Elkhorn Middle School Newsletter
September 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
I want to start by sharing my gratitude for your support of EMS students. The start of the school year takes planning, organization, patience, and so much encouragement - for our students and staff - and for families as well! We truly appreciate your communication, preparedness, and positivity when it comes to your student’s(s’) success at EMS.
This first month of school included specific lessons about The Antler Way - behavior that is Safe, Respectful, Responsible, Trustworthy, and Proud. Please talk with your child about The Antler Way. Maybe even ask them what they did at school that was Safe, or Respectful, or Responsible, or Trustworthy, or something they feel proud of. The Antler Way empowers all students at EMS to learn and grow. Antlers UP!
Attendance:
Student attendance matters! Students who miss school - even partial class periods - miss out on opportunities to connect with their teachers and peers, and may miss details and learning experiences that make the difference between “getting it” or not. We want our students at school!
If your student does need to miss school, please contact the office at ems@epsne.org to report the absence or appointment.
Students can check their email, Google Classroom, and the school website > homework calendar to access assignments from their teachers.
Tips to help students who have missed class:
Check the above resources to understand what happened in class and what assignments may be due
Encourage your student to speak directly with their teacher before or after class to discuss the absence
Students may need to check in with teachers before school starts or at the end of the day in order to get the information and instruction they need
Remind your student that it is their responsibility to follow up with teachers regarding their absence. The teachers are ready to help and want students to come to them with questions or concerns!
Every week there is a homeroom group assigned to be the Antler Pride Crew. That group is responsible for coming up with a project or planning an event that builds positivity and kindness at EMS. It’s great to have this focus on making EMS a great place to be and keeping things positive!
The Antler Way
These are the Antler Essentials - the basics of what it looks like for students to be Safe, Respectful, Responsible, Trustworthy, and Proud. These are behavior expectations we've been teaching and reviewing in the first few weeks of school.
Consistency is key for student growth and learning. We'd love your support from home using this language. These are Essentials for student success!
Drop off/Pick Up & Parking Reminders
We have several community members who regularly utilize the handicapped parking spaces in the North loop as well as the main, South parking lot. Please leave handicap spaces open for those community members with handicap placards.
Booster Club News
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well and your school year off to a great start. We are excited to introduce you to the Elkhorn Middle School Booster Club and invite you to become an integral part of our supportive community.
The Elkhorn Middle School Booster Club is a dedicated group of parents, teachers, and community members who are committed to enhancing the overall experience of our students during their time at EMS. We work tirelessly to provide additional resources, support, and opportunities that enrich their educational journey and extracurricular activities.
By joining the Booster Club, you will have the chance to make a meaningful impact on our students' school experience. Your involvement can take various forms:
- Volunteer Opportunities: We organize events, fundraisers, and activities throughout the year that rely on the support of volunteers. Your time and effort can make a significant difference in the success of these endeavors.
- Fundraising: The funds raised by the Booster Club go directly toward supporting various school programs, equipment, supplies, and projects that benefit all students.
- Advocacy: As a member, you can help advocate for the needs of our school and students within the larger community.
- Networking: Joining the Booster Club is a fantastic way to connect with other parents, build friendships, and become an active part of the Elkhorn Middle School community.
Our next Booster Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library classroom at EMS. We encourage you to attend and learn more about the initiatives we are planning for the upcoming months. Your input and ideas are invaluable to us.
If you're unable to attend the meeting but are interested in becoming a member or volunteering in any capacity, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at emsboosterclubelkhorn@gmail.com. We'd be happy to provide more information and discuss how you can get involved. We would really appreciate any help with working concessions for football and volleyball. People can sign up to work here. This is an easy and fun way to get involved. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Together, we can make a positive impact on the educational experience of our students and contribute to the success of Elkhorn Middle School. We look forward to your support and involvement.
Warm regards,
President: Jessica Hacker
Vice President: Theresa Kimmell
Treasurer: April Nerz
Secretary: Ally Morrill
Attendance Policy
Students that arrive to school after 8:10am bell will be counted as tardy. All students must be excused verbally by a parent or guardian.
**Please remember to email the office at ems@epsne.org or call the office at 402-289-2428 when reporting a student tardy or absent (not the teachers).
Students that are absent for professional appointments must either provide documentation from the appointment or call the school office to inform the school why the student will be (or is) tardy in order to have the tardy excused.
Excessive tardies may result in disciplinary action and contact from the administration.
Notes and Reminders:
Please leave the marked handicap accessible parking spaces in the front and back lots open for our community members with handicap stickers and tags on their vehicles. We have several community members who need access to those specific stalls each day.
Look for your student to charge their Chromebooks overnight every night. Please help establish a routine location for your student’s Chromebook and charger.
Keep an eye out for your student’s gym clothes! Students should bring them home regularly to be washed and then returned to school for gym class.
Students are expected to turn off their phones and keep phones in their lockers during the school day. If you need to contact your student during the day, the office is happy to help! We can easily get a message to your student. Students are welcome to use the phone in the office if they need to contact a family member.
As the weather cools, students should be prepared to wait outside if they arrive before 8:00. Jackets and coats are encouraged and will be stored in student lockers during the day. Hats must be stored in lockers and hoods must remain down during the school day.
- There is an admission fee at all athletic events at EMS and all of our opponent sites. All sites are cash only. Admission for middle school events held at EPS sites are: Adults $3, Students $2. EPS Athletic Passes are accepted at EPS sites only.
Google Classrooms Guardian email summaries
Starting September 7th, guardians will be able to receive email summaries about their student’s activity in Google Classroom. Guardians will receive an email invitation on September 7th and will need to accept the invitation in order to receive Google Classroom email summaries. When you receive the invite email and click the accept button, you will be taken to a page verifying your email address. Please make sure this is the email address you would like to use before clicking accept. If it is not the correct email address, do NOT click decline or accept, and see bullet number 3 under "Get email summaries" in this document Guardian Email Summaries - for Guardians.
You may not receive an invite email if you are still signed up from last year or if teacher(s) have not enabled email notifications in their Google Classrooms.
In email summaries, you can review:
- Missing work—Work not turned in when the summary was sent
- Upcoming work—Work that is due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or that is due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails)
- Class activities—Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers
- Email summaries do not include grades.
If there’s no activity to report, or if a teacher turns off email notifications, you might not get an email summary.
Picture Day!
Picture day is Friday, September 8th.
You can now order your student's pictures at www.mylifetouch.com using one of the following codes:
Picture Day ID (regular school pictures): EVTK8BDS3
Sports Pictures (will be taken the same day during practice time): EVTZ6FPC6
Band News
Welcome to another exciting school year! I am looking forward to working with the students and staff of Elkhorn Middle School this year. Mr. Kyle Dreessen, our returning EHS Band Director, will again be working with the students this year. We have more than 200 students enrolled in band and are excited to get started.
Jazz Band – The Jazz Band is open to 7th and 8th grade band students. Any interested students must prepare the audition music and submit a video recording to Google Classroom by September 15th. Our Jazz Band will begin rehearsing on Thursday, September 21st from 7:00-8:00 a.m. Students may enter the building after 6:45 am at the west entrance by the band room.
November 9th Concert – On Thursday, November 9th, all the band students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will be performing their first concert of the year. It will take place in the EMS gym and starts at 6:30 p.m. All students will be expected to arrive by 6:00 p.m. for warm-ups.
Please come to support your students and enjoy the concert. Concert attire will be expected for all students and will include: black pants, black socks, black shoes, and the EMS “Noteworthy” polo shirt (tucked in). This shirt will be available for purchase through an online store soon.
Home Practice and Practice Records – One of the most important aspects of learning an instrument is regular home practice. With the limited amounts of contact time we have with each student, it is vitally important that every student reserve some time at home to practice their instruments and improve their skills.
The amount of time per day suggested will vary by the grade, but we strongly suggest a minimum of an hour a week for all students. However, students should practice as much as necessary to master their concert/jazz band music and to be prepared for their regular playing evaluations.
We also encourage parents to listen to their students when they practice and encourage them in their musical pursuits.
Thanks.
Andrew
Vocal Music News
Show choir season is about to begin and we are ready to recruit our EMS Classics! Auditions will be held on September 9th starting at 7:30 am at EMS with prep sessions on Tuesday-Friday, 7-8 am in the chorus room.
This year, we are excited to announce that 6th grade chorus students can audition for the Classics along with the 7th and 8th graders! Students who are interested must join the Audition Google Classroom to be informed about audition materials, procedures, and practice opportunities. They can get the join code from Mr. Jaques or from any of the audition posters at the school.
Parents/guardians with questions should contact Mr. Jaques at jjaques@epsne.org and he will responds ASAP. Let's have an amazing season! Antlers Up!
Mrs. Wagner’s Library Corner
Scholastic Book Fair: Mark your calendar! Fall Book Fair is September 19th -September 28th. Scan the code for more information!
Digital + Audiobooks: Want to listen to a good book or read one on your phone phone or Kindle? You can for free on the Libby app! All you need is an Omaha Public Library card. Here are the steps to set up Libby:https://tinyurl.com/4tm6w8bx (also on your student’s Media Center Google Classroom)
Dear Families:
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school.
Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from September 19th to September 28th. This includes shopping online, as well as the evenings of Fall Conferences.
Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/elkhornmiddleschool
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Happy reading,
Jennifer Allgood
Principal
Elkhorn Middle School
EMS SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES INFORMATION
Various volleyball and football game locations and times have changed recently. Please refer to this link for updated info:
Elkhorn Middle Fall Sports Schedules
Admission Prices to Middle School Volleyball and Football Games
There is an admission fee for all middle school home and away competitions (excluding Track & Field). Please note that we only accept cash. Activity Passes are accepted.
Adults: $3 Students: $2
Purchasing Passes Online
If you are interested in purchasing an activity pass for the 23-24 school year, please refer to this link: https://www.schoolpay.com/
Please note that the activity pass will get you into all non-district / tournament games located at Elkhorn Public Schools.
Picking up your Activity Pass
Please make arrangements to pick your purchased activity pass at the school you indicated when you purchased the pass.
Registering for upcoming sport's teams (Basketball, Wrestling, Track & Field)
As a friendly reminder, registration must occur before the first practice. Registration must go through this link: https://elkhornps-ar.rschooltoday.com/ A current sports physical (dated after May 1, 2023) must be uploaded on this site and must include "clearance" verbiage. 7th Grade school physicals are accepted, as long as there is an indication of "clearance" for sports.
News from the EPS Foundation
Sodexo information
2023-2024 Breakfast & Lunch Prices
Breakfast:
Elem: $1.75
Middle: $1.95
High: $2.15
Adult: $2.75
Lunch
Elem: $2.95
Middle: $3.65
High: $3.80
Adult: $4.60
*1 milk is included with a purchased meal. Extra or single milk (without a purchased meal) is $0.55 each. Extra entrée and ala carte items have an additional charge
**You will receive an email when your students account is below $5.00 daily as a reminder. The easiest way to avoid any issues is to set up an Auto-Deposit function on your students account, instructions can be found below.
MAKING DEPOSITS
SETTING UP AN ONLINE ACCOUNT INSTRUCTIONS - This will allow you to make deposits, view the account, set reminders and add an auto-deposit option if preferred.
*EPS partners with SchoolPay for student lunch accounts. To add funds, go to
www.schoolpay.com and log into to your user account.
MAIL CHECKS payable to EPS, that include your student name and student ID Number to Sodexo, EPS Food Service, 1401 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022
SEND LUNCH MONEY WITH YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL, include student name and student ID number preferably in an envelope for elementary students to give to their teacher.
Join DI for a fantastic year of fun and creativity!!!
DI is an exciting and creative problem-solving competition in which students work together in small teams of 4-7. Over the next several months, students choose one of six DI challenges, interpret that challenge, and then solve it using critical thinking skills and creativity.
Some of the challenges include the construction of technical devices. Other challenges are more fine arts and theater based. Each team will have the opportunity to solve their problem in the way that they interpret it.
Regionals, the first competition to be held at Davis Middle School in Omaha, will be held late
February or early March 2024 (date to be announced soon).
The State competition will be held in Kearney at UNK in early April of 2024 (TBA). Globals is now in Kansas City and will be held in late May of 2024.
Each team needs a parent Team Manager to help the students manage their time and find their
solutions. Being a DI team manager is a great way to get involved and watch how kids can solve
multi-level challenges using their talents and creativity. All EPS district DI teams are required to meet in our school buildings. Meetings can be after school, in the evenings, or on the weekends.
A “Facility Use” form is required to reserve your space and times. Team Manager training will be provided by NCAPS (Nebraska’s Creative Association for Problem Solvers) for the parent volunteers in October via Zoom. Team Managers will need to complete an EPS Volunteer Background Check.
To form a team, students should get their friends together (3-7 students total), recruit a parent Team Manager, and turn in the team roster to the front office by Friday, September 15th, 2023.
All students are required to pay a $20 participation fee (checks made payable to the school). Please include student’s full first and last names, grade, and parent phone numbers for all of the student team members. Please turn in the Team Manager’s name, phone numbers, and email address.
Students who do not have a team put together can email Mrs. Ghannam at mghannam@epsne.org for assistance in finding a team to join.
Check out the DI website (www.destinationimagination.org) for more information on how DI works, or email Mrs. Ghannam with specific questions.
TeamMates of Elkhorn: Call for Mentors
TeamMates mentors spend 30 minutes a week leaving a positive impact that lasts a lifetime. Please consider volunteering your time to meet the growing need for mentors across our District. Apply now by clicking here!
TeamMates and Runza Day!
Visit Runza on Tuesday, September 19, and support your local chapter of TeamMates! 10% of all Runza sales will be donated back to TeamMates chapters.
Did you know?
You can access Elkhorn Middle School daily bulletin board. Just head to our website and click on the red pin to see all the fun things happening at EMS daily.
Safe2Help
Contact Information Updates
Send changes to contact information to ems@epsne.org
2023-2024 Academic Calendar
The approved 2022-2023 academic calendar can be viewed here.
3200 North 207th Plaza, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Phone:402-289-2428
Fax: 402-289-1639