78 Students Shine at Lower School Science Olympiad
Every student did well, and 23 teams earned top finishes
+ Read more, including a list of participants and thank you to supporters
Letter from Jerry
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
All School News
Final Week Lunches
No Milk or Main Dish Lunch
Please send a lunch with your child.
Pizza and Popsicles Served on Wednesday
Cheese pizza only. Please pack a lunch if your student would like anything else.
Friday Half Day Dismissal
K at 11:45pm, Grades 1-8 at Noon
No childcare and no busses.
Activities Happening Next Week
+ Additional details for Middle School students
Monday
World Language Soccer Tournament
Tuesday
Middle School Community Service Day
Emerson’s Got Talent
Wednesday
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
Thursday
Awards Ceremony
Middle School Dance
Friday
Graduation Ceremony
$25,000 Annual Fund Challenge: 50 Families to Go
Participation Is What Matters: 65% of Families Needed
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.
Current Giving Level by Grade
K: 65%, 1st: 57%, 2nd: 72%, 3rd: 89%, 4th: 43%, 5th: 50%, 6th: 48%, 7th: 38%,8th: 45%
Easy Ways to Give: Do it Today
- 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
- Mail: Use the invitation reply card you received or print one
Used Book Sale Raises Hundreds for Charity
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.
Emerson C.A.R.E Drive Ends Tuesday
Collecting Enough Items to Help 50 Families
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
Please Pick Up Student Medication by June 12
Middle School News
Summer All-School Read
How I Discovered Poetry, by Marilyn Nelson
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
Middle School Book Buyback
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 for Next Year
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook and workbook)
Social Studies: Creating America
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 1 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
7th Grade Books to Keep for Next Year
Latin: Jenney’s First Year Latin (textbook, workbook and Bantam Latin/English dictionary)
Spanish: Ven Conmigo! Level 2 (textbook, activity book, grammar book)
Community Events
YA’SSOO Greek Festival
June 5 –7 at St. Nicolas Greek Orthodox Church
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