Emerson Update 11/8/24

Dear Emerson Middle School families,

We want to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming parent turnout at our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your active participation is a testament to your commitment to your child's education and well-being. We value the strong relationships we build with our families, and these conferences provide invaluable opportunities to collaborate and support our students' academic, social, and emotional growth.

For those who were unable to attend, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teachers via email. We are always eager to connect with you and discuss your child's progress.

Today, our talented music and performance students had the privilege of attending the play "Puffs" at Franklin High School. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and positive representation of Emerson Middle School. (They said the play was awesome.)

Our counseling department has reached out to some families regarding attendance concerns. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may impact attendance, but regular school attendance is vital for your child's academic and social development. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing difficulties in ensuring consistent attendance. We are here to work together and find solutions to support your child's success.

In closing, I want to commend our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to our students. Their passion for education and their ability to inspire our students is truly inspiring. I am also incredibly proud of our students, who continue to amaze us with their intelligence, creativity, and resilience.

Thank you for being a part of the Emerson Middle School community. Together, we can create a bright future for our students.

With Eagle Pride,

Bruce Rivera

November 2024

11/11/24 - Monday - Basketball Game @ Emerson

11/12/24 - Tuesday - Emerson Skate Night 6-8pm. Riverside Arena.

11/14/24 - Thursday - Basketball Game @ Frost

11/18/24 - Monday - Basketball Game @ Emerson

11/20/24 - Wednesday - Basketball Game @ Holmes

11/27/24 - Wednesday - NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Recess

11/28/24 - Thursday - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Day (Turkey Trot and Parade!)

11/29/24 - Friday - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess

Shows are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Franklin High School Performing Arts Center, 31000 Joy Rd., Livonia.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

ABOUT PUFFS...

In this hilarious parody of a familiar story, three potential heroes are just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers. Their epic quest takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a boy wizard hero can be.

Get ready! Tuesday November 12th will be our first skate night of the year.

Day: Tuesday Evening

Date: November 12, 2024

Time: 6:00pm. - 8:00pm.

Costs: $10.00

PTSA members can skip to the front of the line.

Get your Pre-Sale tickets HERE: https://emslivonia.givebacks.com/store

Pre-Sale closes Monday 11/11 and midnight.

WHAT IS REFLECTIONS?

The PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The program offers students in preschool through grade 12 the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. It celebrates the many skills of our students and encourages them to pursue artistic expression in a number of different ways including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.

THIS YEAR’S THEME – “Accepting Imperfection”

Each year, students create projects that are inspired by a common theme. The theme for 2024-25 is “Accepting Imperfection.” Students must use the theme as inspiration and include an explanation in their artist statement that shows how the project relates to the theme.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Start by reading the rules.

• The 2024-2025 Reflections Rules Brochure incorporates the national rules, as well as the Michigan-specific and the Livonia-specific rules.
• The category guidelines list the official rules for each art category.
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Dance Choreography
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Film Production
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Literature
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Music Composition
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Photography
  • 2024-25 Reflections category guidelines – Visual Arts
• The 2024-25 Accessible Arts division guidelines explain the eligibility and guidelines for special artists.

Then, go make some art!

Make sure you follow all of the rules when you create your projects.

Turn your projects in to your school’s Reflections chairperson no later than November 15, 2024.

Benefits of New Bag Policy

Our new bag policy supports Emerson’s school vision by reinforcing S.O.A.R. expectations.

• SAFE - By storing all bags in our lockers, we can reduce hallway and classroom congestion, tripping hazards, concealment of prohibited items, and physical peer to peer conflicts.

• ORGANIZED - By storing all bags in our lockers, students will learn to travel to each of the six classes with scheduled stops to their locker to gather supplies.

• ACCOUNTABLE - By storing all bags in our lockers, students will learn to be responsible, use their time wisely, and learn to plan and prepare accordingly for each class period.

• RESPECTFUL - By storing all bags in our lockers, students will learn how to respect their belongings and learn boundaries in shared environments, promoting mutual respect among peers.

By November 11th, students who bring backpacks or drawstring bags to class will be asked to store them in their lockers.

Parent Survey

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible education for our students, we are currently conducting feedback surveys for parents, staff, and soon, students.

Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to continuously improve our school community. We invite you to take a few moments to complete the parent survey.

2024-2025 Emerson Family Survey

Your responses will help us identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth.

There are two ways you can report an absence for your student at Emerson.

Option 1:

• Go to the Emerson Middle School website.
• Click on "Report an Absence" under Quicklinks.
• Fill out the Google Form (also at the top of this newsletter).

Option 2:

• Call the attendance line at 734-744-2666.
• Please leave a detailed message about your student's absence.
• Include their name, reason for absence and any specifics we may need to know.

Emerson Student Handbook & Code of Conduct

• This has been updated for the 2024-20254 school year.
  
• It can be accessed HERE.




A few key things to note:




• Please partner with us by reminding students that cell phones and electronics should be "AWAY FOR THE DAY"!
• All students must keep bags and backpacks in their lockers.
• We do not allow Hats and/or Hoodies to be worn during the school day.

The Livonia Parent Advisory Committee (LPAC) seeks parent representation from each Livonia Special Education Program. Parent representative volunteers have a child/children with a disability(ies). The LPAC also provides advisory input on matters regarding improvement of Special Education services within our school district.

Our Facebook page shares information of interest to our families and students.

Here, you will find electronic flyers for programs and events geared toward kids!

We hope that you enjoy the many offerings from around our great community!

If you have a program that you'd like to advertise, please email your flyer to Stacy Jenkins at sjenkins3@livoniapublicschools.org for approval. We follow a set of guidelines for approval and are only able to accept flyers for non-profit organizations that benefit our local children.

Enjoy!

• Just a reminder to please take a moment and join the Emerson PTSA! Below is the link.
• Click Here to Join the Emerson PTSA
• Here is the link to our Emerson PTSA Facebook page

Thank you for your support

The PTSA

Emerson Middle School has several clubs where students can connect with their peers, learn a new skill, or simply hang out with friends. We've had a volleyball club, robotics club, GSA club, and homework club. We would love to offer something for everyone! Our club list is always growing, and we're always open to new ideas. If your student has a dream club in mind or if you'd like to be an awesome advisor, let us know! Joining a club is a great way to make new friends, learn new skills, and have a blast!

We will often post relevant and important information on social media for families, and many families find it helpful to contact us on Facebook and Twitter. The absolute best way to contact us and get a reply, however, is by emailing the appropriate staff member or by phone (734) 744-2665.

Our website is also one of the best places to find a variety of information!

These staff members can help with the following topics:

• Athletics - Mr. Colling (acolling2@livoniapublicschools.org)
• Counselors:
• Mrs. Berman (aberman@livoniapublicschools.org) supports students with last names A-K
• Ms. Colvin (fcolvin@livoniapublicschools.org) supports students with last names L-Z
• Health Care Plans - Mrs. Matuska (smatuska@livoniapublicschools.org)
• Registration - Mrs. Carroll (jcarroll4@livoniapublicschools.org)
• Special Education - Mrs. Downs (kdowns@livoniapublicschools.org) or Mr. Kowalski (dkowalsk@livoniapublicschools.org)
• Student Activities - Mr. Dewey (bdewey2@livoniapublicschools.org)

Website: https://www.livoniapublicschools.org/Domain/13
Location: 29100 West Chicago, Livonia, MI, USA
Phone: (734) 744-2665
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EMSLivonia/
Twitter: @EaglesNestEMS