Elkhorn South High School
August 2024
From the High School Principal- Mark Kalvoda
From the High School Principal…… Mark Kalvoda
Welcome Back!!! We have greatly missed our students’ energy and excitement. Each summer, I reflect upon the previous year and envision the new school year unfolding. In short, our team is excited to kick off the year and eager for the return of our students. I am happy to report that Elkhorn South is fully staffed and we are ready to welcome approximately 1450 students to the high school. I am sincerely proud of what Elkhorn South has accomplished in recent years and believe we have the collective confidence to overcome any challenges in our path. Our partnership with parents is integral to our success and I thank you for your continued support. I look forward to another great year in 2024-25!
Please join us for the annual Back to School Open House on Thursday, August 1st from 12pm-6pm. PowerSchool online registration opens July 29, 2024. Please be looking for emails from the district regarding that process and please complete registration prior to Open House on August 1st. The Open House is a great opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the building and take care of some of the back-to-school essentials prior to the start of the school year. *Please note that we will release course schedules to students only after their PowerSchool online registration is completed.
ClassLink is a resource that parents can use to access the Parent Portal in PowerSchool, R School, and School Payment Portal with just one login. The link to signup/login is https://launchpad.classlink.com/elkhorn
Parents will receive PowerSchool Online Registration information from EPS via email on July 26th. Required Documents via POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL must be completed by Aug 1st in order for the student to receive a printed 2024-25 class schedule.
* Please note that the drop/add form will be sent to student’s school email accounts on Friday, August 2nd. Requested changes must be received by Tuesday, August 6th. Many classes are at capacity, thus changes may be limited. ESHS does not honor requests to change teachers
ESHS Back to School Open House Checklist:
Submit all required registration documents online.
Complete all required Chromebook tasks online.
Pick-up student schedule for the new school year.
Take school pictures. Order Form Flyer (Re-take day is Sept 25th.)
Complete activity forms online.
Purchase student activity passes ($35)/adult passes ($55) online or by check.
Find classrooms and lockers prior to the first day
Visit School Nurse as needed
Pick-up Parking Passes as needed
One last request for parents to consider: While ESHS is staffed with classroom teachers, the Elkhorn Public Schools are in need of Teachers’ Assistants, and often some of our very best are parents in the community. If interested, please consider APPLYING HERE! We have openings in the elementary, middle and high school settings. These positions are invaluable to our student body, and TA’s are welcome members of any EPS school team. They are part time positions - usually 32.5 hours per week - a great opportunity if you’ve been thinking about a change.
We eagerly anticipate our students returning to campus this fall and are optimistic about the year ahead. We are morally committed to educating our students to the highest of levels and our mission of student achievement in a safe learning environment remains unchanged.
Please contact us here at Elkhorn South if we can be of assistance to your family: 402-289-0616
Take Care,
Mark
402-289-0616
Personal electronic devices will be turned in to a designated location in each classroom during instructional periods, and students may use their devices before/after school, during lunch and passing periods, and during “Senior Pass Privilege”. Students who need electronic devices to monitor health conditions will continue to follow their individualized plans.
Handbook Verbiage (found on page 7 of High School Student Handbook)
All students need to be responsible users of technology. The school firmly believes in protecting instructional time in classrooms; therefore, cellular devices should not be used during instructional periods, including study halls. All high school teachers will expect all students to turn in cell phones to a designated location in their classroom. Students may have a need to use their phones throughout the day, thus students are permitted to use phones before and after school, during their scheduled lunch, during passing periods, and during Senior Pass Privilege.
To maintain the expected learning environment in the classroom, students who violate the cell phone policy will be subject to disciplinary action. The administration supports teachers’ discretion as to when the problem has reached a level warranting intervention. The below consequences can be utilized to solve the problem:
Parent contact
Checking cell phone or cellular device into school office
Confiscation of cell phone until Parent/Guardian pick up required
Detention
After Hours
As part of being a responsible user of technology, students should not use their phones to bully, intimidate, or harass. Violators will be subject to disciplinary actions according to policies on bullying and harassment.
Respect for privacy rights:
Students shall not photograph or videotape other individuals at school or at school-sponsored activities without their knowledge and consent, except for activities considered to be in the public arena such as sporting events or public performances.
Students shall not email, post to the internet or otherwise electronically transmit images of other individuals taken at school without their expressed written consent.
Use of cellular phones or other personal electronic devices is strictly prohibited in locker rooms and restrooms.
Students found violating privacy rights through the use of cell phone cameras or recording devices will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, including, but not limited to referral to law enforcement.
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
Aug. 1-Back to School Open House 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Receive schedules, take school pictures, etc.
Aug. 13-First day of school (9th grade, AM only & 10th, 11th & 12th grade, PM only)
Sept. 2-Labor Day-NO School
Sept. 21-Homecoming Dance
Sept. 25-Picture Retake Day in the A.M.
Sept. 24 & 25-Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00 One hour early dismissal
Sept. 26 & 27-Teacher In-service-NO School
Oct. 17-End of 1st Quarter
Oct. 18-Teacher In-service-NO School
Oct. 27-AP Testing sign up/money due
Nov. 1-Senior yearbook photos DUE
Nov. 26- Practice ACT for 11th graders, regular school day for 9th, 10th, 12th graders
Nov. 27-29-Thanksgiving Vacation
Dec. 19 & 20- Semester finals STUDENTS MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE. End of 2nd Quarter
Dec. 23-Jan 3-Winter Break
Jan. 20-Teacher In-service-NO School
Feb. 11 & 12-Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00 One hour early dismissal
Mar. 13- End of 3rd Quarter
Mar. 14-Teacher In-service-NO School
Mar. 17-21-Spring Break
Mar. 29-Junior/Senior Prom
Apr. 9- ACT for 11th graders, Pre ACT for 9th and 10th graders
Apr. 18-Teacher In-service-NO School
May. 14-SENIORS last day-graduation rehearsal in the afternoon at ESHS
May 18-ESHS Graduation 6:00 p.m. Elkhorn Public Schools Stadium
May 22 & 23-Semester finals STUDENTS MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE
May 23-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 = 1 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
AP Scholars 2023/2024 School Year
Congratulations to the following 106 ESHS students recognized by Collegeboard as an AP Scholar. Students earning this recognition receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
AP Scholars
AP Scholars with Honors
Congratulations to the following 66 ESHS students recognized by Collegeboard as an AP Scholar with Honor. Students earning this recognition 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.
AP Scholars with Distinction
Congratulations to the following 86 ESHS students recognized by Collegeboard as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Students earning this recognition 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.
Yearbook Ordering
ESHS Class Shirts
District News
EPS Text Messages
EPS utilizes text messages to efficiently share important information with parents, including weather-related school closings and bus route delays. To receive EPS text messages, please text “Yes” to 67587 to opt in.
EPS Mass Messaging System
EPS and individual buildings use a parent messaging system called SchoolMessenger to send emails, phone calls, and text messages to parents sharing district information, monthly updates about building happenings, and weather-related school closings. To ensure receipt of these updates, please verify that all contact information listed in your parent PowerSchool account, including phone numbers and email addresses, is up to date and correct.
Additionally, this system allows recipients to “unsubscribe” from its mailing list; however, by “unsubscribing” you are completely removing your email address and phone number from both District and building lists. If you choose to unsubscribe, you will not receive any communication from your child’s assigned school or the EPS District. If you accidentally unsubscribe or decide you would like to begin receiving emails again after unsubscribing, contact your building secretary to change your communication status.
Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation News
Make a difference with Elkhorn Public Schools
Starting Pay: Regular Teacher Assistant = $17.35/hour
Health Teacher Assistant = $17.85/hour
Hours: 6.5 hours/day
General Summary, Education, and Qualifications:
Under direct supervision, Teacher Assistants will support student learning by facilitating educational activities directly with students in the classroom or on an individual basis, supervising student behavior both in and out of the classroom, and providing administrative support to the teacher
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- Clear a state criminal record check and a child abuse check
- Be a minimum of 18 years old
Summary of Job Duties (Full job description available upon request)
- Support academic student learning by being physically present in the classroom on a consistent (daily) basis, helping students complete tasks, answering student questions, providing individualized attention when required, and supporting the classroom teacher’s educational directives
- Provide student supervision inside the classroom in conjunction with the classroom teacher, and outside of the classroom, which may include recess breaks, study halls, lunch breaks, testing periods and other special activities
- Support students with mild to severe learning, emotional, health, or mental disabilities by providing an inclusive learning environment with specialized attention and positive reinforcement
- Health Teacher Assistant
- May need to provide student assistance with daily living activities, such as cooking, cleaning, eating, dressing, hand washing, toileting, etc.
- Attend to special medical needs or health care needs of the student, including dispensing medications, giving injections, checking vital signs, tube feedings, changing diapers, etc.
- Health Teacher Assistant
- Provides administrative support to classroom teachers as requested, to include answering phones, making copies, distributing or collecting student assignments, preparing learning materials, recording grades and attendance, and other tasks as assigned by the Building Principal or classroom teacher
- Regular, dependable in-person attendance on the job in order to maintain a student’s regular routines, foster student learning and build student relationships; the ability to perform the identified tasks and possess the identified knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the identified work activities; the ability to perform the identified physical requirements
Benefits:
Sick Leave: One (1) week worth of regularly scheduled hours
Personal Leave: Three (3) days of regularly scheduled hours
State Retirement: The District matches your contribution of 9.78 percent by 101 percent.
This position is not eligible for health insurance.
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.