Hello Emerson Families!
It is hard to believe we are entering our last week of October! Next week is Spirit week, which culminates with grade band assemblies (K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th) to celebrate all we’ve learned about Respect! Our students have earned a lot of Talon Tickets as staff have caught them being kind and respectful to others and keeping our building picked up and beautiful. Students have also talked about what being respectful looks like, feels like, and sounds like. This week, they will be completing an activity called “Wrinkled Wanda.” On chart paper, a figure is drawn that we call Wanda; students share unkind things that have been said to them or others, and it is written next to the figure. Once they are done, the paper is crumpled up to represent the hurtful words Wanda has heard. When we uncrumple the paper, no matter how much we try to smooth out the paper, which represents apologies, Wanda is forever changed by those hurtful words. This activity is really powerful for our students and helps instill empathy. I hope your child shares more about our respect activities and what they’ve learned!
All of these activities and celebrations about respect lead up to Fall Fest!!! Fall Fest is an Emerson favorite, so I hope the whole family will be able to come by to enjoy all the crafts, games, and treats our PTA has worked hard to plan!
Important Dates
● Upcoming Week’s Lunch Menu - click here
● 10/25-29: October Respect Spirit Week
○ 10/25 - Emerson spirit wear
○ 10/26 - Tie Dye Tuesday
○ 10/27 - On Wednesdays, we wear Pink...for breast cancer awareness!
○ 10/28 - Top Your Lid Thursday (hat day)
○ 10/29 - Haunted Shirts and Spooky Socks
● 10/28: PTA Eat ‘n’ Earn at Culver’s
● 10/29: PBIS Respect Celebration Assembly
● 10/29: Fall Fest! 5-8 PM
● 11/1: Picture Retake Day - click here for order info
● 11/3: Anti-Bullying Assemblies - click here for info
● 11/5: End of Trimester 1
● 11/10: Late Arrival
● 11/19: Report Cards available in PowerSchool
● 11/22-11/23: Parent/Teacher Conferences; more information coming soon
● 11/23-11/26: No School
Vegetarian Meal Options
Food Services recognizes that some students may require a vegetarian diet, and they are trying to accommodate those needs. Food Services staff will start by identifying the vegetarian items on the menu with a (V). If the entrée for the day is not vegetarian, the student is able to take up to three fruit/veggie options in place of the entrée.
Dogs on Property
A friendly reminder that furry family members are not to be on property, but if they do tag along to pick up their humans, please be sure they are leashed at all times.
Lost and Found
We are accumulating a LOT of lost coats, sweatshirts, and other items in the cafeteria. Ask your child to check for anything that’s missing - I will post photos on Instagram next week of the items.
Coat Drive
Please consider donating to our coat drive to help Hanson Park School in Chicago. The weather is getting colder and it is important that we consider those in need. If you have coats, gloves or boots that your kiddos have outgrown, bring them to any one of our 3 drop off locations:
Vestibule outside of school office
317 N Walnut
140 W Grantley Ave
Collections will be accepted through November 7th. Thanks for your support!
Fall Fest!
Friday, 10/29, 5:00-8:00 PM
Emerson's Fall Fest is our fall-themed event for all Emerson students and their families. Please join us on Friday, October 29 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Emerson school for a fun filled night of games, activities, music, haunted ghost walk and a costume parade for each grade!
Please help make the evening a success by donating an item such as candy, prizes, or game supplies. DONATE ITEMS HERE.
Email Kathy Shannon kat27shan@gmail.com and Tobi Wilson tobiwilson@hotmail.com if you have any spooky supplies or decorations that you can donate as well for the event!
It’s Baaaaack! PTA Halloween House Decorating Content
Pull out those jack-o-lanterns, bats and cats, witches, ghosts and more! Show your ghoulish creativity and participate in Emerson’s Halloween House Decorating Contest! Sign up by 10/20 to ensure your house is entered into the contest. A map of participating houses and ballots will be emailed to all Emerson families by 10/28 to vote on the Scariest, Most Boo-tiful and Most SPOOK-tacular houses! All votes must be submitted by 10/31 to count. Winners will be announced in The Happenings.
Emerson SPOOK-tacular House Contest Rules:
1. You must be a current Emerson family to register for the contest and participate in voting
2. You must register by 10/20 to enter your home in the contest
3. Contest is based on outdoor decorations only
4. Please make sure decorations are appropriate for children
Please reach out to Lisa Wormer at lwormer77@gmail.com with any questions.
Have a great weekend! See you Monday!
Ms. Sheleen DeLockery, Principal
From the District…
Planning for Cooler Weather
In the coming weeks, as temperatures begin to drop, our principals will use the following guidelines for determining when students will eat inside:
● If it is raining, snowing, or there are high winds.
● If the “real feel” temperature is at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Our principals have worked hard to plan for inclement weather so that students are appropriately spaced during lunches while allowing time for our students to socialize and be together. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. DeLockery at sdelockery@elmhurst205.org.
October is Dwarfism Awareness Month
One big piece of Moving Forward Together is ensuring that all of our students are included. With this in mind, October is a month where we celebrate what makes our students and families unique including our students with Dwarfism. October is Dwarfism Awareness Month and the Little People Association of America has some great resources for learning more about people with dwarfism on their website at this link. An important piece to think through is the power of our language. The “m” word is now considered a derogatory term. A more respectful term might be a Little Person, a person with Dwarfism, or just call that person by their name.
Missed the Webinar On Vaccines for School Age Children? Watch the Recording Here!
As a service to parents, staff and community members, District 205 hosted a webinar Oct. 20, 2021 on COVID in children and Vaccines for School Age Children. The webinar featured three local physicians who specialize in infectious disease and immunology: Dr. Mark Dworkin, Board Certified Infectious Disease Specialist and Professor of Epidemiology; Dr. Zach Rubin, Board Certified Pediatrician and Board Certified Allergist and Immunologist and Dr. Mia Taormina, Board Certified Infectious Disease Specialist. They spoke on the epidemiology of COVID in children, offered statistics and clinical cases on long COVID in children and talked about vaccine development and safety. The webinar was recorded and can be replayed here.
Reminder about keeping our school community healthy
We want to ensure that our school community remains healthy. As a reminder, if your student is experiencing any of the following symptoms, they should remain at home.
● Fever (100.4°F or higher),
● New onset of moderate to severe headache,
● Shortness of breath,
● New cough,
● Sore throat,
● Vomiting,
● Diarrhea,
● New loss of sense of taste or smell,
● Fatigue from an unknown cause,
● Muscle or body aches from an unknown cause.
Additionally, students should remain home if any of the following apply:
● The student has been asked to quarantine by the local health department.
● The student has tested positive for, or is awaiting the results of, a COVID test.
● The student is unvaccinated and a member of the household has symptoms of COVID or has tested positive for COVID-19.
Thank you for your role in helping keep our school community safe.
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Forward Together Plan
Throughout this pandemic, the health and safety of Elmhurst District 205 students and staff remain our highest priority. Elmhurst School District 205 has developed a comprehensive plan aligned to local, state and federal guidance. The Forward Together Plan for 2021-22 offers some frequently asked questions about the reopening of our schools, the District’s health and safety protocols; sanitation and ventilation mitigations and a Dashboard that presents COVID-19 metrics. As health information and related procedures change, we will continue to review and update the plan, as well as continue to monitor local health and safety metrics. If you have additional questions, please email Forwardtogether@elmhurst205.org.
- Emerson