Wolf Pack Weekly
Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter
Welcome!
May 13, 2024
Hello Wolf Pack Families!
It is hard to believe we are only 2 weeks away from finishing the school year. We will challenge and prepare your students for next school year in the following ways:
How can they change the mindset/sterotypes surrounding middle school?
How can they be inclusive and welcoming of 6th graders?
We want them to reflect on what they have learned and what they were nervous about starting middle school. With that in mind, they are part of the solution with on-boarding our next class of 6th graders. I am excited for our rising 7th graders to step up and be the leaders I know they can be and have already shown in a variety of ways this school year.
Students will be preparing their Mini-Explore Backpack Defenses this week. This is part of the EOY contract and how they will be submitting which Explore Pathway they would like to continue for their 7th-8th grade years. Please remember your signature is needed on this assignment as well.
We have more celebrations!
Math Counts Club and sponsor Mrs. Moore secured Gold Status as a first year club! !
Men of Quality group had a wonderful first year together!
Congratulations to our Volleyball Spring Team and Coaches who won the tournament this weekend!
Our Random Acts of Kindness Club was selected out of all the schools who did a cereal drive for Dare to Care this year to receive a $500 donation!
Save the Date(s):
5/13/24 Explore Presentation Selection (parent/guardian signature required)
5/16/24 Spring Arts Night (6:00 Drama Club presents Suessical, 6:30 Art Walk, Echo Effect, Jazz Band and Food Trucks, 7:30 Band/Choir concert)
5/17/24 Field Day, KONA Ice, Movies, Board Games, and Music Fun!
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
Care Solace
For any counseling needs over the summer, you have access to Care Solace's services through JCPS. They help connect you to a mental health provider that will work for your child and family's needs. Check out their services here.
If you have any questions or concerns about this prior to June 4th, please contact our Mental Health Practitioner, Ms. Sara Sanders, via the counseling form or email, sara.sanders@jefferson.kyschools.us.
HERO Store
We are excited to launch our HERO Store to celebrate students who are exemplifying the GREAT pillars. Students can select their items using the HERO Store Google Form that is located in their counseling google classroom. Items will be delivered during 6th period on Friday’s. Check out our HERO Store Launch Video!
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
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.
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.
Important Information & Upcoming Events
New Start Time for 2024-25 School Year
The Jefferson County Board of Education voted to move to three start times for the 2024-25 school year. Beginning in August, Echo Trail Middle School will begin at 7:30 a.m. and dismiss at 2:10 p.m. This is ten minutes earlier than Echo Trail’s current bell schedule.
We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our students, families, and staff. The District has set up the webpage, JCPSFirstDay.com. The page contains important information on transportation, start times, and more. JCPSFirstDay.com will be updated throughout the summer with information to help all JCPS families have a great start to the 2024-25 school year.
We appreciate all you do for our students and staff at Echo Trail and look forward to working together to have a successful school year.
Medications at School
If your child has medication at school, please be sure to pick it up by the end of the school year. There will be someone in the office to assist you until June 7th, if you are unable to get here by May 24th.
Yearbook Distribution
Yearbook Pickup - Monday, May 13
For Students who pre-purchased a yearbook:
5th and 6th periods students will be called down to pick up
Students will put in their lockers and take them home that afternoon
School is not responsible for lost or damaged yearbooks
Beginning May 15 - 6th period (until sold out):
45 yearbooks available for purchase
Cost is $30 (cash only)
Students should bring cash with them to purchase
We are not holding yearbooks or taking orders for them
Students will put in their locker and take them home the day they purchase
School is not responsible for lost or damaged yearbooks
Library Books - Returns & Replacement Fees
We are so proud of the over 10,000 books we have to offer our amazing students but now we need them back so future generations can continue to enjoy them! We've been diligently reminding your students and have sent a letter and invoice home today to share more detailed information with you. This information has also been emailed and will be emailed out again.
ALL library books were to be returned last week for students to be eligible for Field Day.
The official last day to turn in library books was Friday, May 10th. If books are not returned, they will be marked as lost, a replacement fee will be charged. Your student will be ineligible to participate in Field Day. These fees will need to be paid by the 15th and if any lost items are recovered after a fee has been paid, a refund will be issued.
We truly appreciate your help and consideration in this matter.
Contact our Library and Media Specialist, Ms. Ward, kari.ward@jefferson.kyschools.us, for any questions.
Arts Spring Fest - May 16th, 6-8 PM
All are invited to attend Spring Arts Fest on Thursday, May 16 from 6-8pm! It will be a wonderful evening, showcasing students from our drama, visual art, and music departments!
Uniform Donations
Has your child outgrown his/her uniform? Please consider donating gently used uniforms and Echo Trail gear to our Youth Service Center. Thank you so much for your kind generosity!
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-Hader Aquilera Velazquez, Team Determination-Manha Alhadad, Team Endurance-Keza Gentille
PTSA
Nominations for SBDM - Deadline today, Monday, May 13
Election on Wednesday, May 15
Election on Wednesday, May 15
Echo Trail Parents:
Our school has a SBDM (School-Based Decision Making) council that is made up of our principal, Dr. Ammerman and a variety of elected teachers and parents. This council is in charge of making important decisions about how the school operates and supports student achievement.
The council is a wonderful chance to learn about our school, work closely with teachers, and help make our school even more successful than it is now.
One of the duties of the PTSA each year is run SBDM elections for the two parent representatives for next school year.
The two parent members of the council who will receive training and serve from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
Parents can, but are not required to, serve two consecutive, one-year terms but do have to be re-elected each school year.
You are allowed to self-nominate.
Also, if you know someone who would be a good candidate, please encourage that person to run and nominate them.
Elected parents should be available to attend a monthly meeting. These meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00pm at school (no meeting in December or June).
Nominations will be open until Monday, May 13 at 2:20pm EST. Nominations can be sent in email format to echotrailptsa@gmail.com.
The election will be held on Wednesday, May 15.
If you will have a student at Echo Trail next year, you are eligible to be nominated and to vote in this election. This includes parents, stepparents, and foster parents. Legal guardians are also eligible to vote if the child lives in their home. I urge every parent to participate in this important decision about the future of our children’s school.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email echotrailptsa@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Joe Hulsey – PTA President
This letter can be viewed as a Word Doc here. Feel free to share with other interested parents.
Link your Kroger Card to Help Echo Trail
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!
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
STLP Student Newscast Team
Our End-of-Year celebration will be TODAY Monday, May 13, from 2:30-3:30pm.
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
Tribe Elite Cheer Tryouts
Tribe Elite Cheer will be having tryouts soon. Click here for more information.
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.
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):
Email: Linked to name (email last name is "Johnson")
Practices: *2:30 - 4:00 PM
M Th - @ Echo Trail
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 - Tournament Edition
Congratulations to our Echo Trail Girls Volleyball team for winning the 6th grade spring league!!!
Tournaments begin this week for our spring teams. Be on the look out for announced dates & start times:
Baseball Soccer Flag Football (Boys and Girls)
Repeat Information
Quick Reference & Reminders
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:
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.
Weekly Newsletter
Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.