Welcome!

January 29, 2024 

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

Our students continue to accomplish big things and we are so proud of them! Some of our recent congratulations go to our Archery team who finished 11th as a team in the J-town Charger Challenge- Cannon P 254, Ryan T 246, and Haylie F 239. Our Girls Basketball Team made it to a play-off game, which we are hosting this Thursday at 5:30! 

We are excited to close out January strong and kick off February with celebrating Black History Month, HERO Incentives, and our Friendship Dance! 

As we move into the second half of the school year and our students are hitting growth spurts, please be mindful of skirt lengths and following our uniform guidelines: Uniform Written Guidance

Help support Echo Trail by "voting" at our ClassAct Heroes of Education page. There is more information in the PTSA section of our newsletter. Feel free to share with your family and friends: https://heroesofeducation.org/schools/echo-trail-middle-school

Save the Date(s):

2/19-2/20/24 NO SCHOOL 

2/21-2/22 Parent Teacher Conferences 3 pm- 6 pm 

*More details will be sent out for scheduling 

2/23 Friendship Dance 

*Dance tickets are $5 and will be sold during lunch on Wednesday (2/21), and Thursday (2/22). Tickets can only be purchased with a signed permission slip. Tickets are non-transferable. There will only be 250 tickets sold.

3/15/24 End of Third Grading Term

4/12/24 PTSA Spring Fling Festival 

5/24/24 End of Fourth Grading Term 

#ExpectgreaTness 

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman 

Upcoming School Wide HERO Incentives

Our primary objective is to acknowledge students for their exemplary behavior, and we are very  proud of their progress. To achieve this, we use HERO to record positive behavior and students receive points for exemplifying the GREAT pillars. Here are some exciting incentives we have in store to celebrate our students for the rest of the year. All incentives and dates are subject to change.

• February 2nd - Pizza/Dance Party - 125 TOTAL points by January 31st 

• March 29th - KONA Ice Truck/Movies/Games - 175 TOTAL points by March 22nd

• May 8th - Louisville BATS Game - 225 TOTAL points by May 2nd

Bullying Prevention Parent Night!

Thank you to the families who joined us for an awesome parent! Click the link below to view the information that was presented.

Bullying Prevention Presentation

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 (Mr. Rul-lan and/or Ms. Thomas) or our Mental Health Practioner (MHP) Mrs. Sanders by filling out the Counselor Google Form.

Check for Overdue Library Books

Greetings Parents and Guardians! 

Please check with your student and remind them to return any library books to the library. We have quite a few overdue books; notices will be sent out via student email as well as through ELA teachers.

Music Department Spirit Wear

We are doing another round of music spirit wear sales. Click below to view our selection:
Music Department Spirit Wear Shop

The store will close on February 11.

Yearbook Photo Submissions

Remember, you can 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).

Donuts for FCA

Our Echo Trail FCA is back for all students and meets every Wednesday from 7:00-7:30AM in the Band Room (132).  As we anticipate large groups again, we are in need of families to help by signing up to bring in donuts.

Please click here to see our sign up genius which has all the information needed.

Thanks in advance for your generosity!

Black History Month

Starting February 1st, we will have trivia questions for students to answer for black history month. Questions will be shared at Morning Meeting and students can turn in answers during lunch and place them in answer box in the cafeteria. Winners will be drawn at the end of the day and receive Hero Points.

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!

Student Council

Our schedule for this semester includes: 2/1, 3/7, 4/18, and 5/9.  Student Council members, please check Google classroom for any updates.   

STLP Echo Trail Student News

If your student would in interested in being part of the Echo Trail Student News Team, have them reach out an STLP member or Mr. Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.

No After School STLP Meeting this Week

STLP will NOT meet after school this week, but will meet Tuesday and Thursday during WINN Time (during school).

Students should check Google Classroom for the latest information and updates.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

We will continue to meet every Wednesday in the Band Room (132) from 7:00-7:30am.  All students are welcome to attend!

If you have any questions, please email sponsors joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us or jordan.stout@jefferson.kyschools.us.

Sign Up for Spring Sports!

We're all geared up for our Spring Athletic schedule: Baseball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Track & Field, and Flag Football.

If your athlete is interested in playing any of our upcoming sports, make sure to fill out the form

Athlete Interest Form

STUDENTS!  If you are interested in playing a spring sport, please fill out the form with your information and select the sport you are interested in participating in this spring.
→ Student Athlete Interest Form

Coaching Interest Form

PARENTS & ET COMMUNITY!  If you are interested in coaching a spring sport, please fill out the form with your information and select the sport you are interested in coaching. Give a brief description of your coaching background in "Experience" box below. Thank you!
→ Coaching Interest Form

Echo Trail Bowling League

Our Echo Trail Bowling League had their first League Day last Friday!  Scores and lessons can be found on your students Echo Trail Bowling Google Classrooms.  Reminder that all students are to report to the band room (132) after school each Friday for a quick attendance check and bowling lesson before loading the activity bus.  Parents are to pick-up each Friday at Ten Pin Lanes by 4:30pm.

If you have questions about game days, contact Mr. Stivers, joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us for more information.

Volunteers Needed - Calling All Wolf Pack Members...

We are looking for volunteers to help fill some of the game day responsibilities (ticket table, score book, concessions, cleanup, etc.) during our upcoming home basketball events. 

All game day volunteers will receive free admission the day of the event they are working. The link below will take you to the sign up sheet to help us ensure that we will host great events at Echo Trail.

Wolf Pack Basketball Game Day Volunteers - Sign Up!

If you have questions about game day help, contact Mr. Carden, kyle.carden@jefferson.kyschools.us, or Coach Fasoldt, peter.fasoldt@jefferson.kyschools.us, for more information.

Basketball

2/1     Girls JV Playoffs - 5:30 PM

  Barret @ Echo Trail

2/2-2/4 MS Boys State Tournament 

Lexington, KY Time - TBA

Archery

2/17 Archery 

  Eastern HS February State Qualifier - Bullseye

@ Eastern HS

*Flights TBA - All Day Event

Quick Reference & Reminders

• NTI Communication - Families

• Technology Plan - NTI

• Bus App Directions

• 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:

Uniform Written Guidance

Uniform Slide Deck (visuals)

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.

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

Homework Reminder

As your child continues to settle into middle school, we wanted to take a moment to send out a reminder about the importance of completing homework assignments. 

Homework is used to reinforce the skills and concepts that your child is learning at home. It is important that you are checking in DAILY with your child about the homework that he/she may have to complete. 

We ask that you also check Infinite Campus regularly to stay up-to-date on your child’s progress and any missing assignments that he/she may have. Completing assignments in a timely manner and practicing outside of school will help your child be successful throughout the school year. 

As always, if you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher directly. We appreciate your continued support!

Agenda Use

Starting this week, we will be helping students consistently use their agendas in each class. All teachers will have their students write down the learning target and any homework they might have.

We want to assist our students with organization skills and also completing homework when assigned. We also want to increase communication with you as you support your student.

Wolfpack Weekly in Junk Mail

Teachers and parents both found the Weekly Newsletter in the Junk folder of their email recently.

If you missed a newsletter, you can always find previous weeks listed in the navigation window.

Here are things you can do to make sure you don't miss out next time:

• Periodically look in your Junk Folder to make sure you're not missing email from JCPS Teachers

• Whitelist our email addresses

  • For the Weekly, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us and echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us

• Bookmark bit.ly/WolfPackWeekly and use the navigation bar for the latest week's newsletter

• Update Infinite Campus Parent Portal to include your phone number to receive SMS Notifications from us

We hope this helps. We never want you to miss out on important information. Please reach out to the school with any questions or assistance!

Weekly Newsletter

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