Elkhorn South High School
September 2023
From the High School Principal- Mark Kalvoda
Parents and Guardians of Elkhorn South Students:
I hope that your students and families are now settled back into the routine of the new school year. From my office, the year has started extremely well and I believe this trend will continue. I am proud of our students’ efforts so far this year. Whether it be on the hot practice fields or studying late at night or navigating new schedules, our kids are working hard! It is evident that students want to be here and have started the year off on the right foot. You may have heard from your students that we have tightened up our classroom cell phone policy. Through three weeks, the new structure has gone very smoothly. We truly have tightened up in the best interest of our students’ mental health and academics. Thank you for your support and congruent messages to students. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your assistance in getting back to normal.
Elkhorn South administrators and teachers closely monitor numerous sources of data in order to ensure that our curriculum is appropriately challenging and meeting the needs of our students. Annually, we eagerly await the ACT Report and the Advanced Placement (AP) scores that are released in late summer to early fall. These measures are not the only feedback we study, but we believe these are important indicators in judging the effectiveness of our academic programs at the high school and are meaningful for our students.
Unfortunately as of 8/31/23, schools have not yet received ACT School Profile Reports. When the Graduating Class of 2023 scores are available, I will share with parents.
This year’s AP Scores rivaled and exceeded nearly all previous years’ scores. I am proud of our students’ commitment to college preparedness and am excited to share a few data points about their success.
2022-23 ESHS AP Program Highlights
ESHS is proud to honor 256 students as AP Scholars from the 2022-23 school year.
122 AP Scholars (Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.)
56 AP Scholars with Honors (Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.)
78 AP Scholars with Distinction (Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.)
ESHS administered 1153 AP Exams last year to 607 students.
87% of AP students earned a qualifying score on AP Exams, thus earning college credit.
84% of all AP Exams taken at ESHS earned a qualifying score.
Elkhorn South High School was again named the #1 ranked high school in the state of Nebraska and #231 Nationally based upon our students’ college readiness and standardized test scores
Congratulations to all AP students and teachers on their outstanding results in the 2022-23 school year.
AP courses are designed to give students college level experiences while in the supportive environment of high school and research clearly supports students taking the most appropriately rigorous courses in high school to prepare for college. In essence, one of ESHS’s goals is for students to not only gain admittance into college, but to achieve at high levels once there. We believe that there is a substantial difference between being COLLEGE ELIGIBLE and COLLEGE READY.
AP Course Offerings:
Elkhorn South offers sixteen AP courses in our Sophomore, Junior and Senior course offerings:
AP Science Courses
AP Biology // AP Chemistry // AP Physics 1
AP Math Courses
AP Calculus AB // AP Calculus BC // AP Statistics // AP Computer Science A
AP English Courses
AP English Language and Composition // AP English Literature and Composition
AP Social Science Courses
AP World History // AP US History // AP Psychology // AP US Govt and
Politics
AP World Language Courses
AP Spanish Language and Culture // AP French
Language and Culture // AP Japanese Language and Culture
As we discuss with our staff annually, academic growth does not happen by accident. Development is earned through hard-work and perseverance of our students, staff and parents. We also emphasize the importance of challenging students to take classes that are appropriately rigorous to spur academic growth and curiosity. We believe that asking anything less than what our students are capable of leads to short-term success, but long-term failure.
Again, I hope that your student’s 2023-24 school year is off to a great start and as always, please email or call me if I can be of assistance to your family.
Take Care,
Mark
Mark Kalvoda
Principal
Elkhorn South High School
20303 Blue Sage Parkway
Omaha, NE 68130
402-289-0616
Guardian Email Summaries
GOOGLE CLASSROOM GUARDIAN EMAIL SUMMARIES
GOOGLE CLASSROOM 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.
Please see this document for more information Guardian Email Summaries - for Guardians.
Student absences and appointments
Please make sure you are CALLING the office for any absences and appointments for your students, we will not accept emails. If your child is leaving for an appointment, the sooner you can communicate that to the office, the easier it is to get a pass to the student as opposed to interrupting valuable learning time when we have to call the classroom. If leaving between passing periods, they will not receive a pass, they just need to go to the office to sign out.
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.
Important dates
Sept 4-Labor Day NO SCHOOL
Sept 16-Homecoming Dance
Sept 26 & 27-Conferences ONE HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL
Conferences will be from 4:30-8:00
Sept 28-Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL
Sept 29-NO SCHOOL
Oct 13-Picture retake day
Oct 19-End of first quarter
Oct 20-Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL
Nov 22, 23 & 24-Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL
Dec 19 & 20-Semester finals STUDENTS MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE End of second quarter
Dec 21-Jan 2-Winter Break
Jan 15-Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL
Feb 13 & 14-Conferences ONE HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL
Conferences will be from 4:30-8:00
Feb 15-Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL
Feb 16-NO SCHOOL
Mar 14-End of third quarter
Mar 15-22-Spring Break
Apr 13-Prom
Apr 19-Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL
May 15-SENIORS last day-graduation rehearsal in the afternoon
May 19-Graduation/3:00 p.m. Elkhorn Public Schools Stadium
May 23 & 24-Semester finals STUDENTS MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE
May 24-Last day of school. *The Last Student Day is based on an assumption of 4 or more days for inclement weather. 3 inclement weather days = one day earlier release. 0-2 inclement weather days = 2 days earlier release.
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.
Anonymous online reporting system
- (531) 299-SAFE (7233)
- www.Safe2HelpNE.org
- Download the “Safe2Help” app from your app store
- Found on individual building homepages
Athletics
Open invitation to all Elkhorn South Alumni to cheer on the Storm Football Team against Omaha Central!
Performing Arts
Drama Department
Vocal Music
Fall Choir & Campus Band Concert October 4, 2023 @ 7 PM
Cubs, Activities, Organizations
Graduation Class of 2024
Sunday, May 19, 2023 3:00 p.m.
Elkhorn Public Schools Stadium
1401 Veterans Drive
Elkhorn, NE
Josten's Cap and Gown ordering
Price will increase after October 21, 2023.
Link to order, cap, gown and tassel unit.
Reusing a Cap and Gown
You may reuse a cap and gown from previous years. Please email Tina Rohe at crohe@epsne.org to be taken off of the need to order list.
Picture retake day, Friday, October 13th
District and Foundation news
District Information
EPS Text Messaging:
If you have not yet opted-in to receive EPS text messages, please text "Yes" to 67587 to ensure you receive timely notice of important information.
Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation news
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.
Make a difference with Elkhorn Public Schools
Student Meal Information
Does your child need health coverage?
Call toll free 1-855-632-7633 or visit http://www.ACCESSNebraska.ne.gov
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.