Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

August 10, 2026

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

First and foremost, I would like to extend a big THANK YOU to each of you that made our first two days successful. I truly appreciate your partnership in starting the school year on a positive and exciting note!

We started the year with our "Student Mini-Conference" to review our GREAT Pillars of Success and information to start the school year strong. Starting Monday, August 10th, students will follow their schedule and begin to learn about each of their classes specifically.

Should your student need to see their grade level counselor or our Mental Health Practitioner, there are i-Pads in each grade level den area where students can access Counseling Request Forms.

Friendly reminder: with it being our first full week back, remind your students to get into grEaT habits and routines with sleep schedules, keeping their backpack/folders organized, completing assignments, and sharing what is in their agendas with you. Students will be responsible for completing their agendas each class, every day by writing the learning target as well as any homework. Looking ahead, August 21st will be our HERO, Chromebook, and Locker launch with our students.

It is required that every school have two rounds of safety drills within the first month of school. We will be having our first round of safety drills on August 11th (i.e., Fire Drill, ALICE, and Level 5).

8th grade families please check out the 8th grade spirit store here.

Please take a moment to read the following letter about JCPS transitioning from the MAP assessment to the i-Ready assessment.

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 Policy 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

If your student rides a JCPS Bus, please follow the directions linked here to download the JCPS My Ride K-12 App for up to date information about Bus Transportation

#ExpectgreaTness

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman

Important Information

Please Fill out the EBF

We are required to have an Eligibility Benefits Form (EBF) filled out for every family at Echo Trail Middle School to maintain our FREE breakfast and lunch status. The link to complete online is below. IT IS IMPERATIVE that we receive a completed form from every family. Only one form per household needs to be completed if you include all family member's names. All students should be listed in the student section.

If you prefer to not list your income, check the box that says, "Not eligible". If you are eligible to have your school fees waived, you will be notified by JCPS.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, we appreciate your assistance.

Complete online at jcps.me/ebf

Echo Trail Chromebook Plan for 26-27

As we begin a new school year, we want to share an important update regarding our Chromebook procedures. Beginning this year, students will no longer take their Chromebooks home on a daily basis. Instead, each student will receive their assigned Chromebook during Homeroom each morning and return it during their 6th period class before dismissal. Please take a moment to read the Family Update Letter to better understand Echo Trail's Chromebook plan for 26-27

School Fees

If you still need to pay your school fees, please do so now online at My School Bucks! Click the link below to review the School Fee Sheet. Price does include a 3.95% credit card processing fee.

26-27 School Fees

You may also send fees by cash and checks with your student starting Monday 8/10.

If we can offer any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us 485-8398.

i-Ready Testing

ELA -- August 17 & 18 in ELA classes
Math-- August 19 & 20 in Math classes

WEAPON DETENTION REMINDERS

All BLUE items must be removed and passed around prior to walking through the weapons detection system. Staff will be at the pass around table to assist students.

Tables will be available for students and staff to use
Be patient while waiting
Walk through the system one person at a time, continue walking unless you are directed by a staff member to go to secondary screening.

There will be tables for students to place BLUE items back in their bags.

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.

Echo Trail Class of 2027 Store

The store will close on Wednesday, August 26. Items will be delivered to the school in mid-September. Scan the QR code of visit this link: https://echoclassof2027.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

Counselor Corner

Character Strong Weekly Update

Character Strong is our schoolwide curriculum used for social-emotional learning. Students complete lessons during Team Time on Monday's and Friday's of each week.

Below are highlights of lessons for each grade level:

Week of August 10th:
6th Grade, 7th Grade and 8th Grade Lesson

Lesson Title/Description :
Session 1 - Welcome - This session helps set the stage for the "What", the "How", and the "Why" of Character Strong. It helps create clarity for both the educator and students which sets the program up for success.

Session 2 - Building Connections - This foundational relationship-building session explores the definition of community and helps students to build connections with others in the class. Students will participate in an activity to create connections with others in the group.

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
7th Grade - Mr. Rul-lan
8th Grade - Ms. Wales
Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) - Mrs. Sanders

Explore

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

Engagement Empowerment & Connection

26-27 Explore Teachers

Ms. Fresh

Mr. Rowland

Ms. Russell

Mr. Etter

Mr. Barnsfather

Ms. Gofney

Ms Killingsworth

Mr. Lewis

Mr. Etter

Mr. Gulden

Ms. Jeffreys

Mr. Quinn

Ms. Shapira

Echoes of the Arts

Band Newsletter

Click here to read our August newsletter!
This months edition includes:
*Cover Page (Short message with Rolling Announcements)
*Vision/Mission/Motto
*Rental Night 8.25.26 6-8pm
*Malibu Jack's Family Spirit Night 8.18.26 4-9pm
*LYO Audition Information
*Save the Date: Echo Trail Open House 9.3.26
*The Soud Connections Concert (8th Grade Only) 9.22.26 6:30pm @ Eastern HS
*2026/27 Rolling Calendar

Echo Trail Athletics

Fall Seasons are getting started!! Come support our Wolfpack.
Remaining fall team schedules that will be released soon. We will continue to send you that information as it comes out.
Be on the Lookout for a school message sent out for Step Team Tryouts from our school messenger. We expect tryouts to be near the end of August. Announcement will also be in next week's Wolf Pack Weekly.
Be sure to continue putting all athletic packet requiremnts into Final Forms for your students athletes. Reminder that the two main uploads are
- Completed sports physical pages witha medicalprofiessional signature/stamp
- JCPS Parent Permission/Release Form with notarized signature and/or stamp

Tennis Announcement

Tennis is moving forward!!!

If you are interested in trying out for Echo Trail's Tennis Team, please join us on Tuesday, August 12th at 5:30 PM in the Echo Trail Cafeteria. Coach Melissa Roe will be giving information about our upcoming tennis season. For more information, fill out the Google Form attached below. Your information will be shared with the coaches.

Fall Sports Sign Up - Be Sure to Select Tennis

Echo Trail PTSA

PTSA Flyer.pdf

Any questions about PTSA, feel free to email echotrailptsa@gmail.com

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!

Weekly Newsletter

Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Mrs. Courtney DeKeuster, courtney.dekeuster@jefferson.kyschools.us.

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