Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

August 24, 2026

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

We have plenty of exciting things happening this week and coming up. Students are doing grEaT things at ETMS and we are already impressed with what we are seeing! We are ExciTed to show you during our Open House on September 3rd. We will be sending out detailed information soon.

This week, our 6th & 7th grade students have their Mental Wellness Lesson and we will be conducting the same lesson with 8th graders next week. It is important that we have open lines of communication with our students and families. We want our students not only succeeding academically but also thriving with their mental wellness.

Monday, August 24th we will be kicking off our clubs for this school year. Information can be found below on what clubs will be offered, how your student can sign up, and all the necessary details about the clubs. We are looking forward to another year of offering students another way to be involved at ETMS!

Friday, August 21st, we kicked off our Nature Walk PTSA school-wide fundraiser!

Nature Walk Canva Presentation : please take a moment to review the information included.

During kick-off yesterday, students received the following items:

Nature Walk Packet:
Prize List (Click here to donate digitally now!)

*Donation Envelopes, permission slips and prize list were delivered to students Friday, August 21st.

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

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman

Important Information
& Upcoming Events

Save The Date!

Open House

Thursday, September 3, 2026

We are excited to welcome our Wolfpack families to Open House! Families will attend based on their student’s last name:

Last Name A–K: 5:00–6:15 PM
Last Name L–Z: 6:45–8:00 PM

More information about Open House will be shared in our next family newsletter. We look forward to seeing you!

Standards Based Grading

All teachers at Echo Trail use Standards Based Grading. This means that grades will be communicated as a 4, 3, 2, 1, or 0 and focus on what students know and can do in relation to specific state standards. Click this link to learn more and reach out to your child's teacher or counselor if you have questions.

Picture Day- August 31

Picture day is coming! Follow the link to https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/0509BDF for ordering info!

PTSA Nature Walk

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.

Counselor Corner

HERO Roll-Out

We are excited to officially roll out HERO at Echo Trail! HERO is our schoolwide positive behavior recognition program designed to recognize and reward students for the positive choices they make each day.

When we see greatness, we will RECOGNIZE and REWARD it!

How Do Students Earn HERO Points?

Students can earn HERO points from any staff member in the building by demonstrating our GREAT Pillars.

G – Growth Mindset
R – Ready and Responsible
E – Enthusiastic Attitude
A – Actively Participate
T – Treat Yourself and Others with Kindness

Students can also earn bonus points for accomplishments such as having no referrals for the month and making the Honor Roll.

ID + Lanyard = HERO Points!

Students must wear their school ID and lanyard each day to earn and redeem HERO points. Families can help by encouraging students to make their ID and lanyard part of their daily school routine.

No Lanyard = No Points!

What Can Students Earn?

Students will have opportunities for weekly recognition and monthly and quarterly incentives throughout the year. Rewards may include:

HERO Store items
Dress Down and PJ Days
Snack & a Movie
Gym and outside time
Pizza Socials
Silent Disco Dance
Kona Ice
Student vs. Staff games
And more!

The HERO Store will officially open after Fall Break, giving students another opportunity to use the points they have earned.

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

Student Spotlight

Clubs

Echo Trail Middle School Clubs – Sign Ups August 24 - 31

Please visit our Club Page for information and sign up your student for one of our 39 Clubs! CLICK HERE!

Quick Recall tryouts will be held on August 31st for 6th graders and September 2nd for 7th and 8th graders. Both tryouts will take place from 2:20-3:30pm in room 242.

Echoes of the Arts

Click here to read our August Newsletter!

EXPLORE

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

Engagement, Empowerment, & Connection

📢 Echo Trail Explore Student Ambassador Announcements

This week, our 7th and 8th-grade Explore classrooms heard 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. There are 4 components to an Application
1. Application
2. Video
3. Scavenger Hunt
4. Letter of Recommendation (Any teacher at ETMS EXCEPT for their Pathway Teacher, email to stephen.carter2@jefferson.kyschools.us)
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!

Athletics

Wolfpack Look Back... Last Week In Athletics

Varsity Volleyball starts the season 2-0, including the program's first Varsity win against JCTMS.
Varsity golf stays undefeated through the first 2 weeks of match play
Varsity Football gets it done with first win of the season, 18-16!
Cross Country has another strong team day at the JCPS event

This Week in Wolfpack Athletics...

MSM Memorial Tournament 2026 Schedule.pdf

Mrs. Salamon Memorial Volleyball Tournament: 8/28-8/29

Friday: Game 1 - 4:00pm Start

Friday ET Game - 8:00pm vs Farnsley

Saturday: Game 1 - 8:00am

Saturday ET Game - Pending Results from Friday

Upcoming Tryouts

ECHO TRAIL STEP TEAM TRYOUTS ARE HERE!

Tuesday, August 25 | 2:30–4:30 PM
Wednesday, August 26 | 2:30–4:30 PM
Thursday, August 27 | 2:30–3:30 PM

You MUST be present ALL 3 DAYS to try out!

TRYOUT ATTIRE

White top
Black bottoms
Tennis shoes ONLY

BEFORE TRYOUTS:

Make sure your **physical is completed**
Fill out the tryout form below

https://forms.gle/BJgj5xJvNaTYooGj7

Make sure you have a ride home at the end of tryouts each day.

Come ready to learn, work hard, bring the energy, and STEP!

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and officially getting started!

-Coach Jeffreys

https://tinyurl.com/EchoTrailST

Dance Team Tryouts

Dance Tryout Schedule Change:

Thursday 8/27 - CANCELED; No Tryout at Echo Trail on Thursday
Friday 8/28 - Dancers will learn two short combos that they will be evaluated on.
Saturday 8/29 - Dancers will have a 30 minute review session before official tryouts begin, giving everyone a a chance to refresh the material before evaluations.

*Note - The scheduled times for Friday and Saturday have NOT changed.

We are excited to see everyone!

-Coach Simone Oliver

Dance Tryout Sign Up Link: https://forms.gle/HmwvoYy3zgbz7PnG8

Winter Sports Sign Ups

2026/27 Echo Trail Winter Sports Tryouts: This form will indicate the Winter sports you intend on trying out for this coming 2026/27 Winter season. Please note that commitment to an Echo Trail team requires showing up to required practices and games.

Winter Sports Options:

Boys/Girls Basketball
Archery
Swim
Indoor Track and Field

*Click on the "Winter Sports Sign Ups" link above to get signed up, or the copied link below:

https://forms.gle/zmWsdAVy9jNzupbZ6

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

Repeat Information

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

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/

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.

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.

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.

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 Courtney DeKeuster courtney.dekeuster@jefferson.kyschools.us.

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