Echo Trail Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Welcome!

September 15 , 2025

Hello Wolf Pack Families!

Thank you again for all our families who participated in the Middletown and Gaslight Parades! We had a grEaT time showcases our school and connecting with our communities. I also want to extend a huge thank you for the adjustments made with entering school in the mornings. Those small adjustments aided in getting our students into the building quicker and safely. We could not have done this without your support and partnership.

This month is Deaf Awareness Month and I am extremely proud of our student body who has now learned our GREAT Pillars of Success in sign language. We have had several student leaders who have taught our students during our morning meeting! Monday, September 15th, we will kick off also recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month led by our HSU Sponsor, Mrs. Parker, and students.

You may have heard your students talk about earning HERO points. Below is the presentation that explains how students earn points and what they can use their points for throughout the school year:
HERO Student Roll-Out Slide Deck

Students will be assigned their lockers starting Monday, September 15th, and through this week. You and your students can come during Parent Teacher Conference day on September 24th to set up/organize their locker. This is a great time for your student to show off their locker opening skills and practice. Parent Teacher Conference Day information is included in the newsletter below.

Our PTSA Nature Walk is almost here! This Friday, September 19th, our students will participate in our Nature Walk. Students should wear their Nature Walk Shirt, Uniform Shirt, or ETMS Shirt with dressdown approved bottoms. Please review this presentation that explains details that will also be reviewed with students.

We had another excellent week in athletics with plenty of wins, home runs, and first place finishes! Way to go Wolf Pack!!

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

#ExpectgreaTness

Dr. Ammerman, Principal

Twitter: @KaraJo_Ammerman

Important Information
& Upcoming Events

Family Conference Day - September 24th

Family Conference Day Sign-Ups Open Tomorrow!
Beginning Tuesday, September 16th, families can sign up for our upcoming Family Conference Day. A sign-up link will be emailed to all families tomorrow. You’ll be able to choose the option that works best for your family—in-person, phone, or virtual.

Locker Set-Up Day

During Family Conference Day (September 24th 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM), we are inviting families to come in and have some locker fun with your student. This is an informal event for families to help their student set up and/or decorate their lockers. Students may bring items to decorate their lockers with - example, shelf, mirror, magnets. NO Stickers are allowed!

Nature Walk Volunteers Needed!

PTSA really needs your help to make the 3rd Annual Nature Walk a success!

Please review the available slots and click to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ADA82EA5FDC34-58377806-nature#/

Holiday Assistance Sponsors Needed!

If you would like to contribute to our Holiday Assistance program for Echo Trail families in need, please click HERE to complete this Google Form by Friday, October 10th! We do not currently have a Family Youth Service Coordinator and appreciate your willingness to support. Thanks in advance for your generosity and caring for our Wolf Pack!

Lost & Found

We have had a large number of water bottles and lunch boxes left in the cafeteria. If you're missing one (or more!), please ask your student to check the Lost & Found at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Unclaimed items will be donated.

Spirit Wear Orders

Here is another grEaT opportunity to purchase uniform approved spirit wear! Linked is our Academic Team Store where every team designed their own apparel. Also found here is the link to our Music Department Team tees and crew-neck sweatshirts.

The stores are open now until 11:59pm on Sunday, September 28 and be delivered to school 2-3 weeks following that. PLEASE confirm you are ordering the correct team as additional items WILL NOT be printed for returns or exchanges.

--> Music Team Store

--> Academic Team Store

EF Tours, England 2027 - Info Meeting This Week!

We are excited to announce an exciting academic opportunity. Through EF Tours, we are planning an international trip to England for Spring Break 2027!

We will have a family meeting at Echo Trail on September 18, 6 pm to share more details. Please RSVP at the following link if you are able to attend the interest meeting. You may also use this link to request more information if you are not able to attend.

--> https://rsvp.eftours.com/kjbnb8k

Volunteer This School Year!

We'd love to have you participate in field trips and other volunteer opportunities! If you have already filled out a volunteer f

The Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) requires volunteers to submit a background check form every five years. However, if it is brought to the attention of district officials that a volunteer has plead guilty to or is convicted of drug offenses; sexual offenses; offenses against minors; deadly weapons offenses; violent, abusive, threatening, or harassment offenses; or any felony offense, he or she will be required to submit a new criminal records check and his or her volunteer status may be terminated. In keeping with JCBE policy, the School Volunteer Records Check process is as follows:

All JCPS parent and community members whose School Volunteer Records Check was 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, unless there has been a qualifying incident similar to those listed above.

Get the Latest from our ET Teachers on the JCPS App

Many of our Echo Trail teachers are using the JCPS Rooms feature in the JCPS app to keep our parents updated. We don’t want to overwhelm parents by doubling up info in multiple places. We encourage you to download the app for communication.

Whether you're on Apple or Android, the links to download the JCPS App can be found here:
https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/o/jcps/page/mobile-application

Counselor Corner

HERO Student and Teacher Leaders

Check out our HERO point leaders for last week!

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 for each grade level:

Week of September 15th:
6th Grade, 7th Grade and 8th Grade Lesson

Lesson Title/Description :
Welcome - This session helps set the stage for the "What", the "How", and the "Why" of Character Strong. It helps create clarity for both the educator and students which sets the program up for success.

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.

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

Missed our Club Sign Ups?

Visit our Club page here and view our slides to see which clubs sponsors you can reach out to. Some of our clubs are still adding students.

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

Echoes of the Arts

Band Newsletter

Click here to read our September Newsletter.

Vision/Mission/Motto
August Students of the Week!
Rent to Own Instrument Information
Pictures from our Eastern High School Shadow Night
9/7 8th Grade National Anthem Performance at UofL Women's Volleyball Game Info
9/14 8th Grade Gatlinburg Parent Zoom Meeting
9/25 8th Grade Sound Connection Concert
10/9 8th Grade Howlapalooza Concert
10/23 7th/8th Grade JCPS All-County Auditions
10/29 Mark's Feed Store Proceeds Day

Modern Music Newsletter

Click here to read our September Newsletter.

EXPLORE

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

#chasEThecuriosity

Explore Ambassadors will receive an email Friday, September 19th to communicate if they have been selected as a 2025-26 Explore Ambassador or not.

Athletics

This Week in Wolfpack Athletics...

Monday 9/15

JV/V FH

5:00p JV FH vs CAL @ CAL

5:30p Varsity FH vs Crosby @ Crosby

Bsb V/JV @ Eastern

6:00p Varsity vs Dubois (*Away*)

7:45p JV vs Barret (Home)

5:00p JV Golf Woodhaven

Volleyball Playoffs - Rd 1

8:00p Varsity VB vs Westport @ TJ

6:00p JV VB vs Conway @ Westport

*Rd 2 - 9/17 for JV and V

Tuesday 9/16

XC - Annual FCA-Taylor Orthodontics Champions Challenge

@ Southeasrt CC"

7:30p SB vs JCTMS @ Eastern (*AWAY*)

6:00p Bsb Varsity vs Farnsley @ PRP

5:30p ET Tennis - Echo Trail vs Western @ Charlie Vettiner Park

Wednesday 9/17

5:00p Varsity Golf vs Westport/Crosby @ Long Run

7:45p Bsb JV vs Western @ Fern Creek

JV/V FH vs Noe @ Noe

5:30p JV

6:30p Varsity

Thursday 9/18

7:30p SB vs Kammerer @ Ballard

5:30p ET Tennis - Echo Trail vs Crosby @ Charlie Vettiner Park

6:00p JVFB vs JCTMS (Home) @ Newburg

Saturday 9/20

9:00 AM FB vs Knight @ JTown (Home)

XC - Double S Stampede @ Scott County Park - Georgetown, Ky

Winter Sports Signups

If you are interested in trying out for one of our winter sports teams, please fill out the form that is linked below. These sports will include:

Boys and Girls Basketball
Boys and Girls Swimming
Archery
Indoor Track & Field

Winter Sports Form

You may also click the link address that is provided. - https://forms.gle/3vsHqXLY8fUGhDCd8

These teams in most cases will have large volumes of student interest, resulting in these teams having to make cuts due to roster restrictions, spacial restrictions, equipment, safety, etc.

If you have a student athlete that is participating in a fall sport currently, they may not participate in any winter activities until the conclusion of their fall sports team. Coaches will send out further information as the winter participation windows begin to open.

PTSA

Volunteers Needed

Nature Walk help is needed Friday September 19th!
We have broken it down by teams for 7th & 8th grade if you want to be with your child.
--> https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ADA82EA5FDC34-58377806-nature

Bookstore needs help during lunches!
Your Echo Trail Bookstore will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunches! Hours are 10am-noon.

Students may ask to stop by and purchase spirit wear items during these times. We accept card, check (made out to Echo Trail PTSA) and cash. Parents may sign in to the office for a visitors pass to shop as well during these hours.

If you'd like to volunteer during these times, the bookstore chair will walk you through how it works.

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

Meet your PTSA Treasurer, Jennifer!

Jennifer is the mom of 7th grader Grant who plays golf and boys volleyball. She has a younger son at Tully. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and completely restored an old camper for their lake place. Jennifer is well prepared to manage our PTSA money with all her experience in Finance for Humana. She loves going to the lake, concerts, and reading. She is most excited to see Grant grow and mature and make new friends at ET!

Meet your PTSA VP of Programs, Michele!

Mom to 7th grader Golden, Michele can be found cheering at his basketball, flag football, and track meets, and watching him thrive in FCA and Men of Quality. Michele is a General Manager of a Marriott Hotel, and has worked for Marriott for 25 years now. She coached cheer for 15 years and now does that with her daughter. She loves to sing as a member of her church's Praise team and runs a non-profit organization. Michele just loves Echo Trail and is so honored to be part of such a grEaT school! She tells everyone there is no better school in the state - we have the best principal, admin, teachers, students, and parents!

Reminders

We would love for you to sign up for a PTSA Membership.

--> You can join the Echo Trail PTSA here!

We will need volunteers throughout the school year. Please fill out this form so we can have you on our volunteer email list.

Does your student have spirit wear or school uniforms that no longer fit? Or maybe apparel from a previous grade-level team that your student is no longer on? PTSA is partnering with the FRC to replenish clothing for students and families in need. You can bring donations to the front office or email PTSA to make other arrangements.

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!

Repeat Information

Car Rider Morning Drop-Off 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.

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.

25-26 School Fees

You may also send fees by cash and checks with your student.

If we can offer any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us 485-8398.

Weekly Newsletter

Errors? Omissions? If something is missing or needs to be corrected, please email Michael Etter, michael.etter@jefferson.kyschools.us.

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