Elkhorn Middle School Newsletter
November 2024
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!
Looking Ahead:
The 8th grade celebration at the end of the year is a tradition organized by 8th grade parents each year. If you have an 8th grader this year and would like to plan the end of middle school celebration, please let me know! The celebration is usually in the first part of May.
Booster Club Updates:
- November meeting: Monday, November 18th at 7 pm in EMS Conference Room
- Sign up to be on the Booster Club email list so you don't miss anything: https://forms.gle/jHdb2CCEsCsYQc69A
- Keep TAGGing (https://tagg.today/) to help raise funds (our goal is $400!) - upload receipts from local businesses you visit & they will donate to our school! You can find a list of participating businesses on their website.
- Follow us on Facebook @elkhornmiddleboosterclub
- Meeting Dates: November 18th, January 13th, February 17th
Concert Concessions:
Cookies & water will be available for purchase at the upcoming Band concert on November 12th! Cash & venmo accepted.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4EABA722AAFD0-51702592-concert#/
We need 5 volunteers - time commitment is about 1 hour before the concert.
Concession Stands:
- Sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4EABA722AAFD0-50440367-2024
- We need volunteers to help with concession stands for Boy's Basketball and Girls Wrestling!
- Easy to follow instructions & fun for kids of all ages to help!
- Time commitment is generally 3:45 pm - 6 pm (if you can only do part of the time and want to volunteer, please reach out to us!)
Personalized Yard Signs:
- NEW fundraiser! Show your Antler pride and celebrate your child's activities with a sign in your yard!
- ORDER HERE: https://ems-booster-club.formaloo.me/yardsigns
- 3 design options available, personalize with name & jersey number
- Every purchase helps fund vital initiatives such as extracurricular activities, our sports teams, and special events that make our school a vibrant place for learning and growth.
As the cold and flu season begins, please continue to make sure that your children are practicing healthy habits like getting plenty of rest, eating healthy foods, handwashing, and staying up to date with your immunizations.
REMINDER: students with a temperature greater than 100.0 F, diarrhea, vomiting, undiagnosed skin rash, pink eye, and live head lice must be free of these conditions for at least 24 hours before returning to school per district policy.
Health Screens
Health screens in the areas of height/weight, dental, hearing, and vision have recently been completed. Parents will only be notified of abnormal results by a referral letter. If you receive a referral letter, please visit the applicable health care provider and return the bottom part of the form to the office.
Thank you so much to the parent volunteers who have helped us with this process!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Andrea Daniels, RN, BSN
Girls Wrestling and Boys Basketballs schedules can be found here:
https://www.easternmidconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=428
Most are cash only.
All EPS school charge $2 for students and $3 for adults at middle school events.
Cookies + Cocoa: This new reading challenge encourages students to ead from different genres in the library. If they get THREE in-a-row on the bingo card, they get to have cookies and cocoa the week we return from winter break. Get a blackout? Earn a book up to $15.
Book Club: We meet every Wednesday during lunch. If your student would like to join, we just started a new book so it is THE PERFECT TIME! Have them come by the library to get the book.
SORA: Students can now read ebooks or listen to audiobooks with the new app SORA on their Classlinks. Need more info? Ask students to check my Llibrary Google Classroom or stop by the library.
Technology Tips:
Charge your device every day!
Restart your device AT LEAST every week!
Use your case!
Carry your Chromebook CLOSED
The 6th-8th Grade Band Concert is Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. Students should arrive at 6:00 p.m. in their concert attire. Black music polo, black pants, black socks, and black shoes.
Congratulations to DJ Mendoza for his selection on trumpet to the 8th Grade All State Band! He will perform with many of the finest 8th grade musicians from around the state of Nebraska in Kearney on Saturday, January 11th, 2025.
The following students were selected for the 3rd Annual Elkhorn All City Band Festival:
Anika Supriya, Lucy Scott, Reed Hamlin, Aryan Mansingh, Shane Spitznagel, Micheal Brackett, Pierce Lundgren, Max Langhorst, DJ Mendoza, Danica Suhr, Nathan Noh, Corbin Iseman, Eshaan Rai, Maddox Turner, Parker Tanner, Cooper Hart and Jackson Turner.
These students will represent Elkhorn Middle School at a concert on Tuesday, December 10th at 7 p.m. at Elkhorn South High School. The concert will also include the High School All City Band and Jazz Band.
Wait Until 8th Pledge
The Wait Until 8th pledge encourages parents to delay smart phones for students until at least 8th grade. Learn more at https://www.waituntil8th.org/.
Important Registration Information from Elkhorn High School Counselors
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Elkhorn High school counselors will visit Elkhorn Middle School on Wednesday morning, February 19th to distribute 9th grade registration materials. Students will receive a copy of their registration sheet outlining courses offered to prospective ninth graders and specific course recommendations.
Recommendations are based upon advice from high school administration, counselors, grades, and test scores.
Parents will be emailed a copy of the curriculum guide and information about optional summer school classes at this time. Parents are encouraged to discuss the 9th grade course recommendations and elective courses with their students to help them select any elective options before February 26th.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
8th Grade Registration/Parent Night, 6:00 pm EHS Auditorium
Please bring the registration sheet your student receives on February 19 to this meeting.
Parents and 8th graders are invited to Elkhorn High School on February 26 at 6:00 pm. Counselors will present a 9th grade orientation and curriculum PowerPoint in the high school auditorium. After the presentation, parents will be asked to complete course selections and sign the registration form to verify course selections. Registration forms will be collected at the end of the evening. Summer school contracts are due on Wednesday, March 5th. However, you are welcome and encouraged to turn them in on February 26th.
Interested in Elkhorn music offerings? Please join us for a “Taste of Music” prior to the 8th grade night. Instrumental and/or vocal music will be performing from 5:40 - 6:00.
Desiree Merrihew (last names A – G) dmerrihew@epsne.org
Theresa Crnkovich (last names H-O) tcrnkovich@epsne.org
Megan Scobie (last names P-Z) mscobie@epsne.org
ENHS Jr. Cheer Clinic
Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 9:00 - 11:30 AM at Elkhorn North High School. Click here to view additional details.
Per EPS Board Policy 1006.07, District residents aged 65+ are eligible for a free activity pass which admits the holder to District-sponsored events and activities. Passes can be picked up at the EPS Central Office at 20650 Glenn St. during normal business hours. Individuals must provide a valid driver's license showing a current address of residence with EPS boundaries to receive a pass.
Safe2Help
Contact Information Updates
Send changes to contact information to ems@epsne.org
2024-2025 Academic Calendar
The approved 2024-2025 academic calendar can be viewed here.