
Emerson Middle School Newsletter
March 3rd - March 10th
Emerson Families,
We wish you a wonderful weekend. Please reach out to our main office with any questions or concerns.
Emerson will hold its St. Baldrick's assembly on Wednesday, March 8th from 12:30-2pm. If your student is cutting or shaving their hair, you are invited to join us! Please email em-office@d64.org to alert us of your attendance. Please include your name and Date of Birth to expedite the check in process.
Best,
Dr. Samantha Alaimo
8th Grade Promotion Dates
Promotion: Tuesday, June 6th at 6:30pm on the Maine South Football Field
Rain Date: Thursday, June 8th at 6:30pm on the Maine South Football Field
8th Grade T-Shirts
It’s time to order your 8th-grade class shirt! All of the students' names are on the back. We will have a day designated where we will encourage the students to wear their shirts. T-shirts are $14 and sizes range Youth Large-Adult 3XL. Purchase online at:
https://emersonmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/Open_Forms
Shirt orders are due by March 10th!
Boy's Volleyball Tryouts
Emerson's boys' volleyball teams will be holding tryouts on the following dates:
8th grade
Mon 3/6 8th Grade Tryout #1 7:00 - 8:00 am
Tue 3/7 8th Grade Tryout #2 7:00 - 8:00 am
Participants should plan on attending BOTH sessions.
7th grade
Wed 3/8 7th Grade Tryout #1 7:00 - 8:00 am
Thu 3/9 7th Grade Tryout #2 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Participants should plan on attending BOTH sessions.
*Tryout sign-ups will begin during PE classes the week of February 21st.
Players must have an Athletic Physical Form turned in to the Emerson Health Office in order to attend tryouts.
Contact Coach Schauer (aschauer@d64.org) or
Coach Alvarez (palvarez@d64.org) with any questions.
St. Baldrick's Charity Event
Emerson will hold its St. Baldrick's assembly on Wednesday, March 8th from 12:30-2pm. If your student is cutting or shaving their hair, you are invited to join us! Please email em-office@d64.org to alert us of your attendance. Please include your name and Date of Birth to expedite the check in process.
Emerson and Lincoln are currently busy fundraising for St. Baldrick's. You can learn more about this organization by reading this brief introduction or by visiting the Baldrick's website.
You can still donate to your favorite volunteer or shavee and help Emerson raise funds for this great cause. Also, don't forget to share the Lincoln/Emerson Baldies link with your family, friends, etc. Use your circle of influence to your advantage.
If you have any questions reach out to either Ms. Dobrydnio (edobrydnio@d64.org) or Mr. Lawson (elawson@d64.org).
St. Baldrick's Barbers Needed
If you are a licensed barber or stylist in the state of Illinois, Emerson needs your help!
Our St. Baldrick's event is on Wednesday, March 8th from 11:30am-2:00pm. Barbers will be provided a light lunch before spending time shaving heads or cutting off ponytails for donations. Please consider donating your time and talent to helping our students and staff "Brave The Shave" and helping in the fight against childhood cancer!
If you're interested in being a part of this AWESOME event, please contact our Barber Coordinator, Jess Caplis, at jcaplis@d64.org.
Thursday, March 9, 2023 3:10 St Baldrick’s Fundraiser Show $5.00
** all proceeds collected at this performance will be donated to St. Baldrick's fundraiser**
Friday, March 10, 2023 7:00 PM Blue Cast $6.00 Online
Saturday, March 11, 2023 3:00 PM Blue Cast $6.00 Online
Saturday, March 11, 2023 7:00 PM Red Cast $6.00 Online
Sunday, March 12, 2023 3:00 PM Red Cast $6.00 Online
Ticket prices increase to $7.50 on March 10
STEM Madness
Maine East High School will host STEM Madness on Thursday, March 16th from 5:00-6:30 PM. All students are invited to participate in this exciting event. Activities planned include various stations exploring: strawberry DNA, science trivia, and slime. There will also be a mini STEM panel for students to ask college and career questions. Interested students should fill out the following google form: https://forms.gle/VKghvndZzhhaMZBv8
Emerson's News Broadcast: WEMS
Vocal Notes Newsletter
Teen Leisure Clubs at Emerson
Check out the TLC Website for more information on how to start a TLC, descriptions of available clubs, and the calendar of when you can join in the fun!
Email Mrs. Contreras or the TLC sponsor(s) with any questions.
Early Entry Passes
Early Entry into Emerson begins at 7:35am. ONLY students who have a signed pass from a teacher or parent may enter the building early. Students may enter through the main entrance by the office and will be let in once the door supervisor opens the door to check passes. Entry BEFORE 7:35 will not be allowed unless there is extreme weather or a situation approved by the school. Please use this link to find extra passes for home use.
Winter Weather Guidelines
As we turn to winter, it’s time to share with everyone what our weather guidelines are for potentially closing schools. These are the guidelines we would follow if we had to close school due to weather conditions.
In the event we need to close due to weather, students and staff will not attend school that day, and should we need to make up days during the school year, we will adjust the calendar accordingly. While it's never ideal to have to interrupt learning, I appreciate your understanding and cooperation when we are concerned about student and staff safety at school.
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.
Yearbooks
We are seeking student photos from any and all school events. If you have any pictures that you would like 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) and upload pictures using this app.
- Email your photos directly to the yearbook sponsors → mapuli@d64.org / edobrydnio@d64.org
News from PTO
8th Grader T-shirts
It’s time to order your 8th-grade class shirt! All of the students' names are on the back. We will have a day designated where we will encourage the students to wear their shirts. T-shirts are $14 and sizes range Youth Large-Adult 3XL. Reach out to amgibas@gmail.com with questions.
Purchase online at:
https://emersonmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/Open_Forms
Shirt orders are due by March 10th!!
St. Baldricks
The St. Baldrick's Emerson/Lincoln Shave Event is quickly approaching! There are so many ways to support this event.
Parent Volunteers Needed: The St. Baldrick's shave assembly is next week. To help the shave event run smoothly, the Emerson PTO is in need of parent volunteers on Monday, March 6 after school to sort t-shirts and for the big shave event on Wednesday, March 8. Please help us make this event a success!! Sign-up HERE. Reach out to maureen.hartwig@gmail.com with any questions.
Dine to Donate
Wednesday, March 15th 5-8pm Join us at Portillo’s 8832 W Dempster, Niles
Mention Emerson or use code PORTILLOS20 and 20% will go to PTO.
Pizza wars
We are hoping to bring back this fun Emerson tradition next month. If you’d be interested in helping please email: ems.pto.64@gmail.com
Membership
PTO membership is the main fundraiser for the Emerson PTO. It helps fund our whole yearly budget for student events, support staff and all the other little things. If you have not yet joined, please do today!
https://emersonmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Next PTO Meeting
Wednesday, April 19th @ 6:30p.
If you would be interested in joining PTO board for upcoming year please email: ems.pto.64@gmail.com
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/holidays.
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.
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.