BULLDOG BARK

Important Contact Information:

Main Office Phone: 586-439-6700

Absentee Phone Line: 586-439-6790

24 hour recorded line, please leave your child's reason for absence and length of time out. Absences reported to this line, ensure most timely and accurate record.

Fax: 586-439-6701

Emerson Principal: Mr. Sam Argiri

Email: Samuel.Argiri@fraserk12.org

School Administrative Assistant: Ms. Christina Salisbury

Email: christina.salisbury@fraserk12.org

Building Hours - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

School Hours: 8:35 am – 3:30 pm
First Bell: 8:30 am
Instructional Bell: 8:35 am

Hopefully you had a chance this Thanksgiving weekend to enjoy family and friends. It’s been said that Thanksgiving is one of the purest of holidays since it’s centered more on appreciating people rather than “stuff.” Hopefully, the only focus on “stuff” you encountered was the bread in your turkey – if that’s your tradition.

I would just like to say how thankful I am to have the opportunity to work with the Emerson community. With Principal Sam Argiri taking a leave for the month of December, I am honored to accept the call to fill in. Notice my words are “fill in,” not “replace.” Mr. Argiri has done remarkable things at Emerson by developing warm relationships with students, staff and parents. There is no one who can “replace” him.

So no one is taken by surprise, I want to mention some differences between myself and Mr. Argiri.

Let’s consider age and agility. Sam is tall, semi-dark, handsome and agile. I am not. Being nearly 20 years Sam's senior, I'm totally gray and will take twice as long as Mr. Argiri to get up after tying a kindergartner’s shoes. I've been working in Fraser so long – since 1976 - that I was Mr. Argiri's athletic director when he was a student at Fraser High. I have also had the pleasure to teach many of the current Emerson parents and faculty.

With the exception of a 4-year absence in the mid-80s, I remained in Fraser 31 years until my retirement in 2010. During that time, I taught junior high, high school, coached hockey, and moved through several administrative positions including superintendent.

This will be my third interim principal position in Fraser. I keep returning to Fraser since the district has been such a great memory maker. I love the collaborative help from staff, the smiles & enthusiasm of students, and the support from parents. I look forward to meeting the Emerson Community as we work towards celebrating a joyful December, a highlight month for most elementary students.

Dr. Rick Repicky

3rd Graders in Ms. Strahan and Mrs. Thompson’s class read a book called Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. The book tells about the true story of how Tony Sarg made the first parade balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tony loved making things move and discovering new ways of doing things. Tony used a Growth Mindset while planning, adapting, and developing ideas for the giant balloons. After reading, students tackled a STEM challenge to design and create their very own balloon for our 3rd Grade Thanksgiving Parade. Students worked hard to sketch out their designs, create, reflect and improve their plans with the materials given. We also paraded around the school to show off our creations! We had so much fun!

Mrs. Copacia’s first grade class had a fun Thanksgiving Turkey Day celebration. We decorated placemats and enjoyed a traditional turkey feast together. We also saved Tom the Turkey by completing 7 Turkey Day stations after our feast. We are thankful for our first grade family!

Our Second Grade had a great learning experience as we learned all about the First Thanksgiving. Our driving question was “How did the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag impact our history?”. Students worked hard on reading and writing skills as we researched and learned the events from the past. We shared with our families what we discovered by having a Thanksgiving Celebration. We started with a performance that included songs, poems, and a Reader’s Theater story that told about the timeline and events of the Pilgrim and Wampanoag history. We learned that the Pilgrims would not have survived if it wasn’t for the friendship and help from the Wampanoags. Without their friendship, our history would be different today. We ended our celebration with a Thanksgiving Feast as we enjoyed foods that would have been shared at the First Thanksgiving. It was a great performance by the second grade students!

At this time, families are able to request to change the learning mode for their student(s) for the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year. Students who are currently attending school in-person can switch to virtual, and students who are enrolled in virtual can switch to in-person. If you do not wish to switch your child’s learning mode, no action is necessary.

Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Submitting the form linked in this email does not guarantee a request will be granted. Requests will be reviewed by building and district leadership and the parent/guardian will be notified. If approved, the change will be effective for the second semester (January 6, 2025 - June 6, 2025). Please carefully consider this semester-long commitment before submitting this application, as requests to change during the second semester will not be granted. However, the District may change your child’s learning mode if appropriate academic progress is not met throughout the semester.

If you are interested in changing your child’s learning mode for the second semester, please fill out this application. You will need to submit one request for each student.

Enrollment Change Request Form

This application will close on December 16th. You will be notified by the District of your child’s application status and specific information will be provided about the switch.

December 9th @ 9:00am-10:00am

The presentations will include first-grade students and the parents of 2nd graders. Students will showcase their chosen careers, sharing both their costume boards and the scripts they’ve prepared.

On presentation day, the 2nd graders will be spread out in the gymnasium in their career costumes. Each student will have a button in front of them for guests to step on. When someone steps on the button, that’s when the 2nd grader will read their script. The buttons will come in different shapes, and we will provide stickers to the 1st graders that match the color and shape of the buttons. We’ll ask the 1st graders to go to the buttons that correspond with the stickers they receive.

The first 30 minutes of the event will be dedicated to the 1st graders, allowing them to come down and enjoy the presentations. After this time, we will send the 1st graders back to their classrooms before inviting the parents in for the remaining 30 minutes of the presentations.

Mantra- I can use cooperation and teamwork to succeed.

Quote- “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Michael Jordan

12/3-12/4 -- Santa Shop

12/3 - 2nd Grade - Troy Historic Village

12/5 & 12/6 -- Half Day (Record's Day)

12/9 -- 2nd Grade Wax Museum

12/11 -- Report Cards Distributed

12/23-1/3 -- Winter Break

2024-2025 District Calendar

All students, grades Young 5s-12 use Canvas, a learning management system. Classroom teachers use Canvas to provide instruction, resources, activities, and assessments for students, as well as parent communication.

Parents are encouraged to set up a parent/observer account to stay abreast of student learning. Canvas will allow parents to:

• Contact their child’s teacher
• View grades, due dates, and events
• See, and in many cases access, what the child is doing at school
• Support an absent student
• View classroom and building announcements

Downloadable directions are linked below. In addition, helpful videos and walk-throughs may be found linked HERE.

If you have any trouble at all, please reach out to Emerson's Media Clerk, Jennifer Barozinni at Jennifer.Barozzini@fraserk12.org or Kim Keith at kimberly.keith@fraserk12.org..

CARE is a resource in our community that helps families and individuals who are experiencing difficulties with mental health or substance abuse. CARE's Student Assistance program offers families the opportunity to receive a thorough assessment for children who are experiencing mental health issues. CARE will then provide resources to assist with concerns. CARE also is a great place to attend parenting classes for Early Childhood through Teen. Speciality classes related to anger management and play and learn groups for younger children are also programs provided through CARE. For more information or for a referral to CARE's Student Assistance program please contact our social worker, Ms. Gentry, or contact CARE at 586-541-CARE.

For the fastest support please use the link and complete the JotForm for tech support from Mrs. Barozzini. Please remember Mrs. Barozzini is not available for nonscheduled calls or pop in visits because she is working on the submitted JotForms.