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SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
Newsletter Date: April 4, 2015
Website: www.emersones.seattleschools.org
Volume 3 Issue 8
THE SOARING EAGLE GAZETTE
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Address: 9709 60TH AVENUE SOUTH, SEATTLE, WA 98118
Phone: 206.252.7100 Fax: 206.252.7101
Reminders:
SPRING PICTURE
DAY
Tues., April 7th
McTeacher Night
Wed., April 8th
McDonalds
5:30—8:30 p.m.
African American
Family Night
Thurs., April 9th
5:30—8:00pm
NO SCHOOL
SPRING BREAK
April 13th—17th
Student Council
Spirit Week
April 20th—24th
5th Grade Family
Night
Thur., Apr. 23rd
6:00—7:30pm
Greetings Emerson Families!
It is so hard to believe that we are already well into our third and final trimester for the 2013-2014 school year.
As I visit classrooms, observe teacher practice and engage with students, I am reminded of how much time has
passed and the growth that each child has undergone. It is both humbling and exciting! THANK YOU for
sharing your most prized possessions with us every day, and for allowing us the honor of educating your children. We know that we could not do this work without you and invite and encourage Emerson families to take
part in any way they can in our Emerson programs and events.
Spring Vacation: Spring Vacation is upon us!! We will observe this district-wide break from April 13-17
2015. There will be no school this week. Whether travelling abroad or staying here in the Seattle area, I wish
you all relaxation, rest and enjoyment with family and friends! We will see you all bright and early on Monday, April 20, 2015!
Smarter Balanced Assessment Test: The week of March 30th-May 18, 2015 all Emerson 3rd-5th grade students will participate in the statewide norm referenced testing known as SBAC. This is what we call “high
stakes” testing. Students will be tested in Reading (4th only), Math and Science (5th). Daily attendance is critical during this time as we must have all 3rd- 5th grade students present. In addition, we ask your support in
making sure that students are on time everyday so that they are not rushed or interrupting the testing environment. Parent and family classroom visits will not be permitted during the weeks of March 30-May 22 to protect the testing environment and minimize disruptions. Thank you in advance for your support and ensuring
that students have had plenty of rest, a solid breakfast and are on time to school.
End of Day Change of Plans for Students: Parents, please be aware that if you plan on changing the means
in which your student is picked up or how they are to get home on a particular day, it needs to be communicated to the Emerson office no later than 3:15 pm. that day, or we can’t guarantee your message will get to your
student or their teacher before dismissal time.
Disaster/Emergency Plan: The likelihood that we will encounter a disaster/emergency in this region of the
country is inevitable. Inside this issue, please review the procedures a parent, guardian or designee would
follow when arriving at Emerson Elementary to pick up a child after a disaster/emergency. In devising this
emergency plan, we have spent a great deal of time consulting district safety experts and training staff. Your
cooperation is essential in carrying out Emerson’s safety plan.
As always, we are here to assist you in any way that we can. Enjoy your Spring Vacation and we will see you
on April 20, 2015!
Sincerely,
Please review the “Title I Parental Involvement Plan” located in the office
at Emerson Elementary School. For
volunteer opportunities,
please contact the school office
206-252-7100.
Farah Thaxton
Principal
Page 2
THE SOARING EAGLE GAZETTE
Nurse’s Corner— Welcome to Allergy Season
Flowers are blooming and the grass is growing. Welcome to
allergy season! If your child has had a runny nose lasting for
weeks, itchy red eyes, or a sore throat, it could be allergies
rather than a cold. Be sure to talk to your little one’s health
care provider to make sure.




Here are some tips to keep allergy symptoms under control:




First of all, when the pollen count is high, try to stay inside.
Pollen is usually at its peak mid-morning, early evening, and
when the wind is blowing. Be sure to wash clothes after playing outside.
Try irrigating or using a Neti Pot. You can buy saline or make
your own by mixing in a squirt bottle 8 ounces of boiled water
with 1 teaspoon of non-iodized salt.
Drink water and stay hydrated!
Steam from a hot bath or shower can help relief congestion.


Sleep with a humidifier on at night.
Try a cool compress to relieve itchy
sore eyes.
Stop
Stop rubbing those eyes!
rubbing
If your child likes spicy foods, encourage a meal made with cayenne
those
pepper, ginger, onions, or garlic. This
eyes—
may help thin mucus and clear nasal
passages.
This can
Warm tea with honey will soothe a
increase
sore throat and the steam may help
congestion.
irritation.
Speak with your child’s healthcare
provider about medications to help
control allergy symptoms. As always, please keep the nurse
updated about any changes in health or need for medication at
school.
SBAC Spring Break Camp
“City Year will be hosting an SBAC Spring Break Camp for
3-5th grade students Monday through Thursday during Spring
Break. Students will participate in Math and Reading skill
opportunities to prepare for the SBAC and to strive to increase their grade level proficiency. Students will also have
time for snack and recess. The goal is to provide your student
with small group instruction aligned with their current assignments in class, improving on the skills they already have, and
developing new skills targeted to achieve grade level standard.
be provided with breakfast or lunch. Please be prepared to
provide these meals for your students.
If you have not received an application, please pick one up
in the Emerson school main office. Applications are due
April 8, 2015.
SBAC Spring Break Camp will be held at Emerson free of
cost to all 3—5th grade students. Students will receive a
snack mid-way through the program. They will not, however,
Head Start—Accepting Applications for 2015/2016 School Year
Seattle Public Schools Head Start program has began accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year.
This program
serves three and four year old children. Your child must reach the age of three or four by August 31st in order to enroll. Head
Start programs are for low-income families. You will be asked to provide proof of your income for the preceding calendar
year. Seattle Public Schools Head Start programs are for families residing in the City of Seattle. Your child must live within
the Seattle City Limits. For further information or applications, please contact Marcie Slaughter at 206-252-7084. Or, you
may contact the Head Start classroom here at Emerson in Room A112, Monday through Thursday from 8:00a.m. to 10:00a.m.
Page 3
THE SOARING EAGLE GAZETTE
Standardized Testing—Make Sure Your Student is Ready!
They’re on the increase and the stakes are 
high. In many states the results of standardized tests determine whether children are promoted to the next grade or graduate from High school. Sometimes just thinking about these
tests makes students—and their parents—anxious and angry.
But hating them won’t make them go away. In fact, a bad
attitude can actually hurt your child’s test performance. Her
are some ways you can help your child at testing time:
Standardized tests.
Keep things in focus. Standardized tests are just one of the
ways that schools evaluate children’s progress. Don’t believe—or let your child believe—that poor test results mark
him or her as a failure.
Tips for Parents:
 Set your own standards. Make sure your child knows
it’s important to take the test seriously, follow the rules,
and do his or her best.
 Are you Ready? Check to make sure your child has the
correct kind of pencils, calculator, or other supplies
needed for the test.
 Early to bed. A good night’s sleep is very important the
night before a big test. Most children need at least 10
hours of sleep to perform their best.
 Prepare a good breakfast. Test morning is not the time
for a high-sugar snack—or no breakfast at all. A nutritious and filling breakfast is a must.
Neighborcare Dental—To Keep our Kids Smiling
A dental team from Neighborcare Health’s Rainer Beach Medical & Dental Clinic will be coming to Emerson Elementary on
Wednesday, April 29th to perform a dental screening for our students. What is involved in the dental screening?

Each dental screening takes less than 2 minutes per student.

A licensed Neighborcare Health dentist will make a visual
evaluation and will apply fluoride varnish to each student’s
teeth. A dental screening does NOT take the place of a complete dental exam by your child’s dentist and will be free of
charge to you.

Neighborcare Health staff will follow up with families to
connect students needing dental care to services in the community, including in-school treatment with our portable
equipment.
Why are they doing it?

Dental cavities are preventable but still affect children more
than any other chronic disease.

52 million school hours per year are lost because of dental-related illness.
The goal of Neighborcare Health’s School-based Dental Program is to
connect children in our communities to a dental home.
A consent form for the screening will be sent home with your child a
couple weeks prior to the screening. If you do not receive a consent
form, please contact Emerson’s office at 206-252-7100.
Page 4
THE SOARING EAGLE GAZETTE
African American Family Night at Emerson Elementary
:
Please join us for Emerson Elementary’ s
African American Family Night!
Partner and help bridge the education gap for
our students!
Improve school and family partnerships!
Build community with our families!
DISCUSSION TOPICS:
What resources are available at Emerson to support your child
Tool-kit for student success
Bring your ideas!
Bring your questions/concerns…
WHEN & WHERE:
Thursday, April 9th, 2015
5:30 – 7:30pm
Dinner, and activities for the kids, will be provided!
For more info contact:
Miss Brittany/or Miss Edna at 206-252-7100
Page 5
THE SOARING EAGLE GAZETTE
Disaster/Emergency Plan—Re-unification Procedures
It is very important that order is maintained when pick-
the “Reunion”area.
ing up a student after an emergency. The following
steps must be adhered to when a parent or designated
person arrives at Emerson to pick up their child.



IF YOU SEE YOUR CHILD, PLEASE DON’T
TAKE YOUR CHILD WITHOUT FOLLOWING
THE ABOVE PROCEDURES. PLEASE DISThe authorized (Parent/Guardian/Designee) per- CUSS WITH YOUR CHILD THE IMPORTANCE
son will report to the “Student information” ar- OF REMAINING ON CAMPUS IN THE EVENT
OF A DISASTER/EMERGENCY.
ea to complete a “Student Release Form” and
provide proof of identification
The authorized person will be directed to the
“Reunion” area.
Once the student(s) arrives in the “Reunion”
area, the authorized person will be asked to sign
the original “Student Release Form” before the
student is released.
Note: While the authorized person is being directed to
the “Reunion” area, runners will take the “Student Release Form” to the “student Welfare” area. The
“Student Welfare” staff person(s) will allow the student
(s) to accompany the runners to the
Things can be chaotic following a disaster/emergency,
so we have implemented these procedures to ensure
students are reunited with their families in a safe and
supervised manner.