El Informativo
Emerson Spanish Immersion Learning Center
Spanish Immersion Learning Center
2012 - 2013 School Year
Issue 2 – September 21
September 25 – Parent Involvement Opportunities 5:00 light meal – presentation 5:30 - 6:30 pm
October 4 – Picture Day, Coffee with the Principal 7:45 – 8:45 am – Lunchroom
Dear Emerson Families and Community Members:
In order for our students to demonstrate increased achievement and be successful in school, learning must occur both in
and out of school. During the school day teachers use learning targets/”I can” statements when teaching to convey to
students the destination for the lesson—what they will learn and exactly how to demonstrate their new learning. Learning
targets frame the lesson from the students' point of view —why it is crucial to learn this information, on this day and in this
way.
Teachers use homework to extend learning and allow further practice for students beyond the school day. Homework is an
integral part of the Emerson SILC program. It is learning done without teacher supervision during hours outside of the
classroom. This is an important aspect supporting your child’s academic success in order to deepen your child’s learning
and understanding. Often assignments are geared to individual ability and are the responsibility of the student to complete.
Each teacher will communicate their homework expectations. Homework for the week is communicated in the class/grade
level news letter. Generally this is what can be expected at each grade level for homework:
 High 5: 10 minutes of homework - in math and reading. Parents should read with their child in the home language.
 Kindergarten: 20 minutes of home work. A weekly homework check list/packet with supplies and activities is sent
home. Parents should read with their child in the home language.
 First grade: 30-45 minutes of homework - 15--30 minutes of reading, 15 minutes of math/writing or other content
focus activity.
 Second grade: 40-50 minutes of homework - 20-30 minutes of reading in Spanish/English, 20-30 minutes of math
(amount assigned varied by student need).
 Third grade: 50 minutes of homework - A weekly packet is sent home – 30 minutes reading in Spanish/English,
20 minutes math.
 Fourth grade: 60-90 minutes of homework - 30 minutes of math, 30-60 minutes of reading (Spanish/English).
 Fifth grade: 60-90 minutes of homework. 30 minutes of math, 30-60 minutes of reading (Spanish/English)
All students are expected to read or be read to for at least 20-30 minutes every day. Students need to read at home in both
Spanish and English. Parents are encouraged to read to their children in the parent’s home language.
Parents play a critical component in making sure that their children get homework done successfully.
 Let your child know that you think education is important and that homework needs to be done each day.
 You can help your child with homework by setting aside a special place to study, establishing a regular time for
homework, and removing distractions such as the television and social phone calls during homework time.
 If you are reluctant to help your child with homework because you feel that you don't know the subject well enough
or because you don't speak or read English or Spanish, you can help by showing that you are interested, helping
your child get organized, providing the necessary materials, asking your child about daily assignments, monitoring
work to make sure that it is completed, and praising all of your child's efforts.
 Remember that doing your child's homework for him won't help him in the long run.
Mark Quinn – Emerson SILC Principal
612-668-3611
[email protected]
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION MPS POLICY
My child is having a celebration and I want to bake/bring cookies/cakes. Is this OK?
No. Minneapolis Public School Regulation 6690C states: Food shall not be served as a
reward, incentive or as PART OF A PERSONAL CELEBRATION
whether prepared by the teacher or by a student’s family, unless the food is part of a student’s
Individual Education Plan or Individual Accommodation Plan.
Attend to Achieve!
Attendance is critical to student success. Students cannot learn if they are not in school. MPS has a
goal that students attend school 95% of the time.
Students who attend school at least 95% of the time:
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Are one-and-a-half times more likely to be on track to graduate on time
Perform better in math and reading
Have fewer suspensions
Are less likely to fail a class
Are more likely to achieve their dreams and enroll in college
Tardiness
School begins promptly at 7:30 AM. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children arrive
on time every day. Any child who is tardy must check at the greeter desk before going to class. When
a child is tardy and enters class late it is disruptive to the whole class. Please make every effort to have
your child arrive on time each day. We will be in close contact with parents of children who are regularly
arriving late in hope of changing this unacceptable pattern.
 All students will be considered tardy if they arrive after 7:30 AM, unless there is a valid reason
(e.g. late bus, doctor. or dentist appt., severe weather).
 3 Tardies will equal 1 day of absence, regardless of how many minutes late the student arrives at
school.
Picture Day
All students will have their individual pictures taken on October 4. Photos will be used for Emerson SILC Yearbook.
You may purchase pictures if you are interested. Watch for order forms coming home soon. If at all possible, please
be sure to send the EXACT payment with your order. Neither Lifetouch nor the school can open your order envelope
to make change. We are unable to process late picture orders. Additional photos/retakes are scheduled for Nov. 8th.
From Food Service
Parents please remember to return your educational benefits form for school meals. A form must be on file for every
student. If you have questions, please contact Anita Clare, Food Service Manager at 612-668-3616.
The Emerson Health Office is looking for donations of Small Size (4-8) girl’s new underwear. Items can be sent to
school with your student marked for the Health Office.
Please don’t send other clothing items as we are unable to use them at this time.
Volunteers
Volunteers at Emerson SILC provide a tremendous support to our school. We have a variety of large and small jobs
that help Emerson students and staff during the school year. All parents and guardians are required to have an
Emerson volunteer information sheet of file with their student’s classroom teacher before assisting at school. The
Volunteer Information sheet was included in the first day student packet. It only takes a minute to complete the
information and we appreciate everyone taking the time to consider volunteer opportunities at Emerson.
Community volunteers also provide hours of time helping Emerson students and staff. Volunteers from community
agencies, higher education facilities, business partners and neighbors are also required to have completed a training
session, reference checks and have current volunteer information on file at Emerson. All community agencies are
required by Minneapolis Public Schools to complete a certification process before working at a Minneapolis Public
Schools. Your contributions of time benefit Emerson in countless ways.
We look forward to working together during this school year.
Please contact, Barb Berg, Program Coordinator, at 612-668-3617 or [email protected] with any questions.
El Informativo is created by Barb Berg, Emerson SILC Program Coordinator. Spanish translations are provided
by Noe Salgado-Landa, Emerson SILC Associate Educator.