Wolf Pack Weekly
Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter
Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter
January 19, 2026
Hello Wolf Pack Families!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend, but as I told the students during afternoon announcements Friday, take time to pause and remember why we have Monday off from school. One of my favorite MLK quotes, and it just so happens to be on the t-shirt designed this year by one of our students is: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” What a perfect quote for our school and what we are aspiring to do each day.
Last week, we sent home Nurse Consent Forms. We are asking those forms be returned by 1/23. Students who have a form on file will receive a dress down day on 1/30. In addition, we have several fun HERO events coming up!
HERO KONA DAYS- February 26th and April 30th
Schoolwide HERO Incentives-
January 30th - Silent Disco
Students Sign up Jan. 23rd
April 2nd - Student Vs. Staff Game
May - Large Field Trip
HERO Points Awards for the following for Term 2-
All A’s= 10 Points
All A’s and B’s = 5 points
Zero Behavior Referrals = 5 points
Congratulations to our Archery Team and Track and Field Team as they have had an excellent start to their seasons! Well done to our student athletes and coaches!
Congratulations to our Academic Teams for a grEaT showing in the Governor’s Cup District 35 held recently. Thank you Ms. Gerber, Mrs. Jacoby, and Mr. Close for providing these opportunities.
Governor's Cup District 35 Results:
Overall: 2nd Place
Quick Recall: 4th Place
Future Problem Solving: 2nd Place
Composition: 2nd Place (Jhea M.), 4th Place (Varsha A.)
Mathematics: 1st Place (Neha C.), 4th Place (Ananya A.)
Science: 1st Place: (Rohan K.), 2nd Place: (Vihaan P.)
Social Studies: 3rd Place (Aahana S.)
Language Arts: 2nd Place (Jhea M.)
Arts and Humanities: 2nd Place (Aaradhya N.)
Last but not least, we are still in search of an 8th grade promotion venue. We have been working closely with our high school partners, community partnerships, and PTSA but have not found a site to be available. Preferred dates would be May 20-22 in the evening starting at 6:00 p.m. We need a venue that would hold about 1,500 people. Please email the school or our PTSA if you have any suggestions. Thank you in advance!
We are ExciTed for another grEaT week together!
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
Technology Issues please click here for grade level work
#ExpectgreaTness
Dr. Ammerman, Principal
Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman
Please take a moment to complete this important survey and let your voices be heard. It’s completely anonymous, and results are used to improve our schools—everything from school climate and curriculum to safety and more.
We sent out a reminder last week that during the morning in our car rider line, we ask that cars pull all the way forward and utilize the circle.
Students will exit from the car from the top of the circle where there is a sidewalk, on the right side, to the front of the building where the flagpole is. Please have your student ready to exit when it is your turn. This will increase the number of students unloading at one time in a safe manner.
Thank you for helping our students in this manner!
With the increased number of student sicknesses, many students are asking if they can go to the nurse during school hours. Please know that we take your student's health care seriously. Teachers have been instructed to review these guidelines before sending students to the nurse so we can prioritize chronic care and urgent needs.
JCPS is hosting an Immunization Clinic on 2/13/26 at Echo Trail Middle School.
Signed consent is required. Please provide any current records to the school. If your child has health insurance, that information is required as well as a copy of the insurance card.
You can get the forms/paperwork required for the clinic here.
Preordering your yearbook is the ONLY way to guarantee getting one!
Two more weeks before the price goes up.
Order by 1/30/26 before the price goes up!
$30 - now until January 30
$35 - January 31 - February 23
Final Deadline to Order - 2/23/26
Dear ETMS Parents and Guardians,
We want to share an important update regarding student technology devices.
At this time, ETMS does not have sufficient inventory to provide loaner or replacement Chromebooks. If a student’s device becomes damaged and requires repair, the district requires it be sent into the IT department for servicing. While the device is away, teachers will provide paper-based materials or alternative assignments to ensure students are still able to participate fully in their learning.
Currently, the district is experiencing a high volume of devices needing repair. Because of this backlog, we are unable to provide an estimated timeline for when repaired devices will be returned to students once they leave the building.
We also want to remind families that, per JCPS policy, students may not bring personal devices (such as laptops or tablets) into the building to use as a replacement.
We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work through these challenges.
Stock the Pantry for our GrEaT staff is ending on January 21st! Please click on the sign up genius for items needed or even have us shop for you!
SignUpGenius for Winter Stock the Pantry
PTSA would like to invite you to our January meeting!
Come meet your board members and admin/staff as we help to support the needs of the school! All are welcome!
Congratulations to our students for their hard work on the MAP test before winter break. Take a look at our school-wide scores. Your child should have brought their individual test reports home Thursday or Friday.
Click here for some simple ways to help your child in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Be sure to check back each month for new ideas! Reach out to your child's teacher with questions.
Check out our HERO point leaders for last week!
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. 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.
Upcoming Incentives:
November 20th - KONA ICE - Cash in 10 Points.
November 25th - Pizza social (pizza and music in the cafe’) - Cash in 30 points.
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
Welcome to Echo Trail Clubs!
Needing information on club meet times, sponsor contact info, or new to clubs in general?
Visit our Club page here for all the information you need!
Our 3rd League Day is this Friday! Students are to report to the Band Room (132) after school on Friday. If you are a parent/guardian who loves to bowl and would like to help our students at King Pin Lanes, please reach out to Mr. Stivers via email at joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us . We need some more parents to help float around and help students with basic fundamentals if they would like extra coaching. Background checks need on file.
Click here to read our January Newsletter
Rolling Announcements
Vision/Mission/Motto
December Students of the Week
Howliday Arts Videos
All-State Audition Info
Practice Log Reminders
World's Finest Chocolate
1/21 Eastern HS Shadow Night
2/5 KMEA Conference Field Trip
6th Grade All-County Audition Info
8th Grade Gatlinburg Trip Info
2025/26 ETMS Band Dates
Click here to read our January Newsletter.
#chasEThecuriosity
The Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is not just a form—it's a fundamental part of our commitment to personalized student success.
The Purpose: It's an online portfolio that helps students reflect on their academic performance, career interests, post-secondary goals (college, career, or military), and track the progress of their high school transition.
The Benefit: By guiding students through their ILP, we are helping them connect their learning today with the exciting possibilities of their future tomorrow.
Each Grade level has different activities that they complete and a dfferent focus.
6th Grade: Focuses on initial exploration and goal-setting.
7th Grade: Focuses on connecting coursework to career pathways.
8th Grade: Focuses on finalizing high school transition readiness and future goals.
As we approach winter break, the Spring sports participation window quickly opens after we return in February. Please click the link and fill out the Spring Sports Season google form and indicate the spring sports options that we will be offering. Please note that all opportunities will be based on having enough participants to fill a roster in order to field a proper team for the sports. Based on the number of students that sign up and the given roster limits of JCPS Athletics, sports may require a tryout and therefore cuts may be made to abide by the roster limit rules. The spring season window will open in the middle of February.
Your spring sports options are:
Boys and Girls Soccer
Boys and Girls Flag Football
Boys and Girls Lacrosse
Track & Field (Outdoor)
Boys Volleyball
SPRING SPORTS SIGN UPS: CLICK HERE FOR LINK
If you are interested in prepping for the upcoming 2026 spring girls soccer season, there will be group conditioning and training sessions starting this coming week. If you are interested, contact Tal Grau (Girls Head Coach) for more information. These sessions are off campus and totally optional.
Coach Grau email - tgrau2809@yahoo.com
We have rejoined a 6th grade baseball league that we participated in our first year at Echo Trail. This opportunity will allow for more of our 6th grade baseball players that did not get to participate in the fall to represent Echo Trail this spring. This league will have a roster limit per team, so there will have to be a tryout if there is a large enough interest. If you have a 6th grade student that is interested in trying out for the spring 6th grade baseball team, please fill out the tryout form below. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Carden or Coach Mike Carroll.
Coach Carroll email - m.carroll@twc.com
This Week in Wolfpack Athletics...
Tuesday 1/20
Varsity BB @ Westport
6:00p Girls
7:00p Boys
Wednesday 1/21
6th/JV BB vs Kammerer
5:00p 6th boys
6:00p JV Girls
7:00p JV Boys
Thursday 1/22
Varsity BB @ Kammerer
5:00p Girls
6:00p Boys
Dear Echo Trail Parents and Guardians,
We are incredibly excited for the start of the 2025-2026 basketball season! This year is especially significant as we launch our first-ever Varsity seasons for the Echo Trail Wolfpack. We look forward to seeing our entire community come out to support our teams and celebrate this exciting milestone in our school's athletic history.
As we anticipate a high volume of student spectators at our games with our growing enrollment, we must reinforce clear expectations for safety and behavior.
Reminder - All Echo Trail students attending basketball games must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please note that this adult does not necessarily have to be the student's specific parent or guardian, but it must be an individual who is capable of and committed to supervising the student throughout the event. This adult is responsible for the student in the event of any personal or safety-related incident.
This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all students in our building and to remind everyone that the high standards and behavioral expectations we maintain during the school day carry through to all of our extracurricular events. Our goal is to provide a fun, safe, and positive atmosphere for all attendees.
We expect all student spectators to show respect for the facility, the officials, the players, and all other attendees, abiding by all established school-based rules and codes of conduct.
Any student who fails to meet these expectations or violates school rules while attending a game will be subject to disciplinary action. Furthermore, they will be evaluated for access to future athletic events for the remainder of the season. We appreciate your support in communicating the seriousness of these expectations to your student-athlete.
We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this important policy. We look forward to a successful and spirited season!
Sincerely,
Kyle Carden
Echo Trail Athletic Director
School Store is open every Tuesday and Thursday! The students really seem to love the idea of grabbing spirit wear whenever is needed but we need volunteers to help run it. If we don’t have volunteers, then the store may not open! Please take a look at the dates on the sign up genius and sign up if you can! You may get to see your own student as they come to and from lunch!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ADA82EA5FDC34-58162520-etms
Friendship Grams being sold February 2-6 with delivery to students February 11th.
Winter Dance will be held February 26th after school until 4pm. More information to come!
Anything will help and all proceeds go back into the school! See attached flyer or email festival chair Kevin at KLG39412@gmail.com
Our students are growing up -- literally!
Does your student have spirit wear or school uniforms that no longer fit? Or maybe apparel from a previous grade-level team that your student is no longer on? PTSA is partnering with the FRC to replenish clothing for students and families in need. You can bring donations to the front office or email PTSA to make other arrangements.
Big thanks to Kevin Gabbert, who has stepped up as Spring Festival Chair! 🥳 We now need committee members to help make the festival a success! Join us now and meet other parents and admin and have input and FUN with this annual spring event! The festival is set for March 27.
Additionally, we are still looking for Bookstore Co-chairs to spend some time with our awesome current chair, Aidan Brown, learning all things about how things operate. If we don't find someone willing to take over next year, we may end up without a Bookstore! PLEASE HELP!
To volunteer for either committee, or just to get more info, please email echotrailptsa@gmail.com. 💙💚
Bookstore needs help during lunches!
Your Echo Trail Bookstore will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunches! Hours are 10am-noon.
Students may ask to stop by and purchase spirit wear items during these times. We accept card, check (made out to Echo Trail PTSA) and cash. Parents may sign in to the office for a visitors pass to shop as well during these hours.
If you'd like to volunteer during these times, the bookstore chair will walk you through how it works.
--> Click here to head to the SignUpGenius page
We will need volunteers throughout the school year. Please fill out this form so we can have you on our volunteer email list.
We want to take a moment to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our wonderful sponsors. We encourage our families to support the businesses that you see on the back of the Walkathon shirt!!
Thank you again for everything!!
Echo Trail PTSA
Shopping for holiday meals? 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!
Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.