Wolf Pack Weekly

Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

February 26, 2024 


Hello Wolf Pack Families!

As we head into the last week of February, we have plenty to celebrate and communicate. Congratulations to our Cheer Team, Archery Team, and Band students! 

As our Spring Sports are starting, please make sure to check out the information provided below in the newsletter or reach out to our Athletic Director, Mr. Kyle Carden, if you have any questions. 

I would also like to thank our families for your patience and support as we start the “first” of every single opportunity for our students. I am beyond proud of what has already been accomplished and cannot wait to see what is ahead. Thank you for your partnership to help make it happen. 

We need to hold a special SBDM election. According to Kentucky statute KRS 160.345, schools having eight percent or more minority student enrollment need at least one minority member on the school SBDM council. At this time, we have had a recent change in our council and no longer have a minority member on our SBDM. Please see more information below in our newsletter. Please consider running for this open spot. 

It is not too late to buy Echo Trail’s FIRST EVER yearbook, but time is running out. Click here to submit your order. Once the deadline has passed, no more books can be ordered. 

Save the Date(s):

3/15/24 End of Third Grading Term

3/22/24 Greatie’s First Birthday!

3/26/24 Spring Pictures if purchasing

4/12/24 PTSA Spring Fling Festival 

4/12-4/18/24 Spring Book Fair 

5/22/24 Explore Selection Ceremony

5/24/24 End of Fourth Grading Term/Last Student Day 


#ExpectgreaTness 

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman 

Counselor's Corner

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.

HERO Student and Teacher Leaders

Check out our HERO point leaders for last week!

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:

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

Dear Parents, Step-parents and Legal Guardians,

This letter is intended to share information about a special SBDM election at Echo Trail Middle School. According to Kentucky statute KRS 160.345, schools having eight percent or more minority student enrollment need at least one minority member on the school SBDM council. At this time, we have had a recent change in our council and no longer have a minority member on our SBDM. Therefore, the principal is responsible for holding a special election for parents to elect a minority parent to the council. The principal is also responsible for holding an election for a minority staff representative. According to KRS 160.345, a minority means American Indian; Alaskan native; African-American; Hispanic, including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin; Pacific Islander or other ethnic group under-represented in the school.

If you are a minority parent, please consider this very important role! The SBDM makes decisions that affect our students, staff and school. We believe it is important to have a voice from all parts of our population in that decision making.

A nomination form is attached. You may nominate yourself or another person. All nomination forms must be returned by 3-1-24 by NOON to echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us 

The nominee's will need to email a short 2 paragraph resume to echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us, with the nomination form. This will run in the newsletter on 3/4/24. The election will take place the week of 3/11/24.

I appreciate your consideration of this important voice in decision making at Echo Trail Middle School.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kara Ammerman, Principal

Echo Trail Middle School 

Nomination form For Parent/Step-parent/Legal Guardian

Deadline: Must be returned by Noon on 3-1-24

Special Election for Minority Representative

Return To:  echotrailmiddle_reginfo@jefferson.kyschools.us 

Echo Trail Middle School

Attn: Dr. Ammerman

Qualifications: A parent council member shall be a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of a student enrolled at Echo Trail Middle School during the council member’s term of office. A parent representative on the council shall not be an employee or a relative of an employee of the school in which the parent serves, nor shall the parent representative be an employee or relative of an employee in the district’s administrative offices.

Nominee must be a minority parent. According to KRS 160.345, a minority means American Indian; Alaskan native; African-American; Hispanic, including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin; Pacific Islander or other ethnic group under-represented in the school.

Term of Office: 3-20-24 to 6-30-24 

Name of Nominee:_____________________________

Address: ____________________________________

Daytime Phone#: ___________________Evening Phone#: _____________________

Related Child(ren) enrolled at (school) and grade of child(ren):

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Nominated by: _____________________________ Date: _____________________ 

**UPDATE** Comprehensive School Survey 

We are currently in 3rd place for the Parent/Guardians Completion with 22%.  Help us achieve our goal of being in 1st place by Feb. 29th.

Comprehensive School Survey Closes on Feb. 29th

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.

https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/annual-school-survey-now-open-jcps-families-employees

Yearbook for Sale - Deadline to Order is Feb 27!

Hey Echo Trail Families and Staff,

We just wanted to give everyone a friendly reminder that the final day to purchase your FIRST EVER Echo Trail yearbook is Tuesday, February 27.  Due to guidelines with the printer (Josten's) to ensure that we receive them in May before school is out, this is a hard deadline.  There will be no reprints at a later time.

It is going to be a terrific keepsake to commemorate the first year at our tremendous school! PLEASE DON'T MISS OUT!

If you are unsure if you have ordered a book yet, please don't hesitate to email the PTSA at echotrailptsa@gmail.com 

Click here to order your yearbook!

Camp Wallace Information

The Department of Fish and Wildlife came out to talk with our students about their summer camp, Camp Wallace. 

See this flyer for more information! 

KDE Parent Involvement Survey

If you are the parent/guardian of a student currently receiving Special Education Services, please fill out the KDE 2024 Parent Involvement Survey: www.kypso.org/parent/  

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.

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!

CELEBRATIONS

Black History Month

Echo Trail students and staff will celebrate Black History Month with the following activites:

Congratulations, Mrs. Bonomo!

Mrs. Bonomo is now a Nationally Certified Teacher and was given a surprise celebration last week! We are very proud of her accomplishment!

Student Spotlight

As we continue to celebrate our students and update the hallways with branding, we have created Student Spotlight posters!  Each team of teachers will select only one student per week.  These students have demonstrated what it means to be G.R.E.A.T. at Echo Trail based upon our school-wide expectations.  Congratulations to the following students: Team Perseverance-Isla Sanders, Team Determination-Kaden Dukes, Team Endurance-Alex Dupin

PTSA

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

ClassAct Federal Credit Union's Heroes of Education

ClassAct FCU is giving money to local schools! For each "vote" schools' get, it moves them one step closer to a Heroes Grant Milestone! Visiting the Echo Trail Class Act page, signing up our ClassAct email, sharing on social media and signing up for a ClassAct account all get your school closer to their next Milestone.

Echo Trail is getting closer to the 2 Million Milestone and will receive $2000 more! "Vote" and share with friends and family!

Click here to "vote" for your school and to find out more about ClassAct's Heroes of Education!

Echo Trail Clubs

ET Clubs Info

Student Council

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

Wolf Pack Athletics

ET Athletics

Congratulations to our Echo Trail Cheer squad on their 2nd place finish at the Cheer Derby Competition this past weekend!

Echo Trail Archery

Archery had their best weekend of the season with a 3rd place team finish and new team high score. The Echo Trail archers also had several individual achievements including 10 archers earning new PR's, and the following individual awards:

Haylie Ford: Score 273/300, 2nd place MS Girls, 1st place 6th grade Girls, 6th place overall MS/HS

Cannon Peters: Score 256/300, 5th place MS Boys, 2nd place 6th grade Boys, 13th overall MS/HS Boys

Honorable Mentions:

Anna Spradling: 3rd place 6th grade Girls

Lachlan Jones: 4th place 6th grade Boys

Braylen Lucas: 5th place 6th grade Boys 


Echo Trail Bowling League

Our Echo Trail Bowling League had their fourth League Day two Friday's ago!  Congratulations to the following bowlers and team for Week 4:

Our 5 of 6 Week will resume this Friday, March 1st.  Reminder that students are to report to the band room after announcements.  f you have questions about game days, contact Mr. Stivers, joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us for more information.

Volleyball, Spring 6th Grade League

We have some exciting volleyball news to share with you!

Echo Trail will be participating in a 6th Grade Only Spring Girls Volleyball League in JCPS!

Games will run April 9th -May 2nd.
Practices will be on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:30-4:00 PM starting on March 4th.
Games will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and there will be a tournament the week of May 6th-10th.

We are allowed to enter only one team into the league so we will be having try outs to determine which 10 players will fill the team. 

Tryouts will be held at Echo Trail on February 28th and 29th from 2:30-4:00 PM.
There will be a $50 League Fee if your child makes the team. 

Fill out this link if your student is interested: ETMS Spring Volleyball Interest Form 

For any questions, you can contact:
Athletic Director: kyle.carden@jefferson.kyschools.us
Coach: rachael.johnson@jefferson.kyschools.us

Thank you so much and Let's go Wolfpack! 


Echo Trail Spring Sports

Hello Echo Trail Families,


Below is the list of Spring Sports we will be having at Echo Trail. Each team will also have the head coach listed with their email at which you can contact them. If you did not fill out the spring sports interest form, or you have not received any information about your desired team, feel free to email me or the coach for more information. 


I would like to reiterate, with this being our first year and only having 6th grade students, we are trying to provide as many opportunities as we can, while also keeping the students' safety in mind. These teams are meant to be competitive in nature, so in some cases with teams there may be tryouts, will not have required equal playing time, and in some instances teams may have to be cut in order to stay within the limits of the JCPS league roster guidelines.


Reminder that all athletes must have an updated Sports Physical and Echo Trail athletics packet turned in and on file to participate in an Echo Trail athletics program. This includes getting your packet notarized, which can be done in our front office.


Baseball:

Head Coach -  Austin Dukes

Email: Linked to name

Practices: F Sa    *Times and Locations Vary


Information: Practices have begun. For more information, contact Coach Austin Dukes.


Softball:

Head Coach - Elizabeth Conard

Email: Linked to name


Practices: M W Th     *2:45 - 5:00 PM @ Eastwood Cutoff Rd Field 

**Transportation bus provided to practice from school.


Information: Softball will be starting practices Monday 2/26. Be on the look out for communication from Coach Conard. You can also contact her at the email address listed above.


Boys Soccer:

Head Coach - Cary Hearn

Email: clhbanker@bellsouth.net

Practices: T Th     *2:45 - 4:30 PM @ The Parklands Egg Lawn

**Transportation bus provided to practice from school.


Information: Soccer practices begin 2/27. Be on the look out for communication from Coach Hearn.


Boys Lacrosse:

Coach - Phil Brock (Head Coach Eastern HS Lax)

Email: philbrock15@gmail.com


Information: Although we plan to have our own lacrosse programs in the future, due to numbers and the way competition is paired in the JCPS/Metro league, our 6th grade boys will be playing through a club entity this first year to get our program started. Coach Phil Brock will be organizing and building a team to ensure that the boys will have enough players to participate in a King Louie league. Practices will be starting this week. If you would like more information please reach out to Coach Brock.


Girls Lacrosse:

Coach - Cassidy Clark

Email: cassidyyclarkk22@gmail.com 

Practices: M W     4:30 PM - 6:00 PM @Middletown United Methodist Church


Information: Spots are still available on our girls lacrosse team. If you are interested in playing, please contact Coach Cassidy Clark for more details.


Flag Football:

Coach - Dexter Bowden

Email: Linked to name

Practices: T Th     *2:45 - 5:00 PM @ Echo Trail 


Information: After being short players this fall, We have had a lot of interest in flag football for the spring. This is open to both boys and girls, with the hope that JCPS will be able to form both a boys and girls specific league. Practice will be starting this week, pending the weather, on Tuesday, 2/27. This is a 7 v 7 style passing league, with focus on offensive and defensive skill positions. For other information about flag football, contact Coach Bowden (Coach D) at the email listed above, or myself.


Volleyball (6th grade Spring League):

Coach - Rachael Johnson (Johnston)

Email: Linked to name

Tryouts: 2/28-29 (Wednesday & Thursday)

Practices: M Th      *2:30 - 4:00 PM at Echo Trail


Information: This will be a new opportunity and developmental league for teams in JCPS. With this being a much smaller scale than the fall league, each school may have one team. With that being said, Coach Johnston will be forming her roster with that in mind. If you would like more information, please contact Coach Johnston at her email linked above. More information listed above in previous post.


Track and Field:

Coach -  William Jacoby

Email: Linked to name


Information: Track and Field is still being developed for this season. Stay tuned for more information.

Go be grEaT this spring!

Mr. Carden

Echo Trail Athletic Director

Upcoming Athletics Events

Archery

3/8 (Fri)   

Seneca March Pre-State Warmup

@ Seneca HS

*Flights begin at 6:00 PM


Repeat Information

Jcps is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Quick Reference & Reminders

Uniform Written Guidance

Uniform Slide Deck (visuals)

Spirit Store Items and Uniform Approved Items

Common Items we are correcting:

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:

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.