Wolf Pack Weekly

Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

April 15, 2024 

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

Wow, what a wonderful Spring Festival we had! Thank you to our awesome PTSA, Teachers, Staff, Families, and Community for making our first festival a blast. It is another memory we have for what has been an amazing first year. We want to continue to have a wonderful year and finish strong. 

Last week, we had Town Hall Meetings with all of our students reviewing our End of the Year expectations. The slide deck used to review the expectations can be found here. We are looking forward to a fun filled end of the year.

We have celebrated various things during each month of the school year so far. We would like to recognize April as Autism Awareness Month. We will be highlighting this during our morning meetings with our students. 

Tomorrow begins the Math section of MAP testing. We always encourage our students to do their best, take their time, and show us what they know. They have worked so hard this year and have set goals for themselves. We know what they are capable of.

Students will start the process of selecting their Explore Pathway. The Explore Pathway is a two year commitment and will consist of a year-long course in each of their 7th and 8th grade years. It is important that students select their pathway based on interest and not on friends or teachers. Schedule changes will not be possible once the selections happen. We have been talking with students about this but wanted to also make sure we communicated with families as we begin this process. More information will be coming soon. Thank you for your partnership in supporting your students in making the best decision for them!

Save the Date(s):

4/22-4/26/24 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

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 along with their Character Dare.

Monday, April 15th: 

HERO Student and Teacher Leaders

Check out our HERO point leaders for last week!

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.

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

Vote for Ammerman!

We want to share with you that the rest of the world is figuring out what we already know - that our Boss Lady and fierce and fabulous leader is TODAY’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR!  


Dr. Ammerman was nominated for this honor and now it’s up to us, her Wolfpack, to bring this honor home! 


The ballot is on page 8 of the April Derby issue of Today’s Woman magazine, but online voting is going on now through April 30 at www.todayswomannow.com.


Voting is available to anyone with an email address, but only one vote per email address per hour.  Winners will be honored at an event June 11 and featured in their July issue of Today’s Woman Magazine.

MAP Testing

MAP Testing will resume this week!

MAP measures a student’s academic progress in reading and math. Each time your child takes MAP, we use the data to compare their growth from their previous score. On April 15th-16th, your child will take the Math MAP test. The average goal for a 6th grade student in winter is 222. These average scores are a prediction that a student will answer 50% of given questions correctly at a specific difficulty level.

Please encourage your child to try his/her best on this test. Please also make sure your child is here on time each day for testing. We appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child is successful!

KDF Marathon / Mini Marathon Discount - Deadline Next Monday

Thinking about signing up for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon or Marathon? 

Here is your sign! Head over to derbyfestivalmarathon.com and use code EchoTrail24 at checkout and receive 10% off race registration.
Code expires 4/22. Hope to see you out there!
-Ms. Boone

Library Updates

Please be aware of these important upcoming dates.

Contact Ms. Ward, kari.ward@jefferson.kyschools.us, for any questions.

Spring Fest!
May 16th, 6-8 PM

All are welcome to attend our Spring Arts Fest featuring our Echo Trail Fine Arts Department!

Save the date!

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

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-Kevin Virla Lozano, Team Determination-Jayanna Patterson, Team Endurance-Isaiah Barner


Echo Trail Bowling League


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

Meeting this Thursday, 4/18//24!

STLP Newscast Team

The Newscast Team will NOT meet after school this week but WILL MEET on Tuesday and Thursday during WINN.

Check Google Classroom for updates.

Science Olympiad

Science Club: Please check Google Classroom with an updated schedule for the remainder of the year. 

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 Website

Tribe Elite Cheer Tryouts

Tribe Elite Cheer will be having tryouts soon. Click here for more information.

tribeelite.org


Echo Trail Spring Sports

Practice Days


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

Practices: *Times and Locations Vary

F - @ Eastwood Cutoff Field 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Sa - @ Eastern HS Indoor 3:00 - 5:00 PM


Softball:

Head Coach - Elizabeth Conard

Practices: 2:45 - 5:00 PM

M W - @ Eastwood Cutoff Rd Field

Th -  @ Echo Trail

**Transportation bus provided to practice from school.


Boys Soccer:

Head Coach - Cary Hearn

Email: clhbanker@bellsouth.net

Practices: *2:45 - 4:30 PM 

T Th - @ The Parklands Egg Lawn

**Transportation bus provided to practice from school.


Boys Lacrosse:

Coach - Phil Brock (Head Coach Eastern HS Lax)

Email: philbrock15@gmail.com

Practices: Contact Coach Brock as schedule and locations may vary


Flag Football:

Coach - Dexter Bowden

Practices: *3:00 - 5:00 PM 

M W -  @ Echo Trail


Volleyball (6th grade Spring League):

Coach - Rachael Johnston 

Email: Linked to name (email last name is "Johnson")

Practices: *2:30 - 4:00 PM 

M Th - @ Echo Trail


Track and Field:

Coach -  William Jacoby

UPDATE: ET Track Team practices are held at 5:30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays at Eastern High School, weather permitting. If your child is interested in joining the team, please make sure they have a completed physical and Echo Trail athletics packet. You can contact Coach Jacoby.

Go be grEaT this spring!

Mr. Carden

Echo Trail Athletic Director

Upcoming Athletics Events

Games & Competitions

4/15 5:15p BSB vs. LKY       @ Crosby Park

6:45p Soc vs. Knight    @ Stuart MS

4/16 5:00p SB vs. LKY     @ Pertersburg Park

        7:00p SB vs. WF       **Dbl Header**

        4:30p Flag Football Boys vs. Highland    @ Westport

        5:20p Flag Football Girls vs. Highland    @ Westport

        5:00p VB vs. Highland      @ Carrithers

4/17 7:00p VB vs. Farnsley       @ Highland

5:30p Soc vs. Barret         @ VanHoose 

4/18 6:10p Flag Football Girls vs. Ramsey    @ Westport

        7:00p Flag Footbal Boys vs. Crosby      @ Westport

Repeat Information

Parent and Community Volunteers

We love our parents and community members who volunteer for school functions and field trips. We couldn't do what we do without you!

All volunteers must have a background check cleared (once every 5 years) before they may volunteer or chaperone their event. If you are planning on volunteering for any upcoming field trips, please see the important info about the renewel process below:

All JCPS parent and community members whose School Volunteer Records Check were cleared prior to July 1, 2020, are required to submit a new background check.

Volunteers who submitted a School Volunteer Records Check after July 1, 2020, and were cleared will not need to resubmit a records check until July 1, 2025. 

If you need to have a new background check, fill out the form here:
https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/about/support/volunteer

Taking care of it now will ensure that you are cleared the entire time your student is in middle school!

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.

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.