Emerson News Update

Garden Work Day- Saturday, February 5, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.  We need to do some general garden clean up as well as plant potatoes !  Please come out and join us!

Saturday School- This Saturday your child can make up an absence from 8 a.m. until 12:20.  If your child has an absence, he/she can still qualify for a perfect attendance awad.  Saturday School students will be allowed to work on the laptop computers playing the 24 Game on First in Math!

Holiday Alert!   Friday, February, 11 and Monday, February 21, we have NO SCHOOL!!!  Remember- we have a:  full week this week, a four-day week next week, then a full five-day week followed by a four-day week!  (5,4,5,4)

RUSD History Day was held last Saturday at Earhart Middle School.  Several Emerson students, present and past, walked away with awards, and many are moving on to the County competition.  Click here for more details.

New Calendar- The official calendar for the 2011-12  school year is now available.  Click here to check it out!

Construction Update: The new lunch shelter (pictured below) is complete and the concrete is expected to be poured this week.  Grading for drainage and the new fire lane is in process.  Construction is expected to be complete by April.

Morning Announcements 1/31/11

Good Morning Emerson Eagles!
Dream, Believe, Achieve!
Today is Monday, January 31, 2011

Question of the Day:
Did you like having a rainy day on Sunday?
Please ask and answer this question (as well as all questions) using complete sentence responses.  If someone asks you this question, don't forget to reciprocate by asking them the question too!

History Day:
Congratulations to Emerson's RUSD History Day particiapants...See their photo on my blog post from yesterday.

Calendar Items:
Progress reports are sent sent home last week or this week.
Tuesday - February 8, RUSD Science and Engineering Fair -Project Set-Up
Wednesday - February 9, RUSD Science and Engineering Fair
Thursday - February 10, RUSD Science and Engineering Fair Awards ceremony
Friday - February 11, Lincoln's Day- No School
Monday - February 21, President's Day- No School
The pancake breakfast will be on Saturday, February 26.

First In Math
Congratulations to Mr. Cortez' Class- Team of the Week!
Engagement Requirements:
When your teacher directs you to work with a partner, share your response, or to answer a question, it is REQUIRED that you use academic vocabulary in your response.  Look around the room to find the vocabulary if you don't immediately recall the word.

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:

Chicken Nuggets, Breadstick Tator Tots Apple Juice

If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand. Teachers, please take a count and make a note on your online attendance form.

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

History Day Awards

Congratulations to these Emerson students who were selected to move on to Riverside County History Day:

Grades 4-5 Individual Posters:
-Winner, Jacqueline Hurtado
-Winner, Shundeen Martinez
-Winner, Madison Ramirez
-Alternate, Antonio Paturzo

Junior Individual Exhibit:
-Winner, Rachael Newhall

-The Riverside City Teachers' Association Award for the best entry on historical issues in education, Shundeen Martinez

-The Riverside Metropolitan Museum Award for best use of primary source photos and/or drawings in the creation of an entry, Antonio Paturzo and Jacqueline Hurtado

Congratulations!!!

Morning announcements

Good Morning Emerson Eagles!
Dream, Believe, Achieve!

Today is Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Question of the Day
How are you today?
Please ask and answer this question (as well as all questions) using complete sentence responses. 
Calendar Items:
Progress reports are being sent home this week.
The pancake breakfast will be on Saturday, February 26. 

Engagement Requirements:
Gestures or hand motions are important and help your brain make connections with new learning.

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:
Stuft Crust Pizza
Garden Salad w/dressing
Applesauce
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.


Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Morning Announcements

Dream, Believe, Achieve!

Today is Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Question of the Day
Before I ask you this question, please remember that you have to answer every question throughout the day with a complete sentence response.  Don't forget to include your subject- which in this question will probably be either "I" or "we." Please plan to ask your friends this question also and listen to their complete sentence response.
What's going on with you today?
(Here is a sample response: I have 3 very important things going on today.  They are....)


Engagement Requirements:
For the past few days, I've explained that students have to be actively learning all day when you are in class.  One way that you can check yourself to see if you are fully engaged in learning is to see what your eyes, hands and even your feet are doing during learning time.  Instead of telling you a list of things like "don't play with stuff in your desk" I want you to think about these questions:
Are my eyes looking where my teacher wants them to be looking?
Are my hands doing exactly what my teacher wants me to do with them?
Are my feet in the right place?
Is my mouth saying what it is supposed to say and being quiet when it is supposed to be quiet?
Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:
Fiesta Cheese Nachos
Fresh Broccoli
Fresh Fruit
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Good Morning Emerson Eagles! Today is 1/24/11

Dream, Believe, Achieve!
Today is Monday, January 24, 2011

Question of the Day
How are you today?

Engagement Requirements:
I've explained to you, Emerson students, how you have to be fully engaged during the school day. Emerson students are also REQUIRED to do homework every school night.  When your teacher assigns homework, it is required by me, the principal, that you do your very best to complete it. 

Rule Reminders:
Here is a partial list of things that you are not allowed to bring to school
Hats, gum, anything dangerous or sharp, bandanas, sodas, large bags of chips or other unhealthy snacks, toys, cameras, large amounts of candy or money, and anything else that could potentially distract you from you focus on learning. 

Saturday School & First in Math
We set a Saturday School record!  There were more than 50 students making up absences as well as spending time solving First in Math problems!  By 11 a.m. Emerson passed the 100,000 mark on the sticker count.  Great job!   Also, in the past 2 weeks about 70 additional students have started to play FIM at Emerson!!

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:
chicken strips
biscuit
steamed garden peas and mixed fruit
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Virtual Summer School?

Many studies show that American students lag behind their counterparts in asian countries.  The California school year has become shorter, instead of increasing the school year to approximate the school year in countries such as China.

We all know that "time on task" is one factor that makes a significant difference in student achievement.  We may not be able to offer a traditional summer school program this year, but we'd like to ask for your help in designing an individualized semi-virtual program for the summer of 2011.

Here are some ideas to help you understand the possible concept:
Individualized curriculum would be developed based on students' needs.
Benchmarks would measure students' work towards achieving their goals.
Staff would be available to support learning (possibly through a once-per-week  meeting) in the library.
Computers may be used to enable web access to the PearsonSuccessNet, Accelerated Reader, First in Math, and other learning sites.
An end-of-summer celebration could be scheduled to celebrate students' successes in the summer program.

Please share your ideas about how we could support a fun, learning-filled summer vacation.

Saturday School Math Blitz

Today a group of hard-working mathematicians are solving THOUSANDS of First in Math problems during Saturday School!  As of Friday evening, Emerson students earned over 93,000 stickers, but half-way through Saturday School this morning, we are almost at the 100,000-sticker mark.
Here's our current data:

Stickers Earned:	99,830
Average Stickers per Team:	3,220
Math Problems solved:	299,490
Worksheets Saved:	29,949
Teacher Hours Saved:	352

We should easily surpass that mark thanks to Emerson's motivated mathematicians, our skillful Saturday School staff, and the availability of our mobile computer lab.  I'll provide updated data tomorrow about our Saturday School FIM Blitz 

Good Morning Emerson Eagles!

Dream, Believe, Achieve!

Today is Friday, January 21, 2011

Question of the Day

Today I'm not going to ask you how you are doing...but I'm going to ask you about an important question. Did you know that there is a common question, from Kindergarten to 6th grade that is used in math every day?  What do you think this question is?  Please take a second to tell your neighbor what you think the question is.  

Some of you may be thinking that the question is:

"What's the answer?" or

"How do you solve the problem?

But neither of those are right...The question I'm talking about is called THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION, and is a part of every math lesson.  It's essential because if you can answer this question in math in every lesson, every day, you will be on target for math success.

Engagement Requirements:

Did you know that at Emerson it is required for each of you to be 100% engaged all day?  If your teacher asks everyone to respond, ALL of you must respond.  If you are supposed to say "yes, yes" then there shouldn't be anyone who doesn't answer.  As the principal, this is one thing I look for when I go to the classrooms to check on the students- are you engaged and paying attention during the whole lesson?

Rule Reminders:
There have been a few incidents at school lately where students have started out playing with another student, and then there was a hit, which escalated into another hit- the playing turned to two students upset with one another.  Always remember to keep your hands to yourselves- when you are playing, you can't even pretend to hit another student./

First in Math

Yesterday we moved back into 15th place district-wide!  During Saturday School, we'll have the computers ready for everyone to play First in Math.  Teachers, please log in to FIM today and print a copy of the FIM usernames and passwords for the Saturday School and HEARTS staff.  Please give this list to Mrs. Gina.  Students, please take the time right now to write down your username and password if you don't already have it memorized.  We don't want to have only 15-20 students in the school scoring most of the points, we want everyone to play, so that way everyone will learn.

Construction Update

The posts for the new lunch shelter where set in place yesterday.  Won't it be exciting to have plenty of room to eat our lunch?  You may have also noticed a few large pipes sticking out of the ground...they are  going to be fire hydrants.

Lunch and Attendance:

For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:

If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:

There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Morning Announcements 1/19/2011

Dream, Believe, Achieve!
Today is Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Engagement Requirements:
When someone asks you how you are doing, have you ever thought of ACTUALLY telling them?  Most of the time we just say a simple "I'm fine, thank you!"  but sometimes a REAL answer is in order.  You may only want to try this with a good friend when you are not in a rush, though. 

Rule Reminders:
One of the best Super 8 rules to consider when you are having a conflict with another person, is to WALK AWAY.  Sometimes removing yourself from a conflict can help you to get everything in perspective and to avoid the problem from becoming worse.

First in Math
During the weekend we moved ahead into 15th place district-wide!  But our rank dropped yesterday back down to 17th place.  So the real key here is that we need EVERY student to try to play the game every night at least for a few minutes.  Please take the time right now to write down your username and password if you don't already have it memorized.  We don't want to have only 15-20 students in the school scoring most of the points, we want everyone to play, so that way everyone will learn.

Construction Update
The HEAVY EQUIPMENT started removing the old asphault and started grading - or excavating- the ground where the road, the lunch shelter and the new line of portable classrooms is going to be. 

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:

Sicilian style pizza
Popeye Salad with dressing
Mixed fruit
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Computers Resource Dream on MLK Weekend

How can a school extend the learning day for kids on the other side of the digital divide?  Emerson has struggled with this question as we hope to increase learning for our kids who are not meeting academic goals, and who also don't have access to computers at home.  For Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday weekend, we are trying an experiment- to send home a computer with selected children who we desperately want to make additional academic progress. 

The risk is that we may have a computer from our lab become broken, damaged or needing to be re-imaged.  The potential reward is that our focus group of students, this weekend all English Learners, will potentially spend time this three day weekend engaged in learning. 

So far the results look positive.  This morning I checked tho see how those students are doing- they have taken and passed reading quizzes, they have earned several hundred First in Math stickers playing math games, and they are expected to be using our Envision SuccesNet math program as well.  One early indicator of success that we moved up another rank in FIM!

14 Mountain View   142 798
15 Highland             136 677
16 Emerson             136 602
17 Bryant Dist         135 314
18 Victoria              131 574

When we checked the computers out to the selected students on Friday, the students were beyond excited.  They were being entrusted with a valuable school resource to take home on the weekend.  The truth however, is that the students are the valuable resource, we just need to continue figuring out how we, as the parents and educational professionals, can maximize their potential so that they can achieve academic dreams.

Good Morning Emerson Eagles!

 Dream, Believe, Achieve!
Today is Friday, January 14, 2011


Question of the Day:
Are you looking forward to the 3-day weekend?
(Most of you used a part of the question in your response.  Great Job!)
Please plan to ask at least 3 people this question throughout the day.

Engagement Requirements:
When you are taking a quiz or a test, it is really important that you do your very best.  Teachers use the information from your tests to plan what they are going to tech you next, so if you are careless when you take the quiz, they may end up teaching you something agian that you already know. 

Rule Reminders:
There have been problems with students being in the hallways when they are not supervised.  This problem has been occurring at three different times during the day:  Before school, studnts are going through the hallways instead of going directly to the lunch court and to the playground.  Students can not wander in the halls.  During recesses, students are playing too loudly near the classrooms.  This is mostly occurring by room 10 and room 7.  Students must not use voices that will disrupt classes that are in session.  During lunch time, the problem occurs when students want to drop off their lunch boxes at their classroom doors after they eat.  There is often no supervision in the hallways, so students are not going to be allowed to continue going to drop off their lunch boxes.  Instead, they are goin to place them against the library wall and pick them up after lunch.  In summary, students must stay out of the hallways during recess time.

First in Math
We have SOME BETTER NEWS about our district ranking in First in Math! As you know we slipped behind Victoria, Lake Mathews into 18th place yesterday...well we moved back up ahead of Victoria yesterday...  So keep on solving those First in Math Problems.  I would like to conduct a mini-survey at this time.  Here is the question:  If we had the computers available before school and at lunchtime in the library, how many of you would be willing to go in for 15 minutes, one day per week to play the First in Math games?  Teachers please take a count and let me know the results.

Construction Update
The NEW student restrooms in the G Wing are going to be open on Tuesday. 

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:
Chicken Patty on a bun
BBQ Beans
Mixed fruit
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

First in Math Players of the Day

Player(s) of the Day - 1/13/2011


20sunny57ca (+408)          11volcano7ca (+224)
25birch38ca (+221)           14armor72ca (+176)
19tempo89ca (+153)          20anvil81ca (+116)
10amaze8ca (+100)            06browser6ca (+97)
19mystery2ca (+90)           16nacho20ca (+72)
02tuxedo2ca (+67)             22spark44ca (+52)
06flair85ca (+46)                17abode60ca (+28)
05orion15ca (+20)              28zinc41ca (+10)
12villa14ca (+7)                  10arctic6ca (+4)

Morning Announcements 1/13/11

Good Morning Emerson Eagles, Dream, Believe, Achieve! Today is Thursday, January 13, 2011


Question of the Day:
How are you all doing today?I'm doing pretty well today.  Thank you to those who asked :)
Language Expectations:
There are two writing tools that are indispensable when you are writing- a dictionary and a thesaurus.  These can either be on-line tools, on the computer, or actual paper books.  Make sure that you plan to use these indispensable writing tools when you are not sure how to spell a word or when you are looking for a more precise or creative word.
Engagement Requirements:
When I walk through classrooms, I am always so proud when I hear students ask questions about the lesson, asking for clarification or for further explanation.  It takes courage to ask, so don't be afraid...be bold and ask thoughtful questions about the lesson!

Rule Reminders:
You've noticed that around school we have new, beautiful grass!  It appeared instantly yesterday when the landscapers laid SOD -or grass- in the areas that they had prepared with irrigation, also known as sprinklers.  In order to let the roots from the sod reach down into the new soil, please do not walk on the new grass until we remove the yellow caution tape.
Reading:Mr. McCombs has noticed an increase in AR books passed this week.  Remember that when you check a book out from the library, you MUST take and pass a quiz for that book!
First in Math
We have TERRIBLE NEWS about our  district ranking in First in Math!  While you all have been really playing and earning a lot of stickers, OTHER SCHOOLS have not been happy that we have passed them up and THEY have now passed up up and as of last night we have fallen back into 18th place, just when we thought that we were moving ahead of the competition.  So remember, even though we don't spend time in class on FIM, please help us catch back up. Here is a partial district rank:
14 Mountain View 130 798

15 Victoria 124 574
16 Highland 123 678
17 Lake Mathews 123 475
18 Emerson 120 604
19 Washington100 796


Construction Update
A lot of people are asking about the new elevator that is being installed near the stairs in the new buildings....Which we need to start calling the "G Wing"...well the elevator will be used by students unless they are in a wheelchair.  We should get the keys to the elevator in a few days!

Also have you notice the new MONUMENT SIGN in front of the school?  It has Emerson's name and address...I;ll post a picture of it with the new grass later in the day.
Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:
If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

First in Math Momentum Continues!

First in Math Player(s) of the Day - 1/12/2011


22volcano7ca (+331)           21nacho20ca (+260)
24arctic6ca (+206)               09sunny57ca (+176)
25birch38ca (+152)              03armor72ca (+122)
25orion15ca (+120)              12spark44ca (+91)
09astro96ca (+39)                18zinc41ca (+26)
31tempo89ca (+24)              19iota9ca (+11)
05mystery2ca (+4)                02tuxedo2ca (+4)
04snow74ca (+2)

Schoolwide FIM Stats
Stickers Earned: 72,383

Average Stickers per Team: 2,334
Math Problems solved: 217,149
Worksheets Saved: 21,715
Teacher Hours Saved: 255

It looks like our ranking could increase again...whichh on would mean that we went from 19th place on Saturday, 18th on Sunday, 17th on Monday, 16th Tuesday,  and possibly to 15th on Wednesday!  You are doing a great job...keep on earning those stickers.

Morning Announcements 1/12/11

Good Morning Emerson Eagles, Dream, Believe, Achieve! Today is Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Question of the Day:
If someone were to ask you this question, how would answer?
What's new with you?
Language Expectations:
Today, try out a new word that you've heard, seen or read, but that you, yourself have never used.  Using new vocabulary outside of class will help you expand your ability to communicate clearly and accurately.
Engagement Requirements:
Always be ready to explain what your teacher just said IN YOUR OWN WORDS!

Rule Reminders:
One rule that I wanted to mention this morning is about chasing and tag.  The reason that we don't allow students to chase each other at school is because of what happens at the end of the chase.  In the past we've had a lot of injuries when one student tagged the other student subsequently knocking him/her down.  So please remember, no tag at school.
Reading:
I walked through several classrooms yesterday during silent reading time, and was impressed with the gripping enthusiasm with which students were engaged in their books. Keep in mind though, that silent reading in the classroom is just like a diving board, helping you get into a book that you'll enjoy reading at night.
Upcoming Events:
We have postponed our motivational assemblies that were sceduled for today. Teachers will be giving McDonald's Free Ice Cream awards for Reading, Math and Homework!  I will start announcing these on Thursday

Eagle Pride:
There are several students who have been consistently helping out with the lunch trays, picking up trash and helping out the noon supervisors.  Thank you for your hard work!  We hope that you are saving up your EAGLE FEATHERS for a big reward!

First in Math
Here are our top players of the day for 1/11/11:

District-wide WE MOVED UP in rank again  passing Victoria yesterday:
12 Jefferson  129 929

13 Bryant  129 314
14 Mountain View  126 798
15 Highland 117 677
16 Emerson  116 590
17 Victoria 116 574
18 Lake Mathews 113 474


Emerson Statistics:
Stickers Earned: 69,036

Average Stickers per Team: 2,226
Math Problems solved: 207,108
Worksheets Saved: 20,711
Teacher Hours Saved: 244



Construction Update
Did you know that in our apple orchard, there are varieties that have quite a story? Like the Junaluska, the favorite apple of Cherokee Chief Junaluska who is credited with saving Andrew Jackson’s life.

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch. Today the hot lunch is:

Stuffed Crust Pizza 3-Way Salad w/Ranch Diced Pears

If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand.

Pledge:Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Morning Announcements/Blog Posts

At least until the P/A system is repaired, we are merging the MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS and MR. MCCOMBS' BLOG!

Good Morning Emerson Eagles, Dream, Believe, Achieve! Today is Tuesday, January 11, 2011...or 1/11/11... check out all those ones!

Question of the Day:
How are you doing today?  I'm PEACHY!  How are you?

Language Expectations:
Today, make sure that you use complete sentences all day, even when speaking with your friends during casual conversations! 

Engagement Requirements:
Teachers frequently require students to interact during class time so that students can think about and explain what the teacher wants for them to learn.  Make sure that your partner has time to talk and listen too!

Rule Reminders:
Please remember that one of the SUPER 8 Rules is to- "Talk it over....Listen"  Listening is probably the most important part, because we need to understand how other people are feeling and what they are thinking.

Library Time:
When you go to the library this week it is CRITICAL that you check out books in your ZPD AND that you take a quiz for that book.   School-wide we have only passed 5,000 AR quizzes this year which is a HUGE decline from last year.  Every student should have read (and taken quizzes for) about 16 books so far this year.

Upcoming Events:
We are postponing our motivational assemblies that were sceduled for this week.  Teachers will be giving McDonald's Free Ice Cream awards for Reading, Math and Homework!

Eagle Pride:
Are you saving Box Tops for Education and Can Tabs for the Ronald McDonald House? 

First in Math
Here are our top players of the day for 1/10/11
30volcano7ca (+468)      29tempo89ca (+238)

03armor72ca (+150)       03browser6ca (+90)
21nacho20ca (+89)         08sunny57ca (+70)
17spark44ca (+65)         07zinc41ca (+64)
05orion15ca (+42)          23anvil81ca (+32)
10astro96ca (+27)          07villa14ca (+21)
24arctic6ca (+18)           19birch38ca (+11)
01vintage1ca (+1)

District-wide WE MOVED UP in rank again yesterday:
Rank     School            Avg. Points      # of Players
#14       Jefferson          123                 929

#15       Highland          112                 675
#16       Emerson          109                 590
#17       Lake Mathews 108                473
#18       Victoria            105                574
#19       Jackson            95                  704

Construction Update
Did you know that in our apple orchard, there are varieties that have quite a story? Like the Junaluska, the favorite apple of Cherokee Chief Junaluska who is credited with saving Andrew Jackson’s life.

Lunch and Attendance:
For lunch, you have two choices, the Farm Fresh Salad Bar, or the hot lunch.  Today the hot lunch is:

• Chili Dog on a Bun
• Baby Carrots
• Appleberry Juice

If you would like to have a hot lunch, please raise your hand. 

Pledge:
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance!

High Expectations:
There's no choice, achieving your personal best is required every day at Emerson!

Science Fair Winners

Congratulations to Emersons Science Fair First Place Winners!


Sixth Grade
1. Kishan Patel – Does the size of the top vent on a parachute effect how it lands? (Watring)
2. Julia Mahoney – Solar Power (Deharo)
3. Sofia Goebel – Constructing a perfect Truss. Which holds more? (Deharo)

Fifth Grade
4. Darren Yohonn – Tides of Change: The Acidic Oceans of Our Future (Nieto/Turner)

Fourth Grade-
5. Koharu Abe – Which color will be burned the fastest by using a magnifying glass? (Garcia)

Second Grade –
6. Reflections – Victoria Gonzalez (Gonzalez)
7. My Homemade Geysers – Allison Cocker (Gonzalez)
8. Wow! They’re Falling Fast! – Evelyn Yohonn (Gonzalez)
9. Plant Seeds Germination can be completely inhibited by .4% salt – Jerry Chang (Gonzalez)

First Grade –
10. Ants and the Real Thing – Joseph Nieto (Folger)

Science Fair Projects will be on display in the school library.  Stop in and check them out!

Weekend Rally a Virtual Success!

Numerous students solved math problems all weekend long during our First in Math Rally, and with the excitement of a NASCAR event, we dropped back, but then moved ahead of two other schools last night.

Here is part of the RUSD Rank:
Place,    School,      Points/Student,     Number of Players
14      Jefferson       118                     929

15      Lake Mat.    108                     437
16      Highland       106                     675
17      Emerson       102                   589
18      Victoria        101                     573
19      Jackson         94                      707

These are our basic statistics:
Stickers Earned: 60,625

Average Stickers per Team: 1,955
Math Problems solved: 181,875
Worksheets Saved: 18,188
Teacher Hours Saved: 214

Players of the Day for 1/9/11
03volcano7ca (+1442) 26anvil81ca (+697)

15sunny57ca (+502) 15birch38ca (+474)
14armor72ca (+389) 16nacho20ca (+376)
21mystery2ca (+362) 01zinc41ca (+345)
31tempo89ca (+273) 02tuxedo2ca (+247)
06orion15ca (+228) 09astro96ca (+147)
06arctic6ca (+140) 15browser6ca (+128)
22topaz93ca (+46) 12abode60ca (+40)
07flair85ca (+25) 12amaze8ca (+24)
07iota9ca (+23) 21spark44ca (+21)

School's Top 5 Players Stickers

09sunny57ca 5080
01sunny57ca 2807
03sunny57ca 2290
21sunny57ca 2054
03volcano7ca 2002

Team of the Week:
volcano7ca    Mrs. Nieto & Mrs. Turner,   5th grade +7,546

Player of the Week:
03volcano7ca +1,940

FIM Data and Daily Winner's Circle

As of about  9 p.m. Emerson really moved ahead in First in Math.  It looks like our rank will move up again tonignt.  Here are some current stats:
Stickers Earned: 60,418
Average Stickers per Team: 1,948
Math Problems solved: 181,254
Worksheets Saved: 18,125
Teacher Hours Saved: 213

Player(s) of the Day - 1/8/2011

09nacho20ca (+271) 14volcano7ca (+264)
21mystery2ca (+252) 15birch38ca (+242)
06orion15ca (+210) 14armor72ca (+187)
31tempo89ca (+176) 08sunny57ca (+73)
09astro96ca (+46) 03arctic6ca (+16)

Player(s) of the Day - 1/9/2011

03volcano7ca (+1442) 26anvil81ca (+697)
15sunny57ca (+502) 15birch38ca (+474)
14armor72ca (+389) 16nacho20ca (+376)
21mystery2ca (+362) 01zinc41ca (+345)
31tempo89ca (+273) 02tuxedo2ca (+247)
06orion15ca (+228) 09astro96ca (+147)
06arctic6ca (+140) 15browser6ca (+128)
22topaz93ca (+46) 12abode60ca (+40)
07flair85ca (+25) 12amaze8ca (+24)
07iota9ca (+23) 21spark44ca (+21)

We're Moving Up!

Emerson students started the day with 52,000 stickers, and as of 7 p.m, here are their stats:
Stickers Earned: 57,000

Average Stickers per Team: 1,838
Math Problems solved: 171,000
Worksheets Saved: 17,100
Teacher Hours Saved: 201

Wow!  We are really RALLYING to solve a lot of problems!  Call your friends, if your parents let you, and encourage them to log-in and join the FIM Rally for Emerson!

Log in and Watch Us Move Up!

This weekend, Emerson is going to RALLY for First in Math.  Emerson had a 3 week late start, so we got behind some of the other schools, but this weekend we want to move into the lead.  Here is a list of schools in order who have the most points per student:
1 Adams Elementary School 287

2 Hyatt Elementary School 269
3 Woodcrest Elementary School 244
4 Highgrove Elementary School 224
5 John F Kennedy Elem School 213
6 Harrison Elementary School 206
7 Taft Elementary School 191
8 Ben Franklin Elementary School 163
9 Longfellow Elementary School 125
10 Bryant Elementary School 120
11 Liberty Elementary School 118
12 Mountain View Elem School 117
13 Pachappa Elementary School 112
14 Jefferson Elementary School 109
15 Lake Mathews Elementary School 105
16 Highland Elementary School 101
17 Victoria Elementary School 98
18 Emerson Elementary School 96
19 Jackson Elementary School 91
20 Magnolia Elementary School 60
21 Washington Elementary School 58
22 Castle View Elementary School 58
23 Mark Twain Elementary Sch 57
24 Madison Elementary School 47
25 Fremont Elementary School 38
26 Alcott Elementary School 31
27 Patricia Beatty Elementary Sch 27

Emerson has, on average, 96 points per student.  So let's try to reach 300 points per student (currently Emerson's student with the highest score hass over 5000! So I know that everyone can reach 300 this weekend!

Portable Classrooms Roll Out to Playground

 "Our classroom got jacked up!"  I overheard a child say during recess today. Portable classrooms demonstrated today how they earned their name as they we jacked up, loaded onto a trailer, and relocated temporarily to the playground. 

Several of the best portable classrooms needed to be moved so that Haley Construction could begin the grading for the Portable Re-alignment and Lunch Shelter Project at Emerson. Prior to Winter Recess, all of the belongings were removed from the portable classrooms- most of the items moved with the teachers into the new buildings- and some were sent to storage.  After a few weeks these classrooms and their furniture will be lined up into a new-looking wing and spruced up for their next term of service. Several of the older classrooms have been donated to non-profit organizations (such as churches) by Haley Construction.  These classrooms were split in half to prepare for freeway travel. 
 
Students were amazed to see the classrooms where they were studying just a few days ago, get "jacked up" and moved out to the playground.  The inconvenience of the decreased playground will only be temporary as the project is expected to be complete after Spring Break.

First in Math

Emerson, as well as all of the RUSD schools, started participating in a great new educational web-based game that provides excellent math practice.  The backbone of the First In Math Online Program is the 24 GAME. Online games range from Addition to multi-step Algebra, and are organized into SKILL SETS. Each Skill Set is comprised of three sequential 24 Games, labeled 1, 2 and 3. Each game builds upon the skills acquired in previous games. more detail


A Pre-test/Post-test module called JUST THE FACTS records each student’s proficiency with basic facts, so you will never have to check another fact sheet! Includes assessment of each student’s skill improvement. more detail
Three KNOW & SHOW modules provide a unique way for students to experience the type of problems found in standardized tests. Students solve problems from nine categories that tie to national standards. more detail

WORKOUT GYMS build automaticity with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts, and progress to include fractions, decimals and integers. more detail

After completing certain Skill Set requirements, students can play BONUS GAMES. Serving as incentives that encourage students to continue to achieve, these games offer various types of skill-building activities, such as sequencing and working with tens. Bonus Games are targeted to skills students need to master at each grade level, based on national standards. more detail

Currently one of Emerson's classes, Mrs. DeHaro's class is in 3rd place, district-wide.  Join the fun and extend your child's success in math by allowing them to play FIM at home.

Congratulations to Emerson's History Day Finalists!

Congratulations to our History Day Finalists!  The theme this year was Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences.  First place projects will be sent on to the next level- The RUSD History Day.

 POSTERS – FIRST PLACE -4th and 5th Grade

• Jacqueline Hurtado: Mendez v. Westminster Paving the Way for Integration -Turner/Nieto
• Shundeen Martinez: Kill the Indian, Save the Man -Turner/Nieto
• Antonio Paturzo: Lincoln/Douglas Debates -Turner/Nieto
• Madison Ramirez: Nurture vs. Nature -Turner/Nieto

POSTERS – SECOND PLACE-4th and 5th Grade

• Korey Williams and Kris Vazquez: Common Sense - Condron/Hopper
• Jayden Taylor: Brown vs. the Board of Education - Turner/Nieto 

POSTERS – THIRD PLACE-4th and 5th Grade

• Koharu Abe: The Black Hills and the American Indians -Garcia
• Samantha Bauby: Suffrage -Turner/Nieto
• Emma Carson: Brown v. Board of Education -Garcia
• Cade Diaz: Was the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Necessary? -Turner/Nieto

EXHIBITS –FIRST PLACE- 6th Grade

• Shunta Abe: Fish-In -DeHaro
• Rachael Newhall: PETA: The Skin You’re In -Actions to Save Animals- DeHaro

EXHIBITS –SECOND PLACE- 6th Grade

• Olivia Dawson: We Hold the Rock : The American Indian Occupation of Alcatraz-DeHaro

Happy New Year!