Email: em-office@d64.org
Website: https://www.d64.org/ems
Location: 8101 North Cumberland Avenue, Niles, IL, USA

Student Portal - TLC Schedule

Dear Emerson Families,

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! We have conferences on Monday and Thursday of this coming week and look forward to seeing families here at Emerson.

All the Best,

Tessa

Important Health Deadline for Students in Sixth Grade and those new to D64:

The state deadline for submitting proof of vaccination and physical exams is quickly approaching on Tuesday, October 15th. Due to the holiday on October 14th, health forms must be uploaded to Powerschool by 1 pm on Friday, October 11th. The building nurses have sent numerous communications home to those who are currently missing required information or forms..

• Proof of vaccination and a physical exam dated after 8/14/23 is required.
• Please make sure you’ve answered all questions in the parent health history section, signed, and dated it before uploading. Forms are incomplete without this done.

Please review your child’s Forms/Health Office Document Submission section of Powerschool to ensure you’ve uploaded everything needed. If you have not submitted all required forms, please submit your forms ASAP so they can be reviewed by the school nurse and corrected if missing required information before the deadline to prevent exclusion from school. Instructions on uploading forms can be found on the health services website: https://www.d64.org/health-services/

Students not compliant with vaccine/physical exam requirements will be excluded from school beginning October 15th.

Picture Retake Day for Emerson Middle School is October 18th. Pictures this year will be taken by Color Portraits. Payments may be done online. Checks may be sent to school if you have the order form. Checks may be made payable to Color Portraits Inc. Please be sure to staple the check to the order form. CASH IS NOT ACCEPTED. Please pay the exact amount required. Extra order forms are available in the office. Each student received an order form in Homeroom on Wednesday.

We Encourage Online Ordering!

Prepaid ordering is as Easy as 1,2,3! Go to ordercp.com BEFORE OR ON PICTURE DAY. Enter your student's information and the School Event Code 10042402. Choose your package and background and proceed to checkout.

Please note, this School Event Code will ONLY be vaild until October 18th.

You’re invited to the first Parent University of the year! Join us on October 22nd as Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning, Dr. Samantha Alaimo discusses Standards-Based Reporting in D64. K-5 families will learn what it looks like in the classroom structure, and for 6-8 families, how it works in the elective classes.

This event is for parents/guardians and will be on Tuesday, October 22nd at 7 pm inside the Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center (8200 W Greendale Ave, Niles).

If you plan on attending, please RSVP and fill out this form so we can accurately plan the presentation's content.

To find a collection of resources on Standards-Based Reporting please visit the SBR page on our website.

7th Grade Tryouts (plan on attending all sessions)

Thursday, 10/17 6:45 am - 8:00 am

Friday, 10/18 6:45 am - 8:00 am

8th Grade Tryouts (plan on attending all sessions)

Monday, 10/21 6:45 am - 8:00 am

Tuesday, 10/22 6:45 am - 8:00 am

Wednesday, 10/23 6:45 am - 8:00 am

Tryout sign-up information will be sent out to students during the first week of October. All athletes interested in trying out must complete and submit interscholastic Permission/Health forms. Forms should be submitted online. Instructions can be found here.

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRY OUT UNLESS THIS FORMS ARE TURNED IN.

Contact Mr. Schauer (aschauer@d64.org) is you have any questions.

Monday 10/7 - NO ASSP - Parent Teacher Conferences

Tuesday 10/8 - Math Room 301, LA Room 109

Thursday 10/10 - NO ASSP - Parent Teacher Conferences

In ASSP, you can get help in math, language arts and miscellaneous (science and social studies) with a teacher from 3:05-4:00 PM. Come to ASSP if you need to:

• prepare for a test

• get questions answered from your homework

• review a concept that you missed or confuses you

• finish that writing assignment

Join your Emerson Green Team and other Green Teams from across District 64 on Saturday, October 5th from 1-3 pm for a Woodland and Park Clean-Up Event.

We will meet at Belleau Lake. Long pants, hard-sole shoes, hats, and gardening gloves are recommended. Also, bring a 5 gallon bucket (if you have one). Plastic bags & gloves will be provided.

Contact Nicole nyburmi@gmail.com or LMDINI@sbcglobal.net with questions

The 6th Grade BOO BASH is quickly approaching! It will be after school Friday, October 18 at 3:00pm until 4:30pm in the Emerson MPR. Students will be able to take the activity bus home at 4:00pm. The PTO will provide pizza, snacks, candy and water FREE of charge. If you or your company would be interested in sponsoring the event, please reach out to the Emerson Vice-Presidents (emersonptovp@gmail.com). This year, there will be contests and carnival games for the students to enjoy, and we would like to award them with prizes we hope parents will donate.

PLEASE DONATE any of the following items and leave them at the Emerson front office or at the Mierisch home at 8149 N. Root Ct. in Niles.

1. CANDY - purchase bags of good, peanut-free, chocolate-free candy (snack size, king size, ANY size) and drop them off by Monday, October 14 for prizes. No gum!

2. $5 GIFT CARDS - purchase gift cards from any of the local businesses our kids love (Starbucks, Dunkin, Oberweis, Rita's, etc) or from stores/sites they frequent (Target, Amazon, Vbucks, Robucks, etc).

3. TIME - donate your time and to help out at the event by signing up to volunteer at our PTO website below:

https://emersonmspto.membershiptoolkit.com

We are counting on your support to make this a great success, and tons of fun for our 6th graders! THANK YOU for your support, and we look forward to seeing you and your kids at the BOO BASH!!!

As we welcome the arrival of fall and the cooler weather, we would like to remind all students that they are permitted to wear sweatshirts and sweatpants over their PE uniforms during class. Please ensure that these items are not worn to school and are kept in the students' PE lockers.

In September, our students engaged in various activities, including Fitness Testing, Flag Football, Lacrosse, and Mile Run Fridays. Our inaugural Mile Run Friday provided an excellent opportunity for students to establish a baseline mile time. This initial measurement is crucial as it helps students gauge their current fitness levels and track their progress over time. Establishing a baseline also enables them to set realistic and achievable running goals, whether focused on improving speed, endurance, or overall fitness.

As September concludes and October begins, students will complete their Lacrosse unit and continue with Mile Run Fridays, while also having the chance to participate in student choice activities. Importantly, students will continue to have the option to select their preferred level of play—competitive or recreational. We believe that offering this choice maximizes participation, enhances engagement, and promotes safety for all participants. Looking ahead, once October comes to a close, PE classes will transition indoors to focus on Basketball and the Fitness Center, followed by a Tumbling unit.

Intramural activities continue throughout the school year, taking place after school from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. The after-school activity bus will be available for students to take home at 4:00 PM. For more information regarding specific dates and activities, please click this link.

Additionally, Boys’ Basketball tryouts for 7th and 8th grade students will be held in the coming weeks. An email has been sent containing detailed information regarding important dates and necessary forms that need to be completed. Please be sure to review it at your earliest convenience.

Another reminder…students are encouraged to wear their uniforms and gym shoes daily. We recommend washing uniforms over the weekend to ensure they are clean and ready for the week ahead. Please note that students who do not have their uniform or gym shoes will forfeit daily points for preparation and may also impact their participation.

For those needing to purchase a new uniform, options are available in the gym. Students can bring cash or make a purchase online through MySchoolBucks. The cost for a new t-shirt or shorts is $7 each.

6th grade students had the opportunity to participate in our first Book Break with author Kelly Yang. Kelly Yang is the award winning author of over 10 books for children and young adults. She immigrated to America when she was 6 years old and grew up in Southern California, where she and her parents worked in three different motels. She attended college at 13 (which she does not recommend) and law school at 17. She was a writing teacher for 13 years before becoming a full-time author.

The main focus of her talk was on Front Desk which is a popular title in the Emerson LRC. Among its many honors, Front Desk won the Rebecca Caudill Award (Illinois book award for grades 4-8) in 2021. Here's a quick summary from the publisher:

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets. #1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. #2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they’ve been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. #3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language? It will take all of Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?

If this title interests you, you can read the first chapter 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.

Students meet for an extended homeroom period each Wednesday for team building and school-wide activities as well as receive direct instruction in social-emotional learning through our Second Step program. Since the start of the school year, we have introduced and reviewed our S.O.A.R.S. matrix to all students. S.O.A.R.S. is an acronym that means the following: Shows respect, Offers empathy, Acts safely, Responsible for learning and behavior, and Shows self-regulation and self-awareness. Our school motto is “Together, We Are Emerson.” We want all students to feel safe and connected at Emerson Middle School while adhering to the S.O.A.R.S. matrix.

To read about our focus for the month of September, click the link below.

The school year is almost here, and we're excited to announce that the 2024-2025 PTO Membership Portal is now live! By joining the PTO, you provide vital financial support for our students and teachers. Your membership directly funds the events and activities that enrich our school community throughout the year. It's also a fantastic way to stay connected and informed about what's happening at school, and to build meaningful connections with other parents.

We offer three membership levels, so you can contribute at a level that's comfortable for you. This year, our Blue and Eagle levels come with an extra perk: entry into our special raffle. One family from each grade will win! The prizes include an in-school pizza party with friends for 6th and 7th graders, and for 8th graders, four reserved seats at graduation—a highly coveted prize!

Your membership helps support:

• 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade student socials, including gifts and t-shirts

• School-wide events and assemblies, such as movie nights, skating & swim parties, 6th grade Olympics, and more!

• Teacher/Staff Appreciation Meals and Classroom Funds

• School beautification and playground equipment

• The Student Directory

• Red Ribbon Week

• Soaring Eagle, SOARS raffle prizes, and the Judith Snow Scholarship

• And much more!

Sign Up for PTO Here!

P.S. While you're on the portal, don't forget to sign up for any volunteer activities you're interested in!

Class of 2029 Welcome Night Wednesday, December 4th, 6:00pm-8:00pm: This evening is an open house style event for all incoming 9th grade students and potential 9th grade students and families to learn about Maine East High School, meet our staff and explore the different course options and electives offered at Maine East High School. All families are encouraged to attend.

Building Tours for Parents/Guardians: Scheduled tours are intended for parents/guardians for whom this is their first student to attend Maine East High School. Dates and times are listed below. Families will also have an opportunity to tour Maine East High School during our Class of 2029 Welcome Night on December 4th. Interested parents should complete the Class of 2029 Building Tour Request Form. Any questions can be sent to Laura Tortorello at ltortorello@maine207.org

Tuesday November 12th: 7:40am-8:10am
Tuesday November 19th: 7:40am-8:10am
Tuesday November 26th: 7:40am-8:10am
Tuesday December 10th: 7:40am-8:10am

Maine East staff will visit Emerson Middle School to speak to students about getting ready for high school and sharing information about Maine East High School on November 15, 2024.

Course Selection Meetings with School Counselor: These will take place in January 2025, and information to sign up will be provided in December 2024 to families of students who have enrolled for school.