Elkhorn Middle School Newsletter
April 2024
Message from the Principal
April is a busy time in the academic year; lots of important work is being done by students and staff at EMS. We’ve worked hard all year and will use some class time in April to show what we know via the completion of NSCAS and MAP assessments. NSCAS is a state-required assessment for all students in Nebraska. Key assessment dates in April are listed below.
As much as possible, please avoid scheduling appointments and vacations on testing days. When students are absent for testing, they sometimes end up missing additional classes in order to complete the assessment. That can create a snowball effect on missed instruction and missed assignments. We don’t want any kind of snowballs in April!
Also at this point in the year, students are encouraged to lean into the skills they’ve been building all year:
stay organized with school work and supplies,
keep an eye on PowerSchool and the homework calendar to make sure work is caught up,
communicate with teachers (email or in class) if there are questions,
use class time wisely,
and most of all - persevere!
This is an exciting time of the year, and it can also be challenging. Please cheer your student(s) on! Encourage them to show Antler Pride with behavior that is safe, respectful, responsible, trustworthy, and proud! Antlers UP!
NSCAS Dates:
ELA - April 2-4
Science - April 10, 11
Math - April 16-18
Solar Eclipse 2024
A solar eclipse with 80% totality will be visible in Nebraska on Monday, April 8, 2024. The viewing window in the Omaha area will be approximately 12:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Students in grades K-12 will have the opportunity to go outside to view the eclipse using eclipse glasses meeting NASA safety standards.
Teachers and students will be provided with basic eye safety information prior to eclipse viewing. As a safety precaution, the school will also reschedule any other outdoor activities that would have occurred during the eclipse.
If you do NOT want your student to participate, please contact the school office no later than Friday, April 5, and an alternate option will be provided for your child.
Please contact the office if you have any questions or concerns.
Booster Club News
Back by popular demand — the EMS School Activity Night + Dance!
Friday, April 5th
6:30pm - 8:30pm
$5 entry fee includes bottled water and pizza
Online SIGN-UP REQUIRED. Parents/Guardians MUST fill-out the following form for their student to attend. Click to sign-up your student(s).DEADLINE for sign-up is on Wednesday, 4/3 at midnight.
We are looking for any parents who would like to help organize our Teacher Appreciation Week goodies May 6 - 10. Please reach out to emsboosterclubelkhorn@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.
Save the Date for the 8th Grade Celebration
Hello parents and guardians,
A team of parents has been planning a fun afternoon celebration of our 8th graders before they head off to high school.
Date: Monday, May 13th
Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Place: UBT North Basketball Courts 21015 Cumberland Dr.
We must have one parent or guardian to fill out the RSVP form for their student no later than Wednesday, May 1st 2024.
We hope to have all parents and guardians to sign up to help in some way to make the celebration a success. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Questions? Please ask Ms. Allgood or Shelly Rodgers at shellyrodgers123@gmail.com.
Thank you!
The 8th Grade Celebration Planning Team
Alison Weel
Mike Cushing
Paul & Katrina Braughton
Shelly Rodgers
EPS Middle Schools Art Show
The Middle School teachers are putting on an Art Show at the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation Building in April.
Opening night is April 11th from 6:30 to 8:00 and the pieces will remain on display during regular business hours (8AM to 4PM) until Tuesday, April 16th.
A lot of our 7th and 8th grade students will be represented!
Library Corner
Reading Passport: Books take us to amazing places! Students can read books from different settings and earn prizes! If they read 4, they can attend an icecream/popsicle party at the end of the year. If they can read 8, then they also get their name entered into a prize raffle.
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!
Lunch Book Club on Fridays: Join us for Book Club on Fridays! See Mrs. Wagner with questions and/or join our Google Classroom : aokh2md
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.
Spring Sports
High School Football Information for Incoming Freshman Class
Attention Class of 2028 Parents!
Are you the proud parent of an incoming freshman who’s considering joining the Antler football team next year? Look no further! Our Antler Football Booster Club is here to support all things Antler football.
What We Do:
- We serve as a vital communication channel, keeping you informed about all things related to the Antler football program.
- We organize events, fundraisers, and activities to enhance the football experience for players, families, and fans.
- We foster a sense of community and camaraderie among Antler football enthusiasts.
Join Our Communications List:
To stay in the loop and receive updates, sign up for our communications list via this Google form: Click Here
Go Antlers!
Band News
FREE Elkhorn Summer Band
June 3-18, 2024
7th & 8th Grade
Concert Band, Jazz Band, All State Masterclass
Elkhorn Grandview Middle School
17801 Grand Ave. Omaha, NE, 68116
8:00-8:45 am - 8th Grade All-State Lessons
9:00-10:00 am - 8th Grade Concert Band
10:15-11:00 am - 8th Grade Jazz Band
12:15-2:00 pm - 7th Grade Band (includes Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Masterclass opportunities)
There will be two final concerts:
Tuesday, June 18th at 10:00am for 8th grade - Tuesday, June 18th at 12:30pm for 7th grade
Use the QR code at the top to register.
Upcoming Dates
April 3rd Jazz Band Festival 6th Grade Jazz 4:35pm EGMS
7/8th Grade Jazz 7:10pm EGMS
April 27th Northside Night of Jazz 6th Grade Jazz 6:15pm ENHS
7/8th Grade Jazz 8:25pm ENHS
May 14th 6-8th Grade Band & Jazz Concert 6:30pm EMS
Mrs. Norris
Instrumental Music Teacher
A note from the Nurse
● It’s time to start scheduling your child’s school and sports physicals!
Students entering the 7th grade in the fall will need to submit a physical exam dated after February 15, 2023 and an updated immunization record including a Tdap booster.
Students wanting to participate in a sport at the middle school or high school level must have a sports physical completed sometime after May 1, 2024 and uploaded to rschool.
**7th graders still need to submit a physical exam to the front office as well, as these are different systems.
Forms can also be uploaded to PowerSchool during the registration process in August but please click “Actual Size” or use the scan feature when uploading with a smartphone.
Here is the Summary of the School Immunization Rules and Regulations
Thank you!
Andrea Daniels, RN, BSN
Summer Athletics and Activities Camps
Annually, EPS coaches and sponsors host summer opportunities for athletic and activity skills development by hosting camps and clinics. The list of 2023 opportunities is currently available online at https://www.elkhornweb.org/blog/summer-athletics-and-activities-camps-3/.
*Please note this list is only inclusive of camps and clinics hosted by EPS coaches and sponsors as related to their duties within the school district and does not include opportunities offered by outside organizations.
EPS to Host “Parenting and Guiding the Smartphone Generation” Presentation
Join us for a special event on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 6:30 PM at Elkhorn South High School!
EPS is proud to welcome Dr. Jean Twenge as she presents "Parenting and Guiding the Smartphone Generation”. A Q&A session featuring Dr. Twenge, Creighton Volleyball Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, EPS high school counselor, Martha Dowd, and EPS students will follow the presentation.
Additional information can be found at https://bit.ly/parentingthesmartphonegeneration.
EPS Bands: Plant Sale Fundraiser
News form EPS Foundation
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.
- 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.
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