Emerson Middle School
Email: em-office@d64.org
Website: https://www.d64.org/ems
Location: 8101 North Cumberland Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
This Wednesday, 6th grade students had the opportunity to participate in a Book Break with author Sharon Draper. Sharon M. Draper is a passionate writer and educator who believes in the power of big dreams. She is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Awards, four-time winner of the International Reading Association Young Adult Choice Books, recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime literary achievement, winner of the Charlotte Huck Award, nominated for an NAACP award, National Teacher of the Year, and Out of My Mind was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Books of All Time. Sharon’s professional writing journey began when a student challenged her to enter a short story contest!
The main focus of her talk was Out of My Mind which is a popular title in the Emerson LRC and soon to be Disney+ movie (Nov. 22 release - check out the trailer here). Out of My Mind tells the story of Melody, an eleven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who is unable to speak or move. Despite her challenges, Melody is exceptionally intelligent and has a photographic memory. The novel follows her journey as she struggles against the limitations others place on her and fights to be recognized for her abilities. With the help of technology and supportive individuals, Melody finds her voice and proves that she is capable of much more than anyone imagined.
If this title interests you, consider partner reading with your student. It is a powerful reading experience and one of the few books that I recommend to just about everyone. I'm always happy to send home additional copies from our library so families can read together.
If your student has already read Out of My Mind, they can read the next books in the series or try some similar titles.
Students who enjoy connecting with authors are also encouraged to enter Letters About Literature, a statewide reading and writing competition offered by the Illinois State Library’s Illinois Center for the Book. The writing prompt is: "How did an author’s work change your view of the world or yourself?" Check-out the entry form and FAQ for details. The deadline is December 15.
Mrs. Katie Contreras
School Librarian
Emerson Middle School
Park Ridge-Niles SD 64
Wrestling Informational Meeting
All athletes interested in trying out must complete and submit interscholastic Permission/Health forms. Forms should be submitted online. Instructions can be found here.
Wrestling practice will start after Fall Break on December 3rd.
STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE UNLESS THIS FORMS ARE TURNED IN.
Contact Mr. Marx (emarx@d64.org) if you have any questions.
We were delighted to see and connect with so many of you during our fall conference nights. Thank you for your continued support.
With the completion of our outdoor units, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of team activities, including flag football, lacrosse, soccer, as well as teacher and student choice weeks. These activities focused on enhancing basic gameplay skills and strategies. We also continued our Friday Mile runs, where many students demonstrated consistent improvement in their mile times. It has been rewarding to witness the students' progress in enhancing their cardiovascular endurance and developing a stronger understanding of pacing.
Our PE classes have now transitioned indoors, with a focus on basketball and the fitness center. Students will rotate through the fitness center to learn how to properly use our Rogue Echo bikes and further develop their cardiovascular endurance by combining challenging workouts and raising their heart rate quickly.
Following the basketball and fitness center unit, classes will move into tumbling. This unit encourages creativity and flexibility, with students practicing skills such as basic rolls, cartwheels, balances, and jumps. They will ultimately put together individual or group routines, showcasing and memorizing the skills they have chosen to master.
Additionally, our intramural activities continue throughout the school year, taking place after school from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. An activity bus will be available to take students home at 4:00 PM. For more information on specific dates and activities, please click here.
Finally, a reminder for those needing to purchase new PE uniforms: options are available in the gym. Students can pay with cash or make purchases online through MySchoolBucks. Each t-shirt or pair of shorts is $7.
Hello Emerson families! We’re excited to share some recent highlights and upcoming events as we continue to support our school community.
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Join the Emerson PTO for the 2024-25 school year and stay connected! Sign up here.
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Members can now access our Student Directory for easy connections with classmates and families.
Upcoming Events
PTO Meeting
Join us for updates, event details, and a chance to share your thoughts!
📅 Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 6:30 pm
💻 Virtual Meeting LinkDine to Donate: Dine out any day (or everyday!) the week of November 13th to support the Emerson PTO. Superdawg Drive-In is donating 20% of the sales from November 13th - November 11th at either of their locations. A copy of the flyer does need to be provided at the time of your order. This is how Superdawg tracks all of the orders and how Emerson PTO is given a % of the sales. Make as many copies as you want — pass along to your family, friends and neighbors!
Highlights from Recent Events
Faculty Meals for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Special thanks to Phyllis Lubinski for helping us show appreciation to our faculty!6th Grade Halloween Party – A Huge Success!
Thank you to Jen Mierisch and Rebecca Sahlin for organizing an amazing celebration.Spiritwear Store
Show your school spirit! Check out our updated store.
Thank you for your ongoing support – we’re looking forward to a fantastic year with you all!
