Emerson Middle School Newsletter
November 4th - November 11th
Good Afternoon!
It is an honor to be back at Emerson. I look forward to an amazing school year!
Please review the information and links below for additional information about a variety of topics. Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
Dr. Samantha Alaimo
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
Emerson at a Glance…
- M 11/7 ASSP Math
- T 11/8 NO SCHOOL
- TH 11/10 ASSP Math
- TH 11/10 8th/7th Boys Basketball Game vs Holmes
On the horizon:
- M 11/14 ASSP Math
- T 11/15 Intramural Dodgeball
- T 11/15 ASSP Math
- T 11/15 8th/7th Boys Basketball Game vs Chippewa
No School - Election Day 11/8
End of the Trimester & Report Cards
NOTE: Unless otherwise requested, hard copies of report cards will not be mailed home.
Opt-In D64 Text Alerts
District 64 continues to utilize many different platforms to ensure you have important information delivered to you in the most convenient way. One of those ways is through our SMS Text Messaging Service.
Getting messages delivered to your mobile device is a helpful tool, and District 64 is reenergizing our efforts to bring this to you.
These alerts will be info about events, school closings, safety, and more. That said, our SMS Text Messaging Service will be used supplementally in our communication efforts and does not replace any school emails or calls you are receiving.
How to receive text messages:
You must opt-in to receive text messages. To do so, you will need to text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.
If you’d like to no longer receive District 64 text messages, you have to send “Stop” to 67587.
If you have any questions regarding the use of text messages to communicate District/School messages, please email Christopher Lilly at clilly@d64.org.
Vocal Newsletter
Yearbooks
This is a friendly reminder that yearbooks for the 22-23 school year are on sale. The cost for a copy is $25. Yearbooks can be purchased online through My School Bucks, OR with cash or check in the main office. The deadline to secure a copy is Wednesday, December 14. After this date, yearbooks will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Apuli (mapuli@d64.org) or Ms. Dobrydnio (edobrydnio@d64.org).
We are also seeking student photos from any and all school events. If you have any to share, you can send them over through either of the following options:
Upload through yearbookforever.com (code: eagles)
Download the Yearbook Snap mobile app from the App Store or Google Play (code: eagles)
Email your photos directly to the yearbook sponsors → mapuli@d64.org / edobrydnio@d64.org
News from PTO
Fall Conference Potluck
Thanks to all who brought items for potluck and helped make this event successful! Staff was very appreciative.
Dine to Donate
11/16-Harp & Fiddle, Friendsgiving dinner.
Have always wanted try a wine and dinner night? This is your sign!
11/29, 4-9pm- Lou Malnati’s Pizza, Park Ridge. 20% of sales goes to PTO.
Toys for Tots
Information coming soon! If you’re interested in volunteering email: ems.pto.64@gmail.com
Membership
Help us reach our annual goal!! Your annual membership will make a HUGE difference in the events we can support. Your donation goes to support the PTO events throughout the year. These include grade level socials, teacher appreciation, movie night, etc!! Please join the Emerson PTO today! This is the PTO’s primary fundraiser. Once you sign up, you will have access to the PTO directory. Sign up here: https://emersonmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Next PTO Meeting
Wednesday, November 16th @ 6:30p
Meeting ID: 998 9601 0820
Passcode: Eagle
B.O.P.A. Dine-to Donate
Eat barbeque and support BOPA – D64 Band & Orchestra Parent Association —giving back never tasted so good!
DATE OF FUNDRAISER: Thursday November 10th, 2022
LOCATION: City Barbeque Park Ridge,
123 N. Northwest Pkwy
Park Ridge, IL 60068
On Thursday November 10th at City Barbeque Park Ridge, we’ll get 20% of the proceeds from every order we bring in!
Ordering in person? Show this message to the cashier at checkout (either a printout or just on your phone).
Ordering online or in the app? Use code FundA at checkout at https://www.citybbq.com/order for pickup on Thursday November 10th. Once you enter the code, you must click the red + button to apply the fundraiser code to your order (see example below).
Ordering over the phone? Ask to apply code FundA when you provide your payment information.
Remember: all orders must be picked up on Thursday November 10th from City Barbeque Park Ridge for it to count toward our
fundraiser.
Important Information for 8th Grade Students and Families
Events and Information for Incoming Maine South Freshman
Maine South High School has information dedicated to the incoming Class of 2027. You can find this webpage linked below. There are important dates to note, including building tours and course selection information sessions. This will culminate with a Freshman Kickoff Event on Wednesday December 7th from 6:00-9:00 pm.
Events and Information for Incoming Maine East Freshman
Parent/Guardian presentation for District 64 families considering Maine East High School. At Maine East HS: Wednesday November 8th, Time 7:00pm This event will be an informational session for families that have students currently attending Emerson Middle School and are considering Maine East HS for their student. This event includes a presentation from Maine East administration as well as a panel of parents/guardians who currently have students at Maine East.
S.O.A.R.S
October 2022 Family Communication: Please view this Link to read all about what has been going on during our Wednesday advisory periods.
Lunch Reminders
The cafeteria will not be accepting cash to purchase lunch items. Students must use their MySchoolBucks account to purchase any food. Please see this flyer for more information from Quest, our food service company. You can also get a food service overview by clicking HERE.
Unlike elementary school, you do not need to pre-order meals or beverages. Students may select from daily offerings in the Emerson cafeteria. More information about our school lunch offerings and payment can be found here on the D64 Middle School Lunch webpage.
Though we have many food choices in our cafeteria, most Emerson students bring their lunch to school. We strongly encourage this during the first weeks of school while we get our cafeteria systems and procedures up and running.
We highly encourage waste-free lunches. To help reduce waste, please consider using reusable containers for your child’s food and drink, rather than disposable bags and bottles. Emerson is committed to green efforts in the lunchroom. The cafeteria also has a lunch waste sort station for students to empty their lunch waste into recycling, compost and trash. We encourage all students to do so every lunch period.
FORGOTTEN LUNCHES
If students forget something at home or are being brought a lunch, items may be dropped off at the Emerson Office. We instruct students to check in with the office during passing periods to pick up these items. We will not interrupt class to notify students of items/lunches delivered to the office. As noted in our district student/parent handbook, parents are discouraged from delivering lunch to the office from local restaurants; lunches brought to the office should be reserved for emergency situations, such as a forgotten lunch.
Activity Bus
There will be three 4:00pm activity buses that will go to the Franklin, Carpenter, and Field areas. The buses will run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. These buses leave the the school around 4:15, giving students time to get from their activity to the bus. Please note: there is no 4pm bus on Wednesday or Fridays before long weekends.
Attendance Reminders
Tardiness
All students are expected to be seated in homeroom at 8:05 a.m. Students who arrive at school after the homeroom period (8:05 to 8:10 a.m.) must report directly to the office before proceeding to class. A doctor’s appointment or a bus problem are acceptable excused tardies. All other reasons will be considered unexcused. Exceptions must be approved by the principal. To assist students and parents in correcting this problem, a sequence of escalating interventions is followed after three unexcused tardies. These range from calls home, parent letters and conferences at school, detentions, tardy contract, and possible legal action against the parents.
Early Check-Out
If a student needs to leave the school before the end of the day, a parent note giving the reason, date and time of departure, and person picking up the student should be given to the teacher whose class the student is leaving. If you email this message to the teacher, please be sure to include the school secretary (em-office@d64.org) as a recipient. The student should report to the office at the time of departure. The parent or guardian must come into the office to sign out the student for the length of time the student will be away from school. If your child returns to school before the end of the day, please enter the school building and sign your child back in before he/she returns to class. Please note that students must arrive by 9:20 a.m. or be dismissed after 1:45 p.m. for their attendance to be counted as a full day.
Absences
For safety reasons and in compliance with state law, a parent is requested to notify the school office in writing or by phone within the first hour of school. If notice is not received, the school secretary will call parents at home or work to confirm the absence. To report an absence, please call the school office anytime, day or night, to access the voice mail system at 847-318-8110. When calling, please provide: student’s name; classroom/ homeroom; date of absence; and reason for absence. For illness, please share symptoms or diagnosis.
• EXCUSED: A valid cause for absence includes illness, observance of a religious holiday or religious instruction, death in the immediate family, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s safety or health, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee. For a student to be released from school as an excused absence to observe a religious holiday or for religious instruction, parents should give written notice to the Building Principal at least five calendar days before the student's anticipated absence.
• UNEXCUSED: Absences due to vacations, travel, attendance at a cultural or sporting event, or participation in a team sport, acting or fine arts performance are considered unexcused. This also includes tiredness (unless your child is ill), oversleeping. If your child is NOT called in by 10am, they will be marked unexcused for the day, and parents will be contacted by the office to verify the absence.
Vacations
Every school day is important, and the District strongly discourages scheduling family vacations on school days as these are considered unexcused absences. If your child will be absent from school for an extended period of time for a family trip, please inform the school office and your child’s teacher. Work will be given upon return for students leaving the country or immediate District area when your children RETURN to school. It must be completed at home under a parent’s supervision. Teachers are not expected to provide homework or assignments in advance for students who will be absent for an extended period of time for family vacation and other activities.
School and Office Hours
Doors to the school open for students each morning at 7:58 a.m. Homeroom begins at 8:05 a.m. Students with an early entry pass will be permitted to enter the school between 7:35-7:45, but not before. There will be a teacher opening the door to permit entry at that time. We WILL allow students to enter before this if there is inclimate or cold weather.
School office hours are from 7:20 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Remember that our student absence line (847) 318-8110 is available 24 hours a day. Please let the Emerson Office know as soon as possible if your child will not be in attendance. Please do not rely on e-mail notification for reporting absences as it may not be seen until later in the day.
COVID-19 Guidelines
You may access our guidelines for the 2022 - 2023 School Year on our website. The guidelines are very different from what we've experienced over the past two years. There are only a couple of mandatory rules we must follow when someone tests positive, yet the remainder of the guidelines only list recommendations. Each family can decide their own comfort level regarding which recommendations to follow, and we ask that everyone respects the choices of others.
Portal Access
All Emerson students and parents are provided access to schedules via the PowerSchool parent and student portals. The PowerSchool Parent Portal allows you access to your student’s academic information, including student schedules and grades. If you have any questions on how to login, please contact the Emerson Main Office for assistance at (847) 318-8110.
Handbook
Emerson Middle School, along with all District 64 schools, operates in accordance with policies and practices that have been reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook prior to the start of the school year to familiarize yourself with the information contained in it. We want to work in partnership with you to ensure a positive school year, and having an understanding of this information will help to promote a successful school year. This handbook is intended as a convenience for District 64 families and staff by summarizing selected information about procedures, services and programs. It also provides a quick reference for contact information and District timelines.
Communications
Emerson Website and Calendar
