Wolf Pack Weekly
Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter
Welcome!
November 13, 2023
We have 7 days until our next break. We are committed to making them count and not "counting down the days." We are excited to continue to stay the course with our academic and behavioral expectations for our students. Thank you for your partnership in finishing strong going into a break.
Thank you for your continued support in increasing our PTSA Membership numbers. We unfortunately did not meet our goal but we did increase our membership from 135 to 160.
We had another week of grEaT celebrations with our first Chess Match at Echo Trail, our Girls Basketball team had their first game at Brown and won, we had our first swim meet, and our Quick Recall team beat JCTMS!
We loved seeing our students and families during Locker Night! Thank you for partnering with us to help organize and set our students up for success. They have been doing great with using their lockers.
I want to clarify one point for spirit days on Friday: students are allowed to wear their club/athletic team uniforms, but TOPS only; no team shorts or team pants. Please reference the Uniform Policy here.
Week at a Glance:
Monday
Basketball at Westport 5-7
Athletics Winter Dance Ticket Sales during lunch $5
Tuesday
Athletics Winter Dance Ticket Sales during lunch $5
Wednesday
SBDM 3:00
Ticket Sales End- Athletics Winter Dance
Thursday
Athletics Winter Dance 2:30-4:00 ($5 and permission slip required)
Friday
Swim Meet @ 6:00
Saturday
Archery Competition at Taylorsville Elementary 2:30-6:30
Save the Date(s):
11/22-11/24/23 NO SCHOOL
12/25-1/5/24 NO SCHOOL
1/8/23 School Day for Students
1/15/23 NO SCHOOL
2/19-2/20/23 NO SCHOOL
4/12/23 PTSA Spring Fling Festival
#ExpectgreaTness
Dr. Ammerman, Principal
Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman
Counselor's Corner
Behavioral and Emotional Screening System
As part of our effort to support the Whole Child, JCPS will be implementing a universal social and emotional screening for students in grades 6 - 12. We will be utilizing the BESS (Behavior and Emotional Screening System).
Universal social and emotional screening can provide a fair and impartial way of looking at how students are progressing in their social and emotional development. Screenings can also help identify areas where school personnel can improve or adjust our supports. Please understand that screening is NOT an assessment or an evaluation.
Students will be given the opportunity to complete a self-screener that will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Information from this survey will be used to help our staff identify supports that may benefit our students.
Echo Trail Students will be given the screener on November 15.
We appreciate your assistance as we work together to educate and support our students.
Sincerely,
Echo Trail Middle School Counseling Department
Sense of Belonging Check-In
On Friday, November 10, students completed a Sense of Belonging check-in survey during Team Time. These can be located in a student's Google Classroom.
Throughout the year, we will take a temperature check of how students are doing in our school community. We (staff) reflect upon student voice so our staff feels in tune with how our students are thinking and feeling about middle school. You are welcome to view the introduction video here if you'd like.
We are committed to all students feeling like they belong at Echo Trail Middle School. Thanks for your support!
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 (Mr. Rul-lan and/or Ms. Thomas) or our Mental Health Practioner (MHP) Mrs. Sanders by filling out the Counselor Google Form.
Important Information & Upcoming Events
SBDM Meeting & Minutes
The School Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council will meet Wednesday, Nov 15, 3pm, in the Media Center. Meetings are open to the ET Community.
A schedule of the school year's meetings and previous meetings' minutes can be found on our Echo Trail SBDM page.
Echo Trail Winter - Athletics Dance
Thursday, November 16th, 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Dance tickets are $5 and will be sold during lunch on Monday, (11/13), Tuesday (11/14), and Wednesday (11/15). Tickets can only be purchased with a signed permission slip. Tickets are non-transferable. There will only be 250 tickets sold.
Students may bring money to purchase snacks at the dance.
Students received permission slips Friday during 1st period. Additional copies will be available during lunch.
New Spirit Wear Shop
Shop the Echo Trail Middle School Holiday spirit wear store! Get ready for these colder months with new designs on short and long sleeve shirts, stocking caps, flannel pants (for Fridays) and more!
Store closes on November 19, so get your orders in soon!
https://etms-holiday-2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Holiday Assistance Program
If you would like to receive Holiday Gift Assistance for your child, please click HERE to complete a Google Form. Make sure to complete the form for each child in your home that attends Echo Trail. Read below to ensure you understand how Holiday Gift Assistance will work this year.
We will provide Holiday Gift Assistance for the first 20 families who complete the form. IF we have additional sponsorship, we may be able to support more families.
If you are not one of the first 20 families to complete the form, you will be added to a wait list. You will also receive information from our school about other ways you can obtain holiday gift assistance.
Our sponsors will focus on providing clothing items or other gift items that you rank as priority.
Save the Date - Winter Arts Night
Our Winter Arts Night will be on Thursday, December 21st 6-8pm at Echo Trail Middle School.
This evening is open to the public. Families and friends of Echo Trail are welcome!
PTSA
Thank you for joining!
Although we fell short of our 50% increased membership goal, we are excited to welcome our new members to the Pack!
Save the Date - PTSA Spring Fling, April 12
The Inaugural Echo Trail PTSA Spring Fling will be held the evening of Friday, April 12, at Echo Trail Middle School.
There will be games, food and a lot more fun!! More details to come soon.
Link your Kroger Card to Help Echo Trail
Whenever you shop at Kroger and use your Kroger Card, you use can help Echo Trail!
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!
Echo Trail Clubs
Student Council
Due to the Thanksgiving Break, there is no Student Council Meeting on 11/23/23. Our next meeting will be 11/30/23.
No STLP Meeting this Monday
Due to Mr. Etter being out of the building today, there will be no after school STLP meeting on Monday, Nov 13. Students should go home their normal way.
The CDA demonstrations scheduled for Nov 13 have been moved back to Nov 20. See below for details.
STLP Creative Digital Arts Competition
Digital Photography, Animation, 3D Design, Videography and more. We're looking for submissions to represent our school in the STLP Creative Digital Arts (CDA) competitions to be held at State!
Any and every student is welcome to enter!
Each week after school on Mondays, 2:30-3:30pm, Mr. Etter will demonstrate how to create a different type of CDA.
Upcoming:
Nov 20: Music Composition & Music Manipulation
Nov 20: 3D Design
Deadline for entries will be December 13. Catagories and complete information on the Echo Trail STLP site.
Questions? Email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us
Wolf Pack Athletics
Week of Nov 13, Upcoming Athletic Events
11/13 5:00 PM 6th Boys BB @ Westport
11/13 6:00 PM JV Girls BB @ Westport
11/13 7:00 PM JV Boys BB @ Westport
11/17 6:00 PM Swim Meet @ Mary T Pool
11/18 3:00-5:30pm - Flights - 3:15pm & 4:30pm
Archery - Taylorsville WarmUp @Taylorsville Elementary School
Snack Donations for Dance
Dear Echo Trail Athletic Parents,
We are hosting our first school dance to help raise money for our Athletic Department. We are looking for donations for the snack table at the dance.
We are asking for donations of the following items to sell during the dance:
Individual Bags of chips all kinds/flavors
Individually wrapped snack cakes and cookies
Full size candy bars or candy type items
Canned Soft Drinks
Bottled Water
These can be dropped off at practice or at school by Wednesday, November 15. Please put "Attention: Mr. Carden & Mr. Fasoldt (For the Athletics Dance)." Thank you for supporting our Echo Trail Athletic Department.
Thanks,
Kyle Carden, Athletic Director
Creed Fasoldt, Asst. Athletic Director
Echo Trail Athletics
All of our Echo Trail athletic offerings and essential forms can be found at our page: bit.ly/etathletics
Also, we are always looking for active involvement from our parents and community, so if you have a passion for an athletic event, please reach out to me so we can get your connected.
Make sure to follow us on X (Twitter) to see all the action that's happening every week!
Repeat Information
Quick Reference & Reminders
Please reference this map for AM arrival and PM dismissal
Echo Trail MS School Number 502-485-8398
Expectations Slide Deck
Technology Slide Deck
Gum/Candy/Food - we ask that students do not chew gum (it finds its way to new furniture or the floor, etc.) and that any candy/food remains put away unless in the cafeteria.
Please review the uniform guidance and slide deck linked below:
Spirit Store Items and Uniform Approved Items
Common Items we are correcting:
Full zip jackets will need to be removed (once we have assigned lockers students will store them there)
Hoodies that are non-Echo Trail (Echo Trail hoodies with hoods down can be worn on Fridays) Nike women’s dry tempo short, AC women’s tempo luxe 5 in short, and general athletic shorts are not approved school items to be worn.
The only athletic shorts approved on Friday’s are: BSN Sports Agility 2 pocket Short and Nike Flex Woven Short.
Make Up School Picture Day - Dec 5
If your student was absent on picture day, the make up day is December 5th.
Thank you to all the parents and community support we had during Picture Day last week!
Yearbook Photo Submissions
As our school year continues, submit photos from ETMS events! These photos will be considered for use in our first ever yearbook!
Please use the form linked here and contact kari.ward@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have any questions or feedback. The form will remain open throughout the school year (until the yearbook has to be finalized).
I can't wait to see all the amazing activities that are shared!
Family Feedback Survey
Families, we need to hear from you!
The staff at Echo Trail Middle School are thankful that you have chosen to partner with us in the care and education of your child. We value your partnership and invite you to provide your thoughts on this survey to help us provide the best services for your child and family. Thank you!
JCPS Exceptional Child Education (ECE) Website
Are you the parent or guardian of a student with a disability? This website is designed with families in mind as a user-friendly information resource hub for families of students with disabilities.
Visit the JCPS ECE Families Website
School Contacts
If you need to reach out to any of our administrators, front office staff, core content teachers or other staff, you can find their names, roles and emails on our school website: bit.ly/echotrailmiddle
Weekly Newsletter
Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.