September Elk Trax
2022-2023 National School to Watch
From The Principal:
Dear Families,
We have had a great start to the school year! It has been great to be back in the building and spending time with your AMAZING children. I hope you all at home are starting to feel the initial confusion or uncomfortable middle school feeling disappear. I can assure you, our students are coming in and appear to be getting back into the routine of school and overall doing well!
This Friday, September 2, we will have our "Back to School Fun Afternoon" including a dance and open gym for EMS students. Tickets are on sale during lunch for $3. The fun afternoon will be from 3:00-4:30pm; please make sure you are here at 4:30pm to pick up your child. We will have concessions for sale during this time (pizza, chips, drinks).
I want to let parents know that during the month of September we will be participating in the annual Growth Assessment testing to get the beginning of the year data for students. These tests will take place during the school day.
Reminder that Monday, September 5 is Labor Day and there will be no school for students. I hope you all enjoy the three-day weekend with your family and friends. Thank you again for sending your children to EMS and allowing us to spend the day with them! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at Elkton Middle!
Emily Holloway, Principal
A Message From Michelle Campbell, Assistant Principal
It has been great getting back into the swing of things these first few weeks of school! This month volleyball and cross country will continue their seasons. At the end of the month come cheer on cross country as they close out their season with the championship meet on September 28th and volleyball with their tournament on September 24th. Be on the lookout for additional extracurricular announcements as things are starting back up. We are excited to see things "back to normal" this year with kids involved in the many activities offered here at EMS! As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Ms. Campbell will work with students whose Last Name begins with A-L
A Note From Krystal Muterspaugh, Assistant Principal
Students have been off to a great start! I have enjoyed seeing the smiling faces and getting to know students. I look forward to a great year. Please feel free to reach out to me with any needs regarding your student.
Ms. Muterspaugh will work with students whose Last Name begins with M-Z
Counselor's Corner
Student support at Elkton Middle School is very important to us. Students, teachers and parents can reach out to the following staff for support:
Laura Ogden, School Counselor (students with the last names of M-Z as well as scheduling needs for ALL students)
Nicole Keys, Interim School Counselor (students with the last names A-L) as well as Restorative Practices Specialist for ALL students
Celline Liu, UVA School Counseling Intern (Ms. Liu will be at EMS Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during 1st semester)
Madison McKay, JMU School Counseling Intern (Ms. McKay will be at EMS on Wednesdays during 1st semester)
Over The Counter Medication
Dear RCPS middle and high school parents,
Over the last few weeks, we have had a number of conversations with the VA Dept. of Health regarding over-the-counter (OTC) medications being given to students at school. Although we understand the convenience of schools purchasing a supply of OTC medications such as Tylenol or Tums and then providing them to students with written parent permission, updated VDH and DOE regulations for nurses do not permit this practice. We are considering a number of options that may achieve the appropriate combination of convenience and adherence to state guidelines, but in the meantime, families will need to adhere to the following protocol as outlined on the parent permission form:
1. Parent/Guardian must bring over-the-counter medication to school in the original pharmaceutical package with student’s name on
the bottle.
2. Parent/Guardian must provide the school with a completed medication authorization/parental consent form.
For your convenience, the medication authorization form may be found HERE. Please reach out to your school with further questions.
Sincerely,
Oskar Scheikl
RCPS Superintendent
Safety Drill Update:
'
Fall School Picture Day: September 7th
Picture day is quickly approaching on Wednesday, September 7th. Your student was given a picture information packet at school and should have brought it home. There are two ways to order pictures this year:
You may order online using the code provided on the envelope OR you can return the envelope with cash or check made payable to Strawbridge Studios. If you pay by cash, please make sure the exact payment for your selection is enclosed in the envelope as the photographer will not be able to make change. Please do not send picture envelopes until picture day. The photographer will take payment at the time of your student's picture.
If you choose to order online, the following link will allow you, the parents, to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, be sure to enter your student's name as it is on file at the school.
There will be a make up day scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th. Thank you for your assistance in helping us deliver a smooth school picture experience!
EMS Library
Donated Materials: The EMS library will gladly accept donated materials, however, donated materials will be added to the library at the discretion of the school librarian. Donations will be considered for the collection based on need and the collection policy above. While we appreciate donations, we will not notify donors regarding items being added to the collection.
If you would like to know more about what books your child has selected, or what books the EMS library offers, please watch the video below. This video will show you how to navigate our online card catalog system.
Nurse Clinic News
Welcome back!! It’s good to see all the students and get back into the swing of things. I hope that everyone is having a great start to the year so far.
For the clinic a couple of reminders. If your student has any health conditions that I, the nurse, needs to be made aware of please reach out to me and make sure you have doctor's orders turned in. I need those so Care Plans can be made regarding your student and their teachers can be aware if there is any reason they need to see the nurse frequently, take medication, use inhalers, and the list goes on.
*PLEASE do not assume the nurse knows. If you haven’t talked with me and turned the proper paper work in, I am not aware.*
Any medications you want your student to be able to take while at school needs to be brought to school by the parent, be labeled with the student's name, and have the proper paperwork filled out. More confirmed information on the process coming out on this soon from central office.
I look forward to a great 2022-23 school year!
Nurse Julie Shifflett
September
02: Back to School Dance & Open Gym
05: NO School Labor Day Holiday
06: Cross Country practice begins
07: School Picture Day
12: School Board Meeting - Rockingham Co Administration Office 7:00
14-15: Reading and Math Fall Growth Assessments 1:00
15: World Strides Parent Meeting 6:30
9/15-10/15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
23: Interim Reports Issued
26: No School for Students - PLC Day for Teachers
26: School Board Meeting at Broadway High School 7:00
27: Fall Boys' & Girls' Basketball Practice Begins
27: Fall Cheerleader Tryouts
29: FCCLA Day at the Virginia State Fair
October
04: PTA Meeting-Conference Room 3:00
10: School Board Meeting - Rockingham Co Administration 7:00
14: No School for Students-PLC Day for Teachers
15-16: Elkton Autumn Days
20: FFA Family Fall Festival 6:00
24: School Board Meeting @ Wilbur S Pence Middle School 7:00
25-29: FFA National Convention
27: End of 1st Grading Period
28: No School for Students
31: Halloween
31: Elkton Halloween HooDoo 5:30-7:00
Team Information
Elkton Middle School
Assistant Principal: Michelle Campbell
Assistant Principal: Krystal Muterspaugh
Website: ems.rockingham.k12.va.us
Location: 21063 Blue and Gold Drive, Elkton, VA, USA
Phone: (540) 298-1228
Facebook: facebook.com/ElktonMiddle
Twitter: @ElktonMiddle