The Harlem Wizards are back in Elmhurst on Saturday, September 30th to entertain the crowd with high-energy exhibition play and audience participation. Cheer on our team of Elmhurst school district principals and teachers as they challenge the Wizards in a basketball game that is sure to include wild antics and lots of laughs. The event will be held at York High School beginning at 5:00 PM. Concessions, merchandise and raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Proceeds from this family-friendly fundraiser support District 205 Foundation programs and enhancements that benefit all Elmhurst public school students. Click here to learn more and guarantee a seat at this popular Saturday event.

If you missed Dr. Bill Daggett's presentation, Why the Future of Education is Now, at York High School on August 14 you'll want to take a look at the attached file of his slideshow and check out this video of his keynote presentation at this summer's Model Schools Conference.

Dr. Daggett is the Founder and Chairman of the International Center for Leadership in Education. He has collaborated with education ministries in several countries, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Governors Association. His System for Effective Instruction and Rigor & Relevance Framework have helped thousands of school districts throughout the country improve learning for students.

The Elmhurst Commission on Youth, along with Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, part of Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, will sponsor a presentation outlining when student anxiety becomes a problem. Hear about the effects of anxiety on learning, sources of anxiety in schools, and school refusal. Treatment requires a collaborative approach that includes the student, school staff, parents and mental health professionals. Dr. Laura Koehler, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Linden Oaks, leads the discussion on August 29, beginning at 7:30 PM (note change of time) at Bryan Middle School.

Happy Friday Emerson Community!

We have had a great start to the year! After unpacking and organizing mountains of schools supplies, the teachers and students have been working to build strong classroom communities this week!  On Wednesday, we had a welcome back assembly where the students learned about our PBIS behavior expectations for respectful, responsible and engaged behavior and we shared our theme of the year!  Then on Thursday the students went to art, music, and PE for the first time… you should have seen the excitement in their eyes! If these first few days are an indicator of how this year will be, we are in for a great one!  Read below for some announcements and reminders…

Solar eclipse: Elementary students will not be going outside to watch the eclipse on Monday, August 21^st.  Teachers will be planning grade level appropriate lessons in their classroom about the event.  You are welcome to come and sign your student out if you wish for them to view the eclipse with you.

Food at class parties: We have new District 205 guidelines regarding food at school this year. There will be no food at in-school class parties. We will still plan amazing parties for the students with great crafts and games!

Entrance doors: Please remember Kindergarten and 3rd grade line up and enter the school in the front of the building at doors 1 and 10. 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th grades line-up on the side of the school past the parking lot near doors 6 and 7.

Lunch supervisors needed: We are in need of daily lunchroom supervisors.  The hours are 10:40-12:40 each day.  If you are interested, please see our district website under employment opportunities! 

Theme for 2017-2018: Be sure to ask your students about our theme for this year… Show the world you’ve got that fire! This means we will always try our best, think creatively, and persevere!

Finally, a big thank you to PTA for a great welcome back coffee on Wednesday morning, what a great turn out!  Thank you to everyone who will be volunteering this year, it’s our partnership that allows us to do so many awesome events for our students! Also, thank you to PTA for the beautiful décor at the entrance doors, it makes me smile every time I walk in.  Thank you to all for a great first week!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle Thompson

I hope you are having a wonderful summer!  I am very excited to be joining the Emerson community as your principal.  I can’t wait to get to know all of your students and you this year as we partner together to provide an excellent education for your children!

A little bit about me… I am coming to Elmhurst from twelve years in Schaumburg District 54 where I was an elementary classroom teacher, a literacy instructional coach and an assistant principal.  I have a Master’s Degree in Language and Literacy, an Administrative certificate, and in June I completed my Doctorate in Reading and Language.  I am very passionate about instruction, creating future ready students who will be great leaders in our community and providing high-quality education for all students! My husband, Matt, and I are blessed with two daughters, Molly who is three and Quinn who will be turning one in September. They are both a blast and bring so much joy and laughter to our lives every day.  I can’t wait for you to meet them!

Some important information as we head into the start of the year:

-Teacher/classroom assignments will be sent out via email on Friday, August 11^th to all families who have completed registration information on file.  Please be sure to update your registration prior to that date or your student will not have a classroom placement.

-Curriculum Night will be August 29^th.  We will begin the night in the gym.  More specific information will be sent out prior to the event.

-Please check the website for upcoming dates including kindergarten play dates and the PTA Ice Cream Social!

-On Monday, August 14 at 7:00 in the York High School Commons, Dr. Bill Daggett will be speaking to the Elmhurst community.  He is an outstanding speaker and a leader for 21^st century education.  He will change the way you think about education today!

-Welcome to our new Emerson staff members:

Mrs. Melissa Suopys, Lead Secretary

Ms. Roopa Desai, ELL

Ms. Amanda Leiber, ELL

Ms. Flavia Malloy-Marcucci, PE

Ms. Amanda Spinelle, PE

Ms. April Antonson, Art

Ms. Lindsey Sloan, Instructional

That’s all for now!  I will send out another update next week with information about the start of school.  I look forward to meeting you all and to the start of a great year!

Mrs. Michelle Thompson