happen. It’s a favorite of our kids and Grandfriends alike, and your baked good contributions make this event a success. All proceeds will benefit Emerson’s Technology Department. More volunteers are needed both Monday and Tuesday. Please visit the SignUp Genius
Please drop baked goods off Monday morning if possible. Homemade and store-bought are welcome. Curbside drop-off will be available.
+ Sign up to provide food or to volunteer, and do see packaging info
+ Allergen checklist to accompany all donated items
All Emerson students in grades 4–8 are welcome to participate in the free, fun competition. Signing up is very easy: Students write their name and the letters “GB” on a piece of paper, then hand it to Lenny Dale any day between now and when he leaves school on Friday, Dec. 11. Understand that Lenny thinks kids should learn to deal with deadlines, and this one is firm. There is no ‘too early’, but there is definitely ‘too late’.
Thank you to the 22 percent of families who have already made their Annual Fund gifts or pledges. Our goal for participation is always 100 percent, and we ask you to consider making your gift to Emerson’s Annual fund as you wrap up your 2015 charitable giving. Please know that gifts at every level are important; we value your participation.
There are 3 easy ways to give or pledge:
We’d love to have an Emerson parent or friend coach Emerson’s 3rd-5th grade Girls on the Run team this year. Training is provided and you’ll receive a discount registration for your child. Practices will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:30pm at Emerson, March 7 through May 20, with a celebratory 5K on Sunday, May 15. Please contact Rose Hacker with any questions.
+ More information about Girls on the Run
+ Sign up to be a Coach online
Don’t forget the Emerson Book Fair continues at Nicola’s Books through Saturday, November 21st. Simply let the staff at Nicola’s know that you are with Emerson School and 25% of your purchase price will go to the Emerson library. Not in need of new books? No problem, there are a number of teacher wish list books still available, or gift cards to use at a later date or share with friends.
Earn as many as 400 box tops ($40 value) with bonus Box Tops for Education through July 3, 2016 at Sam’s Club.
+ More information and instructions
Support Emerson students Emily Cooper, Emma Hudson, Sophia Kleer, Katie Swallow, and Hannah Ziegler as they perform in the Young People’s Theater’s production of Shrek The Musical! Remaining performances are Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:00pm, Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2:00pm.
+ Learn more
Emerson alumna Emma Throm will perform in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at Skyline. It’s the classic love story between a lovely maiden and a loathsome beast cursed to remain a beast forever unless he can earn a maiden’s love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. Showtimes: Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, at 7:30pm; and Sunday, November 22 at 2:30pm.
+ Learn more
Emerson 8th grader Kristen Umbriac (playing Girl and Mouse) will be performing in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for the Performing Arts. Kristen will perform in all shows over Thanksgiving weekend: Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:00pm; Sat Nov. 28 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:00pm
+ Tickets available online or at 763-TKTS
Does your student have an idea worth spreading? For the first time, middle school students can audition to be a speaker, host, or performer in the third annual TEDxYouth@AnnArbor event. Every high school in Ann Arbor participates in this incredible student-led, student-attended event.
+ Learn more and sign up to audition
Looking for something festive and fun for family this holiday season? Emerson Alum Alexis Huczek will be performing in Flowers, Soldiers, Chocolate and Snow, as part of The Nutcracker, presented by the Dance Alliance. See these talented girls perform a holiday favorite on Sunday, December 13th at Saline High School.
+ Learn more
Emerson alums Nia Moore, Lindsay Michaels, and Cammie Treiber are on Skyline Pom and invite 5th-8th graders for a pom clinic on Jan. 30. Please register by Jan. 8.
+ Learn more
Middle School Band and Orchestra Concert
Musicians in the Middle School Band and Orchestra put on quite a show last night. Students performed in large groups, small ensembles, and 11 brave musicians even improvised their own ...
This past week, four faculty members joined Assistant Head Peggy Wilson and me to attend the ISACS (Independent School Association of the Central States) Annual Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. While we were there, I had the pleasure of taking part in the following talks:
Elsewhere this week, a number of Emerson’s educators led a workshop on Making Thinking Visible, and we sent five teachers to the annual Learning and the Brain Conference. In a few short weeks, two teachers will attend an ISACS workshops titled “Best Practices in Meeting the Needs of Gifted Learners.” These are just a few examples of the types of activities and conferences our teachers take part in. For a bigger window into the rich tradition of professional development at Emerson, take a gander at pages 48 & 49 of the 2014-2015 Annual Report, where you will see how our faculty members epitomize the model of teachers as learners.
I want to thank you, our parents, for making this possible. Your support, both financially (through your tuition and your annual giving) and emotionally (through your patience as teachers are away from Emerson) allows Emerson’s faculty and staff to stay on the cutting edge of education, and to continuously bring best practices into your child’s classroom. The impact on your child’s education is direct, positive, and lasting, and you make it happen.
Take care,
John
PS: You may have heard word that we have a fabulous Book Fair coming up this Sunday at Nicola’s Books, beginning at 4:30pm. Please do make a special effort to attend! I’m looking forward to hearing our students perform and purchasing a few books—all in support of Emerson! See you there!
Classes will start at 9:00am on Monday for all students, K–8. Students arriving before 8:45am will join Morning Childcare, which is available beginning at the regular 7:30 start time.
+ Email Rose Hacker if you will be participating in Morning Childcare on Monday
Faculty will begin team teacher meetings, curriculum map development, and RenWeb training at 7:30am. A late start provides time for these collaborative meetings to take place, and helps address parent requests for more consistent use of RenWeb and more information about curriculum progression. Thank you!
All families should be there, whether your child is submitting a project or not. This exciting science fair will include:
Several parent volunteers are still needed to help with hands-on activities. Please reply to Kelly Vohland if you can volunteer for an hour or so between 6:30pm-8:00pm on Nov. 18th.
Participants: Please bring your project to the gym on Nov. 17, 2:45pm–4:30pm, or Nov. 18, 7:30am–8:30am.
Current 5th graders—and any other families interested in learning more about Emerson’s Middle School—are invited to attend. You will receive a tour from a current Emerson Middle School student, learn about what make’s the middle school experience at Emerson so special, and have opportunities to ask questions and chat with faculty and staff.
77% of new families indicate hearing about Emerson from someone else. Thank you! Your vocal support keeps our school going.
We’d love to have an Emerson parent or friend coach Emerson’s 3rd-5th grade Girls on the Run team this year. Training is provided and you’ll receive a discount registration for your child. Practices will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:30pm at Emerson, March 7 through May 20, with a celebratory 5K on Sunday, May 15. Please contact Rose Hacker with any questions.
+ More information about Girls on the Run
+ Sign up to be a Coach online
All Emerson students in grades 4–8 are welcome to participate in the free, fun competition. Signing up is very easy: Students write their name and the letters “GB” on a piece of paper, then hand it to Lenny Dale any day between now and when he leaves school on Friday, Dec. 11. Understand that Lenny thinks kids should learn to deal with deadlines, and this one is firm. There is no ‘too early’, but there is definitely ‘too late’.
Pies, breads, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats will be available for purchase by children, parents, faculty, and grandfriends—all to benefit the Emerson Technology Dept. and just in time for Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed to provide food, and for packaging, setup, sales, and more.
+ More Info about the Bake Sale
+ Sign up to provide food or to volunteer
Earn as many as 400 box tops ($40 value) with bonus Box Tops for Education through July 3, 2016 at Sam’s Club.
+ More information and instructions
At the most recent ESPO meeting, Matt Gibson, Lead Coach and Cofounder of DistinguishMe, presented how to best prepare students to distinguish themselves for high school, college, and beyond.
+ DistinguishMe info for Emerson families: http://distinguishme.com/emerson
Every member (100%) of Emerson’s Faculty & Staff and every Emerson Trustee has already made their gift or pledge to the 2015-2016 Annual Fund. But we still need the support of 100% of Emerson families because tuition revenue does not cover the full cost of your child’s Emerson education.
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson, (734)665-5662 x305
This is an annual opportunity for students to share everything they’re learning with their grandfriends and show them around school. Invitations have been mailed out to grandfriends inviting them (only sent if you indicated during enrollment/re-enrollment that you would like your grandfriend to receive an invitation). If you would like an invitation sent to someone else, please email Lower School Office Manager Joan Gregorka, or call 734-665-5662, ext. 307.
+ Grandfriends’ Day invitation and schedule
Starting Sunday, November 1, it will no longer be necessary to pay with a Busch’s Cash for Education gift card to earn rewards for Emerson. Moving forward, you can simply shop, provide your Busch’s MyWay phone number or key tag at the register and receive credit.
+ Busch’s Cash for Education FAQ
Middle School students are encouraged to participate in this fun, school-spirit-building activity. The themes for each day are:
Visit the school, meet the teachers, and talk with sports coaches and student clubs. Our award-winning Madrigal singers will be performing near the Chapel where you can also enjoy refreshments.
+ More information
Sunday, Nov. 15, 1:00pm presentation, testing 1:30pm–3:00pm. At The Michigan League, Vandenberg Room, 911 N. University in Ann Arbor. No pre-registration required.
+ More information
Congratulations to Lucas Caswell and Lance Caswell, who collected and donated more than 140 pounds of leftover candy, donated by other Emerson families, for Operation Gratitude. Current and former military members will receive 14 boxes of sweets thanks to their efforts.
“Thank you Emerson for donating leftover candy for Operation Gratitude.” —Lance and Lucas Caswell
Emerson alumna Emma Throm will perform in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at Skyline. It’s the classic love story between a lovely maiden and a loathsome beast cursed to remain a beast forever unless he can earn a maiden’s love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. Showtimes: Saturday, November 14 at 2:30pm. and 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, at 7:30pm; and Sunday, November 22 at 2:30pm.
+ Learn more
5th Grade Mystery Mingle in the Library
If you saw some suspicious characters in the library today, it was just 5th graders from Mrs. Kime's class capping off their mystery lesson. Students became literary figures who were suspects, ...
Earlier this week as I walked into school after curbside duty, I noticed a blue Post-It note on the ground. It read, simply:
After-Care. I Love You!
At first, I thought, “How sweet—our parents really love Emerson’s After Care program!” And certainly many of you have shared in my Coffees with the Head how much you appreciate the rich array of offerings available both before and after school for our students. But I soon realized that this note wasn’t for the amazing team in After Care. It was a note dropped out of a lunchbox for a child—part reminder to the child about after-school plans, and part note of love and encouragement.
Seeing this note was a small but powerful reminder of the impact of showing care, kindness, and appreciation. It’s not always necessary to make a grand gesture, as the humble note can be enough to brighten one’s day. And although Thanksgiving is still three weeks away, I don’t think it’s too early to reflect on giving thanks and sharing appreciation.
This was reinforced the next day, when I received a stack of notes from our 1st graders. They had the assignment of writing thank-you notes to people who help the school, and some of the students decided to write to me. One of my favorites (invented spelling and all) was the following:
Dear Mr. Huber, Thank You for beaing such a Grate principal. Your a verre funny gy.
Perhaps one of the best compliments I’ve received—someone in 1st grade appreciates my sense of humor!
So, with this in mind, please be sure to keep writing notes for your children, even for Middle School students who might consider themselves too old for such notes. And please give thought to writing a short note or email of thanks to your child’s teachers and caregivers. The little note goes a long way.
Take care,
John
Correction: Although it appears that no one noticed the error in last week’s newsletter, I feel compelled to correct an inadvertent mistake. Due to a formatting error, the formula for exponential growth was listed as y=a(b)x, when it should bey=a(b)x.
If children wish to have their picture retaken they must return their packet to the office by Tuesday. Nov. 10. Pictures will be taken in the morning. Emerson fall sports teams will have their pictures taken around 11:00am and should bring their uniforms to school that day.
Moses Lee and Matt Gibson, Lead Coaches and Cofounders of DistinguishMe, will share how to best prepare students to distinguish themselves for high school, college, and beyond.
+ More info about Emerson’s passion projects and DistinguishMe
+ ESPO meeting agenda
Support the Emerson School Library (25% of sales go to Emerson) at an evening filled with books, fun, student performances, mingling with friends, and author signings.
+ Volunteer at the Book Fair or to provide refreshments
Author Signings at the Book Fair:
The Emerson Science Department is pleased to announce that this year we will be presenting a science fair of incredible hydrological proportions—a virtual festival of H2O—called HYDROFEST 2015!
+ More Info and sign-up instructions
Pies, breads, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats will be available for purchase by children, parents, faculty, and grandfriends—all to benefit the Emerson Technology Dept. and just in time for Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed to provide food, and for packaging, setup, sales, and more.
+ More Info about the Bake Sale
+ Sign up to provide food or to volunteer
This is an annual opportunity for students to share everything they’re learning with their grandfriends and show them around school. Invitations have been mailed out to grandfriends inviting them (only sent if you indicated during enrollment/re-enrollment that you would like your grandfriend to receive an invitation). If you would like an invitation sent to someone else, please email Lower School Office Manager Joan Gregorka, or call 734-665-5662, ext. 307.
+ Grandfriends’ Day invitation and schedule
Starting Sunday, November 1, it will no longer be necessary to pay with a Busch’s Cash for Education gift card to earn rewards for Emerson. Moving forward, you can simply shop, provide your Busch’s MyWay phone number or key tag at the register and receive credit.
+ Busch’s Cash for Education FAQ
Please check your youngest student’s backpack for the 2014-2015 Annual Report sent home on Monday, Nov. 1. It highlights the wonderful things that happened during the 2014-2015 school year, and is a recognition of the many generous donors who help fill the gap between tuition and the cost of operating the school. This year’s report also includes the Building STEAM Campaign’s wrap-up report.
+ See a copy of the Annual Report online
Purchase student artwork and raise funds for art field trips. If you misplaced your access code and would like it re-sent, please email Emerson Art Teacher Jennifer Tanau. Items should arrive by the last week of November. Orders can still be placed after Nov. 11, but will ship directly to parents at their expense.
+ Order artwork
Middle School students are encouraged to participate in this fun, school-spirit-building activity. The themes for each day are:
Students in 5th through 8th grade interested in being a part of the MathCounts team can join coach Hojin Han in MS room 205 for the first practice session on Friday Nov. 6 from 3:00pm–4:00pm. This group is for any mathletes who are interested in working together to develop their math skills in preparation for the Regional (and potentially State) tournament in mid-February. There is no cost to join and no season-long commitment required.
+ For more information, contact Andy Zimmer
Visit the school, meet the teachers, and talk with sports coaches and student clubs. Our award-winning Madrigal singers will be performing near the Chapel where you can also enjoy refreshments.
+ More information
Sunday, Nov. 15, 1:00pm presentation, testing 1:30pm–3:00pm. At The Michigan League, Vandenberg Room, 911 N. University in Ann Arbor. No pre-registration required.
+ More information
Emerson alumna Emma Throm will perform in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at Skyline. It’s the classic love story between a lovely maiden and a loathsome beast cursed to remain a beast forever unless he can earn a maiden’s love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. Showtimes: Saturday, November 14 at 2:30pm. and 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, at 7:30pm; and Sunday, November 22 at 2:30pm.
+ Learn more
By Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School soccer team finished off their season with a strong performance against rival Ann Arbor Christian (AACS). The two teams entered the final game of the year separated by two points on ...
By Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School soccer team finished off their season with a strong performance against rival Ann Arbor Christian (AACS). The two teams entered the final game of the year separated by two points on the league table, Emerson with six wins for 18 points, AACS with five wins and a draw for 16. A win by AACS would cause them to finish in first place, with 19 points.
The weather was brisk, to say the least, with the temperature dipping toward 40, coupled with 20 mph winds gusting to 30. The players of both teams seemed largely unfazed. Emerson got off to a quick start, pushing up into the offensive third of the field, pressuring the AACS goal, and then getting the important first goal in just the second minute of play. Brenan Dionne, who had been frustrated all season with many narrow misses, battled to a loose ball in a scramble in front of the net and buried it, to the delight of his teammates, who happily mobbed him on the way back to center.
Emerson continued to put steady pressure on AACS, but the score remained 1-0 as halftime approached. AACS managed one strong rush into the Emerson end, and got off a good shot, but Jack Finnegan was in perfect position to make the save. In the 21st minute, Mati Teklamariam received a wonderful cross, from deep on the right side, and one-timed it on the fly inside the back post, growing the Emerson lead to 2-0. Just moments before the whistle for intermission, Christopher Chuparkoff made it 3-0, and then, 3 minutes into the 2nd half, added another for a commanding 4-0 advantage. Midway through the period Grant Murphy got in on the scoring, with back-to-back goals in the 15th and 20th minutes, and the rout was on. Suzanne Chuparkoff, then Jack Murphy, and finally Gabe Kellman each scored in the final 10 minutes, and Jack Finnegan made a fine, diving save to his left as time wound down to preserve the shutout, sending the Emerson kids home with a resounding 9-0 victory and the school’s 4th consecutive championship.
As impressive as the offense was, it was the Emerson defense that quietly and consistently confounded opponents. Over the course of 11 games, only eight goals were allowed, and five of the eight league games were shutouts. Captain Austin Sarns, Elliot Beck, Henry Branch, and Evelynne Crumm all spent the season on the back line, out of the scoring limelight but generally keeping the entire opposing team out that same light. Hats off to them, and the entire team, for their well-earned championship.
Thank You Halloween Volunteers!
Thank you to all of the wonderful parent volunteers and Emerson Faculty and Staff who helped make the ESPO Halloween Carnival such a tremendous event for our Emerson students. So many of you loaned ...
This past Tuesday, I was pleasantly challenged with the following mathematics questions:
If the answers to these questions aren’t coming to you right away, I’d suggest that you talk with our 4th and 8th graders. (I have also given the answers below, for those of you without ready access to 4th or 8th graders.)
As part of our cycle of professional engagement, I had the joy of formally observing two math courses, one in Lower School and one in Middle School. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to witness firsthand our math instruction, as well as offer feedback to our teachers.
What first impressed me in both lessons was not the depth of the material (which was impressive in itself) but that there was a high degree of engagement by the students. The students were not just there to learn math, but to conquer it.
I was also pleased to note that our faculty gave students the time and space to struggle with difficult questions. So many times, we are eager to get to the product, the right answer, at the cost of the process. As I wrote about last week, a growth mindset approach means that students are taught to persevere through challenge, rather than given a belief that math ability is innate and immovable.
Finally, I appreciated seeing the thought and effort on the teachers’ part to seek to differentiate the difficulty of the work, based upon the students’ achievement. In both classes, students had the opportunity to stretch beyond the topic of the moment and dig deeper.
Math instruction is frequently on parents’ minds in my Coffees with the Head. As my first year at Emerson goes along, I look forward to learning more about how we teach math here, as well as how our instruction best prepares students for 9th grade and beyond.
Take care,
John
Answers: all rhombuses are parallelograms, but not all parallelograms have four equal sides required for rhombuses. Linear growth is y=mx+b, exponential growth is y=a(b)x.
As hot topics come up from parents, John Huber will be inviting experts to discuss them during his 8:30am Head Update at ESPO meetings.
Moses Lee and Matt Gibson, Lead Coaches and Cofounders of DistinguishMe, will share how to best prepare students to distinguish themselves for high school, college, and beyond. Moses and Matt will be meeting with our Middle School faculty and students later in November to help our students develop their own passion projects.
+ More info about Emerson’s passion projects and DistinguishMe
Meet with Emerson’s Counselor Carrie Berkley to learn about the range of support and services provided to our students.
Congrats to the Emerson soccer team, which won its final game of the season against rival Ann Arbor Christian School 9–0. The decisive win was also the victory that secured the League Championship for Emerson, for the fourth straight season.
+ Read the play-by-play recap by Coach Lenny
Come browse the book shelves, enjoy some refreshments, mingle with classmates, teachers, and friends, and support the Emerson School Library! The book fair will be an evening filled with fun, student performances, and author signings. So come one, come all, to this fun-filled event! Volunteers are needed, so please sign up if you can help with this event.
+ Volunteer at the Book Fair or to provide refreshments
Starting Sunday, November 1, it will no longer be necessary to pay with a Busch’s Cash for Education gift card to earn rewards for Emerson. Moving forward, you can simply shop, provide your Busch’s MyWay phone number or key tag at the register and receive credit.
+ Busch’s Cash for Education FAQ
Congrats to the Girls Cross Country Team, which took first place in the season-ending Honey Creek Phoenix Invitational Cross Country Meet. The Boys Cross Country Team also finished strong with a third place finish. Coach Bryan Seymour says, “Congratulations to all of the runners for a great season!”
The Emerson Science Department is pleased to announce that this year we will be presenting a science fair of incredible hydrological proportions—a virtual festival of H2O–something we call HYDROFEST 2015!
+ More Info and sign-up instructions
On Monday, check your student’s backpack for the 2014-2015 Annual Report, full of student activities, artwork, and recognition. Thank you for your ongoing support of Emerson School!
Don’t throw away your unwanted or leftover Halloween candy. Instead, give it toOperation Gratitude. The candy will be used for care packages for military troops. Lucas and Lance Caswell are putting out boxes to collect the candy. The boxes will be in the Fishbowl beginning on Friday, October 30th until Friday, November 6th. Please ask Lucas or Lance if you have any questions.
The second trimester electives will will remain open until noon on Monday, Nov. 2. Please be sure your student finalizes their elective choices.
+ Elective descriptions and sign-up instructions
Students in 5th through 8th grade interested in being a part of the MathCounts team can join coach Hojin Han in MS room 205 for the first practice session on Friday Nov. 6 from 3:00pm–4:00pm. This group is for any mathletes who are interested in working together to develop their math skills in preparation for the Regional (and potentially State) tournament in mid-February. There is no cost to join and no season-long commitment required.
+ For more information, contact Andy Zimmer
Visit the school, meet the teachers, and talk with sports coaches and student clubs. Our award-winning Madrigal singers will be performing near the Chapel where you can also enjoy refreshments.
+ More information
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
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
The Nov. 10 ESPO Meeting featured special guest speaker Matt Gibson, Co-Founder and Coach at DistinguishMe, who discussed why demonstrating passion and being interesting is how students can distinguish themselves for high school, ...
The Nov. 10 ESPO Meeting featured special guest speaker Matt Gibson, Co-Founder and Coach at DistinguishMe, who discussed why demonstrating passion and being interesting is how students can distinguish themselves for high school, college, and beyond. DistinguishMe coaches will be working with Emerson Middle School faculty, who will be helping students develop their own passion projects.
+ More information for Emerson School families is available at http://distinguishme.com/emerson
Most students believe they need to be involved in tons of activities to impress great colleges. But the truth in college admissions today is that it’s better to have deep engagement in one or two activities than shallow participation in many. Quality over quantity.
But how do you define a quality activity that helps a student not only become a better college applicant, but also a better student? The answer: a passion project. A passion project is an applied demonstration of a passion outside of the classroom.
In this special talk, we will discuss the three critical components of a passion project – authentic passion, demonstrated action, and impactful goals – and how to guide your children through them. In addition, we will share insights into how the college admissions process has evolved and what it means for you and your kids today.
ABOUT THE DISTINGUISHME TEAM
Matt Gibson, PhD
Matt is passionate about working with students and seeing them succeed. He has a unique background that combines education, engineering, business, and entrepreneurship. He is currently Director of Undergraduate Programs at the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship. Previously, Matt served as the Vice President of Research and Development at Iontera, a startup focused on developing drug delivery and cosmetic products. Matt is also a patent agent with deep experience in intellectual property. Matt received his Engineering PhD at the University of Michigan.
Moses Lee
Moses has spent the past 10 years working with students to succeed. Moses is the cofounder of Seelio, an education technology company that partners with universities to help prepare students for meaningful careers. In 2014, Seelio was acquired by Keypath Education, a global education company with offices in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Today, Moses is Group President at Keypath Education. Prior to Seelio, Moses directed TechArb, the University of Michigan entrepreneurship accelerator and taught the entrepreneurship practicum course and introduction to social entrepreneurship. Moses graduated with a BBA and MA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Brian K. Lee
Brian is a technology professional who works with youth and students in his spare time. He most recently led the iPhone and iPad teams for iHeartRadio and was responsible for millions of users. Prior to that he founded a social and mobile gaming company. He has worked with students from tutoring to mentoring and currently is leading youth at a local church. Brian graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale University.
Building Community
These students are only in 2nd grade but already learning about how communities work. Now they are working together and thinking like engineers to build their own rural, suburban, and urban ...
Well done!
Good job!
Excellent!
We use these words of praise to congratulate our children on their achievements, and we feel good in providing positive reinforcement to them for their successes. But consider for a moment – is this the best way to encourage and nurture growth?
At the AIMS Conference this past Monday, I attended a workshop on growth mindset led by Stacy Rivard and Dr. Linda Flaga of Cranbrook Schools. They shared that the development of a growth mindset in students can lead to both greater success and greater self-fulfillment.
Author Carol Dweck, in her book Mindset, describes a growth mindset as one that assumes that “brains” and talent are only the starting points to success, and that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. A growth mindset is especially critical for gifted and academically talented students (and girls in particular), who often believe that intelligence is innate, and that concepts must be understood quickly. A fixed mindset, however, can instill a fear of failure and a readiness to give up too easily.
One key way to develop a growth mindset (and this is where you come in, parents!), is to be thoughtful about how we praise students. The best sort of praise, the kind that can motivate students as well as adults, is authentic, specific, and focused on effort and process. For example, a perfunctory “good job!” can actually demotivate, while thoughtful comments such as “I like the way you worked hard to complete that project” or “it looks like you’ve mastered that…what’s your next challenge?” will spur on further effort. Please take a moment to see this short video that handily summarizes the effective use of praise.
Coincidentally, this very week, I am receiving feedback from the Board on my first 100 days at Emerson. It’s hard to believe how quickly 100 days have passed by! I look forward to this feedback, not just because I’m eager to hear where the fit is strong, but I’m also looking for specific areas in how best to improve. After all, if we’re looking to foster growth mindsets in our young learners, we need to be ready to model growth mindsets ourselves.
Be well,
John
The Halloween is fast approaching, there is just 1 week left! Thank you to all who have helped decorate the lower school. Help is needed to decorate on Thursday evening (Oct 29) or Friday morning (Oct 31). The Halloween Carnival is such a fun event for the little ones, but it requires MANY parent volunteers. Please consider staying after the carnival to help take down the decorations.
+ Contact Jamie Sinha with questions
+ Sign Up to help!
Please check the Lost and Found, located in the Fish Bowl near the After care entry doors. Items remaining after next Friday will be donated.
Don’t throw away your unwanted or leftover Halloween candy. Instead, give it to Operation Gratitude. The candy will be used for care packages for military troops. Lucas and Lance Caswell are putting out boxes to collect the candy. The boxes will be in the Fishbowl beginning on Friday, October 30th until Friday, November 6th. Ask Lucas or Lance if you have any questions.
The Emerson Science Department is pleased to announce that this year we will be presenting a science fair of incredible hydrological proportions– a virtual festival of H2O–something we call…HYDROFEST 2015!
+ More Info and How to Sign-Up
Every member (100%) of Emerson’s Faculty & Staff and every Emerson Trustee has already made their gift or pledge to the 2015-2016 Annual Fund. But we still need the support of 100% of Emerson families because tuition revenue does not cover the full cost of your child’s Emerson education.
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson, (734)665-5662 x305
Thank you to all of the parents who attended this week’s Auction Kick-Off meeting. Many have already stepped up to fill important roles, but volunteers are still needed to chair committees, serve as a leaders, or to be Auction Ambassadors. Please get involved and join the fun.
+ Learn more and volunteer
The second trimester electives will open today, Friday, October 23 at 3:00 PM. The elective forms will close at noon on Monday, November 2nd.
+ Directions on how to Sign-Up
Students in 5th through 8th grade interested in being a part of the MathCounts team can join coach Hojin Han in MS Room 205 for the first practice session on Friday Nov. 6th from 3:00-4:00 PM. This group is for any mathletes who are interested in working together to develop their math skills in preparation for the Regional (and potentially State) tournament in mid-February. There is no cost to join and no season-long commitment required.
+ For more information, contact Andy Zimmer
Emerson parent Naresh Gunaratham and Emerson students traveled to Sri Lanka to support the Grade Care Center.
+ Read all about it in the feature story in October’s issue of The Ann
Be one of the first to view this film. Beyond Measure, What Counts Can’t Be Counted, a film about transforming our educational system from the ground up! There will be a facilitated discussion afterwards. Film will run until 3:30 and be followed by a discussion group.
+ More Info on the film
+ Purchase Tickets
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
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
Math Review, Hoops-Style
Photo via Twitter, @zimmera
Letter from the Head of School
Dear Parents,
This past Monday, as I sat in on our weekly Middle School Assembly, our student presenter gleefully announced that his ...
This past Monday, as I sat in on our weekly Middle School Assembly, our student presenter gleefully announced that his classmates were about to enjoy a five-day weekend. And while our presenter may not have fully acknowledged the reasons for the long weekend, the faculty in the room knew exactly the value of these days.
Any time we close school for students, we want to be sure that we do so for very good reasons. Outstanding educators such as those at Emerson are focused on lifelong learning, continuous improvement, and clear communication, and these days provided us with the necessary time to focus on these goals. This past week during Parent-Teacher Conferences, our teachers sought to engage in face-to-face conversations with our families and strengthen the home-school connection. (By the way, I want to thank all the very kind parents who provided us with food for our conferences. Our teachers are well-loved and well-fed!)
My question to you, as it has been during my parent coffees, is simply this – does the structure of Parent-Teacher Conferences work? Does it facilitate the “A to B” discussions I spoke about at our Curriculum Nights, the opportunities to meet in person to talk about our students, your children? I look forward to receiving your feedback as we tinker with the structure to best meet this goal.
This coming Monday, the faculty and I will be travelling to University Liggett School and Grosse Pointe Academy for the biennial Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS) conference. There we will join over 1,000 fellow educators to choose from over 75 sessions, all focused on the 6 C’s of 21st century learning – critical thinking, creativity, conscientious living, communication, collaboration, and choice. Additionally, many of our trustees will be arriving later to attend a talk by the Chief Operating Officer of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Donna Orem, who will be discussing trends affecting both Michigan schools and independent schools across the nation.
The lessons gained from our AIMS conference, and the information shared during our Parent-Teacher Conferences, will both help us to be better educators when the students return on Tuesday.
Be well,
John
Halloween is quickly approaching and plans are underway for our ESPO Halloween Carnival (Friday, October 30)! This is such a fun event for the kids (and adults), but we need lots of help. There are many ways to help – donating items, spending time helping decorate, and helping on the day of the carnival.
+ Contact Jamie Sinha with questions
+ Sign Up to help!
Here’s a question for you: It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent, incompressible, the universal solvent, the only common substance found naturally in all three states of matter, one of the only substances that is less dense as a solid than a liquid, and absolutely necessary for all life as we know it on planet earth. What are we talking about?
WATER, of course–one of the most amazing substances on our planet, and one of the most important! And it’s time we took a closer look at this miracle on earth, this simple substance that supports us all. The Emerson Science Department is pleased to announce that this year we will be presenting a science fair of incredible hydrological proportions– a virtual festival of H2O–something we call…HYDROFEST 2015!
+ More Info and How to Sign-Up
Every member (100%) of Emerson’s Faculty & Staff and every Emerson Trustee has already made their gift or pledge to the 2015-2016 Annual Fund. But we still need the support of 100% of Emerson families because tuition revenue does not cover the full cost of your child’s Emerson education.
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson, (734)665-5662 x305
Thank you to all of the parents who attended this week’s Auction Kick-Off meeting. Many have already stepped up to fill important roles, but volunteers are still needed to chair committees, serve as a leaders, or to be Auction Ambassadors. Please get involved and join the fun.
+ Learn more and volunteer
An ASUS laptop was found on the floor in middle school this week. Also a black iPhone has been in the office for several weeks. If either of these items are yours, please contact Mrs. Hodges in the Middle School Office.
+ Email Mrs. Hodges, or call 734.665.5662 ext 301.
For current 4th and 5th grade families, please attend one of our two upcoming Information Nights: Sunday, October 25, 2:00pm or Wednesday, November 17, 7:00pm. This is your best opportunity to see how we build upon the Lower School foundation, and how we continue to educate, inspire, challenge, and empower students as they move up to Middle School.
+ More Information
Students in 5th through 8th grade interested in being a part of the MathCounts team can join coach Hojin Han in MS Room 205 for the first practice session on Friday Nov. 6th from 3:00-4:00 PM. This group is for any mathletes who are interested in working together to develop their math skills in preparation for the Regional (and potentially State) tournament in mid-February. There is no cost to join and no season-long commitment required.
+ For more information, contact Andy Zimmer
Emerson parent Naresh Gunaratham and Emerson students traveled to Sri Lanka to support the Grade Care Center.
+ Read all about it in the feature story in October’s issue of The Ann
Emerson School is a sponsor of the special screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, a classic family movie, and we have passes for Emerson families and friends to see it for free. Pick up complimentary passes for kids and adults in the Lower School office.
+ Learn more
Be one of the first to view this film. Beyond Measure, What Counts Can’t Be Counted, a film about transforming our educational system from the ground up! There will be a facilitated discussion afterwards. Film will run until 3:30 and be followed by a discussion group.
+ More Info on the film
+ Purchase Tickets
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
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
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
Life in the internet age is replete with opportunity and connectivity as well as challenges to kids’ privacy and safety. Educators from the Washtenaw Area Council for Children address key cyber safety topics in this free presentation on Thursday, October 22nd, at 7:30pm.
+ More Information – free event but registration required
Sunday, October 25, 2:00pm
Wednesday, November 17, 7:00pm
Your child is approaching a time of immense social, physical, intellectual, and emotional change: Middle School. We would like to invite you, along with all 4th ...
Your child is approaching a time of immense social, physical, intellectual, and emotional change: Middle School. We would like to invite you, along with all 4th and 5th grade families, to learn about moving up to 6th grade at Emerson.
This is your best opportunity to see how we build upon the Lower School foundation, and how we continue to educate, inspire, challenge, and empower students as they move up to Middle School. At this meeting you will:
I hope you will join us to learn about the Middle School at Emerson. Students are welcome to attend, though the program is tailored for parents. We look forward to seeing you there.
All the best,
Andy Zimmer
Middle School Director
Students can look forward to new challenges, responsibilities, and autonomy, but in a familiar environment that builds on the foundation set in Lower School.
Middle School students are Emerson’s upperclassmen, allowing children to develop at their natural pace and become our schools leaders. There is much less urgency to become high schoolers.
Curriculum becomes more challenging and new subjects are introduced. At the same time, electives and activities provide many more opportunities for students to find out who they are and what they are interested in.
From day one, students will be part of a “house system” that helps them bond and grow as a unit. Community service, activity planning, challenges, and contests allow students to find support while being part of something bigger than themselves.
Nov. 18, 2015, 6:30pm-7:45pm
Here’s a question for you: It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent, incompressible, the universal solvent, the only common substance found naturally in all three states of matter, one of the only ...
Here’s a question for you: It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent, incompressible, the universal solvent, the only common substance found naturally in all three states of matter, one of the only substances that is less dense as a solid than a liquid, and absolutely necessary for all life as we know it on planet earth. What are we talking about?
WATER, of course–one of the most amazing substances on our planet, and one of the most important! And it’s time we took a closer look at this miracle on earth, this simple substance that supports us all. The Emerson Science Department is pleased to announce that this year we will be presenting a science fair of incredible hydrological proportions—a virtual festival of H2O—something we call… HYDROFEST 2015!
We’re excited to share with you our plans for Emerson’s annual Science Fair, which will focus this year on projects, experiments, models, and activities that have to do with the science, the majesty, and the incredible importance of water in our world. The fair will take place on Wednesday evening, November 18th (with set up beginning after school on November 17th). Along with showcasing the students’ projects that evening, we will also present design/build challenges for the kids, water “events,” and demonstrations/presentations by others. Some surprises are in the works!
We’ve already brainstormed a host of ideas as possibilities for your child’s participation in Hydrofest 2015. The list we are offering below will be shared with your child(ren) in their science classes here at school, and we’ll continue to discuss with all students the details of the fair and the many possibilities for projects. The list below is only a start! We’d like to ask you now to consider how you can support your child in participating. We would be thrilled if your family can join us at the Hydrofest and hope your child will create a project to display there.
The Chemistry of Water
The Water Cycle
Water on our Planet or Others
Life in Water/Water in Life
Water and Energy
Water Conservation & Issues
To participate in this year’s Hydrofest Science Fair, your child should first decide on what he/she would like to do. If help is needed for ideas, materials, or anything really, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please reply to this email or fill out the bottom of this letter and return it to your science teacher by October 30th. Be ready to bring the project to school on Nov. 17th after school (until 4:30pm) or before school on the morning of Nov. 18th.
We’re looking forward to many wonderful projects again this year!
Kelly Vohland, Mike Wilson, Tim Wilson, Mary Spaller, and Becky Wancier
To participate, please provide the following information, either on a piece of paper to your child’s science teacher or by emailing Kelly Vohland at kvohland@emerson-school.org:
Fifth Grade Scientists
Like true scientists, these 5th graders are observing nature from raised cots to prevent disrupting their subjects and tainting their findings.
+ More Info
Letter from the Head of School
Dear ...
Just thirty minutes ago, prior to composing this newsletter article, I was cheering on Emerson’s cross-country teams as they competed in their final match of the season. Once again our students performed well, with many Emerson athletes receiving ribbons in both the JV and Varsity races. Congratulations to Coach Bryan Seymour and to all of our young athletes on another fabulous season!
Cross-country is such a wonderful sport, and I’m pleased that Emerson maintains a vibrant team. This is a sport in which students at all levels of athleticism can join. There’s a sense of gender equity, as both boys and girls can participate in the same races of the same lengths. Families need not invest in expensive equipment or rent practice space – all a runner needs is shoes and a place to run. Running is also a lifelong sport, one that students can take into their adult lives. I particularly like the warm, supportive spirit of the crowds at cross-country matches, as spectators will cheer on all of the runners, down to the very last person on the course.
Perhaps the sport’s greatest strength, though, is that the focus is on each runner to strive for his or her personal best. While teams and schools compete, each athlete can work to achieve personal improvement. Collectively, it’s important for every runner to improve his or her time – it’s not just about a select few star athletes. The message at the end of each race is, in a nutshell, “You did well. Can you do better?”
If this isn’t a philosophy for living, then I don’t know what is. Perhaps this can be the message you have with your child, as you come away from parent conferences next week. You did well. Where can you do better? Celebrate the achievements, and work toward steady improvement.
Be well,
John
Conference sign-ups are open until Monday, October 12, at 9:00pm.
+ More information about conferences and how to register
+ Information on Childcare programming during conferences
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
Halloween is quickly approaching and plans are underway for our ESPO Halloween Carnival (Friday, October 30)! This is such a fun event for the kids (and adults), but we need lots of help. There are many ways to help – donating items, spending time helping decorate, and helping on the day of the carnival.
+ Contact Jamie Sinha with questions
+ Sign Up to help!
Every member (100%) of Emerson’s Faculty & Staff and every Emerson Trustee has already made their gift or pledge to the 2015-2016 Annual Fund. But we still need the support of 100% of Emerson families because tuition revenue does not cover the full cost of your child’s Emerson education.
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson, (734)665-5662 x305
For the safety of the students, please do not park along curbside (the pickup/dropoff lane) between 3:00 and 3:30pm. The Ann Arbor School Bus uses this area to pick up bus riders and requires the curbside lane to be car-free.
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
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
Awesome programming is available from our After School Programming staff. Space is limited and registration is required!
+ Information on Childcare programming during conferences
+ Contact Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org to register or to ask questions.
Awesome programming is available from our After School Programming staff. Space is limited and registration is required!
+ Information on Childcare programming during conferences
+ Contact Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org to register or to ask questions.
Emerson School is a sponsor of the special screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, a classic family movie, and we have passes for Emerson families and friends to see it for free. Pick up complimentary passes for kids and adults in the Lower School office.
+ Learn more
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
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
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
Life in the internet age is replete with opportunity and connectivity as well as challenges to kids’ privacy and safety. Educators from the Washtenaw Area Council for Children address key cyber safety topics in this free presentation on Thursday, October 22nd, at 7:30pm.
+ More Information – free event but registration required
Best in Nation
Emerson Students Excel at USA-SOS Internet Safety Challenge
More than 2,000 schools participated in last year's USA-SOS Internet Safety Challenge, and then 4th grader Mark Labovitz (current 5th grader) finished first ...
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
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
+ Contact Beth Muszkiewicz at bethm@emerson-school.org to register or to ask questions.
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
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
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
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
Admission information, including Ann Arbor placement testing dates, open house dates, and application info is now available.
+ Learn more about FGR High School admissions
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
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
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
For the last few years, Emerson 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students have participated in the USA SOS ("Safe Online Surfing") Internet Challenge. The program served over 500,000 students with over 2,000 schools participated.
For the ...
For the last few years, Emerson 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students have participated in the USA SOS (“Safe Online Surfing”) Internet Challenge. The program served over 500,000 students with over 2,000 schools participated.
For the 2014-2015 school year, Emerson 4th Grade student, Mark Labovitz, scored the highest in the nation for Grade 4 in the online safety quiz. Emerson’s 5th Grade also had the highest combined score in the nation for all the fifth grades and ended up in first place. Also of note, 31 Emerson students in grades 3-5 placed in the top 10% in the nation. Trophies for the first place winners were presented during assemblies this past week.
More information on the USA-SOS Program:
Written by Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took a short trip to Steiner School Tuesday, to play their rivals, the Stars. After an easy game last week against Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus, the kids were ...
Written by Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took a short trip to Steiner School Tuesday, to play their rivals, the Stars. After an easy game last week against Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus, the kids were anticipating a tougher match, and they were not disappointed. Steiner opened the game with numerous pushes into the Emerson penalty area, especially down their left side, generating a strong shot that sailed high and to the right of the far post, and then, in the 4th minute, one that found that same corner for a 1-0 Steiner lead.
Emerson made a few adjustments, adding a bit of strength and size to that side of the defense, and height at goalie. Things improved somewhat, and when Chris Chuparkoff suggested that he drop back to add more balance to the defense, things really fell into place. Steiner struggled to push into their offensive third, while the Eagles started creating serious chances of their own. In the 10th minute, Mati Teklemariam scored from his center forward position, knotting the score. Barely a minute later, Zack Kubisiak put on a slick display of ball wizardry, dribbling around and through numerous Steiner defenders until he found himself behind the defense and one-on-one against the Steiner keeper, whom he beat handily, giving Emerson a 2-1 lead. Three minutes on, it was Henry Branch, working from the right, who extended the Eagle lead to 3-1, followed in the 20th minute by Chris working through the left side and giving Emerson the 4-1 lead they would take into intermission.
Steiner changed keepers for the second half, and was consequently much stronger in that department, but in so doing gave up their strength on their left side. Their keeper made numerous excellent saves, but the Emerson defense wasn’t seriously challenged again. In the 50th minute, Gabe Kellman finally solved the new keeper, giving the Eagles their 5-1 final margin of victory.
Emerson next faces St. Francis, whom they will host at Emerson on Tuesday, 9/29, at 4 o’clock. Thursday, 10/1, will find the Eagles back at Steiner for a scrimmage, also at 4 o’clock.
There Must Be Something in the Water Samples
Real-World, Hands-On Math and Science in 6th Grade
Today 6th graders collected data from pond water samples for a water quality analysis being done in math and science classes. Students ...
The other day, a group of Middle School students interviewed me for the WEMS weekly newscast, and they asked what interested me in coming to Emerson. I rattled off a fairly long list—the school’s mission, the richness of the program, the leadership of its board and administration, among many other things. I also shared that I’m smitten with Ann Arbor itself, and I’ve been told by one of my colleagues that this pleasant autumnal weather lasts all year long (I hope she’s correct).
But at its heart, what interested me most in coming here is the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff. This is a deeply dedicated group of professionals whose focus is on the students’ growth and development. When I surveyed the faculty at the beginning of the year, asking them to rank what matters most in their experiences at Emerson, they shared that interactions with students mattered most, above safety, above salary, above all other work conditions,and that they are very satisfied with these student interactions.
I must share with you the most recent example of our faculty’s excellence. In just the first week of school, the entire faculty and staff made their commitment to the school’s Annual Fund. We are at 100% for the fifth straight year. Not only this, but overall giving increased almost 20% from last year! These are individuals who give tirelessly of themselves, so for them to make this additional commitment is incredibly meaningful. I look forward to our entire school community following their outstanding example!
On a separate note, please know that we will be opening our online conference schedule this Sunday. Though I will have the pleasure of meeting many of you during my weekly grade level Coffees with the Head, I recognize that some of you may not be able to attend one of these gatherings, or you’d like the chance to meet with me individually. I will be happy to meet with families during conferences, so once you’ve signed up to meet with your child’s teachers, feel free to add an additional meeting with me.
Be well,
John
Parents can sign up online for conferences beginning Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9:00pm and will remain open until Oct. 12 at 9:00pm.
+ More information about conferences and how to register
If you would like to make changes to your child’s Pizza Lunch order, please email Stephanie Zabinko, Pizza Lunch Ordering Chair. All changes must be submitted by Monday, Sept. 28.
+ Email Stephanie with a Pizza Lunch change
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
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
It can be difficult for parents to navigate the minefield of adolescent emotions. How do you tell the difference between teen angst and something more serious? Please join us as Mary Grambeau Gass, a clinical social worker with the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry and Depression Center, shares her expertise on teen depression. There will be time for questions after her presentation.
+ Contact Carrie Berkley, Emerson School Counselor, with questions
There is still time to sign up for After School Music Lessons and Enrichment Classes. We are now excited to offer voice lessons on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays! See attachments for more details.
+ Fall Music Lesson info and times (updated)
+ Fall Enrichment Class info and times (updated)
Pizza Lunch happens (almost) every Friday throughout the school year, but only with the help of an army of volunteers. Thank you to all of the parents who signed up to volunteer, whether for next week or months from now. We still need more volunteers, especially one or two people to serve as Pizza Leads.
+ More information from Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator Theresa Romens-Woerpel
+ Sign up to volunteer for Pizza Lunch
Thanks to Nicola’s Books, author Gennifer Choldenko will be at Emerson with her new book Chasing Secrets. Copies can be pre-ordered by getting a check or cash for $17.50 (including tax) to Emerson Librarian Linda in the library by Sept. 28. A limited number of books may be available at the signing but to guarantee a copy, but pre-orders will guarantee a copy. Books will be autographed by the author.
+ Learn about Chasing Secrets and read a synopsis
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
One of the most valuable and well-attended annual events is Lower School Curriculum Night. This is your opportunity to meet your child’s Homeroom and Specials teachers, get a taste for their classes, and hear more about what they will be learning this year. Please plan to attend.
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took a short trip to Steiner School Tuesday, to play their rivals, the Stars. After an easy game last week against Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus, the kids were anticipating a tougher match, and they were not disappointed. Steiner opened the game with numerous pushes into the Emerson penalty area…
+ Read more
Admission information, including Ann Arbor placement testing dates, open house dates, and application info is now available.
+ Learn more about FGR High School admissions
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
You’re invited to the biggest science and astronomy event in Southeast Michigan. It’s free, and kids and adults can look through big telescopes, take a 3D tour of the solar system, and crawl into a planetarium. The University Lowbrow Astronomers are partners in this big event, and many Emerson families have enjoyed stargazing at their events in the past.
+ Learn more
Enjoy fun for the whole family, including carnival style refreshments, live music, a laser light show, inflatables, demos, games, arts and crafts, giveaways, and more.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Written by Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School Soccer Club opened the 2015 season on the road, traveling to Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus Thursday. The Eagles are three-time defending AAIAA champs, and look like they’ll contend ...
Written by Coach Lenny Dale
The Emerson Middle School Soccer Club opened the 2015 season on the road, traveling to Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus Thursday. The Eagles are three-time defending AAIAA champs, and look like they’ll contend again this year.
Dominating play from the opening touch, the kids peppered the Plymouth goal with shots, though the keeper was able to keep the ball out of the net for the first half dozen or so. In the 8th minute, Gabe Kellman broke through, splitting the defense up the middle and beating the keeper low to the left side. The rout was on. A minute later, Chris Chuparkoff made it 2-0, and a minute after that it was Gabe again for a early and commanding 3-0 lead. Things settled a bit, in terms of scoring, after that, though the Eagles maintained almost total control of the field. Eliott Beck tallied in the 21st minute, and Chris closed the half with 2 quick goals in succession, earning a hat trick for himself and a 6-0 lead for the team at the break.
The ball entered the Emerson 18-yard box once, on a pass back to goalkeeper Casey Lewis. The second half was more of the same. Gabe Seir, Kieran Heung and Henry Branch scored for the Eagles, Emerson went into ‘keep-away’ mode, the ball never entered the 18-yard box, and the team went home with a 9-0 victory.
Emerson travels to Steiner School Tuesday for their next match.
Latin Naming Ceremony 2015-2016
After the "good omen" of two birds was identified, this year's Latin Naming Ceremony commenced. Each toga-clad, first-year Latin student received their name from teachers Beth and Victoria, followed ...
The school year is off and running! I am deeply appreciative to all the members of our community for helping us to start the school year so well. Many thanks to ESPO and to all who could attend our Back to School Picnic this past Sunday. Such a joyful event, a warm welcome to the new school year!
A few brief reminders about safety: First, for those taking part in curbside pickup in the afternoon, please do make sure to display the name plate provided for you in your car’s visor. This will both facilitate our pickup process, as well as ensure we’re releasing students to the correct vehicles. Additionally, for any parent planning to spend time at school beyond pickup and dropoff, be sure to sign in with Deborah at the Middle School Office, where you will receive a name tag. This helps our students and faculty to identify visitors, and it helps ensure that we may maintain a safe environment for all our children and adults.
As we look ahead to next week, I want to draw your attention to our upcoming Curriculum Nights (Middle School on Thursday, Sept. 24th, Lower School on Tuesday, Sept. 29th, both at 7:00pm with more info below). We’re developing a new schedule for both events, which includes beginning each evening together in the Arts and Innovation Center. There will be a short introductory welcome from me and from our parent and administrative leaders before you meet with our faculty. We plan to begin promptly at 7:00pm, so I thank you in advance for your timely arrival!
Yours for a most joyful year,
John
It can be difficult for parents to navigate the minefield of adolescent emotions. How do you tell the difference between teen angst and something more serious? Please join us as Mary Grambeau Gass, a clinical social worker with the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry and Depression Center, shares her expertise on teen depression. There will be time for questions after her presentation.
+ Contact Carrie Berkley, Emerson School Counselor, with questions
There is still time to sign up for After School Music Lessons and Enrichment Classes. We are now excited to offer voice lessons on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays! See attachments for more details.
+ Fall Music Lesson info and times (updated)
+ Fall Enrichment Class info and times (updated)
Pizza Lunch happens (almost) every Friday throughout the school year, but only with the help of an army of volunteers. Thank you to all of the parents who signed up to volunteer, whether for next week or months from now. We still need more volunteers, especially one or two people to serve as Pizza Leads.
+ More information from Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator Theresa Romens-Woerpel
+ Sign up to volunteer for Pizza Lunch
Thanks to Nicola’s Books, author Gennifer Choldenko will be at Emerson with her new book Chasing Secrets. Copies can be pre-ordered by getting a check or cash for $17.50 (including tax) to Emerson Librarian Linda in the library by Sept. 28. A limited number of books may be available at the signing but to guarantee a copy, but pre-orders will guarantee a copy. Books will be autographed by the author.
+ Learn about Chasing Secrets and read a synopsis
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
Join new Head of School John Huber for an introductory coffee and candid conversation to start off the year. Share what’s on your mind, what you hope he will focus on, and what you want him to leave alone. In order to accommodate working parents, these Coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, email Beth Muszkiewicz to register). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
If you will be in the building for an extended period of time, please sign in at the Middle School office. You will receive a sticker to wear, showing that you are authorized to be in the building and not a stranger.
One of the most valuable and well-attended annual events is Lower School Curriculum Night. This is your opportunity to meet your child’s Homeroom and Specials teachers, get a taste for their classes, and hear more about what they will be learning this year. Please plan to attend.
Lower school students in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in the Emerson Instrumental Program. Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program and no previous experience is needed. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year promises to bring new opportunities to our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more and register at www.emerson-school.org/bandandorchestra
+ Watch some of the Band and Orchestra fun
Join us for an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about the exciting learning happening in middle school. You will visit with your child’s grade level team, advisor, enrichment and elective teachers. Our goal is to give you a sense of what it’s like to be a middle schooler at Emerson, so arrive at 6:45pm to get your child’s schedule and make it to your first period on time at 7:00pm.
+ Questions? Contact Andy Zimmer
Admission information, including Ann Arbor placement testing dates, open house dates, and application info is now available.
+ Learn more about FGR High School admissions
The Emerson Middle School Soccer Club opened the 2015 season on the road, traveling to Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus Thursday. The Eagles are three-time defending AAIAA champs, and look like they’ll contend again this year. Dominating play from the opening touch, the kids peppered the Plymouth goal with shots, though the keeper was able to keep the ball out of the net for the first half dozen…
+ Read more
Enjoy fun for the whole family, including carnival style refreshments, live music, a laser light show, inflatables, demos, games, arts and crafts, giveaways, and more.
+ Learn more and RSVP
The #1 iTunes podcast, Welcome to Night Vale, has become a novel by the same name. It goes on sale October 20, and on October 24 the authors’ national book tour will stop at Emerson School. Literati Bookstore has reserved 40 free tickets* for the Emerson community. Tickets are already on their way to selling out, so reserve yours ASAP.
+ Reserve free tickets (enter promo code “EmersonLiterati” to see hidden ticket)
+ Learn more about the Welcome to Night Vale book tour and podcast
* Note: Emerson School Access Tickets do not include a copy of the book, but books will be available for sale at the event. Emerson School is hosting this book tour stop, but is not affiliated with the book, authors, or podcast. Content is for a mature audience and authors may use language inappropriate for young children.
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums who were named 2016 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only about 16,000 students nationwide—less than one percent of high school seniors—achieve this honor.
Matthew D. ...
Congratulations to the seven Emerson alums who were named 2016 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Only about 16,000 students nationwide—less than one percent of high school seniors—achieve this honor.
+ See all the 2016 semifinalists on MLive.com
Many Emerson alums have benefitted from the National Merit Scholarships. Some of the most recent include:
EPIC Days in the Middle School
The past two days have been EPIC (Emerson. Perseverance. Integrity. Compassion.) Days in the Middle School. Challenging activities and community service projects united students, built team spirit, and ...
Happy New Year! This week’s start marked the 42nd year of operations at Emerson, and the faculty and I are brimming with energy and enthusiasm. Enough of summer, let the new year begin!
I also bring the excitement of a new parent, as my wife Janine and I joined nearly 50 new families who arrived at Emerson for the first time. We’ve done our back-to-school shopping, and we’re eagerly signing up our son for the rich array of after-school activities available here. On a personal note, we want to thank all of you who have reached out to welcome us to Ann Arbor and to Emerson. We feel so fortunate to be here!
At Emerson, there is a special partnership between school and home that creates a true learning community. We develop this partnership in order to bring up our students to be healthy, happy, successful young men and women, ready for high school and beyond. It is certainly not easy to raise and educate children—as every parent and teacher knows, there are bumps along the way, challenges to be overcome—but our students are the fortunate recipients of our partnership. When the partnership is strong and there is mutual faith and support, it feels as if we can overcome any obstacle.
In the weeks to come, we will be sharing more information on ways to develop this partnership, as we are critically dependent upon you, our parents, for your energy, your participation, and your volunteerism. I thank you in advance for your support of our initiatives. And I look forward to meeting and greeting you at our ESPO Back to School Picnic this Sunday, our first ESPO meeting on Sept. 18th, and our Coffees with the Head throughout the fall.
Have a most joyful school year,
John
There is still time to sign up for After School Music Lessons and Enrichment Classes. We are now excited to offer voice lessons on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays! See attachments for more details.
+ Fall Music Lesson info and times
+ Fall Enrichment Class info and times
It’s back-to-school time and that means that Emerson’s Pizza Lunch will be starting up again soon. Pizza Lunch happens (almost) every Friday throughout the school year, but only with the help of an army of volunteers.
+ More information from Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator Theresa Romens-Woerpel
+ Sign up to volunteer for Pizza Lunch
The University of Michigan Depression Center will be giving a presentation for parents on adolescent depression. It will be held in Emerson’s Arts and Innovation Center. More information, including speaker bios, will be available in next week’s newsletter.
Connect, stay informed, and have a little fun together with ESPO. Monthly meetings allow parents to ask questions and receive regular, in-depth updates from our Head of School. Equally important, ESPO is how parents meet each other and where new families can become part of the greater-Emerson community.
* Previously scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15.
Join new Head of School John Huber for an introductory coffee and candid conversation to start off the year. Share what’s on your mind, what you hope he will focus on, and what you want him to leave alone. In order to accommodate working parents, these Coffees will begin at 7:30am (complimentary childcare available, email Beth Muszkiewicz to register). Come early and leave by 8:30am, or arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am.
Join us for a back to school picnic hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends.
+ RSVP at www.emerson-school.org/picnic
It has been brought to our attention that this event falls on erev Rosh Hashanah, and we apologize for any scheduling conflict that this might bring about. While we are unable to move the event at this late date, we will work diligently to avoid such an overlap for future events.
If your student plans on riding an Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) bus to or from Emerson this year (available to all families who live in the AAPS district), AAPS now requires you to register. If you haven’t already, please do so now.
See pg. 34 of the Family Handbook linked below for more information.
+ Register at www.emerson-school.org/bus
This year, lunches will be provided by What’s Cooking!. These lunches are an optional service delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
Printed copies of the 2015-2016 Family Handbook were sent home with students on Thursday (Lower School student backpacks, Middle School student lockers). For those with multiple students, the copy was sent home with your youngest child.
+ Download Emerson’s Family Handbook
If you will be in the building for an extended period of time, please sign in at the Middle School office. You will receive a sticker to wear, showing that you are authorized to be in the building and not a stranger.
Lower school students in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in the Emerson Instrumental Program. Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program and no previous experience is needed. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year promises to bring new opportunities to our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more and register at www.emerson-school.org/bandandorchestra
Any students interested in switching electives must see Mrs. Hodges in the Middle School Office and obtain a Drop/Add Form. This form must be completed before any schedule changes happen.
As previously mentioned, all students must complete an online tutorial to show that they’ve read and understood the school’s Acceptable Use Policy. The AUP is available in the Family Handbook. Students must complete the tutorial before they begin to utilize their devices.
+ Access the online simulation
The fall sports season gets underway today. The practice schedules are below for each sport. Any athlete who needs to stay in After School Care before their practice will not be charged.
The #1 iTunes podcast, Welcome to Night Vale, has become a novel by the same name. It goes on sale October 20, and on October 24 the authors’ national book tour will stop at Emerson School. Literati Bookstore has reserved 40 free tickets* for the Emerson community. Tickets are already on their way to selling out, so reserve yours ASAP.
+ Reserve free tickets (enter promo code “EmersonLiterati” to see hidden ticket)
+ Learn more about the Welcome to Night Vale book tour and podcast
* Note: Emerson School Access Tickets do not include a copy of the book, but books will be available for sale at the event. Emerson School is hosting this book tour stop, but is not affiliated with the book, authors, or podcast. Content is for a mature audience and authors may use language inappropriate for young children.
By Theresa Romens-Woerpel, ESPO Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator
It’s back to school time and that means that Emerson’s Pizza Lunch will be starting up again soon. As many of you know, Pizza Lunch happens (almost) every Friday ...
By Theresa Romens-Woerpel, ESPO Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator
It’s back to school time and that means that Emerson’s Pizza Lunch will be starting up again soon. As many of you know, Pizza Lunch happens (almost) every Friday throughout the school year, but only with the help of an army of volunteers. Pizza Lunch is a very important social function for our kids—a chance to relax, to enjoy a different atmosphere during lunch, and to end the week with some fun. Volunteering as a Pizza Lunch helper means you get the chance to see your child and his or her friends at school, and be part of this fun end of the week experience.
Pizza Lunch is also ESPO’s main fund-raiser for our school. It has contributed to everything from making the staff areas more comfortable, to (recently) helping “Build STEAM for Emerson.” We are asking that every family gives some time to help bring Pizza Lunch about this year. As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
Specifically, I am asking you to consider signing up for a shift now, whether that shift is next week, one month or six months away. We all make dentist appointments six months out, and hardcode them into our calendar so we don’t miss them. I am asking that you do the same for Pizza Lunch. Shifts are two hours long, from either 10:15am – 12:15pm or 11:30am – 1:30pm. The work is easy—just dividing up the food items (pizza, milk, popsicles/ice creams) by class and delivering it to the Lower School classrooms or to the Middle School eating area. Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and meeting other lovely Emerson parents and thankful teachers makes it a fun and rewarding experience.
Please sign up now using the following link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4fadaf29a7fa7-201516/
(Even if you have already indicated on RenWeb that you would like to help, you will still need to click on the Sign-Up Genius link to choose which day(s) you would like to volunteer.)
Additionally, we are looking for two volunteers who would like to take a more active role in Pizza Lunch as a “Pizza Lunch Lead.” Leads work from 10:15am-1:30pm about one Friday a month, and will get plenty of training and support to get started. Please consider if you could help out in this way. Many of our previous Leads have had students graduate and are no longer at the school, so we need new parents to step up and fill this role. Please respond to trowoerp@gmail.com you are interested in learning more about becoming a Lead.
Thank you in advance for your support of this important Emerson fundraiser and I wish you and your children a happy and successful school year,
Theresa Romens-Woerpel
Pizza Lunch Volunteer Coordinator
trowoerp@gmail.com
734-709-4833
All School News and Info
Bus Registration Now Required
Register ASAP if Your Student May Ride the AAPS Bus
If your student plans on riding an Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) bus to or from Emerson this year (available to all ...
If your student plans on riding an Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) bus to or from Emerson this year (available to all families who live in the AAPS district), AAPS now requires you to register before the school year begins.
See pg. 34 of the Family Handbook linked below for more information.
+ Register at www.emerson-school.org/bus
This year, lunches will be provided by What’s Cooking!. These lunches are an optional service delivered to students Monday to Thursday (with exceptions).
+ See ordering instructions at www.emerson-school.org/lunch
Please place your orders in RenWeb for Friday Pizza Lunch, milk for lunch, and a school yearbook—all optional—by Sept. 7. Step-by-step instructions are below.
Your account will be billed in October for milk, yearbooks, and the first semester of Pizza Lunch. It will be billed again in February for the second semester of Pizza Lunch if you choose to continue it.
Print copies will be distributed to all families the first week of school.
+ Download Emerson’s Family Handbook
The meeting previously scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15 has been rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 18. Print and online calendars have been updated to reflect this change.
Volunteers are needed to organize some of the hallmark ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization) events and activities, including event chairs.
+ See ESPO opportunities and current leaders
Earlier this week, Head of School John Huber announced the faculty changes summarized below.
+ See original communication sent on Aug. 25
Learn more about your new school and/or the Middle School. Who should attend:
Join us for a back to school picnic hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends.
+ RSVP at www.emerson-school.org/picnic
Emerson will be closed so our faculty and staff may participate in the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS) Conference. This is an important gathering of educators throughout the state, and it allows us to learn best practices and bring these to our students.
Lower school students in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in the Emerson Instrumental Program. Everyone is welcome to join the band and orchestra program and no previous experience is needed. All students will be taught basic concepts to help them learn how to play their new instruments. This year promises to bring new opportunities to our continuing students to build skills and to play exciting music with friends at Emerson!
+ Learn more and register at www.emerson-school.org/bandandorchestra
Middle School books can now be purchased online at www.mbsDirect.net.
+ Order 2015-2016 books
Sign-ups begin the first day of school on the Theatre Arts bulletin board located at end of hall outside of auditorium doors. All students interested in participating must sign up and bring a signed parent permission form to the audition. Students should be available to sing, read from the script, and perhaps dance in groups. If students cannot attend any of these times, please email Musical Director Mrs. Moon as soon as possible.
+ Learn more and see sign-up info
Greetings from John Huber
Dear Parents,
I hope that this note finds you healthy and well! Perhaps you're planning one final family vacation before the school year begins in earnest. Have no worries—there’s still plenty of time ...
I hope that this note finds you healthy and well! Perhaps you’re planning one final family vacation before the school year begins in earnest. Have no worries—there’s still plenty of time before we kick off the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. And while we’re incredibly excited to welcome everyone back, we also understand the recuperative nature of a summer vacation!
I write to share with you an update of our summer work, as well as notify you of plans for the upcoming fall.
We’ve had our biggest year ever, thanks to Director of Summer Programs Rose Hacker and Assistant Director Beth Muszkiweicz. Our enrollment this summer has increased 20% from last year! As I’ve started my first days here at Emerson, it’s been a pleasure to observe camp activities, and there’s been a very happy buzz in the hallways and the classrooms. This year, we’ve utilized both the new Middle School spaces as well as our outstanding Arts & Innovation Center (AIC). Camp runs through August 21st, but please note that we are just about fully booked for the remainder of the summer. If you’re interested in enrolling your child for 2016, be sure to sign up early when registration comes out. And please be sure to give best wishes to Rose with her upcoming due date!
Buildings & Grounds Manager Ted Steinbach and Arts & Innovation Manager/Buildings & Grounds Assistant David Moon have been working diligently throughout the summer to prepare the building for the new school year. Some key updates include a carpet refresh for sections of our new wing, a full renovation of the Academic Support offices, and a robust redevelopment of two Middle School science rooms. You may also notice that our parking lot is beautifully repaved and repainted. While we can’t control the quality of Michigan roads, we can make sure that your entrance to Emerson is a smooth one.
Many times, critical technology upgrades are invisible to most of us, until the moment that something goes haywire. Technology Director Roger Spurgeon and Technology Integrator Renee Durant have been laboring behind the scenes to ensure that the 500+ devices on campus are able to work smoothly and connect seamlessly. This includes wiring updates and network reconfiguration. Additionally, we will have a new phone system in place that will make it much easier to reach us—so if you’ve given up on voicemail in the past, give it a whirl this year.
While I believe you’ve been notified about all our new employees, I thought it might be helpful to refamiliarize you with our new faces. Please welcome to EmersonElizabeth May, our Learning Support Specialist, and Becky Wancier, our Middle School Math Teacher. Additionally, alumnus Eddie VanRiper, a familiar name to many families, will be taking on a number of new roles as our AIC Coordinator, Math Support Specialist, and Middle School Advisor.
Returning to Emerson in new roles are Mary Spaller, who will serve as both Middle School Science Teacher and Learning Support Specialist; David Moon, serving as both AIC Systems Manager and Building & Grounds Assistant; Kelly Vohland, our Lower School Science Teacher (4th & 5th grades) and Lower School Program Coordinator, and Marchell Burgess and Jen Kime, our Grades 3-5 Co-Coordinators.
I am absolutely honored to serve as Emerson’s 6th Head of School. My family and I have moved into our new house (located near the stadium—I hear that football is big here?), and we’re settling in quite nicely. Our youngest son, Jack, will be starting at Emerson in 3rd grade, while our oldest two remain in Maryland to finish high school/start college.
Over the course of this summer, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with a number of you informally as you’ve been dropping by during Summer Camp. For the fall, I’d like to expand on this so that we can meet and you can share what’s on your mind. Now that I’m here, what do you hope that I’ll focus on? What do you want me to leave alone?
To accomplish this, I’ll be hosting grade-level Coffees with the Head each week from September to November. For each gathering, the parents and guardians of a given grade will be invited to stop by and talk with me. We’ll start with 8th grade parents (our “senior” parents), move down to 6th grade, then drop to Kindergarten and work our way up to 5th grade. A schedule of dates is forthcoming. In order to accommodate working parents, these Coffees will begin at 7:30am (with free childcare available, reservations required). Those who wish to come early and leave by 8:30am may do so. Otherwise, parents may arrive at the normal school start time and stay through 9:30am. I look forward to meeting with you and listening to what you have to share.
That should do it for now! Please resume your regularly scheduled August, and we’ll see you come September.
Take care,
John Huber
Head of School
Do you know of a family who should be attending Emerson? Invite them to attend this Information Meeting and learn more about us. Families considering attending are asked to please email admissions@emerson-school.org to RSVP.
Learn more about your new school and/or the Middle School. Who should attend:
Join us for a back to school picnic hosted by ESPO (Emerson School Parent Organization). There will be food, games for the kids, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends.
+ RSVP at www.emerson-school.org/picnic
Emerson will be closed so our faculty and staff may participate in the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS) Conference. This is an important gathering of educators throughout the state, and it allows us to learn best practices and bring these to our students.
Sign-ups begin the first day of school on the Theatre Arts bulletin board located at end of hall outside of auditorium doors. All students interested in participating must sign up and bring a signed parent permission form to the audition. Students should be available to sing, read from the script, and perhaps dance in groups. If students cannot attend any of these times, please email Musical Director Mrs. Moon as soon as possible.
+ Learn more and see sign-up info
Middle School books can now be purchased online at www.mbsDirect.net.
+ Order 2015-2016 books
Middle school students will once again be asked to read a book over the summer. The book we’ve chosen for this summer read is How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson. This powerful story, written as a series of poems, follows the life of an African American girl during the 1950s and 60s. It reminds us all about the similarities we all share and how compassion and perseverance can trump all. We know that students will enjoy this book. Books are available for order through MBS Direct.
+ Order through MBS Direct on June 1
We are so honored to have been voted the best elementary school in Ann Arbor! The Family Favorites poll is administered by Ann Arbor Family, and Emerson's Middle School was also a Family Favorite in 2013.
Being voted number one is ...
We are so honored to have been voted the best elementary school in Ann Arbor! The Family Favorites poll is administered by Ann Arbor Family, and Emerson’s Middle School was also a Family Favorite in 2013.
Being voted number one is an honor any way you look at it, but it means so much more because our families and our community did the voting. Thank you!
+ Ann Arbor Family Favorites in Education
+ See all of the Ann Arbor Family Favorites
Welcome to Emerson Middle School
Dear Parents,
While memories from the previous school year still replay in our minds and hearts and the majority of summer spreads out in front of us, I'd like to pass on some important ...
Dear Parents,
While memories from the previous school year still replay in our minds and hearts and the majority of summer spreads out in front of us, I’d like to pass on some important information regarding next year’s middle school experience. I look forward to working with you and your family for the upcoming school year.
Take care,
Andy Zimmer
Middle School Director
Learn about the Middle School experience and give your child an opportunity to meet some classmates. We’ll cover everything from daily schedules to technology to setting up lockers. All 6th grade students and parents should attend, as well as all 7th and 8th grade families new to Emerson School.
+ More specific details regarding the Orientation
Emerson’s commitment to integrating technology into our program continues into our fourth year of our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Once again, we strive to achieve a one-to-one ratio of students to devices by expecting students to bring their own device. New devices are not required, nor do we limit family choices to any one device.
+ More information regarding Emerson’s BYOD program
We are eager to welcome all of our middle schoolers back in the fall. Between now and then, please take a moment to learn about the passionate team of educators who will be working with your child. Each team is comprised of faculty from all four core subjects, the World Languages, enrichment classes, Learning Support, and student advisors.
+ Meet the 6th grade Team
+ Meet the 7th grade Team
+ Meet the 8th grade Team
This summer I’ll be tackling Creating Cultures of Thinking, by Ron Ritchhart. I had the pleasure to learn alongside Ron at this past year’s first Educator’s Collaborative: Design for Deep Thinking along with several other Emerson and community educators. Ron’s newly published book tackles the eight cultural forces that we must master in order to truly transform our schools.
As a reminder, we are asking next year’s Middle School students to read How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson, available for order through MBS Direct until July 31, 2015.
Congratulations to Our 2015 Graduating Class of 8th Graders
To all of our students and families: Thank you for a wonderful year, and enjoy the summer!
+ Photos of the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
Farewell to Jerry
Thank ...
Thank you for giving all of yourself to Emerson School these past six years.
Emerson is looking for students entering 4th and 5th grade to compete on our very first robotics team. Students will be introduced to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots that complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. Emerson is planning to field two teams of 10 students each for our initial season, which begins July 9.
This is a serious commitment as students must put in a minimum of 5 hours a week for the
entire season. Since space is limited, all interested students are required to submit an
application by June 29th.
+ Learn more and submit an application to participate by June 29
All you need to do is participate. Whether $5 or $500, it all counts towards the anonymous donor’s $25,000 challenge of getting 65% family participation.
K: 77%, 1st: 68%, 2nd: 83%, 3rd: 94%, 4th: 66%, 5th: 72%, 6th: 56%, 7th: 50%, 8th: 54%
Middle school students will once again be asked to read a book over the summer. The book we’ve chosen for this summer read is How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson. This powerful story, written as a series of poems, follows the life of an African American girl during the 1950s and 60s. It reminds us all about the similarities we all share and how compassion and perseverance can trump all. We know that students will enjoy this book. Books are available for order through MBS Direct beginning on June 1st (all other books will be available beginning July 1).
+ Order through MBS Direct on June 1
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook, workbook and Bantam Latin/English dictionary)
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
78 Students Shine at Lower School Science Olympiad
Every student did well, and 23 teams earned top finishes
Congratulations to the 78 Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, which was ...
Hello Parents,
With only one more Friday to go, I wanted to share our plans for our big day next Friday—Graduation! With the addition of our new facilities and the opportunity to provide our graduates with the setting they deserve, we will be making some changes to the manner in which graduation has typically been conducted.
Because of our large graduating class and the approximate 400 seat capacity of our auditorium space, only siblings of graduating students will be invited to attend this event with their family. Between the graduates, Middle School faculty, trustees, the Band and Orchestra, and all the guests of the graduates, we will likely meet the capacity of the space. While this represents a departure from the tradition of having all students at this ceremony, we have made a few additions that may well become new graduation traditions.
First, our annual Awards Assembly held next Thursday will be attended by all students and will be expanded upon so that our graduates may be honored by their schoolmates. Several 8th graders will be presenting speeches at the assembly, and our kindergartens will be recognizing the 8th graders in a very special way.
Second, thanks to technological enhancements provided by the Building STEAM campaign, we will be live streaming the graduation ceremony Friday morning for all students who wish to watch.
Added staff will also be on-hand that day to allow teachers in the Middle School to attend the ceremony. Students in 6th and 7th grade will have a variety of choices during this time, including viewing the ceremony.
We know that these changes are significant, and we will be looking for opportunities to make this very special day even better next year.
See you next week,
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Please send a lunch with your child.
Cheese pizza only. Please pack a lunch if your student would like anything else.
No childcare and no busses.
+ Additional details for Middle School students
World Language Soccer Tournament
Middle School Community Service Day
Emerson’s Got Talent
Field Day
Please send a water bottle and apply sunblock
Parent volunteers needed from 8:45am – 10:30am, and 12:45pm – 2:30pm
+ Contact Bill Schrock to volunteer
Awards Ceremony
Middle School Dance
Graduation Ceremony
All you need to do is participate. Whether $5 or $500, it all counts towards the anonymous donor’s $25,000 challenge of getting 65% family participation.
K: 65%, 1st: 57%, 2nd: 72%, 3rd: 89%, 4th: 43%, 5th: 50%, 6th: 48%, 7th: 38%,8th: 45%
Last week’s used book sale was a success on many levels. People got to clear their bookshelves to make room for more reading materials. Children had fun shopping, making change, and discovering new favorite books. We donated left over children’s books to the Perry School in Ypsilanti and the remaining books for older readers to Share House. The $372.70 raised by the used book sale is being donated to Alpha House for their work in helping families get back on their feet.
In the spirit of giving back to our community, 6th grade advisory students are organizing the first Emerson C.A.R.E. campaign. The goal is to collect enough essential food and toiletries to get 50 families in our community back on their feet, in partnership with The Alpha House.
Students and families are encouraged to ask friends and families to donate the items like soap, canned soup, deodorant, and peanut butter and jelly (full list here). Items will be collected in classrooms Monday, June 1, through Tuesday, June 9.
+ See a list of items and learn more
Middle school students will once again be asked to read a book over the summer. The book we’ve chosen for this summer read is How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson. This powerful story, written as a series of poems, follows the life of an African American girl during the 1950s and 60s. It reminds us all about the similarities we all share and how compassion and perseverance can trump all. We know that students will enjoy this book. Books are available for order through MBS Direct beginning on June 1st (all other books will be available beginning July 1).
+ Order through MBS Direct on June 1
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook, workbook and Bantam Latin/English dictionary)
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
Everyone is invited to enjoy Greek cuisine, live music, entertainment, marketplace shopping, and other fun activities at the annual YA’SSOO Greek Festival.
+ More info
By Kelly Vohland, Grades 4-5 Science Teacher, Science Olympiad Coach and Coordinator
Congratulations to the 78 Emerson students who participated in this year's Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, which was held on Saturday, ...
By Kelly Vohland, Grades 4-5 Science Teacher, Science Olympiad Coach and Coordinator
Congratulations to the 78 Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, which was held on Saturday, May 30th, at Pioneer High School. With 38 schools participating, our grade 2-5 students represented Emerson so well—we are very proud of their participation and achievements!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TERRIFIC SCIENCE OLYMPIANS:
24 TOP FINISHES = MEDALS IN 70% OF EVENTS
Emerson placed in 24 events this year, including eight 1st place finishes, one 2nd place, five 3rd place, four 4th place, one 5th place, and five honorable mentions. In total, 79 percent of Emerson students earned top finishes in 70 percent of the events they competed in! Medalists include:
THANK YOU TO OUR COACHES, VOLUNTEERS, AND SUPPORTERS
If you see a parent coach from Emerson, please take time to thank them for their time, commitment, and expertise. They are the reason Emerson students are able to participate in this great community-wide event.
Gr. 2-5 WESO Coaches: Sundu Brahmasandra, Natalie Goodwin-VanOyen, Scott Drain, Amitabh Sinha, Sonal Owens, Stephanie Zabinko, Pepijn, Bruienne, Pete Pandolfi, Varsha Moudgal, Ratindranath Akhoury, George Zhang, Bryan Begola Venkat Rao, Paul Boucher, Sean Theisen, Holly Dolbey, Rashmi Chugh, Morrie Lee, Joanna Kubisiak, Elizabeth Molina Sweeney, Ingrid Arias, Mircea Mustata, Luis Del Rio Trish Heusel, , Smita Patel, Gary Evans, Kelly Hom, Al Pacha, Vanna Diptiman, Kathy Salley, Mattias Jonsson, Maria Bichakjian, Gail Krieger, Pallavi Jha, Amy Nguyen Chyung, Abraham Chyung
Thank you to parents and friends who volunteered their time and skills at the event: Susan Taichman, Hanna Song, Michael Heung, Sujata Purohit, Weihong Xie, Nancy Benovich Gilby, Seth Swallow, Susan Torrible, Jeanette Clute, Silvia Nor, Andrea Zamansky, Brian Johnson, Kelly Sachs, Lars Helgeson, Beth Helgeson, Dana Debord, Janny Tang, Lisa Lee, Jennifer Weizer, Lisa Kutas, Allison Hong, Janice Carvette, Eleanor Sun, Isabel Wattles, (and Arnoud Lobbezoo, Robyn Bishop, and Charisse Gencyuz, who signed up but were not needed)
Emerson must provide an event supervisor each year. Special thanks to our two event supervisors from Emerson School: Susan and Keith Riles for Reflections and Debra Meyer for Potions.
Thank you to the many parents that helped with the ice cream party and brought food on Saturday—too many to name, but all help was appreciated!
And finally, thank you to Emerson colleagues who helped along the way: Kathy Salley, Robin Joye, Rose Hacker, Beth Muskiewicz, Joan Gregorka, and all the Emerson teachers who shared their rooms so we could practice!
Lee Horvath is Celebrated On His Last Day at Emerson
15 Years as the Director of Building and Grounds for Emerson School
Faculty and staff signed their names to a commemorative shovel, which Lee received at the end of the day on ...
Hello Parents,
Lee Horvath is retiring from Emerson School today. If you do not know who Lee is, and what he does around school, that is just one more measure of his success.
For 15 years Lee, our Buildings and Grounds Manager, has selflessly dedicated himself to keeping our buildings and grounds safe and clean. During those 15 years, most of his repairs and improvements have been completed at night, on the weekends, and typically out of sight of students and teachers. Consequently, Lee sacrificed a great deal of personal and family time to tend to all of us. Keeping kids safe was job #1 for Lee.
“It all pays the same wage,” Lee is famous for saying. There is no difference in his mind between repairing complex machinery on campus and cleaning up the many and varied “messes” that occur in the daily life of a school.
Lee’s knowledge and expertise of managing construction projects has also served the school tremendously well. The two major projects he has overseen, including the Arts and Innovation Center, came in under budget, on time, and even better than originally planned due to his care to detail and daily vigilance.
Lee represents so many of the values we wish there was more of these days. He is a man of pure integrity, someone who does not settle for second best, someone who puts his interests and conveniences behind those around him, someone who always goes the extra mile to keep our students, teachers, and parents safe, and someone who needs very few public thank yous.
I hope you will join me in extending a very public and personal thank you to Lee Horvath. We are grateful for all that you have done for us.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
All you need to do is participate. Whether $5 or $500, it all counts towards the anonymous donor’s $25,000 challenge of getting 65% family participation.
Cash, check, or credit made easy
In the spirit of giving back to our community, 6th grade advisory students are organizing the first Emerson C.A.R.E. campaign. The goal is to collect enough essential food and toiletries to get 50 families in our community back on their feet, in partnership with The Alpha House.
Students and families are encouraged to ask friends and families to donate the items like soap, canned soup, deodorant, and peanut butter and jelly (full list here). Items will be collected in classrooms Monday, June 1, through Tuesday, June 9.
+ See a list of items and learn more
Reminders about overdue books will be sent to parents after June 1st, and any books still missing after June 10th will be billed to individual accounts.
Share your thoughts about what is working and what could be better at Emerson by participating in the annual end-of-year survey. It is anonymous, confidential, and helps guide our school.
+ Participate in the seven-question survey
With Jan out for the remainder of the year with a broken knee and foot, many have asked what they can do for her. Her request: perform a random act of kindness. Pick up a notecard in her classroom and write what you did or will do, and we’ll add it to the Random Acts of Kindness wall.
Middle school students will once again be asked to read a book over the summer. The book we’ve chosen for this summer read is How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson. This powerful story, written as a series of poems, follows the life of an African American girl during the 1950s and 60s. It reminds us all about the similarities we all share and how compassion and perseverance can trump all. We know that students will enjoy this book. Books are available for order through MBS Direct beginning on June 1st (all other books will be available beginning July 1).
+ Order through MBS Direct on June 1
Everyone is invited to enjoy Greek cuisine, live music, entertainment, marketplace shopping, and other fun activities at the annual YA’SSOO Greek Festival.
+ More info
Representing Emerson School at the Michigan Junior Chess Championship in Kalamazoo, Eleanor Klinger won four of her five games to finish 3rd overall, and Parini Rao took 2nd in the 3rd Grade Division. Both played beautifully and ...
Representing Emerson School at the Michigan Junior Chess Championship in Kalamazoo, Eleanor Klinger won four of her five games to finish 3rd overall, and Parini Rao took 2nd in the 3rd Grade Division. Both played beautifully and confidently, despite competing against opponents rated higher than them.
Anvit Rao, and Emerson alum, competed in the High School Championship, even though he is a current 6th grader.
Lower School Band and Orchestra Concert Stars
Congrats to our young musicians on an incredible performance tonight! They played eight top hits from then and now, and they played each one beautifully.
+ More photos
Letter ...
Hello Parents,
With less than a month to go in the school year, it is time to re-focus our attention on an area of great importance to this year and the many years ahead: participation. It happens in classrooms, at events, at home, and in the generous gifts our families, faculty, and trustees make to the school.
In terms of keeping our school running, our entire community’s participation in the Annual Fund is a top priority. It not only fills the gap between tuition and the cost of running the school, it provides the institutional confidence to think big about our school’s exciting future. Please join the 100 percent of faculty, staff, and trustees who participate in the Annual Fund by making your gift, whether $5 or $5,000, atemerson-school.org/give.
You are also invited to to participate in the Building STEAM Campaign before it closes next month. While we have accomplished amazing things in this campaign and are using the new facilities every day, there is still more STEAM needed to make this project complete. This project is a game changer for our school community, and with your support, the impact will be even more positive and long lasting.
Thanks in advance for your support and stewardship of all things Emerson. It is your participation that makes the biggest impact. And, these donations are both tax deductible!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Now is the time to free up bookshelf space and donate to the annual Used Book Sale. Books (no textbooks please), movies, games, and puzzles for all ages are welcome, but remember that kids of all ages will be looking through them (i.e. please do not send books that may have inappropriate visuals). Children’s books will all be just 10 cents, and books for adults and games will never be more than 50 cents.
Emerson’s National Junior Honor Society will help with the sale and will select a worthy cause to which all of the proceeds will be donated.
+ Contact Linda the librarian with questions or to help
Share your thoughts about what is working and what could be better at Emerson by participating in the annual end-of-year survey. It is anonymous, confidential, and helps guide our school.
+ Participate in the seven-question survey
With Jan out for the remainder of the year with a broken knee and foot, many have asked what they can do for her. Her request: perform a random act of kindness. Pick up a notecard in her classroom and write what you did or will do, and we’ll add it to the Random Acts of Kindness wall.
Reminders about overdue books will be sent to parents after June 1st, and any books still missing after June 10th will be billed to individual accounts.
Join Emerson 5th grader Julian Toogood and parents Hanna Song and Peter Toogood in a fun run to benefit the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra. You will earn your YSO kazoo when you cross the finish line.
+ More info
Everyone is invited to enjoy Greek cuisine, live music, entertainment, marketplace shopping, and other fun activities at the annual YA’SSOO Greek Festival.
+ More info
Middle School Art Music Night
There was so much to love about yesterday's Middle School Art Music Night; from the alums who stayed after the Alumni Dinner to play alongside students, to Dr. Borton guest conducting while his original ...
Hello Parents,
What do Washington, D.C., Eastern Ohio, and the Florida Keys have in common? Common rock formations, scheduled stops on the next Jimmy Buffett tour, areas of growth? These three locations will be invaded by Emerson Middle School students, teachers, and parent volunteer chaperones next week.
Each Middle School adventure mixes equal parts academics, new experiences, individual and group challenges, time with friends, time with folks they might not ordinarily interact with, and time to have a boat-load—or a bus-load—of fun. Many thanks to teachers and parent chaperones for devoting your busy days to these memorable experiences.
While we have run these trips for many years, they have never taken place all within the same week. So, when the school buildings all start to lean toward the lower school end of campus next week, you will know why.
Happy trails to our travelers. Enjoy your weekend!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Rebecca brings 12 years of middle school teaching experience in both science and math, with experience in both public and independent schools. Rebecca has an impressive rapport with middle schoolers, varied teaching abilities, active roles in professional collaboration, and a deep knowledge of both math and science.
Eddie is currently an Emerson alum, a current high school math teacher, a regular Emerson sub, and a long-time Band and Orchestra supporter. Next year, his many talents will be combined as he takes on roles as Middle School Math Support, a Math Department member, the evolving “Theater Manager” position, and Middle School advisor and elective teacher. There will also be opportunities for Eddie to work with Lower School students in the math and fine arts areas. Eddie’s dedication to Emerson is legendary and his fit with community is a near perfect one.
Despite Jan’s negotiations with doctors and attempted bribes, the nature of her knee and foot breaks mean that she will be unable to return to teaching this school year. Jan is obviously very disappointed, but she is dealing with the unfortunate news with her typical poise and sense of humor.
+ Email Jan some words of encouragement or silliness
Sam is a already a familiar face at Emerson. She has been a regular substitute teacher and worked in the After Care and Summer at Emerson programs for the past two years. Sam has been in close communication with Jan, has her teaching degree, and will be the Computers teacher for the final weeks of school.
Thanks to Emerson’s Building and Grounds department (Ted, Lee, and David), who all worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to remedy compounding issues with our well system, water is once again available throughout the school. The water lines are being treated and is anticipated to be drinkable by Monday.
Now is the time to free up bookshelf space and donate to the annual Used Book Sale. Books (no textbooks please), movies, games, and puzzles for all ages are welcome, but remember that kids of all ages will be looking through them (i.e. please do not send books that may have inappropriate visuals). Children’s books will all be just 10 cents, and books for adults and games will never be more than 50 cents.
Emerson’s National Junior Honor Society will help with the sale and will select a worthy cause to which all of the proceeds will be donated.
+ Contact Linda the librarian with questions or to help
The Skyline Soccer coach is putting together a list of incoming freshmen boys who are interested in trying out for the team (freshman, JV, and varsity). Strength/conditioning training and scrimmages start after school gets out in mid-June. If you have an 8th grade boy who is planning to attend Skyline and is interested in trying out, please email Mark Haddlesey to be added to Skyline Soccer’s distribution list.
+ Email Mark Haddlesey
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler. Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
Ann Arbor Rowing Club is partnering with the U of M Men’s Rowing Team to offer a free opportunity to see what the sport of rowing is all about. Drop by Argo Pond, in Bandemer Park off of N. Main St., to preview both the land and water aspects of rowing. Event open to those 12 and up! Those under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian.
+ Learn more
Nicola’s Books is looking for avid readers at Emerson School to read copies of books before they come out and write short reviews. Students’ literary opinions will be posted on Nicola’s Facebook page, our website, and on our Twitter feed, and reviewers get to keep the books.
* Because many Middle School students will be away on trips on May 17, Nicola’s will send someone to Emerson during an advisory time in June to discuss this program with students.
+ More info
+ Contact Nicola’s Books for questions at 734-662-0600
Emerson alum Andy Johnson was part of the post-production team of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s documentary, The Sagebrush Sea, which premieres on May 20th at 8:00pm on Nature | PBS. The Sagebrush Sea explores many hidden aspects of the great sagebrush plains of the West, including fabulous footage of the Greater Sage Grouse.
+ Watch a trailer of The Sagebrush Sea
Join Emerson 5th grader Julian Toogood and parents Hanna Song and Peter Toogood in a fun run to benefit the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra. You will earn your YSO kazoo when you cross the finish line.
+ More info
A Stunning View From the Stratosphere at 90,000 ft.
Courtesy of the 8th Grade High Altitude Weather Balloons
Launching a high altitude weather balloon was an incredible feat for our 8th grade scientists, who each have a new ...
Hello Parents,
The phrase “warm and fuzzy” is often a descriptor of something that is without substance or not worthy of serious consideration, but I want to tell you nothing could be further from the truth today at Emerson.
As you first grade parents already know, today was Cuddly Animal Day in first grade. Despite our best efforts to restrain ourselves, several administrators “borrowed” some of the most cuddly guests for a quick hug and a shot of security. The well worn look on all these stuffed animals reinforced the belief that we all need a secure place and a means to settle into that warmth, regardless of our age.
Second on the “warm and fuzzy” agenda today is the announcement you will find below that celebrates the retirement of some of the most wonderful colleagues anyone in this school business could hope to work with. While it is certainly sad that we are bidding goodbye to Lee, Nancy, and Pat, we know how fortunate we have been to work alongside such exceptional people over these many years. Please join me in recognizing the outstanding faculty and staff below, celebrating their years at Emerson, and wishing them the best.
Last, and certainly not least, is the warm glow of affection we are still feeling three days after the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. Your outpouring of wonderful food, festive decorations, and all that support is a priceless gift to us that means so much more than being pampered on this one day each year. Thank you for your efforts and for the wonderful show of appreciation.
Please enjoy this weekend, and I hope you are able to find your own warm and fuzzy place.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Maintaining several thousand square-feet of hallways, classrooms, and grounds, while always taking the most care of the adults and children inside, is a monumental task, and something Lee has done exceptionally well for the past 15 years. He has captained several building projects, including the most recent classroom and Arts and Innovation Center addition, and countless other projects that often go unnoticed.
“The best part about being here has been the people, who are so friendly, warm, appreciative, and interesting. Emerson is like a family to me. I’ve always tried to help people realize their dreams, as they relates to the building and grounds. I’ve found a lot of achievement and accomplishment here, and the hardest thing about leaving Emerson is wishing I could have done more.”
— Lee
Many of our school’s earliest pictures include Nancy. She has given 29 years of her life to Emerson students, as both a teacher and a learning support specialist, and she will retire at the end of this one. Nancy’s wisdom and effectiveness with her colleagues, with parents, and with her students is one to which all of us will aspire.
“I’ve had one of the best jobs in the country working with Emerson School’s children and interacting with like-minded educators. Students here are enthusiastic, passionate, intellectually interested, and engaged in their own learning; they seek me out to share discoveries like diphthongs, schwas, or Latin roots in books they’re reading. I’ve always believed in our school’s mission to help, to nurture, and to support each student to grow and reach his/her potential, and being a part of Emerson School has given me a great deal of pleasure.”
— Nancy
Pat has made learning science at Emerson an active and hands on adventure for the past 23 years. Her love of science, Emerson School, and middle school students, coupled with her wide ranging interests, have made her a foundation around which our middle school has flourished.
“I wouldn’t have gotten up at 6:00am in the morning for the past 23 years for anything but the joy of teaching. Part of me wishes it could go on forever, but I know this is the right time. I appreciate that Emerson has always given me the freedom and flexibility to create a curriculum that connects with students—it still does—and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d have rather taught.”
— Pat
Congratulations to the Emerson students who earned medals in the 2015 National Japanese Examinations (NJE)!
Lower School Computer teacher Jan Walker took a spill at Emerson last week, and the unfortunate outcome was a broken foot and patella (knee). She is disappointed and misses her students, especially with the end of the year approaching, but her doctor says short-term immobilization is the key to her recovery and she will be out for at least the next couple weeks.
If you would like to send some words of encouragement to Jan, or a silly internet video to make her laugh, please email her at jwalker@emerson-school.org.
What a performance by our 4th and 5th graders! The artistry on display, from the beautiful voices in the Chorus, to the musicianship and singing about Pandora’s Box and the Jolly Mon, to the art on the walls and in display cases, it was a night to remember.
+ More photos of the performance
+ Photos of the artwork
When a GPS transmitter malfunctioned on one of the high altitude weather balloons, it went missing for days until the Washtenaw County Sheriff made a special delivery. The balloon was found in Ypsi and returned on Tuesday.
+ See photos of the surprise return
What a treat! Thank you to ESPO and all of the parents who provided food and volunteered to make faculty and staff feel so loved. A special thanks to Diana Rooks, Christine Kim, and Michelle Weaver for chairing the event.
One of the parents who attended the U of M Depression Center’s session at Forsythe Middle School said it was very informative, helpful, and enlightening. The resource document, with information about support systems, managing stress, and dealing with anxiety, is linked below.
Emerson School also has a full-time School Counselor, Carrie Berkley, and an exceptional Learning Support team.
+ Depression Center Resource
+ Contact Carrie Berkley
All incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
The Skyline Soccer coach is putting together a list of incoming freshmen boys who are interested in trying out for the team (freshman, JV, and varsity). Strength/conditioning training and scrimmages start after school gets out in mid-June. If you have an 8th grade boy who is planning to attend Skyline and is interested in trying out, please email Mark Haddlesey to be added to Skyline Soccer’s distribution list.
+ Email Mark Haddlesey
Emerson Student Amelia is providing free pony rides, at her stable at Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center, on May 9th and 10th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is part of a service project for the Cedar Ridge Pony Club.
+ Email Renee Burgess for more info
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler. Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
Nicola’s Books is looking for avid readers at Emerson School to read copies of books before they come out and write short reviews. Students’ literary opinions will be posted on Nicola’s Facebook page, our website, and on our Twitter feed, and reviewers get to keep the books.
+ More info
+ Contact Nicola’s Books for questions at 734-662-0600
Join Emerson 5th grader Julian Toogood and parents Hanna Song and Peter Toogood in a fun run to benefit the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra. You will earn your YSO kazoo when you cross the finish line.
+ More info
By Makie Kaehr, Emerson Japanese Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson students who earned medals in the 2015 National Japanese Examinations (NJE)!
Gold
Randie Jo Evans
Silver
Lukas Jonsson
Bronze
Ben Chambers
The ...
By Makie Kaehr, Emerson Japanese Teacher
Congratulations to the Emerson students who earned medals in the 2015 National Japanese Examinations (NJE)!
Gold
Randie Jo Evans
Silver
Lukas Jonsson
Bronze
Ben Chambers
The NJE started in 2010 as a proficiency-oriented, standards-based, and culture-related assessment tool for middle school (junior high), high school, and college students who are studying Japanese as a second language. It provides a way for students to test their Japanese skills and participate in a nationwide exam with awards for high achievement.
Surfs Up at Kindergarten and 1st Grade Art Music Sharing
Students spent a "Day at the Beach" for their Art Music Sharing performances. There was music, artwork, songs, jokes, tall tales, and dancing, and it was all ...
Hello Parents,
With weather as beautiful as this, I’ll spare you a letter and simply wish you a wonderful weekend with your family. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Students from Emerson School earned three gold, three silver and five bronze medals, along with 14 honorable mentions on the 2015 National Spanish Examinations. Congratulations to:
Join Emerson 8th graders as they launch two High Altitude Weather Balloons (HAWB) with on-board science experiments. Each helium-filled balloon will travel as high as 110,000 feet—the top of the stratosphere during it’s one hour ascent.
+ Learn more
Each year, ESPO and parent volunteers generously host a lunch to show their appreciation for Emerson teachers and staff. Volunteers host the event, from set up and decorations, to hosting the event and cleaning up afterwards.
+ Sign up to volunteer
+ Sign up to provide food
Nicola’s Books is looking for avid readers at Emerson School to read copies of books before they come out and write short reviews. Students’ literary opinions will be posted on Nicola’s Facebook page, our website, and on our Twitter feed, and reviewers get to keep the books.
+ More info
+ Contact Nicola’s Books for questions at 734-662-0600
Take a look at the Alumni Newsletter to see many of the exciting things our alums are up to. Just this week two alums, Frank Pelosi and Orly Rubenfeld, were named 2015 Ann Arbor Young Citizen of the Year nominees!
+ Alumni Newsletter
+ Alums Named 2015 Ann Arbor Young Citizen of the Year nominees
One of the parents who attended the U of M Depression Center’s session at Forsythe Middle School said it was very informative, helpful, and enlightening. The resource document, with information about support systems, managing stress, and dealing with anxiety, is linked below.
Emerson School also has a full-time School Counselor, Carrie Berkley, and an exceptional Learning Support team.
+ Depression Center Resource
+ Contact Carrie Berkley
Jennifer Tanau, Dana DeBord, and Amy Woodruff would like to thank the following people for volunteering to hang the art for the Art Music Sharing programs, or to later take it down. Your help is so appreciated!
Christine Kim, Suzan Duenyas, Lori Pearson, Elizabeth Caswell, Jennifer Evens, Ruchika Gupta, Elizabeth Sweeney, Michelle Weaver, Barbara Hoffman, Vivienne Ashforth
We would also like to thank Vanna Diptiman for her creation of beautiful posters for Art Music Sharing!
All incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Emerson alum Peter Tappenden is a goaltender for the AFC Ann Arbor Football Club (a minor league soccer team in the Great Lakes Premier League), and their first game is tonight on Pioneer High School’s field.
+ Learn more
Emerson Student Amelia is providing free pony rides, at her stable at Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center, on May 9th and 10th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is part of a service project for the Cedar Ridge Pony Club.
+ Email Renee Burgess for more info
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler. Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
— By Señora Lopez, Spanish Teacher
Congratulations to the many world language students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2015 National Spanish Examinations. Students from Emerson ...
— By Señora Lopez, Spanish Teacher
Congratulations to the many world language students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2015 National Spanish Examinations. Students from Emerson School earned a total of 3 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals, along with 14 honorable mentions.
“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 157,000 students participating in 2015.”
Students from Emerson School have a long history of high achievement on these exams. The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Congratulations to the following students:
GOLD
Casey Lewis
Austin Zeglis
Andie Tappenden
SILVER
Brian Hussey
Simran Kapila
Hazel Byers
BRONZE
Laure Coster
Maya Akhouri
Max Colis
Omar Hassan
Shruti Lakshmanan
HONORABLE MENTION
Christopher Chuparkoff
Ella Cunningham
Dana Kachman
Owen Klein
Lian Krishnan
Jack Murphy
Gaya Pedersen
Soleil Ponce De Leon
Neetika Kheterpal
Lindsey Barba
Greta Downey
Samir Hafez
William Kennedy
Matthew Murray
— By Nicola's Books
Are you a Young Book Reviewer? Would you like to be?
Nicola's Books is looking for a few avid readers in grades 4 through 12 to read copies of books before they come out and write short reviews. We'll post ...
— By Nicola’s Books
Are you a Young Book Reviewer? Would you like to be?
Nicola’s Books is looking for a few avid readers in grades 4 through 12 to read copies of books before they come out and write short reviews. We’ll post your literary opinions on our Facebook page, our website, and on our Twitter feed.
Prospective reviewers & their parents can come to a meeting on Sunday, May 17 at 2:00pm to learn more. Sign up, meet fellow readers, and pick out your first books to review (you get to keep them when you’re done).
We’ll be meeting once a month to talk about books and pick new ones for review. We ask that everybody review at least 5 books per year. You don’t have to like them all, but if you don’t care for a book, please let us know why. It’s always nice to know in case somebody else might be interested in it.
We’ll have all the details at the meeting for you to take home with you. Also: snacks!
— By Michael Wilson, 8th Grade Science Teacher
Our community is invited to join Emerson 8th graders as they launch two High Altitude Weather Balloons (HAWB) on Saturday, May 2. Each helium-filled balloon will travel as high as ...
— By Michael Wilson, 8th Grade Science Teacher
Our community is invited to join Emerson 8th graders as they launch two High Altitude Weather Balloons (HAWB) on Saturday, May 2. Each helium-filled balloon will travel as high as 110,000 feet—the top of the stratosphere during it’s one hour ascent.
Each balloon will carry a high-quality parachute and a gondola. The gondola will hold GoPro cameras, experiments, paper “astronauts”, and a GPS system for recovery. Balloons will be filled at the site with 274 cubic feet of pressurized helium, which will expand the balloon to a diameter of eight feet. Once the balloon has been fully pressurized, it will be attached to the parachute and the gondola, and then released.
If all goes as planned, each balloon will rise to between 80,000 and 110,000 feet (the top of the stratosphere), which will take approximately one hour. Due to much lower air pressure at this altitude, the helium inside the balloon will expand causing the balloon to expand to approximately 30 feet in diameter. At this diameter, the elasticity of the balloon will reach its maximum causing it to burst.
The “return” to Earth will take approximately 30 minutes and we’ll await the signal of the GPS system to alert us of its location. That’s when the recovery team jumps into action.
Everyone is welcome to watch. Please bring a lawn chair and your camera. It should be a fun day as we launch Emerson School’s first high altitude balloons. In the meantime, every student in the 8th grade has played a pivotal part in getting these balloons ready to launch and they should be commended for their hard work, research, engineering, and efforts.
Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Michael Wilson.
Last Open Mic Night of the Year
May 27, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, on Emerson's Performance Stage
Emerson’s first Open Mic Night was a big hit, so we’re doing it again—the final Open Mic of the school year—and you can be one of our ...
Hello Parents,
Due to my travels between Ann Arbor and Gladstone, New Jersey, I missed last night’s 2nd and 3rd Grade Art Music Night performance. But, knowing all the behind-the-scenes preparation, I want to shout out my praise for this event and encourage you to attend one of the upcoming Art Music Nights.
It takes a team to put on this event, and the team approach was in evidence everywhere one turned. The collaborative spirit began weeks in advance with art being hung on every vertical space in the building. Jennifer Tanau, co-chairs Dana DeBord and Amy Woodruff, and a small army of parent volunteers are responsible for the tremendous makeover our halls receive, and it is humbling to see the amount of time and energy they give.
By performance night, the teamwork is in full force. Parents rearrange schedules to ensure their children arrive on time, and dressed in the team attire for the night. Parents jumped in to help provide more chairs as the crowd swelled beyond initial estimates. At the teacher level, these performances bring together many hands. Faculty and staff overseeing technology, visual art, choral music, and instrumental music all pull together with the homeroom teachers to bring the magic together. (In addition to the inspired narration delivered by Barb, Linda, and Michelle, early reviews of last night’s performance are heralding Michelle’s dramatic crowing).
Finally, the teamwork comes down to the actual student performers and their leader, Matt McCoy. Last night’s animal-themed event showcased all the preparation and camaraderie that is both the product and the key to success in these wonderful spring time events.
I look forward to seeing you at the next one!
+ See more photos from the 2nd and 3rd Grade Art Music Night
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Nothing could be better then to sit back and enjoy “A Day at the Beach,” or in this case music and fun! That’s right, it’s that time of year for our Art and Music sharing time. Please join us next Tuesday, April 28 as the youngest members of our school share their excitement for the Emerson Arts. K-1 students will share their music in the auditorium and then walk around and view the art show with family and friends. — By Mrs. Borton
+ More Schedule Info and Details
Each year, ESPO and parent volunteers generously host a lunch to show their appreciation for Emerson teachers and staff. Volunteers host the event, from set up and decorations, to hosting the event and cleaning up afterwards.
+ Sign up to volunteer
+ Sign up to provide food
Thank you to the students, faculty members, parents, and Red Cross nurses, and to everyone who participated by donating blood. — Michael Wilson
Jennifer Tanau, Dana DeBord, and Amy Woodruff would like to thank the following people for volunteering to hang the art for the Art Music Sharing programs, or to later take it down. Your help is so appreciated!
Christine Kim, Suzan Duenyas, Lori Pearson, Elizabeth Caswell, Jennifer Evens, Ruchika Gupta, Elizabeth Sweeney, Michelle Weaver, Barbara Hoffman, Vivienne Ashforth
We would also like to thank Vanna Diptiman for her creation of beautiful posters for Art Music Sharing!
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Quickly and easily get rid of your electronic waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Bring your old, working or broken electronics, including computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, cables, televisions, VCRs—you name it—and it will be responsibly and securely recycled. At the Pioneer High School parking lot., 601 W Stadium Blvd at Main St.
+ Learn more
Emerson Student Amelia is providing free pony rides, at her stable at Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center, on May 9th and 10th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is part of a service project for the Cedar Ridge Pony Club.
+ Email Renee Burgess for more info
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler. Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
— By Mrs. Borton (a.k.a. Mrs. B), K-1 Music Teacher
Nothing could be better then to sit back and enjoy "A Day at the Beach," or in this case music and fun! That’s right, it’s that time of year for our Art and Music sharing time. ...
— By Mrs. Borton (a.k.a. Mrs. B), K-1 Music Teacher
Nothing could be better then to sit back and enjoy “A Day at the Beach,” or in this case music and fun! That’s right, it’s that time of year for our Art and Music sharing time. Please join us next Tuesday, April 28 as the youngest members of our school share their excitement for the Emerson Arts.
K-1 students will share their music in the auditorium and then walk around and view the art show with family and friends. Students are welcome to go home after their sharing time or be check into child-care.
No need to worry if you can’t make it to the “beach” next Tuesday. We will record the music portion of the afternoon and share it with all of the K-1 families.
Kindergarten
First Grade
Dress for the performance in bright, colorful, casual & comfortable clothing
(No additional “costumes” are needed.)
Egg Spacecrafts Crash Landing at Emerson
The space race heated up again today at Emerson—egg style. Students learned about the Cold War space race, then designed and built their own crafts to house their egg astronauts. Many ...
Hello Parents,
Earth Day is next Wednesday, but as the popular button says, “make every day Earth Day.” This special day formally recognizes the need to honor our planet and the environmental stewardship we must shoulder, but many have relegated this realization to a near Hallmark Holiday status alongside Grandparents Day, Sweetest Day, and Boss’s Day.
So what is something manageable that we can do every day that can help our environment, both in real and symbolic terms? Turn you car off instead of idling at morning and afternoon pick-up. If you are going to be standing still for 10 seconds or more, simply turn off your engine. It is simple and effective.
As you wait in your car with the engine running at Emerson, our students, with their young developing lungs, are breathing in those fumes at a faster rate than all those very kind adults, who would also benefit from breathing in fewer emissions. Idling on campus, at stop lights, in the bank line, or while warming your car in the morning is spewing as much as 50 pounds of pollutants and 500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. As we sit waiting in a running car, we are negatively impacting the health of our children, teachers, and the atmosphere. If the health of children and the planet is not enough to move us to turn off our engines, how about the prospect of saving money? By incorporating this new routine, you can save $30 in gas each year.
I thank ESPO for championing this effort and pushing us all to take this simple action. You can learn more about the Anti-Idling Initiative on the ESPO Webpage. Once we grow accustomed to this more conscious approach to our daily impact on the environment, we open ourselves up to many more actions that can lead us all toward an environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Emerson’s Art and Music Nights are coming up soon. ESPO could use your help with preparing and hanging the hundreds of beautiful works of art created by your children. Please check out the volunteer times below, and sign up!
– Amy Woodruff and Dana DeBord
+ Learn more and volunteer
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson’s 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman’s class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Student interview with Red Cross organizer
+ Sign up online
Each year, ESPO and parent volunteers generously host a lunch to show their appreciation for Emerson teachers and staff. Volunteers host the event, from set up and decorations, to hosting the event and cleaning up afterwards.
A sign-up link will be included in next week’s newsletter, but if you have questions or want to get involved before then, please contact chair Diana Rooks, or co-chairs Christine Kim or Michelle Weaver.
Please be on the lookout for your donation and auction item receipts, which will be mailed to your home next week. Please save these for your 2015 taxes.
Join us as we groove to the energetic beats of Bollywood; the music of the Indian film industry! Bollywood dancing is a versatile, colorful dance form that incorporates styles from around the world, such as Latin, hip-hop, Indian classical, and jazz. In this camp, students will join friends in learning fun choreography and putting together a dance. We’ll introduce students to the music, the style, and most importantly, the fun that comes with being immersed in modern Indian culture.
+ Learn more and register
At the recommendation of our search consultant and in consultation with administration, the Board has created the following team to help facilitate the Head of School transition.
+ Read the original communication about the Head of School transition
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis, where four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia with the guidance of a mystical lion.
+ Learn more
An afternoon of celebrating the Earth through entertainment, education, exploration, and fun!
+ Learn more
There is an increasing concern about anxiety and depression in children and adolescents in our society. The University of Michigan Depression Center is giving a free talk to help educate parents about adolescent depression. This talk is open to everyone.
+ Learn more
Quickly and easily get rid of your electronic waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Bring your old, working or broken electronics, including computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, cables, televisions, VCRs—you name it—and it will be responsibly and securely recycled.
+ Learn more
At the U of M State Street Commuter Parking lot, 2694 S State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
At the Pioneer High School parking lot., 601 W Stadium Blvd at Main St.
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler.Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
Lower School and Middle School Band and Orchestra Performance
If you were at the performance on Tuesday, you know the Surf and Spy performance by Band and Orchestra students was incredible. And for those who weren't, or those who ...
Hello Parents,
Space! For our students, it is hardly the “final frontier” Captain Kirk described long ago. Our students today see space as something just as fascinating, but much more accessible and close at hand. While we are not yet booking lower schoolers on Virgin Galactic’s flights to space, two recent Middle School studies serve as examples of ways students are engaging in the wonders and opportunities present in space.
Tim Wilson’s 6th graders are observing the expanses of the night sky each day without having to stay up late or venture outdoors. His homemade observatory constructed from black plastic, duct tape, an electric box fan, and precisely placed holes pierced through the dome, is a perfect location for our students to identify and locate constellations, share the mythology behind these celestial arrangements, and discuss BIG ideas like the speed of light, black holes, and life on other planets.
Up in 8th grade, 59 students overseen by Mr. Wilson will soon be constructing and then launching two high altitude weather balloons (HAWB) into space—like 100,000 feet into space! What is even more impressive is that the entire project is student-run, and each of the students have an important responsibility on one of 12 teams, from launch site exploration, to design, to website development and communications. Among the more goose-bump-inducing details of this venture are the facts that the flight up will take 150 minutes while the flight down will take only 30 minutes. It is likely that the temperature at the height of the voyage will drop to minus 50 degrees fahrenheit. And, due to diminishing air pressure, the 8-foot balloon on the ground will expand to 30 feet at the apex of the journey. The entire adventure will be viewed real time thanks to on-board cameras!
May your Spring Break be half as inspiring and involve far fewer miles than these two STEAM adventures.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Dear Emerson Community,
With spring knocking at our door and the third trimester underway, it seems timely to provide an update regarding the Head Of School (HOS) transition taking place at the end of the school year. As with the search itself, there are terrific resources to help guide a successful transition. Fortunately, we have two seasoned professionals in Jerry Loewen and John Huber, both working to ensure outstanding results for Emerson!
At the recommendation of our search consultant, the board, in consultation with administration, has created a team to help facilitate this transition.
The team includes:
The team will work closely with all parties involved to ensure a smooth transition…
+ Continue reading about the Head of School transition
Please join the Emerson community in welcoming Margie Cole to our school. She combines extensive and wide ranging experiences with the financial expertise and perspective to keep our school fiscally healthy and thriving for many years to come. Margie will be a fitting compliment to the exceptional talent already present in our Business Office.
Emerson’s Art and Music Nights are coming up soon. ESPO could use your help with preparing and hanging the hundreds of beautiful works of art created by your children. Please check out the volunteer times below, and sign up!
– Amy Woodruff and Dana DeBord
+ Learn more and volunteer
You can sign up for individual days as needed. We are available from 8am-3pm ($60/day) with after care from 3-6pm ($6/hour). Space is limited and fills on a first-come, first-served basis.
+ Learn more
+ Register by emailing Beth Muszkiewicz
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson’s 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman’s class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Student interview with Red Cross organizer
+ Sign up online
Last week, Emerson 8th graders began planning their 3rd trimester project: planning, designing, and launching a high altitude weather balloon (HAWB). A HAWB is a balloon that is launched into the atmosphere, and can help detect weather conditions. Students will be launching two HAWBs and conducting experiments on things like the level of pollution or the temperature at certain heights. To find out more and stay updated along the process, please check out their pages below.
+ Website | + Instagram | + Twitter
+ Contact the HAWB Public Relations team with questions or feedback
Join us as we groove to the energetic beats of Bollywood; the music of the Indian film industry! Bollywood dancing is a versatile, colorful dance form that incorporates styles from around the world, such as Latin, hip-hop, Indian classical, and jazz. In this camp, students will join friends in learning fun choreography and putting together a dance. We’ll introduce students to the music, the style, and most importantly, the fun that comes with being immersed in modern Indian culture.
+ Learn more and register
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
Young People’s Theater’s production of Mary Poppins will feature 99 young people, including Emerson students Julia Ammer, Emily Cooper, Benjamin Faulkner, Lydia Hall, Emma Hudson, Kyra Kahana, Sophia Kleer, Lauren Nishi, Gabby Pacifico, Aydrey Weizer, Violet Weizer, and Hannah Ziegler.Tickets go on sale April 6.
+ Learn more
Dear Emerson Community,
With spring knocking at our door and the third trimester underway, it seems timely to provide an update regarding the Head Of School (HOS) transition taking place at the end of the school year. As with the ...
Dear Emerson Community,
With spring knocking at our door and the third trimester underway, it seems timely to provide an update regarding the Head Of School (HOS) transition taking place at the end of the school year. As with the search itself, there are terrific resources to help guide a successful transition. Fortunately, we have two seasoned professionals in Jerry Loewen and John Huber, both working to ensure outstanding results for Emerson!
At the recommendation of our search consultant, the board, in consultation with administration, has created a team to help facilitate this transition.
The team includes:
The team will work closely with all parties involved to ensure a smooth transition.
As Jerry eloquently explained in his weekly letter, as part of the process it is standard for the incoming HOS to make visits while school is in session to begin to learn the inner workings of the school. John Huber spent a couple of days at Emerson during the week of March 22nd with a packed schedule of meetings from building and ground to business operation. There was even a stint at curbside!
Similarly, Jerry will be partaking in the same process at The Willow School to allow for a smooth transition into his new position. John is doing the same for the incoming head at the Barnesville School. Seasoned professionals!
Visits with teachers, parents, students and community members will commence once John has arrived in Ann Arbor full time in July. There will be communications about ways to help and opportunities to welcome the Huber family after they are settled.
An important aspect of the transition is to properly thank, say good-bye to and wish Jerry all the success he deserves moving into his new position. There will be additional communications regarding this facet of the transition as well.
The future at Emerson is bright as we look to build on the tremendous success realized under Jerry’s tutelage with the opportunities that are realized with the installation of a new head of school. We look forward to sharing in this continued success with the entire Emerson community!
Enjoy Spring Break with your families and for those heading out of town, safe travels.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Pinto
On behalf of the Transition Team
The Emerson School pool will be closed for the remainder of 2015 while repairs are made to its structure. During the 2014-2015 building projects, safety concerns were identified with the pool, prompting an engineering evaluation and ...
The Emerson School pool will be closed for the remainder of 2015 while repairs are made to its structure. During the 2014-2015 building projects, safety concerns were identified with the pool, prompting an engineering evaluation and the decision to close it until 2016.
“It’s certainly a tough decision to take such a beloved part of the school away from students,” said Jerry Loewen, Head of School. “Students are likely to be upset, and very understandably, but everyone agrees that this is best for the long-term health of the pool.”
Engineers pointed out several areas of concern, including cracks in the retaining structure, water leaking into the ground, and large amounts of dirt found inside of the pool. Repairs are expected to be costly, but faculty and staff are brainstorming ways to reduce expenses and create learning opportunities.
“This is a great service learning opportunity for students,” said Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director. “There is also STEAM learning potential. Our math classes are already doing the calculations to determine how many cubic feet of water and dirt would need to be moved, art is designing new tiles, our science team is testing soil and water samples, the Inventor’s Workshop elective is engineering tools, and PE teachers are investigating the physical capacity of students.”
Chief among the concerns are that the pool’s water has been completely displaced by ground soil. Unusually harsh winters, wet weather, and delayed maintenance were cited as factors.
“I feel like everyone is taking crazy pills, and for once I’m the only one who is sane,” said Victoria Scott, Middle School Latin and Social Studies teacher. “The pool is filled with dirt because it was never excavated in the first place. There has never been a pool, so of course it’s going to cost a lot. It’s as if this whole story was created as an April Fools joke.”
Middle School Students Construct Their Own Planetarium
In the perfect example of STEAM learning, these Middle School students built their own planetarium in science class this week, then gazed at the stars inside of ...
Hello Parents,
As the coming week brings us into the month of April and one week closer to the end of the school year, I want to bring you up to date on our transition plans welcoming John Huber as the 6th Head for Emerson School. While John will not officially start until July 1st, he and I have been in regular communication since his appointment last fall. Additionally, John visited campus on Monday and Tuesday of this week meeting with administrators, ESPO representatives, trustees, and was able to spend time with the faculty over lunch. Many more specific meetings with teachers and staff will begin in earnest this summer.
The objective of these visits and conversations has been to bring John up to speed on all things Emerson. While at times it must feel like trying to drink through a fire hose, we have been mindful of prioritizing the information that is most vital and most useful for a smooth transition. The topics range from daily routines around school to the major milestones in our school history, to major education trends as they impact Emerson, to the most pressing needs facing our school in the next few months and next few years.
While recognizing that the primary responsibility of the Head of School is to be the chief steward of the school’s mission and vision, the challenge in any Head transition is also recognizing that each new Head brings new interests, new talents, and a new approach to his or her new school. What makes that transition from the “old” to the “new” most successful is the passing on of the most objective information possible from as many sources as possible.
I look forward to my continuing conversations with John and his more robust conversations with all of you in the very near future.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Emerson’s Middle School Science Olympiad team earned third place (and a team trophy) at the Science Olympiad Regional Tournament last weekend.
In their very first season, the Emerson Quiz Bowl team finished 7th at Michigan Middle School State Championships last weekend.
Emerson students competed at the MSU Red Cedar Model UN Conference this weekend, with Henry Branch and Tyler Lee winning honorable mentions.
Representing Emerson School at the Michigan Junior Chess Championship in Kalamazoo, Eleanor Klinger won 4 of her 5 games to finish 3rd overall, and Parini Rao took 2nd in the 3rd Grade Division. Emerson alum Anvit Rao competed in the High School Championship, even though he is a current 6th grader.
You can sign up for individual days as needed. We are available from 8am-3pm ($60/day) with after care from 3-6pm ($6/hour). Space is limited and fills on a first-come, first-served basis. Reminder: There is no school and no childcare on Friday, April 3.
+ Learn more
+ Register by emailing Beth Muszkiewicz
Last week, Emerson 8th graders began planning their 3rd trimester project: planning, designing, and launching a high altitude weather balloon (HAWB). A HAWB is a balloon that is launched into the atmosphere, and can help detect weather conditions. Students will be launching two HAWBs and conducting experiments on things like the level of pollution or the temperature at certain heights. To find out more and stay updated along the process, please check out their pages below.
+ Website | + Instagram | + Twitter
+ Contact the HAWB Public Relations team with questions or feedback
The Online Auction topped off an incredible Live Auction, bringing in an additional $8,238 dollars for Emerson students. Thank you to everyone who participated, and enjoy your items!
Students are once again learning in an official Michigan Green School – Emerald Level! The school has completed at least 15 activities relating to reduce/reuse/recycle, energy, environmental protection, and others.
+ Learn more about Michigan Green Schools
All orders for the Kindergarten Memory game or 2nd grade pillowcase/tote bag must be received by Monday, Mar. 30. If you placed an order, please submit payment ASAP.
+ Email Beth Anderson to order
Join us as we groove to the energetic beats of Bollywood; the music of the Indian film industry! Bollywood dancing is a versatile, colorful dance form that incorporates styles from around the world, such as Latin, hip-hop, Indian classical, and jazz. In this camp, students will join friends in learning fun choreography and putting together a dance. We’ll introduce students to the music, the style, and most importantly, the fun that comes with being immersed in modern Indian culture.
+ Learn more and register
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson’s 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman’s class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Learn more
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
The Digital Media Academy is offering STEM-based summer camps at University of Michigan this summer, and they are offering two ways to attend at a discounted rate:
+ Learn more about the Digital Media Academy
+ Contact DMA about discounted registration
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
This program’s goal is to expose students to engineering and open to all students with an interest in engineering. The Center for Engineering Diversity and Outreach particularly encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented groups in engineering.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
– By Tim Wilson and Michael Wilson, Science Olympiad Coaches and Science Teachers
Congratulations to Emerson's Middle School Science Olympiad team, which earned third place (and a team trophy) at the Science Olympiad Regional ...
– By Tim Wilson and Michael Wilson, Science Olympiad Coaches and Science Teachers
Congratulations to Emerson’s Middle School Science Olympiad team, which earned third place (and a team trophy) at the Science Olympiad Regional Tournament on March 21, 2015. Competing against a field of very competitive teams, Emerson students proved to be amongst the best, placing in the top six in 21 out of 23 events, and medaling in the following:
1st Place Medals (2015 Regional Champions)
2nd Place Medals
3rd Place Medals
Congrats to all the Emerson students who competed at the MSU Red Cedar Model UN Conference this weekend. Henry Branch won an honorable mention for his portrayal of Ban Ki-Moon in the International Education committee, and Tyler Lee ...
Congrats to all the Emerson students who competed at the MSU Red Cedar Model UN Conference this weekend. Henry Branch won an honorable mention for his portrayal of Ban Ki-Moon in the International Education committee, and Tyler Lee won an honorable mention for representing Argentina in the DISEC committee.
Four Emerson Students Perform in DSO's Middle School Honor Band
John Byers, Lily Gillman, Michael Pelosi, and Ben Whiting had an experience of a lifetime this past Monday, when they performed in Detroit’s historic Orchestra Hall. ...
Hello Parents,
What is better than good food and good conversation? Thanks to your rich partnership with our teachers, and to the great array of food many of you generously brought in for them, we have accomplished both in these last few days.
We are grateful for your active participation and your consistent displays of support and appreciation. This round of conferences is especially important as it not only brings us all up to date on progress made over the long winter, it also gets us on the same page as we move forward toward the culmination of this school year. There is so much learning to be shared between now and June 12th! If you were not able to meet with your child’s teachers, please reach out to schedule those meetings.
Thanks also for all the incredible support and enthusiasm shown at the Auction. From the volunteers, to the donors, to the bidders, it was a very successful celebration.
Enjoy your weekend and and the sun’s passage into the Northern Hemisphere!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson’s 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman’s class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables, snacks, and lots of TLC.
+ Learn more
Thank you to everyone who participated in what preliminary numbers suggest will be Emerson’s most successful Auction ever. Final numbers are still being tallied, but we can confirm that more than $69,000 was raised for Financial Aid!
It takes a special community to host an Auction like this, and it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers who devote countless hours to its success. And, of course, the generosity of our community is awe-inspiring, from the items donated to the bids made. Thank you to everyone who gave, big and small, and supported learning and financial aid at Emerson.
Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Ann Arbor’s Menlo Innovations, has recently written a book called Joy, Inc. In it, he describes how he created a joyful culture at Menlo, and he describes how any organization—including schools—can follow similar methods for a more passionate team.
Richard is a dynamic speaker who has presented around the world, and we are thrilled to have him speak to the Emerson community.
Admission is $5, or $15 with a discounted copy of Joy, Inc. This event is open to the public and will appeal most to an adult audience.
+ Learn more and register to attend
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Two Emerson students, Sydney Friedman and Sophia Hildebrant, are performing in Snow: A Sisterly Tale, with the Saline Community Education Junior Theater. Performances are at the Liberty School Auditorium and tickets are $5 at the door.
+ Learn more
Emerson students Asha Owens, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer (and possibly others) are performing in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club’s annual Melody on Ice. This year’s performance, themed Let’s Go to the Movies, will feature the 2015 World Synchronized Team Junior Hockettes, all Hockettes teams, Special Olympians, soloists/duos/trios and more than 125 Learn to Skate students.
+ Learn more
Learn about the sport of rowing, talk to members, and see what AARC is all about.
+ Learn more
The Digital Media Academy is offering STEM-based summer camps at University of Michigan this summer, and they are offering two ways to attend at a discounted rate:
+ Learn more about the Digital Media Academy
+ Contact DMA about discounted registration
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
This program’s goal is to expose students to engineering and open to all students with an interest in engineering. The Center for Engineering Diversity and Outreach particularly encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented groups in engineering.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
Thursday, Apr. 2 at 7:00pm in Emerson's Arts & Innovation Center
Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Ann Arbor's Menlo Innovations, has recently written a book called Joy, Inc. In it, he describes how he created a ...
Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Ann Arbor’s Menlo Innovations, has recently written a book called Joy, Inc. In it, he describes how he created a joyful culture at Menlo, and he describes how any organization—including schools—can follow similar methods for a more passionate team.
Richard is a dynamic speaker who has presented around the world, and we are thrilled to have him speak to the Emerson community.
Admission is $5, or $15 with a discounted copy of Joy, Inc. This event is open to the public and will appeal most to an adult audience.
+ Learn more and register to attend
Donate Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 12:00pm – 6:00pm in the Gymnasium
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson's 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman's class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or ...
The goal is to collect 50 pints of blood, and Mr. Wilson’s 8th graders and 4th graders in Rob Bauman’s class need you to donate. All donations should take 60 minutes or less, from check-in to check-out, and donors will be treated to a WiFi waiting area with work tables and outlets, snacks and beverages, and lots of TLC.
Every donor will also have his or her name automatically entered in the first ever Emerson Red Cross Raffle.
Donors are asked to contact Michael Wilson at mwilson@emerson-school.org with a time frame (between 12:00pm – 6:00pm) when you’d be available. Mr. Wilson is also the person to contact with any questions or comments.
Thank you for giving the gift that keeps on giving.
– By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson Librarian
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students transform into literary critics. Each class chose a category for their award, designed a medal, nominated books, and narrowed down their ...
– By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson Librarian
Every year, Emerson 4th and 5th grade students transform into literary critics. Each class chose a category for their award, designed a medal, nominated books, and narrowed down their final selections. They worked together to create posters that promoted their nominees ahead of the vote that would determine the winner.
Final voting was opened to all students in grades 2 – 8 (alas, seventh grade was unable to work the voting into their schedule). Votes were carefully tallied and the winners were declared on Monday, March 16, 2015. Below are the winners for this year’s six Emerson Book Awards, along with their honor books.
New this year, Nicola’s Books is creating a display with Emerson Book Award Winners at their Ann Arbor store, and we would like to thank them for their ongoing support of reading at Emerson.
The S.W.I.S.S. Award (Swissie’s Wonderful Inventive Series Selection)
Best series of books – Sarah Swiss’ 4th grade class
The Keep Calm and Read Action Adventure Books Award
Best action and adventure books – Marchell Burgess’ 4th grade class
The R.A.G.A. (Rob’s Awesome Graphic Award)
Best graphic works – Rob Bauman’s 4th grade class
The Cliffhanger
Best mystery books – Jennifer Kime’s 5th grade class
The Fountain of Magic Award
Best fantasy books – Connie Weber’s 5th grade class
HA! (Humor Award)
Best humorous books – Ellen Chenier’s 5th grade class
+ See photos of each winning book with its award and promotional poster.
See 2015 TED Conference Live at Emerson
Mar. 17, Four Sessions from 11:00am – 9:45pm
The annual TED Conference is devoted to "ideas worth spreading." (11 great examples) To attend this year's conference in Vancouver, B.C. you ...
Hello Parents,
Let’s get smart together. Sometimes “getting smarter” is about acquiring new information, sometimes it is learning more knowledge and ideas around familiar topics, sometimes it is being exposed to new ideas and being challenged by them, and sometimes it is just sitting back and appreciating something astounding.
As so many of us know, TED has provided these opportunities for many years via tape-delayed video presentations. On Tuesday, March 17th, we have the opportunity to “get smarter” together, live, right here in the Emerson School Presentation Space. From 11:30am to 9:45pm, 20 speakers will share ideas on an amazing variety of topics at this year’s TED conference.
I have highlighted one speaker from each session as a means of whetting your intellectual appetite. This is a unique opportunity for any and all of us to delight in the thought-provoking energy that TED represents, and I hope you will join us for one, or all of the sessions.
Sessions, Speakers, and Topics:
For complete profiles and talk descriptions, visit the TED Conference website. And to register, please click the link below.
+ Register to see TED2015 live at TEDxEmersonSchool
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Sign up for conferences online or make changes until March 15th at 9:00pm.
+ More info, instructions, and child care
Middle School
The After School Program will once again provide child care during conferences and full day child care on the days with no school (Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th). Registration is required for full day child care.
+ See times, costs, and details
On Wednesday, March 18, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences. Most teachers will only have a short break until the end of the evening. As a way of showing our appreciation, parents will provide a potluck dinner for the staff (approximately 40 people).
+ Learn more and volunteer
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Incoming freshmen and parents are invited to attend.
Learn about the sport of rowing, talk to members, and see what AARC is all about.
+ Learn more
The Digital Media Academy is offering STEM-based summer camps at University of Michigan this summer, and they are offering two ways to attend at a discounted rate:
+ Learn more about the Digital Media Academy
+ Contact Rachelle Harding about discounted registration
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
This program’s goal is to expose students to engineering and open to all students with an interest in engineering. The Center for Engineering Diversity and Outreach particularly encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented groups in engineering.
+ Learn more
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
The After School Program will once again provide child care during conferences and full day child care on the days with no school (Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th).
Tuesday, March 17th and Wednesday, March 18th
Regular ...
The After School Program will once again provide child care during conferences and full day child care on the days with no school (Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th).
Students will have the option of time outside, games and crafts in the library, and supervised free time in the computer lab throughout the day. Also, Summer at Emerson instructor Simon Burchill will be hosting creative activities for all ages. There will definitely be something for everyone to enjoy.
At 9:00am we will travel by bus to the Henry Ford Museum where we will explore American history and imagination. Lunch is provided cafeteria-style with many different food options; students can choose their lunch (with adult supervision and assistance).
Register by emailing Carly Meloche at cmeloche@emerson-school.org by Tuesday, March 17. All charges will be billed to your student account at the end of March.
The 2015 Band and Orchestra Frankenmuth Retreat
The MS Band and Orchestra participated in their annual Recognition Retreat in Frankenmuth last weekend. The students had a few intense and productive rehearsals, with a special guest ...
Hello Parents,
Not only is it finally the month when the sun crosses the equator into the northern hemisphere, but today marks the end of our second trimester. With two-thirds of the school year behind us, ERB test results coming out next week, and parent conferences coming one week later, you have a great deal of feedback on how and what your child is learning this year. In the same spirit, I think it is just as informative to reflect on what the teachers and staff are learning this year.
In all the schools in which I have worked and visited, I have never been surrounded by as many teachers dedicated to learning more about children, how they learn, the next best teaching technique, or new knowledge in their field of expertise. Not only do we improve the educational experience at Emerson as a result of these experiences, it is also evidence of the preponderance of lifelong learners who teach and lead at Emerson School. We call this “Professional Development,” which is overseen by Peggy Wilson.
As a sampling and a quick glimpse into the variety of experiences our faculty and staff have enjoyed recently, here is the lineup of topics and experiences we will be sharing with one another at our Monday faculty meeting:
This list is just the tip of the iceberg on all that we have learned and studied this year, and all this is done on a mere one percent of our budget!
Enjoy the 40 degree weather that is coming!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
After more than two decades of teaching science at Emerson, Pat Petiet has decided to retire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Pat has helped shape Emerson’s science curriculum and inspired countless students to delve even deeper into understanding how our world works.
Filling Pat Petiet’s shoes will be current Middle School math teacher, advisor, and learning support coach Mary Spaller. Mary has always been a science lover and has the education and passion to be a great fit in this new position.
Finalists have been identified and will be meet with faculty and staff in the coming weeks.
We could really use your help preparing for the big night.
+ To volunteer or ask questions, contact Beth Anderson, 734.665.9005, x.305
Sign up for conferences online or make changes until March 15th at 9:00pm.
+ More info, instructions, and child care
Middle School
The After School Program will once again provide child care during conferences and full day child care on the days with no school (Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th). Registration is required for full day child care.
+ See times, costs, and details
On Wednesday, March 18, Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences. Most teachers will only have a short break until the end of the evening. As a way of showing our appreciation, parents will provide a potluck dinner for the staff (approximately 40 people).
+ Learn more and volunteer
Place your order now for shirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, and more, and items will be ready for you to pick-up at Emerson by March 23.
Note: Youth t-shirts run small and we suggest ordering a size up. Youth and adult items are noted in the title.
+ See items and place your order
Great TED Talks often do one or both of the following:
…They give you a new lens on the world as it is.
…They offer new possibilities for the world as it might be.
For TED2015, we’re on a quest to magnify both facets. We will seek to challenge and reshape our core beliefs about today’s reality. And at the same time celebrate the thinkers, dreamers and mavericks who offer bold new alternatives. Welcome to… Truth and Dare.
Sessions and Topics (See the speakers)
+ Register to attend (limited space)
+ See the speakers and topics
+ About TED2015
+ 11 Must-See TED Talks
Please contact Mrs. G in the Lower School Office to claim this ring.
Middle School Band and Orchestra Retreat
The MS Band and Orchestra participated in their annual Recognition Retreat in Frankenmuth last weekend. The students had a few intense and productive rehearsals, with a special guest speaker, Coach Kennedy! He spoke to the students about teamwork, trust, and responsibility. He drew many connections with examples of famous duos from the world of music, sports, science, and the arts.
The fun continued with a Recognition Banquet at Zehnder’s, where the crew had the world-famous chicken dinner! Every member of the band and orchestra was recognized with an award. Then the celebration continued with swimming at Splash Village Waterpark and shopping at River Place Shops. It was a terrific trip, as always! Mrs. B and Ms. C would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the parents who helped make the trip possible!
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Emerson science teacher Pat Petiet will perform in Ermine, which was a huge hit in its day and eclipsed the initial run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mokado. As with so many light operas of the late 19th century, it fell from the repertory on the 1920’s, with the onset of the Jazz Age. It opened in 1885 and came to the US in 1886.
+ Learn more
Be a part of creating science! The University of Illinois Journeys In Adolescence (JIA 家) Study is looking for Chinese Americans families with teens aged 12-17 to participate in a new study. We want to understand how to better promote academic achievement and physical and emotional well-being in Chinese American teens. Participation is simple and takes place entirely in the convenience of your own home. Parents and a teen will complete questionnaires, brief daily checklists, and teens will provide small saliva samples. Families who complete the study will receive $50 and a chance to win a new iPad mini.
+ Contact Xin Yuen (734.249.8067) with questions or if you are interested in participating
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
This program’s goal is to expose students to engineering and open to all students with an interest in engineering. The Center for Engineering Diversity and Outreach particularly encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented groups in engineering.
+ Learn more
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What better way to beat away this brutal cold weather than soaking up the warmth of friends together at a great party. Well, you are in luck! Emerson’s annual auction is March 13th, but you need to ...
Hello Parents,
What better way to beat away this brutal cold weather than soaking up the warmth of friends together at a great party. Well, you are in luck! Emerson’s annual auction is March 13th, but you need to act quickly and RSVP by Monday to reserve your space.
The Auction is not only a critical fundraiser for our school’s operating budget, it is also our opportunity to formally celebrate our accomplishments, our phenomenal families, and the very bright future you have made possible for Emerson School. From the wine pull, to the silent auction, to the live auction, to just enjoying the energy of this fun event, it is a party not to be missed. If you have not yet responded to your invitation, please return an RSVP card and join us. I greatly appreciate your support.
If you cannot attend, but still wish to participate, the online auction will begin on March 17th and stay active through the 25th. This option enables you to support the school while bidding on some tantalizing items from the warmth and comfort of your home. And back by popular demand, our Teacher Experience and Restaurant Raffles will be open to all starting Monday!
I hope to see you on the 13th, and I thank you in advance for your warm support of Emerson School.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
To reserve your child’s space at Emerson for the 2015-2016 school year, please return your signed contract by Friday, March 6.
+ Contact Admissions Director Jackie Ebels with any questions
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
Sign up for conferences online beginning Sunday, March 1, at 9:00pm. The scheduler will remain open until March 15th at 9:00pm. Child Care is available.
+ More info, instructions, and Child Care
Middle School
RSVPs will be accepted through next week until we are sold out. The Auction has reached capacity every year, so please don’t delay!
+ Download an RSVP card
Tickets for the Restaurant Raffle ($20) and Teacher Experience Raffles ($10) will be available for purchase in the Lower School and Middle School offices, in Lower School After Care, and—new this year—at home using an order form being sent home with your youngest child on Monday. You do not need to be present to win.
+ See the Teacher Experience Raffle items
We need time to package items and create displays for the big event. Thank you!
+ To volunteer or ask questions, contact Beth Anderson, 734.665.9005, x.305
Great TED Talks often do one or both of the following:
…They give you a new lens on the world as it is.
…They offer new possibilities for the world as it might be.
For TED2015, we’re on a quest to magnify both facets. We will seek to challenge and reshape our core beliefs about today’s reality. And at the same time celebrate the thinkers, dreamers and mavericks who offer bold new alternatives. Welcome to… Truth and Dare.
Sessions and Topics (See the speakers)
+ Register to attend (limited space)
+ See the speakers and topics
+ About TED2015
+ 11 Must-See TED Talks
You asked for it, so we’ve re-opened up the online Emerson apparel store. Place your order now for shirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, and more, and items will be ready for you to pick-up at Emerson by March 23.
Note: Youth t-shirts run small and we suggest ordering a size up. Youth and adult items are noted in the title.
+ See items and place your order
Join us for the final Middle School Play to be held in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre. This year’s student performance will include two one-act plays, each set in a school classroom.
Reserve Your Tickets Now
Tickets are $8.00 for all ages, payable by cash or check. You can order by email (theater@emerson-school.org) or by calling the Emerson Ticket Hotline at 734-665-9005, x362. Please leave a message with:
+ More info about plays and cast
Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor, invites families with 7th graders to see why we have been awarded the Catholic High School Honor Roll since 2008! Visit the school, meet the teachers and talk with our current coaches and sports clubs. Our award-winning Madrigal singers will be giving an ongoing performance in the Chapel where you can also enjoy refreshments. We hope to see you there!
+ Learn more
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Emerson science teacher Pat Petiet will perform in Ermine, which was a huge hit in its day and eclipsed the initial run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mokado. As with so many light operas of the late 19th century, it fell from the repertory on the 1920’s, with the onset of the Jazz Age. It opened in 1885 and came to the US in 1886.
+ Learn more
Be a part of creating science! The University of Illinois Journeys In Adolescence (JIA 家) Study is looking for Chinese Americans families with teens aged 12-17 to participate in a new study. We want to understand how to better promote academic achievement and physical and emotional well-being in Chinese American teens. Participation is simple and takes place entirely in the convenience of your own home. Parents and a teen will complete questionnaires, brief daily checklists, and teens will provide small saliva samples. Families who complete the study will receive $50 and a chance to win a new iPad mini.
+ Contact Xin Yuen (734.249.8067) with questions or if you are interested in participating
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
This program’s goal is to expose students to engineering and open to all students with an interest in engineering. The Center for Engineering Diversity and Outreach particularly encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented groups in engineering.
+ Learn more
Emerson's First Open Mic Night
Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:00pm
Don't miss your chance to perform for a friendly audience on Emerson's brand new stage. Anyone can perform—students, teachers, parents, alums, non-Emersonians, etc.—or be ...
Hello Parents,
Given that many of us may be preoccupied with either escaping this weather—or coping with it—as we look ahead to our Mid-Winter Break, I will keep this message short and sweet.
When we return from the break, March will be just a week away, Spring Training will be in full swing, parent conferences will be around the corner, preparations for Science Olympiad will be underway, spring concerts will be here before we know it, and the warmer weather (or the promise of warmer weather) will make the calendar move more quickly as we anticipate the end of this school year.
So, this break is a perfect time to gather our forces, physical and emotional, as we soldier forth through this winter and prepare for an exciting spring (dare I say it?). Regardless of the season, we are all so fortunate to be learning alongside you and your children.
Please stay safe and warm.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Several of our 7th and 8th grade Band and Orchestra members performed on Saturday, February 7, at the Solo and Ensemble Festival in Livonia. Students performed before judges to receive valuable feedback, as well as a rating and a medal. We had 32 Emerson performances at the festival, and every one of them received a rating of 1 or 2 (the top scores on a scale of 1 – 5).
Mrs. Borton and Ms. C enjoyed watching the ensembles practice and prepare over the last few months. The students were largely self-directed and they showed terrific leadership and teamwork. Congratulations to all of the students who performed!
+ Read more and see performers
Join us for the final Middle School Play to be held in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre. This year’s student performance will include two one-act plays, each set in a school classroom.
Reserve Your Tickets Now
Tickets are $8.00 for all ages, payable by cash or check. You can order by email (theater@emerson-school.org) or by calling the Emerson Ticket Hotline at 734-665-9005, x362. Please leave a message with:
+ More info about plays and cast
Congrats to Sundu Brahmasandra and Priya Varadan, who won the $75 gift card to Knight’s Restaurant from the early RSVP raffle.
+ Auction info and forms
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson
TED: Ideas worth spreading. The annual TED Conference set the stage for every great TEDx video you have seen. This year, our community can see TED2015 as a live simulcast at the inaugural TEDxEmersonSchool event.
+ Get an idea of what to expect from the TED Conference
Each TED event shares ideas based on a theme, and the TED2015 theme is Truth or Dare. Twenty presenters will spread their ideas in short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less) and we hope you will join us for some or all of it.
+ Learn more about TED
+ Register to attend (limited space)
Summer at Emerson camp registration is now live and open for everyone to register. Dozens of camps have already filled, so register soon for the most selection.
+ Register online
+ More camp information, including the 2015 brochure
Parent Information/Feedback Forms will be sent home early next week with your student(s). Please complete and return the form to the Lower School Office if your child is currently under care.
If you would like to discuss or apply for sibling enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Admission Director Jackie Ebels.
+ Contact Jackie Ebels
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor, invites families with 7th graders to see why we have been awarded the Catholic High School Honor Roll since 2008! Visit the school, meet the teachers and talk with our current coaches and sports clubs. Our award-winning Madrigal singers will be giving an ongoing performance in the Chapel where you can also enjoy refreshments. We hope to see you there!
+ Learn more
Students will have a tour of the school and lunch with fellow 8th graders. There will be an extra curricular fair with representatives of several school clubs and athletic teams. Meet at the Clock Tower Entrance.
+ RSVP to Jen Kunec by April 10th
Xiaojing Tabitha Yang, Emerson’s Chinese teacher, invites everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Feb 19 this year) at the Confucius Institute of UM reception and concert This concert features five vocalists from Wu Han Conservatory of Music, China, who will sing a program of folk and arts songs from Hubei, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other cultural and ethnic regions of China.
+ Learn more
Emerson science teacher Pat Petiet will perform in Ermine, which was a huge hit in its day and eclipsed the initial run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mokado. As with so many light operas of the late 19th century, it fell from the repertory on the 1920’s, with the onset of the Jazz Age. It opened in 1885 and came to the US in 1886.
Be a part of creating science! The University of Illinois Journeys In Adolescence (JIA 家) Study is looking for Chinese Americans families with teens aged 12-17 to participate in a new study. We want to understand how to better promote academic achievement and physical and emotional well-being in Chinese American teens. Participation is simple and takes place entirely in the convenience of your own home. Parents and a teen will complete questionnaires, brief daily checklists, and teens will provide small saliva samples. Families who complete the study will receive $50 and a chance to win a new iPad mini.
+ Contact Xin Yuen (734.249.8067) with questions or if you are interested in participating
Get on the water and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams in Washtenaw County, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) programs and conference planning board is looking for a gifted artist, aged 12 to 15, to create our next conference cover. The winner and finalist’s artwork
will be used in marketing and conference materials for 2015-2016.
+ Learn more
Join us for the final Middle School Play to be held in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre. This year’s student performance will include two one-act plays, each set in a school classroom.
Performance Dates
Thursday, Mar. 5 and Friday, ...
Join us for the final Middle School Play to be held in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre. This year’s student performance will include two one-act plays, each set in a school classroom.
Performance Dates
Reserve Your Tickets Now
Tickets are $8.00 for all ages, payable by cash or check. You can order by email (theater@emerson-school.org) or by calling the Emerson Ticket Hotline at 734-665-9005, x362. Please leave a message with:
You will be notified by phone phone or email (however you placed your order) when your tickets are available for pick up in the Middle School Office—usually about a week later. We prefer that you pick-up your tickets prior to your performance night so that we can avoid congestion and long lines in the show lobby.
ACT 1: Gifted by Tommy Lee Johnston
This drama tells the story of Mr. Jenks who revisits his high-school alma mater as a substitute teacher for a class of highly gifted students. Discovering the passage of time hasn’t erased his own painful experiences as a bully, he now faces a class of kids whose lives and experiences all too closely resemble those of the very students he taunted. Zach, Maggie, Jake, Janie, Jamie and James all struggle in their own way with their gift of intellect and the impact it has on their social standing in life and school. Their stories of being bullied quickly take Mr. Jenks back to a time of much shame and pain. He must face his feelings while helping the students understand the senselessness of bullying, and he will deliver news to the students that will force them to see life in a whole new way. Gifted reveals the day-to-day drama and humor these kids live. It’s a story of love, respect, devotion, extreme forgiveness, and embracing one’s own gift.
ACT 2: This is a Test by Stephen Gregg
A comedy by Stephen Gregg brings us into a typical class testing moment with the ticking clock reminding us, only 60 minutes remain to complete this oh-so-important predictor of the students’ future. But Emma didn’t get the review sheets, the teacher doesn’t seem to like her and her classmates are blatantly cheating! Time passes and the voices in her head remind her that though she is having trouble with the test, her personal life is far, far worse. Then she reaches the essay question. The good news—it’s an opinion essay. The bad news—it’s in several different languages! It seems things aren’t going to get better!
The Final Black Box Theatre Performance
A Black Box space is unique in its capacity to be made into any type of theatrical stage. The benefit of this venue is the intimacy it builds between actors and audience. Audience members often feel that they become a part of the show, sometimes as they are drawn into active participation, but nearly always through the emotional connections that occur quickly and powerfully in the small space.
Cast of Gifted
Cast of This is a Test
– By Leslie Capozzoli (a.k.a. Ms. C), Emerson Orchestra Teacher
Several of our 7th and 8th grade Band and Orchestra members performed on Saturday, February 7, at the Solo and Ensemble Festival in Livonia. Students performed ...
– By Leslie Capozzoli (a.k.a. Ms. C), Emerson Orchestra Teacher
Several of our 7th and 8th grade Band and Orchestra members performed on Saturday, February 7, at the Solo and Ensemble Festival in Livonia. Students performed before judges to receive valuable feedback, as well as a rating and a medal. We had 32 Emerson performances at the festival, and every one of them received a rating of 1 or 2 (the top scores on a scale of 1 – 5).
Mrs. Borton and Ms. C enjoyed watching the ensembles practice and prepare over the last few months. The students were largely self-directed and they showed terrific leadership and teamwork. Congratulations to all of the students who performed!
+ See more photos on Emerson’s Facebook page
The annual Solo and Ensemble Festival is organized by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association.
The Open House previously scheduled for February 1, 2015 (canceled due to weather), has been rescheduled for March 1, 2015 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. All parents of prospective K-5 students are invited to attend and meet with teachers, ...
The Open House previously scheduled for February 1, 2015 (canceled due to weather), has been rescheduled for March 1, 2015 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. All parents of prospective K-5 students are invited to attend and meet with teachers, tour the school, and get a taste for the special learning environment at Emerson School.
If you have questions, or would like to set up a tour of Emerson School prior to the March 1 Open House, please complete the form linked below or contact Admissions Director Jackie Ebels at jebels@emerson-school.org or 734-665-9005, x306.
Congrats to this outstanding group of Middle School mathletes, who took 4th place in last weekend's MathCounts competition! The team worked incredibly hard to prepare and we are so proud to see their efforts pay ...
Congrats to this outstanding group of Middle School mathletes, who took 4th place in last weekend’s MathCounts competition! The team worked incredibly hard to prepare and we are so proud to see their efforts pay off.
Be part of the first-ever TEDxEmersonSchool event by attending the live simulcast of TED2015—the annual flagship conference that started it all.
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
Since our ribbon cutting for the Arts and ...
Hello Parents,
Since our ribbon cutting for the Arts and Innovation Center last month, we have been quite busy preparing for the multitude of uses long envisioned for our new space. Teachers are moving into the space with increasing regularity for grade level movies, low impact physical educations classes, debates, early morning childcare, Middle School lunch, band and orchestra rehearsals, all school assemblies, with an even greater variety to come.
One of the most exciting things are the new events that can now take place thanks to this space. From providing an open mic venue for students, teachers, parents, alums, and artists from outside Emerson to perform on stage in front of a very friendly audience, to giving live access to an exclusive TED conference as it happens on the West Coast, to learning from authors, thought leaders, and innovators as they present to our community, this new space is creating new and wonderful opportunities for our community.
Despite all that is new, many long-standing traditions remain. The Middle School Play, a production of two one-act plays, will be performed in the Middle School Black Box Theater. We are calling this production our farewell to the Black Box, as all our lights and sound systems will be fully operational by next fall for the Middle School Musical. Gifted and This is a Test will be performed on Thursday, March 5th, Friday, March 6th, and Saturday, March 7th, and tickets will be made available soon.
Lastly, this month’s ESPO and Meet the Head of School meeting will be in our new Presentation Room. Come enjoy the comfortable seating this coming Wednesday morning, February 11th at 8:30am.
Stay safe and warm this weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Parent Information/Feedback Forms will be sent home early next week with your student(s). Please complete and return the form to the Lower School Office if your child is currently under care.
Do you or your child want to perform on Emerson’s new stage? Want to witness some of our school’s talent? Join other students, alums, parents, and teachers at our first community Open Mic night.
Performers will be given five minutes each to sing a song, play an instrument, read original poetry, perform a monologue, play as an ensemble, etc.—let your talent be your guide.
+ Sign up to perform
TED: Ideas worth spreading
The annual TED Conference set the stage for every great TEDx video you have seen. This year, our community can see TED2015 as a live simulcast at the inaugural TEDxEmersonSchool event.
+ Get an idea of what to expect from the TED Conference
Each TED event shares ideas based on a theme, and the TED2015 theme is Truth or Dare. Twenty presenters will spread their ideas in short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less) and we hope you will join us for some or all of it.
+ Learn more about TED
+ Register to attend (limited space)
Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Ann Arbor’s Menlo Innovations, has recently written a book called Joy, Inc. In it, he describes how he created a joyful culture at Menlo, and he describes how any organization—including schools—can follow similar methods for a more passionate team.
Richard is a dynamic speaker who has presented around the world. His presentation will be about Joy in Learning, and Emerson is excited to provide a venue for Richard to speak with our community. This event is open to the public and will appeal most to an adult audience.
(Registration information coming soon)
The enduring understandings, essential questions, content, and skills that provide the structure for what students are learning at Emerson.
+ Auction info and forms
Check your mailboxes for your invitation and reply by February 13th to be entered into a special drawing! Additional reply cards are available online or with Mrs. G. and Mrs. Hodges in the lower and middle school offices.
RSVP final deadline is Monday, March 2nd. Don’t delay, the Auction has sold out the last three years.
We still need restaurant gift certificates for our Restaurant Raffle and wine for our Wine Pull. Wine should be valued between $25-$100 per wine bottle, and restaurant gift certificates can be for any amount. All donations should be delivered to Emerson by Wednesday, Feb. 25th to be included in the catalog.
To donate items, please complete an online donor form or email a print donor form to Beth Anderson. To donate wine, please email Wine Pull Coordinator Lisa Huczek.
Summer at Emerson camp registration is now live and open for everyone to register. Dozens of camps have already filled, so register soon for the most selection.
+ Register online
+ More camp information, including the 2015 brochure
If you would like to discuss or apply for sibling enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Admission Director Jackie Ebels.
+ Contact Jackie Ebels
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
All 4th – 8th grade students will take the standardized Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). These tests will once again be given online with Emerson technology, and classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Find answers to more frequently asked questions
+ Unanswered questions? Contact Jan Walker or Renee Durrant
The nonprofit Girls on the Run program uses a fun, ten-week running program to help girls learn about expressing themselves, making good choices, creating healthy habits, and serving their community. The program culminates in a non-competitive 5k event on May 17.
Middle School elective descriptions are available on the Emerson School website. Students must make their selections through RenWeb no later than noon on Monday, Feb. 9. Elective forms are only available through the RenWeb student account.
+ Third trimester elective descriptions
+ Instructions on how to sign up
Pizza and snacks will be served.
Xiaojing Tabitha Yang, Emerson’s Chinese teacher, invites everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Feb 19 this year) at the Confucius Institute of UM reception and concert This concert features five vocalists from Wu Han Conservatory of Music, China, who will sing a program of folk and arts songs from Hubei, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other cultural and ethnic regions of China.
+ Learn more
Ermine was a huge hit in its day, eclipsing the initial run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mokado. As with so many light operas of the late 19th century, it fell from the repertory on the 1920’s, with the onset of the Jazz Age. It opened in 1885 and came to the US in 1886. Emerson science teacher Pat Petiet is a regular Comic Opera Guild performer.
Congratulations to Emerson's JV and Varsity Basketball Stars
Emerson's basketball teams were a force at the season ending tournament. The JV team took first place, and Varsity earned second place with a one point loss in the final ...
Hello Parents,
I want to thank you for the warm and generous support you continue to give to your child’s school. From Pizza Lunch, classroom field trips, and the Annual Fund, to the Building STEAM campaign and the upcoming Auction, we know a lot is asked of you. But it is this ongoing support that makes our community buzz with excitement and vitality.
I also want to thank you for all of the times you have shared your experience at Emerson with someone else. The simple truth is that no new family comes to us, or any other school, without some word of mouth and conversation with a real life parent of that school. Those conversations are some of the biggest contributions you can make to Emerson, and we thank you for being such a generous ambassador.
It is now that season when a great many families are applying and expressing interest in joining the Emerson community. If you know a family who has already applied, or who has children who would benefit from an Emerson School education, please reach out and share your experience, or invite them to the K-5 Open House this Sunday, February 1st from 2:00 to 4:00.
Thank you for your ongoing support, feedback, and partnership.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Please share the joy of learning by inviting friends, family, or coworkers to the K-5 Open House.
+ Learn more and share
The enduring understandings, essential questions, content, and skills that provide the structure for what students are learning at Emerson.
+ Auction info and forms
Look for your invitations in the mail next week, and let us know if you would like one mailed to family and/or friends. To volunteer or ask questions, email Beth Anderson or call 665-5662 x305.
Contribute to Class Baskets: Each grade’s Class Basket Chair is assembling a unique basket of goodies to be part of the silent auction. Reply to the email they sent if you would like to contribute.
Donate Your Own Item: Donate an item, gift card, wine, tickets to an event, etc. Just complete the online form and we’ll collect or pick up your items later.
+ Donate an Item
Join a group of volunteers in the Fish Bowl for an easy way to participate and have fun.
Emerson families can now register for Summer at Emerson camp before it opens to the public.
+ Register online
+ More camp information, including the 2015 brochure
If you would like to discuss or apply for sibling enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Admission Director Jackie Ebels.
+ Contact Jackie Ebels
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
The first session of Pizza Lunch ends on Friday, Jan. 30, and the second session begins on Feb. 2. Cancellations and changes to your child’s order can be made through Jan. 30 by emailing Lisa Lee, ESPO Pizza Lunch Chair, at emersonpizzalunch@gmail.com. If you would like to continue with your unchanged Pizza Lunch order, nothing needs to be done.
+ Make a change to your child’s Pizza Lunch order
All 4th – 8th grade students will take the standardized Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). These tests will once again be given online with Emerson technology, and classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Find answers to more frequently asked questions
+ Unanswered questions? Contact Jan Walker or Renee Durrant
The nonprofit Girls on the Run program uses a fun, ten-week running program to help girls learn about expressing themselves, making good choices, creating healthy habits, and serving their community. The program culminates in a non-competitive 5k event on May 17.
Middle School elective descriptions will be emailed to parents on Monday, Feb. 2. Please make your selections through RenWeb no later than noon on Monday, Feb. 9. Elective forms are only available through the RenWeb student account.
+ Instructions on how to sign up
Parent and student orientation sessions for families interested in applying for Community High School’s 2015-2016 freshmen slots.
To be eligible for one of the open freshman slots, applicants must be current 8th graders, meet the district’s residency requirements at the time of application, attend a required orientation meeting with parent/guardian, and submit a completed application to the Main Office, CHS, by 4:00 PM Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. The school’s random selection will be held Feb. 10, 2015.
+ Learn more
Students and parents will see a presentation on career planning, graduation requirements, high school orientation, counseling services, and ninth grade electives.
+ Learn more
— By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
We will be adding a little bit of magic to the gray days of winter with a visit from author and magician Joshua Jay on Monday, February 9. He will be speaking to students in ...
— By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
We will be adding a little bit of magic to the gray days of winter with a visit from author and magician Joshua Jay on Monday, February 9. He will be speaking to students in grades 1 – 3 about his book Big Magic for Little Hands. and performing magic tricks to awe and amaze his audience. What kid (or adult) does not enjoy a good magic show? This show may just inspire students to try being a magician.
A good place to start that career or create a hobby is with a good book about magic. Our friends at Nicola’s Books is sponsoring this visit and will have copies of the book for sale.
Joshua Jay is a master magician and was champion of the World Magic Seminar when he was just 16—nine years after learning his first magic tricks—which is why he specifically asked for audience of six– to nine-year-olds.
— By Jerry Loewen, Head of School
Every day, Emerson students take part in lessons and activities that challenge, prepare, stimulate, and engage them. All of these lessons are pieces of a broad and flexible curriculum crafted by ...
— By Jerry Loewen, Head of School
Every day, Emerson students take part in lessons and activities that challenge, prepare, stimulate, and engage them. All of these lessons are pieces of a broad and flexible curriculum crafted by each teacher at Emerson School. Today, we’re excited to make this curriculum more accessible in the form of Curriculum Maps now on our school website.
+ Emerson Curriculum Maps Online
These Curriculum Maps are the result of many months of hard work by Emerson teachers. They have synthesized their existing curricular elements and documented them in the format you will see through the Atlas Rubicon software we are utilizing.
Teachers have poured themselves into documenting the rich learning that happens in their classroom, even though it doesn’t always translate well into text. With that in mind, these maps represent the foundation for much of the learning that happens at Emerson, but they cannot possibly capture it all.
The phrase “curriculum map” is an apt one here, as the map outlines the overall direction for a class over a year’s time. However, just as maps don’t preclude interesting detours or show every adjustment and new route in real time, our maps should be understood as fluid and living documents. One of our school’s hallmarks is the ability to innovate and adjust to the needs and interests of each year’s students—it’s part of our mission—and teachers will continue to utilize that flexibility to provide the best learning experience for students.
Many thanks to our outstanding Curriculum Coordinators, Jen Kime for Lower School, and Beth Nazario for Middle School. If you have any questions about these maps and the overall curriculum, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
See the original email
Emerson was the source of some major volcanic activity today. Several spectacular eruptions occurred from replica volcanos created by some equally spectacular 8th grade science students.
+ Watch the ...
Emerson was the source of some major volcanic activity today. Several spectacular eruptions occurred from replica volcanos created by some equally spectacular 8th grade science students.
+ Watch the eruption
Hello Emerson Community,
Every day, your students take part in lessons and activities that challenge, prepare, stimulate, and engage them. All of these lessons are pieces of a broad and flexible curriculum crafted by each teacher at Emerson School. Today, we’re excited to make this curriculum more accessible in the form of Curriculum Maps now on our school website.
+ Emerson Curriculum Maps Online
These Curriculum Maps are the result of many months of hard work by Emerson teachers. They have synthesized their existing curricular elements and documented them in the format you will see through the Atlas Rubicon software we are utilizing.
Teachers have poured themselves into documenting the rich learning that happens in their classroom, even though it doesn’t always translate well into text. With that in mind, these maps represent the foundation for much of the learning that happens at Emerson, but they cannot possibly capture it all.
The phrase “curriculum map” is an apt one here, as the map outlines the overall direction for a class over a year’s time. However, just as maps don’t preclude interesting detours or show every adjustment or new route in real time, our maps should be understood as fluid and living documents. One of our school’s hallmarks is the ability to innovate and adjust to the needs and interests of each year’s students—it’s part of our mission—and teachers will continue to utilize that flexibility to provide the best learning experience for students.
Many thanks to our outstanding Curriculum Coordinators, Jen Kime for Lower School, and Beth Nazario for Middle School. If you have any questions about these maps and the overall curriculum, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The enduring understandings, essential questions, content, and skills that provide the structure for what students are learning at Emerson.
Due to AAPS closures.
Please share the joy of learning by inviting friends, family, or coworkers to the K-5 Open House.
All Main Dish Lunch orders end on Thursday, Jan. 29. To continue Main Dish Lunch, all families must submit a new order by Saturday, Jan. 24. The second session of lunches will begin on Monday, Feb. 2.
+ Re-order Main Dish Lunch
If you would like to discuss or apply for sibling enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Admission Director Jackie Ebels.
+ Contact Jackie Ebels
Financial aid is available to families through a need-based program, and 10 percent of Emerson students are recipients. The amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive is determined independently through School and Student Service (SSS), a service of NAIS.
+ Learn more about financial aid
+ Apply for financial aid
+ Auction info and forms
If you have been considering contributing to the Emerson Auction, now is the time. Upcoming deadlines and opportunities to get involved include:
+ Donate an Item
Class Basket Deadline: Jan. 28 (contact grade class basket leaders)
Forms Deadline: Jan. 30th, delivery Feb. 25th
Consider what you might enjoy winning. Anyone can donate an item or get together with friends to donate a themed basket. Suggested items include:
+ Advertise in the Auction Catalog
Ad Deadline: February 6
+ Be a Sponsor
Help defray auction expenses with your cash donation.
Catalog Inclusion Deadline: Feb. 13
+ Volunteer
Monday, Feb. 2, 11:00am – 2:30pm. We need your help stuffing invitations in the Fish Bowl.
+ To volunteer or ask questions, email Beth Anderson or call 665-5662 x305.
The first session of Pizza Lunch ends on Friday, Jan. 30, and the second session begins on Feb. 2. Cancellations and changes to your child’s order can be made through Jan. 30 by emailing Lisa Lee, ESPO Pizza Lunch Chair, at emersonpizzalunch@gmail.com. If you would like to continue with your unchanged Pizza Lunch order, nothing needs to be done.
+ Make a change to your child’s Pizza Lunch order
All 4th – 8th grade students will take the standardized Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) tests published by Educational Records Bureau (ERB). These tests will once again be given online with Emerson technology, and classroom teachers will serve as proctors for their grade.
+ Find answers to more frequently asked questions
+ Unanswered questions? Contact Jan Walker or Renee Durrant
Please continue to use the main parking lot for long-term parking, and use curbside service for all other student pick-up and drop-off.
Exciting learning continues in the Lower School Specials classes. Here is an update for what is happening at each of the grade levels. – Kelly Vohland, Lower School Coordinator
+ Read more
The nonprofit Girls on the Run program uses a fun, ten-week running program to help girls learn about expressing themselves, making good choices, creating healthy habits, and serving their community. The program culminates in a non-competitive 5k event on May 17.
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
Five parent and student orientation sessions have been announced for families interested in applying for Community High School’s 2015-2016 freshmen slots.
To be eligible for one of the open freshman slots, applicants must be current 8th graders, meet the district’s residency requirements at the time of application, attend a required orientation meeting with parent/guardian, and submit a completed application to the Main Office, CHS, by 4:00 PM Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. The school’s random selection will be held Feb. 10, 2015.
+ Learn more
Students and parents will see a presentation on career planning, graduation requirements, high school orientation, counseling services, and ninth grade electives.
+ Learn more
Emerson students and alums are big players in the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's new production of "Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical". Eighth grader Ben Chambers is starring as Young Clyde Barrow, while Emerson alum Miranda Chambers ...
Emerson students and alums are big players in the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s new production of “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical”. Eighth grader Ben Chambers is starring as Young Clyde Barrow, while Emerson alum Miranda Chambers (currently a Community High senior) is the running crew. The show is also produced by an alumni parent, Patty Mazzola.
All performances will be at at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre January 15 – 18, 2015, with showtimes at 8:00pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and a 2:00pm show on Sunday. Media have already seen previews of the show, and their reviews indicate that this is a show worth braving the cold for.
Congratulations to our Emerson School family participating in the AACT’s production. Break a leg!
See the original email
Arts & Innovation Center Ribbon Cutting and Tours
Thursday, Jan. 15 at 3:00pm
Be part of the celebration and bring an item to be included in the time capsule.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Letter from ...
Hello Parents,
The wall between the old and new is down. If you walk through the Middle School Commons, you now have a clear sightline into the future! All the visions, fund raising, planning, and coordination of construction has brought us to the moment for our community to celebrate not only what we have crafted, but what we have made possible.
As you will see from the innovative design and the multipurpose emphasis of our new space, Emerson School is fully prepared for a future that will require a multitude of teaching and learning methods and venues. From a large space to address an audience of more than 300 to practice rooms for a single musician to master the violin, we have those resources.
With the flip of the operable wall switch, the 300-plus seat auditorium becomes a presentation space for 100 students in fixed theatre-style seats, and an open area ready to host everything from Lower School physical education to small scale productions. The fully equipped stage, lights and sound system will bolster the talents of all performers from K through 8th grade, as well as those of outside speakers, musicians and panel presentations to come. The band and orchestra rooms will host both Lower and Middle School musicians. The lobby of the Arts and Innovation Center will not only play host to a variety of artwork, it will double as a lunch space for Middle School students. And just wait until our After School and Summer Programs wrap their arms around the possibilities!
This only scratches the surface of what we can now do—and dream to do—in this new space of ours. I hope you will come out and see for yourself at the Ribbon Cutting this Thursday afternoon at 3:00. Let’s see the future together.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
To continue Main Dish Lunch, all families must submit a new order by Saturday, Jan. 24. Second semester lunches will begin on Monday, Feb. 2. First semester (fall) orders do not carry over.
+ Re-Order Main Dish Lunch by Jan. 24
Morning Child Care will relocate to the new multi-use space beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20th. Please send your child in through the main doors to enter the building and signs will be posted to guide our students to the new location.
+ Lean more, including how to sponsor, advertise, or donate an item
+ Questions? Contact Beth Anderson at (734) 665-5662 x305.
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
Five parent and student orientation sessions have been announced for families interested in applying for Community High School’s 2015-2016 freshmen slots.
To be eligible for one of the open freshman slots, applicants must be current 8th graders, meet the district’s residency requirements at the time of application, attend a required orientation meeting with parent/guardian, and submit a completed application to the Main Office, CHS, by 4:00 PM Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. The school’s random selection will be held Feb. 10, 2015.
+ Learn more
Have some fun while supporting Skyline High School’s Crew team.
+ Learn more
See the original email
Happy Holidays from Emerson School
+ Enjoy this special video of the joy and fun at today's Winter Sharing Celebration
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What a wonderful day we all enjoyed today. ...
Hello Parents,
What a wonderful day we all enjoyed today. Thanks to the generosity of spirit present throughout the year, and especially on display today, we are all being sent off to the four winds with the best wishes and warmth of our community. From the Toasty Toes Sock Donation Project, to the Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Middle School’s House A, to the amazing entertainment orchestrated by our Fine Arts faculty, we are grateful for our gifts and for one another.
Happy Holidays! See you in January.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Teachers will return to work on Monday for inservice work, but classes do not resume until Tuesday.
+ To register or for more info, email Beth Muszkiewicz
+ Contact Rose Hacker to sign up or for more details
Bring in the New Year with new After School Enrichment Classes! Attached are the details for the Winter Term (January – March).
+ See the new Winter Term classes
Morning Child Care will relocate to the new multi-use space beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20th. Please send your child in through the main doors to enter the building and signs will be posted to guide our students to the new location.
Our offices are closed beginning at noon on Friday, Dec. 19th and hand deliveries should be made before that date.
+ Make your gift by credit card online
+ Print a reply card to accompany a check or credit card gift in person or by mail
+ Questions? Please contact Beth Anderson at (734) 665-5662 x305.
Several parents of crochet class students have commented that they would like to learn how to crochet along with their children. Parents and staff are invited to join me for an afternoon of crochet on Friday, Jan. 9, from 3:45pm –5:15pm. There is no charge for the class, but participants will need to shop for yarn and a crochet hook prior to the class. We will be making a cowl with bulky yarn that is perfect for Michigan winters! Beginners and experienced crocheters are welcome to participate.
+ Contact Leslie Capozzoli If you are interested
Students will soon have their first classes and activities in the Arts and Innovation Center, which means it’s time to celebrate again as we officially cut the ribbon and tour our new spaces. All of our Emerson community is invited to participate—students, parents, grandparents, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him. Save 20% by indicating you’re a friend of Olivia’s.
+ Learn more
Have some fun while supporting Skyline High School’s Crew team.
+ Learn more
Spirit Week, and this communication, was coordinated by Emerson 8th grade girls
Monday: Emerson Day
Dress in school colors (blue/white), dress like an Emerson teacher (don’t be rude!), or whatever you think best represents Emerson ...
Spirit Week, and this communication, was coordinated by Emerson 8th grade girls
Monday: Emerson Day
Dress in school colors (blue/white), dress like an Emerson teacher (don’t be rude!), or whatever you think best represents Emerson (ex. an eagle)
Tuesday: Crazy Hat/Hair Day
Wear a crazy hat or style your luscious locks in a wacky way. Or, if you’re up for the challenge, do both! (ex. shave The Road Not Taken into your hair)
Wednesday: Decade Day
Choose your favorite decade and some garb you think best represents that time period (ex. fishnet stockings and fingerless gloves)
Thursday: Character Day
Dress like a character from a book, movie, or TV show. (ex. Winnie the Pooh costume)
Friday: Pajama Day
This one is pretty self explanatory, but please follow the dress code and wear pants and a shirt. This would be much appreciated.
Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, 7:30am – 9:30am
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson's community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s ...
This annual pancake breakfast brings our students and community together around food and supports Emerson’s community service initiative. This year the funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year, and any student who brings in a winter coat, hat, or pair of gloves will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. This winter apparel drive will support the Ann Arbor Area Community Fund’s “Warm the Children” program.
On Friday, December 19th, Emerson Middle School’s House A (one of three student “house” groups in the Middle School) has invited all Emerson students to their 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast, held from 7:30–9:30am. This event is optional, but we hope many students will partake in the pancakes! Parents are more than welcome to join in the breakfast as well.
Cost and Timing
The cost of the breakfast is $5.00 and can be billed to student accounts. Funds raised will go to support Emerson’s community service efforts throughout the year; students who bring in a winter coat, hat, or pair of gloves will receive $1.00 off their pancake breakfast. The pancake breakfast includes up to three pancakes, toppings, and a drink.
Middle school students can purchase pancakes upon their arrival at school.
Gr. 3-5 students will be allowed to leave their homeroom around 8:20-8:30am to purchase the breakfast and will eat in their homerooms.
For Gr. K – 2 students, a pancake cart will deliver breakfast to their classrooms that morning.
Ingredients and Allergy Info
GFS pancake mix (contains: wheat, milk, and eggs), GFS canned strawberry topping, GFS whipped topping, and Mrs. Butterworth syrup. Drinks will be either water or Country Time Lemonade.
For students with allergies, we will have separate breakfast stations which include a gluten-free pancake option (this option is not nut-free or egg-free), as well as a separate peanut-free and egg-free pancake option (this option does contain gluten).
Thank you for your support. Any questions, please contact Kelly Vohland or Andy Zimmer.
See the original email
Opening Tonight: The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. Musical
Friday, Dec. 12th at 7:00pm, Saturday, Dec. 13th at 2:00pm
A group of fabulous Emerson Middle School Students have been rehearsing non-stop to perform ...
Hello Parents,
Just when I fully embraced that we are well into the month of December, it now hits me that 2015 is only 18 days away. Shortly behind this realization comes the list of year-end considerations, including those financial and philanthropic.
Among many compelling reasons to donate to Emerson’s Annual Fund, an especially relevant one today is that your donations are tax deductible. Not only does your generous support fill the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of operating our school, your gift smiles on your 2014 tax returns just as it smiles upon Emerson School!
Every Annual Fund dollar impacts your child’s education—from access to new technology and books, to a Professional Development Fund that keeps their teachers sharp and engaged in the latest educational advances. Thanks to your support, teachers this year are learning at:
Suffice it to say that teachers are modeling the lifelong learning we hope to foster in our students. Your year-end, tax deductible donation makes it possible. Our entire school community benefits from your generosity and enthusiasm each and every day. Thank you.
Happy New Year in 18 days!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
+ Log into RenWeb > Student Information tab > Report Card > Print preview
+ Middle School 1st Trimester Elective Synopses
+ Questions? LS contact Joan Gregorka, MS contact Deborah Hodges
Our offices are closed beginning at noon on Friday, Dec. 19th and hand deliveries should be made before that date.
+ Make your gift by credit card online
+ Print a reply card to accompany a check or credit card gift in person or by mail
+ Questions? Please contact Beth Anderson at (734) 665-5662 x305.
Please join us for a holiday concert with the Lower School Band and Orchestra. Performers have a dress rehearsal that begins at 6:15pm. Parents, please visit the website to see all of the concert details regarding attire, reception items, and materials.
+ Learn more
Students, faculty, and staff will show their school spirit all week.
+ Learn more
+ To register or for more info, email Beth Muszkiewicz
The Emerson Auction Parent Packet was sent home in student backpacks on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Make sure to take a look for information about volunteering, donating items, sponsorship, and advertising in the catalog.
+ Please contact Beth Anderson to learn more
Several parents of crochet class students have commented that they would like to learn how to crochet along with their children. Parents and staff are invited to join me for an afternoon of crochet on Friday, Jan. 9, from 3:45pm –5:15pm. There is no charge for the class, but participants will need to shop for yarn and a crochet hook prior to the class. We will be making a cowl with bulky yarn that is perfect for Michigan winters! Beginners and experienced crocheters are welcome to participate.
+ Contact Leslie Capozzoli If you are interested
Students will soon have their first classes and activities in the Arts and Innovation Center, which means it’s time to celebrate again as we officially cut the ribbon and tour our new spaces. All of our Emerson community is invited to participate—students, parents, grandparents, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff.
+ Learn more and RSVP
Middle School Band and Orchestra members are eligible to audition for a $500 Kiwanis Club Scholarship at Skyline on Feb. 1. Students should see their director for an application, which is due to the AAPS Music Office at Balas on Friday, Dec. 19.
The ups and downs, the social drama and the emotionality can be difficult to watch. How can you help your daughter traverse this new universe where the rules are different and she must figure them out as she goes? Join in a discussion withPositive Parenting Consultant Annie Zirkel, MA LPC to understand more of what your daughter may be experiencing and learn strategies to help you help her navigate middle school on her way to growing up.
To help Annie better understand and facilitate the discussion, she asks that participants consider completing this anonymous online form: Your Daughter and the Middle School Experience. You can also send your thoughts directly at Annie@practicehow.com.
This speaker is intended for middle school parents, but any interested Emerson parents are welcome to attend.
+ Questions? Please contact Andy Zimmer
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
Emerson 3rd Grader Parini Rao is collecting socks to keep kids happy and healthy this winter. Socks will be donated to Ozone House in Ann Arbor, who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl from December 3 – 19, 2014.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Veda Diptiman (as a Sugar Plum) and 7th grader Kristen Umbriac (as Clara Puppet) will be performing in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for Performing Arts. Kristen will perform in the Saturday night and Sunday matinee shows on December 13th and 14th.
+ Learn more
Emerson 8th grader Alexis Huczek will be perform in the Dance Alliance of Saline’s 17th annual production of The Nutcracker. Both performances will be on Sunday, December 14 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm in the Ellen A. Ewing Performing Arts Center at Saline High School.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him. Save 20% by indicating you’re a friend of Olivia’s.
+ Learn more
By Michelle Borton, Lower School Music Teacher and Band Director
Congratulations to John Byers, Lily Gillman, Michael Pelosi and Ben Whiting for being accepted to participate in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Honor Band.
These ...
By Michelle Borton, Lower School Music Teacher and Band Director
Congratulations to John Byers, Lily Gillman, Michael Pelosi and Ben Whiting for being accepted to participate in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Honor Band.
These students were selected based on their musicianship, participation in summer camps or community ensembles, willingness to challenge themselves with optional performance opportunities: All State Audition and Solo and Ensemble Festival, and their attitude/leadership ability in the Emerson Band program.
On March 16th, 2015, these students will have the chance to rehearse with renowned faculty, learn exciting and diverse repertoire, play alongside Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians and perform in Detroit’s historic Orchestra Hall.
By Leslie Capozzoli, Emerson Orchestra Director
Congratulations to Maya Akhoury and Lukas Jonnson on their acceptance into the All-State Orchestra! It is a terrific honor to be chosen from among the 2000+ students who auditioned for ...
By Leslie Capozzoli, Emerson Orchestra Director
Congratulations to Maya Akhoury and Lukas Jonnson on their acceptance into the All-State Orchestra! It is a terrific honor to be chosen from among the 2000+ students who auditioned for the ensembles. Maya and Lukas will be performing with the All-State Orchestra this January in Grand Rapids with other ensemble members from across Michigan. They will be working with guest conductor, Dan Long, who taught at Slauson Middle School for over 30 years and who received many awards, including “Teacher of the Year” by the Band and Orchestra Association. We are so happy for your accomplishments, Maya and Lukas!
Congratulations to all of the students who auditioned for the All-State program. Keep auditioning! You will gain valuable audition skills and hopefully get to exactly where you want to be with your music!
See the original email
Theatre Arts and Band and Orchestra students will soon perform on this stage in the new Arts and Innovation Center. It's just one component of the Building STEAM campaign for Emerson School.
+ Learn ...
Hello Parents,
With our fabulous building rising behind us and nearing completion, it is hard not to recognize and celebrate our commitment to the arts. Not only do we have a few exciting events planned this month, but 2015 promises an even wider range of arts events and activities thanks to our new space and our expanded capabilities.
Fitty Emerson Middle School students will begin “tech week” on Monday—the culmination of months of hard work and dedication to their craft. The halls are echoing with the sounds of Pirates and Maidens singing and dancing, brandishing play swords and projecting their lines with gusto. The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. will be presented to all 4th grade – 8th grade students next Thursday as explained in this newsletter. The show will also be performing on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The show will be fabulous and it will be our last theatrical production off-campus!
Perhaps the most famous song of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas describes the very essence of an Emerson experience. In “Modern Major-General”, Major General Stanley describes his impressive and well-rounded education:
“I am the very model of a modern Major-General,
I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical…”
The following week will play host to the last Emerson Band and Orchestra concert to be performed in the gymnasium! The Lower School concert is set for Tuesday, December 16th and will be full of great music, amusement, and entertainment.
I hope to see you at these wonderful performances and celebrations of the arts at Emerson School.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
In these new individual art classes, we will be exploring ways to open up creative expression through the mediums of drawing, painting, and collage. Each class will begin with a prompt that students will interpret through creation, play, and exploration. Students will learn that they are never too young to tap into the personal creative expression of their individual identities in a fun and supportive atmosphere! Instructor: Sarah Brennan.
Space is limited, so register with Beth Muszkiewicz today for one, two, or three of these individual, stand-alone classes for $15 each (billed to your account at the end of December).
Please join us for a holiday concert with the Lower School Band and Orchestra. Performers have a dress rehearsal that begins at 6:15pm. Parents, please visit the website to see all of the concert details regarding attire, reception items, and materials.
+ Learn more
+ To register or for more info, email Beth Muszkiewicz
Thank you to the bakers, shoppers, volunteers, and buyers who made the ESPO Bake Sale incredibly tasty, fun, and successful. We made more than $2,100 for Emerson’s Technology Department. Congratulations to Lucas Caswell for winning the “giant cupcake” made by Mr. Loewen. Please remember to pick up any dishes from the kitchen. Thanks again! — Dana DeBord and Mary Kay Stevanus
We will be sending the Emerson Auction Parent Packet home on Tuesday, December 9th via backpack mail. Invitations will be mailed in early February. We are looking forward to another fabulous evening that greatly benefits your children.
+ Please contact Beth Anderson to learn more about the Emerson Auction
Several parents of crochet class students have commented that they would like to learn how to crochet along with their children. Parents and staff are invited to join me for an afternoon of crochet on Friday, Jan. 9, from 3:45pm –5:15pm. There is no charge for the class, but participants will need to shop for yarn and a crochet hook prior to the class. We will be making a cowl with bulky yarn that is perfect for Michigan winters! Beginners and experienced crocheters are welcome to participate.
+ Contact Leslie Capozzoli If you are interested
Middle School Band and Orchestra members are eligible to audition for a $500 Kiwanis Club Scholarship at Skyline on Feb. 1. Students should see their director for an application, which is due to the AAPS Music Office at Balas on Friday, Dec. 19.
The ups and downs, the social drama and the emotionality can be difficult to watch. How can you help your daughter traverse this new universe where the rules are different and she must figure them out as she goes? Join in a discussion withPositive Parenting Consultant Annie Zirkel, MA LPC to understand more of what your daughter may be experiencing and learn strategies to help you help her navigate middle school on her way to growing up.
To help Annie better understand and facilitate the discussion, she asks that participants consider completing this anonymous online form: Your Daughter and the Middle School Experience. You can also send your thoughts directly at Annie@practicehow.com.
This speaker is intended for middle school parents, but any interested Emerson parents are welcome to attend.
+ Questions? Please contact Andy Zimmer
Emerson Middle School is excited to announce the opening of our own National Junior Honors Society chapter. The NJHS recognizes students who make a consistent positive contribution to both their school and the broader community. This fits with the values which Emerson promotes of perseverance, integrity, and compassion.
Students who demonstrate strength in leadership, citizenship, community service, and academic study can request to be considered for selection. Carol Kelly, 8th grade teacher, is the school’s NJHS advisor, and students in the current 7th and 8th grades should speak to her for information and a selection pack. Paperwork should be completed and returned to Carol by the end of January 2015. Sixth grade students will be eligible for selection consideration later in the second trimester.
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
Emerson 3rd Grader Parini Rao is collecting socks to keep kids happy and healthy this winter. Socks will be donated to Ozone House in Ann Arbor, who in turn will distribute them to children in need. Collection bins will be in the Middle School Commons and Fish Bowl from December 03 to 19, 2014.
+ Learn more
Emerson 7th grader Kristen Umbriac (playing Clara Puppet) will be performing in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for Performing Arts. Kristen will perform in the Saturday night and Sunday matinee shows on December 13th and 14th.
+ Learn more
Emerson 8th grader Alexis Huczek will be perform in the Dance Alliance of Saline’s 17th annual production of The Nutcracker. Both performances will be on Sunday, December 14 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm in the Ellen A. Ewing Performing Arts Center at Saline High School.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him. Save 20% by indicating you’re a friend of Olivia’s.
+ Learn more
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee Host
The Emerson Geography Bee was held on Friday, as 19 intrepid 4th through 8th grade students pitted their knowledge against each other and the questions that National Geographic Society threw before ...
By Lenny Dale, Geography Bee Host
The Emerson Geography Bee was held on Friday, as 19 intrepid 4th through 8th grade students pitted their knowledge against each other and the questions that National Geographic Society threw before them.
There were seven rounds of questions in the preliminaries, and eight kids came through with perfect scores. For the six who missed only one question, there was a series of tie-breaker questions to determine the other two contestants to fill out the group of 10 that would move on to the ‘finals’. Veda Diptiman, Liam Coolican, Anshi Pacha, and Terence Ashorth gave it their best, but it was Maya Mustata and Austin Zeglis who made it to the next level, joining defending two-time champion Casey Lewis, along with Milin Macha, Erik Johnson, Henry Branch, Mert Oral, Julian Toogood, Diego Del Rio, and Lukas Jonsson.
Diego, Julian, Mert, Austin and Milin were first to fall, reducing the finalists by half. Casey was next, ending his reign as Emerson’s geography royalty. Fourth grader Maya outlasted 5th grader Erik in an impressive battle for 3rd place, leaving Lukas and Henry to go at it in the championship round. In the three-question round, both nailed the first two questions, but the final question, a tough one about protecting animals from poaching in Africa, stumped Henry, but didn’t phase Lukas, and Lukas emerged as this year’s champion.
Lukas now has the pleasure of taking a written test, in an attempt to qualify for the state bee, held at the end of March, with an eye toward the national bee in May.
See the original email
Middle School Musical Tickets Now Available
Showtimes: Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:00pm and Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2:00pm
Students have been rehearsing all semester for their upcoming performance of The Pirates of ...
Hello Parents,
Back to basics. Located where I am, just across the hallway from our Medical Assistant Diane Wentland, I am acutely aware of the individual and collective health of our students. The last few days have seen an uptick in fever, sore throats, and headaches. With all of us spending more time indoors now, it is far easier to spread our germs around. So, let’s review a few basics that can never be overemphasized.
In response, we have been cleaning and disinfecting more thoroughly than normal these past few days. The weekend will not only allow time for students to feel better, but also time for the building to rid itself of any lingering germs.
Here’s to hoping you are staying healthy, and if not, you are being good to yourself and following these basic measures. We need to have a very healthy community for our Bake Sale and Grandfriends’ Day next Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Grandfriends’ Day is an exciting opportunity for students to share their school with their grandparents and friends.
+ Questions? Contact Joan Gregorka
Please drop off baked goods curbside on Monday, Nov. 24
There’s still time to help with the ESPO Bake Sale, which benefits Emerson’s Technology Department. Sign up to bake/buy treats or whole items for Thanksgiving. Sign up to set up on Monday or to sell baked goods on Tuesday.
We could really use help Tuesday morning and Tuesday afternoon/closing/cleanup. If volunteering for an ESPO event requires your child attending Aftercare, contact Rose or Beth to for a reduced fee.
+ Sign up to bake and/or volunteer
+ Food precautions and specialty/allergen-free foods
+ Questions? Contact Dana DeBord or Mary Kay Stevanus
Five players from Emerson played in the annual Michigan Scholastic Club Championship held at the Michigan Union last weekend. Robby Riles, Anvit Rao (alum), Parini Rao, Jack Hauptman, and Frederick DeBord all had a fun and challenging day at this large event. Robby scored 4 wins out of 5 games to take 13th place in a field of 133 other players in the K-8 division. Parini also scored 4 wins out of 5 games for a 7th place trophy in the K-3 section, which saw 109 competitors. Great job team, we look forward to your next event!
In these new individual art classes, we will be exploring ways to open up creative expression through the mediums of drawing, painting, and collage. Each class will begin with a prompt that students will interpret through creation, play, and exploration. Students will learn that they are never too young to tap into the personal creative expression of their individual identities in a fun and supportive atmosphere! Instructor: Sarah Brennan.
Space is limited, so register with Beth Muszkiewicz today for one, two, or three of these individual, stand-alone classes for $15 each (billed to your account at the end of December).
We’d love to have an Emerson Parent or Friend coach our 3rd-5th grade Girls on the Run team this year! Training is provided and you’ll receive a discount registration for your child. Practices will meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00pm – 4:30pm at Emerson from March 9th through May 22nd. More information is attached, contact Rose for more questions or Sign Up to Coach Online.
+ Learn more
Thank you to the 19 percent of families and friends who have already made their Annual Fund gifts. Our goal for participation is always 100 percent, and we ask you to consider making your gift to Emerson’s Annual fund as you wrap up your 2014 charitable giving. Please know that gifts at every level are important; we value your participation.
+ Learn more about the Annual Fund and how to give
Exact numbers are still being tabulated, but the event was certainly a huge success. In addition to the smiling faces enjoying music, poetry, storytelling, friends—and books—our wonderful community raised more than $2,500 for future library books.
Thank you to everyone who attended, made a purchase, and the many people who volunteered, especially Book Fair Chairs Alison Buchanan and Michelle Ferguson. And, of course, to Nicola’s Books for its over-the-top generous support of our school. – Linda Lakshminarayanan
The first all-Middle School Community Service Days is next week. As park stewards, we are continuing our preservation work at the park including removal of invasive species, maintaining walking trails, and clearing of debris from the park. To note:
Emerson Middle School is excited to announce the opening of our own National Junior Honors Society chapter. The NJHS recognizes students who make a consistent positive contribution to both their school and the broader community. This fits with the values which Emerson promotes of perseverance, integrity, and compassion.
Students who demonstrate strength in leadership, citizenship, community service, and academic study can request to be considered for selection. Carol Kelly, 8th grade teacher, is the school’s NJHS advisor, and students in the current 7th and 8th grades should speak to her for information and a selection pack. Paperwork should be completed and returned to Carol by the end of January 2015. Sixth grade students will be eligible for selection consideration later in the second trimester.
If your family is considering Saline High School, please review the information linked below on testing out of classes.
+ Testing Out Resources
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
To the many students and alums bringing the Dr. Seuss’s most famous books to life on the stage: Break a leg!
Alumni
Cole Hildebrandt, The Cat In The Hat
Tim VanRiper, Director
Current Students
Julia Ammer (8th), Bird Girl
Emma Throm (8th), Citizen of Whoville/Fish
Dana Steiner (7th), Bird Girl
Emily Cooper (4th), Jungle of Nool
Emma Hudson (4th), Jungle of Nool
Katie Swallow (4th), Citizen of Whoville
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him. Save 20% by indicating you’re a friend of Olivia’s.
+ Learn more
Jeff Edwards, Board Chair of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Metro Detroit/Ann Arbor Chapter, will discuss causes and interventions regarding teen suicide.
+ Learn more
Emerson 7th grader Kristen Umbriac (playing Clara Puppet) will be performing in the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at the Power Center for Performing Arts. Kristen will perform in the Saturday night and Sunday matinee shows on December 13th and 14th.
+ Learn more
By Glenn Barba, Chair of the Emerson School Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that John Huber will be the next Head of Emerson School effective July 1, 2015.
In the spring, the ...
By Glenn Barba, Chair of the Emerson School Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that John Huber will be the next Head of Emerson School effective July 1, 2015.
In the spring, the Board appointed a representative Search Committee and hired a search consultant to guide our community through the process of selecting a new Head of School. Many thanks to the Search Committee for the countless hours it spent facilitating an inclusive and transparent search. The Committee reviewed reams of information about the candidates, including statements of educational philosophy and many references, and had the opportunity to listen to candidates in formal and informal settings with children, parents, and faculty. Thanks to the entire Emerson Community for its thoughtful involvement in the process.
The Search Committee unanimously recommended John to the Board for consideration because he more than fulfilled the requirements of our community position description. John is an intelligent, well-educated, lifelong learner. He is an experienced Head of a K-8 school with a passion for the K-8 educational model. He “gets” Emerson’s whole-child, gifted and academically talented mission both personally and professionally. The Board unanimously voted to extend an offer to John and is excited about his potential to support Emerson’s mission and vision, and to lead Emerson in the future.
According to John, “Emerson is a special institution, a place where children thrive and develop their many talents to their greatest abilities, and I welcome this opportunity to lead and advance its efforts. My family and I are delighted to plan our move to Michigan in the upcoming year and develop new roots at Emerson.”
“If it were not for the incredible efforts of Emerson’s people, the school would not present itself as the strong institution that it is. I want to thank Head of School Jerry Loewen, along with the many wonderful teachers, administrators, parents, volunteers, and trustees who commit their time and efforts for the benefit of Emerson’s students. It is the people of Emerson that make it outstanding, and I am most excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with Emerson’s various stakeholders in the years to come.
The Board of Trustees is also grateful to Jerry Loewen for his six years of leadership at Emerson, including his recent championing of the Building STEAM campaign and construction. Jerry has accepted a position as Head of School at The Willow School in Gladstone, New Jersey, and we wish him well in his next endeavor.
We look forward to welcoming John and his family, Janine, James (18), Brian (16), and Jack (7), into our warm Emerson community. We anticipate that John will visit several times in the next year to learn more about our community and to spend time with our administration and faculty. There will be many opportunities for all of us to get to know John when he arrives next summer.
See the original email
ESPO Anti-Idling Initiative
Kids breath here. Please turn off your vehicle.
To protect our children's health, to improve our environment, and to save money. Please turn your engine off if you are stopped for ...
Hello Parents,
With the first few snowflakes arriving this week, we want to remind everyone of the communication protocols we have established for ”snow days.”
Like all schools in climates with volatile weather, Emerson plans for snow days each year. In the event of dangerous weather conditions that necessitate a decision to cancel school, you will be notified as early as possible via phone, text message, and email. Additionally, we will run an alert on the school website and add our school name to those announced on television and radio stations.
Decisions to close school are usually made in the wee hours of the morning, and based on the limited information and tenuous forecasts available to us at that time. Ann Arbor Public Schools has a network of resources to determine road conditions and hazards, so we almost always follow their lead with weather-related closures. However, on the rare occasion that we come to a different conclusion about the safety of our families, we may make a different call.
As a part of our preparations, we will run a test of our alert system on Monday in the late morning or early afternoon.
Thank you for your attention and stay warm this weekend.
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Emerson School sportswear is available for purchase through Sunday, Nov. 16. Orders will be available for pick-up Dec. 1. If you would like to try on comparable items before purchasing, you can do so at the Underground Printing store on S. Main.
+ See items and place your order
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19.
Parents of 4th and 5th graders are encouraged to attend and learn about the new challenges, unique opportunities, and rigorous curriculum in store for your children as Emerson Middle School students. You will learn what to expect, go on a tour of the Middle School, and have opportunities to ask teachers and staff questions.
If you know of others who might be interested in Emerson’s Middle School, please invite them to attend.
+ Upcoming admissions events
We’d love to have an Emerson Parent or Friend coach our 3rd-5th grade Girls on the Run team this year! Training is provided and you’ll receive a discount registration for your child. Practices will meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00pm – 4:30pm at Emerson from March 9th through May 22nd. More information is attached, contact Rose for more questions or Sign Up to Coach Online.
+ Learn more
Every time you buy groceries, you could be raising money for students at Emerson. Busch’s gives 3-5% back and our school earned nearly $1,600 last year. Pick up a Busch’s Cash for Education card in the LS or MS office today! Help us rise to the top of the board by enrolling today.
Students look forward to sharing everything they’re learning with their grandfriends and showing them around school during Grandfriends’ Day. Invitations have been mailed to grandparents/friends—only if you indicated during summer re-enrollment they were to receive an invitations. Please contact Joan Gregorka in the Lower School Office if you need additional invitations mailed.
+ Invitation and schedule
Pies, breads, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats will be available for purchase by children, parents, faculty, and grandfriends—just in time for Thanksgiving Day. Proceeds will benefit the Emerson Technology Dept. Please drop off baked goods at morning curbside on Monday, Nov. 24 and include your name, phone, type of treat, and list of allergens.
+ Food precautions and specialty/allergen-free foods
Volunteers are needed for packaging and setup on Nov. 24, and for sales, packaging, and more on Nov. 25.
+ Sign up to bake and/or volunteer
+ Questions? Contact Dana DeBord or Mary Kay Stevanus
All book and gift card purchases at Nicola’s Books through Saturday, Nov. 15 will continue to benefit Emerson School. Remember to mention Emerson School at checkout for your sale to benefit our school.
A special thanks to our supportive families, and wonderful colleagues, Lenny Dale, Bill Schrock, Michael Shaw, Joan Gregorka, and Ted Steinbach, for helping make the fair a success.
– Mrs. Vohland, Kathy, Tim, Mr. Wilson, and Pat
+ Science fair photos
Packets were sent home in backpacks with instructions and access codes. Orders can only be placed online (sorry, no paper orders, checks, or cash). Proceeds go to the Emerson School Art Departments. There is no obligation to buy and the stickers in the packets are free.
+ Contact Jennifer Tanau to learn more
The first all-Middle School Community Service Days is approaching. As park stewards, we are continuing our preservation work at the park including removal of invasive species, maintaining walking trails, and clearing of debris from the park. Please plan to dress accordingly; students will still participate in all of the Grandfriends’ Day activities in the afternoon.
Parents of 8th graders are invited to learn about Cranbrook High School at their Ann Arbor Admissions Reception and Scholarship Testing event.
+ Learn more
If your family is considering Saline High School, please review the information linked below on testing out of classes.
+ Testing Out Resources
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
To the many students and alums bringing the Dr. Seuss’s most famous books to life on the stage: Break a leg!
Alumni
Cole Hildebrandt, The Cat In The Hat
Tim VanRiper, Director
Current Students
Julia Ammer (8th), Bird Girl
Emma Throm (8th), Citizen of Whoville/Fish
Dana Steiner (7th), Bird Girl
Emily Cooper (4th), Jungle of Nool
Emma Hudson (4th), Jungle of Nool
Katie Swallow (4th), Citizen of Whoville
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
The Pioneer High School Theatre Guild’s Guys and Dolls musical comedy opens this weekend, and it features Emerson alums Nadina Hassan and Katie Ross.
+ Learn more
Dr. Zhao is the author of World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students and an internationally known scholar. His works focus on the implications of globalization and technology on education.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him. Save 20% by indicating you’re a friend of Olivia’s.
+ Learn more
See the original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
With the onset of colder weather, what could be better than replenishing our supply of good books and a good STEAM?
Fall into Books, the annual Emerson Book Fair, is this ...
Hello Parents,
With the onset of colder weather, what could be better than replenishing our supply of good books and a good STEAM?
Fall into Books, the annual Emerson Book Fair, is this Sunday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Nicola’s Book Store. You will have opportunity to leisurely peruse the book shelves as well as being entertained by a variety of student performances. From Spanish, French, and Chinese, to musical accompaniments by our Band and Orchestra, to storytellers, to author signings, you will not want to miss this highly entertaining opportunity to support the Emerson School Library.
After settling in with your new books or a prolonged session of gift wrapping your purchases, it is time to come back out to school Wednesday evening for some STEAM! This year’s annual Emerson Science Fair is a celebration of STEAM, or all the ways that science is interconnected with technology, engineering, the arts, and math. There will be more than 80 young scientists demonstrating and explaining their projects to any and all of us that come by to learn about the wonders of our interdisciplinary world.
I hope to see you at both of these wonderful Emerson community events.
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Join us at the annual book fair to support the Emerson Library. There will be student performances as well as author signings by Kelly DiPucchio, Matt Faulkner, and George Hagen. Plus the class with the most student attendees will win a popcorn party (there will be one party for K-2, one party for 3-5, and one party for the Middle School).
Volunteers are still needed (especially near the end of the evening), so please sign up if you can help.
+ Sign up to volunteer
For those unable to attend the book fair on Sunday, you can still support Emerson by making a purchase at Nicola’s any time Monday, Nov. 10 through Saturday, Nov. 15 and asking for the credit to go to the Emerson Book Fair.
Each adult who purchases a Nicola’s gift certificate will be entered into a raffle win a $50 gift card to the store. Proceeds from gift cards sales will also benefit the Emerson Library.
Join us next Wednesday to view the wonderful STEAM-related science projects that will be on display at this year’s science fair. Participating students should bring their projects to the gym after school on Nov. 11th until 5:00pm or before school on Nov. 12th. If you have any questions, or still want to participate, please contactKelly Vohland.
Students look forward to sharing everything they’re learning with their grandfriends and showing them around school during Grandfriends’ Day. Invitations were mailed to grandparents/friends early this week—only if you indicated during summer re-enrollment they were to receive an invitations. Please contact Joan Gregorka in the Lower School Office if you need additional invitations mailed.
+ Invitation and schedule
Pies, breads, cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats will be available for purchase by children, parents, faculty, and grandfriends—just in time for Thanksgiving Day. Proceeds will benefit the Emerson Technology Dept. Please drop off baked goods at morning curbside on Monday, Nov. 24 and include your name, phone, type of treat, and list of allergens.
Volunteers are needed for packaging and setup on Nov. 24, and for sales, packaging, and more on Nov. 25.
+ Sign up to bake and/or volunteer
+ Questions? Contact Dana DeBord or Mary Kay Stevanus
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19—only about five weeks away.
Packets were sent home in backpacks with instructions and access codes. Orders can only be placed online (sorry, no paper orders, checks, or cash). Proceeds go to the Emerson School Art Departments. There is no obligation to buy and the stickers in the packets are free.
+ Contact Jennifer Tanau to learn more
The first all-Middle School Community Service Days is approaching. As park stewards, we are continuing our preservation work at the park including removal of invasive species, maintaining walking trails, and clearing of debris from the park. Please plan to dress accordingly; students will still participate in all of the Grandfriends’ Day activities in the afternoon.
If your family is considering Saline High School, please review the information linked below on testing out of classes.
+ Testing Out Resources
Parents of 8th grade students are invited to attend one of the Washtenaw International High School Informational Sessions for Prospective Students.
+ Learn more
The Saline Community Education Youth Theater Guild presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featuring Emerson 7th grader Sydney Friedman. Tickets are just $5 at the door.
+ Learn more
The Pioneer High School Theatre Guild’s Guys and Dolls musical comedy opens this weekend, and it features Emerson alums Nadina Hassan and Katie Ross.
+ Learn more
Emerson 5th grader Olivia Goosman will perform in the Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s a holiday classic about a mean-spirited miser and the ghosts that haunt him.
+ Learn more
See the original email
+ See more photos from the Halloween Parade and Carnival on Facebook.
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
First things first, THANK YOU TO ALL OUR PARENT VOLUNTEERS TODAY! The fun and excitement of ...
Hello Parents,
First things first, THANK YOU TO ALL OUR PARENT VOLUNTEERS TODAY! The fun and excitement of Halloween is alive and well every year at Emerson School thanks to your volunteer hours, creativity, and your kid-like enthusiasm for this big day. THANK YOU!
Now, I will give you a few days to decompress from Halloween, but then here is fair warning that November is upon us with even more good reasons to get together. Here is a list of events that promise to entertain, advise, and inform us all.
Trick or Treat!
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The annual book fair to support the Emerson Library is coming soon! There will be student performances as well as author signings by Kelly DiPucchio, Matt Faulkner, and George Hagen. Plus the class with the most student attendees will win a popcorn party (there will be one party for K-2, one party for 3-5, and one party for the Middle School). So come one, come all, to this fun-filled event! Volunteers are still needed (especially near the end of the evening), so please sign up if you can help.
+ Sign up to volunteer
Thank you to our MS band and orchestra members who have volunteered to play at the Emerson Bookfair on Sunday, Nov. 9!
Kaleidoscope began in 2012 to provide a space where students of various racial backgrounds could gather to discuss issues that are important to them in a safe and supportive environment. All students are welcome to join this conversation on the first Wednesday of every month. If a student is coming to the meeting, it is important to let the After Care people know before heading to the Kaleidoscope meeting. Students may check back into child care after the meeting or leave with a parent. There is no charge for participating in Kaleidoscope. A snack will be served.
+ Contact Linda Lakshminarayanan or Jennifer Tanau to learn more
+ RSVP with Rose Hacker (drop ins are also welcome).
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Halloween Carnival this year. What an awesome day for the kids! Whether you were able to provide a donation or help out for a few minutes or many hours, I truly appreciate the help. And a very special thank you to my area leaders, Kathy Akhoury, Caroline Begola, Annie Bruienne, Sarah Connor, Dana DeBord, Jennifer Evens, Allison Im, Carol Knight-Drain, Wendy Mellow, Michelle Weaver and Stephanie Zabinko. Happy Halloween! – Jamie Sinha, ESPO Halloween Chair
Special thank you to the MS band and orchestra members for performing at the Halloween Parade today. You made it extra special for all of us ghosts and goblins at Emerson. – Leslie Capozzoli
Beth Nazario’s 7th grade advisory has undertaken this community service opportunity, learning about the impact of donating what seems like small change to UNICEF. For example, six cents provides a drink of safe, clean water for one thirsty child. Boxes of change should be returned to collection containers in the school by Friday, Nov 7th so that Beth’s advisory can count them. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Beth Nazario.
+ Learn more
This year our STEAM Science Fair will encourage students to design and carry out experiments, design and build inventions, make improvements to existing technology, investigate phenomena, explore mathematics of the world, or perhaps even fuse art talent or interest with science. We have lots of ideas and suggestions but you will be encouraged to dream on your own and you will quickly see that this year’s fair is wide open for all kinds of science connections.
It’s not too late to sign up. Please complete the form below or email Kelly Vohland to participate.
+ Science Fair ideas
+ Participation form
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19—only about five weeks away.
Packets were sent home in backpacks with instructions and access codes. Orders can only be placed online (sorry, no paper orders, checks, or cash). Proceeds go to the Emerson School Art Departments. There is no obligation to buy and the stickers in the packets are free.
+ Contact Jennifer Tanau to learn more
Elective selections must be made online no later than noon on Monday, November 3rd. Elective forms are only available through the student account.
+ 2nd trimester elective descriptions
+ Instructions on how to sign up
The MS band and orchestra members will assemble into tribes to endure tests of strength, focus, and skill. They will also have a rehearsals with professional musicians who are coming to Emerson to coach them. Wish the players good luck!
If your family is considering Saline High School, please review the information linked below on testing out of classes.
+ Testing Out Resources
Mrs. C will join the Adrian Symphony as they play Schubert’s 9th Symphony, which is called “The Great,” as well as Barber’s beautiful Adagio for Strings and Daugherty’s Trail of Tears for Flute and Orchestra. Mrs. C also has a complimentary ticket for the first lucky reader who contacts her.
+ Learn more and find tickets
+ Contact Mrs. C
The U-M Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) and the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) will bring Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and activist, Alice Walker, to Hill Auditorium to deliver the 20th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Lecture. As the 2014 guest lecturer, Ms. Walker will explore social justice issues from her unique womanist and black feminist perspective. Bringing scholarship and activism together, Ms. Walker will also reflect on the complementary missions of DAAS and CEW.
+ Register
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
Sometimes in the midst of the complicated nature of our lives these days, it is worth seeking the advice of wise people to show us a saner way. As driving habits in our parking ...
Hello Parents,
Sometimes in the midst of the complicated nature of our lives these days, it is worth seeking the advice of wise people to show us a saner way. As driving habits in our parking lot are tending toward the dangerous in recent days, I have found simple wisdom from Monty Python:
Some things in life are bad
(like being late getting out of the house this morning)
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
(like “why don’t you pull all the way forward!”)
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
(like work, kids, traffic, running late, etc.)
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best…
(we all want our kids to be safe)
And… always look on the bright side of life…
(and slow down, take a breath, smile….)
♪ Whistle ♪
If life seems jolly rotten
(is it really that bad to be in the parking lot for just a few minutes longer?)
There’s something you’ve forgotten
(parking lots can be dangerous when you are distracted)
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing
(and slow down, check your blind spot, pull forward in your parking space)
When you’re feeling in the dumps
(will I ever get out of this parking lot?)
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle
– that’s the thing.
And… always look on the bright side of life…
(and PLEASE hang up your phone….)
♪ Whistle ♪
For the full version of wisdom, enjoy this YouTube video.
Let’s take pride in how seriously and carefully we all take the safety of our students and children.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Alan Barr and his wife Kelly will visit Emerson. Alan and Kelly have a son in middle school and a son in high school. Alan has a BA in Managerial Economics from Hampden-Sydney College and an MS in Educational Leadership from Longwood University. Alan served as head of The O’Neal School a PK-12 institution in Southern Pines, NC.
+ Head Search Position Description
+ Alan Barr resume
+ Alan Barr feedback form (to be completed after his visit)
If you have not already, please share your feedback with the search committee about their three finalists.
+ Ned Murray feedback form
+ John Huber feedback form
+ Alan Barr feedback form
Parents of 4th and 5th graders are encouraged to attend and learn about the new challenges, unique opportunities, and rigorous curriculum in store for your children as Emerson Middle School students. You will learn what to expect, go on a tour of the Middle School, and have opportunities to ask teachers and staff questions.
If you know of others who might be interested in Emerson’s Middle School, please invite them to attend.
+ Upcoming admissions events
Halloween is fast approaching! The school is decorated and the kids are getting exciting. We need lots of help for the carnival itself. If you are able to volunteer (painting nails or applying tattoos in our Halloween Boo-tique, serving food in the Orange Cafe, working in the Haunted House, running our Cupcake Walk, helping with the scavenger hunt or running a game in the gym), please sign up today!
Feel free to contact Jamie Sinha with questions. Thank you!
+ Sign up to volunteer
Beth Nazario’s 7th grade advisory has undertaken this community service opportunity, learning about the impact of donating what seems like small change to UNICEF. For example, six cents provides a drink of safe, clean water for one thirsty child. Boxes of change should be returned to collection containers in the school by Friday, Nov 7th so that Beth’s advisory can count them. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Beth Nazario.
+ Learn more
Come browse the book shelves, enjoy some refreshments, mingle with classmates, teachers, and friends, and support the Emerson School Library! The book fair will be an evening filled with fun, student performances, and author signings. So come one, come all, to this fun-filled event! Volunteers are needed, so please sign up if you can help with this event.
+ Sign up to volunteer
This year our STEAM Science Fair will encourage students to design and carry out experiments, design and build inventions, make improvements to existing technology, investigate phenomena, explore mathematics of the world, or perhaps even fuse art talent or interest with science. We have lots of ideas and suggestions but you will be encouraged to dream on your own and you will quickly see that this year’s fair is wide open for all kinds of science connections.
It’s not too late to sign up. Please complete the form below or email Kelly Vohland to participate.
+ Science Fair ideas
+ Participation form
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19—only about five weeks away.
Elective selections must be made online no later than noon on Monday, November 3rd. Elective forms are only available through the student account.
+ 2nd trimester elective descriptions
+ Instructions on how to sign up
Jonathan Rand, author of the very popular Michigan Chillers and American Chillers series will be sharing his thoughts on writing and how he became a writer at the Downtown Main branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. While his books can be a little scary, his talk will not be. Folks who have met Jonathan Rand say he is funny, friendly, and well worth meeting. Expect a crowd for this very popular author.
John Nicklas (class of 2012) has been named a Future Breakthrough Award Winner by Popular Mechanics—one of only nine! He's developing an ingenious new wind turbine design, and his creative, original thinking is pretty ...
John Nicklas (class of 2012) has been named a Future Breakthrough Award Winner by Popular Mechanics—one of only nine! He’s developing an ingenious new wind turbine design, and his creative, original thinking is pretty incredible.
John is currently a sophomore at Pioneer High School, and his first place prize in the Engineering Category at the Michigan Science and Engineering Fair is what earned him this prestigious distinction by Popular Mechanics.
Below is what Popular Mechanics had to say about John’s achievement:
Breakthrough: Sailing Around the Wind: An Efficient Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine
Recognition: Michigan Science and Engineering Fair: First Place, Engineering Category
“Vertical-axis wind turbines aren’t very familiar—they look more like egg beaters than floor fans—because they are less efficient than traditional models. But they have a lot of advantages, and if they could be made more efficient, they might be a major step up for wind power. Their main problem is they only generate power for a portion of their rotation—part of the time, they have to go against the wind. Nicklas had an epiphany after sailing: He constructed a more efficient VAWT by replacing traditional rigid blades with sails that automatically change tack, the same way sailors travel upwind. His crude prototype demonstrated serious gains over some current VAWT designs, and he thinks further work could push efficiency enough to be competitive.”
See original email
+ See more 1st grade pumpkin paintings on Facebook
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What a start to conferences last night! Despite the long day it creates for teachers and parents, the wonderful ...
Hello Parents,
What a start to conferences last night! Despite the long day it creates for teachers and parents, the wonderful dialogue, the reinforcement of our shared commitment to the growth of your child, and the delicious food you brought made it a wonderful, energy-filled evening.
Parent-teacher conferences allow for some of the most important conversations of the year. I hope yours were rich ones, but more importantly, that they set the stage for the even richer dialogue that will ensue throughout this school year. Our partnership around the shared aspirations and objectives for your child is what brings us all to the same table.
A special thank you to everyone who contributed to the potluck. Your outpouring of generosity and kindness filled the faculty lounge last night, and grateful teachers continue to enjoy it today. “Nothin’ says lovin’ like gifts from the oven!”
Thank you again for taking the time to meet with your teachers, and for all of your generosity. Have a wonderful long weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Dr. Ned Murray will visit Emerson with his wife Lucy. They have two high school-aged sons. Ned has a BA in English from The University of the South, an MEd in Supervision and Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a DMin in Educational Leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary. He is the current head of a PK-8 school in Augusta, GA—Episcopal Day School.
+ Head Search Position Description
+ Ned Murray resume
+ Ned Murray feedback form (complete following the meeting)
Parents of 4th and 5th graders are encouraged to attend and learn about the new challenges, unique opportunities, and rigorous curriculum in store for your children as Emerson Middle School students. You will learn what to expect, go on a tour of the Middle School, and have opportunities to ask teachers and staff questions.
If you know of others who might be interested in Emerson’s Middle School, please invite them to attend.
+ Upcoming admissions events
The Honors Composition Concert is an outstanding event that provides an opportunity for students to compose and perform original music. It is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are invited to perform their compositions at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC), held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in January.
+ Learn more
Many volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Any help you are able to give would be wonderful! Please use the carnival sign up genius to volunteer for a spot and feel free to contact Jamie Sinha with any questions or concerns.
+ Sign up to volunteer
A few notes about the carnival:
Beth Nazario’s 7th grade advisory has undertaken this community service opportunity, learning about the impact of donating what seems like small change to UNICEF. For example, six cents provides a drink of safe, clean water for one thirsty child. Boxes of change should be returned to collection containers in the school by Friday, Nov 7th so that Beth’s advisory can count them. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Beth Nazario.
+ Learn more
This year our STEAM Science Fair will encourage students to design and carry out experiments, design and build inventions, make improvements to existing technology, investigate phenomena, explore mathematics of the world, or perhaps even fuse art talent or interest with science. We have lots of ideas and suggestions but you will be encouraged to dream on your own and you will quickly see that this year’s fair is wide open for all kinds of science connections. Please contact Kelly Vohland with any questions.
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19—only about five weeks away.
Ms. C is performing in the Birmingham Bloomfield Orchestra concert this Friday night. The program features a cello solo and Mozart’s famous Symphony No. 40. The BBSO welcomes guest soloist Yannis Tsitselikis to perform Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme.
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
If you’re interested in enjoying a Saturday night of great international food, great international performances, and great fun, this is for you. Two keynote speakers, Justice Bridget McCormack (MI Supreme Court) and Ari Weinzweig (Co-Founder of Zingermans) will be presenting.
+ Learn more
the kite network is proud to sponsor, in conjunction with the UMHS Grief Week Committee, Therese Rando, Ph.D. and her lecture, “How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies.” This outstanding lecture will provide information about coping with grief and loss, and how those who are bereaved can move forward in their healing.
+ Learn more
Jonathan Rand, author of the very popular Michigan Chillers and American Chillers series will be sharing his thoughts on writing and how he became a writer at the Downtown Main branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. While his books can be a little scary, his talk will not be. Folks who have met Jonathan Rand say he is funny, friendly, and well worth meeting. Expect a crowd for this very popular author.
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team put the finishing touches on an excellent season this past weekend, winning the Ann Arbor Independent Athletic Association tournament. Having finished first in the regular season, ...
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team put the finishing touches on an excellent season this past weekend, winning the Ann Arbor Independent Athletic Association tournament. Having finished first in the regular season, with a perfect 10 wins in 10 games, the Eagles were the top seed, and so faced a fired up and rapidly improving third-seed Ann Arbor Christian School team to start things off Friday afternoon. While it was, as always, a total team effort, Vincent Pelosi was definitely the man of the hour. Vincent scored all four Emerson goals, including one header that had his teammates cheering, and the spectators shaking their heads in wonder. Meanwhile, the Emerson defense was smothering, putting up their third shutout of AACS this season.
In Friday’s second game, Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth played fourth seed Washtenaw Christian Academy to see who would play second seed Steiner School the following morning. WCA had no trouble dispatching SSP, scoring in the first 20 seconds, and a few more times after that, and so looked forward to a frost covered game to wake up to.
Steiner had a little too much for WCA to handle. In the first half, the WCA keeper came out for a through ball, but the Steiner right winger beat him to the ball, touched it to the front of the empty net, where the center forward tapped it in. In the second half, Steiner’s fleet left mid carried the ball down the sideline past and around the WCA defense before beating the keeper inside the far post. The 2-0 lead held up, putting Steiner in the championship game opposite Emerson, while WCA would play AACS for third place.
In the third place game, WCA got ahead early, but AACS kept at it, tying the game in the second half and then putting it away with two late goals, for a 3-1 win.
For the championship, there was some worry on the part of the Emerson kids: how would we cope without the strong legged field general, Thomas Halloran; without the speed and power of the injured Austin Sarns; without the defense and deft passing of William Kennedy; without the spirit and field sense of Elie Spoor. Two things gave reason for optimism. If you’ll recall, the first game of the season was played with ALL the 8th graders away at camp, and the Emerson 6th and 7th graders were able to handle WCA. Then, the final game of the regular season, against Steiner, a simple game plan worked to perfection, nullifying Steiner’s fast left mid and leaving them with the uncomfortable choice of having some other weapons on offense or some defense. In the regular season, they tried both, and neither worked. In the championship game, they leaned toward defense, but it wasn’t enough. With Elliot Beck and Mara Mueting taking turns running the Steiner left mid into the defensive wall that is Greta Downey, Steiner managed two shots on goal for the entire game, both from long distance and easily handled by Michael Pelosi. Sweeper Isabelle Crumm and right fullback Cammie Treiber stopped everything else, starting counter attacks up the sidelines via John Byers, Elliot and Mara, or turning it over to defensive center mid Biruk Tewodros, who would pick the appropriate gap in the Steiner defense to exploit, passing to either side or up the center to Vincent Pelosi. Saturday, Gabe Seir had the hot hand, well… hot foot, scoring twice in the first half and taking a lot of the wind out of the sails of the Steiner team. Vincent put the final nail in the coffin in the second half, scoring yet again, and bringing the score to its final total, 3-0.
The AACS coach commented, with admiration, on the speed and unselfishness with which Emerson moved the ball and attacked on defense, saying it was clearly on a level above the rest of the league. The referee, Mr. Elenio, noted how the three girl back line of Greta, Isabelle, and Cammie, was virtually unbeatable, putting enormous pressure on opposing offenses and always being there to cover and support each other.
Emerson finishes with 12 wins, 0 losses, 0 ties, their second undefeated season in a row, and their third consecutive championship.
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team closed out the regular season against arch-rival Steiner school Thursday evening, and the game was fast paced and exciting, as is the norm when these teams meet. While the Eagles ...
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team closed out the regular season against arch-rival Steiner school Thursday evening, and the game was fast paced and exciting, as is the norm when these teams meet. While the Eagles tended to carry the bulk of the possession, goals were hard to come by, due to the strong play of the Stars goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Steiner put more pressure on Emerson than in their first meeting of the season, coming close a few times on fast rushes. The Eagles’ back four of Isabelle Crumm, Cammie Treiber, Greta Downey and Biruk Tewodros did a fine job of making life difficult for the attackers, and keeper Michael Pelosi did great work coming out and challenging. Moving into the latter stages of the first half, a Star was caught pulling on the jersey of an Eagle forward, resulting in a free kick from 25 yards out, which Thomas Halloran tucked just under the crossbar for the lone goal before intermission.
After pressuring Emerson in the first half, in large part by moving two of their stronger players forward from their normal back position, Steiner somewhat surprisingly pulled those two further back in the second period. Though there was still action for Michael, it didn’t seem as intense as earlier in the game. At the same time, Emerson, after narrowly missing on many chances in the first half, found the net two more times in the second, despite a number of fine saves by the Stars’ keeper. Mara Mueting sent a wonderful from her right midfield position to Henry Branch in front of the net, and Henry finished it nicely, giving the Eagles a bit of breathing room. Vincent Pelosi also scored when, on a bobbled ball by the Stars keeper, Vincent was in the right place in the resulting scramble, and Emerson came away with a 3-0 victory.
Emerson finishes the regular season with ten wins in as many games, and looks for a tournament championship this weekend to go with their regular season championship.
Editor’s note: Coach Lenny promised his players he would wear a suit if they won their final game, and true to his word he came dressed to impress at school on Friday (see below).
See original email
What a beautiful day to be outside and making works of art using all of the beautiful mediums given to us by nature.
+ More photos on Emerson's Facebook page
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
With the ...
Hello Parents,
With the ESPO meeting fresh on my mind, I wanted to echo the group’s call for volunteers for a few upcoming events. Before I do so, however, let me express all of our gratitude for the spirit of giving and enthusiasm that defines our parent body and is so visible in the daily workings of this community. The generosity of spirit you show is truly a gift to our school community. Bravo and Thank You! Upcoming opportunities to show off that spirit are right around the corner.
Not to be too self-serving, but we are all so appreciative when you share your culinary delights during the Parent-Teacher conferences. See below if you would like to be added to the list of chefs taking care of us next week.
How about being a part of Emerson’s annual big party, the Auction? This coming Wednesday morning, Beth Anderson and Auction Parent Director, Christine Kim, will be hosting a volunteer meeting to start planning for next spring’s Auction. The volunteer army not only produces great revenue for the school, but even more great fun for the community.
Finally, there is Halloween! This big day of fun and fright is a parent-led extravaganza. The events during the day are all planned and managed by parents. And, what a day it is!
Thank you in advance for all the ways you benefit the students, faculty and staff by taking such a big part in the life of the school.
Enjoy this fall weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
If you have not already, please take a moment to sign up for conferences online. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School).
+ Sign up for conferences
+ Instructions and scheduling info
+ More info, including hours, rates, and restrictions
+ RSVP by Oct 14
On Wednesday, Oct. 15th, teachers and staff will immediately follow up their busy school day with parent conferences, leaving very little time for dinner. As a way of saying ‘thank-you’, ESPO annually coordinates a parent potluck dinner for teachers.
Please consider providing food or volunteering your time. A few parents are needed to assist with set-up on Wednesday after school, as well as clean-up on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
+ Sign up to provide food or volunteer
The Honors Composition Concert is an outstanding event that provides an opportunity for students to compose and perform original music. It is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are invited to perform their compositions at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC), held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in January.
+ Learn more
The Auction isn’t until March 13, 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 and committee role, or with fun one-day tasks. Please contact Beth Anderson (734.665.5662, x305) 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
Many volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Any help you are able to give would be wonderful! Please use the carnival sign up genius to volunteer for a spot and feel free to contact Jamie Sinha with any questions or concerns.
+ Sign up to volunteer
A few notes about the carnival:
This year our STEAM Science Fair will encourage students to design and carry out experiments, design and build inventions, make improvements to existing technology, investigate phenomena, explore mathematics of the world, or perhaps even fuse art talent or interest with science. We have lots of ideas and suggestions but you will be encouraged to dream on your own and you will quickly see that this year’s fair is wide open for all kinds of science connections.
An email was sent home this week with info on how to participate and some potential ideas. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Vohland.
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19. That’s only 50 days away—don’t procrastinate!
Emerson’s identification numbers:
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
Jonathan Rand, author of the very popular Michigan Chillers and American Chillers series will be sharing his thoughts on writing and how he became a writer at the Downtown Main branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. While his books can be a little scary, his talk will not be. Folks who have met Jonathan Rand say he is funny, friendly, and well worth meeting. Expect a crowd for this very popular author.
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team improved its record to 9 wins without a loss or tie, with consecutive 5-1 victories over Ann Arbor Christian and St. Francis. With the wins, Emerson clinched its third regular ...
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team improved its record to 9 wins without a loss or tie, with consecutive 5-1 victories over Ann Arbor Christian and St. Francis. With the wins, Emerson clinched its third regular season title in a row, and the top seed in the upcoming league tournament.
Against AACS, Vincent Pelosi led the way, posting a hat-trick. In the game with St. Francis, five different Eagles scored: 6th graders Samuel Bechar and Luka Hecht; 7th graders Henry Branch and Gabe Seir; and 8th grader John Byers.
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team completed a successful 3-game 'road trip'. The Eagles started things off at Steiner School, earning a well-played and hard-fought 1-0 win to finish the first half of the regular ...
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team completed a successful 3-game ‘road trip’. The Eagles started things off at Steiner School, earning a well-played and hard-fought 1-0 win to finish the first half of the regular season. Vincent Pelosi scored the game-winner late in the second half. Emerson went to Washtenaw Christian next, and came away with another shutout, this time by a 3-0 score. Zack Kubisiak got the lone goal of the first half, with a perfect shot to the top corner. Vincent Pelosi and Isabel Crumm scored insurance goals in the second half. In the final road game of the season, the Eagles made the long drive to Plymouth Spiritus Sanctus. Vincent gave the kids an early lead, and then Anna Lonrenzon made it 2-0 midway through the first half. The Crusaders did score late in the half, only the third goal allowed by Emerson this season, and at intermission the score was 2-1. Gabe Seir got things started in the second half, restoring the two goal lead, followed soon after by Vince’s second of the day, and then Samuel Bechar capped the scoring, for a 5-1 final.
The Eagles record stands at 7-0-0, heading into three straight home games to finish the regular season.
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
Last week, under the cover of fading light, Lee Horvath led me through the emerging Arts and Innovation Center. Oh my gosh! Standing on that stage, looking out into the empty ...
Hello Parents,
Last week, under the cover of fading light, Lee Horvath led me through the emerging Arts and Innovation Center. Oh my gosh! Standing on that stage, looking out into the empty house and imagining the future performances, events, celebrations, and learning of all kinds was enough to bring on the goose bumps! Close behind the chills were the waves of gratitude and amazement at what our volunteers and donors have made possible in such a short amount of time.
As was shared with you in our Monday announcement, reaching the minimum campaign goal a year ahead of schedule enables us to focus on two equally vital goals. Most fundamentally, we want to develop the broadest base of participation possible so that the ownership and the excitement of this new resource is felt by everyone in the Emerson community. Currently, 31% of our families have made contributions—big and small. How close to 100% can we come?
Secondly, we now have the opportunity to think beyond the basic elements of our new space and its carefully monitored budget. As we begin to explore the “what ifs”, we have begun to compile lists of physical additions, as well as lists of ideas that will influence future programing, training, and the range of uses our beautiful new space will provide for generations of Emerson students to come.
Researching the educational landscape for “school spaces of the future,” so many elements of our building already match these needs: flexible spaces, collaborative spaces, performing spaces, common spaces where students of varying age groups can cross paths, spaces where technology can easily be employed to make the virtual destination an everyday learning opportunity, and spaces where people from outside the Emerson community will come to learn. Now is the time to make certain those spaces come to life this year and every year thereafter. Some of these ideas, and the cultivation of others, will require funding from this year’s efforts and will ensure that we make the most of this facility and honor the hard work and vision of those who have made this possible.
We look forward to your participation as we all eagerly anticipate the completion of our new space!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The Search Committee for Emerson’s next Head of School has identified three finalists. John Huber will visit Emerson October 8-10 with his wife Janine. He and Janine have three sons, two high school aged and one in elementary school. John has a BA in Classics from Cornell University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Villanova. John is the current head of school at the Barnesville School (K-8) in Dickerson, MD.
+ Oct. 2 email announcing three finalists
+ Head Search Position Description
The Honors Composition Concert is an outstanding event that provides an opportunity for students to compose and perform original music. It is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are invited to perform their compositions at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC), held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in January.
+ Learn more
The Auction isn’t until March 13, 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 and committee role, or with fun one-day tasks. Please contact Beth Anderson (734.665.5662, x305) 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
The bee is open to all Emerson students in grades 4 through 8. There is no charge. All that a student need do to register is hand Lenny a piece of paper with the students name and the letters GB legibly written on it BEFORE Lenny goes home at the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 19. That’s only 50 days away—don’t procrastinate!
Parents can once again sign up for conferences online beginning this Sunday at 9:00pm. Detailed instructions were emailed yesterday and are also available online. Please contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School) if you have any additional questions.
+ Sign up for conferences
+ Instructions and scheduling info
+ More info, including hours, rates, and restrictions
+ RSVP by Oct 14
Many volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Any help you are able to give would be wonderful! Please use the carnival sign up genius to volunteer for a spot and feel free to contact Jamie Sinha with any questions or concerns.
+ Sign up to volunteer
On Wednesday, Oct. 15th, teachers and staff will immediately follow up their busy school day with parent conferences, leaving very little time for dinner. As a way of saying ‘thank-you’, ESPO annually coordinates a parent potluck dinner for teachers.
Please consider providing food or volunteering your time. A few parents are needed to assist with set-up on Wednesday after school, as well as clean-up on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
+ Sign up to provide food or volunteer
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
Parents can share ideas and receive resources on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Learning Disabilities (LD), the emotional impact of learning problems, and community supports for parents and children. Receive new tools, practical information, and engage in discussions at our free workshop.
+ Learn more
Jonathan Rand, author of the very popular Michigan Chillers and American Chillers series will be sharing his thoughts on writing and how he became a writer at the Downtown Main branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. While his books can be a little scary, his talk will not be. Folks who have met Jonathan Rand say he is funny, friendly, and well worth meeting. Expect a crowd for this very popular author.
Children in grades K-6 can spend their day(s) off from school with the animals at The Creature Conservancy! Students get to help with care and feeding of select animals and enjoy up close and personal time with some of our animal ambassadors!
+ Learn more
See original email
Award-winning and fiddling Emerson alum Kiana Weber, together with her seven-time All Ireland Banjo Champion friend Martin Howley, wowed students with their powerful performance of Irish folk songs on Thursday ...
Award-winning and fiddling Emerson alum Kiana Weber, together with her seven-time All Ireland Banjo Champion friend Martin Howley, wowed students with their powerful performance of Irish folk songs on Thursday afternoon.
+ More photos and a video on Facebook
Hello <<First Name>>,
On the eve of what for many of you is a three day weekend, it is worth explaining what all of us will be up to this coming Monday. Over the course of the busy school year, our dedicated teachers and staff tend to find it challenging to preserve chunks of time to share conversation about important ideas. Twice a year, however, we are able to take a full day and dig deep into topics and tasks in a far more productive format.
Monday, we will be nearing completion of our K-8 scope and sequence, which documents and outlines our entire curriculum. We have already published significant pieces of this ever-evolving documentation, and will continue to explore the essential questions and enduring understandings that stretch across grade levels, with separate strands and disciplines, before sharing it in its entirety this fall.
Additionally, we will be taking the afternoon to go through the first stages of our ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training. This emergency response training program has been conducted at all Washtenaw County public schools and is now being offered to private, independent, and parochial schools. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s department will be facilitating our training, which will start with an hour-long informational session, including a few parent representatives, followed by staff-and faculty-only training scenarios. We are incorporating this training with careful consideration of the unique needs of our school setting, and for the best pace to ensure the greatest increase in readiness among all of our faculty and staff.
We hope you have a wonderful fall weekend!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Parents can once again sign up for conferences online beginning this Sunday at 9:00pm. Detailed instructions were emailed yesterday and are also available online. Please contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School) if you have any additional questions.
+ Sign up for conferences
+ Instructions and scheduling info
+ RSVP to After School Program Assistant Beth Muszkiewicz
On Wednesday, Oct. 15th, teachers and staff will immediately follow up their busy school day with parent conferences, leaving very little time for dinner. As a way of saying ‘thank-you’, ESPO annually coordinates a parent potluck dinner for teachers.
Please consider providing food or volunteering your time. A few parents are needed to assist with set-up on Wednesday after school, as well as clean-up on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
+ Sign up to provide food or volunteer
Many students submitted summaries of their summer reading and entered the drawing for a Kindle e-reader, but only three could win. Congratulations to those winners listed below and to everyone who read some wonderful books over the summer.
A special thank you to Emerson grandparent Vivian Sangunett, who donated the Kindles and does so much to encourage reading and appreciation of the written word.
Students in grades 4-8 who self-identify as people of color, and friends who may not, can meet with others and share experiences and concerns at Kaleidoscope. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, Oct. through May, whenever school is in session. Each meeting we will have a snack and some planned activity to stimulate discussion in areas of interest to the group. The group is organized and led by Linda Lakshminarayanan and Jennifer Tanau, but please contact Rose Hacker to RSVP (drop ins are also welcome).
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
See the original email
Seventh and eighth grade Latin students, led by their Roman soldier armor-clad teacher Victoria, welcomed a new class of 6th grade Latin students at today's Latin Naming Ceremony. A bag of chips was ...
Seventh and eighth grade Latin students, led by their Roman soldier armor-clad teacher Victoria, welcomed a new class of 6th grade Latin students at today’s Latin Naming Ceremony. A bag of chips was sacrificed, but no students were harmed.
+ More photos on Facebook
Hello Paerents,
Goldilocks and The Princess Bride are on my mind today.
Goldilocks first. In our quest to find just the right amount of communication coming home to you from Emerson, we realize that sometimes it is too much and other times it is too little. We also recognize that this formula differs from home to home, grade to grade, and child to child. With all these dynamics in mind, we are following the guidelines listed below:
We hope that you will find our strategic approach helpful as we settle into the communication needs of a diverse community.
And, Princess Bride? Emerson School is hosting this absolutely timeless movie at the Michigan Theater this Sunday at 1:30pm. We hope you will come out and enjoy this FREE event for Emerson School families (just mention you’re an Emerson family at the door).
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
If you would like to order school pictures, please return your order form to the office or place your order online. All students will have your pictures taken on Oct. 2.
+ Order online
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 parents will receive complimentary admission (worth $10) by stating they are an Emerson parent at the door. An short Emerson video will be screened prior to the film.
If you are interested in helping organize the Halloween Carnival, join us for our first organizing meeting on Wednesday, September 24th, right after drop off in the fishbowl. Here are the areas we need your help:
Contact Jamie Sinha if you can make it! If you are unable to make it, but would still like to be involved, let me know. All help is welcome!! A sign up genius with more specific volunteer opportunities will come soon, this meeting is for planning.
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.
Thank you for attending this past week’s Middle School Curriculum Night. The energy and enthusiasm in the hallways and classrooms were palpable, and we hope you found the information and experience useful in getting a feel for your child’s Emerson experience. To follow up on this experience, we invite you to investigate our online curriculum linked below. – Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
+ Online Curriculum
Spiritus Sanctus made the long trip from Plymouth to Emerson’s Bateson Field last Thursday, to take on Emerson’s middle school soccer team. With Emerson’s 8th graders back from back from camp, and fresh off many team-building activities, the visitors may have come at a disadvantageous moment…
+ Read more
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took their show on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Ann Arbor Christian Academy Tuesday afternoon. Whether at home or away, a pattern is starting to develop with this group of kids—stifling defense, and…
+ Read more
St. Francis traveled across town to play Emerson’s Eagles on Thursday. Though Emerson had dominated the rivalry, and dominated play this day, St. Francis battled their way to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. After the Eagles had put strong pressure on the St. Francis defense, with numerous shots…
+ Read more
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.
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
By the Search Committee
Emerson’s current Head of School, Jerry Loewen, announced that 2014-2015 will be his last at the School. The Board of Trustees initiated a national Head of School search. A Board-appointed Search Committee of ...
By the Search Committee
Emerson’s current Head of School, Jerry Loewen, announced that 2014-2015 will be his last at the School. The Board of Trustees initiated a national Head of School search. A Board-appointed Search Committee of trustees, faculty, administration, parents, and alumni parents will make recommendations to the Board, which is responsible for hiring Emerson’s Head of School. Trustee Elizabeth Caswell will chair the Search Committee.
The Board engaged a professional search consultant, Skip Kotkins from Carney, Sandoe & Associates, to guide us through the search. Skip visited Emerson in June and met with trustees, faculty, administration, parents, alumni parents, and students. Using the information gathered during his visit and from a survey open to the whole community, Skip worked with the Committee to develop a position description for Emerson’s next Head of School, which can be viewed on the Head Search page.
In late June, Carney Sandoe posted our position description and Skip networked with colleagues around the world to seek candidates. Throughout the summer, Skip screened candidates against our position description. Skip interviewed candidates who appeared to meet our requirements. In mid- to late-August, Skip forwarded ten candidates for the Search Committee’s consideration. The Committee met to discuss the ten candidates and used the position description to evaluate each candidate. The Committee selected six candidates as semi-finalists. In late September, semi-finalists will be interviewed via Skype by the entire Search Committee. The Committee worked with Skip to develop questions for the interviews.
Later in September or in early October, the Search Committee will update the community as to its progress. It is likely that finalist candidates will visit the School beginning in October, at which time the entire community will have multiple opportunities to meet the candidates and to offer their input on the future Head of School.
If you have any further questions, please contact Elizabeth Caswell, Search Committee Chair, at searchcommittee@emerson-school.org.
By Coach Lenny
St. Francis traveled across town to play Emerson's Eagles on Thursday. Though Emerson had dominated the rivalry, and dominated play this day, St. Francis battled their way to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. ...
By Coach Lenny
St. Francis traveled across town to play Emerson’s Eagles on Thursday. Though Emerson had dominated the rivalry, and dominated play this day, St. Francis battled their way to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. After the Eagles had put strong pressure on the St. Francis defense, with numerous shots just wide of the goal and others stopped by the opposing keeper, a St. Francis counter attack saw their forward push his way through the Emerson defense and put a strong, accurate shot just inside the right post. Emerson immediately went back on the attack, and eventually Elliot Beck got the tying goal, which was followed not long after by a go-ahead tally from Thomas Halloran before the first half ended.
The second half resembled the first, Emerson generally controlling the play, St. Francis mounting the odd counter attack. This time around the Eagles found the net a bit more often, despite some excellent saves by St. Francis’ keeper. Thomas scored his second of the day, and as the game moved into its final quarter Vince Pelosi scored to make it 4-1. The mood of the game was still, somehow, unsettled. It took a while longer for things to feel under control. In the last few minutes Matthew Murray and Austin Sarns each scored, bringing the final total to 6-1, a rather large margin of victory did reflect Emerson having the best of the field position and scoring chances, but which belied the tenacity with which St. Francis played throughout.
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took their show on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Ann Arbor Christian Academy Tuesday afternoon. Whether at home or away, a pattern is starting to develop ...
By Coach Lenny
The Emerson Middle School soccer team took their show on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Ann Arbor Christian Academy Tuesday afternoon. Whether at home or away, a pattern is starting to develop with this group of kids—stifling defense, and bored goalkeepers.
On their way to their second shutout of this young season, our Eagles got ahead early, just like in their previous game, with Gabe Seir getting free directly in front of the AACS goal and easily tapped the ball into the corner to the keeper’s right. Vincent Pelosi added a goal later in the first half, on a beautiful shot from well outside the 18-yard box, the keeper looking helplessly on as it sailed overhead, out of reach, and just under the crossbar.
The second half closely resembled the first – two more goals by Emerson, nothing much happening in the way of offense for AACS. John Byers scored both of the goals for Emerson, bringing the final count to 4-0. Michael Pelosi, Matthew Murray and Gabe again combined for the shutout in goal, but none was ever truly challenged. Though she didn’t score, Mara Mueting gave AACS fits, frequently blowing past their defense on down the right sideline and creating chances for her teammates. Captain Isabel Crumm anchored the back line at sweeper, with Mara, Biruk Tewodros, Elizabeth Brewer, Lindsay Barba, and Cammie Treiber taking turns as outside fullbacks, keeping opposing attackers at bay.
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 ...
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:
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 ...
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.
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
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.
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.
Many teachers and programs maintain webpages with useful information and resources. Check out Jan’s new technology page.
+ School Info & Resources
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
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
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
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
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
+ RSVP to After School Program Assistant Beth Muszkiewicz
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!
Rehearsals will begin on Sept. 22. Please note this change.
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
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
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
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.
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
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 the JDRF One ...
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 the JDRF 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.
According to Lucas, “I am walking to cure Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), because people in my family have diabetes, including my Dad and brother. It makes me feel bad that they have diabetes. A cure would mean no more testing blood sugars and no waking up in the night for my Mommy. A cure would mean that my brother could eat more things without monitoring and giving himself insulin. I hope it gets cured soon.”
Supporting JDRF, which stands for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is about more than just raising funds. The boys all take active leadership roles with JDRF. Lance is a Youth Ambassador for the walk and Rollie is on the Youth Leadership Council and has spoken on behalf of the walk at a corporate breakfast.
Congrats to Rollie, Lance, and Lucas on all of their efforts!
+ Rollie Caswell Support Page
+ Lance Caswell Support Page
+ Lucas Caswell Support Page
By Coach Lenny
Spiritus Sanctus made the long trip from Plymouth to Emerson's Bateson Field last Thursday, to take on Emerson's middle school soccer team. With Emerson's 8th graders back from back from camp, and fresh off many ...
By Coach Lenny
Spiritus Sanctus made the long trip from Plymouth to Emerson’s Bateson Field last Thursday, to take on Emerson’s middle school soccer team. With Emerson’s 8th graders back from back from camp, and fresh off many team-building activities, the visitors may have come at a disadvantageous moment. Emerson’s Thomas Halloran scored in the opening minutes of the game, and was followed by steady offensive production from the rest of the Eagles.
All told, 7 different Eagles scored, while the defense kept the visitors off the scoreboard for the entire game. Vincent Pelosi and Lindsay Barba each scored in the first half, to give Emerson a comfortable 3-0 lead at intermission, courtesy of the 8th grade. In the second period, Austin Sarns, Henry Branch, Zack Kubisiak and Gabe Seir, none of them 8th graders, provided the scoring punch, and Emerson had a convincing 7-0 victory. Matthew Murray, Michael Pelosi, and Gabe took turns in goal to share the shutout, but honestly had very little action, as the entire team stymied virtually every offensive push by the visitors.
By Coach Lenny
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 ...
By Coach Lenny
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. Many of the Eagle forwards were dwarfed by their WCA defenders.
Emerson controlled the ball and tempo for most of the first half, putting pressure on the WCA defense and creating numerous scoring chances. However, the Wildcats were the ones that capitalized on their lone opportunity, in the 20th minute. Mitchell, their impressive mid-fielder, who was otherwise well contained, especially by Soleil Ponce de Leon, slipped through the Eagle defense and beat keeper Gabe Seir to the short side. Aside from that one breakaway, though, Gabe smothered every other Wildcat attempt, including throughout the second half, with the pressure on and the Eagles fighting to come back.
Emerson kept at it in the second half, spread the field better, and Jack Finnegan took advantage of the Wildcats having difficulty getting the ball out of their 18-yard box, putting his shot over the reach of the keeper and under the crossbar, to tie the score at 1-1, just a few minutes in. Play then went back and forth for a while, Emerson getting the best of it. Mitchell started to wear down from the pressure of the Emerson defense, and Zack Kubisiak, the Eagle center-mid, started to create more problems for the Wildcat defense. On a decisive move, followed by a shot in the box, Zack caused a very large but very tired WCA defender to block the shot with a hand-ball. Austin Sarns, who did yeoman’s work anchoring the Eagle defense all day, came up to take the resulting penalty kick, and blasted it past the WCA keeper, who may have been a little intimidated by the leg Austin had shown throughout the game. From then on, the game continued as it had earlier, Emerson getting the best of it, and Gabe cleanly handling the few balls that came his way, and the Eagles had the win.
The 2-1 victory put to rest the worries of the 6th and 7th graders, who feared going up against WCA’s big 8th graders, and with no Eagle 8th graders at that. While there is certainly room for improvement in certain aspects of the game, the kids learned that a strong team effort, and playing within our simple system, can yield fine results, even against older, bigger opponents.
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Today’s Ice Cream Social has become a welcomed tradition that provides us all with a treat and time to share a few moments together over a delicious warm weather respite. Six of us today, however, ...
Today’s Ice Cream Social has become a welcomed tradition that provides us all with a treat and time to share a few moments together over a delicious warm weather respite. Six of us today, however, took on a far less traditional method to beat back the warm weather with a much more effective and meaningful one: theALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Having been challenged by Peggy Wilson, Andy Zimmer and I stepped up to support ALS and take the well known dowsing of ice water. Far be it from us to stop the chain there, so Tim Wilson and Bill Schrock were challenged right out there on the playground. Did they accept the challenge?
We all hope to see you at the Back-to-School Picnic tomorrow and our first ESPO/Head of School meeting Wednesday morning. A big thank you to ESPO for hosting the picnic!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
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
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
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 early (about 6:45) to get their schedule and make it to your first period on time.
+ Questions? Contact Andy Zimmer
If you and your child have not already done so, please sign the Acceptable Use Policy and return it to the Middle School office ASAP. Extra copies are available in the office.
Loaner laptops will be available for temporary use beginning Monday, Sept. 8.
If you or your student prefers that their devices do not come home, students can now securely store their laptops at Emerson School.
+ Please contact Technology Director Roger Spurgeon or Middle School DirectorAndy Zimmer with questions.
Stop by the Emerson School table at the annual Kerrytown BookFest. We’ll be next to the Nicola’s Books booth joining in all of the book-loving fun. Tell us a one-sentence story to win a prize.
+ Learn more
Emerson alum Johnathan Roberts is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, and one of his final tasks was to plan and execute a service project. He chose adding tree identification signs and birdhouses to the Emerson Nature Center, ...
Emerson alum Johnathan Roberts is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, and one of his final tasks was to plan and execute a service project. He chose adding tree identification signs and birdhouses to the Emerson Nature Center, working closely with Head of School Jerry Loewen to coordinate his efforts. Everything was carefully planned, including an Emergency transportation route, which thankfully never needed to be implemented.
More than a dozen volunteers helped Johnathan complete this project, including his sister Sarah Roberts and recent grads Jon-Michael Taylor and Marshall Hayes. He was counseled by Middle School Science Teacher and Nature Center creator Tim Wilson, as well as a University of Michigan expert arborist. The results are spectacular. Here Johnathan explains some of his accomplishments during this four-month project.
On June 5th, Emerson was notified by RenWeb that they had been acquired by FACTS, a tuition payment processing company. As part of this acquisition, Emerson is now required to use FACTS to process its tuition payments. Originally, the ...
On June 5th, Emerson was notified by RenWeb that they had been acquired by FACTS, a tuition payment processing company. As part of this acquisition, Emerson is now required to use FACTS to process its tuition payments. Originally, the deadline was to have all the payments transferred to FACTS from Tadley, our former tuition payment processing company by July 1st. However, Emerson requested that the first withdrawal from FACTS be delayed until September 1st.
Unfortunately, each family will have to re-enroll online at http://online.factsmgt.com for their EFT bank withdrawals for tuition. This is a requirement of FACTS, not Emerson. We were told that we could not enter the bank information we had on file on behalf of our families. Apparently, federal compliance issues require parents to enter the information themselves and accept FACTS’ terms and conditions.
We truly apologize for this inconvenience. However, our hope is that in the long run, it will improve your tuition payment experience.
FACTS Management Company has worked with independent schools for over 25 years and currently serves over 6,500 schools nationwide, including many in our area. This payment program does not involve a loan. There is no debt, interest, finance charges, or credit checks.
Along with online access to your account, the following are just a few of the features also available:
Tuition is handled conveniently and securely through a preauthorized payment on the 5th or 20th of the month, from a checking /savings account or credit card. If paying via credit card, there is an additional fee of 3.75%.
Please enroll with FACTS as soon as you can at http://online.factsmgt.com.
Visit http://online.factsmgt.com to get started. You must select the payment plan that matches the plan you already have created through Renweb. Please have the following information available when enrolling:
Before clicking the Submit button, please carefully read through the Final Review and the Terms and Conditions. Once Emerson School has finalized your agreement, you will receive a confirmation notice from FACTS.
Emerson School looks forward to our partnership with FACTS and the efficiency and technology it brings both to the school and to our families. Should you have any questions regarding this plan, please contact the business office at 734-665-9005 ext. 116 or 118 or FACTS at 866-441-4637.
How will I be notified of my payment information?
Once your agreement is posted to the FACTS system and the Emerson Business Office enters amounts owed, you will receive a confirmation notification of your payment amount by e-mail or letter in approximately 10 days. Payments will be processed until the total balance is paid in full. The notification may have important information needed to log on to your Consumer Portal Account. You will receive a reminder email 4 days prior to the upcoming payment and have the option to change payment method or pay ahead online at any time.
What about enrollment in the FACTS payment plan in future years?
The FACTS payment plan enables Emerson School to automatically reenroll families in payment plans over successive years, saving time for both the school office and your family. Should your tuition payments be made through FACTS the following year, you would be notified in advance by Emerson School.
When and what time will the funds be withdrawn from my bank account?
While FACTS transacts each payment on the date you have specified, it is your financial institution that determines the time of day the payment is debited. FACTS recommends checking with your financial institution to determine how far in advance funds should be deposited into your account to ensure the automatic payment clears. If a payment date falls on a weekend or banking holiday, the payment will be transacted the following business day
How do I view my information online once I’ve set up my payment plan?
You can view your Consumer Portal Account by visiting FACTS’ website at online.factsmgt.com to ‘Sign In’ with your username and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, you can click on the Forgot Username/Password? link for further instruction.
With a number of anticipated retirements, the addition of a new world language program, and the unpredictable nature of life circumstances, we had the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to several wonderful faculty and welcoming ...
With a number of anticipated retirements, the addition of a new world language program, and the unpredictable nature of life circumstances, we had the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to several wonderful faculty and welcoming some outstanding new teachers into our school community.
These new teachers represent the best from a field of hundreds of candidates. Each brings a distinctive set of experiences and dynamic styles, and all were chosen because of their proven ability to challenge students, to inspire, and to teach to the exceptionally high standards of our community. Most importantly, these candidates are wonderful fits for our school community.
Ellen Chenier, 5th Grade
Ellen comes with a sterling reputation from the Ypsilanti Community Schools, most recently teaching in upper elementary classrooms at Adams STEM Academy. Over and over we heard praise for Ellen’s ability to bring out the best in her students and for her belief in teaching to the whole child. Ellen holds a BS in Education from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Marygrove College. She brings 12 years of experience and a wide variety of professional experiences beyond the classroom, including leading a school Engineering Club that partnered with the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.
Justyna Delaj, 6th Grade Social Studies
After considering hundreds of applicants and interviewing many candidates, we were fortunate to find Justyna Delaj to teach 6th grade social studies at Emerson. She is moving back to Michigan from Florida where she teaches 8th grade American History. Before that, Justyna taught middle and elementary school for six years in Rome, Italy for two international schools. Justyna also holds an MBA in International Business. “Do not let this one get away,” read one of her reference letters, and she received unanimous support from faculty and staff.
Makie Kaehr, Middle School Japanese World Language
As a native Japanese speaker, veteran teacher, and long-time tutor in the Ann Arbor community, Makie brings a blend of language mastery, classroom experience, and cultural understanding to Emerson. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Ehime University in Matsuyama City, Japan, and has five years of middle school experience as an ESL teacher in Japan. Makie is eager to help our 7th and 8th grade students continue to hone their Japanese language skills, enrich their cultural understandings, and complete their three-year World Language curriculum.
Matthew McCoy, Lower School Music and Chorus
Matt brings more than 24 years of teaching experience, most recently as a professor teaching future elementary and secondary music educators at Kansas State University. McCoy shares Emerson’s belief that students learn music best by doing as musicians do: singing, playing, moving, listening, analyzing, improvising, and composing. His expertise in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy (both as a student and a certified instructor since 1999), experience incorporating multiple teaching approaches, and the ability to incorporate a broad range of musical styles make him a great fit for our school.
Bryan Seymour, 6th Grade Language Arts
After a five-year stint at Horizon Middle School, an International Baccalaureate school in Colorado Springs, CO, Bryan is returning to Michigan as Emerson’s 6th grade Language Arts teacher. Bryan has taught both social studies and literacy classes, and his former colleagues cited his sincerity, great care for kids, and his dedication to helping students achieve a deep understanding of class content as hallmarks of his teaching. Bryan holds a BA in International and Area Studies from Kalamazoo College and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from University of Michigan, Dearborn. Bryan will also be coaching our track and cross country teams.
Bill Wood, 7th Grade Math
Bill comes to Emerson from Frankel Jewish Academy, where he has taught for the past nine years. During that time, Bill has been the consummate school person, as a great supporter of his students, Math Department Chair, coach of the Math Madness team, leader of the Entrepreneurs Club, and mentor for new teachers. He has a BA in Math/Statistics with a minor in Physics from Miami University, and he earned his Master’s degree in Teaching from University of Michigan, Dearborn. Bill will continue his extracurricular activities at Emerson as a coach for the Emerson basketball team.
Xiaojing (Tabitha) Yang, Chinese World Language
Xiaojing (Tabitha) Yang will be teaching our new Chinese curriculum in grades 4-8. Xiaojing has most recently taught students of all ages through her work at the Confucius Institute at Western Michigan University. She holds a Masters Degree from Beijing Language and Culture University in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language and a Bachelors Degree in Chinese Literature and Linguistics from Shandong University. She impressed us all with her communication skills, teaching skills across age levels, and her energy and enthusiasm.
By Gabi Levy, Graduating 8th Grade Student
Good morning ladies, gentleman, and anxious students...
Although this end is bittersweet
These are the terms we’ve come to greet.
But I love you, Emerson
With my heart, brain, and ...
By Gabi Levy, Graduating 8th Grade Student
Good morning ladies, gentleman, and anxious students…
Although this end is bittersweet
These are the terms we’ve come to greet.
But I love you, Emerson
With my heart, brain, and soul
And I shall present to you, the audience,
With one complex goal:
Keep living
Keep breathing
Keep your wings in the air
Throw your hands up as if you simply don’t care
Keep learning
Keep teaching
Keep doing what you do
The future is luminous
Don’t forget your shampoo
As you travel the world
And the great undefined
But don’t hesitate
To keep one thing in mind ––
Everyone starts somewhere
Know matter how small
And the cliches I’m using
Shouldn’t matter at all
Because you get the gist, the pith, and the point;
Wherever you go, you won’t disappoint
So start packing your stuff
Start making a list
Start assessing your dreams
No opportunity can be missed!
And speaking of lists
I have one of my own
A typical roster of people
Whom I’d like to thank
Most of whom
Have the upmost “swank”
First is my family
For supporting my successes
And then there’s my best friends
I mean, just look at them in their pretty dresses
And my other classmates
Get kudos as well
Let’s move on to the staff and faculty
…I better not dwell
Although I will not name each individual one
I will confess ––
Without them school would be no fun
They’ve taught me that life is more than pages 1 to 10,
And they’ve equipped me for the moment when
I go out and do something
And make a slight difference…
Although in the end
All we truly need is
A cheer, a boost, or a friend
Because life is but a game
And I know I will score
Since I have the values of Emerson
Right here, in my core
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
It never seems to fail that the rush and madness of these last few weeks can always be halted by the shared ceremony that is Emerson's graduation. Today was even more poignant ...
Hello Families,
It never seems to fail that the rush and madness of these last few weeks can always be halted by the shared ceremony that is Emerson’s graduation. Today was even more poignant than most as we were treated to a larger number of student speeches. These heartfelt presentations highlighted what is truly important to all of us as we look back and reflect on the journey that has been the 2013-2014 school year.
The praises for friends, teachers, and parents were a common refrain from our students, as was their great sense of confidence as they head out on their next adventure. Oh yes, there were some worthy moments of wisdom shared by adults today but, by far, the lasting lessons and memories of today were provided by our remarkable graduates. Best of luck to all of them and have wonderful and restful summer.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
+ Participate in the survey (available through June 20)
Stay Informed
Stay up to date on the search process, read previous communications, and see the Search Committee on Emerson’s website at www.emerson-school.org/headsearch. You can also connect directly with the Search Committee by emailing searchcommittee@emerson-school.org.
Students entering grades 2-8 have an opportunity to win one of three Kindles this summer, donated by a very generous Emerson grandparent, by reading a new book. The challenge for Emerson students:
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, but Linda would still like to hear about every book they read.
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.
Linda will be happy to prepare a list of suggested summer reading for your child. Please contact her at llakshmi@emerson-school.org. While you wait, check out her reading blog, In Linda’s Library.
Please remember to pay your student balances. Final report cards cannot not be released on accounts that have balances. Thank you! —The Business Office
Emerson’s Learning Support staff has compiled a great list of tutors for students.
+ Emerson teachers available for tutoring
+ Other local tutors
Please stop by the office to pick up your child’s medication by Friday, June 13. Any medication left will be discarded.
Building STEAM Progress
We are seeing huge progress daily. Walls are up for the Middle School addition and the foundations have been poured for the Arts & Innovation center.
Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge or gift and helped us inch closer to our $500,000 campaign challenge. WIth an entire community’s support, we can reach our goal by June 30th!
Please Make a Gift or Pledge
Okay for Now, by Gary Schmidt, is the story of an 8th grade boy named Doug Sweiteck, who moves to a new town during the Vietnam-war years. His life changes when he is introduced to John Audubon’s Birds of America at the local library and learns many principles of art from the local librarian. Doug also has to struggle with adjusting to a new school, teachers who label him as the “skinny thug” and the return of his brother from the war. His story is one of perseverance, compassion, and strength.
This book is available for order, along with other Middle School text books, through MBS, through local book stores like Nicola’s Books, and online book outlets like Amazon and iBooks. (They are NOT available in the Middle School office, as incorectly stated in last week’s newsletter.)
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
6th grade books to keep
7th grade books to keep
Note: The 2014/2015 Middle School Books will not post on the MBS website until July 1, 2014. Prior to July 1, 2014 the 2013/2014 Middle School Book list will still be posted.
Get on the water this spring and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about! Space is limited- sign up today to get your spot!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
See Emerson 4th grader Olivia Goosman (Gretl von Trapp) and 5th grader Lacey Cooper (Marta von Trapp) in the Arbor Opera Theater’s performance of The Sound of Music. It is the most popular movie musical of all time, and will appear at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre in Ann Arbor. Tickets are available online.
+ Learn more
By Bill Schrock, Grade 4 - 5 Physical Education Teacher, Athletic Director, and Dean of Students
8:00am – 8:30am: Middle School locker clean out
8:30am – 9:00am: Middle School assembles by houses and sign up for field day events ...
By Bill Schrock, Grade 4 – 5 Physical Education Teacher, Athletic Director, and Dean of Students
Parent volunteers are still needed for morning and afternoon games. Please sign up online or contact Jen Pinto, Field Day Volunteer Coordinator, at 734-276-1031 or thepintos@comcast.net if you have any questions.
+ Sign up online
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
Lest you think that the 8th grade experience in these last weeks of school is a slide out the door, I wanted to highlight some of the science research and resulting ...
Hello Families,
Lest you think that the 8th grade experience in these last weeks of school is a slide out the door, I wanted to highlight some of the science research and resulting presentations our 8th graders are invested in as we speak. The Independent Research Project (IRP) has become a perfect year-end event asking students to investigate the science behind a topic of high interest as they also utilize the knowledge of an outside expert. All the projects are then presented to their classmates. Here is a sampling of the topics students have explored this year:
As if that were not enough great learning to end the year, the 4th and 8th graders are joining forces for a water bottle rocket launch next Tuesday, to honor Sue Addy’s retirement. Egg astronauts are being specially prepared with the likeness of each 4th grader and being carefully loaded into the cockpits of the rockets. The longest flight, along with the surviving pilot, will be determined the winner.
Enjoy this wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
A Search Committee has been appointed by Emerson’s Board of Trustees
+ See the announcement
Updated information about the search process will be available, and regularly updated, on Emerson’s website at www.emerson-school.org/news.
Please stop by the office to pick up your child’s medication by Friday, June 13. Any medication left will be discarded.
Congratulations to Sophia for breaking the Club Wolverine girls 10 years-old and under record for the 200 meter breaststroke by 18 seconds with a time of 3:24. She also received the Club Wolverine D3 Award (“desire”, “dedication”, “determination”) for excellence in and out of the pool.
We’re watching the campus changing before our eyes, and we have made terrific progress toward our $500,000 campaign challenge. BUT…. we are not yet done!
Don’t Forget:
+ See email with details for Middle School students
This year’s used book sale was another great success. We collected $390.84 from our sales. Of this, $130.00 was sent to Reading Rainbow and the Kickstarter fund established by LaVar Burton, which aims to get new episodes of the popular show back on TV to encourage more young readers. The remainder was given to 826Michigan right here in Ann Arbor, where students of all ages can go for tutoring and writing classes…
+ Read more
The kids have a fun day of activities ahead of them and we could use volunteers to help make things run smoothly! We need:
We hope you can find time to come and enjoy one of the best days of the year! Please contact Jen Pinto, Field Day Volunteer Coordinator, at 734-276-1031 orthepintos@comcast.net if you have any questions.
+ Sign up online
Please drop off non-perishable food items (no glass please) in bins throughout the school.
Please remember to pay your student balances. Final report cards cannot not be released on accounts that have balances. Thank you! —The Business Office
Thank you to all who have submitted box tops. Together we collected 10,000 Box Tops for Education labels—earning $1,000 for Emerson School—and an additional 5,000 points for Labels for Education.
Please continue to collect your box tops and labels and return them to the collection container in the Fish Bowl. A special thank you to co-coordinator Dana DeBord for all of her hard work and diligence.
Emerson’s Learning Support staff has compiled a great list of tutors for students.
+ Emerson teachers available for tutoring
+ Other local tutors
The Lost and Found bins are overflowing. If you find yourself in the building, please come and browse. Any items left at the end of the year will be donated.
Okay for Now, by Gary Schmidt, is the story of an 8th grade boy named Doug Sweiteck, who moves to a new town during the Vietnam-war years. His life changes when he is introduced to John Audubon’s Birds of America at the local library and learns many principles of art from the local librarian. Doug also has to struggle with adjusting to a new school, teachers who label him as the “skinny thug” and the return of his brother from the war. His story is one of perseverance, compassion, and strength.
Copies can be picked up in the Middle School office. Students should check their name off the sign-out list when they have collected their copy.
Students will travel by bus to work on clearing invasive species and trail maintenance. Students should plan to wear their orange Community Service Squad T-shirt, as well as closed toes shoes. We will return to Emerson around 12:30 and have lunch all together. Parents are welcome to join us at Barton Nature Area at 10:00 to help with our efforts (link with directions to the site is included above). Please contact Andy Zimmer for questions.
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
6th grade books to keep
7th grade books to keep
Note: The 2014/2015 Middle School Books will not post on the MBS website until July 1, 2014. Prior to July 1, 2014 the 2013/2014 Middle School Book list will still be posted.
If you enjoyed the Greek dancers at Emerson’s Passport to the World event, then you should check out this annual event. Everyone is welcome and there will be Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, live music and entertainment, a marketplace and bookstore, tours, and more.
+ Learn more
Get on the water this spring and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about! Space is limited- sign up today to get your spot!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
Emerson 4th grader Olivia Goosman will play Gretl von Trapp in the Arbor Opera Theater’s performance of The Sound of Music. It is the most popular movie musical of all time, and will appear at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre in Ann Arbor. Tickets are available online.
+ Learn more
By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
This year's used book sale was another great success. We collected $390.84 from our sales. Of this, $130.00 was sent to Reading Rainbow and the Kickstarter fund established by ...
By Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson School Librarian
This year’s used book sale was another great success. We collected $390.84 from our sales. Of this, $130.00 was sent to Reading Rainbow and the Kickstarter fund established by LaVar Burton, which aims to get new episodes of the popular show back on TV to encourage more young readers. The remainder was given to 826Michigan right here in Ann Arbor, where students of all ages can go for tutoring and writing classes.
The money is great, but the best part of the book sale is watching kids deliberate over how to spend their dimes and quarters on books for themselves, and sometimes very interesting choices for their parents. One young man said, very seriously, that he was very glad for the opportunity to practice shopping skills, “especially making change.”
Thank you to Mary Kay Stevanus, Hanna Song, Melanie Zwegers, Michelle Tuplin, Sigrid Bower, Jan Walker, and the many others who helped with the sale from set-up to pack-up. Thank you to Lori and Faith Pearson for taking and donating the best of the unsold books to Safe House. And thank you to everyone who donated books or shopped at the sale. It takes the community to make it all work so beautifully.
Find more information, including other Head of School search communications
Dear Emerson Families,
Before we reach the end of this school year, I want to inform you that the 2014-2015 school year will be my last at Emerson ...
Find more information, including other Head of School search communications
Dear Emerson Families,
Before we reach the end of this school year, I want to inform you that the 2014-2015 school year will be my last at Emerson School. Next year will be my sixth year at Emerson and my wife and I are ready to explore the variety of professional opportunities awaiting us.
Schools have different needs at different times in their histories. When I came to Emerson five years ago, I saw many opportunities to help Emerson reach new heights and to address several areas of need. Together with your support and the support of Emerson’s unsurpassed faculty and staff, we have accomplished much, both tangible and intangible, and have weathered the normal number of challenges independent schools face from year to year. We have raised the annual fund participation rate by more than 30 percent. We have nearly doubled the amount of financial aid dollars and the percentage of students receiving support. We have raised $2.7 million that will bring us very close to our Building STEAM goal a full year ahead of schedule. But what I prize the most is helping to strengthen our school culture. I have worked in six other excellent independent schools, but in none have I ever felt such a deep dedication to its mission, history, and culture.
By the end of next school year, the capital campaign and the construction project will be completed, and we will have moved into our new facilities. The school’s first wave of faculty succession will be behind us and we will have welcomed an exceptional group of new teachers and staff into the school community. Additionally, we will have completed all elements of the ISACS accreditation process for this seven year cycle.
Now it is time to take all the rich lessons I have learned here and apply them to a new school community, and for Emerson to find a new Head of School capable of guiding it into the future. With the best interest of the school in mind, I am announcing this today because of the extended timeframe that is now common in the search and selection process for a new Head of School. Beginning the search in June will allow the school the greatest opportunity to find the best suited candidate to be your next Head of School. A search consultant will be visiting Emerson next week to begin the process. I encourage you to be involved and lend your voice to the process that will set the vision for Emerson’s next Head of School.
Now, with a fixed end date to my time here, I am even more focused on helping the Emerson community keep improving upon the quality of every child’s experience. Working with you, your children, and our brilliant faculty and staff has been my most professionally rewarding and fulfilling experience in my thirty years of independent school work. The warmth and vibrancy of our community has resonated with me in a way that my other school homes have not. Thank you for this incredible opportunity, and I look forward to next year at Emerson.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
By the Emerson School Business Office
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for ...
By the Emerson School Business Office
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
Once MBS receives your books, you will receive an email confirmation. You will receive another email confirming the buyback value of your books. Please allow approximately 2-4 weeks for the entire process to occur.
Please remember, MBS may not purchase all the books that you would like to sell during this time because of their supply and demand. However, feel free to check MBS’s website at a later date. MBS does not purchase workbooks and pays very little for paperbacks. Remember….MBS only purchases by supply and demand of the book.
Below is a list of the books by grade to keep for the following year. DO NOT sell back.
6th grade books to keep
7th grade books to keep
The 2014/2015 Middle School Books will not post on the MBS website until July 1, 2014. Prior to July 1, 2014 the 2013/2014 Middle School Book list will still be posted.
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What could be better than looking up from my 14th meeting of the day and being serenaded by our very own Emerson School marching band right outside my window! Our usual sedentary ...
Hello Parents,
What could be better than looking up from my 14th meeting of the day and being serenaded by our very own Emerson School marching band right outside my window! Our usual sedentary middle school musicians are preparing for their annual march at Cedar Point. The stirring beat of “Calypso Goodbye” not only brought a big smile to my face and a tap to my toes, it reminded me what a joyous place our school is. It is also a reminder of what is the real payoff from all your efforts during this incredibly busy time of year.
Thank you for keeping all the learning and joy afloat at Emerson. The weather is great, the music is beautiful, tomorrow is June 1st, and I hope you have an absolutely wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Please make your Annual Fund gift today—at any level. All contributions made by June 25th will count toward this fiscal year. Thank you!
We’re watching the campus changing before our eyes, and we have made terrific progress toward our $500,000 campaign challenge. BUT…. we are not yet done!
Don’t Forget:
The kids have a fun day of activities ahead of them and we could use volunteers to help make things run smoothly! We need:
We hope you can find time to come and enjoy one of the best days of the year! Please contact Jen Pinto, Field Day Volunteer Coordinator, at 734-276-1031 orthepintos@comcast.net if you have any questions.
+ Sign up online
Please join Emerson parents as we wrap up the year with bagels and coffee.
+ See the agenda
Emerson’s Learning Support staff has compiled a great list of tutors for students.
+ Emerson teachers available for tutoring
+ Other local tutors
The Lost and Found bins are overflowing. If you find yourself in the building, please come and browse. Any items left at the end of the year will be donated.
Please remember to pay your student balances. Final report cards cannot not be released on accounts that have balances. Thank you! —The Business Office
In addition to the opportunity for our families to find great books, all money collected will go to a charity that serves children, education, and/or literacy. Please help make this year’s Book Sale a success:
For your convenience, buyback will be offered online only at www.mbsDirect.net. It’s simple and you can login anytime, 24/7, to MBS from your computer. No need to worry about dates or times for the books to be returned to the school.
+ See detailed instructions
6th grade books to keep
7th grade books to keep
Note: The 2014/2015 Middle School Books will not post on the MBS website until July 1, 2014. Prior to July 1, 2014 the 2013/2014 Middle School Book list will still be posted.
If you enjoyed the Greek dancers at Emerson’s Passport to the World event, then you should check out this annual event. Everyone is welcome and there will be Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, live music and entertainment, a marketplace and bookstore, tours, and more.
+ Learn more
Get on the water this spring and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about! Space is limited- sign up today to get your spot!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
By Kelly Vohland, Science Olympiad Coach and Lower School Science Teacher
We would like to congratulate the 84 Emerson students who participated in this year's Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, which was held on Saturday, May ...
By Kelly Vohland, Science Olympiad Coach and Lower School Science Teacher
We would like to congratulate the 84 Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad, which was held on Saturday, May 10th, at Pioneer High School. With 26 schools and 1600 students participating, our grade 2-5 students represented Emerson so well—we are very proud of their participation and achievements!
Congratulations to our terrific Science Olympians:
Nikash Bhagat, Andrew Theisen, Simran Kheterpal, Addison Kim, Andy Zhang, Parini Rao, Abby Lee, Micah Jacobson, Lucas Caswell, Adelyn Boucher, Chiara Bichakjian, Audrey Weizer, Alex Nakashima, Jonah Lee, Elena Sweeney, Lily Kubisiak, Ava Hueng, Caleb Lee, Michael Mychaliska, Michelle Mobius, Dylan Carvette, Jay Vijan, Maya Mustata, Veda Diptiman, Mark Labovitz, Lance Caswell, Diego Del Rio, Yasmine Chugh, Kira Saporsky, Marin Heusel, Ariana Aalto, Asha Owens, Ian Lewis, Fee Tewodros, Katarina Bauer, Anshi Pacha, Jack Hauptman, Phillip Crumm, Ryan Wang, Alexander Bauer, Simon Spoor, Arvid Jonsson, Gabby Taichman, Mert Oral, Kidus Tewodros, Luca Bichakjian, Julian Toogood, Olivia Goosman, Kenichi Lobbezoo, Daniel Zhang, Trevor Finnegan, Erik Johnson, Cameron Capers, Finn Klein, Zoe Beekman, Pru Toschlog-Green, Robert Yang, Adam Boucher, Andrew Ma, Jerry Cao, Jack Bruienne, Tushar Chaudhary, Charlotte Hauptman, Arnav Brahmasandra, Arjun Purohit, Thacher Groe, Hannah Halberstam, Kajal Patel, Nikhil Gunaratnam, Heather Kelly, Steven Theisen, Jamison Brown, Leif Ferguson, Esme’ Cohen, Supriya Macha, Zach Halberstam, Shailen Chugh, Jonathan Aalto, Kieran Hueng, Danielle Stevanus, Ben Colis, Zach Kubisiak, Josh Moss, Luka Hecht
Emerson placed in twenty-one events this year:
Thank You Parent Coaches
If you see a parent coach from Emerson, please take time to thank them for their time, commitment, and expertise. They are the reason Emerson students are able to participate in this great community-wide event. Gr. 2-5 WESO Coaches: Sachin Kheterpal, Alan Jacobson, Morrie Lee, Eleanor Sun, Joanna Kubisiak, Debra Meyer, Elizabeth Molina Sweeney, Aaron Klein, Ryan Beekman, Sarah Ginsburg, Lisa Kutas, Sonali Vijayavargiya, Venkat Rao, Elif Oral, George Mychaliska, Toby Lewis, Maria Bichakjian, Paul Boucher, Cj Hauptman, Eric Ferguson, Sean Theisen, Hershel Moss, Sundu Brahmasandra, Heena Patel, Josh Cohen, Kathy Salley, Chris Goosman, Pepijn Bruienne, Mattias Jonsson, Susan Torrible, Paul Edwards, George Zhang, Rashmi Chugh, Janice Carvette, Ingrid Arias, Mircea Mustata, Jennifer Weizer, Trish Heusel, Sonal Owens, Kris Aalto, Al Pacha, Kito McKinney, Andy Aalto, Vanna Diptiman, and Carol Kelly
Thank You Volunteers
Thank you to parents and friends who volunteered their time and skills at the event: Deepa Macha, Susan Taichman, Holly Dolbey, Peter Toogood, Scott Brown, Michelle Groe, Halle Capers, Victoria Green, Emily Hueng, Pallavi Jha, Ellen Katz, Michelle Lee, Sujata Purohit, Mary Kay Stevanus, Michael Vohland, Weihong Xie, Al Keeping, Lizzie Riles, Katie Riles, Charlie Cao, Scott Siler, Dan Siler, and Madisyn Davis.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Susan and Keith Riles for their wonderful work as supervisors for the Reflections event! Emerson must provide a supervisor each year, and they have volunteered to be ours for the last two years.
Thank you to the many parents that helped with the ice cream party–too many to name, but all help was appreciated!
Thank You Colleagues
And finally. . thank you to Emerson colleagues who helped along the way: Kathy Salley, Robin Joye, Rose Hacker, Beth Muskiewicz, Bill Schrock, Lenny Dale, Renee Durrant, Joan Gregorka, and all the Emerson teachers who shared their rooms so we could practice!
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
I continue to be wowed by the generosity of the Emerson community. Since last week’s groundbreaking, we have raised an additional $120,000 toward our Building STEAM campaign. ...
Hello Families,
I continue to be wowed by the generosity of the Emerson community. Since last week’s groundbreaking, we have raised an additional $120,000 toward our Building STEAM campaign. This represents exciting progress toward a lofty $500,000 challenge goal.
While we continue to make great strides towards funding our campus addition, we are still faced with the annual challenge of raising funds to meet our school’s operating budget. As you know, tuition alone does not cover the cost of running the school, and that gap is filled by gifts to the Annual Fund—even in a capital campaign season.
Participation is the key! Whether your gift is $10 or $10,000, your participation in the Annual Fund demonstrates support for the vision and aspirations of your child’s school, and provides the all important means to reach them. It is vital to the long-range success of Emerson that we all support the Annual Fund each and every year.
We are proud to see our parent participation rate continue to rise closer to the ultimate goal of 100%. One hundred percent of our faculty and staff have contributed to the Annual Fund for the third year running (you can even make your gift in honor of one of these amazing faculty). Our Board of Trustees has also come in again at the 100% level. Thank you for considering this annual call to action.
Have a wonderful long weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Congratulations to the 84 Emerson students who participated in this year’s Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad on Saturday, May 10th. With 26 schools and 1600 students participating, our grade 2-5 students represented Emerson so well—we are very proud of their participation and achievements!
Participation matters most and every gift counts, big and small. Help bridge the gap between tuition and the cost of running Emerson School.
+ Make your Annual Fund gift online
Emerson’s Learning Support staff has compiled a great list of tutors for students.
+ Emerson teachers available for tutoring
+ Other local tutors
The Lost and Found bins are overflowing. If you find yourself in the building, please come and browse. Any items left at the end of the year will be donated.
Please remember to pay your student balances. Final report cards cannot not be released on accounts that have balances. Thank you! —The Business Office
Emerson School is just 815 box tops ($81.50) short of its 10,000 box top goal—we’re 91 percent there! Please submit your box tops by May 28 (in the collection container in the Fishbowl) and help us earn $1,000 for our school. Contact BTFE Co-Coordinator Dana Debordif you have any questions.
In addition to the opportunity for our families to find great books, all money collected will go to a charity that serves children, education, and/or literacy. Please help make this year’s Book Sale a success:
If you enjoyed the Greek dancers at Emerson’s Passport to the World event, then you should check out this annual event. Everyone is welcome and there will be Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, live music and entertainment, a marketplace and bookstore, tours, and more.
+ Learn more
By Jerry Loewen, Head of School
Among the many inspiring moments at Emerson's 40th Anniversary Celebration and Groundbreaking was Peggy Wilson’s tribute to our marvelous faculty members who have served Emerson for 10 or more years. ...
By Jerry Loewen, Head of School
Among the many inspiring moments at Emerson’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Groundbreaking was Peggy Wilson’s tribute to our marvelous faculty members who have served Emerson for 10 or more years. Thirty-nine of our sixty-three faculty and staff were recognized and honored for their of passion, expertise, and dedication to Emerson School.
Looking at that assemblage of excellence, person by person, it is obvious the benefits we all draw from such an experienced staff. By the numbers, the average years of experience for our staff at Emerson School is 14 years. This is an incredible faculty that loves working together, loves working with your children, and loves the strong partnership you demonstrated with your long and loud applause last night.
10 – 14 YEARS
15 – 19 YEARS
20 – 24 YEARS
25 – 29 YEARS
30 – 34 YEARS
By Señora Lopez
Congratulations to the following Spanish language students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2014 National Spanish Examinations:
Seventh Grade:
Shruti ...
By Señora Lopez
Congratulations to the following Spanish language students from Emerson School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2014 National Spanish Examinations:
Seventh Grade:
Eighth Grade:
Emerson students have a long history of high achievement on these exams.
“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 154,000 students participating in 2014.”
The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
Among the many inspiring moments last night at our 40th birthday bash and groundbreaking, was Peggy Wilson’s tribute to our marvelous faculty members who have served Emerson for ...
Hello Families,
Among the many inspiring moments last night at our 40th birthday bash and groundbreaking, was Peggy Wilson’s tribute to our marvelous faculty members who have served Emerson for 10 or more years. Thirty-nine of our sixty-three faculty and staff were recognized and honored for their passion, expertise, and dedication to Emerson School.
Looking at that assemblage of excellence, person by person, it is obvious the benefits we all draw from such an experienced staff. By the numbers, the average years of experience for our staff at Emerson School is 14 years. This is an incredible faculty that loves working together, loves working with your children, and loves the strong partnership you demonstrated with your long and loud applause last night.
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Yesterday’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Groundbreaking was wonderful. Thank you to all of the families who participated, to all of the students and alumni who wowed a packed house with their performances, and to our incredible faculty and staff who collaborated to make this such a memorable event.
Emerson parents are hosting two Building STEAM gatherings, and you are invited. Please join us for wine, hors d’oeuvres, and to learn more about Emerson’s exciting expansion project.
Adults only please. Free childcare, with pizza and snacks is provided for the Monday, May 19 gathering.
Both events will be in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (Middle School room 206)
RSVP for May 19, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by K-1 Parents
RSVP for May 21, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by 5-8 Parents
For questions or to RSVP in person, please email Chris Barry, or call (734) 665-5662 x314 by Friday, May 16.
Emerson School is just 815 box tops ($81.50) short of its 10,000 box top goal—we’re 91 percent there! Please submit your box tops by May 28 (in the collection container in the Fishbowl) and help us earn $1,000 for our school. Contact BTFE Co-Coordinator Dana Debordif you have any questions.
Congratulations to the 20 Emerson Spanish language students who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2014 National Spanish Examinations. Emerson students have a long history of high achievement on these exams.
Seventh Grade:
Eighth Grade:
In addition to the opportunity for our families to find great books, all money collected will go to a charity that serves children, education, and/or literacy. Please help make this year’s Book Sale a success:
Springtime in Michigan means many things—beautiful flowers, warm breezes, cool rain. . . .and occasionally, ticks. During past springs, the tick typically seen in or around Emerson’s nature center has been the American Dog Tick, the most common tick found in Michigan. This is not the kind of tick that carries Lyme disease. Spring is an active time for these critters and checking your child for ticks after they have played outdoors is always recommended this time of year!
The list of next year’s first trimester elective offering is now available here and on the Emerson website linked below. Please ensure that your student makes their selections before Monday, May 19 at noon.
+ Elective descriptions and enrollment instructions
Emerson students Emily Cooper (3rd grade), Emma Hudson (3rd grade), Ben Faulkner (4th grade), Lauren Nishi (4th grade), Stephanie Smith (5th grade), Dana Steiner (6th grade), Julia Ammer (7th grade) and Cole Hildebrandt (8th grade) will be performing in the Young People’s Theater production of The Wizard of Oz. All performances will be at the Power Center for Performing Arts in Ann Arbor, and afternoon and evening shows are available.
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
Enjoy a day of exercise and family fun while helping us raise awareness and support for our community. the kite network was founded by Emerson parents Doug and Julie Stotlar and provides an accessible model of one-to-one grief support for adults in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and surrounding communities.
+ Learn more
Come join the Ann Arbor Rowing Club and the University of Michigan’s Men’s Crew and learn to row. At this free event you can ask questions, learn the basics, and get out on the water.
+ Learn more
See original email
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
Yum, wow, and thank you! We are all so grateful for your Wild West Appreciation luncheon earlier this week. The food and the elaborate presentation, along with all the special ...
Hello Families,
Yum, wow, and thank you! We are all so grateful for your Wild West Appreciation luncheon earlier this week. The food and the elaborate presentation, along with all the special touches, made us all feel deeply appreciated and fully fueled to face the grand final stretch ahead of us. Thank you!
Speaking of our collective push to June 13th, I want to thank all the parent chaperones who are pitching in on a wide variety of trips. Whether it is a visit to a nearby museum, an overnight camping trip, or a great adventure to Florida, Washington, D.C., or the Northwest Territories, you are always eager to help make these trips successful. We depend upon your extra pair of hands and eyes to keep our students safe and to keep the carefully planned events on track. Our teachers spend a great deal of time and care planning every detail of our trips including the travel routes and timing, the groupings of children, and the sequence of events that bring the greatest learning opportunities to our students. Your support of every one of those details is always appreciated and an aspect of our community that speaks to the great benefits of the school-parent partnership.
See you on Thursday evening at our 40th Anniversary Celebration and Groundbreaking for the Building STEAM campaign. Festivities begin at 6:15.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
This is the big celebration of Emerson’s past 40 years and its exciting future. Please join us as we break ground for the big Building STEAM campus addition before heading inside for the 40th Celebration festivities.
We hope you can be there with the entire school.
+ Please RSVP
Thank You From the Bottom of Our Bellies!
Emerson parents are hosting two Building STEAM gatherings, and you are invited. Please join us for wine, hors d’oeuvres, and to learn more about Emerson’s exciting expansion project.
Adults only please. Free childcare, with pizza and snacks is provided for the Monday, May 19 gathering.
Both events will be in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (Middle School room 206)
RSVP for May 19, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by K-1 Parents
RSVP for May 21, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by 5-8 Parents
For questions or to RSVP in person, please email Chris Barry, or call (734) 665-5662 x314 by Friday, May 16.
In addition to the opportunity for our families to find great books, all money collected will go to a charity that serves children, education, and/or literacy. Please help make this year’s Book Sale a success:
Springtime in Michigan means many things—beautiful flowers, warm breezes, cool rain. . . .and occasionally, ticks. During past springs, the tick typically seen in or around Emerson’s nature center has been the American Dog Tick, the most common tick found in Michigan. This is not the kind of tick that carries Lyme disease. Spring is an active time for these critters and checking your child for ticks after they have played outdoors is always recommended this time of year!
3rd Grader Anshi Pacha Has Winning Poem
Congratulations to Anshi Pacha on having her poem, ‘How to Be a Good Reader’ chosen to appear on 826michigan’s Student Writing Gallery!
+ Read Anshi’s Poem on 826michigan.org
The list of next year’s first trimester elective offering is now available here and on the Emerson website linked below. Please ensure that your student makes their selections before Monday, May 19 at noon.
+ Elective descriptions and enrollment instructions
Students are on their way to the Florida Keys and SeaCamp. It will be an experience they will never forget. Thank you to all of the parents who helped coordinate with faculty and volunteers to make this special trip happen.
Emerson students Emily Cooper (3rd grade), Emma Hudson (3rd grade, Dana Steiner (6th grade), Julia Ammer (7th grade) and
Cole Hildebrandt (8th grade) will be performing in the Young People’s Theater production of The Wizard of Oz. All performances will be at the Power Center for Performing Arts in Ann Arbor, and afternoon and evening shows are available.
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
Come join the Ann Arbor Rowing Club and the University of Michigan’s Men’s Crew and learn to row. At this free event you can ask questions, learn the basics, and get out on the water.
+ Learn more
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
In addition to Art-Music Nights, Middle School trips, portable classroom demolition, construction undertakings, and the always upward learning trajectory in every classroom, we are also still in our ...
Hello Parents,
In addition to Art-Music Nights, Middle School trips, portable classroom demolition, construction undertakings, and the always upward learning trajectory in every classroom, we are also still in our admissions season for the 2014-2015 school year.
As of this email, we will be welcoming 53 new students to Emerson next year, and many more families are in the admissions process. While we are ahead of the admissions pace from years’ past, our new students are spread out across all the grade levels much more evenly than in most years. This means that we currently have openings at many grade levels.
Thank you to everyone who has talked about Emerson’s special, joy-filled learning environment with someone else. Your word of mouth continues to be the driving force behind families learning about Emerson. We will be hosting our final K-8 Admissions Information Meeting next Tuesday, May 6th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. If you know of families whose children would be a good fit for Emerson School, please encourage them to join us.
AND, thanks to ESPO and all our performers and exhibitors who made Passport to the World possible last Friday night. It was an entertaining, stimulating, and educational community event that put on display one of the major reasons Emerson School is so unique.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
We have reached that point in the year when faculty and staff changes begin to come to light. The following teachers are among those who will be departing or transitioning to new roles at the end of this school year.
If you missed the full announcement, you can read it here. Nancy Dever’s quote was missing from this announcement, but is included below.
Nancy has been a teacher at Emerson School since 1983, making her one of Emerson’s most veteran teachers. Generations of students have been fortunate to learn from Nancy. But with a total of 36 years of teaching under her belt, including 31 at Emerson, she has decided to put down her chalk at the end of this school year.
“When I first came to Emerson, it was my plan to only stay two years. Let, me tell you–this is a difficult place to leave. For over three decades this school has been like home to me; the people I work with are family. This decision to retire has been a difficult one. I recently received a fortune cookie that read, “A part of us remains wherever we have been.” I believe this, but I also know a part of Emerson will always be in my heart.”
—Nancy
Contribute
Volunteer
Emerson parents are hosting two Building STEAM gatherings, and you are invited. Please join us for wine, hors d’oeuvres, and to learn more about Emerson’s exciting expansion project.
Adults only please. Free childcare, with pizza and snacks is provided for the Monday, May 19 gathering.
Both events will be in Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (Middle School room 206)
RSVP for May 19, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by K-1 Parents
RSVP for May 21, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Hosted by 5-8 Parents
For questions or to RSVP in person, please email Chris Barry, or call (734) 665-5662 x314 by Friday, May 16.
A reminder for parents to pick up any plates, dishes, or serving utensils left at Passport to the World. These will be available for pick-up in the kitchen.
Emerson students will be performing in the Young People’s Theater production of The Wizard of Oz. All performances will be at the Power Center for Performing Arts in Ann Arbor, and afternoon and evening shows are available.
+ Learn more and purchase tickets
Come join the Ann Arbor Rowing Club and the University of Michigan’s Men’s Crew and learn to row. At this free event you can ask questions, learn the basics, and get out on the water.
+ Learn more
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
You’ve seen the fences going up, the gaga pit moved to a new location, and more people with tool belts on campus. You may have even seen love notes written upon the portable classroom building. What ...
Hello Parents,
You’ve seen the fences going up, the gaga pit moved to a new location, and more people with tool belts on campus. You may have even seen love notes written upon the portable classroom building. What does it all mean?
The portable classroom is being prepped for its long awaited dismantling so thatBuilding STEAM can begin! Beginning next Friday, more fences will be installed around this “Learning Cottage,” as it has been affectionately named, so that the demolition can safely begin. The construction area will be unavailable to Middle School students, and there will be new routes to follow for recess, arrival, dismissal, and emergency exits.
We could not be starting construction this quickly without the generous support of our families. Thank you to all of the families who have already given to this campaign. With your help, we can raise $500,000 by June 30th and match the $500,000 challenge—getting us to our $3M+ goal. By meeting this challenge, we will keep the construction schedule on track and potentially allow your students to be using the arts and innovation center before next school year is complete!
Please join the excitement, and help us meet this challenge by contacting me orSue Johnson.
See you tonight at Passport to the World!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Please schedule your blood donation today and save a life. WIthout enough pre-registrations, the Red Cross may consider canceling our drive. Contact Joyce for questions.
+ Schedule your appointment to donate blood
Thank you to ESPO for coordinating this wonderful event for the Emerson community.
Contribute Food
Volunteer
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time.
Happy Birthday Emerson! The Kindergarten and First Grade classes are celebrating Emerson’s 40th birthday on Tuesday, April 29th. Family members are welcome to join the “party!” Students will share their music in the library and then walk around and view the art show.
Dress for the performance in bright, colorful, casual & comfortable clothing. * No additional “costumes” are needed.
Kindergarten
1:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
1:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
1:40 pm – Students may leave school with their families or check into childcare
+ Watch a live video stream
(Additional childcare will be provided, until the end of the school day, for the Kindergarten students that are not taken home after the performance.)
First Grade
2:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
2:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
2:40 pm – Students may leave school or check into after-school childcare
+ Watch a live video stream
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Borton (Mrs. B), K-1 music teacher.
Matthew T. McCoy will be Emerson’s new Lower School Music Teacher and Chorus Director at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Matt brings more than 24 years of teaching experience, most recently as a professor teaching future elementary and secondary music educators at Kansas State University.
Matthew will be the successor to Judy Barthwell, who is retiring after 12 years of teaching music at Emerson. Judy will obviously leave big shoes to fill, but the stellar reputation she helped build attracted many outstanding candidates for this position.
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
The Life Sciences Orchestra is made up of doctors, scientists, and others who will celebrate the long-awaited arrival of spring with a concert of three works by Russian composers: Alexander Borodin¹s symphonic poem.
+ Learn more
Congratulations to Emerson alum Samuel Kidd on winning the National Merit General Dynamics Scholarship. Only 25 students in Michigan won a corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship—from more than 15,000 national finalists—and Sam was one ...
Congratulations to Emerson alum Samuel Kidd on winning the National Merit General Dynamics Scholarship. Only 25 students in Michigan won a corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship—from more than 15,000 national finalists—and Sam was one of the two Ann Arbor winners.
Sam graduated from Emerson in 2010. He is currently a senior at Pioneer High School and considering a career in economics.
Way to go Sam, we’re really proud of everything you’re accomplishing!
Welcome to Matthew McCoy
Matthew T. McCoy will be Emerson School's new Lower School Music Teacher and Chorus Director at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Matt brings more than 24 years of teaching experience, most recently as ...
Matthew T. McCoy will be Emerson School’s new Lower School Music Teacher and Chorus Director at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Matt brings more than 24 years of teaching experience, most recently as a professor teaching future elementary and secondary music educators at Kansas State University.
“There is something magical about helping children make music,” said McCoy. “Teaching at the collegiate level was delightful, but nothing can replace the energy, excitement, and creativity from young children learning and making music. This position at Emerson School, with it’s focus on lifelong learning, creativity, and the arts, was the perfect opportunity to return to elementary education.”
McCoy shares Emerson’s belief that students learn music best by doing as musicians do: singing, playing, moving, listening, analyzing, improvising, and composing. His expertise in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy (both as a student and a certified instructor since 1999), experience incorporating multiple teaching approaches, and the ability to incorporate a broad range of musical styles set him apart from other candidates.
“The arts are incorporated into everything we do at Emerson,” said Jerry Loewen, Head of School at Emerson, “so it was vital to find someone who could contribute to our whole child, joyful learning environment. At Kansas State Matthew has been helping set the standards for music education in schools, and we’re excited that our elementary students will continue to learn from the best.”
McCoy will replace Judy Barthwell, who is retiring after 12 years of teaching music at Emerson. Judy was named the Michigan Music Educators Association’s 2012 Music Educator of the Year and a 2012 Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Awardee.
Passport to the World 2014: Friday, April 25, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Every three years, Emerson School celebrates unique cultures and traditions from around the world at our Passport to the World event. This year, 34 countries will be ...
Every three years, Emerson School celebrates unique cultures and traditions from around the world at our Passport to the World event. This year, 34 countries will be represented—many by students and families with personal ties—through clothing, food, music, and displays. Activities will include a drum circle, Greek, Indian, and Irish dancers, Spanish guitar, and much more.
“Multiculturalism is a defining part of our school’s identity,” said Jerry Loewen, Head of School. “Nearly 40 percent of our students are non-Caucasian, and this event shines a spotlight on the cultures and ethnicities that embody our community.”
Passport to the World was created in 2008 to celebrate the cultural diversity at Emerson School and the greater Ann Arbor community. The Emerson School Parent Organization (ESPO) coordinates with families, faculty, and classes to organize this massive event.
“The way our students embrace and respect each other’s cultures is inspiring,” said Jennifer Ratliff-Moss, Emerson parent and ESPO president. “We could learn a lot by looking at the world through our children’s eyes. This is the biggest event Emerson hosts, and definitely one of the most significant.”
Suggestions
Watch the highlight from Emerson’s 2011 Passport to the World Event
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
As an “Emerald” Green School, we have always focused attention on our role as global citizens and stewards of our local and global environment. One of the big dates among many in our eight weeks of ...
Hello Parents,
As an “Emerald” Green School, we have always focused attention on our role as global citizens and stewards of our local and global environment. One of the big dates among many in our eight weeks of remaining school is Earth Day, next Tuesday, April 22nd.
As you may have heard, and can read more about below, ESPO is using Earth Day week as the official launch of our Anti-Idling initiative. With just a little bit of attention and the turn of a key, we can make the air your children breathe at Emerson safer and cleaner. What better time to make this conscious effort than these beautiful days to come when we can open the car window, turn off the engine, and enjoy the fresh air.
ESPO is also sponsoring another Earth-friendly initiative at our Passport to the World celebration next Friday. There will be a strategic effort to reduce the amount of waste generated at the event, and all plates and cups will be compostable. You are encouraged to help out by using only materials that you need and sorting your trash accordingly.
Thanks to ESPO for their forward thinking and the dedication it takes to shepherd these ideas into action.
See you at Passport to the World next Friday.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Thank you to ESPO for coordinating this wonderful event for the Emerson community.
Please schedule your blood donation today. WIthout enough pre-registrations, the Red Cross may consider canceling our drive. Contact Joyce for questions.
+ Schedule your appointment to donate blood
Come join parents in the Emerson Kitchen serving Pizza Lunch to your kids and their friends! We need volunteers for many Fridays in April, May and June. Thank you for your support of this popular fundraiser at Emerson.
+ Sign up online or email Maureen Kachman.
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time.
The program should last about one hour. This is a change from the original calendar due to the Passport-to-the-World event scheduled for Friday, April 25. Every child will have an important part, so we would like all second and third grade students to attend. Look for a letter with more details after the break.
Hanging all of the artwork for Art Music Night is a major undertaking, but a lot of fun. Amy Woodruff is leading the charge and needs your help.
+ Volunteer to help prep
Happy Birthday Emerson! The Kindergarten and First Grade classes are celebrating Emerson’s 40th birthday on Tuesday, April 29th. Family members are welcome to join the “party!” Students will share their music in the library and then walk around and view the art show.
Dress for the performance in bright, colorful, casual & comfortable clothing. * No additional “costumes” are needed.
Kindergarten
1:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
1:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
1:40 pm – Students may leave school with their families or check into childcare
(Additional childcare will be provided, until the end of the school day, for the Kindergarten students that are not taken home after the performance.)
First Grade
2:00 pm – Music sharing in the library
2:20 pm – Viewing of student art work
2:40 pm – Students may leave school or check into after-school childcare
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Borton (Mrs. B), K-1 music teacher.
Pioneer High School is hosting a Meet & Greet for all incoming 9th grade students. Incoming students will meet current students, tour the school, eat lunch, and have opportunities to ask questions.
+ Learn more
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
By Susan Hutton, Emerson Parent and an Initiative Leader
Idling at Emerson is No Idle Threat When It Comes to Kids’ Respiratory Health
We all know the line of cars that forms every afternoon when we come to pick up our kids. Whether ...
By Susan Hutton, Emerson Parent and an Initiative Leader
We all know the line of cars that forms every afternoon when we come to pick up our kids. Whether your car is running while you wait for them may not be on your mind, but there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that it should be. Idling engines consume gas and produce air pollution; when we idle at Emerson we introduce pollution directly into the air our kids breathe that can harm their health. Beginning Monday, April 21, ESPO is launching an anti-idling initiative at Emerson.
According to the EPA, air quality monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of air toxics during the afternoon hour that coincides with pick up. It’s not good for anyone to breathe the pollution from car exhaust, but children are particularly vulnerable to it:
Idling has been directly linked to asthma and other respiratory diseases, to heart disease, and to cancer. When we were kids, we might have known one or two kids who had asthma; however, asthma rates have skyrocketed so our children’s classmates waiting on the sidewalk, their peers’ younger siblings who are riding along in the back seat, and our children’s teachers are much more likely to suffer from asthma than in previous generations.
Here are some general guidelines to remember:
We all want the best things for our kids. Breaking the idling habit is an easy thing we can do together to improve the Emerson community’s air quality and our kids’ health.
Learn more about the benefits of anti-idling at www.motor-smart.org and on the ESPO webpage.
Mandarin Chinese will be added to Emerson’s World Language curriculum at the start of the 2014-2015 school year, replacing Japanese. This comes after careful research at the local and national levels, a thorough review of parent ...
Mandarin Chinese will be added to Emerson’s World Language curriculum at the start of the 2014-2015 school year, replacing Japanese. This comes after careful research at the local and national levels, a thorough review of parent feedback, and many conversations with our own faculty. Access to two universities, various cultural centers, and our in-house expertise has been invaluable in our decision process.
Additional information about this new offering:
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What better send off could there be for Spring Break than the jazz musings of Emerson's Band and Orchestra? Last night both the Lower School and Middle School performers—more than 100 musicians ...
Hello Parents,
What better send off could there be for Spring Break than the jazz musings of Emerson’s Band and Orchestra? Last night both the Lower School and Middle School performers—more than 100 musicians strong—came together and gave a tremendous performance in front of a standing room only crowd.
Bravo to all of the performers and the incredible leadership of Michelle Borton and Leslie Capozzoli. If you have ever wondered what it looks like to be in their shoes directing these talented musicians, take a look at this rehearsal video on Emerson’s YouTube page.
Have a great break!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Earlier today we announced the addition of Mandarin Chinese to Emerson’s World Language curriculum for the start of the 2014-2015 school year. This comes after careful research at the local and national levels, a thorough review of parent feedback, and many conversations with our own faculty.
If you would like to include an ad for your student, please email it toyearbook@emerson-school.org today, April 4. Any family can place an ad in the yearbook, but all 8th graders receive a free quarter-page ad.
+ Learn more about yearbook ads and find helpful resources
Last year the Emerson Blood Drive, organized by Joyce Gerber’s 5th grade class, raised 39 pints of blood that benefitted 117 people. Help us exceed that total for 2014. Contact Joyce for questions.
+ Schedule an appointment to donate blood
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
The program should last about one hour. This is a change from the original calendar due to the Passport-to-the-World event scheduled for Friday, April 25. Every child will have an important part, so we would like all second and third grade students to attend. Look for a letter with more details after the break.
Hanging all of the artwork for Art Music Night is a major undertaking, but a lot of fun. Amy Woodruff is leading the charge and needs your help.
+ Volunteer to help prep
Middle School teacher Victoria Rondeau will star as the Wicked Witch and costumer in the Pinckney Players production of The Wizard of Oz.
+ Learn more
Emerson Science Teacher Pat Petiet is performing in the Comic Opera Guild’s spring production, Her Highness the Prince. It’s, “A hilarious musical spoof of gender expectation.” It will be shown for the first time in Ann Arbor, and then prepared for a run on the east coast.
+ Learn more
Get on the water this spring and try an incredible sport with the Washtenaw Rowing Center! Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about! Space is limited- sign up today to get your spot!
+ Find more information and sign up, or contact Program Director Kit Bennett
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
Congratulations to 8th grader Molly Pribble on being named a 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Distinguished Finalist. In the past three years, Molly has helped raise more than $33,000 for the American Red Cross, and ...
Congratulations to 8th grader Molly Pribble on being named a 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Distinguished Finalist. In the past three years, Molly has helped raise more than $33,000 for the American Red Cross, and representatives from the Red Cross and Prudential presented her award during the weekly Middle School assembly at Emerson School.
Earlier this year, Molly was recognized by CBS News Detroit for raising more than $12,000 in the 36th Annual Swim-A-Cross Plus for the Red Cross. She swam 354 lengths—more than five miles—during her nearly four hour contribution to the swim-a-thon.
We are so proud to see Molly recognized for her achievement and her commitment to community service.
Learn more about the Spirit of Community Awards
http://spirit.prudential.com/media/managed/Feb-2014-National-Release-FINAL.pdf
A 39,000-year-old female woolly mammoth was found frozen in Ann Arbor at the junction of Scio Church and Zeeb Roads, on the campus of Emerson School. Discovered on a school snow day in January, scientists have determined this to be the ...
A 39,000-year-old female woolly mammoth was found frozen in Ann Arbor at the junction of Scio Church and Zeeb Roads, on the campus of Emerson School. Discovered on a school snow day in January, scientists have determined this to be the best-preserved specimen of a woolly mammoth ever found.
The mammoth, pictured, was discovered by Emerson science teacher Michael Wilson in an ice tomb on the Emerson School playground. The entire carcass is especially well preserved, as can be seen, because it remained entirely frozen for thousands of years. It will be on display for tourists and visitors for several months at Emerson School, prior to its conveyance to a University of Michigan science museum.
Even clumps of the animal’s distinguishing hair are remarkably intact. Experts who found the female mammoth also discovered a sample of its blood inside ice beneath the carcass, which scientists claim may be used to clone one of the animals.
Mr. Wilson and his Emerson science colleagues are excited by the prospect of regrowing the extinct creature. However, a groundswell of opposition is coming from Emerson’s own building and grounds crew, who feel that this enormous, Frankenstein-monster-like animal would wreak havoc on the grass they lovingly maintain for students.
Assistant Head of School Peggy Wilson, author of this clever and completely fabricated story, hopes you enjoyed a laugh on April Fools Day.
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
This weekend is the Michigan Science Olympiad’s Regional Middle School Tournament, and the culmination of Team Emerson’s five months of research, practice, building, and preparation. About one-third ...
Hello Parents,
This weekend is the Michigan Science Olympiad’s Regional Middle School Tournament, and the culmination of Team Emerson’s five months of research, practice, building, and preparation. About one-third of the Middle School—53 students strong—participate in Science Olympiad, and they are led by Tim Wilson, Michael Wilson, Mary Ellen Flaherty, and 15 parent volunteer coaches.
This team is ready to dive into what scientists do! Students have researched and practiced to develop expertise in specific areas, and they will be put to the test in 23 different events where they are interviewed and assessed by panels of adults. Do they know the subject well? Are they able to think on their feet? Are they able to communicate their knowledge and passion for this subject? Do they think like scientists as they approach challenges and questions?
In addition to learning about the scientific process, Science Olympiad bonds students together with their teammates and coaches through hard work and perseverance. Students learn teamwork and cross grade cooperation, patience and focus.
Emerson’s team has enjoyed great success in the past with a third place finish in last year’s regional tournament, and a second place finish in 2012 that earned them an invitation to the State Tournament.
This community effort among teachers, parents, and students is what our school does best and enjoys the most. It is these experiences that stick with us all long after the science projects are completed and the awards are given out. Thanks to all of you involved and good luck tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The Online Auction topped off an incredible Live Auction, bringing in an additional $6,800 dollars for Emerson students. Thank you to everyone who participated, and enjoy your items!
Lost: Two pearl necklaces and a pearl bracelet went home with someone by mistake. If you found these items in your bag, please contact Beth Anderson.
Found: A Silver Bangle Bracelet. Please call or stop by the development office if you believe this belongs to you
We extended the deadline by one week to give families more time to complete their ads. If you would like to include an ad for your student, please email it toyearbook@emerson-school.org by Friday, April 4. Any family can place an ad in the yearbook, but all 8th graders receive a free quarter-page ad.
+ Learn more about yearbook ads and find helpful templates
Melanie Chapman, of Mel Chapman Designs, has worked on several projects for Emerson School and is offering to help families create professional yearbook ads for a flat rate of $100. If you don’t know where to start and/or the free templates linked above don’t help, contact Mel at melchapma@gmail.com.
+ See Mel Chapman’s portfolio
Last year the Emerson Blood Drive, organized by Jen Kime’s and Joyce Gerber’s 5th grade classes, raised 39 pints of blood that benefitted 117 people. Help us exceed that total for 2014. Contact Joyce for questions.
+ Schedule an appointment to donate blood
You can earn money for Emerson every time you shop at Kroger, but you need to re-enroll every year and now is the time. Please visit the Kroger Community Rewards Program and enroll/re-enroll using Emerson’s school code (82607). Then just swipe your card when you shop.
The program should last about one hour. This is a change from the original calendar due to the Passport-to-the-World event scheduled for Friday, April 25. Every child will have an important part, so we would like all second and third grade students to attend. Look for a letter with more details after the break.
Good luck to Emerson’s team as they head to Adrian for the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament. If we earn another top two finish, we’ll once again qualify for the State Tournament, like we did in 2012.
Middle School students enjoyed seeing visiting author D.J. MacHale talk about his life as an author and his work on the SYLO Chronicles. Thank you to Nicola’s Books for sponsoring this event. MacHale’s books are available at Nicola’s, where MacHale will also host a follow-up presentation tonight at 7:00pm.
The biggest event for the smallest science. Explore capillary action and non-Newtonian fluids, investigate new nano products and materials, and imagine what society might be like if we all wore invisibility cloaks! It’s going to be big fun with small science. Don’t miss it!
+ Learn more
Dana Steiner in the 6th grade will be appearing in the Magic Flute, performed by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance on March 28 and March 30. Dana is playing Pam (the young Pamina) in the Friday/Sunday cast only.
Friday, March 28, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Sunday, March 30, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Use promo code QUEEN for a $5 ticket discount
Middle School teacher Victoria Rondeau will star as the Wicked Witch and costumer in the Pinckney Players production of The Wizard of Oz.
+ Learn more
Emerson Science Teacher Pat Petiet is performing in the Comic Opera Guild’s spring production, Her Highness the Prince. It’s, “A hilarious musical spoof of gender expectation.” It will be shown for the first time in Ann Arbor, and then prepared for a run on the east coast.
+ Learn more
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
Letter from Jerry
Hello Parents,
What a birthday party we had last Friday! I want to thank our incredible army of volunteers who worked so hard and long to make this year’s auction such a grand success. Celebrating 40 years of ...
Hello Parents,
What a birthday party we had last Friday! I want to thank our incredible army of volunteers who worked so hard and long to make this year’s auction such a grand success. Celebrating 40 years of incredible learning, growth, and our unique partnership with families was the perfect setting for a big celebration—we even had a cake and sang Happy Birthday.
This would not have been possible without more than 65 parents jumping in to take on tasks large and small. A special thank you to the 13 parents who headed up committees and put in countless hours of creative work: Caroline Begola, Jamie Brown-Sinha, Elizabeth Caswell, Jeanne Cooper, Dana DeBord, Suzan Duenyas, Sarah Ginsburg, Cj Hauptman, Barbara Hoffman, Diana Rooks, Shannon Stewart, Debbie Thom, and Stephanie Zabinko.
All these efforts were fine tuned and coordinated by our Auction Chair, Christine Kim and Auction Leader Extraordinaire, Beth Anderson. Many thanks to our Honorary Chairs as well, Cj and Jeff Hauptman, who have provided so much support for this event over their years at Emerson.
Lastly, thanks to all of you who attended, volunteered, contributed, bid on items, and are still bidding on items through our Online Auction. Your financial and emotional support of this school community humbles and inspires us all. Happy Birthday, Emerson School!
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The 2014 Auction was a whopping success! Thank you to everyone who donated, advertised, sponsored, attended, bid, and volunteered. More than $48,000 was raised for Financial Aid—55 percent more than last year. We’re eager to share the total amount the 2014 Auction raised when our Online Auction closes next week.
More than 80 items are available on Emerson’s Online Auction (www.emerson-school.org/onlineauction). Hot items include:
Lost: Two pearl necklaces and a pearl bracelet went home with someone by mistake. If you found these items in your bag, please contact Beth Anderson.
Found: A Silver Bangle Bracelet. Please call or stop by the development office if you believe this belongs to you
You can order your own copy of the 3rd grade photo book through Friday, March 28, by contacting Beth Anderson. Payment must be received by Friday.
See pictures and the video of attendees singing Happy Birthday to Emerson.
Any Emerson family, regardless of grade level, can purchase an ad for the yearbook, and your Emerson account will be billed directly. Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad to celebrate their graduation from Emerson.
+ Learn more
Buy any 10 or more Box Tops for Education products and get 60 bonus box tops (=$6.00)! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 03/29/14.
BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Read a summary of what each Middle School class covered and learned during the second trimester.
+ Download the Second Trimester Synopsis
Ella KimMelody, Audrey Weizer, and Violet Weizer in Melody on Ice, one of the longest running, family-oriented, annual productions in the Ann Arbor area (since 1942).
+ Learn more
This weekend, Sydney Friedman (Jay Bird), Cole Hildebrandt (Bullfrog) and Sophia Hildebrandt (Waddles the Duckling) are just a few of the colorful characters that will perform in the Saline Junior Theater production of HONK! (a musical comedy based on The Ugly Duckling). Performances are in Saline’s Liberty School Auditorium, 7265 Saline-Ann Arbor Road. Tickets are available at the door for $5
Greenhills’ production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods is being directed by Emerson alum, Emily Wilson-Tobin and features two Emerson alums in major roles: Alaina Riker and Peter Michaelidas. Alums Annika Morrison, Allison Pinto, Gus Nordheilm, and Ana Taylor are crew members for this big musical production.
+ Purchase tickets online or at the door.
Dana Steiner in the 6th grade will be appearing in the Magic Flute, performed by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance on March 28 and March 30. Dana is playing Pam (the young Pamina) in the Friday/Sunday cast only.
Friday, March 28, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Sunday, March 30, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Use promo code QUEEN for a $5 ticket discount
Middle School teacher Victoria Rondeau will star as the Wicked Witch and costumer in the Pinckney Players production of The Wizard of Oz.
+ Learn more
Emerson Science Teacher Pat Petiet is performing in the Comic Opera Guild’s spring production, Her Highness the Prince. It’s, “A hilarious musical spoof of gender expectation.”
+ Learn more
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
Rob the Drummer is a motivational speaker who explores themes of self-esteem, hard work and positive life habits through music and animation. He was a big hit at Michigan Theater’s Not Just For Kids series for families in 2011, and now he’s back to perform for students age 10 to 14.
+ Learn more
The Online Auction is now live and there are more than 80 incredible items available. Please take a look at the items and remember that every bid supports students at Emerson School.
+ See all 84 Online Auction items ...
The Online Auction is now live and there are more than 80 incredible items available. Please take a look at the items and remember that every bid supports students at Emerson School.
+ See all 84 Online Auction items here
The Online Auction opens on March 18 at noon and closes March 26 at 8:00pm.
Thank you to all of the donors, advertisers, sponsors, and families that make Emerson’s Auction and Online Auction so successful.
Letter from Jerry
Hello << Test First Name >>,
We are officially two-thirds of the way through the 2013-2014 school year. As we forge ahead into the third trimester, I want to remind you of our teacher-parent ...
Hello << Test First Name >>,
We are officially two-thirds of the way through the 2013-2014 school year. As we forge ahead into the third trimester, I want to remind you of our teacher-parent conferences next week and the change from our original calendar.
Conferences are Thursday from 3:00-8:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 3:00. Students have a full day of school on Thursday, but no school on Friday.
Your thoughtful approach to these conferences has always made these conversations the most vital link in our partnership. As you reflect with teachers on strengths and challenges ahead for your children, together we can support them as they continue to learn, grow, and gain the autonomy we wish for all our children. We are fortunate to have this teamwork between such supportive parents and our exceptional teachers, and we want to continue to take full advantage of it. Thank you.
Tonight is a big night for Emerson School. Your incredibly generous gifts of volunteer time and donations have made this event possible. Thank you. If you are going to the Auction tonight, we look forward to seeing you there!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
The annual Auction is a massive undertaking that wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible volunteers. Thank you to everyone who generously gave their time, talents, and funds to make it happen.
Our very own Judy Barthwell will lead a rousing version of Happy Birthday at the start of the dinner. For those willing, please join us by the special birthday cake and sing along.
Use the catalog that was sent home to mark all of the items you would like to bid on tonight.
Dozens of additional items will be available on Emerson’s Online Auction.
Thursday, March 20th was added back to the schedule to make up for the weather-related school closings. Conferences will be held on the evening of the 20th and during the day of Friday, March 21st.
Parents can sign up for conferences online starting this Sunday, March 2nd, at 6:00pm. Click here for detailed instructions that were emailed this week or contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School) if you have any specific questions.
The After School Program is thrilled to provide full-day child care on Friday, March 21st. Space is limited and registration is required.
+ Learn more
On Thursday, March 20th, the Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences. Most teachers will only have a short break until the end of the evening. As a way of showing our appreciation, parents will provide a potluck dinner for the staff (approximately 40 people). Please sign up online to bring something and contact Elizabeth Caswell or Loriann Pearson for additional information.
Emerson’s Summer Program is looking for VCRs and DVD players—broken or working—that kids can take apart and turn into things. Simply deliver your old machine to the library and we’ll get it into the hands of a creative camper.
A letter: I’m Veda Diptiman, a third grader at Emerson School. I’m very passionate about issues involving endangered animals, especially Asian elephants (different from African elephants). Education is key in helping improve their critically endangered status and I’ve been trying to spread the word about this very important conservation movement at school…
+ Read more
Buy any 10 or more Box Tops for Education products and get 60 bonus box tops (=$6.00)! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 03/29/14.
BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Any Emerson family, regardless of grade level, can purchase an ad for the yearbook, and your Emerson account will be billed directly. Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad to celebrate their graduation from Emerson.
+ Learn more
Joyce’s 5th grade class is having their 5th annual blood drive in the Emerson gym. You can save up to three lives by donating blood. Please consider donating your blood. Also, encourage friends, neighbors, strangers, and relatives to donate if they are able. Sign ups & more specific information will be available late March. Questions? Contact Joyce.
Dana Steiner in the 6th grade will be appearing in the Magic Flute, performed by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance on March 28 and March 30. Dana is playing Pam (the young Pamina) in the Friday/Sunday cast only.
Friday, March 28, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Sunday, March 30, 8:00 PM and 2:00 PM, + Tickets
Use promo code QUEEN for a $5 ticket discount.
Rikki the golden retriever loves kids to read to her, according to her owner and special eduction teacher Shelly Schwartz. If you have a reluctant reader, or just a child who thinks reading to an attentive dog would be fun, please drop by Nicola’s Books.
+ Learn More
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
Rob the Drummer is a motivational speaker who explores themes of self-esteem, hard work and positive life habits through music and animation. He was a big hit at Michigan Theater’s Not Just For Kids series for families in 2011, and now he’s back to perform for students age 10 to 14.
+ Learn more
Congratulations to Casey Lewis, an Emerson 6th grade student, for qualifying for the Michigan State Finals of the National Geographic Bee. Casey will compete at Western Michigan University on April 4. Casey won Emerson School's ...
Congratulations to Casey Lewis, an Emerson 6th grade student, for qualifying for the Michigan State Finals of the National Geographic Bee. Casey will compete at Western Michigan University on April 4. Casey won Emerson School’s 2013 Geography Bee on Dec. 6.
Casey also won Emerson’s 2012 Geography Bee as a 5th grader before competing at the 2013 State Finals, where he won first place for 5th grade and 12th overall in the state.
We are so proud of you Casey!
A letter written by Emerson 3rd Grader Veda Diptiman
Hello Emerson Students, Parents, and Teachers!
I'm Veda Diptiman, a third grader at Emerson School. I’m very passionate about issues involving endangered animals, especially ...
A letter written by Emerson 3rd Grader Veda Diptiman
Hello Emerson Students, Parents, and Teachers!
I’m Veda Diptiman, a third grader at Emerson School. I’m very passionate about issues involving endangered animals, especially Asian elephants (different from African elephants). Education is key in helping improve their critically endangered status and I’ve been trying to spread the word about this very important conservation movement at school by making presentations to middle-schoolers, with the help and guidance of our Middle School science teacher, Mr. Tim Wilson; I hope to do more with the lower school as well! My mother has helped me learn a lot including collecting information, setting up PowerPoint presentations, and writing this letter as well.
I hope that you are like me, interested in lending a helping hand, no matter how small, to such meaningful causes. Trust me, even you single handedly can make a difference all the way across the globe! Like me, you can adopt an elephant and send money for its care and rehabilitation; my adopted (from last year) baby orphan elephant was recently released into a safe sanctuary in India upon becoming happy and healthy. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW.org) is currently one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world, and has a very extensive program for the rescue, care, support, rehabilitation, and conservation of endangered Asian elephants, especially in India. Famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio (from the movie Titanic) became an activist and global ambassador for the IFAW and its illustrious elephant conservation program.
My hope for Dhemaji is that she’ll one day be strong enough to be released back to the wild
Not only does the elephant conservation movement need our help but now I’ve heard about another baby elephant which was orphaned and I thought we could help together, you and I. The baby elephant’s name is Dhemaji; when she was just two months old, she was swept away by a river while her herd was trying to cross. She got stuck on a sandbank in the river and got separated; her mother was later found murdered by poachers. IFAW’s elephant conservation team rushed to the scene and brought Dhemaji back to their Wildlife Rescue Center’s veterinary clinic for treatment. She spent weeks getting care, but thanks to the expert treatment provided, Dhemaji survived. Now she needs extensive care and lots of support before being well enough to be taught the skills necessary to survive in the wild. Dhemaji needs to have a steady supply of nourishing milk so she can continue to grow strong and healthy…she needs ongoing veterinary treatment to make sure she remains healthy…and she needs careful supervision as she is integrated further into the small elephant herd at the Rehabilitation Center. My hope for Dhemaji is that she’ll one day be strong enough to be released back to the wild in the protected Manas National Park in India, a sanctuary for Asian elephants and other endangered animals, a journey that could take several years.
So, won’t you join me in helping this baby elephant and contributing some money towards its care and rehabilitation? Along the way, I can help you learn more about these magnificent gentle giants and how to help protect them and hopefully bring them back from their critically endangered state, through class presentations, newsletter articles etc.
Your support will be a lifeline for Dhemaji and others, who so desperately need us. Let us band together, as a school that cares, as dedicated citizens of this world, as budding conservationists, to help adopt and care for this endangered baby orphan elephant. Let us help her and aid this conservation effort. Let us make a difference! And, don’t forget how cute and adorable these animals truly are! =) Thank you for reading so patiently and for your support in advance!
Should you want more information, wish to make a donation, or wish to contact me for a class presentation, please do so by contacting my parents (See Emerson’s family directory).
Sincerely,
Veda Diptiman
Letter from Jerry
Hello Families,
As we see a bit of snow melting today and eagerly anticipate the great melting in the weeks to come, it is vital that we all still pay great attention to the health of our children and all of us ...
Hello Families,
As we see a bit of snow melting today and eagerly anticipate the great melting in the weeks to come, it is vital that we all still pay great attention to the health of our children and all of us adults.
Our Medical Assistant Diane Wentland reminds us that cold and flu season is not yet over. So here are few tips to keep us healthy and able to take full advantage of the spring weather headed our way (this list is far from exhaustive):
Be well, and don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead this weekend for daylight saving time.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Parents can sign up for conferences online starting this Sunday, March 2nd, at 6:00pm. Click here for detailed instructions that were emailed this week or contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School) if you have any specific questions.
The After School Program is thrilled to provide full-day child care on Friday, March 21st. Space is limited and registration is required.
+ Learn more
On Thursday, March 20th, the Emerson teachers and staff follow up their busy school day with parent conferences. Most teachers will only have a short break until the end of the evening. As a way of showing our appreciation, parents will provide a potluck dinner for the staff (approximately 40 people). Please sign up online to bring something and contact Elizabeth Caswell or Loriann Pearson for additional information.
Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (middle school room #206)
Tickets are $8.00 for all ages for the following performances:
To Order Tickets:
We are just one week away from the 2014 Auction.
+ Download the 2014 Auction Catalog. It will also be sent home with kids next week.
Raffle Tickets on Sale Curbside Tuesday – Thursday
Tickets for the Restaurant Raffle (over $1100 of area restaurant gift certificates) and Teacher Experience Raffle will be available curbside for $20 and $10, respectively.
+ See all of the Teacher Experiences here
Can You Help Us?
Questions?
Please email Beth Anderson or call 734.665.9005, x.305.
Emerson’s Summer Program is looking for VCRs and DVD players—broken or working—that kids can take apart and turn into things. Simply deliver your old machine to the library and we’ll get it into the hands of a creative camper.
Buy any 10 or more Box Tops for Education products and get 60 bonus box tops (=$6.00)! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 03/29/14.
BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Any Emerson family, regardless of grade level, can purchase an ad for the yearbook, and your Emerson account will be billed directly. Every 8th grade student is offered a complimentary quarter page ad to celebrate their graduation from Emerson.
+ Learn more
Joyce’s 5th grade class is having their 5th annual blood drive in the Emerson gym. You can save up to three lives by donating blood. Please consider donating your blood. Also, encourage friends, neighbors, strangers, and relatives to donate if they are able. Sign ups & more specific information will be available late March. Questions? Contact Joyce.
Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
Classes are open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders and are held on the Huron River out of Concordia University’s campus in Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
The Mom 2 Mom Sale is an event, similar to a rummage sale, where people can sell their new or gently used children’s items. All proceeds to benefit inaugural WIHI Prom and WIHI PTO (sellers keep 100% of table profits).
+ Learn more
Rob the Drummer is a motivational speaker who explores themes of self-esteem, hard work and positive life habits through music and animation. He was a big hit at Michigan Theater’s Not Just For Kids series for families in 2011, and now he’s back to perform for students age 10 to 14.
+ Learn more
1st Place - Middle School Artistic: Cole Hildebrandt
Each year The American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) hosts the Nengajo Contest. Nengajo is a Japanese tradition of sending postcards to friends and families for ...
Each year The American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) hosts the Nengajo Contest. Nengajo is a Japanese tradition of sending postcards to friends and families for Japan’s New Year, similar to sending greeting cards in America, and students create their own nengajo artwork for the contest.
This year, the AATJ received 510 submissions from 122 schools across the U.S. Emerson is very proud of the students listed below, who placed in four of the 18 elementary and middle school categories, as well as all of the other students who participated. Congrats!
See all Elementary School Winners
See all Middle School Winners
Letter from Jerry
GRIT conjures up many thoughts, from the small voice in the back of our heads that keeps us striving forward, to the scrappy athlete who forever gets up after being knocked down. But GRIT, as it was presented last ...
GRIT conjures up many thoughts, from the small voice in the back of our heads that keeps us striving forward, to the scrappy athlete who forever gets up after being knocked down. But GRIT, as it was presented last night by Bully Nation author Susan Porter, is a pathway for all of us to help our children build the lifelong skills they need to become well rounded and resilient adults.
GRIT:
Susan detailed the disservice being done to our children by much of the anti-bullying messaging, policies, and legislation. Rather than being solution-oriented and recognizing the many shades of gray in children’s relations with those around them, efforts today cast a “crisis” in black and white terms that leave no room for deeper understanding and personal growth. In stark terms, we adults are letting our kids down, too often reacting just as our children are reacting, rather than using our “adult brains” to respond more thoughtfully with our children’s long term development in mind. Susan also went to great length to empathize with the tremendously challenging task of parenting in today’s world, which can so easily place us in the current anti-bullying frame of mind.
I look forward to continuing this rich conversation that will enable all our children to grow into the healthy and resilient young adults we all desire.
Thank you to ESPO for sponsoring another stimulating evening presentation! We look forward to the next one.
Sincerely,
Jerry Loewen
Head of School
Please return your re-enrollment contract by Monday, March 3 to ensure your child’s place at Emerson during the 2014-2015 school year.
Parents can sign up for conferences online starting this Sunday, March 2nd, at 6:00pm. Click here for detailed instructions that were emailed this week or contact Andy Zimmer (Middle School) or Kelly Vohland (Lower School) if you have any specific questions.
Presented by the Emerson Troupe Players
Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (middle school room #206)
Tickets are $8.00 for all ages for the following performances:
To Order Tickets:
Friday, March 14, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club
With the Auction just around the corner, here are a few reminders of upcoming deadlines:
RSVP by Monday, March 3
We hope you can come. RSVPs will be accepted through next week until we are sold out. The Auction has reached capacity every year. Don’t delay!
+ Download an RSVP card
Raffle Tickets Go On Sale Monday
Raffle tickets for the Restaurant Raffle (more than $1,100 of area restaurant gift certificates) and Teacher Experience raffles will be available for purchase starting Monday, March 3rd. Tickets are $20 and $10 respectively, and are available from Joan or Deborah in the lower and middle school offices (check, cash, or credit card; sorry no billing to your school account). You do not need to be present to win.
We are asking families to sell Restaurant Raffle tickets to friends & relatives. This is optional, of course, but contributes significantly to our Auction. Be on the look out for tickets coming home with your youngest child on Monday.
If you wish your child to purchase raffle tickets on your behalf, please send along a signed note.
Volunteer Opportunities – We Need You!
To Volunteer or Ask Questions
Please email Beth Anderson or call 734.665.9005, x.305.
Thank you for providing the resources to bring Dr. Susan Porter, author of Bully Nation, to the Emerson Community last night. It would not be possible without your support.
As third trimester approaches, I wanted to keep you in the loop about a few “end of the trimester” and upcoming items:
— Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
Classes are open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders and are held on the Huron River out of Concordia University’s campus in Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
By Beth Nazario, Middle School Teacher and Model UN Coach
On February 15th, nine Emerson students took part in MSU's Red Cedar Model United Nations for state middle schools. Students represented countries such as France, Turkey, ...
By Beth Nazario, Middle School Teacher and Model UN Coach
On February 15th, nine Emerson students took part in MSU’s Red Cedar Model United Nations for state middle schools. Students represented countries such as France, Turkey, and Côte d’Ivoire in general assemblies as well as individuals and organizations for crisis simulations like CDC Outbreak, WWII, Education, and the Constitutional Convention. The students enjoyed their day at MSU with middle schools from all over the state.
Two Emerson students were recognized for their outstanding efforts:
Emerson students also brought home some just-for-fun awards:
Congratulations to all of the Emerson student delegates!
Letter From Jerry
Dear Parents,
In the true spirit of the day, let me convey all of our warmest feelings to the entire Emerson community. Your decision to join this vibrant educational community is one that thrills and humbles ...
Letter From Jerry
Jerry Loewen, Head of School
All School Announcements
March 20 Added Back to School Schedule
Due to the number of days missed this year, we will be adding back Thursday, March 20th as a regular school day. This day was formerly devoted to parent-teacher conferences, but will now be a full school day. Conferences will now be held on the evening of the 20th and during the day of Friday, March 21st.
2014 Auction: Celebrating 40 Years of Emerson School
Friday, March 14, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club
We still need restaurant gift certificates for our Restaurant Raffle and wine for our Wine Pull. Wine should be valued between $25-$100 per wine bottle, and restaurant gift certificates can be for any amount. All donations should be delivered to Emerson by Tuesday, February 25th to be included in the catalog.
To donate, please complete an online donor form or email a print donor form to Beth Anderson. To donate wine, please email Wine Pull Coordinator Elizabeth Caswell.
RSVP: Use the reply card in your invitation to RSVP by Monday, March 3. Congrats to Kyle and Dana DeBord on winning the Early RSVP drawing for the $70 Cafe Felix gift card.
Passport to the World Needs Volunteers
Friday, April 25, 2014
Students will travel to 38 countries (in the gym) during Passport to the World. It only occurs once every three years and celebrates Emerson’s cultural diversity and unique heritage through food, the arts, entertainment, and tabletop displays.
Please help our community make this even happen by signing up to set up, greet, supervise, or clean up. For questions, contact Jennifer Ratliff-Moss.
Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights
February 6, 2014
+ See Dec. 12 and other board meeting highlights here
Box Tops for Education at 57% of Goal
So far, we have earned about 57% of our $1,000 goal (10,000 box tops). BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Bonus Box Tops at Meijer: Buy any five or more participating Betty Crocker® baking, Hamburger Helper®, Progresso® Soups, or Totino’s® and get 20 bonus box tops(=$2.00)! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 03/01/14.
The Emerson Troupe Players Present
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (middle school room #206)
Tickets will go on sale Feb. 24 at $8.00 for all ages for the following performances
Thursday March 6, Friday March 7 at 7pm, Saturday March 8 at 2pm
+ Learn more
Other News & Events
Middle School Learn to Row with Washtenaw Rowing Center
Rowing (aka crew) is flourishing in our community, with nationally competitive boys and girls teams at all three Ann Arbor high schools, as well as top collegiate programs at universities throughout the state. Now middle school students also have the chance to give it a try, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere where they’ll learn basic technique and get on the water to experience what this exciting sport is all about!
Classes are open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders and are held on the Huron River out of Concordia University’s campus in Ann Arbor.
+ Learn more
Bring Kids to Read to Rikki the Reading Therapy Dog
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1:30 – 2:30pm at Nicola’s Books
Rikki the golden retriever loves kids to read to her, according to her owner and special eduction teacher Shelly Schwartz. If you have a reluctant reader, or just a child who thinks reading to an attentive dog would be fun, please drop by Nicola’s Books.
+ Learn More
Snow Removal and Lawn Care Gives 25% Emerson
Bill Riney has taken care of the Emerson grounds (driveway, parking lots, and lawns) for over 20 years. If you’re looking for snow removal or lawn care services for your home or business, Bill will donate 25% of his profits from Emerson clients back to Emerson School. Call Bill for questions and more information at 734-528-2922.
Jerry discussed the admissions outlook, helpful feedback from families, and progress with this year’s operations plan.
The Marketing Committee recapped the website launch and strategies for promoting Emerson School in our ...
Letter From Jerry
Dear Families,
Congratulations on putting in a five day school week despite the unrelenting winter weather! With the prospect of hitting a daytime high of 32 degrees later next week, it is not too soon to think ...
Letter From Jerry
Our auction serves many purposes. First, it is our chance to get everyone together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Secondly, this annual event is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and just by purchasing a ticket you are enriching your child’s education. But you will also have an opportunity to bid on a wide array of unique and out-of-this-world items, many of which are handcrafted right here on campus. Lastly, during a very special part of the evening we stop the rapid pace of bidding to focus on raising funds for financial aid at Emerson School. All funds raised in that session support our efforts to increase the socio-economic diversity at Emerson School.
We hope you will all come out to celebrate our 40th anniversary, to “remember, celebrate, and imagine.”
Enjoy your weekend,
Jerry Loewen, Head of School
All School Announcements
ERB Make-Ups for All
Emerson Students at the Michigan Music Conference
Congratulations to Theadora Tolbert (2nd grade), Will Collin (5th Grade), and Anvit Rao (alum), who were chosen to play their composition at the 2014 Michigan Music Conference’s Honors Composition Concert. Only 20 K-12 students are selected to present their compositions, from thousands of submissions across the state.
Theadora Tolbert wrote a composition entitled Walking Forwardand invited her friends Chiara Bichakjian, Addie Kim, and Parini Rao to perform with her. Will Collins played his piano pieceTsouke’s Dance. And Emerson alumnus Anvit Rao was also selected to perform his piano composition, which he calls Hide and Seek. Congratulations to all our Emerson winning musicians!
Also representing Emerson School were Jonathan Roberts, a trombonist, and Hannah Park, a violinist. Both were selected from over 2,000 students who auditioned to play in the All-State Band and Orchestra performances at the conference in Grand Rapids. These students had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with top musicians from around the country. Mrs. Borton and Ms. Capozzoli had the good fortune to hear the performances, and they were outstanding! The guest conductors did a terrific job helping the young musicians to play with a maturity and style far beyond the middle school level. Congratulations to you, Jonathan and Hannah!
Emerson Musicians Rock Solo and Ensemble 2014
Nothing could keep our determined 7th and 8th grade musicians away from the Solo and Ensemble Festival in Livonia this past Saturday. Despite a wicked snowstorm and icy conditions, our students braved the weather and the S&E judges, and they did an amazing job! About 25 middle school band and orchestra members performed at the festival, seeking to better their skills and gain valuable feedback from the judges, who are veteran teachers and professors from across Michigan. We are happy to report that EVERY single student received one of the highest ratings, and they all received medals! WAY TO GO! Their preparations, which began with their first performances at the Emerson Bookfair, were strong and helped the students to achieve great success. Congratulations to all of the performers!
March 20 Added Back to School Schedule
Due to the number of days missed this year, we will be adding back Thursday, March 20th as a regular school day. This day was formerly devoted to parent-teacher conferences, but will now be a full school day. Conferences will now be held on the evening of the 20th and during the day of Friday, March 21st.
Girls on the Run Registration Ends Monday
2014 Auction: Celebrating 40 Years of Emerson School
Friday, March 14, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club
Invitations are in the mail and we look forward to seeing your RSVPs. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped stuff invitations into their envelopes—we couldn’t have done it without you.
RSVP Early to Win: RSVP by Feb. 14 and you will be entered to win a $100 gift card.
Donate: You can donate items until Feb. 14, but please turn in your donor forms ASAP.
To donate, volunteer, or ask questions, please email Beth Anderson or call 665-5662 x305.
Box Tops for Education at 57% of Goal
So far, we have earned about 57% of our $1,000 goal (10,000 box tops). BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Bonus Box Tops at Meijer: Buy any five or more participating Betty Crocker® baking, Hamburger Helper®, Progresso® Soups, or Totino’s® and get 20 bonus box tops(=$2.00)! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 03/01/14.
Find Your Kids Clothing in the Lost & Found
The Lost & Found is overflowing with coats, hats, etc. Please take a moment this week to look for your belongings; all items left will be donated at the end of the day, Friday, February 14.
Reexamining Bullying with Bully Nation Author
Thursday, Feb. 27, 7pm, in the Emerson School Gym
Dr. Susan Porter will speak to our community about how to help kids deal with aggression in their relationships. She will talk about what’s happening in our culture and look at what really helps children, specifically growth mindset. She will also help adults learn to not be reactive, and how to distinguish between problems that are developmental and those that are not.
+ Learn more and register.
Humane Society Drive by 3rd Grade Brownies
The 3rd grade Brownies troop is organizing a donation drive for the Huron Valley Humane Society from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14. Please bring your pet-related items to the collection boxes that will be located in the K-2 hallway, Fish Bowl, main entrance, and middle school commons.
The Emerson Troupe Players Present
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
Emerson’s Black Box Theatre (middle school room #206)
Tickets will go on sale Feb. 24 at $8.00 for all ages for the following performances
Thursday March 6, Friday March 7 at 7pm, Saturday March 8 at 2pm
+ Learn more
Valentines Day Dance
All middle school students are invited to a Valentine’s Day Dance on Friday, February 14th from 3:00-5:30pm. Attendance is optional. The cost is $4 per student, which will be charged to accounts (please do not bring money). Snacks and beverages will be provided, but no dinner. Please pick up students promptly at 5:30pm.
Upcoming High School Information Meetings
Other News & Events
Bring Kids to Read to Rikki the Reading Therapy Dog
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1:30 – 2:30pm at Nicola’s Books
Rikki the golden retriever loves kids to read to her, according to her owner and special eduction teacher Shelly Schwartz. If you have a reluctant reader, or just a child who thinks reading to an attentive dog would be fun, please drop by Nicola’s Books.
+ Learn More
Free Women’s Self-Defense Class
Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-2:30pm
Our friends at Quest Martial Arts offer this course bi-annually for women, taught by women. Call Quest Martial Arts to register (734) 332-1800.
+ Learn more
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as a celebration of national No Name-Calling Week, our Middle School devoted several days to recognizing kindness in our community. The ...
By Andy Zimmer, Middle School Director
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as a celebration of national No Name-Calling Week, our Middle School devoted several days to recognizing kindness in our community. The idea spawned out of a desire to not celebrate “not calling names” – something we should all strive for anyway, but to celebrate the small (or large) acts of kindness that our students demonstrate on a daily basis.
For recognition, we decided to use the “brick” below and work together to construct a “pillar of kindness” on the one vertical pole we have in the school. Having read “Wonder” by RJ Palaccio as an entire school over the summer, we chose to use the “Choose Kind” message (which we introduced at the beginning of the year in advisories) on the bricks.
Students, teachers, and family members all submitted bricks throughout the week. As new bricks were posted on the pillar, it was remarkable how this movement took shape. More and more students were seen huddled around the pillar – eager to find their names and feel proud for being recognized for kind acts or to show others that they had been recognzied. One may think that students were now actively doing kind deeds simply for recognition; however, that was not the case. Students began recognizing teachers for their continued efforts in class; teachers began recognizing students for holding doors, being kind to themselves, and helping with small tasks around the school. The power of publicly recognizing members of our community for kindness grew and grew.
This visible symbol of the kindness serves to remind our students, as well as show our visitors the power of a collective push to be kind to one another. Our mission to promote responsibility for one’s self and others is alive and well within our community and has been exemplified by this initiative.
In what ways have you demonstrated kindness today? As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the moment we are silent about things that matter.” Kindness matters.
Letter From Jerry
Dear Parents,
We are proud to announce that we are bringing Dr. Susan Porter, author of the nationally-acclaimed book, Bully Nation, to Emerson School on Thursday, February 27th, at 7pm. The book, described by ...
Letter From Jerry
I hope you will join us for this event and invite your friends outside the Emerson community to attend as well. There will be no charge to attend and you can register online here.
Snow Day Update
As I shared last week, we are looking for opportunities to restore some of the time lost to this year’s weather-related school closings. The dates where additional days may be added have been narrowed down, but each presents its own logistical challenges that are still being evaluated. We will communicate a decision on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Note: Because many families have already made plans based on our school calendar, scheduled breaks (Mid-Winter and Spring) and adding days beyond June 15 are not among the options being considered.
Have a great weekend,
Jerry Loewen, Head of School
All School Announcements
Early Sign-Ups for Summer at Emerson
Emerson families can register for Summer at Emerson before it goes live to everyone tomorrow. Register online and see the complete list of camps here.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2pm – 4pm
If your child is thriving at Emerson, please share the love. Tell someone you know about the upcoming K-5 information meeting. We can’t thank you enough for the support. Learn more.
2014 Auction: remember • celebrate • imagine
Friday, March 14, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club
There are still many ways to support the Emerson Auction
Attend the Auction: Invitations will mail early next week. Let us know if you would like one mailed to family and/or friends.
Donate: Please turn in your donor forms ASAP.
Volunteer: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 8:30am – 12:00pm. We need your help stuffing invitations in the Fish Bowl.
To donate, volunteer, or ask questions, please email Beth Anderson or call 665-5662 x305.
Reexamining Bullying with Bully Nation Author
Feb. 27, 7pm, in the Emerson School Gym
Dr. Susan Porter will speak to our community about how to help kids deal with aggression in their relationships. She will talk about what’s happening in our culture and look at what really helps children, specifically growth mindset. She will also help adults learn to not be reactive, and how to distinguish between problems that are developmental and those that are not.
Learn more and register.
Humane Society Drive by 3rd Grade Brownies
The 3rd grade Brownies troop is organizing a donation drive for the Huron Valley Humane Society from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14. Please bring your pet-related items to the collection boxes that will be located in the K-2 hallway, Fish Bowl, main entrance, and middle school commons.
Pioneer High School
Dexter High School
Saline High School
Other News & Events
Letter From Jerry
Dear Parents,
Let’s start with the obvious. This winter is one for the record books! The extreme cold and the real danger it presents to students, parents, and staff—even in schools without significant numbers ...
Letter From Jerry
I fully empathize with the inconvenience and added expense these school closings mean for our families. By this point, we all wish that we were in school every day and this winter would calm down. Thank you for bearing with us and I will be reporting back to you this weekend as needed.
Please stay warm this weekend,
Jerry Loewen, Head of School
All School Announcements
Summer at Emerson 2014 Info Online
Visit the Summer at Emerson page on Emerson’s website to see the 2014 listing of camps.
www.Emerson-School.org/Summer
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2pm – 4pm
If your child is thriving at Emerson, please share the love. Tell someone you know about the upcoming K-5 information meeting. We can’t thank you enough for the support. Learn more.
Order Main Dish Lunch for Second Semester
Main Dish orders DO NOT continue to second semester unless you place a new order. Visit www.maindishlunch.com and click on Lower School or Middle School to place your order.
Make Pizza Lunch Changes
The second session of Pizza Lunch begins on Friday, Feb. 7. If you don’t want to make any changes, there is nothing to do. To make changes, please email Jen Barba by Jan. 24.
Humane Society Drive by 3rd Grade Brownies
The 3rd grade Brownies troop is organizing a donation drive for the Huron Valley Humane Society from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14. Please bring your pet-related items to the collection boxes that will be located in the K-2 hallway, Fish Bowl, main entrance, and middle school commons.
2014 Auction: remember. celebrate. imagine.
Friday, March 14, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club
If you have been considering a donation to the Emerson Auction, now is the time. Upcoming deadlines and events include:
Sponsorship: Help defray auction expenses with your cash donation.
Catalog Inclusion Deadline: Feb. 7
Advertising in the Auction Catalog
Extended Deadline: Jan. 29 to send artwork
Donations: Consider what you might enjoy winning
Class Baskets: Jan. 28 (contact class basket leaders)
Forms Deadline: Jan. 31st, delivery Feb. 25th
Anyone can donate an item or get together with friends to donate a themed basket. Suggested items include:
Volunteer: Friday, Jan. 31, 8:30am – 12:00pm We need your help stuffing invitations in the Fish Bowl.
If you want to volunteer or have questions, email Beth Andersonor call 665-5662 x305.
Bonus Box Tops for Education at Meijer
60 Bonus Box Tops ($6) When You Buy 10
Buy any 10 or more Box Tops for Education products, and get 60 bonus box tops—that’s $6! BTFE certificate prints at register (Meijer Customer Coupon at checkout). Limit one coupon per transaction. Purchases must be made in a single transaction. Offer valid now through 02/01/14.
BTFE and Labels for Education can always be returned to the collection container in the fish bowl. If you have any question please feel free to contact Dana DeBord.
Dexter High School
Saline High School
Community High School Parent/Student Orientations
Other News & Events
Letter From Jerry
In our efforts to keep the life and principles of Martin Luther King, Jr. alive, I want to share a sampling of activities going on at Emerson.
Kindergartners talked about MLK and watched a BrainPop video about ...
See You at School on Tuesday
There is no school on Monday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But we will have school on Tuesday. We apologize if there was any confusion from the website calendar showing no school on Tuesday.
K-5 Information Meeting
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2pm – 4pm
If your child is thriving at Emerson, please share the love. Tell someone you know about the upcoming K-5 information meeting. We can’t thank you enough for the support. Learn more.
Visiting Author Eric Walters Books Available
Once again Nicola’s Books is bringing an author to Emerson Middle School. Grades 6 to 8 will hear author Eric Walters talk about his new book on Friday, January 24. The book, Rule of Three, imagines what would happen to the world should all the electricity and thus all of our modern technology come to a sudden halt. Told through the eyes of a high school boy, the pre-release reviews promise that this story has likeable, realistic characters, nail-biting action, and deft humor. One review simply instructed everyone to buy it or regret it later. If you want to buy the book, please download the pre-order form here and return with payment to Linda in the library no later than the morning of January 24, or simply bring your money to the event that afternoon. The author will be signing the book at that time, too.
Pioneer High School
Dexter High School
Skyline High School
Saline High School
Community High School Parent/Student Orientations
This Week at the Ann Arbor District Library
Letter From Jerry
Let’s brush off the sluggish start to 2014 this week and look forward to the exciting months to come. Here are just a few of the things coming forward in the very near future:
We will be sending a survey ...
Let’s brush off the sluggish start to 2014 this week and look forward to the exciting months to come. Here are just a few of the things coming forward in the very near future:
Jerry Loewen, Head of School
Jan. 16, 10am – 12pm at Emerson School
The vast majority of new families learn about Emerson by talking with parents like you. Please tell someone you know about the upcoming K-2 information meeting. We can’t thank you enough for the support. Learn more.
Old Calendars Wanted for Class Art Projects
Donate your old calendars to Connie Weber’s 5th grade class and they will make beautiful art with them.
Local Flu Activity Has Doubled
Avoid the flu with some simple tips from Diane Wentland, Emerson’s medical assistant.
Enrichment Classes and Piano Lessons Available
WIHI Informational Meeting
Washtenaw International High School (WIHI) is a free International Baccalaureate option for current 8th graders. Their PTO will be hosting a number of international meetings in locations throughout Ann Arbor. WIHI will also visit Emerson to talk to 8th graders about this option on Feb. 5.
Cranbrook Open House
Learn about Cranbrook high school at their Open House on Sunday, Jan. 12, 1-3pm.
By Leslie Capozzoli and Michelle Borton
From thousands of submissions, only 20 K-12 students are selected to present their compositions at the Michigan Music Conference's Honors Composition Concert. Two were Emerson students and one ...
By Leslie Capozzoli and Michelle Borton
From thousands of submissions, only 20 K-12 students are selected to present their compositions at the Michigan Music Conference’s Honors Composition Concert. Two were Emerson students and one was an Emerson alum. Congratulations to composers Theadora Tolbert (2nd grade), Will Collin (5th Grade), and Anvit Rao (alum).
Two of the 20 students chosen from all of Michigan attend Emerson.
Theadora Tolbert wrote a composition entitled Walking Forward and invited her friends Chiara Bichakjian, Addie Kim, and Parini Rao to perform with her. Will Collins played his piano piece Tsouke’s Dance. And Emerson alumnus Anvit Rao was also selected to perform his piano composition, which he calls Hide and Seek.
Also representing Emerson School were Jonathan Roberts, a trombonist, and Hannah Park, a violinist. Both were selected from over 2,000 students who auditioned to play in the All-State Band and Orchestra performances at the conference in Grand Rapids. These students had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with top musicians from around the country. Mrs. Borton and Ms. Capozzoli had the good fortune to hear the performances, and they were outstanding! The guest conductors did a terrific job helping the young musicians to play with a maturity and style far beyond the middle school level. Congratulations to you, Jonathan and Hannah!
From left: Will Collin, Addie Kim, Parini Rao, Anvit Rao, Thea Tolbert, Chiara Bichakjian.
Jerry provided an update on the current state of the school, including finances and admissions.
Reviewed best practices for crisis communication and preparedness with trustee Kelly Cunningham, Director, Public Affairs and Internal ...
On December 6, the Emerson Geography Bee was held in the library media center. Twenty kids in grades 4 through 8 participated through the seven preliminary rounds. Eight moved on to the finals. Finishing in a tie for sixth place were ...
On December 6, the Emerson Geography Bee was held in the library media center. Twenty kids in grades 4 through 8 participated through the seven preliminary rounds. Eight moved on to the finals. Finishing in a tie for sixth place were Arjun Purohit, Erik Johnson and Josh Moss – all elementary school students! Luca Bichakjian, another lower school student, took 5th. Sixth grader Henry Branch finished in 4th, and Ariel Mobius, another 6th grader, was 3rd.
The championship round was between Jonathan Aalto, another 5th grader, and Casey Lewis, who was a 5th grader last year when he won the championship. No 7th or 8th graders made it to the finals! Casey bested Jonathan by one point in the championship round, earning his second crown. Casey now takes a written test to try to qualify for his second state bee – wish him luck!
— Coach Lenny Dale
Congratulations to Emerson trombonist, Jonathan Roberts, and violinist, Hannah Park, who were invited to perform with the Michigan All-State Band and Orchestra! Jonathan and Hannah auditioned for this opportunity along with over 2,500 ...
Congratulations to Emerson trombonist, Jonathan Roberts, and violinist, Hannah Park, who were invited to perform with the Michigan All-State Band and Orchestra! Jonathan and Hannah auditioned for this opportunity along with over 2,500 students from around the state. The competition for each spot in the band and orchestra was extremely tough, but these dedicated musicians had stellar auditions and they made it! They will perform in January at the Music Educators Conference in Grand Rapids.
Tejal Patel and Lukas Jonsson were among eighteen students who received an Honorable Mention. Several Emerson students challenged themselves to learn the material and take the audition. Auditions are rare opportunities to practice performing under a particular kind of pressure. Mrs. Borton and Ms. Capozzoli congratulate each of the students who took the audition and bettered themselves as performers! We are all very proud of you!
By Ms. Capozzoli and Mrs. Borton
The Emerson Middle School soccer team concluded the 2013 season with a strong team performance in the AAIAA tournament championship game. Playing at Steiner's home field, the Eagles jumped out ahead of the Stars early when Vincent ...
In the second half things went back and forth unremarkably for a while, Steiner getting no real chances, Emerson generally controlling play but not finishing on their own chances. Midway through the half the Eagles drew a foul outside the top of the Stars penalty area. On the ensuing free kick, Thomas, with his trademark cool demeanor, easily blasted his shot past the keeper for a 3-0 lead. Just a few minutes later, another Steiner foul, a bit farther out and to the side, but the same result – Thomas’ heavy shot essentially overpowered the keeper, going through his outstretched hands (in baseball we call it THTH: Too Hot To Handle) – and the Eagles held a commanding 4-0 advantage. From there the defense took the reins, handling any attack the Stars attempted to mount, and bringing the championship home.
Welcomed new members and voted on new Chair and Vice Chair
Reviewed committee assignments and shared notable items
Affirmed Emerson’s budget for the 2013-2014 year
Finance Committee shared preliminary results of recently ...
SEASON RECORD: 8 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 15 vs. Steiner
The Emerson Middle School soccer team's 6th and 7th graders went to Steiner School on Tuesday to take on the Stars' full squad, 8th graders included. It was an ...
SEASON RECORD: 8 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 15 vs. Steiner
The Emerson Middle School soccer team’s 6th and 7th graders went to Steiner School on Tuesday to take on the Stars’ full squad, 8th graders included. It was an eye-opening game, to say the least. Emerson had the better of the play early, but was unable to find the net, with a number of shots sailing just over the crossbar and a few saves by the Steiner keeper. Midway through the first half the Stars’ left mid made a nice run from the half line, got around the Emerson defense and beat the goalie cleanly, and suddenly the Eagles found themselves behind for the first time this season. It took a while, but Emerson round their offensive rhythm again, and put renewed pressure on Steiner. Thomas Halloran made a fine run through the Stars’ defense, only to have his attempt inside the near post deflected by the keeper. In the ensuing scramble the ball came free and Jack Finnegan was able to finish, tying the game at 1-1 going into half-time.
In the 2nd half the Eagles completely took over the game. Thomas started things off with the go-ahead goal, then scored again after running onto a nice through ball from Will Downey. A few minutes later striker Alex Dontu turned around the Steiner sweeper and beat the keeper low to give Emerson a commanding 4-1 lead. Will then fed Thomas again, second assist for Will, hat trick for Thomas. Will finished things off in stereo, so to speak – first, a run from his own end down the right touch line, cutting in at the 18 behind the last defender and scoring, then something of a repeat performance, this time more toward the middle of the field, splitting the entire Steiner defense for his 2nd goal and Emerson’s final margin of 7-1.
Austin Sarns played a strong game at Sweeper for the Eagles, Lindsey Barba, Biruk Tewodros and Henry Branch were solid as outside mids, and virtually every forward not already mentioned showed continued improvement – Gaya Pederson, Katie Wu, Soleil Ponce de Leon, Dana Kachman, Quade Pohlman, Brenan Dionne (when not playing goalie) and Elie Spoor. Of particular note is Hazel Byers, who generated a number of shots and just narrowly missed on a couple of them.
SEASON RECORD: 6 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 10 vs. Spiritus Sanctus
After putting a dent in a previously perfect season by playing Emerson to a draw a week earlier, Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth came to Ann Arbor for a rematch. ...
SEASON RECORD: 6 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 10 vs. Spiritus Sanctus
After putting a dent in a previously perfect season by playing Emerson to a draw a week earlier, Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth came to Ann Arbor for a rematch. Emerson had a few players,including a couple 8th graders, on the field whom they’d missed in the first game, and dominated play from the outset, yet there remained some troubling similarities between both games in the first half. Just like the first time around, Emerson jumped out to a 2-0 lead, this time on a goal by Jared Kehn off an assist from Lindsey Barba, followed closely by a goal from Will Downey, in the first six minutes. Thereafter, Emerson peppered the SS goal with shots, but the SS goalie played strong and often got a counter attack going with his excellent throws. Late in the half SS scored on a mix-up by the Eagle defense, almost scored yet again, and despite their general dominance Emerson went into the intermission with just a 2-1 advantage. That was a 1-goal improvement on game 1, but with the strong play of the SS keeper, it definitely didn’t feel safe.
Jared gave the Eagles a 2-goal cushion early in the second half, but SS got it back quickly when one of their players got behind the right side of the Emerson defense. That goal seemed to wake the kids up a bit, and the team tightened things up, playing better possession soccer and more aggressively pressuring the SS attack. The Eagles generated more chances and, while the SS keeper continued his strong play, he was unable to keep his team close as Jared scored twice more, totaling 4 goals on the afternoon and leading Emerson to a 5-2 victory.
Despite being scored on for the first time this season, Michael Pelosi was excellent in goal. A couple coverage mistakes notwithstanding, the 7th grade full-back tandem of Henry Fleischmann and John Byers had a strong game. 6th graders Austin Sarns, Sahil Kapila and Henry Branch impressed with their creative and aggressive play on both the attack and defense.
SEASON RECORD: 5 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 1, 2013 vs. Ann Arbor Christian (9-1 win)
The Emerson Middle School soccer team paid a visit to Ann Arbor Christian on Tuesday and came away with their fifth win of the season. Again ...
SEASON RECORD: 5 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Oct. 1, 2013 vs. Ann Arbor Christian (9-1 win)
The Emerson Middle School soccer team paid a visit to Ann Arbor Christian on Tuesday and came away with their fifth win of the season. Again playing with a reduced roster of defenders, the Eagles put together a scrappy back wall of 6th and 7th graders that kept AACS off the scoreboard until the last minute of the game. In the 50-plus minutes before that Emerson put 9 shots in the AACS net, and had a few more deflect off the goal post.
Jared Kehn was the first to have a shot bounce away off the crossbar, but still earned a hat-trick with his and the games first goal coming on a beautiful cross into the box from Henry Branch, which Jared put in on the volley. Thomas Halloran also tallied three goals, while Biruk Tewodros got two of his own in the second half. Will Downey was the other Emerson scorer, putting in a back-heel shot on the rebound after the AACS keeper had turned away Will’s header.
Oct. 3, 2013 vs. Spiritus Sanctus (3-3 draw)
The Emerson Middle School soccer team traveled to Plymouth Thursday afternoon, to take on Spiritus Sanctus. Playing with none of their 8th graders and only about half their 7th graders, the youngsters faced an older and very physical opponent. By the end of the day the Eagles were battered and bruised and exhausted, having battled to a 3-3 draw.
Henry Branch scored on a long shot from his right attack position and Biruk Tewodros split the defense to score from center mid, both in the first half. Spiritus Sanctus tied the game just before the half on the strength of their center forward, who scored all 3 of their goals on the day.
Lindsey Barba scored early in the second half, on a nice run down the left side, but Spiritus Sanctus tied it up a short time later, and after that it was a struggle to see if either team could break the deadlock. Both goalies were strong throughout, and neither faltered during 20 pressured filled final minutes. Brenan Dionne had his best game in goal, stopping numerous chances. Alex Dontu played a particularly gutsy game, overcoming chops and hacks that left him limping for most of the second half. Mara Mueting impressed everyone with her skill and nerve, taking on and usually besting opponents twice her size. That sort of play bodes well for the second half of the season.
While the draw lays to rest the possibility of a ‘perfect’ season, it was a great game for the kids and should give them confidence in their ability to ovecome a tough situation.
Congrats to Emerson 4th grader Jack Bruienne for being a featured guest on WJR 760AM's Internet Advisor show. Jack wowed the hosts with his computer knowledge, Minecraft mods, and ambitious goal to become CEO of Apple by age 29. We ...
Congrats to Emerson 4th grader Jack Bruienne for being a featured guest on WJR 760AM’s Internet Advisor show. Jack wowed the hosts with his computer knowledge, Minecraft mods, and ambitious goal to become CEO of Apple by age 29. We believe you can do it Jack!
Listen to Jack, joined by his mother and father, on the WJR Internet Advisor show link here (Jack appears at 18:45 in the show). He even proudly mentions attending Emerson School!
Emerson 8th Grader Molly Pribble wasn't trying to receive recognition when she participated in the Swim-A-Cross Plus fundraiser this summer, but after swimming more than five miles and raising $12,000 for the Red Cross, her hard work ...
Emerson 8th Grader Molly Pribble wasn’t trying to receive recognition when she participated in the Swim-A-Cross Plus fundraiser this summer, but after swimming more than five miles and raising $12,000 for the Red Cross, her hard work has been hard to ignore. We’re so proud of you Molly!
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ATHLETE ON A MISSION
Credit: RedCross.org – Athlete on a Mission
—Molly Pribble is an athlete on a mission for the American Red Cross. The twelve year old raised over $12,000 during the 36th Annual Swim-A-Cross Plus program this summer. Swimming for the Travis Pointe Country Club Tiger Sharks, she completed 354 lengths, just over five miles in less than four hours.
Pribble, who swims in the summer months, because she loves swimming in the sunshine, attends Emerson School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to swimming, she plays travel soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, track and plays the piano. Although, she has a busy schedule, Molly still finds time to give back to her community by fundraising and volunteering at the Red Cross with her family.
Swim-A-Cross Plus is an exciting, interactive fundraiser that invites local athletes to use their time and talent to help raise funds for critical life-saving programs that the Red Cross provides in their communities.
It was a record summer for the Swim-A-Cross Plus program, which raised over $87,000 with the support of 743 athletes across Southeast Michigan. The funds raised will support vital lifesaving programs and services that the Red Cross provides to their communities.
This summer, Pribble reached out to her family, friends, and neighbors for donations. Her fundraising efforts helped the Tiger Sharks defend their title as the Washtenaw Interclub Swim Conference Champions for the 4th consecutive year. The team raised more than $24,000 during their event.
Five years ago, Pribble participated in her first Swim-A-Cross event and raised $100. After seeing other athletes raise over $1,000, she decided to do the same. Pribble set her goal for $11,000 this year and exceeded it. “I am aware of all of the good things that the Red Cross does for the community and for the world. I like the fact that they put on blood drives and help people who have been affected by fires and tornadoes. I wanted to help support those types of activities with my swimming,” stated Pribble.
Mary Kumbier, Regional Events Specialist, has been involved with Swim-A-Cross for twenty years. She comes back each year inspired by the participants’ efforts and passion to make a difference in their community. “Molly Pribble is an exceptional athlete whose drive and determination has contributed tremendously to the growth and success of the program in the region.”
This summer’s Swim-A-Cross Plus team roster included:
Adrian Waverunners, Ann Arbor Country Club, Barton Hills Country Club, Chippewa Tennis and Swim Club, Club Wolverine, Dexter Community Aquatic Club, Georgetown Country Club, Huron Valley Swim Club, Liberty Athletic Club, Milan Swim Club, Orchard Hills Athletic Club, Plymouth-Canton Cruisers, Racquet Club of Ann Arbor, Travis Pointe Country Club, Veterans Memorial Park, and Y Not Swim-Livonia.
About the 36th Annual Swim-A-Cross Plus
Swim-A- Cross Plus is an exciting, interactive fundraiser that invites local athletes in Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties to use their time and talent to help raise funds for critical life-saving programs and make a difference in their community. Participants collect pledges —then swim, dive, golf and/or play tennis.
The Red Cross provides promotional materials and support for the event. Participants receive prizes based on the amount of pledges they collect. The top team in each division receives a trophy. All proceeds stay local, supporting the vital work of the Red Cross.
Events are held throughout the summer and early fall at public and private pools, golf courses and tennis clubs across the entire Southeast Michigan region. For more information on Swim-A- Cross Plus, visit, www.redcross.org/mi/ann-arbor/swim-a-cross
School Supply Drive August 13 - September 13, 2013
Emerson School is once again participating in a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Washtenaw Intermediate School District's (WISD) Education Project. The Education Project serves ...
School Supply Drive August 13 – September 13, 2013
Emerson School is once again participating in a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s (WISD) Education Project. The Education Project serves homeless and foster care children, and families can participate by dropping off supplies from the list below in one of the boxes located throughout Emerson School, Aug. 13 – Sept. 13, 2013.
WISH LIST:
**Please no #2 pencils, crayons, or glue**
Please donate by September 13, 2013 to be part of the contribution from Emerson School.
This summer Emerson made two important additions to its outstanding faculty lineup. Both are Japanese teachers who will be splitting what was previously taught by Kayo Nakamura.
Yukiko Kobayashi Miller will be Emerson's new middle ...
This summer Emerson made two important additions to its outstanding faculty lineup. Both are Japanese teachers who will be splitting what was previously taught by Kayo Nakamura.
Yukiko Kobayashi Miller will be Emerson’s new middle school Japanese instructor. She has more than 10 years of Japanese teaching experience, from college level classes in Japan to tutoring elementary school students in the Ann Arbor area. Yukiko is a graduate of Hiroshima Women’s University with a degree in Japanese language and literature, and credentials in teaching Japanese as a foreign language. Yukiko and Kayo were able to meet before Kayo moved to Japan and continue to correspond. Yukiko brings incredibly valuable experience and passion to this position that will benefit all current and future Japanese students.
Melinda Krajniak will be Emerson’s new 4th and 5th Japanese instructor. Melinda is a former JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) instructor who taught in Shiga Prefecture at several schools over the 2011-2012 school year. Melinda graduated from Albion College with a degree in International Studies where she also served as a Japanese Teacher’s assistant and headed up many Japanese cultural activities on campus. Melinda brings tremendous enthusiasm for all things Japanese and is eager to share that zeal with her new students.
From everyone at Emerson School, welcome to our family Yukiko and Melinda!
Congratulations to Ryan Wang on winning first place in the State Fish Art Contest (K-3) with this beautiful piece. It's part of Wildlife Forever's Art of Conservation program, and Ryan will be recognized at the 15th Annual State Fish ...
Congratulations to Ryan Wang on winning first place in the State Fish Art Contest (K-3) with this beautiful piece. It’s part of Wildlife Forever’s Art of Conservation program, and Ryan will be recognized at the 15th Annual State Fish Art Expo in Georgia and we’re so proud of him!
An interesting thing happens when you focus on real learning and development rather than just grades and scores: students tend to have exceptional grades and scores. Emerson School has always focused on making students hungry for ...
An interesting thing happens when you focus on real learning and development rather than just grades and scores: students tend to have exceptional grades and scores. Emerson School has always focused on making students hungry for knowledge, on the importance of figuring out answers rather than just memorizing them, and laying the groundwork for students to become lifelong learners.
That being said, we’re still unabashedly proud of our students’ achievements, and Emerson’s recent ERB testing results are nothing short of amazing. Across the board, students dramatically outperformed their peers in other independent and public schools.
(Emerson voluntarily participates in ERB’s (Educational Records Bureau) standardized achievement testing to ensure our curriculum meets or exceeds the benchmarks set by other top schools.)
(By Lenny Dale)
Emerson 5th grader Casey Lewis had an exciting day at the Michigan State Geography Bee.
There were 101 school champions from across the state of Michigan competing today. Only 4 were from 5th grade, like Casey ...
(By Lenny Dale)
Emerson 5th grader Casey Lewis had an exciting day at the Michigan State Geography Bee.
There were 101 school champions from across the state of Michigan competing today. Only 4 were from 5th grade, like Casey (the competition is open to 4th through 8th graders).
In the preliminaries, there were 8 rounds of questions. Casey was in a room of 21 kids that included last year’s state champion. 19 of the 21 kids had one mistake or more. Casey and one other 8th grade girl got them all correct. Last year’s champion went down.
Casey answered questions about such as:
• In November 2012, a new species of arachnid with 13 inch legs was discovered in this country that boarders Viet Nam. What’s the country? (Laos)
• In this northern European country the Vikings founded a city called T-(something or other) in 997. Name the country. (Norway)
• Which city is more humid — Carson City or Richmond? (Richmond)
Portugal has a large population of (some type of ethnic minority I’ve never heard of) that immigrated to Portugal from this former Portuguese colony in S. America. Name the colony. (Brazil)
Plus 4 others I could only guess at.
After 2 hours they reviewed results. 12 of the 101 kids spread across 5 rooms had perfect scores. One 5th grader, one 6th grader, and ten 8th graders.
Only 10 kids can make the finals, so they went to a written, single elimination tie breaker. Unfortunately, the Balkan Peninsula is not Casey’s strength — he guessed Bulgaria was the southern most country on the peninsula and was eliminated in 12th place.
Casey was delighted at how well he did and vows to be back next year!
Congratulations are in order for the incredible Girls Basketball stars at Emerson School. Both the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams ended their season with top-three finishes in their respective tournaments.
Junior Varsity Wrap-Up ...
Congratulations are in order for the incredible Girls Basketball stars at Emerson School. Both the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams ended their season with top-three finishes in their respective tournaments.
Junior Varsity Wrap-Up (written by Lenny Dale)
Emerson School hosted the AAIAA JV Girls Basketball Tournament this past weekend, and the Emerson girls gave a very good accounting of themselves.
The Eagles opened the tournament against Christ The King, and held the Jaguars to 8 points on the way to an 18-8 victory. St. Paul, the 3rd seed, had a tougher time with Spiritus Sanctus, the 7th seed, but came away with a 22-17 victory.
In Friday’s first game Emerson faced #1 seed Steiner School, and stayed close through 3 quarters, before the Stars had a huge 4th period to earn the 39-16 win. Second seed Ann Arbor Christian held St. Paul to 12 points in the next game, winning convincingly, 20-12.
The Eagles started this off on Saturday, too, this time against Spiritus Sanctus. It took awhile for the girls to get things going, but the defense did the job until the offense got going, and Emerson prevailed, 17-11, eliminating the Saints. St. Paul and Christ The King played next, for the right to face Emerson in the 3rd place game, with St. Paul moving on by virtue of a 20-12 score.
The championship game followed, between Steiner and AACS, and it was all Steiner from the opening tip. Despite only having 6 players on their team, the Stars boasted 3 of the strongest players in the tournament, never seemed to get tired, and always had a competitive team on the floor no matter who was riding the bench. Steiner took the crown with a 36-17 win, and AACS took a well-deserved 2nd place.
Emerson faced St. Paul to finish up the tournament, and after a rather up-and-down game, in which the Eagles led after one quarter 5-2. They fell behind 8-7 at the half, until the Emerson girls started clicking on both ends of the floor. The defense shut out the Crusaders for the entire half, the offense started showing a little life in the 3rd quarter, and then Meera Baghat and Sabine Boutros sliced the opposition to ribbons in the 4th. Meera finished with 13 points, Sabine chipped in 5, and the final score was 22-8. The girls won the 3rd place trophy from the higher seed Crusaders by playing their strongest games of the season in the tournament.
Varsity Wrap-Up (written by Bill Schrock)
The Varisty team won their first game on Thursday and continued to the championship game on Saturday. After a hard-fought game, which they ultimately lost, they came home with the second place trophy. Congratulations all the girls and Coach Sarah Blacksher.
Way to go Lady Emerson Eagles! We’re so proud of your hard work, sportsmanship, and teamwork!
To be lucky, you actually have to be lucky. You can't just say you're lucky with something that you really aren't. The lucky thing that I am going to talk about makes me very happy. It is that I am at a great school that teaches me ...
To be lucky, you actually have to be lucky. You can’t just say you’re lucky with something that you really aren’t. The lucky thing that I am going to talk about makes me very happy. It is that I am at a great school that teaches me fantastic things and makes me MUCH smarter. My favorite thing to learn more about is definitely math. You can do so many things with math. You can talk about it, figure out problems, play math games, and so much more. Another thing that I like learning is U.S. history. I learned a lot more about the Civil Rights Movement and how tough it was for blacks. My favorite thing in U.S. history is the Civil War. I’m still learning about it, but I’ve already learned so much about the great Civil War. Abraham Lincoln is my favorite President of all time. Emerson School is amazing and smart and will change my life.
THANK YOU DREW, YOU MAKE US VERY HAPPY TOO!
Emerson students won prizes for 10 of the 12 cards submitted to the 2013 Nengajo (Japanese New Year cards) Contest—including every first place prize! The annual Nengajo Contest is sponsored by the Japanese Teachers Association of ...
Emerson students won prizes for 10 of the 12 cards submitted to the 2013 Nengajo (Japanese New Year cards) Contest—including every first place prize! The annual Nengajo Contest is sponsored by the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan and Japanese Consulate in Detroit, and only allows schools to submit two cards for each grade level. THANK YOU KAYO AND WAY TO GO EMERSON JAPANESE STUDENTS!
2013 WINNERS
Elementary
Artistic – 1st: Erik Anderson, 2nd: Sydney Friedman
Comical – 1st: Grace Woodruff, 2nd: Shane Roehrig
Original – 1st: Jewel Duncan, 2nd: Brenan Dionne
Middle School
Artistic – 1st: Divya Macha
Comical – 1st: Ian Yi
Original – 1st: Cole Hildenbrandt, 2nd: Graham Boldman
The All-State Band and Orchestra Concert was Jan. 19 at DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids, and Emerson is so proud that Tejal Patel, Hojin Han, Ian Yi, and Jon-Michael Taylor were playing there. More than 2,200 students throughout Michigan ...
The All-State Band and Orchestra Concert was Jan. 19 at DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids, and Emerson is so proud that Tejal Patel, Hojin Han, Ian Yi, and Jon-Michael Taylor were playing there. More than 2,200 students throughout Michigan auditioned, rehearsing and performing challenging music with guest conductors, and Emerson’s young musicians shined.
Two more Emerson Students performed in the Honors Composition Concert that same afternoon. Anvit Rao performed his piano composition, Through the Ebony Woods, and Cari Bohm performed her piano composition, Busy as a Bee. Anvit and Cari were two of only 20 middle school and high school students selected to play their compositions.
We are so proud to see the hard work of our students pay off. Congratulations talented young Emerson stars!
Congrats to Emerson's Model UN stars! On Feb. 2, 10 middle school students, led by Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher Beth Nazario, traveled to MSU to discuss topics like polio eradication, women's rights, and the ...
Congrats to Emerson’s Model UN stars! On Feb. 2, 10 middle school students, led by Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher Beth Nazario, traveled to MSU to discuss topics like polio eradication, women’s rights, and the Soviet-US space race. Winners from Emerson included Powel Kazanjian (Verbal Award), Alex Drain (Verbal Award), and Ian Greene (Outstanding Delegate Award). WAY TO GO!
For more pictures, visit www.Facebook.com/TheEmersonSchool
On January 24, 2013, in a gymnasium blanketed with American flags and patriotic decorations, dozens of ten- and eleven-year-old Jackie O’s, Obamas, Abe Lincolns, JFKs, Roosevelts, and many other presidents and first ladies, walked down ...
On January 24, 2013, in a gymnasium blanketed with American flags and patriotic decorations, dozens of ten- and eleven-year-old Jackie O’s, Obamas, Abe Lincolns, JFKs, Roosevelts, and many other presidents and first ladies, walked down a red carpet and posed in front of the American flag. These were Emerson School fifth grade students celebrating the beginning of a new presidential term with their own Presidential Inaugural Ball.
As with the actual presidential inauguration, this special event only happens every four years. It is coordinated by Emerson School fifth grade teachers Joyce Gerber and Jen Kime, along with an Inaugural Committee of parents. Ann Arbor Councilmember Jane Lumm served as Master of Ceremonies and Michigan Congressman John Dingell participated via a special video message shared by one of his staff members.
“This is civics, public speaking, study skills, and history—all disguised as a fun ball,” said Gerber, who begins planning this event months in advance. “Students really dive into their president’s character and look forward to presenting in front of a crowd of adults. It’s one of the most exciting things these students will participate in during elementary school.”
Each student shared facts about their president before partaking in traditional Inaugural Ball activities, including a dinner with orchestra accompaniment, dancing of the waltz and minuet, and the singing of patriotic songs. Students also showed off their government knowledge during presidential jeopardy and trivia.
See more photos at www.Facebook.com/TheEmersonSchool
Congratulations to Adriana Hassan (Emerson class of 2010) for receiving the Harold Eastman Outstanding Youth Achievement Award from the Breakfast Optimist Club of Ann Arbor. This prestigious honor is awarded to students who display ...
Congratulations to Adriana Hassan (Emerson class of 2010) for receiving the Harold Eastman Outstanding Youth Achievement Award from the Breakfast Optimist Club of Ann Arbor. This prestigious honor is awarded to students who display exemplary academic achievement, exceptional leadership attributes, commendable community service and demonstrated industry. We’re so proud of you Adriana!
Cross country running requires endurance, athleticism, focus and grit. This year, three Emerson School students displayed these qualities in spades and qualified for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Cross Country National ...
Cross country running requires endurance, athleticism, focus and grit. This year, three Emerson School students displayed these qualities in spades and qualified for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Cross Country National Championships.
Jessie Larson, Will Downey and Mara Mueting each made it through the AAU State Championships, beating out hundreds of other Michigan student athletes. Jessie and Mara then went on to compete against the best in the country at the National Championships, which took place in Rock Hill, S.C. on Dec. 1, 2012 (Will was unable to make the trip). Here runners completed 3K races (about 1.86 miles) and Jessie and Mara were outstanding:
Emerson had a chance to talk with Jessie Larson and find out what it felt like to be the second fastest 12-year-old girl in the country. See her answer in this 40-second video, and congratulations to all of our cross country stars.
Congratulations to Emerson student Sahil Deenadayalu, who raised more than $750 for Ann Arbor Safe House. Sahil used his own money to host a Halloween fundraising event and invited other friends and Emerson School students to attend. ...
Congratulations to Emerson student Sahil Deenadayalu, who raised more than $750 for Ann Arbor Safe House. Sahil used his own money to host a Halloween fundraising event and invited other friends and Emerson School students to attend. Guests were asked to donate to this wonderful community organization that supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assualt.
Emerson School is so proud of Sahil’s community service and generocity. During the 2011-2012 school year, Sahil also helped raise funds for more than 65 new books in the Emerson School Library. His support not only benefits our community, but sets a great example for other students and families. Thank you Sahil!
This article was originally published in the Ann Arbor Journal.
“Helping and caring about others is what makes us human and humane.”
Those are the words that Joyce Gerber lives – and teaches – by. An active and ardent community ...
This article was originally published in the Ann Arbor Journal.
“Helping and caring about others is what makes us human and humane.”
Those are the words that Joyce Gerber lives – and teaches – by. An active and ardent community volunteer for more than 25 years, Joyce inspires Emerson School 5th graders to get involved, reach out, and care about others.
“We stick our necks out for others,” says the class t-shirt with a happy giraffe on the front. That’s for sure. In past years Joyce’s classes have written and received Ann Arbor Community Foundation Youth Grants to do good in the community. On April 12 they will run the 3rd annual Emerson-Red Cross Blood Drive. Each year the class organizes and promotes the event.
Community Heroes & Heroines
Last summer Joyce asked herself a simple question – “Who are the individuals in our community who make large and small changes in peoples lives?” That was the seed that has blossomed into a unique and popular unit for all Emerson 5th graders. With input from her contacts throughout the area, she identified individuals who make a difference, and then invited each of them to the school to tell their story.
It’s an impressive list of heroic visitors:
The 5th graders send thank-you notes to their visitors and on Friday mornings they write in their journals about who was a hero to them the past week. Were they heroes to someone? That’s noteworthy too. Small things count – getting someone’s breakfast, finding someone’s glasses.
Joyce and her husband Steve were honored in 2009 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor for their contributions to the community. She has been an active member of many committees within the organization and has been a Hospice volunteer for over 10 years. She also volunteers at the UM Musical Society, Performance Network, Detroit Opera House, and Purple Rose Theater.
Joyce Gerber, community activist and creative teacher, would be on anyone’s list of Community Heroes and Heroines!
School-Wide Community Service Days Teach the Importance of Volunteering
On Friday, November 2, 2012, nearly 140 Emerson School students, dressed in bright orange Community Service Squad shirts, were volunteering to improve Ann ...
School-Wide Community Service Days Teach the Importance of Volunteering
On Friday, November 2, 2012, nearly 140 Emerson School students, dressed in bright orange Community Service Squad shirts, were volunteering to improve Ann Arbor’s Barton Nature Area (BNA) trails. Guided by Natural Area Preservation leaders, students used plastic snow sleds, wheelbarrows, garbage bags, shovels, pitchforks and rakes to spread truckloads of wood chips along trails throughout BNA. They also removed debris and hand trimmed branches and foliage encroaching on the trails. It was hard but rewarding work, and the experience is helping to create a future of engaged youth who take responsibility for their community.
“Community service projects like this teach our children about the vital role volunteers play in our society,” said Jerry Loewen, head of school at Emerson School. “Middle School is an impressionable time for kids. These experiences really resonate with students and many will become lifelong volunteers as a result.”
For the past three years, Emerson School has made community service a core component of its Middle School experience. Students annually participate in three different Community Service Days, including two off-site excursions and one on school grounds. Most projects partner with local organizations meeting a need that might go unfulfilled without the efforts of citizens with a personal connection.
“Students are realizing their power to impact the world they live in,” said Andy Zimmer, Emerson School social studies teacher and volunteer coordinator. “Each one has the ability to make our community safer, cleaner and healthier, and Community Service Days give them a start.”
The next Community Service Day will take place at Emerson School in February. Students will learn about caring for and taking ownership of their immediate community—their school—by collecting trash, clearing and cleaning recyclables, cleaning fish tanks, washing whiteboards and chalkboards, cleaning computer labs, organizing books in the library and more.
See more photos on Emerson’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/TheEmersonSchool.
Being named a National Merit Scholarship winner is an honor that very few high school seniors can lay claim to. There’s more than $32 million up for grabs and about 1.5 million high school juniors apply, but fewer than 8,300 ...
Being named a National Merit Scholarship winner is an honor that very few high school seniors can lay claim to. There’s more than $32 million up for grabs and about 1.5 million high school juniors apply, but fewer than 8,300 scholarships are ultimately rewarded—a fraction of one percent of the applicant pool.
Of the 2012 National Merit Scholarship winners, 27 came from Washtenaw County schools. More impressively, nearly 20 percent of students attended Emerson School—particularly noteworthy given that Emerson alumni make up less than one percent of seniors in Washtenaw County. Our sincerest congratulations go out to these students from Emerson’s 2008 graduating class:
Semifinalists were recently named for the 2013 competition, and six more Emerson School alumni are among the less than one percent to make the cut. Congratulations to these 2009 Emerson graduates:
These outstanding Emerson alumni continue to earn the esteem of their peers and the entire Emerson family. We’re thrilled to see their years of hard work and passionate learning paying off, and look forward to seeing how high these Eagles will soar.
To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship, visit http://www.nationalmerit.org.
In the open field to the east of the school a new structure is standing proudly – the Emerson Astrodome. It’s a wonder of technology and a testament to community generosity – a good story for sure!
The Astrodome opened to the ...
In the open field to the east of the school a new structure is standing proudly – the Emerson Astrodome. It’s a wonder of technology and a testament to community generosity – a good story for sure!
The Astrodome opened to the cosmos on the Emerson Earth Day Celebration, April 28, 2012. Students and parents viewed the moon, Venus and Mars up close and fabulous, and several local astronomers brought their scopes as well, making it a real celestial celebration.
The dome is able to turn 360 degrees on its axis and can open up to view any section of the sky while shielding the scope from light interference and weather. The 8-inch Meade refracting telescope is mounted on a concrete pier sunk into the ground in order to prevent vibration. The scope can be controlled by computer, allowing the operator to find any star or celestial body without having to search the sky manually. It all runs on power from solar panels.
Space science is taking off at Emerson! To encourage even more interest, Tim Wilson, Middle School Science Teacher, will be launching an Astronomy Club, open to all ages.
Emerson thanks our “stars” for making the Astrodome possible. Generous donations from the Hilldebrandt family (solar panel and electrical system) and the Berger family (dome and telescope) are most appreciated. ESPO, Emerson School Parents Organization, donated all of the funds for the construction of the dome. Rolf Wucherer and David Moon gave their appreciable construction expertise and labor to the cause. Thank you everyone!
After all, as Carl Sagan said, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
Each year the National Association of Independent Schools selects approximately 20 teachers who exemplify creativity and innovation in teaching. These teachers inspire academic excellence in the classroom and are respected leaders ...
Each year the National Association of Independent Schools selects approximately 20 teachers who exemplify creativity and innovation in teaching. These teachers inspire academic excellence in the classroom and are respected leaders among their peers. They effectively weave environmental sustainability, globalism, equity and justice and/or use of technology into their classroom teaching.
Andy Zimmer, take a bow! Emerson’s 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator, is a 2011-12 NAIS Teacher of the Future.
Throughout this year Andy has collaborated with other Teachers of the Future across the country, sharing ideas through the NAIS online discussion forum, and creating and posting a demo teaching unit video. Think of him as an Emerson emissary, going forth with new ideas, coming back with others. Listening, adapting, learning, sharing. Our community is richer for his involvement.
The Emerson community applauds Andy’s achievements in our classrooms and beyond. Educational innovation. Inspirational teaching. Professional collaboration. Creativity. Take another bow, Teacher of the Future!
For several weeks now, a group of 5th - 8th graders has been teaching 11 senior citizens technology skills. Welcome to InterGen Tech, a class offered by the Emerson After School Program.
InterGen class is about new technology and ...
For several weeks now, a group of 5th – 8th graders has been teaching 11 senior citizens technology skills. Welcome to InterGen Tech, a class offered by the Emerson After School Program.
InterGen class is about new technology and “old-fashioned” human connection. It’s about young teaching old, and old teaching young. It’s a very special place to be. Let’s take a look.
Technology creates an awesome moment
Across the miles, a great-grandmother connects with her twin great-granddaughters. It’s the first time they’ve chatted on screen, and the girls share their day’s activities and show their toys. Wow. Everyone is wearing a grin in the InterGen classroom!
Teamwork is critical. We’re all learners here.
Like all good teachers, the Emerson kids share their knowledge with each other. When one reaches an impasse, another is right there to help out. “I love how your students work together,” remarked one senior to teacher Connie Weber.
A new class takes flight
InterGen Tech is new this year. Ready-to-teach Emerson students meet eager-to-learn seniors. It’s intergenerational, inspirational, and fun!
Emerson 6th graders are smart about hearts. They recently completed a unit on adult, child and infant CPR and defibrillator use, mastering those vital skills and achieving certification.
Then things really got interesting! Health ...
Emerson 6th graders are smart about hearts. They recently completed a unit on adult, child and infant CPR and defibrillator use, mastering those vital skills and achieving certification.
Then things really got interesting! Health teacher, Mary Ellen Flaherty shared a dissection of a deer heart, giving the students an opportunity to see the organ most affected by their CPR. A deer heart is large and the anatomy easy to see. Students who wanted to, put on gloves and handled the heart, the blood vessels and valves they had learned about.
It was a day to remember led by an inspirational teacher. An Emerson parent said it best, “I hope their smiles are a little window into the incredible joy and inspiration you pour into them every day!”
Emerson 8th graders in Carol Kelly's Language Arts class had a visitor recently, who shared stories of growing up in Ibo-land, the southern area of Nigeria. Welcome, William Derksen's mother!
She dressed in traditional Nigerian ...
Emerson 8th graders in Carol Kelly’s Language Arts class had a visitor recently, who shared stories of growing up in Ibo-land, the southern area of Nigeria. Welcome, William Derksen’s mother!
She dressed in traditional Nigerian clothing and brought items and photos from her West African homeland.
A focus of her visit was Things Fall Apart, an influential English-language novel, written by Nigerian author Cinua Achebe, published in 1958 and read throughout the world ever since. She helped the class understand the book’s setting and led them in practice pronunciation of places and characters’ names.
West Africa came closer when William’s mother walked through the door. Thank you!
Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each and every day!
The annual Emerson Red Cross Blood Drive, held May 3, was the biggest ever, a true goal-buster with a grand total of ...
Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each and every day!
The annual Emerson Red Cross Blood Drive, held May 3, was the biggest ever, a true goal-buster with a grand total of 34 pints. That’s enough blood to save 102 lives.
Joyce Gerber’s fifth grade class is the driving force behind the Red Cross event each year. It’s a school tradition that connects our community to people in need. The students received appreciation from Red Cross workers and donors alike for a job well done. “I’ve never had so much fun donating blood,” wrote one donor.
The event runs on volunteer power. Joyce and the class extend heartfelt thanks those who donated and all who tried to donate. Kudos to the snack providers and appreciation also to Lenny Dale, Rolf Wurcherer and Bill Schrock, and to parent volunteers, Elizabeth Caswell, Debbie Michaels, and Barbara Hoffman.
To everyone who rolled up their sleeves in one way or another, thank you for making this the best drive ever.
The first annual Emerson Earth Day Celebration stretched from morning to night, an all-day, all-out community event centered at our school and reaching to the skies.
The Emerson Nature Center was a buzz of activity as students, ...
The first annual Emerson Earth Day Celebration stretched from morning to night, an all-day, all-out community event centered at our school and reaching to the skies.
The Emerson Nature Center was a buzz of activity as students, parents and staff wielded shovels, wheelbarrows, clippers and rakes. A mountain of mulch was moved, invasives yanked, the boardwalk repaired, natural habitats enhanced. Pat Petiet’s garden was Roto-tilled as well. Many hands make light work, they say – not to mention fun.
Later in the day there was a solar energy presentation and the Emerson Astrodome was readied for its first ever viewing of the night sky.
By dusk, several University Lowbrow astronomers had set up their scopes, and even though the skies grew cloudy as they grew dark, many students and parents had fantastic views of the moon, Venus, Mars and Saturn.
Seeds were planted – our first annual Earth Day Celebration! Here’s to a thriving future for this special community event.
Tim Wilson, Middle School Science teacher, nurtured the Earth Day Celebration from the beginning, and his leadership and passion brought it to fruition.
Good going, good growing, Tim!
Emerson students have been flexing their science knowledge recently, competing with schools throughout the county and across the state in the Science Olympiads. 120 Emerson students took up the challenge this year, working in teams ...
Emerson students have been flexing their science knowledge recently, competing with schools throughout the county and across the state in the Science Olympiads. 120 Emerson students took up the challenge this year, working in teams and guided by coaches and parent volunteers. Congratulations to each and every participant, from 2nd grade right up to 8th. Special honors go to the volunteers who made it all possible!
A report on the action:
Middle School Science Olympiad
Emerson’s Middle School students earned an 8th place in the state tournament on April 27, competing with students from 47 schools from across Michigan. Led by a dedicated, hardworking and talented group of 8th graders, the Emerson team garnered 7 top-6 medal places. Way to go, team! To see individual honors, go to Emerson Student Accomplishments.
Let’s set the scene:
Design a rocket from a plastic soda bottle, taking into consideration weight, balance, propulsion, recovery, weather, flight strategy, and more. Working together with your team partner, launch it in competition. When it comes to earth after a lengthy flight, you yourself may be floating on a cloud, because maybe, just maybe, you’ve taken first place!
Science, teamwork, excitement – that’s the Science Olympiad. Bottle Rockets, Disease Detectives, Crime Busters, Compute This, Anatomy, Mission Possible, Optics – there are so many ways to get a mental workout. Choose your event!
10th Annual Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad – WESO
90 Emerson students took part in the largest Elementary School Science Olympiad in the country on April 21 at Pioneer High School. Overall, 1621 kids, aka WESO Wizards, competed in 20 events. They put their scientific knowledge to the test identifying bones, designing electrical circuits, explaining sky motions in the planetarium, and much, much more. Our 2nd – 5th graders represented us well! To read more, go to Emerson Student Accomplishments.
Read also: Area Students Show Off Their Knowledge at the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympics, Ann Arbor Journal, 4/27/2012
Emerson fifth graders recently traveled back in time to the 1860's, re-enacting a secret school for slaves. Their serious faces tell the story - the danger of forbidden education vs. the determination to learn.
Secret classes met at ...
Emerson fifth graders recently traveled back in time to the 1860’s, re-enacting a secret school for slaves. Their serious faces tell the story – the danger of forbidden education vs. the determination to learn.
Secret classes met at midnight as the plantation slept. Teachers risked their lives to bring reading and writing to the slaves.
Like those long-ago children, the fifth graders studied Aesop’s Fables, read from a language primer and practiced penmanship. In exploring the historical context of secret schools, they examined the lives of children in the North and South, and learned about the geography of the Civil War. True stories of two brave children, one who traveled to freedom in a box and one who became a Union bugler, won their hearts.
Deb Pulte, substituting for fifth grade teacher Jennifer Kime, brought history to life in the classroom.
"Do we take teasing too far?" was the question Emerson's Students of Culture and Kindness committee posed to their Middle School community recently.
In a morning devoted to discussion, video viewing and small group activites, the ...
“Do we take teasing too far?” was the question Emerson’s Students of Culture and Kindness committee posed to their Middle School community recently.
In a morning devoted to discussion, video viewing and small group activites, the middle schoolers took time to reflect. The entire program was planned and led by the SOCKS committee.
Socks were the fitting symbol of the day – everyone has them, but they are always different! They were hung in the hallways and around the school, with anti-teasing slogans created by the students.
SOCKS is a student subcommittee of Emerson’s Diversity, Multiculturalism, Equity and Justice Committee. It provides a strong student voice in a vital aspect of the school community.
A packet of hand-drawn cards arrived at Emerson recently, the artful and heart-filled expressions of students in Nepal.
Emerson is participating in the Create Peace Project, an international peace initiative that fosters connections ...
A packet of hand-drawn cards arrived at Emerson recently, the artful and heart-filled expressions of students in Nepal.
Emerson is participating in the Create Peace Project, an international peace initiative that fosters connections between students around the world. Our students’ own peace cards have been delivered to Nepal, completing a circle of creative expression, hope, and friendship.
Emerson Librarian, Linda Lakshminarayanan is sharing the Nepal peace cards with 2-5 graders during their library classes. Their impressions about the peace card project will be recorded and shared with Create Peace for a video the organization is creating. Every Emerson student (K-8) will receive a card.
Many thanks to Linda for fostering the Peace Exchange!
Emerson alumnus, Alexander T. Hassan ('08), has been selected as Semi-Finalist for the 2012 US Presidential Scholars Program. Alex is a senior at Huron High School.
Alex is Huron's National Honors Society president and president of ...
Emerson alumnus, Alexander T. Hassan (’08), has been selected as Semi-Finalist for the 2012 US Presidential Scholars Program. Alex is a senior at Huron High School.
Alex is Huron’s National Honors Society president and president of his class’ Executive Board. He has been named both an AP Scholar with honors and National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, and has made finals of state and national mathematics contests. He is Huron’s football quarterback and team captain, and has received a Scholar-Athlete Award Scholarship from the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Active in various volunteer efforts both in his school and community, he is a voting member of Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum board of trustees and heads up the museum’s Youth Empowerment Project.
Alex plans to study study biomedical and biochemical engineering in college.
The entire Emerson community applauds Alex for his leadership, academic accomplishment, and community commitment. He is an inspiration to us all.
About the Presidential Scholars Program
The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the Program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation’s highest honors for high school students.
Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas – academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school and the community – and represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. They are invited to Washington, D.C. in June to participate in National Recognition Weekend which includes many enrichment activities and events and culminates with the presentation to the students of the Presidential Scholars medallion during a ceremony sponsored by the White House.
The Emerson After School Program recently launched a new pilot class connecting eager-to-teach students with ready-to-learn elders. Here's to InterGen Tech, a collaborative intergenerational partnership focused on technology ...
The Emerson After School Program recently launched a new pilot class connecting eager-to-teach students with ready-to-learn elders. Here’s to InterGen Tech, a collaborative intergenerational partnership focused on technology skills.
The first InterGen Tech class was a rollicking success as 5th – 8th graders teamed with 11 senior citizens in one-on-one digital learning sessions.
Cheerful collaboration was the spirit of the afternoon. “My partner let ME do everything,” said one participant. “My partner has extreme patience,” quipped another.
InterGen Tech continues for 7 weeks. Everyone’s eager; there’s so much to learn!
Special thanks to Rose Hacker, Director of After School and Summer Programs; Connie Weber, 5th grade teacher; Renne Durrant, K-8 Technologist; and Jan Walker, Lower School Technology Teacher for creating a very special learning experience for young and old alike.
Kyoto, Japan is a city of magnificent temples and exquisite gardens, halfway around the world from Ann Arbor. On March 26, Kyoto drew closer as 13 students and 3 teachers from Ritsumeikan Junior High School visited Emerson. It was a ...
Kyoto, Japan is a city of magnificent temples and exquisite gardens, halfway around the world from Ann Arbor. On March 26, Kyoto drew closer as 13 students and 3 teachers from Ritsumeikan Junior High School visited Emerson. It was a fine day of cultural exchange and new friendships.
Each visiting student stayed with an Emerson host family and was teamed up with a buddy for the school day. The buddy duos attended classes and lunch together. A performance by Emerson’s 4th and 5th graders was a morning highlight, and in the afternoon our visitors shared a presentation about Kyoto and Japanese culture.
The day ended with a festive farewell party – but it was not goodbye! Emerson students left several days later for Japan. A visit to Ritsumeikan Junior High School and their new friends is a much anticipated part of their itinerary.
Emerson's middle schoolers have a real "thirst for knowledge." Students in the elective class, Outdoor Education, are learning critical skills, such as water use "in the bush." They have identified plants that indicate water is near, ...
Emerson’s middle schoolers have a real “thirst for knowledge.” Students in the elective class, Outdoor Education, are learning critical skills, such as water use “in the bush.” They have identified plants that indicate water is near, built water stills, and treated water with iodine tablets. Recently they found water near the school and purified it by boiling. Mindful of the dangers of the bacteria Giardia, they let it boil for a good ten minutes over a fire they had built themselves.
Next time they’ll learn how to strain that dirty water first, but for now – have a sip! Gulp!
Thank you, Tim Wilson, Middle School Science Teacher, for your hands-on, creative teaching style!
Have you dived into the halls of Emerson lately? It's a 3-D marine marvel; a riot of fish, octopi, sea horses, jellyfish, starfish; a profusion of color and a whole lot of fun. What's going on?!
It's the Coral Reef, of course! ...
Have you dived into the halls of Emerson lately? It’s a 3-D marine marvel; a riot of fish, octopi, sea horses, jellyfish, starfish; a profusion of color and a whole lot of fun. What’s going on?!
It’s the Coral Reef, of course! Ask any Emerson first grade “scientist” about that natural wonder – you’ll get an enthusiatic response. Over the past two months the classes have been busy with an in-depth study of the reef, using science, language arts, math, social studies, art and music in their explorations. The stunning showcase in the school hallways brims with their knowledge, creativity and passion.
Some Coral Reef Learning Opportunities:
As a scientist …
In Social Studies …
As a artist …
With numbers …
With words …
Working together …
Telling the world …
Plan and prepare for a show for parents!
A special thank you to first grade teachers Jill Nolan and Jennifer Conn, and to Jennifer Tanau, art teacher. They worked together to create the fabulous learning experience of the Coral Reef!
Emerson's third graders recently "visited" the Home of the World's Worst Weather - the Weather Observatory at the summit of Mount Washington, NH. Video conferencing brought an Observatory meteorologist right into the classroom for a ...
Emerson’s third graders recently “visited” the Home of the World’s Worst Weather – the Weather Observatory at the summit of Mount Washington, NH. Video conferencing brought an Observatory meteorologist right into the classroom for a memorable scientific exchange. Getting to talk with a weather expert stationed 6,288 feet above sea level in earth’s windiest place – wow!
The students prepared over several weeks for the video conference. They researched atmospheric layers and ozone depletion, and did a simulation to understand the greenhouse effect and climate change. They experimented with temperatures and thermometers, investigated air pressure concepts, and created balloon barometers. Focusing on wind, they constructed ribbon wind vanes, learned about the Beaufort Scale, and charted wind speeds in terms of speed on land. They studied the water cycle, clouds and storms.
Prior to the video conference, they monitored the webcams and weather comments on the Mount Washington web site. The third graders became weather wizards, eager to talk with the scientists and connect their study of weather tools to the real world.
And what a cold and windy world! During their videoconference with the meterologist, they learned that Mount Washington has recorded the highest wind speed on earth. Volunteers go out every hour, 24 hours a day, whatever the weather, to monitor their weather tools. Questions flew back and forth with the meteorologist.
When the video link was disconnected there was only one request from the students – when can we do it again?!
A very warm and sunny thank you to Kathy Salley, Emerson Lower School Science Teacher!
Judith Thompson-Barthwell, Emerson Lower School music teacher, is a 2012 Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Awardee. Touchstone awardees represent the best teachers and advocates in arts education who endow Michigan’s children with a ...
Judith Thompson-Barthwell, Emerson Lower School music teacher, is a 2012 Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Awardee. Touchstone awardees represent the best teachers and advocates in arts education who endow Michigan’s children with a lifelong capacity for innovation.
Recipients have a record of advocacy for arts programs, dedication to bringing out the very best in their students, and a continued commitment to artistic excellence. Judith and 12 co-awardees will be honored at the MYA Festival in May and nominated to serve as Michigan Teacher of the Year.
Students in Sarah Swiss’ third grade gave their voices to dogs, peacocks, statues, and Vikings recently. It was a laugh-filled, tech-savvy learning experience called Blabberize. Ever heard a German Shepherd talk about ...
Students in Sarah Swiss’ third grade gave their voices to dogs, peacocks, statues, and Vikings recently. It was a laugh-filled, tech-savvy learning experience called Blabberize. Ever heard a German Shepherd talk about Germany?
Each student wrote about a country and chose an image to “blabber” it. They read their reports into a microphone, and before they knew it, the image was telling it to the world, or at least to the classroom!
Writing a report and mastering point of view, practicing pronunciation and reading out loud, hearing one’s own voice – how much fun is that?
In classrooms and up and down the halls, in staff offices and around the library, wherever you looked, there they were – readers! Emerson’s All-School Read-In on February 16 was a quiet time dedicated to the wonderful world of words. ...
In classrooms and up and down the halls, in staff offices and around the library, wherever you looked, there they were – readers! Emerson’s All-School Read-In on February 16 was a quiet time dedicated to the wonderful world of words. Students, staff, parents and visitors got into the spirit.
For this event Librarian, Linda Lakshminarayanan, put together an extensive and varied collection of books by African American authors, making a special foray to Nicola’s Bookshop to keep up with demand.
Thanks Linda, for all that you do at Emerson!
On Happy Hatch Day, Sue Addy’s 4th graders release the Monarch butterflies they have carefully monitored from eggs to larvae, pupae to adults. Off they fly. It’s a perfect metaphor – 4th grade itself is all about transition and ...
On Happy Hatch Day, Sue Addy’s 4th graders release the Monarch butterflies they have carefully monitored from eggs to larvae, pupae to adults. Off they fly. It’s a perfect metaphor – 4th grade itself is all about transition and transformation.
4th grade is a leap year for individuality and friendships, academics and responsibility. Teachers Sue Addy, Rob Bauman, and Marchell Burgess create unique learning experiences that tap into their students’ growing sense of the real world and their place in it. See what we mean…
Marchell has a classroom of travel bugs! Their natural curiosity is at the heart of a unit called “Where in the World” that Marchell has tailor-made just for them. Traveling parents anonymously submit geographic coordinates of their locations and students track them on a map. Using Google Earth, the fourth graders “fly” anywhere in the world viewing satellite images, interactive maps, terrain and buildings. Soon, the class will watch video clips of unidentified places submitted by a parent, and will work together to identify the locale. Where will their travel interest take them next?
In Rob’s classroom, students journey into the past, exploring their personal family histories. They research yesterday’s historical facts with today’s online genealogical tools, and plan and chronicle interviews with family members. Their research sheds light on our interesting and diverse cultures, and underscores themes of migration. The unit ends with awesome creative energy and distinct family pride – personal history albums, destined to be family “best sellers” for all time.
Sue has a passion for science and she’s passing it on! Her classroom participates in Monarch Watch, a cooperative network of students, teachers, volunteers and researchers dedicated to the study of the Monarch butterfly. It’s real world, hands-on learning. Starting with eggs they’ve found in local milkweed, the students rear the Monarchs through their fascinating life stages, observing and recording. After the hatch, they tag each butterfly’s hindwing with an encrypted message on a tiny sticker and send data to Monarch Watch. Migration is tracked on a scaled map in the classroom.
In fourth grade, students begin to fly on their own. Marchell, Rob and Sue are their creative guides and ardent supporters.
Judy Thompson-Barthwell, Emerson Lower School music teacher, has been named 2012 Music Educator of the Year by the Michigan Music Educators Association. The award recognizes Judy’s contributions and commitment to the profession and to ...
Judy Thompson-Barthwell, Emerson Lower School music teacher, has been named 2012 Music Educator of the Year by the Michigan Music Educators Association. The award recognizes Judy’s contributions and commitment to the profession and to the classroom. The MMEA describes her as the “consummate educator” who has never stopped being a student herself.
Judy assisted the Board of Professional Teaching Standards to ensure that certification and testing reflect necessary benchmarks of music education. She is active in MMEA, coordinating Summer Workshops, and in the National Association for Music Education. An accomplished Orffclinician in demand at sites across the country, she works with the national Orff-Schulwerk Association and its Detroit chapter. She spent a year studying in Salzburg, Austria, and in June she will be teaching a course to other music teachers in Orff pedagogy.
Emerson sings her praises. Judy’s passion for music, her warmth and wit, and her creative energy animate her classroom. Students of all levels of skill, talent and experience find confidence and motivation in the learning environment she creates. Judy has taught at the school for ten years.
A standing ovation for Judy! The Emerson community applauds your wonderful work!
What’s new at Emerson? From playground to classroom to boardroom, there’s always something! At an evening get-together with parents on January 18, Head of School, Jerry Loewen got the conversation in gear, sharing school news, ...
What’s new at Emerson? From playground to classroom to boardroom, there’s always something! At an evening get-together with parents on January 18, Head of School, Jerry Loewen got the conversation in gear, sharing school news, listening to parents’ experiences, fielding questions. Continual communication is an Emerson essential.
Topics of the evening included Emerson’s ISACS re-accreditation progress, a sneak peek at a virtual tour of the school, financial aid, auction, admissions, faculty, U of M School of Education interns, local high school visits and much more.
The evening ended on a high note of “Edutainment.” In a unique presentation of art and original music called Fusion: Uniquely Detroit,a group of very talented artists showed how creativity and observation work in tandem. Inspiration is everywhere. Photographer Don Jones, composer James Hartway, and music performers Marian Tanau, Una O’Riordan, and Rob Conway found inspiration in a cityscape – and shared it with us all.
Fusion was back by popular demand. The group visited Emerson 4th – 8th graders in November. Read more.
Emerson applauds our awesome alumni. Following their passions and honing their talents, they are inspirations to all of us. Just a small sample of alumni in action...
Laura Chambers serves in the Peace Corps in a remote area of ...
Emerson applauds our awesome alumni. Following their passions and honing their talents, they are inspirations to all of us. Just a small sample of alumni in action…
Laura Chambers serves in the Peace Corps in a remote area of Peru, working to improve nutrition and health. She chronicles her life in her blog, LCFlips in Peru.
Andy Johnson, a student at Cornell, likes birds – finding, listening, watching, photographing, drawing, and writing about them. He is currently traveling in Chile, which he features in his blog,Birding Et Cetera.
Shelley Savant is the “den mother” of local music. She works at Encore Recordings and co-hosts WCBN-FM’s long-running “Local Music Show” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, 88.3-FM). She books local talent in venues all around Ann Arbor, plays in various bands, and even has own label, Ginkgo Records.
Sharon Fox recently defended her dissertation at Harvard Medical School and MIT Health Sciences and Technology. She has been using imaging methods to identify patterns of brain responses in infants at high risk for developing autism. Her sister, Michelle Fox, is doing her residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in internal medicine.
Maggie Halloran was the first Skyline High School athlete to sign a Division 1 letter of intent. She will be playing volleyball at Michigan State University.
Read about many more alumni. And join us in saying, “Well done! You make a difference and make us proud.”
Aaron Dworkin is inspiration personified, and on December 13th he came to Emerson to share his story with 5th graders as part of their "hero" unit. Each month they listen to a person who makes a difference in the community.
Mr. ...
Aaron Dworkin is inspiration personified, and on December 13th he came to Emerson to share his story with 5th graders as part of their “hero” unit. Each month they listen to a person who makes a difference in the community.
Mr. Dworkin is a founder of the Sphinx Orchestra and a Presidential appointee to the National Council of the Arts.
Let’s turn our report over to Emerson students, Lukas Jonsson, Grace Carvette, and Samir Hafez…
Aaron Dworkin was born in New York and was adopted by a white family and he is African American, so he sometimes felt different as a child. He was raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania. His interest in music was sparked by his mother who loved to play the violin. When he started to play the violin he loved to practice, but around the age of 12 or 13 he said he hated to practice. Then his parents would force him to practice. He said that is what made him very good at the violin.
Mr. Dworkin was a violinist. But not just any violinist. He was the string musician who started the Sphinx Orchestra, an orchestra for people who don’t have enough money to play in a normal group. What inspired Mr. Dworkin to start the organization was when he came to the University of Michigan he noticed that not many Hispanics and African Americans played classical music. Mr. Dworkin was appointed by President Obama to the National Council of the Arts. This gives him the opportunity to promote music education.
Mr. Dworkin brought his son Noah to Emerson on Wednesday. Noah helped read his father’s picture book “The First Adventure of Chilly Pepperz” which is based upon Noah. We were all happy to have Mr. Dworkin and Noah visit, and they were very interesting. He is a kind and generous person. He is truly amazing.
Read more about the 5th grade “Heroes and Heroines”
A story of a boy and the 1930's Great Depression hit a sweet, modern note recently as two jazz musicians visited Jennifer Kime's 5th grade classroom. Special thanks goes to student Emma Throm who read Bud, Not Buddy, as part of a ...
A story of a boy and the 1930’s Great Depression hit a sweet, modern note recently as two jazz musicians visited Jennifer Kime’s 5th grade classroom. Special thanks goes to student Emma Throm who read Bud, Not Buddy, as part of a novel study. Fascinated by the use of jazz music in the storyline, Emma arranged for her father, Peter (bass guitar), and Warren Widmayer (tenor saxophone) to come to class.
The jazzmen discussed the origins of jazz, the development of instruments, and, best of all, played a few tunes.
Thanks to all who took part in the improvizational, inspirational session. Bud, Not Buddy is now a must-read for several 5th graders.
Bud, Not Buddy is a 1999 children’s novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. The book is the winner of the 2000 Newbery Medalfor excellence in American children’s literature, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award that is given in recognition of outstanding African-American authors.
Carol Kelly's 8th grade Language Arts class closed out the term with group video projects, in which they planned and created three-minute movies on topics of their choice. And what topics they were - spoofs of commercials, holiday ...
Carol Kelly’s 8th grade Language Arts class closed out the term with group video projects, in which they planned and created three-minute movies on topics of their choice. And what topics they were – spoofs of commercials, holiday themes, edits of YouTube cartoons, and planking* all around Emerson! Clever, amusing, and fun.
The story behind the video stories was communication – working effectively in small groups and presenting ideas in visual format. Take a bow, Carol, for a crowd-pleasing, applause-worthy learning experience.
* What is planking, you ask? Lie face down, hands at side, in an unusual or incongruous location – now you’re planking!
Over two days, through six class periods, the points and counterpoints resounded as Emerson science students argued environmental issues. Resolved: US nuclear power plants should be doubled. China's one family - one child policy ...
Over two days, through six class periods, the points and counterpoints resounded as Emerson science students argued environmental issues. Resolved: US nuclear power plants should be doubled. China’s one family – one child policy should be continued. Michigan deer hunting and Pacific Northwest logging should be banned. Welcome to the Eighth Grade Great Environmental Debates!
Students selected topics and teams, and followed debating rules of conduct to ardently argue the affirmative or negative position.
Take a bow at the podium, science teacher Michael Wilson, for a lively learning experience!
Artistic inspiration is everywhere - in the sound of a truck or the sight of a city. That's the message behind Fusion performances.
Fusion brought their unique audio-visual presentation to Emerson recently, exploring the creative ...
Artistic inspiration is everywhere – in the sound of a truck or the sight of a city. That’s the message behind Fusion performances.
Fusion brought their unique audio-visual presentation to Emerson recently, exploring the creative process with 4th – 8th graders. Don Jones showed his photographs of Detroit and Ann Arbor. Composer James Hartway discussed the creative process behind his City Scape Sketches. A trio of musicians brought the piece to life with cello, piano and violin. Fusion!
The visit from Fusion was sponsored by the Michigan Arts Council and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. It was funded in part through Meet the Composers MetLife Creative Connections Program.
Fusion will return to Emerson in January for a community presentation.
Old sewing machines, slide projectors, a record turntable, video camera, and typewriter took on new - and creative - life at the hands of Emerson students recently. The Inventors Club sponsored a "Found Art" Design Contest and the ...
Old sewing machines, slide projectors, a record turntable, video camera, and typewriter took on new – and creative – life at the hands of Emerson students recently. The Inventors Club sponsored a “Found Art” Design Contest and the submissions were arty and amusing. How about Dalek Helmet, iNoWork Camera, the Balomatic, and A Small Design Flaw?
Students began this project by selecting an old piece of equipment from an assortment found at the Ann Arbor Recycle Center. Machines were taken apart, interesting or useful pieces saved. Then came the challenge – create a piece of art using only the parts from the original machine. Faculty voted for their favorites.
Michael Wilson, Emerson 8th grade Science teacher, “invented” this cool elective. Thumbs up for creativity all around!
Cuddly and colorful blankets are on their way to the University of Michigan Cancer Center, thanks to Emerson's Girls on the Run program. Special appreciation goes to our 3rd - 5th grade blanket-makers for their community spirit and ...
Cuddly and colorful blankets are on their way to the University of Michigan Cancer Center, thanks to Emerson’s Girls on the Run program. Special appreciation goes to our 3rd – 5th grade blanket-makers for their community spirit and service.
Emerson’s Girls on the Run program is coordinated by Colleen Killen, Director of Business Operations, and Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson’s Librarian. They give their time, energy and enthusiasm to the group. Thank you!
It merits a very special circle on the calendar - Emerson's annual Grandfriends Day, right before Thanksgiving break. Everyone looks forward to it!
Emerson was a bustle of activity on November 22, as students and their grandparents ...
It merits a very special circle on the calendar – Emerson’s annual Grandfriends Day, right before Thanksgiving break. Everyone looks forward to it!
Emerson was a bustle of activity on November 22, as students and their grandparents and grandfriends hit the hallways and explored the classrooms. Interactive tours and scavenger hunts, sing-alongs, dancing and a middle school “Coffee Talk” were part of the afternoon.
After the event, students and grandfriends headed into the Thanksgiving weekend. Sharing with other generations is something to be thankful for indeed.
Walk, trot, run. There was something for everyone at Emerson's annual Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Walk on November 21. The whole school turned out to stretch their ...
Walk, trot, run. There was something for everyone at Emerson’s annual Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Walk on November 21. The whole school turned out to stretch their legs!
History walked the halls of Emerson last week. Woodrow Wilson, John D. Rockefeller, Hirohito, and other well-known 20th century figures were spotted. Did you see Milton Hershey and his box of chocolates?
Seventh graders recently ...
History walked the halls of Emerson last week. Woodrow Wilson, John D. Rockefeller, Hirohito, and other well-known 20th century figures were spotted. Did you see Milton Hershey and his box of chocolates?
Seventh graders recently completed the Emerging America social studies project in which each student researched a person from the 1900’s. Over the course of weeks, the students “became” their historical figure, striving to understand the work, beliefs, and impact of this singular individual.
The project ended with a job search for a modern day position. Each student prepared a cover letter, resume and appropriate dress, and met with a school administrator for an interview.
“Tell me about your experience and how it qualifies you for a Harvard professorship in jurisprudence,” asked the interviewer. “Woodrow Wilson” answered with poise, detail – and a smile that history can be so fun.
Kenneth Oppel's latest book , The Dark Endeavor, is about a secret room of ancient tomes with strange language and forbidden knowledge - the Dark Library! The EMERSON Library, on the other hand, is an up-to-date and inviting place, ...
Kenneth Oppel’s latest book , The Dark Endeavor, is about a secret room of ancient tomes with strange language and forbidden knowledge – the Dark Library! The EMERSON Library, on the other hand, is an up-to-date and inviting place, and on Friday, November 16, it was a scene of delight and fascination. Oppel, a prize-winning author and captivating speaker, came to visit with the school’s 4th-8th graders.
Afterwards, students snapped up Oppel’s books and Emerson’s hallways buzzed with talk about his visit. Many thanks to Nicola’s Books for making this extra-special event possible.
Kenneth Oppel has won many awards, including the Governor General’s Award for children’s literature, the Michael L. Prinze Honor Book Award from the American Library Association, the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children, as well as their Young Adult Award. Read more about him.
After developing and planning service projects in the community, Emerson middle schoolers got to work on Friday morning, November 11. Raking leaves in a residential yard, working on trail maintenance at Miller Park, decorating cakes ...
After developing and planning service projects in the community, Emerson middle schoolers got to work on Friday morning, November 11. Raking leaves in a residential yard, working on trail maintenance at Miller Park, decorating cakes with seniors at The Oaks – there were plenty of good deeds to be done!
Middle School Community Service Days are part of the school’s Service Learning Curriculum. Students learn about non-profit organizations and volunteer time and effort to the good work these organizations do. Contacts come primarily through the Ann Arbor YMCA’s Youth Volunteer Corps.
This was the first Middle School Community Service Day of the year. Good work, everyone!
This week 43 packages of goodies made their way to former Emerson middle schoolers in colleges throughout the country and in Montreal and Marrakesh. The Alumni Care Packages with Emerson coffee mug and bag, school supplies and treats ...
This week 43 packages of goodies made their way to former Emerson middle schoolers in colleges throughout the country and in Montreal and Marrakesh. The Alumni Care Packages with Emerson coffee mug and bag, school supplies and treats to eat, are sent to students who have just finished high school. Each box is a message of congratulations and connection from the Emerson School community.
This is the 8th annual Emerson Care Package campaign and this year destinations included Stanford University, Michigan State, Dartmouth, Smith College, Georgetown University, University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, Notre Dame, American University, The Center for Language and Culture in Marrakesh, Morocco, and McGill University in Montreal.
Many thanks to Deborah Hodges, Middle School Office Manager, and Jorie Clark, Head of Alumni Relations.
Roman Magistrate Victoria was a splendid sight in scale armor and helmet, red plume catching the breeze. To the school yard she marched, togaed citizens at her side. Latin Naming Day was upon them at last - a great day to be a ...
Roman Magistrate Victoria was a splendid sight in scale armor and helmet, red plume catching the breeze. To the school yard she marched, togaed citizens at her side. Latin Naming Day was upon them at last – a great day to be a seventh grader!
Calling upon the gods, the magistrate laid her hands upon each citizen one by one, and with joyful pomp, proclaimed three Latin names. A trumpet sounded, the citizens laughed, Latin lives and thrives.
A triumph of teaching in Victoria Rondeau’s class!
At left, Red, Siberian Husky, stands in as chariot for a Roman “soldier”.
Lalitha Shastri, a consultant on equity and justice in independent schools spent two days at Emerson recently. Hers is an insightful new voice in an ever-continuing exploration within our school commmunity. What do we value? How are ...
Lalitha Shastri, a consultant on equity and justice in independent schools spent two days at Emerson recently. Hers is an insightful new voice in an ever-continuing exploration within our school commmunity. What do we value? How are we doing in equity and justice? These are questions we always want to be asking ourselves.
Lalitha visited classrooms and chatted with faculty, staff, and students. Meeting with the Diversity / Multi-culturalism / Equity / Social Justice Committee for the ISACS self-study, she asked good questions and offered encouragement and ideas.
Lalitha shared her thoughts that Emerson has all the most critical components of a school dedicated to DMEJ values: safety, good citizenship, trust, a strong sense of community. She will follow up her visit with ideas and recommendations as we continue to more forward.
On November 4th, at the ISACS Annual Conference, Lalitha will share aspects of her Emerson experience with the participants in Andy Zimmer’s session: “Interrupting Injustice: Promoting Solidarity in Middle School.”
Students stirred up a new batch of friends at Emerson's first "Mix-It-Up Lunch" Day.
Take all students, grades 3-8. Mix them up in small groups of all different grades, add popsicle stick conversation starters, and some wacky ...
Students stirred up a new batch of friends at Emerson’s first “Mix-It-Up Lunch” Day.
Take all students, grades 3-8. Mix them up in small groups of all different grades, add popsicle stick conversation starters, and some wacky clothes. Eat, laugh, enjoy – the perfect recipe for getting to know someone new.
5 stars for this mix-it-up stew of community spirit.
October 13, 2011
Emerson’s Girls on the Run are off to good start this season, aiming for a 5K event in November. You might see the girls, grades 3-5, working out on the athletic field where they gather twice a week after ...
October 13, 2011
Emerson’s Girls on the Run are off to good start this season, aiming for a 5K event in November. You might see the girls, grades 3-5, working out on the athletic field where they gather twice a week after school.
Look closer – the Girls on the Run program is about much more than running. The goal is to put preteen girls on a life-long path to healthy lifestyles, teamwork and self-respect.
Special appreciation goes to coaches Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson’s Librarian, and Colleen Killen, Director of Business Operations, who give their time, energy and enthusiasm.
Watch the girls go, every one of them!
How do you make a shelter in the woods? What do you need to make a fire? Do wild berries taste good, and how about that pure spring water? Emerson 5th graders have the answers!
Recently the students packed up and took off to ...
How do you make a shelter in the woods? What do you need to make a fire? Do wild berries taste good, and how about that pure spring water? Emerson 5th graders have the answers!
Recently the students packed up and took off to Camp Storer in Jackson for a couple of days of fun-filled exploration and hands-on learning. There was activity aplenty, with hiking, square dancing, arts and crafts, and an Underground Railway simulation.
And what was best of all? Building teamwork skills and “knitting” friendships old and new.
The 5th graders are ready for a new year!
Emerson faculty and staff used the year's first in-service day for a community cause, packaging food items at Food Gatherers. This is the second year of this service project for ...
Emerson faculty and staff used the year’s first in-service day for a community cause, packaging food items at Food Gatherers. This is the second year of this service project for teachers and staff.
In partnership with 164 non-profit agencies and programs in Washtenaw County, Food Gatherers collects and distributes 5 million pounds of food a year to our neediest neighbors.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for... the sheer fun of an ice cream social! It's a sweet Emerson tradition that starts the new ...
I scream, you scream, we all scream for… the sheer fun of an ice cream social! It’s a sweet Emerson tradition that starts the new year.
"Welcome, Welcome," sing the 8th graders as they circle around the gym. "Welcome, Welcome," sing the 7th graders as they join them. On it goes until everyone is singing and circling on the first day of school.
Welcome ...
“Welcome, Welcome,” sing the 8th graders as they circle around the gym. “Welcome, Welcome,” sing the 7th graders as they join them. On it goes until everyone is singing and circling on the first day of school.
Welcome back!
In their first week of school, Emerson kindergarteners stopped by Jerry Loewen's office. The Head of School had a cheery welcome and friendly handshake for each visitor, and gave them a super-important message. "This is your new ...
In their first week of school, Emerson kindergarteners stopped by Jerry Loewen’s office. The Head of School had a cheery welcome and friendly handshake for each visitor, and gave them a super-important message. “This is your new school and we’re all very happy you’re here!”
Take 6 teachers. Give them 2 days. Set them to work with the best practices in teaching K-2 writing, with oodles of opportunities to brainstorm and bond.
Emerson, meet our K-2 writing workshop wizards, our own Sigrid Bower, ...
Take 6 teachers. Give them 2 days. Set them to work with the best practices in teaching K-2 writing, with oodles of opportunities to brainstorm and bond.
Emerson, meet our K-2 writing workshop wizards, our own Sigrid Bower, Marcia Keys, Jill Nolan, Jennifer Conn, Barb Grabbe, and Ruth Wilson
In July the six teachers attended a professional development workshop, Writing Write From the Start: The Primary Workshop in Asheville, NC. The workshop is by Heinemann, a nationally distinguished provider of professional books and resources for teachers. Ask the Emerson attendees to describe the experience and you’ll hear some powerful adjectives — “phenomenal,” “fantastic,” “inspirational.”
Whether taking on an entirely new writing program, or tweaking an existing one, each teacher is committed to a goal: “Help kids do bigger work and develop stamina for writing.” Understanding composition, decision-making, genre, purpose and audience are key components. Students will learn to “read like writers and write like writers,” by using mentor texts.
The workshop was a golden opportunity for collaborative thinking and planning. In a new initiative, Emerson K-2 students will all be “making books” this year.
Maybe the best story around is the energy, expertise and teamwork their teachers bring to the classroom.
The Education Project is asking the community to equip local homeless students with the tools they need to be successful in school. Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at Emerson ...
The Education Project is asking the community to equip local homeless students with the tools they need to be successful in school. Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at Emerson School.
It was super hot - and wet and sudsy - last week as Lenny Dale's 7th grade advisory class held a car wash for Ann Arbor Active Against ALS. The soaping-rinsing-wiping crew had help from several other middle schoolers, and when ...
It was super hot – and wet and sudsy – last week as Lenny Dale’s 7th grade advisory class held a car wash for Ann Arbor Active Against ALS. The soaping-rinsing-wiping crew had help from several other middle schoolers, and when they laid down their hoses the group had raised over $470.
Ann Arbor Active Against ALS is a local non-profit that raises funds for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) research. 100% of the money Emerson raised will be donated to research labs at the end of this month. There is no effective treatment or cure for ALS, and awareness and funds for research are critical.
Emerson middle schoolers and faculty moved out of their classrooms and into the community on June 3, rolling up their sleeves for several local service agencies. A full day was devoted to learning about the organizations and ...
Emerson middle schoolers and faculty moved out of their classrooms and into the community on June 3, rolling up their sleeves for several local service agencies. A full day was devoted to learning about the organizations and volunteering time and effort to the good work these organizations do.
Emerson’s Middle School Community Service Day was organized with the assistance of the Youth Volunteer Corps. Eight agencies were involved: Natural Area Preservation (Dolph Park), Growing Hope (Ypsilanti), Avalon Housing, Huron Woods (St. Joseph Mercy Health), The Oaks, VA Medical Center, SASHA Farm (Manchester), and Peace Neighborhood Center.
Civic engagement and responsibility to a wider world are important values of the Emerson community. Our middle schoolers make us proud.
Do you NEED a Skittles Machine or a device to dispense a dog treat? Maybe not. But they sure are clever and amusing!
On May 21, several Emerson students displayed their Goldberg Gadget Science Fair projects at Ann Arbor's ...
Do you NEED a Skittles Machine or a device to dispense a dog treat? Maybe not. But they sure are clever and amusing!
On May 21, several Emerson students displayed their Goldberg Gadget Science Fair projects at Ann Arbor’s annual TechTwilight. “TechTwilight is a science fair for adults that provides local companies the opportunity to show off their inventions and innovations to their families and their community,” said Mel Drumm, executive director of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, where the event was held.
Fun was the order of the evening and Emerson’s Goldberg Gadgets – deliberately over-engineered devices that perform very simple tasks – were amusing counterpoints to complex fuel cell, video games and interactive technologies. Want to turn on a light or press a button? Emerson’s got an ingenious answer!
The evening included interactive displays, live entertainment, music, food, and family activities including a museum-wide scavenger hunt and hands-on workshops. For the tech leaders of today – and tomorrow – it was an evening to spark the imagination.
Read more about TechTwilight in this article that appeared in the Heritage newspaper:
“Children from across Washtenaw County learn about innovation at Ann Arbor Hands On Museum,”June 16, 2011.
Write a fairy tale in 100 words. Read and discuss opening passages of several of America's best-loved children's classics. Use touch, smell, hearing, and taste as inspiration to reach beyond the obvious in creating a descriptive ...
Write a fairy tale in 100 words. Read and discuss opening passages of several of America’s best-loved children’s classics. Use touch, smell, hearing, and taste as inspiration to reach beyond the obvious in creating a descriptive paragraph. Write or read anything you enjoy!
Such were the daily activities recently as Emerson’s 7th graders took a week to explore the joy of reading and writing. No grades, no judgements, just word interaction in creative, fun ways. Hats off to teacher, Carol Kelly, for these five unique days of exploration and expression.
What was the final word on the week? Reading is everywhere – enjoy it wherever you find it! There’s a wide world of reading and writing out there – explore your choices!
Dice were rolling, cards were flashing, and there was plenty of good-natured competition, all for a good cause on Friday evening, May 16. Kit Bennett's 6th grade advisory class held a Game Night mini-fundraiser for ...
Dice were rolling, cards were flashing, and there was plenty of good-natured competition, all for a good cause on Friday evening, May 16. Kit Bennett’s 6th grade advisory class held a Game Night mini-fundraiser for Japan.
The evening’s festivities brought in $100. Good play!
It's a feast of sights, sounds, and flavors when Emerson gathers to celebrate the multi-cultures of its community. This year Passport to the World was held on April 29, and with 32 country-sponsors, it was an exceptional event of ...
It’s a feast of sights, sounds, and flavors when Emerson gathers to celebrate the multi-cultures of its community. This year Passport to the World was held on April 29, and with 32 country-sponsors, it was an exceptional event of appreciation, understanding, and fun!
Don’t miss the Passport to the World Video! Click here!
And multi-thanks to everyone for making this such a special celebration.
Flocks of flying penguins (really?) were spotted at Emerson today, and they carried a special message - 21 days until first grade graduation!
The school's first graders are in the midst of an alphabet countdown to the end of ...
Flocks of flying penguins (really?) were spotted at Emerson today, and they carried a special message – 21 days until first grade graduation!
The school’s first graders are in the midst of an alphabet countdown to the end of the school year. Today was “F” for Flying Penguins, and the classes celebrated by making penguin kites and launching them in the spring wind.
Yesterday was “E” for Extra Long Recess. What will tomorrow bring? That’s a great question for every first grader.
Thanks to Kurt Skifstad, parent and Emerson Trustee, who helped out with all the flying penguin fun.
Emerson's Middle School Science Olympiad team took the school to new levels of accomplishment and recognition on April 30 as they competed in the Michigan State Science Olympiad Finals at MSU, earning the Best New Team award. Fist ...
Emerson’s Middle School Science Olympiad team took the school to new levels of accomplishment and recognition on April 30 as they competed in the Michigan State Science Olympiad Finals at MSU, earning the Best New Team award. Fist bumps and high-fives to the entire team for hard work, true collaboration and an extraordinary result.
Congratulations to our teams, competing against 48 middle schools from all over the state:
Junkyard Challenge (4th place)
Battery Buggy (6th place)
Towers (8th place)
Crime Busters (10th place)
Storm the Castle (10th place)
Shock Value (11th place)
Solar System (11th place)
Bottle Rockets (13th place)
Emerson’s overall ranking was 16th. Placing in the top third overall in the school’s first year at State Finals is a tribute to our young scientists. The school community proudly applauds their work, talent and team effort. Thank you also to our devoted parents and coaches!
Student drop-off on Friday morning, May 5, had a winning - and whinnying - surprise. As cars rounded the turn and came down the stretch, WHAT came into view?! Two fine "thoroughbreds" and two beautiful belles waiting to greet ...
Student drop-off on Friday morning, May 5, had a winning – and whinnying – surprise. As cars rounded the turn and came down the stretch, WHAT came into view?! Two fine “thoroughbreds” and two beautiful belles waiting to greet students. Derby Day!
Emerson Head of School, Jerry Loewen, and his staff put on a show in honor of Jerry’s Kentucky background. We think they deserve a horseshoe wreath of roses!
Will Purves, former Emerson teacher and the author of "Fairmont Forever," comes to the school every week to share his writing experience and expertise. His Thursday workshops challenge middle schoolers to find their own voice and ...
Will Purves, former Emerson teacher and the author of “Fairmont Forever,” comes to the school every week to share his writing experience and expertise. His Thursday workshops challenge middle schoolers to find their own voice and imagination.
Let’s talk about Will’s imagination!
Will’s book, “Fairmont Forever,” is about a high school that, because of budget cuts, has been joined by another school… of student ogres, fairies, dryads, and pixies! High school issues take on new heights.
The book is available from Will through Emerson, and also through Amazon.
“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you” is Michigan’s state motto. Emerson 4th and 5th graders might add, “It’s an INTERESTING peninsula too!”
Students in Marchell Burgess’ and Sue Addy’s classes recently transformed ...
“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you” is Michigan’s state motto. Emerson 4th and 5th graders might add, “It’s an INTERESTING peninsula too!”
Students in Marchell Burgess’ and Sue Addy’s classes recently transformed their classrooms and adjoining hallway into the “Michigan Museum.” They researched and created displays on topics such as native plants and trees, fun facts, Lake Huron questions and answers, and endangered species. Opening their doors to the Emerson community, they invited everyone to look about and learn about our great state.
High school is on the horizon for Emerson 8th graders. Everyone has questions, and recently the students got answers and insights from the finest experts around – Emerson alumni.
The Emerson Alumni Panel was organized for the 8th ...
High school is on the horizon for Emerson 8th graders. Everyone has questions, and recently the students got answers and insights from the finest experts around – Emerson alumni.
The Emerson Alumni Panel was organized for the 8th graders by Alex Hassan, now a junior at Huron High. Former students fielded questions on topics from homework loads to class size, locker logistics and making friends. There was advice: get involved in clubs and activities right away. There was assurance: Emerson has prepared them well for advanced level classes. And there was an upbeat vibe of Emerson alumni connection and commitment. Thanks, alums!
Alex Hassan, Adam Psarouthakis (sophomore at Pioneer), Tim Canter (junior at Greenhills), Jennifer Ho (junior at Saline), Catherine Doyle (junior at Fr. Gabriel Richard), and Miles Grofsorean (junior at Community).
The poets surveyed the coffeehouse scene and smiled. Windows were covered with dark paper bedecked with moons, stars and coffee cups, and the lights were low. Jazz played, a full-house audience awaited, strings of tiny lights ...
The poets surveyed the coffeehouse scene and smiled. Windows were covered with dark paper bedecked with moons, stars and coffee cups, and the lights were low. Jazz played, a full-house audience awaited, strings of tiny lights twinkled. This must be the coolest second grade around!
On March 22 second graders in Barb Grabbe’s and Ruth Wilson’s classes celebrated their original poetry with Coffeehouse Day. Parents were the honored invitees. In ones and twos the poets stepped up to the platform and shared their word creations. There were poems of lists, opinions, definition and color, with onomatopoeia, personification, similes, and strong verbs.
Words are fun, writing is art, performing is exciting… and the cookies-and-milk reception at the end of the hour was positively delicious.
“The strong but
gentle feeling of
pink,
It looks so bright
it seems to wink.”
Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) whose zany characters and nonsense rhymes delight all ages?
There was delight indeed on March 2nd as Emerson's middle schoolers celebrated the 107th anniversary of Seuss' birth. In ...
Who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) whose zany characters and nonsense rhymes delight all ages?
There was delight indeed on March 2nd as Emerson’s middle schoolers celebrated the 107th anniversary of Seuss’ birth. In silly hats and Seuss-like hairdos, they volunteered to read to Lower School students. And they rocked the Commons with a birthday celebration for a writer who once said, “I love nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells.”
It was unusually quiet at Emerson on Friday morning, February 18, as students and staff joined over a million peers across the country for the 22nd National African American Read-In. Sponsored by the National Council of ...
It was unusually quiet at Emerson on Friday morning, February 18, as students and staff joined over a million peers across the country for the 22nd National African American Read-In. Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English, the event encourages reading books authored by Black writers.
Thanks to Linda Lakshminarayanan for coordinating the read-in and for rounding up Emerson library resources to make it a great success. A morning of quiet reading can be a roaring sign of approval!
The Plymouth Whalers Hockey team has been playing to sold out crowds recently. This week they made some new fans. Whalers team-mates James Livingston, Dario Trutmann, and Beau Schmitz stopped by Jennifer Kime's third grade classroom to ...
The Plymouth Whalers Hockey team has been playing to sold out crowds recently. This week they made some new fans. Whalers team-mates James Livingston, Dario Trutmann, and Beau Schmitz stopped by Jennifer Kime’s third grade classroom to talk about motivation, dedication and hard work.
The players brought along hockey gear (some to try on!), fielded questions from the students, and wrapped it all up with autographs and photos.
On March 18 Emerson Auction-goers will have an opportunity to bid on a Whalers Hockey Game Outing for 3 students.
Go Whalers!
The Middle School art class is filled with soft music and quiet chatter. Teacher Debbie Lamson circulates, questioning a student here, urging a student there, inspiring one and all.
With self-healing board and X-acto, Dixie cups ...
The Middle School art class is filled with soft music and quiet chatter. Teacher Debbie Lamson circulates, questioning a student here, urging a student there, inspiring one and all.
With self-healing board and X-acto, Dixie cups and shipping tape, each student has constructed an architectural letter. It’s a careful lesson in crafting armature and creating a white, blank surface.
Now to finish with a flourish of painted design and artistic expression! Debbie is the coach, urging the students to go beyond their comfort zone, to try something new, something bigger and bolder. Hadn’t thought of that before? Well, now you have. Didn’t know you could do it? Of course you can!
The students carefully considered the obstacles on the climbing wall as they listened to teacher Lenny Dale explain the format. Work your way from one end of the wall to the other without fouling. Don't knock off a baton or hoop, ...
The students carefully considered the obstacles on the climbing wall as they listened to teacher Lenny Dale explain the format. Work your way from one end of the wall to the other without fouling. Don’t knock off a baton or hoop, touch the “poisonous lava” mats or reach above the “safe line.”
Welcome to the 2011 Rockwall Challenge! You have all of January to figure it out. Good luck!
Over the course of weeks the K-3 students went at the difficult “bouldering problem” with concentration and problem-solving. They tested balance and strength – and perseverance! They found success in the small yet significant gains that they made.
The Rockwall Challenge is notoriously tough. Most climbers do not make it across the wall. As Lenny explains, it isn’t about the destination, but the journey, reaching an improved position along the wall and finding personal satisfaction in that new foot hold. And finding fun too!
For months student teams read books and met with parent coaches for discussion. Now it was time for some book-based fun and games - Book Quest Finale!
The groundwork was done. Each team had created a challenge based on a book and ...
For months student teams read books and met with parent coaches for discussion. Now it was time for some book-based fun and games – Book Quest Finale!
The groundwork was done. Each team had created a challenge based on a book and they were eager to test their crafty creations on the others. Can you hula hoop while reaching for a key that’s almost out of reach, concentrating hard while being very distracted? That was the challenge for “Joey Pigza Swallows the Key,” Jack Gantos’ book about ADHD.
There were challenges for “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craigshead George, “Silverwing” by Kenneth Oppel, and “Chasing Vermeer” by Blue Balliett, all guaranteed to rev up interest and work up an appetite. A potluck of the Book Quest families wrapped up the evening.
Special thanks to the Book Quest parent coaches, Lauren Sargent, Judy Schwab, Heidi Meir, Susan Spoor, Barbara Hoffman, Molly Lanzon, and Thu Kehn, without whom the event would not have been possible. And hats off to Linda Lakshminarayanan, Emerson Librarian.
What makes a community? The classroom buzzed with brainstorming as the second graders, working in small groups, considered the task before them: build your own community. What does it take?
It takes an understanding of urban, ...
What makes a community? The classroom buzzed with brainstorming as the second graders, working in small groups, considered the task before them: build your own community. What does it take?
It takes an understanding of urban, suburban and rural concepts and how they work together. It takes group cooperation and collaboration to plan the community’s features. And it calls for creative energy – how will we use boxes, clay, craft sticks and paper to construct our model?
The young planners, students in Barb Grabbe’s and Ruth Wilson’s classrooms, were delighted with their projects.
Hands-on-learning and collaborative efforts are community at its best!
On January 12 the Emerson School Parent Organization screened "Race to Nowhere," a film documentary that examines the pressure cooker lives of American adolescents. The 2010 documentary by parent and first-time filmmaker, Vicki ...
On January 12 the Emerson School Parent Organization screened “Race to Nowhere,” a film documentary that examines the pressure cooker lives of American adolescents. The 2010 documentary by parent and first-time filmmaker, Vicki Abeles, voices concerns about parental pressure, unrealistic performance standards, teach-to-the-test curricula, and competitive college entrance requirements.
“Race to Nowhere” has started a conversation. Parents and educators across the country are grappling with the issues around our over-stressed, over-scheduled young people.
Head of School Jerry Loewen, describes reaction at Emerson. “Within the building, we are engrossed in conversations about the film and its connections to our own children, our students, and to Emerson’s curriculum and pedagogy… We look forward to sharing our ideas at our next meeting together. Stay tuned on this front.”
Special appreciation to ESPO for sponsoring this important film.
Libraries are true supporters of discovery and sharing throughout the world. That’s the lesson learned by Emerson’s third and fourth graders in a bookmark exchange project with three schools in Croatia.
Did you know that the ...
Libraries are true supporters of discovery and sharing throughout the world. That’s the lesson learned by Emerson’s third and fourth graders in a bookmark exchange project with three schools in Croatia.
Did you know that the necktie and the fountain pen are claimed as creations of Croatia?
Under the guidance of school librarian Linda Lakshminarayanan, students crafted bookmarks telling about our holidays, UM football, state symbols and national history. The bookmarks were sent to schools in Jastrebarskok, Varazdin and Vuka. The students also made Power Point presentations to share with their Croatian counterparts.
Seventh graders joined in the exchange with bookmarks of collages made from magazines.
Colorful bookmarks reflecting the Croatian country and culture are on display in the Emerson Library, gifts of friendship and knowledge from a far-away land.
Emerson's third grade French class explores a captivating historic event.
Teacher Sarah Longcore, writes all about it.
In 1940, four French boys and their dog were playing in the hills surrounding their town of Montignac, when ...
Emerson’s third grade French class explores a captivating historic event.
Teacher Sarah Longcore, writes all about it.
In 1940, four French boys and their dog were playing in the hills surrounding their town of Montignac, when they came upon a tree that had been uprooted by a recent storm. Their dog, Robot, fell into a hole under this tree, and that is how one of the most important art discoveries of the 20th century began.
The wonderful story of the cave paintings of Lascaux, France, entranced the third graders at Emerson. What is so fun about teaching this unit is the students are learning a multitude of academic subjects in French class. They studied the geography of France, the scientific reasons as to why the cave had to be closed to the public, and the history of the cave paintings that were found in this cave. The students learned all of these new ideas in the target language of French, which is no easy task, as their primary language is English.
To complete this unit, students were encouraged to create their own cave of Lascaux. Using brown paper grocery bags and some color pastels, the third graders created their own cave paintings similar to the ones found in Lascaux. We created a cave in the classroom using tables, chairs, and their masterpieces. They entered the “cave” with flashlights and gained a sense of what the discovery would been like for the four boys of Montignac 70 years ago.
Emerson Grandparents and Grandfriends gathered on November 23 for the school's annual generation-spanning celebration of music, sharing and thanksgiving. Grandfriends' Day is a special treat for young and old alike. See for yourself in ...
Emerson Grandparents and Grandfriends gathered on November 23 for the school’s annual generation-spanning celebration of music, sharing and thanksgiving. Grandfriends’ Day is a special treat for young and old alike. See for yourself in these smile-filled photos!
Head of School, Jerry Loewen, studied the curricula vitae and then looked up across his desk. “Impressive resume,” he said. “How does your experience qualify you for this particular position?” Henry Ford, interviewing for a ...
Head of School, Jerry Loewen, studied the curricula vitae and then looked up across his desk. “Impressive resume,” he said. “How does your experience qualify you for this particular position?” Henry Ford, interviewing for a modern-day job, formed his reply with facts and poise. Another interesting day of history at Emerson!
The 7th graders recently completed the Emerging Americaproject in which each student researched a 20th century historical figure. Taking learning to a deeper level, over the course of weeks the students “became” their historical figure, striving to understand the work, beliefs, and impact of this singular person.
The final stage of the project was the job search. The students (as Mohandas Gandhi, John D. Rockefeller, Coco Chanel, Al Capone, among others) prepared with cover letters, resumes, and appropriate dress. They sat before school administrators and put their best historical selves forward.
History with a modern-day twist!
It was a beautiful, clear night on November 11 and over 100 Emerson students and parents gathered to gaze at the spectacle of the sky. Astronomy Night was a sparkling success!
Eight members of the University Low Brow ...
It was a beautiful, clear night on November 11 and over 100 Emerson students and parents gathered to gaze at the spectacle of the sky. Astronomy Night was a sparkling success!
Eight members of the University Low Brow Astronomers visited the school and set up their telescopes, and what delights the heavens yielded – the moon in fantastic detail, Jupiter with four moons visible, the “Ring” nebula, M-13 star cluster, binary stars, and other celestial stars.
Many thanks to Tim Wilson, Emerson Middle School science teacher, for arranging this “stellar” evening.
The more that you read, the more things you will learn.
The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!
~ Dr. Seuss
There were plenty of things to learn and places to go at the 9th annual Emerson Book Fair on Sunday, November 14. ...
The more that you read, the more things you will learn.
The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!
~ Dr. Seuss
There were plenty of things to learn and places to go at the 9th annual Emerson Book Fair on Sunday, November 14. Entertained by the sweet sounds of the school’s band, orchestra, and choir, attendees browsed the display tables and explored teachers’ wish bins. There were face painting and science games, and Bridget McGovern Llewellyn, author of “One Child, One Planet” read from her book. The community event was held at Barnes and Noble.
Students and parents filled their arms with books – for take-home reading and for the school’s classrooms and library as well. The Book Fair is one of Emerson’s popular FUNdraising events. Special thanks to Lorna Hildebrandt and Jessica Krivan, Co-Chairs of the Book Fair, and to their committee of helping hands.
Click here to read more about the Book Fair in A2journal.com
Across the parking lot came a man on a bicycle pulling a ... piano! Anything's possible! And that's just the message Mr. B conveyed as he pedaled toward Emerson's fifth graders.
October 25 was a beautiful day for a parking lot ...
Across the parking lot came a man on a bicycle pulling a … piano! Anything’s possible! And that’s just the message Mr. B conveyed as he pedaled toward Emerson’s fifth graders.
October 25 was a beautiful day for a parking lot piano performance. Blues and boogie-woogie filled the school yard. Emerson’s visitor, Mark Braun, is one of the world’s finest players of a vanishing art form, an Ann Arbor treasure and a world-wide performer. His commitment to arts education and arts scholarships, and his very personal and passionate musical expression hit inspirational chords with audiences everywhere. This summer he biked across Michigan – with his piano – for the second annual Joybox Express Tour. Follow your goals and your dreams!
Mr. B’s visit was part of the fifth graders’ year-long Heroes and Heroines unit. Students in Joyce Gerber’s and Connie Weber’s classes kicked up their heels in appreciation. A little bit of dancin’ in the streets!
Great books enlighten and enchant, spark imagination and deepen understanding. They offer answers even as they pose new questions.
On the evening of October 28, parents, faculty, and Ann Arbor community members gathered in the ...
Great books enlighten and enchant, spark imagination and deepen understanding. They offer answers even as they pose new questions.
On the evening of October 28, parents, faculty, and Ann Arbor community members gathered in the school library to discuss two great books, The Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines. The occasion was Emerson’s first All School Reads, sponsored by the Emerson Diversity Committee. With a distinguished panel drawn from the Emerson community, the group examined the life of African Americans in the 20th century as inspired by issues presented in the books.
Appreciation to our panel for their thoughtful and inspiring contributions:
Magistrate Sidney Barthwell, husband of music teacher Judy Barthwell, Detroit magistrate, graduate of Harvard Law, and lifelong Detroit resident; Sam Thomas, father of seventh grader Mike Thomas, Detroit lawyer and realtor, graduate of Harvard Law, and developer of Grow Town that is helping to revitalize Detroit and other cities while offering opportunities for young people; and Kevin Gaines, father of 8th grader Maceo Gaines, professor of African and Afro-American history at the University of Michigan, and author of several scholarly works.
It was a getting-to-know-you afternoon on October 4th when Rob Bauman's 4th graders visited their senior friends at Brecon Village. Students brought something about themselves to share - like a golf trophy! They taught their new ...
It was a getting-to-know-you afternoon on October 4th when Rob Bauman’s 4th graders visited their senior friends at Brecon Village. Students brought something about themselves to share – like a golf trophy! They taught their new friends the fine points of Multiplication Baseball and Name That Number, games from their Everyday Math Program.
The students and seniors meet monthly and in May there’s a much anticipated talent show. The 4th graders also look forward to interviewing the seniors and using Google Earth to find images of their hometowns. It’s a young-and-old learning street that goes both ways.
Emerson’s Senior Friends program is 10 years “young.” It is part of an all-school initiative, Service Learning, which is committed to creating “service leaders” of the future.
The "examiner" scanned the papers and fired off a question, and then another. The hopeful "immigrant" sat perplexed, not understanding a word spoken to her. With a dash of the pen, a wave of the hand, a decision is made.
Welcome ...
The “examiner” scanned the papers and fired off a question, and then another. The hopeful “immigrant” sat perplexed, not understanding a word spoken to her. With a dash of the pen, a wave of the hand, a decision is made.
Welcome to Ellis Island.
And welcome to Emerson’s 7th grade Social Studies class and a simulation of the immigrant experience. 8th grade “examiners” speak an indecipherable language and judge the qualities of the “immigrants.” The “foreigners” struggle to make themselves understood.
The 7th graders have read “The Arrival”, by Shaun Tan in Language Arts class, and the book, with its invented alphabet and strange new world is the basis of their Social Studies work. Teachers Beth Nazario and Andy Zimmer collaborated on this unique project.
“Examiner” and “immigrant” meet across a table. Who will go? Who will stay? What will the future bring? The classroom is filled with questions.
A field of handcrafted pinwheels bloomed at Emerson on International Peace Day, September 21. They joined millions of pinwheels in schoolyards, parks and roadways around the world, part of the Pinwheels for Peace project. Near and far, ...
A field of handcrafted pinwheels bloomed at Emerson on International Peace Day, September 21. They joined millions of pinwheels in schoolyards, parks and roadways around the world, part of the Pinwheels for Peace project. Near and far, the pinwheels made a visual statement of unity, and whirled a message of hope and harmony, tolerance and cooperation.
Emerson’s celebration was an all-school, all-out event. Lower school students crafted their pinwheels with color and design and words of inspiration. Middle schoolers lent a hand with assembly. Everyone gathered to “plant” the pinwheels and to appreciate the collective effect in their schoolyard and beyond. Peace!
Photos of International Day of Peace at Emerson School
The Emerson School community provided four large boxes of school supplies to the WISD Education Project. The Education Project provides homeless and foster youth with new back to school supplies. The supplies provide a real ...
The Emerson School community provided four large boxes of school supplies to the WISD Education Project. The Education Project provides homeless and foster youth with new back to school supplies. The supplies provide a real self-esteem boost for children in difficult circumstances. Many thanks to all who donated backpacks, calculators, crayons, notebooks, tissue, and more. The WISD Education Project provides services to over 300 children.
Thank you!
For making the new Emerson website a reality.
We are grateful for all you do for the Emerson community!
Thank you!
For making the new Emerson website a reality.
We are grateful for all you do for the Emerson community!
Emerson School is pleased to announce that our After School Enrichment Classes are now available to all K-8 students in the Ann Arbor area! We are eager to share our great classes with the community; please feel free to pass this along ...
Emerson School is pleased to announce that our After School Enrichment Classes are now available to all K-8 students in the Ann Arbor area! We are eager to share our great classes with the community; please feel free to pass this along to your friends. Classes available this session followed by registration details are listed under the Programs Tab on this page (above.)
How did you spend your summer vacation?
Emerson teachers give us some adventurous answers!
Andy Zimmer, 7th Grade Social Studies and Curriculum Coordinator, took a long, high hike to the summit of Mt. Rainier. He and his group ...
How did you spend your summer vacation?
Emerson teachers give us some adventurous answers!
Andy Zimmer, 7th Grade Social Studies and Curriculum Coordinator, took a long, high hike to the summit of Mt. Rainier. He and his group hiked to Camp Muir (10,100 ft) on a Tuesday afternoon, where they set up camp in the snow and relaxed for the rest of the day and then all day on Wednesday.
At 11 pm on Wednesday night, they set off for the summit with headlamps shining. They made it to the summit of Mt. Rainier by sunrise and enjoyed a beautiful breakfast of freeze-dried turkey tetrazzini in the summit crater. Turning around and heading back down, they made it to the car by 5:00 pm, a total hiking time of 17 hours! “Definitely the coolest, but hardest, thing I’ve ever done!”, says Andy.
Victoria Rondeau, 8th grade LA/SS and 6th-8th grade Latin teacher, headed to Rome for a summer of learning. Admitted to the American Academy in Rome Classical Summer School, she studied the ancient city from earliest settlement to the time of Constantine. She visited well-known sites – the Pantheon, Colosseum and Imperial Fora – and explored the hidden ancient city that remains under churches, in restaurant basements and hotel lobbies. Watch Victoria’s video!
Jeri Elie, French teacher, took 4 students, their parents and two college juniors who are Emerson alums to France for 10 lovely days. They hit all the classic Parisian hot spots: the Louvre, Le Musee D’orsay, les Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame de Paris, l’Opera etc. and then left for the provinces. They visited the site of the American landing in Normandy and then traveled on to St. Malo, a walled medieval city on the Atlantic seaboard. A former pirate village, the fortifications are remarkable. They explored a troglodyte village, visited chateaux in the Loire valley, went wine tasting and visited Leonardo da Vinci’s final home. A splendid – and busy! – time was had by all!
Rob Bauman, 4th grade teacher stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies, a camp in beautiful Winter Park, CO. In return for 28 hours a week of volunteer work – mentoring college-age staff and a lot of heavy lifting, he received room and board. In his free time Rob backpacked to the top of the Contential Divide, rode his bike up Berthoud Pass, read, carved four walking sticks, and watched the sun set every evening, his favorite activity!
NPR Story
Ann Arbor - At 8:30 am on Fridays, Emerson 4th graders reach across the world to the Grace Center, a girls’ orphanage in Sri Lanka. Linked via Skype, Rob Bauman's students share music, math and English lessons. Research ...
Ann Arbor – At 8:30 am on Fridays, Emerson 4th graders reach across the world to the Grace Center, a girls’ orphanage in Sri Lanka. Linked via Skype, Rob Bauman’s students share music, math and English lessons. Research about Sri Lanka sparks questions and conversation. There’s been marked improvement in the girls’ English language skills over the course of the year, and the Emerson students have learned Tamil words as well.
The students’ commitment to the orphanage is running strong. They recently ran in the Dexter Ann Arbor 5K, raising funds for their friends in Sri Lanka.
Naresh Gunaratnam, a classroom parent, was born in Sri Lanka and helped found the Grace Center. Special thanks for inspiring this yearlong adventure in worldwide learning!
Ann Arbor - What do you get when you cross a rubber chicken relay with a whipped creamed teacher's face? With feats of fun and a faculty vs middle school soccer match...?
It's Emerson's annual all-school, leaping, laughing ...
Ann Arbor – What do you get when you cross a rubber chicken relay with a whipped creamed teacher’s face? With feats of fun and a faculty vs middle school soccer match…?
It’s Emerson’s annual all-school, leaping, laughing Field Day!
Emerson Fifth Graders "Speak for the Trees"
Ann Arbor - The day blooms sunny and mild and Emerson's fifth graders go to work. They've spent several weeks studying trees and their vital ecological role. Each ...
Ann Arbor – The day blooms sunny and mild and Emerson’s fifth graders go to work. They’ve spent several weeks studying trees and their vital ecological role. Each student adopted one particular tree to photograph, observe and describe. They’ve learned about the history of Arbor Day.
Now it’s time to put shovel to earth and plant several specimens around the campus.
After surveying conditions and testing soil, the students work with Guardian Tree Experts to plant 5 trees and several bushes. Special thanks to Guardian for donating time and expertise, and toGlobal Releaf of Michigan for donating trees.
The students look forward to visiting the new plantings and observing their progress. Special laurels to Kelly Vohland, fourth-fifth grade science teacher, for a fun learning experience!
"Still round the corner there may wait,
A new road or a secret gate".
J.R.R. Tolkien
The USA Campfire Emerson Eagles have built a new gate to the school's Nature Center - and a lasting tribute to a dedicated teacher. ...
“Still round the corner there may wait,
A new road or a secret gate”.
J.R.R. Tolkien
The USA Campfire Emerson Eagles have built a new gate to the school’s Nature Center – and a lasting tribute to a dedicated teacher. The new structure is carved with the inscription, “In Honor of Tim Wilson.”
The tribute to Tim, a Middle School science teacher, was planned by the Eagles and carried out in secret. What fun to surprise a teacher.
What is NO secret however, is the inspiration and commitment that Tim brings to his Emerson students.
4th Graders Celebrate Unusual Milestone
Ann Arbor - The running tally on the black board in Rob Bauman’s 4th grade class tells the story – Rob makes mistakes! And when he makes 100 of them, it’s time for a quick ...
Ann Arbor – The running tally on the black board in Rob Bauman’s 4th grade class tells the story – Rob makes mistakes! And when he makes 100 of them, it’s time for a quick celebration complete with cake and a round of “Happy 100th Mistake To You.” Everybody’s happy.
And everybody’s learning – that in a pressure-to-be-perfect world, luckily no one is; that it’s okay to take risks, try new things, make mistakes; that Rob’s classroom is safe and supportive. And extra points for a bonus benefit: students listen more closely to catch mistakes… and have a party!
There’s a lot to celebrate in Rob’s classroom!
3rd Graders capture the new season in words
Big birds, flying fun,
Flinging crystals in the sky,
Jewels in the air.
The beauty of haiku is precise. 17 moras (syllables) in three brief lines of 5, 7, 5 moras respectively, create ...
Big birds, flying fun,
Flinging crystals in the sky,
Jewels in the air.
The beauty of haiku is precise. 17 moras (syllables) in three brief lines of 5, 7, 5 moras respectively, create an image of nature at once simple and thoughtfully crafted.
Gillian Ferrington’s third graders practice this Japanese form of poetry, learning rules of syllabication while tapping into their boundless interest in nature.
Trees all withered gray.
Sprouting green new buds in Spring.
Cold roots underground.
Dragonflies will swoop
when the season of Spring comes.
Butterflies fly free.
Ann Arbor - All eyes were on the Monarch butterflies as Sue Addy's fifth graders observed them one last time before releasing them into the wild.
Named Danaus plexippus, meaning "sleepy transformation" in Greek, the Monarchs ...
Ann Arbor – All eyes were on the Monarch butterflies as Sue Addy’s fifth graders observed them one last time before releasing them into the wild.
Named Danaus plexippus, meaning “sleepy transformation” in Greek, the Monarchs have changed from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult under the watchful study of the class.
The students are a part of Monarch Watch, a hands-on project spearheaded by the University of Kansas Entomology Program. They tag each butterfly’s hindwing with an encrypted message on a tiny sticker and send data to Monarch Watch. Monarch migration is tracked on a scaled map in the classroom.
Monarchs migrate to Mexico, a journey of almost 2,000 miles. These particular winged beauties carry the best wishes of Emerson’s fifth graders
One thing that matters a lot to me is creativity, and most of my teachers at Emerson acknowledge that. They always come up with a fun way to do an assignment.