Elkhorn Middle School Newsletter
November 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Our focus in the month of November is gratitude. Homeroom groups will participate in various activities that draw attention to and acknowledge the positives in our lives. At EMS, we ask teachers and staff to recognize students with Antler Pride notes. Antler pride tickets recognize students for positive behaviors - doing things The Antler Way - Safe, Respectful, Responsible, Trustworthy, and PROUD! Students (or families) are also encouraged to recognize the positives in our teachers and staff!
Booster Club News
Our November booster club meeting will be held on November 27th @ 7:00 p.m. We will be discussing the Holiday Hurrah!
We are still in need of parents to help with concessions for basketball season. Please check out the Signup Genius link to sign up.
The Art Club and Media Center Wish List is still open for donations. These donations directly benefit our students by providing resources and incentives. Please check out the Wish List Link to see how you can help. Thanks!
Our Booster Club organization is tax exempt so any donations you make can have a tax benefit for you.
Don't forget to use TAGG for an easy way to contribute to our organization. You can also add your receipts to the Box Top app. Just search for Elkhorn Middle School. It's easy and you are most likely already buying goods that qualify. Please reach out to us if you have any questions at emsboosterclubelkhorn@gmail.com.
Thank you!
Jessica Hacker - President
Theresa Kimmell - Vice President
April Nerz - Treasurer
Ally Morrill - Secretary
Celebration of Giving!
With the holidays looming we hope you’ll consider helping an Elkhorn
family in need! Elkhorn Public Schools in a partnership with Womenade is sponsoring a Gift Drive for families within the Elkhorn community. If you would like to participate in this giving project, please use the link below for the Sign Up Genius and choose an item you would like to purchase. Wrapped gifts, with the family code attached to the outside, should be returned to school no later than Tuesday, December 5th at 3PM.
Please join us in making a difference in the lives of some Elkhorn families, and in making a lasting impression on our own children!
Questions? Please contact:
Ginny Owens at 402.289.2428 or gowens@epsne.org
Blood Drive
The Elkhorn High School National Honor Society is hosting our annual Blood Drive on Friday December 8th here at EHS. Feel free to pass this information along to your parents or anyone you see fit. Please let Diane Schieffer or myself (Ronda Habrock) know if you have questions!
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=EHSAntlers
Ronda Habrock & Diane Schieffer
NHS Co-Sponsors
EMS Honor Roll
Congratulations to all the EMS students who made First Quarter Honor Roll!
Please click on the following link to see a complete list of Honor Roll students.
Mrs. Wagner’s Library Corner
Golden Sower Competition: There are TWENTY amazing Golden Sower nominees this year. For every Golden Sower book a student reads, they can earn a prize (candy, ice cream party invites, gift card raffles, etc.). Encourage your student to try one out!
Technology Tip:
Charge EVERY NIGHT! Be sure the orange light comes on.
Restart EVERY WEEK! If you restart your machine on a weekly, if not daily basis, you will keep your Chromebook up-to-date.
Band News
Congratulations to Brie Beier on her selection as the bass player for the 8th Grade All State Jazz Band!
Congratulations also to Quentin Bretey (Percussion) and Kaleb Polly (Bari Sax) on their selection as alternates for the 8th Grade All State Band.
The 6th-8th Grade Band Concert is Thursday, November 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. Students should arrive by 6:00 p.m. in their concert attire. Black music polo, black dress pants, black socks, and black shoes.
The following students were selected for the 2nd Annual Elkhorn All City Band Festival:
Brie Beier, Jenna Bencker, Micheal Brackett, Jaxon Braughton, Quentin Bretey, Evan Carlson, Eli Cumerford, Grady Dangberg, Finn Fecke, Reagan Feuquay, Hailey Haberling, Logan Havran, Samantha Hemmingson, Camden Kieckhafer, Rhett Krivolavek, Natalie Madsen, Aryan Mansingh, Kaleb Polly, Adeline Powers, Shrivarshan Prabaharan, Eshaan Rai, Lilly Reiser, Ava Richardson.
Vocal Music News
Save the date! - There is a chorus concert here at EMS on November 7th, starting at 6:30 pm. All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade chorus members are part of this concert. Call time for students is 6:00 pm. All black attire with music polos. See you then!
Show Choir Parents - Starting the 2nd week of November, rehearsals will take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week (if school is in session). The next choreography session is on November 11th, 8am-1pm. Thank you for settling up the activity fee and for submitting your student's costume measurements! We are ordering them soon! This is amazing group of performers and the show is going to rock!
EMS SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES INFORMATION
Girls Basketball Season and Girls and Boys Wrestling
Both seasons will begin right after the winter break. There will be a player-coach informational meeting after school on December 14th for Wrestling and December 15th for girls basketball. All "RSCHOOL Registrations", physicals turned in and payments must be completed by Jan 4th at 8am for GBB and Jan 17th at 8am for wrestling. Please consider doing this now so it is completed.
REMINDER: You do not have to pay if you already have purchased an activity pass, or paid the fee for another sport this year. Physicals must be dated on or after May 1, 2023. All other information can be found here: EMS Athletic Information 23-24
On Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM, EPS will partner with Project Harmony as they present “Online Safety for Parents, Guardians, and the Community” at Elkhorn High School.
This parental education opportunity is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. Participants will walk away with an enhanced ability to identify risks youths may encounter online, implement communication strategies to utilize in conversations about online safety, and understand how to report safety concerns.
If you are unable to attend on November 15, please visit https://projectharmony.com/training/course-catalog/2885858/ to view additional opportunities offered by Project Harmony.
Questions can be directed to info@epsne.org.
2023-2024 EMS 8th Grade Tributes
Hello 8th Grade Parents/Guardians!!
The Elkhorn Middle School Yearbook has some EXCITING news to share with our 8th grade families! This year we will be introducing the opportunity to purchase tributes that will be featured in the yearbook to congratulate students on all their hard work these past few years in middle school, or to wish them good fortune on the future ahead in high school!
All tributes will be in 1/8th size on a page and cost $10.00 cash or check. Checks should be made out to EMS with “tribute” in the memo. Tributes are designed by Yearbook students – you just need to submit the photo(s) you would like used along with a message! Max Photos: 2 Word Count: 50
Please click the link below to submit your information for the tribute!
DEADLINE: Please submit ALL parts of the tribute by January 5, 2024
*Important Information*
• All photos should be school appropriate with no obscene gestures, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or any illegal activity. No nudity at any age – including all trunk nudity. This includes bikini photos, shirtless photos and extracurricular activity photos with trunk nudity. No bathtub photos.
• Song lyrics or any copyrighted materials may not be used in the messages.
• Make checks payable to Elkhorn Middle School, and put “Tribute” in the memo.
• Your tribute will be reserved once all parts of the tribute are turned in, including photos, message and payment. Please submit all photos and the message within 24 hours of payment.
• Tributes are sold on a first-come basis, so once they fill up, no more can be sold. Any that are incomplete will not count toward sold tributes, even if you have paid.
• EMS reserves the right to edit all materials. The yearbook is printed entirely in color, but due to low quality of older photos we reserve the right to adjust colors.The layouts, fonts and colors are decided by the editor in chief who sets the theme and colors of the yearbook.
Questions?
Contact: Cynthia Snoderly, EMS Yearbook Advisor
Email: csnoderly@espne.org
Thank you for supporting The Tine yearbook by purchasing a tribute!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Snoderly & the EMS Tine Staff
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.
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.
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.
Drop off/Pick Up & Parking
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.
EPS BOND INFORMATION
REMINDER: Ballots for the EPS Bond are due on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, no later than 5:00 PM. Ballot drop boxes are located at Bess Johnson Library, Spring Ridge Shopping Center, and the Douglas County Election Commission Office. For additional details about the proposed bond, please visit https://bit.ly/45cjq9C.
SAVE THE DATE
On Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 PM, EPS will partner with Project Harmony as they present “Online Safety for Parents, Guardians, and the Community” at Elkhorn High School. This event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
WE’RE HIRING
EPS is currently seeking to fill open teacher assistant positions, specifically in the following areas:
Secondary TA: assist with general and special education students in grades 6-12 in the areas of small and large group academic work, academic interventions, student supervision, and basic clerical duties.
Starting Wage: $16.70/hour
English Learner TA: assist students who have limited English proficiency by supporting EL services under the direction of a certified regular education teacher.
Starting Wage: $17.25/hour
Young Adult Program TA: assist young adult learners with verified disabilities in the areas of classes, vocational opportunities, and community experiences.
Starting Wage: $17.20/hour
To learn more about open teacher assistant positions or complete an online application, please visit https://bit.ly/epsjobs.
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