Category: Wally the Wapiti

General news and announcements from the desk of Wally the Wapiti.

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Skylert Student Body Officers Wally the Wapiti

Talent Show Audition Results

Students,

Thank you so much for auditioning for the talent show! We had incredible talent, and choosing the final performances was a difficult task. If you were chosen to perform, you should have received an email to your school account this afternoon. Some of you will perform in all three shows (7th, 8th, and 9th) while others will perform for you grade only. These determinations, however, are still being made, so I will let you know how many shows you are in as soon as I have it ready. Thank you so much for auditioning!

Ms. Rees

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Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Music Man is Now Playing!

It’s finally time, and this year’s production of Music Man is playing this week at Elk Ridge! Come and see our students in the classic story of con-man Harold Hill Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Evening performances are at 7 pm, and there is also a matinee on Saturday at 1pm. You can purchase tickets here. The students and staff have worked tirelessly, and we can’t wait for you to see their hard work come to life.

Seriously, if you haven’t been to one of our musicals, you need to go. It’s pretty incredible.

NOTE: The shows are selling out fast. Please do NOT plan on purchasing a ticket at the door, as a seat may not be available. Cash purchases won’t be possible for anything other than concessions. If you have someone attending (e.g. grandparents) who may not be familiar with online ticketing, please help them before arriving so that they don’t arrive to find there isn’t a seat available.

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PTC's Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Parent Conference Zoom Links, BHS Registration

Parent Conferences Wednesday (Virtual) and Thursday (In-Person)

We will once again be holding parent conferences this week. Please schedule a time in Skyward, and remember that you are always able to connect with teachers, regardless of the time of year. Wednesday will be for virtual conferences (Zoom) and Thursday will be for in-person conferences. Both nights are by appointment only. For help scheduling appointments in Skyward, check out this video.

Zoom Links for Parent Conferences

You can access the Zoom links for virtual appointments (Wednesday, and then anything else arranged with the teacher) by clicking here. If you have any trouble accessing the meeting during the conference, just email the teacher and we’ll arrange another meeting time or help you troubleshoot the issue.

Bingham High School Registration Information

On February 28th, we will be handing out registration cards for Bingham High School.  We will then collect the cards on March 7th.  Please watch for these cards in order to assist your 9th grade student in making the appropriate class choices. The Bingham High counselors will be here at Elk Ridge on Mar. 7 to collect the registration cards and to help our 9th graders enter their class requests into Skyward.

Bingham High School Orientation Night

Bingham High School will be holding their annual “Sophomore Orientation Night” at the high school on Thursday, March 3rd from 6 – 8 pm.  We encourage all current 9th graders and their parents/guardians to attend.

9th Grade PCCR Appointments

9th grade PCCR appointments are available February 14th – March 4th. This is an opportunity to meet with your counselor and talk about high school class options and future career plans. To sign up for a PCCR, log into Skyward and click on the “Conferences” tab in the menu on the left side. Daytime and evening appointment times are available. We look forward to meeting with you and your student soon!

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Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Parent Conference Scheduling

Parent Conferences on 2/16 (Virtual) and 2/17 (In Person)

We will once again be holding parent conferences this coming week. Please schedule a time in Skyward, and remember that you are always able to connect with teachers, regardless of the time of year. Wednesday will be for virtual conferences (Zoom) and Thursday will be for in-person conferences. Both nights are by appointment only. For help scheduling appointments, check out this video.

On a completely unrelated note, if you need to communicate with your student, please try to do so during passing time or by calling the office and we’ll relay the message. When you call during class, they feel pressured to answer and it can be somewhat disruptive. The digital age brings new challenges every day, and we appreciate your help keeping the focus on school while at school.

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PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Set Building, Memory Books, & 9th Grade PCCR

Have Building Skills? Our Musical Could Use Your Help!

This year’s musical is Music Man, and we’re looking for someone to lead us in the actual construction side of the set on 2/12 and 2/26 from 12:45 – 4:00 pm. We have lots of labor, and the design work is done, so we really just need someone to guide the construction process.

We are also looking for a lead painter for the sets – nothing elaborate, but someone with artistic ability that can direct us in where to paint what.

If you can help, email jacqueline.vuki@jordandistrict.org

Last Day to Purchase Memory Books is March 1st

If you haven’t already purchased a Memory Book, your last day to do so is March 1st. If you’re not sure if you purchased one at the start of the year, go to fee management to verify – don’t guess, because if you guess wrong, you won’t have a Memory Book. The cost is $25.

COUNSELING CENTER

9th Grade PCCR Appointments

9th grade PCCR appointments are available February 14th-March 4th. This is a chance to meet with your counselor and talk about high school class options and career plans. Go to Skyward to schedule an appointment. 

Free Digital Parenting Resources

Digital Respons-Ability has a list of free resources on their website for parents looking for help: https://respons-ability.net/free-resources/ They also share resources and a parenting gaming review site at https://digital-parenting.com. Join them for free monthly webinars aimed at parents and educators by signing up for their newsletter. You can also see past archived trainings on their SchoolTube channel: https://www.schooltube.com/channel/Digital+Respons-Ability.net/190101523.

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COVID-19 Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Virtual Learning Instructions

Well, what a start to 2022! We will send out more information if needed early next week, but here are a few highlights you’ll find in this Skylert:

  • Accessing Virtual Classes W-F
  • New Semester Classes
  • Breakfast and Lunch W-F
  • Registration (Course Selection) Timeframes
  • PTSA Ambassadors Planning Meeting
  • Web Development Workshop

Accessing Your Virtual Classes

This coming Wednesday-Friday, all classes will be virtual. In order to keep things as simple as possible, here’s what you need to know:

  • Classes Happen Live at Normal Times
  • We Will Keep our Normal Bell Schedule
  • Attendance Will Be Taken, except for DEAR – just read a book for that
  • Zoom Links Will Be On Canvas Landing Pages for Each Class
  • If You Can’t Access a Class, Email the Teacher – They’ll have direct links ready.
  • It’s Only Three Days – Don’t stress too much, so get what you can from it and stay safe

New Semester Starts Wednesday

Please check Skyward on Wednesday morning to make sure you’re attending the right classes with the right teachers. Classes on Canvas should roll automatically on Wednesday, but email the teacher listed in Skyward if you have any trouble connecting. You can find staff emails on this page.

Breakfast and Lunch W-F

We will serve both breakfast and lunch all three days we are virtual. Students will need to enter the cafeteria on the west side of the school and it will be both grab-and-go and something they can eat in the cafeteria. 

We are hoping to serve from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. If you plan to come for breakfast or lunch outside of those times, please give us a heads up so we can have food ready for you. Call Holly Taylor at 801-412-2823 to let us know you’re coming outside of those times.

Registration/Course Selection Timeline

We had planned to hand out course selection cards to students on Wednesday. We will post PDF’s of the cards on this page by then for you to review, and you can visit that same page for course overviews, videos, course requirements, and all things registration. 

We will then hand out the physical cards to students on Monday, January 24th. 7th graders will complete them on Tuesday, January 25th and 8th graders will complete them in class on Thursday, January 27th. We plan to hold a registration night for incoming 7th graders on January 27th, where cards will be both distributed and collected. Contact the counseling center if you have any questions about course selection.

PTSA Ambassadors Planning Meeting

On Wednesday, January 19th from 3-4 pm, PTSA ambassadors will be meeting in the Media Center to plan and make posters for Red Ribbon Week.

Web Development Workshop

Jan 26 | 3:00- 4:00 pm

Join us at Elk Ridge Middle School and learn the basics of web development! Students in grades 7- 9 are invited to this introductory workshop. No previous experience necessary! Come & learn with other future coders! See this flyer for more information.

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Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Angel Tree Thank You, Volunteers Needed

We hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as we are! Our Angel Tree fundraiser was a huge success, with over 50 ‘angels’ in our school community getting gifts provided by our students. Thank you to the many, many of you with children able to contribute. Giving to others helps the climate of the school more than just about anything else, and we can’t think of a better holiday tradition.

9th Grade Job Interviews – Thursday, January 13th

URGENT – This activity cannot take place without your help.

Adult volunteers are still needed to help with our 9th grade Job Interview experience. We need morning volunteers from 7:50am -11:15am, and afternoon volunteers from 11:00am-3:00pm. The PTSA will provide food for both sessions. Volunteers will be doing short mock job interviews for our 9th grade students. The interview questions will be emailed to volunteers and you do not need to have hiring experience to help out. For more information, please contact the counseling center. If you can help with this fun activity, please fill out this form.  

December MESA-STEM activity has been canceled!

The MESA-STEM after school activity that was previously scheduled for this Wed, Dec. 15 has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.  We will resume our normal monthly MESA-STEM activities in January.  Thank you for your understanding!

Last Chance for Lost & Found

Our lost and found is overflowing and we need to clear it out to make room for more next semester. If you have anything you want to check for, please do it before you leave for the break at the end of the week. We will be donating anything that’s left here on Friday.

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PTSA Wally the Wapiti

Flex Friday, Surveys, School Store

Believe it or not, we are edging up on Thanksgiving Break already with only a week and a half to go. Thank you again to all of our performing arts students, teachers and parents for the outstanding Veterans Day assembly and evening performances. It was a new format, but one that we plan to keep going forward. Be sure to check out our social media pages for a glimpse of the performance.

In this Skylert, you’ll find:

  • Flex Friday (This Week)
  • School Merchandise
  • Parent & Student Stakeholder Surveys
  • PTSA November Newsletter
  • Volunteers for Job Interviews in January
  • MESA Activities

Flex Friday This Week

This coming Friday, November 19th, will be our second Flex Friday as a district. Each school will be handling it slightly differently, but all within the structure outlined here.

For all Elk Ridge students, they should expect roughly 3 hours total of engagement in schoolwork. This will vary from class to class, but students will be able to complete this work from home. If students have questions about work, they should contact their teacher.

In addition, any student needing extra support will be able to attend in-person between 10 am and 12:15 pm, as long as they have arranged with their teacher beforehand to do so. We love to have you – we just need to know you’re coming. Busing will be provided following the normal Friday bus schedule. Lunch will be served from 12:15 – 1:15 pm, and students who are bused will work in either the cafeteria or the media center until buses come at 2:30 pm.

School Store

Want to show that Wapiti pride? If you want Elk Ridge merchandise, you can visit this link any time from now until December 6th. The store is run by Marchant Design and Elk Ridge does not benefit from your purchase in any way.

Parent and Student Stakeholder Surveys

All parents should have received a survey at the email address listed in Skyward. Please know we take the results of the survey very seriously in our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of every aspect of our school from communication to instruction.

The survey can be taken once for each teacher your student has, so thank you in advance for taking the time to give us feedback and potentially taking the survey seven times so that all teachers get that feedback. Students will also get the chance this Wednesday to take the survey during Wally Time.

PTSA November Newsletter

Our wonderful PTSA puts out a regular newsletter, which can be found here. Check it out for upcoming events, highlights from past events, and more!

9th Grade Job Interviews – Thursday, January 13th

Adult volunteers are still needed to help with our 9th grade Job Interview experience. We need 15 volunteers from 7:50am -11:15am , and 15 volunteers from 11:00am-3:00pm. The PTSA will provide lunch for both sessions. Volunteers will be doing short mock job interviews for our 9th grade students. The interview questions will be emailed to volunteers. For more information, please contact the counseling center. If you can help with this fun activity, please fill out this form.

MESA-STEM After School Activity – WED, NOV 17 @ 3 pm in Media Center

We will be holding our November MESA-STEM after school activity in the Media Center right after school (3:00 – 4:00 pm).  This month’s activity will be the “Engineering and Construction Competition”.  All Elk Ridge students are welcome and invited to participate. For further information, please contact Ms. Hardy or Mr. Bennett.

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Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Veterans Day, School Store, Stakeholder Survey

We hope you’re all enjoying that extra hour of sleep as much as we are. Veterans Day is this Thursday, and we’ll be holding an open concert that night. Check below for details, thank you to our veterans for their service and sacrifice!

We are also happy to announce that our school apparel store is now open. Information can also be found below.

Veterans Day Concert Thursday at 7 pm

The Elk Ridge Middle School Veterans Day Concert will be held on November 11th at 7 PM. Everyone is invited to attend. We would like to extend a special invitation to any current and former servicemen and women. If you attend we would be honored if you would wear your service uniform to the concert.

This Veterans Day Concert will feature the Advanced Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Dance students. On the off chance we run out of seats, we will also be streaming the concert live. The link will be posted on the school website the day of the concert.

We are holding this concert as a show of gratitude and appreciation for all those who serve our country, as a way to honor those who died serving this country, and as a sign of support and good will for those who will serve this country in the future.

Please join us in wearing red, white, and blue all day on November 11th and especially to the concert. Thank you for your continued support of the ERMS Performing Arts Department.

Thank you,

Mr. Goodrich, Mrs. McDermott, Mr. Lyon, Mrs. Giove and the ERMS faculty and Administration

School Store

If you want Elk Ridge merchandise, you can visit this link any time from now until November 24th. The store is run by Marchant Design and Elk Ridge does not benefit from your purchase in any way.

Stakeholder Survey

You should have received a survey at the email address listed in Skyward. Please know we take the results of the survey very seriously in our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of every aspect of our school from communication to instruction. Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback! Students will also get the chance over the next week to take the survey.

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS!

8th Grade PCCR Appointments are now available on Skyward – Please sign up ASAP as time is running out!

We highly encourage all parents/guardians of 8th grade students to meet with their assigned school counselor for a PCCR meeting. Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR) appointments are available by logging into the parent’s Skyward account and clicking on the “Conferences” button. (The Skyward conference scheduler will be open until Nov 12th to make appointments.)  PCCR appointments are available Nov 1 – Nov 23 during school hours. Evening hours are available on Wed, Nov 17 and Thurs, Nov 18 (4:00-6:00 pm). If none of the available times work for you, you may contact your counselor to schedule a different time. Your 8th grade PCCR meeting will briefly discuss your student’s high school graduation requirements as well as the student’s future college and career interests. 

REMINDER:  8th Grade JOB SHADOW is tomorrow, Tue, Nov 9

This is just a reminder that the 8th grade Job Shadow is tomorrow, Tue, Nov 9. The students should have already filled out and turned in their Job Shadow applications. Please remind your student to take the Reflection page with him/her in order to obtain the Job Shadow supervisor’s signature. Students should then complete the reflection sheet afterward and turn it in to their history teacher by Thursday, Nov 11.

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PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

8th Grade PCCR’s, Job Shadow, Brandon Mull

We hope the sugar has mostly left the system after a great Halloween! We had a great time with the Goblin Chase and Halloween Carnival, and a huge thanks goes out to our wonderful PTSA for all of their hard work and help managing those events. The new dress code is also now in full swing, and we appreciate how many students have made the shift without causing a disruption to the business of school. That is definitely the intent of the change, and it’s been great so far!

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS!

8th Grade PCCR Appointments are now available on Skyward – Please sign up ASAP!

We highly encourage all parents/guardians of 8th grade students to meet with their assigned school counselor for a PCCR meeting. Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR) appointments are available by logging into the parent’s Skyward account and clicking on the “Conferences” button. (The Skyward conference scheduler will be open until Nov 12th to make appointments.)  PCCR appointments are available Nov 1 – Nov 23 during school hours. Evening hours are available on Wed, Nov 17 and Thurs, Nov 18 (4:00-6:00 pm). If none of the available times work for you, you may email your counselor to schedule a different time. Your 8th grade PCCR meeting will briefly discuss your student’s high school graduation requirements and future college and career interests. 

8th Grade Job Shadow – Applications are due Tuesday, Nov 2nd.  However, we will still accept the applications through the end of this week.

8th grade students need to be working on their job shadow so that they can submit their application to their history teacher by Tuesday, November 2nd. If you miss this deadline, we still encourage you to complete the Job Shadow application as we will still accept it through the end of this week. They may reference the career exploration activity they did in their science class to get ideas. As an alternative activity, 8th graders may also attend one of the following programs at the JATC: Biotechnology, Engineering, Veterinary Science, Garden & Greenhouse,  Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Computer  Programming, Web Development, Welding, Nail Technology, Hair Design & Barbering, Fire Science, EMT, and Aviation Science. Please contact your student’s counselor if you want to sign-up for this option. Last names A-C: alishia.huefner@jordandistrict.org, last names D-J: camille.francis@jordandistrict.org, last names K-Q: richard.lambert@jordandistrict.org, last names R-Z: paul.bennett@jordandistrict.org. 

Brandon Mull Visit – November 3rd

New York Times Bestselling Author Brandon Mull will be visiting Elk Ridge on Wednesday, and we have been selling tickets with Wally Coins all week last week. The goal of selling tickets was primarily to ensure that students who really wanted to hear him speak were able to do so. Today, we gave away tickets for free in all three lunches to any students still wanting to attend. We have a few left, so if your student doesn’t have a ticket and wants to attend, have them find an administrator to get one. The assembly will be during 2nd period. Again, we are grateful to Brandon Mull and his team for making this possible at no cost to the school!

9th Grade Job Interviews – Thursday, January 13th

Adult volunteers are still needed to help with our 9th grade Job Interview experience. We need 15 volunteers from 7:50am -11:15am , and 15 volunteers from 11:00am-3:00pm. The PTSA will provide lunch for both sessions. Volunteers will be doing short mock job interviews for our 9th grade students. The interview questions will be emailed to volunteers. For more information, please contact the counseling center. If you can help with this fun activity, please fill out this form.

Wally Time – Improving School Culture

Our last Wally Time lesson was on what adults can do to make students feel welcome. This time around, the focus is on what students can do to improve school culture. Check out the slides here, and we look forward to seeing what the students come up with!