Announcing the iScholars Program

Emerson is proud to announce a new program called iScholars, which will begin in the fall of 2010. Similar to the GATE Special Day Class that Emerson has offered for many years, iScholars will focus on the needs of gifted, talented and advanced learners.

Specifically, the class will be made up of identified GATE students, advanced English Learners as well as other advanced, gifted and talented students as space allows. An intentional effort will be made to identify students who have leadership skills, high achievement, and creativity which previously have not been significant factors in determining class placement. Selection of students for the class will take place at the end of each academic year using GATE and EL program identification criteria, performance data as well as a Behavioral Checklist that will identify a lottery pool of students to participate in the program. Students who are successful in the program may be invited to maintain their program participation in subsequent years.

The curriculum for the class will be based on the same California Content Standards, as well as a renewed and intentional emphasis of the Scope and Sequence of Depth and Complexity: Differentiating for Gifted and Advanced Learners (RUSD 2007). This document is available in my office for your review. A team of teachers is currently making plans for the program and will continue their planning work throughout the summer. Initially, some of the program plans include a foreign/second language component, participation in projects such as History Day, Science Fair, and Reflections. Depth and complexity will be explored through a system that uses icons, or thinking tools, to describe what students will do with the content.

The lottery drawing will occur on June 9, at 3 p.m., outside of the front office, followed by an informational meeting in the library. If you would like to have more information about the iScholars program, please attend an informational meeting on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. in room 14 in the library.

Dr.'s Generousity, Students' Initiative, Laptop Awards

Dr. Valenzuela awarded six laptop computers to Emerson students this past week. During one of the the assemblies, Clifford Pradd, pictured below (photo by Rodrigo Peña) received a new HP laptop, as reported in the Press Enterprise.

Dr. Valenzuela encouraged Emerson students in assemlies about the importance of going to college. He told them about his huge swimming pool, his expansive house and his sleek Porshe, none of which would have been his if he had not taken the initiative to pull himself out of poverty and enroll in college.

Prior to Dr. Valenzuela's arrival to the assembly, I asked the students to raise their hands if the wrote an essay for the program. Only a few hands went up. I discussed with them that taking initiative and displaying determination will often produce amazing results.

I am very proud of every Emerson student who took the initiative to write an essay. Be determined;keep taking the initiative; you will have a surprised beaming smile just like Clifford's if you keep trying!

All Kids Eat Free Every Day!

Wouldn't it be nice if a local restaurant would feed the kids for free all summer? Most parents would feel as if they had hit the jackpot!

That is exactly what is being offered this summer, every weekday for any child who shows up to almost every public park within the RUSD boundaries- A FREE LUNCH! Regardless of how much you make, you qualify! Regardless of where you live, you qualify! Regardless of if you have a lunch number, you qualify.

Entitled FEEDS, the Food for Every child to Eat During Summer, program received federal funding to prevent children from being hungry this summer.

Here are some basic facts:
• Monday - Friday
• June 14 - August 20, 2010*
• Bobby Bonds Park 2060 University Avenue 12:00 PM-12:45 PM
• Bordwell Park 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd. 11:45 AM-12:40 PM
• No Meal Service on July 5th in Observance of Independence Day
• For more information, contact Riverside Unified School District-Nutrition Services 951-352-6740
Or visit these Websites:
www.rusd.k12.ca.us/ourdistrict/nutritionservices
www.riverside.ca.gov

Writing at the Kitchen Table

I enjoy writing because of my mom. As a continuation high school English Teacher, she took home schoolwork almost every night, labouring at the kitchen table grading papers. I was probably a typical boy when it came to writing; more interested in anything but writing. Writing ranked on the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to going out for a bike ride.

The first time I remember actually enjoying writing was when I described a summer camping experience. My mom sat with me, her papers pushed aside, and prompted me to describe the shooting stars, the sand in between my toes and the cool water of the lake. I earned an "A" and developed some confidence that I may actually be able to connect things that I really like to something as tedious as writing.


Maybe she was the one who actually earned the grade; but my report card gave me credit. She had to prompt me quite a bit, with the dictionary and thesaurus close at hand to supply assistance. Even during my first term in college, I sent a few papers home requesting her editorial advice. I'm thankful to my mom for helping me care about expressing myself in writing. "That sounded good, mom, would you say it again slowly?"

My mom has always been so sweet and patient. She pushed aside her papers and prompted me to get my ideas written down. That's not an easy task when working with a kid who just wants to play. (Mom, I'm sorry that I don't write to you more these days.)

Camp Emerson

Camp Emerson is this weekend!

4:30 pm - Tent set up begins
5:30 pm - FREE crafts and activities
5:30 - 7:00 pm - $5 per person BBQ dinner
8:30 pm - FREE movie and popcorn
10:30 pm - Gates closed and locked
11 pm - Lights Out/ quiet time! Overnight camping

Saturday at 6:00 a.m. Gates reopen
This year we are not going to offer breakfast or have a garden workday on Saturday morning

PTA Spoils Staff with Appreciation

During this past week, the PTA generously lavished their appreciation on the Emerson staff.

Treats such as bagels and cake mysteriously started appearing in the staff lounge. On Monday morning there was big continental breakfast awaiting the staff when they arrived to work. The staff enjoyed pastries, fruit salad, eggs and ham, juices and more. A variety of other gifts appeared on teachers' desks from the traditional apple to sweet notes from appreciative children.

On Friday afternoon, the savory smell of grilled onions, carne asada, pork and chicken greeted the staff as they took their lunch breaks. The tacos were "muy sabrosos!" Thank you to the entire PTA, and especially to the parents who brought in so many wonderful expressions of appreciation to the Emerson staff!

A Healthy Finish for CST

The California Standards Tests are almost over for this year. Part of California's STAR testing program, the CST are based on the grade level standards which students have been learning all year long.

The California Department of Education (CDE) releases some questions each year for students, parents and teachers to use in preparation for the tests.

This site is designed for parents: http://www.starsamplequestions.org
and this site has additional parent guides: www.starsamplequestions.org/information.html

On Thursday, May 6, most testing will be complete except for a few make up tests.

The results from the tests won't be available until mid-August. In a few days there will be "new" school rankings published, but they are based on the assessments that we took last year.

Thank you for your hard work in reducing "tardies" and sending your students ready for testing.

Sprouts Farmers Market pitched in this week to provide 800 nutritious snacks for our students during testing. The next time you go to Sprouts on Allesandro, tell the manager that you appreciate his support of Emerson during testing.