Welcome!

December 9, 2024 

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

We had a wonderful week back from Thanksgiving Break. We have two more weeks until Winter Break. I am a firm believer in consistency with high expectations, academics, and this will allow us to include some fun. Please help us communicate with your students the importance of making the most of each day at school. Schoolwide we have been communicating the importance of doing the small things that add up in positive ways (voice level 0 to and from lunch, picking up trash/keeping our school clean).

We are excited to have our Book Fair just around the corner. If you are interested in helping please sign up here 

Snapshot of what is happening in the month of December:

December 9th: PTSA Holiday Grams 

Jolly Grams will be sold during lunch December 9th - 13th. Please note, Jolly Grams won't be delivered until December 18! Cost is $1 per Jolly Gram or a whole class for $25. All proceeds benefit the Holiday Assistance Program

December 10th: Math MAP Assessment 

December 12th: HERO KONA Day 

December 13th-20th: Book Fair 

December 16th-20th: Student and Staff Spirit Week (more details coming soon!) 

December 19th: Winter Arts Fest and Science Fair 

December 19th-20th: Winter Midterms (more details coming soon!) 

Recent Wolfpack Celebrations: 

• Congratulations to our dance team for taking first place this weekend! 

• Congratulations to our archery team and 6th grade Quick Recall team who had great showings this weekend! 

• Our Explore program was featured this week in JCPS communications- click here

Save the Date(s) and Other Important Information:

• Echo Trail Family Calendar : This is a living document that will be updated as needed. We wanted to give you a snapshot of what to expect each month. 

• Uniform Written Guidance and Uniform Slide Deck (visuals) : 

  • Please be mindful of skirt length 

  • Full-zip jackets are to be removed for the day 

  • Uniform Approved hoodies can only be worn on Friday

• EDULOG Parent Information

#ExpectgreaTness 

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman

Upcoming MAP Testing

Winter MAP Testing began last week with Reading. Starting tomorrow:
Tuesday, December 10 - Math MAP Test

Please encourage students to do their very best on the tests! 

We need your help! Cellphones and Peer Conflict 

We are seeing an uptick in peer conflict that is stemming from social media and group chats (text messages) communication. We are working to educate our students at school on how to resolve conflict and how to form healthy peer relationships. This work cannot be done alone and we are asking parents and guardians to partner with us in order to navigate healthy friendships while living in a tech world. Remind your child to always “Treat yourself and others with kindness” no matter if they are speaking face to face or online. Below are a few suggestions on how you can speak to your child about their social media use:

• Help them set boundaries and limits on tech. Make sure using social media doesn't get in the way of adequate sleep. 

• Have regular conversations with your child about their mental health and well-being. Talk about the platforms they're on, app features, and how they make your child feel. 

• Make sure they know to go to a trusted adult if they feel uncomfortable about something online.

Counseling Request Form 

If your student has an academic question or social-emotional need, you can reach our counselors or Mental Health Practitioner by filling out the Counselor Google Form.

6th Grade - Ms. Thomas/Ms. Wales

7th Grade - Mr. Rul-lan/Ms. Wales

Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) -  Mrs. Sanders

Order Your Yearbook!

Order your yearbook today before they sell out!

You can purchase them at the Walsworth website now.

Jolly Grams

Jolly Grams will be sold during lunch December 9th - 13th. Please note, Jolly Grams won't be delivered until December 18! Cost is $1 per Jolly Gram or a whole class for $25. Proceeds support our Holiday Assistance Program.

Thank you for supporting our ETMS community!

HERO KONA Ice - December 12

For those students who have redeemed their HERO Points for the KONA Ice Truck, it'll be here on December 12.

They are offering the original 3 sizes plus their refill for $4 on color changing cups from prior years!

Pulsera Project

Hola wolfpack!

Starting on December 2nd, our Student Y Club and 7th Grade Consumer Science classes will host a “pulsera” sale to raise funds for Central American artisans. The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit organization that works with over 200 artisans in Guatemala and Nicaragua to sell beautiful, handwoven bracelets (“pulseras” in Spanish) as well as small “bolsitas” (purses).

Pulsera sales will be held in the gym and cafeteria from 7:00-7:30 am. You can pre-purchase any number of pulseras or bolsitas via this cashless payment portal. You can pay via card, Venmo, Google, Apple Pay, Paypal, or with cash during the sale. If using the cashless payment, students will need to bring the receipt you’ll receive after purchase to redeem. Please note that there is a $0.50 transaction fee for all online transactions to cover service fees. Our sale will end on December 16th.

Link to cashless payment: https://www.pulseraproject.org/cashless

Each $5 pulsera and $15 bolsita sold will help create fair trade jobs, support communities in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and fund a number of programs that help improve the lives of hundreds of Central Americans.

Pulsera sales create sustainable jobs in vulnerable communities with few other options to achieve the dream of creating a better life for themselves and their families. By supporting our pulsera sale, you help keep families and communities together and in control of their own futures.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Johnston, Ms. Bonomo, or Ms. Boone. You may also contact the Pulsera Project directly at pulseraproject@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your consideration, and we hope you’ll consider supporting the Pulsera Project, our Student Y members, and Consumer Science students.

Immunization Forms

If you have updated immunization forms, please send those to the nurse's office. You may email them to the school at echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us, text or fax them to 502-485-8398.

Overdue Library Books

Please check at home for any library books that may be overdue and remind your students to check their lockers as well! 

Science Fair Information

A science fair project is a chance for you to explore a topic in science that interests you by creating an experiment, making observations, and drawing conclusions. It lets you become a scientist, discovering answers to your questions and presenting your findings. Participating in a science fair can be exciting and fun, and it's also a great way to learn new skills and show off your creativity and hard work!

Echo Trial will be hosting a school wide science fair the week of December 16. Any student can participate in this science fair. For more information reach out to Mrs. Jacoby at: amanda.jacoby@jefferson.kyschools.us

Creative Digital Arts Competition

Is your student really good at making digital art? Or always creating videos using technology? Do you make music on the computer using Garage Band OR record your original compositions on your laptop?

We know we have amazing talented artists at Echo Trail and we want to show them off!

The more information and the list of categories can be found at Echo Trail's STLP Page.
For questions, reach out to Mr. Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.

Submissions are due by Friday, January 10, 2025, 11:59pm

Breakfast & Lunch Menu

Below is the snapshot of this week's menu. You can always see the menu for any school and any day of the school year on the JCPS Nutrislice website. Below is the Echo Trail menu.
--> Echo Trail Menus | Nutrislice

PTSA Bookstore

The PTSA is now settled in their permanent location near the front office. Students can purchase uniform-approved apparel and more during their open hours.

Spirit Wear from BSN Returns

The PTSA Bookstore is unable to return, exchange or refund any items purchased from BSN. That is a separate company and they are not responsible for purchases with BSN.

Link your Kroger Card to Help Echo Trail

Whenever you shop at Kroger and use your Kroger Card, you use can help Echo Trail!

Kroger Community Rewards

• Link Echo Trail Middle School PTSA to your Kroger Card and every time you scan your card, Kroger will give back 1% of all your purchases ETMS!

• Click here to get started and search for “Echo Trail” in the organization search!

New to Clubs?

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Club sponsor for your students club.  You can visit our Club Page here to view current sponsors.

Sponsors will be communicating through Google Classrooms and/or announcements on any club related updates.  We also will display our Club calendar weekly to students on our scrolling TV's.

-Mr. Stivers, Clubs Coordinator, joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us 

Reminders for Picking Up After Clubs

Some of our clubs end at different times after school, so not all students will be released and waiting in the front immediately. This sometimes causes congestion due to cars in the front of the line waiting for their student to be released while cars in the back can't get to the front to pick up their waiting student.

If you are picking up a student after their club, please pull all the way forward through the circle, just like our normal after school dismissal, to provide as much space as possible. Additionally, you may park in a parking space to wait for your student.

Thanks for your help in this matter!

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Meetings occur every Wednesday from 7:00-7:20am outside the Library on the social stairs.  Although this is a before school club, parents are to drop off their student as normal by the gym entrance beginning at 7am.  This means if your student is carpool, please drive through the single lane as normal and do not divide into two lanes or drop off early.  Please be mindful of our morning staff as they are making sure all students are dropped off safely.

If you have questions, you can email Mr. Stivers at joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us

Modern Music Updates

Modern Music's website keeps you updated with the latest information and celebrations!

Willy Wonka Kids Updates

Check in with the Drama Club website for updates on the rehearsal schedule and more.

Athletic Forms

Your student athlete will not be able to participate in any activity (including practices) until they have completed the Echo Trail Athletics Physical Packet (ignore the school year -- it's still the same packet as last year). This includes the WHOLE packet. Use the cover sheet as a checklist to complete all required forms in order for your student athlete to be eligible to start their desired activity.

Thanks for your attention to this! We Expect greaT things from this Wolf Pack!
Kyle Carden, Athletic Director | kyle.carden@jefferson.kyschools.us
Twitter: @ETMS_WolfPack 

Athletic Schedule: 12/9 - 12/14

Wednesday 12/11

BB vs Kammerer  @ Echo Trail

5:00 PM 6th Grade Boys

6:00 PM JV Girls

7:00 PM JV Boys

Friday 12/13

BB vs. CAL  @ CAL

5:30 PM 6th Grade Boys

6:30 PM JV Boys

Archery - St. Martha 3D tournament Time: 5-8pm

Saturday 12/14

Archery - Atherton Bullseye Time: 6-7pm

Weekly Wrap Up

Announcements

Spring Sports are right around the corner... Sign Up Now!

With the spring sports window nearing, we look to get a jump on sign ups for the up coming seasons. Spring Sports include the following sports:

Baseball

Softball

Flag Football (Boys and Girls)

Soccer (Boys and Girls)

Lacrosse (Boys and Girls)

Track & Field

*Volleyball (Boys and 6th grade Girls)

All team opportunities depend on the amount of interest from our student athletes. If a team does not have enough athletes to fill the team, we will unfortunately not participate in that sport this spring. 

From the other perspective, if sign ups include higher numbers of participants than can be rostered by league rules, those teams will require a tryout phase to get to the appropriate roster numbers.   

Another note to point out is that for the first time this spring, JCPS is looking to offer Boys Volleyball as a competitive opportunity. Details and interest is still being gathered, but if you have an athlete interested in trying something new, please sign up on the form.

Please also be on the lookout for a follow up announcement for any coaching openings that may need to be filled when we get a better idea of the participants for each sport.

 Thank you to all of our families and we look forward to another grEaT Echo Trail Spring Sports season!

• Coach Carden

*Click on link below to sign up you student athlete

Spring Sports Sign Up Form

Indoor Track 2025 – Get Ready to Run, Jump, and Throw!

The 2025 Indoor Track season is almost here! Practices will be held twice a week (tentatively Wednesdays and Fridays) after school at Echo Trail, with meets on Monday nights in January and February at the Norton Indoor Track. You must have a sports physical on file to participate.

The events for this season include:

Run: 60m hurdles, 60m dash, 1600m, 400m, 800m, 200m, 4x400 relay, 4x800 relay (if available)

Jump: Long jump, Triple jump, High jump

Throw: Shot put

Please complete the Indoor Track Interest Form by 12/13 to help us gather essential information about your athlete’s participation. Click the link below to fill out the form:

https://forms.gle/CPeHZL3n3YwfNQUh7 

We look forward to a great season!

Any questions, contact Coach Jacoby at:

william.jacoby@jefferson.kyschools.us 

Baseball Meet, Greet, and Swings

If you are interested in playing baseball this spring for Echo Trail, come join the baseball coaches at the Eastern High School indoor facility on 12/13 starting at 6:00 pm. Coaches will be present to discuss the season, physical and athletic packets can be turned in if you have not done so already, and students can get some swings in while attending (bring your equipment).

If you have any questions please contact Coach Austin Dukes or Mr. Carden for details.

• Austin Dukes: austin.dukes@jefferson.kyschools.us 

Donate Your Recyclables

6th grade Consumer Science students will be designing/inventing something to enhance safety and prevent accidents/dangerous situations. We are in need of clean, recyclables. All recyclables should be brought to room 230 (Boone) or room 222 (Barnsfather).

Things like... newspaper, magazines, tissue paper, empty paper towel/toilet paper rolls, empty (but clean) food containers...or just anything that you think a student could use to help their imagination come to life. Please no glass, aluminum, or anything sharp. 

Bus Transportation Update

At this point in the school year, we know the consistent number of students on each bus.  If a student needs to ride home with someone else, we will handle this on a case-by-case basis due to the availability of seats on each bus. 

The process will be:

• Both parents/guardians would send a note to school the morning of

• School Administrators will check to see if there is room on the bus

• If there is room, student will be able to ride

• If there is NOT room, student will NOT be able to ride and will need to go home their normal way

• A call will be made to let parents/guardians know if the transportation change is approved or not approved

Volunteer This School Year!

We'd love to have you participate in field trips and other volunteer opportunities. Head to the JCPS Volunteer page (Get Involved) and click Volunteer Talent Center to fill out a background check form. Background checks are kept on file with the district and are good for 5 years.

Weekly Newsletter

Our newsletter is sent out every Monday morning. Previous newsletters can be found on the top left side menu bar.

Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.