Elkhorn South High School
October 2022
From the High School Principal- Mark Kalvoda
The first quarter of the 2022-23 school year is well underway and we hope ESHS students are acclimating to the routines of being back at school. The year has been a flurry of activity as students adjust to being back on campus. I appreciate their efforts and perseverance as well the efforts of our staff and parents in setting high expectations for learning. While our students seem to be busier every year, their ability to manage time and balance academics and activities is astonishing. Our student’s academic success has been and always will be our ultimate focus. We will continue to challenge our students with relevant and rigorous curriculum in order to fully prepare them for their remaining high school years, post-secondary education and beyond. I look forward to seeing our students respond and succeed. While clearly our focus is academic achievement, I would be remiss if I did not mention how proud I am of the school spirit shown by this group of students. From rooting on friends at games, to actively participating in school activities, to creating posters of support, our students are showing school pride and representing their school with class.
Around mid-quarter progress report time, our students are in the routine of understanding classroom expectations with respect to homework and practice, note-taking, reading and writing, and critical analysis. Please encourage your student to do his/her best and to be prepared for classes by spending time studying and reviewing notes, assignments, textbook selections, and supplementary material. It is critical for students to develop favorable study habits that reinforce learning. I am very appreciative of the many hours our students designate to their schoolwork and for the high expectations that our parents set for students completing homework and being prepared for school. Undoubtedly, the habits they form today will serve them well in future high school classes, college classes and beyond.
Elkhorn South High School faculty and administration continue to create and enhance school-wide intervention systems to support student learning. Our ongoing interventions are intended to maximize student achievement by monitoring student progress and creating accountability within the learning process. Homework is essential to the learning process because it reinforces practice of new knowledge and content. Homework and practice are researched best practices that positively correlate to increasing student knowledge. I would like to inform our parents about three of our school-wide intervention systems that will help encourage learning and homework completion. The After-School Academy, the Guided Study Programs and the Peer Mentoring Programs are described below:
After-School Academy - The Student Assistance Team continues to offer a structured study environment after school, complete with tutors and teachers. Any student is welcome to stop by and seek help, get caught up on assignments, or form study groups. While students are encouraged to attend on their own, we are requesting help from parents to encourage or even require their student's attendance. If students get behind in their classes, attendance may become required by the school in an effort to hold students accountable for their learning. The After School Academy is held in the Media Center Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30. In addition to After School Academy, Elkhorn South will often place students in Academic After Hours. Academic After Hours sessions run weekly on Thursday evenings from 3:30-6:30pm and Saturday mornings from 8:30-11:30am. This sustained block of time affords students a quiet, academic-focused area to complete missing assignments or prepare for upcoming assessments.
Guided Study Program - The Guided Study Program is an intervention for students who need additional academic support during the school day. The Guided Study program operates in addition to traditional study halls. Regular education students are placed in Guided Study after a student has received two or more grades of 5 on a mid-term, quarter, or semester grade report. Students may return to regular study halls after he/she is passing all classes with a 3 or better on a mid-term, quarter or semester grade report and express confidence in his or her abilities to be successful without the program. Certified teachers and a student assistant work with the guided study students to encourage them to organize their work and improve their study habits, monitor student progress by reviewing mid-term reports and grades via PowerSchool, monitor usage of the student agenda for assignments, insist that students are engaged in constructive work each day, communicate with classroom teachers regarding student progress, provide academic support and assistance as needed and reinforce the importance of education.
Peer Tutoring Program-
The ESHS counseling center provides 1-on-1 peer tutors before, during and after school two times per week. Please contact Rachel Hoch at rhoch@epsne.org in the counseling center to request a tutor. The Counseling Center will work to find an appropriate match for students’ areas of need and available times.
Tutors help in the following ways:
Answer and discuss questions about daily assignments.
Strategies and tips on how to write an essay for the specific class.
Study preparation practice and strategies about how to prepare for the test/quiz.
Overall learning strategies about how to remember and understand content that is specific to the class.
Each year, hundreds of students receive tutoring through our program and we are grateful to have dozens of willing mentors who volunteer their time to assist students.
We greatly appreciate your attendance at Parent- Teacher Conferences last week. We value your partnership and look forward to working collaboratively this year for our students’ success. Also, we sincerely appreciate your generation donations for staff meals on these two evenings!
If you would like to contact me to discuss concerns, ask questions or comment, please call me at 402-289-0616 or email me at mkalvoda@epsne.org.
I look forward to working together to maximize our students’ opportunities for educational excellence here at ESHS.
Mark Kalvoda
Principal
Elkhorn South High School
402-289-0616
Student absences and appointments
Parents do not come into the building to get your child, the student will sign themselves out on our office computer. If it is for a Drs. appointment, please have the student bring a note from the Dr. upon their return.
Thank you so much for your cooperation with this.
Upcoming Information
Oct. 21 - Teacher In-service - No school
Nov. 23-27-Thanksgiving Break-No School
Dec. 22-Jan. 3-Winter Break-No School
Jan. 16-Teacher In-service-No School
Feb. 14 & 15-Parent Teacher Conferences One hour early dismissal
Feb. 16-Teacher In-servie-No School
Feb. 17-No School
Mar. 17-26-Spring Break-No School
Apr. 7-Teacher In-service-No school
Apr 22-Prom
May 21-Graduation 12:00 p.m.
Update of Email, home address and phone number
Please contact Penny Rohl in the Counseling Center at 402-289-0616 #3 or prohl@epsne.org to make changes to email, phone, or home mailing address.
New Anonymous online reporting system
- (531) 299-SAFE (7233)
- www.Safe2HelpNE.org
- Download the “Safe2Help” app from your app store
- Found on individual building homepages
Band News
Marching Band Competitions and Performances
Tuesday, October 11th
Campus Band + Choir Concert @ 7pm
Saturday, October 8th
Sounds of Excellence @ Elkhorn HS - Competitive Band All Day
Saturday, October 15th
Omaha Marching Invitational @ Burke HS - Competitive Band All Day
Saturday, October 22nd
State Marching Contest @ Millard South HS - Competitive Band All DayVocal Music News
Play Production
-Our play production dates are October 28th-29th at 7:00pm and October 30th at 2:00pm and 6:00pm.
-Ticket pricing is $10 for adults, $5 for students (K-12), with children under 5yrs being free.
-Tickets go on sale to the public Oct. 6th, with a presale for ESHS families beginning Oct. 1st (Presale password: ESHSRadium)
-Online ticketing link: https://www.showtix4u.com/events/637
Any questions can be directed to my email: dbonin@epsne.org or phone: 402-289-0616 ext. 16166
National Honor Society Blood Drive
The Elkhorn South National Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red
Cross on Friday, November 18th in the ESHS aux gym.
Students age 16 and up and any adults in the community may donate; appointments are available from
7:00 am to 1:00 pm. Adults and students 17 years old or older can schedule themselves by clicking on https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=ESHSstorm, but still need to fill out a consent form found in room F110 and E138. If you are 16 you still need a consent form, but need to sign up with Mr. Fauss.
Graduation Date and Time
Elkhorn Public Schools Stadium
Sunday, May 21, 2023, 12:00 PM
1401 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE, USA
Class of 2023 Graduation Times:
Elkhorn Public Schools will hold all three graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 21st at the Elkhorn Public Schools Stadium (1401 Veterans Drive):
Elkhorn South High School will begin at 12:00pm. Followed by Elkhorn High School at 3:00pm and Elkhorn North High School at 6:00pm.
*Times may vary if weather related delays occur the day of graduation. We aim to hold all three ceremonies on Sunday, but if needed, make up dates will be scheduled in the days following.
GRADUATION ORDERING
To order a cap, gown and tassel, please follow these instructions:
If a student can't order online, they may also order from School Traditions store in Bel Air Plaza on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 12100 W Center Rd Suite 901, Omaha, NE 68144 (Phone: 402-733-0300)
If your family has a cap and gown from a sibling, neighbor, etc students can use those for graduation. They may want to order a 2023 tassel. Please email Mrs. Rohe at crohe@epsne.org if this is your plan.
Post Prom
Sodexo job openings
Elkhorn Kids Campus
Student Meal Information
Make a difference with the Elkhorn Public Schools!
Metro Conference Website
rSchool Today App
NSAA Website
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION – EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Elkhorn Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race (including skin color, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, sexual orientation or gender identity, or other protected status in its programs.
The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination
policies:
Students: Anne Doerr, Executive Director of Student Services, 20650 Glenn Street (402) 289-2579, ([adoerr@epsne.org]).
Employees and Others: Don Pechous, Executive Director of Personnel, 20650 Glenn Street (402) 289-2579, ([dpechous@epsne.org]).
Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the appropriate Coordinator. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the OCR at One Petticoat Lane, 1010 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 320, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, (816) 268-0550 (voice), Fax (816) 268-0599, (800) 877-8339 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity@ed.gov.