Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

April 28, 2025

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

This week is a short but ExciTing week with our Wolf Pack!

There are several celebrations that will happen this week including: HERO, Grade Level Teams, MAP Growth, and Teacher Appreciation Week!

PTSA will be celebrating our Teacher’s all week long but please encourage your students to take a moment to write their teachers a note of thanks. It truly goes a long way and is deeply appreciated.

As we enter the month of May, we have had so many positive things happening within our Wolf Pack! Congratulations to Ms. Thomas and Ms. Abell for their nominations at the JCPS Educators of Color Awards Ceremony. We are grateful to have them at ETMS and thankful for all they do. Our Men of Quality and SWAG groups had their end of the year celebrations recognizing all they have accomplished this school year. Congratulations to ALL of our Spring sports who are adding to our WIN column as a school each and every day. Last but not least, our STLP club had a grEaT showing at STLP State. As you can see, we have so much to be proud of at Echo Trail!

Happy Derby Week!

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
- Dressdown Guidelines

#ExpectgreaTness

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman

Counselor's Corner

2025 - 2026 Math Placement Assessments

The Math Department will conduct a math placement test for students on May 14th. Please refer to the letters below for more information regarding the math placement assessment for 6th and 7th grades.

6th Grade Math Placement Letter

7th Grade Pre-Algebra Readiness Test

HERO INCENTIVES

What is HERO?

HERO is our platform to recognize and reward students for positive actions and behaviors. Students are able to earn points throughout the week for demonstrating the G.R.E.A.T. Pillars of Success.

G - Growth Mindset

R - Ready and Responsible

E - Enthusiastic Attitude

A - Actively Participate

T - Treat yourself and others with kindness

Lanyards: Each student received an Echo Trail Lanyard with their school ID. Expectation is students MUST have their school ID and lanyard with them each day in order to earn points. IDs are used to award points and scan for lunch numbers. In the event, students will need to replace their lanyard, ID and/or plastic ID holder, they can redeem points to do so.

Celebrations: HERO recognitions will take place weekly, monthly and quarterly to celebrate our top HERO earners and staff members who reward points.

HERO Student and Teacher Leaders

Check out our HERO point leaders for last week!

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

EXPLORE

👀 Check out what's Happening in Explore this week...

6th Grade

Business & Communication Consumer Science Engineering & Design - All 6th Graders will begin the last term rotating through all 3 Explore Classes. Each Rotation will be 2 weeks long, culminating with a 3 week period where students will complete their Pathway Selection and their Pathway Defense. Students will start the process of selecting their Explore Pathway. The Explore Pathway is a two year commitment and will consist of a year-long course in each of their 7th and 8th grade years. It is important that students select their pathway based on interest and not on friends or teachers. Schedule changes will not be possible once the selections happen. We have been talking with students about this but wanted to also make sure we communicated with families as we begin this process. Thank you for your partnership in supporting your students in making the best decision for them!

Check out our Explore Showcase. This event allows our 7th Graders to Promote their Pathways and exhibit all the grEaT things they do in each Pathway. 6th Graders rotated through each Pathway and got to hear from some of our 7th Grade Students. 7th Graders created displays, led discussions and promoted their Pathways.

7th Grade

Business & Communication -Video Podcasts

Consumer Science -Food Recipes/Food Design

Engineering & Design - Automaton Creations, TinkerCAD Design 3D Pieces, Makerbot 3D Printing

🎉 7th Grade Showcase Students 🎉

These 7th grade Students were selected to Showcase their Pathways for 6th Graders to gather more information about what 7th grade will be like for each pathway

Business & Communications

Nia Haile, Gavin Howard, Griffin McClesky, Ava Nagelkirk, Karsen Taylor, Elizabeth Newton

Consumer Science

Ashrita Vaddicharla, Shyanne Reed, Kayla Gloeckler, Will Turner

Engineering & Design

Beckett Petkovic, Ashka Patel, Siddharth Tarigopula, Matthew Stearns, Bailey Taylor

Important Information & Upcoming Events

Library Book Returns

All library books need to be turned in May 1st, 2025.

🎉 Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is Coming! 🎉
Echo Trail PTSA is excited to celebrate our incredible teachers and staff the week of April 28th!

Want to be part of the celebration?
Encourage your child to send in a heartfelt note to their favorite teacher or staff member. A few kind words can go a long way as we head into the final stretch of the school year!

Let’s show our appreciation and make this week extra special for those who support our students every day!

Game, Play and Eat at Main Event to Support Echo Trail!

Echo Trail Middle School Athletics
May 14th, 2025, at 5:00pm – 8:00pm
12500 Sycamore Station Place, Louisville, KY 40299

20% of all proceeds go to support our athletics!

See flier for more details!

Celebrations

Weekly Student Spotlight

Congratulations on demonstrating what it means to be G.R.E.A.T. at Echo Trail!

Echo Trail on Facebook

Follow Echo Trail Middle on Facebook for updates and celebrations!

Echo Trail on X

Follow Echo Trail Middle on X for updates and celebrations!

Echo Trail PTSA

Meet your 2025-26 PTSA Board, as voted in at our general board meeting on Friday, April 11.

You will notice we are still looking for a Chair or Co-Chairs for our Bookstore, Nature Walk, and Spring Festival. If you've ever thought about getting involved in your child's school, the PTSA is a fun and supportive way to make a difference and get to know admin and other parents! We hope you'll consider joining us!

Email Melissa at mroe76@yahoo.com for more info.

Thanks to all of our donors, volunteers, and community members who showed up in support of our 2nd annual Spring Festival on April 11.

We are excited to share that we were able to raise $15,943.18!

All proceeds will go back to supporting school programs and our Wolf Pack. Many thanks for your support!

Class Act Heroes of Education

Please vote for Echo Trail Middle School on the Class Act link! Last year we earned $3500 and this year we are already up to $2000!!

Visit heroesofeducation.org/schools/echo-trail-middle-school and make an impact on our school!

Echo Trail Clubs

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

STLP

This past week, we headed to Lexington for the State Championship. We had two groups present their fantastic projects, several robotics teams compete -- with a Third Place finish in Sumobots! -- and numerous students compete individually in live tech-based skill competitions. It was a grEaT day!

Our final STLP Meeting of the school year will be this Thursday, May 1, 2:20-3:20. Hope to see everyone there!

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.

Wolf Pack Athletics

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: 4/28 - 5/1

Mon 4/28

BSoc vs Farnsley @ Farnsley (Visitor)

5:30pm JVB

6:45pm VB

Echo Trail VB v Westport (Girls)/Kammerer (Boys) @ Kammerer

5:30p 6th Girls vs Westport

6:30p Boys vs Kammerer

JCPS Track Meet @ Norton Complex 4:30pm

Tue 4/29

5:30pm JVG Soc vs Olmsted @ Iroquois HS (Visitor)

Girls FFB @ Senca

4:45pm ET vs Olmsted So (Field 2)

6:25pm ET vs Johnson (Field 2)

5:50pm 6th Grade BSB vs SE Catholic @ Fairdale (Home)

6:30pm SB vs Shelby Co (Visitor) @ Southern Upper

Wed 4/30

6:45pm VB Soc vs Ramsey @ Ramsey (Visitor)

Boys FFB @ Moore

5:35p ET vs Noe (Field 2)

7:15p ET vs Westport (Field 2)

7:30p JV BSB vs DuBois @ Germantown (Visitor)

Thurs 5/1

6:45p JVG Soc vs Noe @ Noe (Visitor)

Weekly Wrap Up

Check out Summer Camp Opportunities at Eastern HS

Eastern High School will be hosting different athletic summer camps throughout the summer. Please see the flier provided and take a look at the link provided for more information.

EASTERN HS SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION

Announcements

Spring Sports Information

Coaches & Contacts

Baseball

Contact: austin.dukes@jefferson.kyschools.us

Head Coaches: Austin Dukes and Jonathan Moore

Softball

Contact: laceyncrawford44@gmail.com

Head Coach: Lacey Crawford

6th Grade Girls Volleyball

Contact: rachael.johnson@jefferson.kyschools.us

Head Coach: Rachael Johnston

Boys Volleyball

Contact: adrobe33@gmail.com

Coach - Aaron Roberson

Boys Soccer (JV/V)

Contacts: kylefertig@bellsouth.net or coachclhbanker@gmail.com

Head Coach: Kyle Fertig

JV Head Coach: Jason Shearn

Girls Soccer

Contacts: tgrau2809@yahoo.com

Head Coach: Tal Grau

Girls Lacrosse

Contact: cassidyyclarkk22@gmail.com

Head Coach: Cassidy Clark

Track & Field

Contact: william.jacoby@jefferson.kyschools.us

Head Coach: Wil Jacoby

Flag Football Boys & Girls

Contact: dexter.bowden@jefferson.kyschools.us

Head Coach: Dex Bowden

Boys Lacrosse

Coach Tank: vernon.williams@jefferson.kyschools.us

Contact: don.parr@jefferson.kyschools.us

Repeat Information

Update School Calendar

Jefferson County Public Schools students will have one day added to the 2024-25 academic calendar after the district's board voted to extend the school year, due to the series of cancellations caused by severe weather in January. The new last day of school will now be Friday, May 23, just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Click here to see the new updated calendar.

Absent Notes

Please send absence notes to echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us.

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

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.

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.

JCPS Equal Opportunity Policies

Page updated

Report abuse

Wolf Pack Weekly