If your child is coming to us as a new Kindergarten student, we welcome you! There will be a kindergarten parent orientation meeting on Friday, August 20 at 1:30 p.m. Bring your child with you to meet the teachers, see the classrooms and check out the playground. The teachers will give you some general information about getting started at Emerson.
As the principal, my first priority is your child's safety. We are currently still under construction all around the kindergarten classrooms and playground. I will continue to work closely with the contractor to make sure that children will only be allowed back onto the playground when it is safe.
We will also have Back to School Night on Thursday, August 26 (The time will be announced, but it probably will be at about 6 p.m.) Both of these dates will be great opportunities to help you get oriented and ready for the new year. We look forward to seeing you at the kindergarten orientation on Friday the 20th at 1:30 in room 2.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
When will the offices open?
If you have driven by the front of the school lately, you're probably wondering if Emerson can possibly open for classes in twenty-something days. I assure you that we will.
The front of the school is still a fenced-off construction zone, and if you absolutely must go to the office, please don't try to go through the front parking lot. The offices will be open again starting on Monday, August 2, but for now, the entrance is marked by a "Temporary School Entrance" sign by the cafeteria gate. Please call first (788-7462 ext 0) before you come in, maybe we can save you a trip. Beside being an active construction zone on all 4 sides of the office building, the front office staff is working to implement a new student information system as well as adjust to the closure of the Centralized Registration Center.
Students and parents naturally want to know who their teachers will be. Class lists/ classroom assignments will not be ready until a couple of days prior to the start of school. We ask that you not call to ask, but instead that you wait until Thursday, August 19, and then come check out the new front entrance of the school and find out your child's teacher. This will allow the front office to work on registering new students and helping the staff get settled into the new school year.
I look forward to seeing all of you soon. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer vacation!
The front of the school is still a fenced-off construction zone, and if you absolutely must go to the office, please don't try to go through the front parking lot. The offices will be open again starting on Monday, August 2, but for now, the entrance is marked by a "Temporary School Entrance" sign by the cafeteria gate. Please call first (788-7462 ext 0) before you come in, maybe we can save you a trip. Beside being an active construction zone on all 4 sides of the office building, the front office staff is working to implement a new student information system as well as adjust to the closure of the Centralized Registration Center.
Students and parents naturally want to know who their teachers will be. Class lists/ classroom assignments will not be ready until a couple of days prior to the start of school. We ask that you not call to ask, but instead that you wait until Thursday, August 19, and then come check out the new front entrance of the school and find out your child's teacher. This will allow the front office to work on registering new students and helping the staff get settled into the new school year.
I look forward to seeing all of you soon. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer vacation!
Friday, June 18, 2010
iPods in School?
As the principal, I often receive phones, toys and other gadgets that have been confiscated as distractions. But instead of confiscating iPods, we'll be supplying them!
Every fourth and fifth grade teacher will receive a MacBook and a class set of iPods which will be used as learning tools .
The iPods will be used in a variety of ways and will function as an internet-connected computer for a variety of applications. The "apps" available for iPods have grown exponentially; many school districts are successfully using them to focus students' natural enthusiasm. Emerson teachers are being trained this summer by an Apple education expert about the plethora of ways that the iPods can increase learning, motivation and engagement in the classroom.
A portion of our Measure B (which is paying for the new buildings) funds was set aside for new technology. Additionally, we will have new interactive smart boards (a far cry from the old chalk boards) in every classroom.
We'll still be vigilant to prevent distractions; but we're learning that gadgets can increase learning, not distract from it.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Emerson Family, RUSD Sue CA
When a state's school funding system is broken, what is the impact on the children and families? Through a child's eyes, when their favorite teachers have been laid off, the impact is personal, measurable, and damaging.
As a school, we did not list the teachers names, host a big farewell, or intentionally draw attention to the 13 pink-slipped teachers' names, but the children often knew. Teachers tried to avoid the questions and responded that they were not sure which grade they were teaching or which room they would be in next year. They subtly tried to redirect the focus back on what was in the child's ability to control. Despite an affirmation such as "I know that you'll do great next year whoever your teacher is!" students were often perplexed about why so many of their beloved teachers would not be returning to Emerson in the fall.
Some of the pink slips have been rescinded and some of the teachers will return to Riverside schools; some will return to Emerson. In the fall we will have 10 "new" teachers who, by no choice of their own, are being uprooted from another school to come to fill our vacant teaching positions. The children will most likely fall in love their new teachers who will become part of the Emerson family, but the hurt lingers.
Riverside Unified School District and the Ramirez family, along with other families and school district in California have decided that the state's school funding formulas have been damaging to their families and must be changed. The Robles-Wong, et al. v. California lawsuit has been reported in national and international newspapers. As the principal of Emerson I applaud the Ramirez' family's resolve to take on the State of California to fix our broken school funding formulas. After all, we want our children to focus on California Content Standards, not worry about their teachers' jobs.
As a school, we did not list the teachers names, host a big farewell, or intentionally draw attention to the 13 pink-slipped teachers' names, but the children often knew. Teachers tried to avoid the questions and responded that they were not sure which grade they were teaching or which room they would be in next year. They subtly tried to redirect the focus back on what was in the child's ability to control. Despite an affirmation such as "I know that you'll do great next year whoever your teacher is!" students were often perplexed about why so many of their beloved teachers would not be returning to Emerson in the fall.
Some of the pink slips have been rescinded and some of the teachers will return to Riverside schools; some will return to Emerson. In the fall we will have 10 "new" teachers who, by no choice of their own, are being uprooted from another school to come to fill our vacant teaching positions. The children will most likely fall in love their new teachers who will become part of the Emerson family, but the hurt lingers.
Riverside Unified School District and the Ramirez family, along with other families and school district in California have decided that the state's school funding formulas have been damaging to their families and must be changed. The Robles-Wong, et al. v. California lawsuit has been reported in national and international newspapers. As the principal of Emerson I applaud the Ramirez' family's resolve to take on the State of California to fix our broken school funding formulas. After all, we want our children to focus on California Content Standards, not worry about their teachers' jobs.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Summer Reading Program Begins
Americorps Academic Assistants from the University Eastside Collaborative read with students from Alcott, Highland, Hyatt, Emerson, and Castle View today as the Summer Reading program kicked off.
The generous staff from Bordwell Park's Stratton Community Center served up all of the meals they had to the crowd of at least 75 students. The summer FEEDS program attracted numerous children, aged 2-18, for the free lunch.
Staff members from Emerson checked out books to children who were there from almost every surrounding elementary school. "Thanks!" to Rosie, Sheila, Cassandra, and Celida for helping to get the program off to a great start.
The reading program in the park was conceived after Andy Melendrez asked a simple question: "What can we do to get our children reading this summer?" Together we planned to integrate both city and school resources together to help motivate and facilitate reading all summer long.
Tomorrow they'll have more lunches available. Go for the free lunch, stay for story time!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Summer Reading
The Riverside Public Library's bookmobile made a stop by Emerson today to help promote the Public Library's Summer Reading program. The bookmobile will be making stops at several parks including Bordwell Park and Bobby Bonds this summer to help keep our children reading all summer.
Mrs. Banuelos will be there every day starting at 11 a.m. Lunch starts at 11:45. This is not a "drop off" program; parents should attend with their children.
We are going to try to motivate the students to read by promoting the Public Library's incentive program. It has a pizza coupons, other prizes as well as a free pass to Castle Park for students who complete the program. On top of that, we will be continuing our incentive program (funded by you, the PTA), which will include small toy prizes.
Today in the students' backpacks, a promotional flier will be sent home that includes some outstanding events, such as magic shows, that will take place at the Cybrary, the downtown library, and other library locations as well.
How can you ensure summer reading achievement?
1.) Participate in the free summer lunch and reading programs.
2.) Encourage your child's friends to join you at the park for reading and lunch.
3.) Participate in the Library's programs (and take friends with you!)
4.) Require you children to read and take AR quizzes all summer long.
5.) Build in some additional incentives for reading: such as pass a quiz/read a book to earn park playground time.
6.) Require one hour of reading every day before any electronics are turned on!
Mrs. Banuelos will be there every day starting at 11 a.m. Lunch starts at 11:45. This is not a "drop off" program; parents should attend with their children.
We are going to try to motivate the students to read by promoting the Public Library's incentive program. It has a pizza coupons, other prizes as well as a free pass to Castle Park for students who complete the program. On top of that, we will be continuing our incentive program (funded by you, the PTA), which will include small toy prizes.
Today in the students' backpacks, a promotional flier will be sent home that includes some outstanding events, such as magic shows, that will take place at the Cybrary, the downtown library, and other library locations as well.
How can you ensure summer reading achievement?
1.) Participate in the free summer lunch and reading programs.
2.) Encourage your child's friends to join you at the park for reading and lunch.
3.) Participate in the Library's programs (and take friends with you!)
4.) Require you children to read and take AR quizzes all summer long.
5.) Build in some additional incentives for reading: such as pass a quiz/read a book to earn park playground time.
6.) Require one hour of reading every day before any electronics are turned on!
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