Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

August 17, 2026

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

We had a grEaT first full week back! Students received their agendas and it is a school-wide expectation for students to write in their agendas each class and every day. Students will write down learning targets, learning from the day, and/or homework. This also teaches students organization skills, and daily communication with you at home. Please check your student’s agenda to support building those skills.

This week our students will take their first i-Ready assessment. The ELA i-Ready assessment will be August 17th-18th, and the Math i-Ready assessment will be August 19th-20th. Take a moment to let your student know that this assessment is not about getting all the answers correct but measuring where they are regarding grade level standards.

Starting Wednesday, August 19th students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 7:30 am. Thank you in advance for following our carpool process, and pulling all the way forward in the circle to unload as many students at one time. Friendly reminder, you may not drop your student off in the morning prior to 7:00 am to ensure supervision is in place.

Also happening this week, on Friday, August 21st students will be assigned Chromebooks and lockers. Please make sure if you have not done so already to sign and return the JCPS technology agreements. These must be signed and returned in order for students to receive their Chromebook for the school year. ETMS's Chromebook procedures can be found here. Students will learn about our HERO rewards system for demonstrating our GREAT Pillars. In order for students to receive HERO points they will need to be wearing their student ID lanyard. Students will have the ability to cash in their points at our HERO store, and school-wide/grade level team incentives throughout the year. Last but not least, we are officially kicking off our PTSA Nature Walk! This is our biggest fundraiser for our school and assists us in extending learning opportunities, field trips, and rewards to name a few for our students.

Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is one of the many responsibilities that we have as a school district. Senate Bill (SB) 73, related to sexual extortion, was recently passed by the legislature and requires the district to provide the following information about sexual extortion to help ensure that parents/guardians and students have the resources they need to support their student(s) and protect them from being victimized (KRS 531.125).

Parent/Guardian Letter

Student Letter 6-12

Please take a few minutes to complete the EBF (Educational Benefit Form) for your student at jcps.me/ebf. Your response helps determine important funding for Echo Trail Middle School and supports resources and opportunities for our students. Every form makes a difference!

Thank you for supporting Echo Trail!

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

Important Information
& Upcoming Events

Your Voice Matters: Help Us Secure a YSC for Echo Trail

Echo Trail is currently in the process of applying for a Youth Service Center (YSC). If approved, the YSC would provide additional resources and support to help address non-academic barriers for our students and families, including basic needs, mental health and wellness, family support, connections to community resources, and more.

As part of the application process, we need feedback directly from our families to better understand the needs of our school community. Your feedback is an important part of helping us secure a YSC for Echo Trail!

Please take a few minutes to complete the Family Needs Assessment linked HERE. Your responses will help us identify the resources, programs, and supports that would be most beneficial to our students and families.

Please complete the survey by Friday, August 21st. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for supporting us as we work to bring a Youth Service Center to Echo Trail!

Car Rider Morning Drop-Off & Bus reminders

If you are the first car with a student to unload, pull all the way around to the white line before unloading. Once the line has stopped, students can exit out the passenger side anywhere from the white line to the main entrance and enter through the gym.
All students MUST come through the car rider line and exit in the unloading zone. They cannot be let out in the parking lot, on Echo Trail, or in the bus parking lot.

Calling all 8th grade parents!

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/

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

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.

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.

PTSA Nature Walk

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.

Counselor Corner

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

Clubs

Echo Trail Middle School Clubs – Sign Ups the Week of August 24

We are excited to announce that Echo Trail Middle School Clubs will be introduced the week of August 24th during Team Time!

Clubs are a great way for students to get involved, explore their interests, and make new friends. Participating in clubs helps students feel connected to our school community, build relationships with peers and staff, and develop a strong sense of belonging. Whether your child is interested in academics, the arts, service, or hobbies, there’s something for everyone!

Sign-ups will be shared in the Wolf Pack Weekly via a Google Form NEXT WEEK. Only parents can sign up their student. We encourage all students to find a club (or two!) that excites them and join in the fun.

Club Coordinator - joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us

Students of the Week

Echoes of the Arts

August Band Newsletter

Click here to read our August Newsletter.

EXPLORE

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

Engagement Empowerment & Connection

6th Graders Showing off their Cup Towers

7th Grade Engineering Improving Prosthetics

7th Grade Business Agenda Scavenger Hunt Gallery Walk

8th Grade Engineering Marble Maze Construction

📢 Echo Trail Explore Student Ambassador Announcements

This week, our 7th and 8th-grade Explore classrooms will be learning about the Echo Trail Explore Student Ambassador Program!

It’s Completely Optional: Being an Ambassador is a fantastic opportunity to build leadership, public speaking, and event planning skills, but participation is 100% voluntary.
Official Online Application: The official digital application opens on August 24th in their Team Google Classroom and closes on September 8th.
Ambassadors Announced September 18th
Selection Process: Students must complete all application steps—including a short video component—to be considered. Please note that space is limited and not every student who applies will be selected.

We encourage you to talk with your student about whether this leadership role is a good fit for them this year! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Grade 6: Exploration Phase

In 6th grade, students build a strong foundation by participating in hands-on exploration across all 3 pathways. This helps them uncover their unique interests before selecting a Pathway focus for 7th and 8th grade.

Grades 7 & 8: Focused Specialized Pathways

In 7th and 8th grade, students dive deeper into one of three specialized pathways:

Business & Communication: Students master Financial Literacy & Wealth Management, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Mass Communication, and Marketing & Retail Services.
Consumer Science: Students engage with Culinary Arts, Textile, Apparel & Interior Design, Human Development, and Consumer Economics.
Engineering & Design: Students build skills in 3D Design, CAD & Rapid Prototyping, Computer Science, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, and the Engineering Design Process.

Athletics

This Week in Wolfpack Athletics...

Monday 8/18

VB @ CAL

5:00pm - 6th grade

6:00pm - JV

7:00pm - Varsity

XC - JCPS Meet 1 @ George Rogers Clark

Wednesday 8/20

VB @ Farnsley

5:00pm - 6th grade

6:00pm - JV

7:00pm - Varsity

Thursday 8/21

Bsb @ CAL

6:30pm - Varsity Scrimmage

Cross Country

First XC meet of the season, Tully Invitational - Girls took 1st place overall, Boys took 4th. Lots of individual hardware!

Let’s go Wolfpack!

PTSA

Join the Pack & Lend a Paw!

Our Echo Trail Bookstore needs volunteers! Sign up using the link below and help keep our bookstore running for our Wolves.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ADA82EA5FDC34-58162520-etms

PTSA Flyer.pdf

Join The PTSA TODAY!!

Student: https://kypta-12608072.givebacks.com/shop/items/860548

Parent/Guardian: https://kypta-12608072.givebacks.com/shop/items/860546

Grandparent: https://kypta-12608072.givebacks.com/shop/items/860547

Faculty/Staff: https://kypta-12608072.givebacks.com/shop/items/860549

Standard: https://kypta-12608072.givebacks.com/shop/items/860545

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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