The Nest News- Welcome Edition- 2025-26

	*INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW* VISION- At Elko Middle School, we are committed to soaring from good to great by cultivating a culture of educational excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Our vision is to empower ever student to reach their full potential—academically, socially, and personally. We will measure our success by: Sustaining full accreditation through rigorous academic achievement and continuous improvement. Expanding extracurricular opportunities that foster creativity, leadership, and collaboration. Building strong partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, staff and student learning and real-world
THE THEME FOR 2025-2026	MISSION imPOSSIBLE Dear Elko Middle School Families and Community, As we launch into a brand-new school year, we are thrilled to welcome our students, families, and staff back with the exciting theme: “Mission: imPossible!” This year, we are on a mission—a mission to inspire, to grow, and to achieve greatness together. Every student who walks through our doors is full of potential, and with the support of our dedicated educators, engaged families, and vibrant community, success is not just a goal—it’s a guarantee. 🔹 Our Mission: To create a safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment where every student feels empowered to explore, learn, and lead. 🔹 Our Tools: Curiosity, collaboration, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. 🔹 Our Team: Students, teachers, families, and community members—working together to make the impossible, possible. Let’s make this school year one of discovery, achievement, and joy. We invite you to partner with us, stay involved, and help us make this mission a resounding success. Together, we’ve got this—because at Elko Middle School, every mission is possible! With excitement and gratitude, Dr. Lyles
MEET OUR TEAM	Dr. Lyles- Principal Mrs. Meeks- Associate Principal Mr. Calder- Associate Principal (8th grade Administrator) Ms. Tyson- Assistant Principal (7th grade Administrator) Mr. Hardy- Assistant Principal (6th grade Administrator)
ACADEMICS	*SUPPLY LISTS* Click here to view our Supply Lists page on the website.
SCHOOL OPERATIONS ATTENDANCE UPDATES	Contacts/Pick-up Lists: Please make sure your student’s pick-up list is up to date by updating the Contacts listed in PowerSchool. You can do this by logging in to your Parent Portal account. Anyone coming to pick up a student for early dismissal MUST be listed in PowerSchool. If someone is not listed in PowerSchool, we will not be able to call the student down. EARLY DISMISSAL: The cut off time for early dismissals is 2:30 pm.
TRANSPORTATION	Transportation information is forthcoming. Parent Portal Bus App* HCPS families can access The Edulog Parent Portal bus tracking app. This app will empower families, improve communication and foster efficiency. Parents, guardians, and caregivers can follow their student’s bus, receive notifications when a bus enters a user-defined zone, and receive notifications that their student has boarded/disembarked the bus. Download on App Store or Google Play.
CODE OF STUDENTS CONDUCT 2025-26	Click here to view the HCPS 2025-2026 Code of Student Conduct.
CELL PHONE POLICY	*Secondary Schools* To ensure a learning environment free from unnecessary disruptions, cell phones and unauthorized electronic devices are required to be out of visible sight, and silenced, or in airplane mode during the school day, and during instruction-related after-school activities (tutoring, homework help, make-up work, etc.), unless being used for instructional purposes with the teacher’s permission. Unauthorized electronic devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, and smart devices with cellular service or Wi-Fi connectivity. To further reduce distractions in the classroom, students are required to put their cell phones and smart devices in division-issued storage devices during scheduled class time. This will provide even more consistency throughout and between schools. If a student needs to leave class to visit the restroom, clinic, school counseling office, etc., their cell phone and/or smart device must remain in the classroom. Students will keep their phones and smart devices away in their personal belongings during class changes and at lunch. Recommended Consequences First Offense- Device confiscated until the end of the school day, verbal warning and parent/guardian contacted. Second Offense-Device confiscated, parent/guardian contacted, and parent/guardian must retrieve the device. Third Offense- Device confiscated, parent/guardian must retrieve the device, and school-level consequences may apply. Fourth Offense- Device confiscated, parent/guardian must retrieve the device, school-level consequences may apply, and the student shall be banned from possessing a cell phone and/or electronic device at school for the remainder of the school year.
BELL SCHEDULE	2025-2026 Elko Bell Schedule
DEPARTMENT UPDATES	Attention 7th Grade Parents! To start school, all rising 7th graders are required to have the Tdap and Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccines. Need to get them done? Elko Middle School will host a vaccine clinic on August 7. 📅 Date: August 7 📍 Location: Elko Middle School 🖊️ Register here: www.hcps.info/EMSclinic2025 Make sure your student is ready for the first day! ✅ Address Affidavit Reminder If your student is enrolled using an address affidavit, please remember to schedule an appointment to bring in the required documentation. Call Ms. Stacy in the school counseling office to schedule your time. 📅 Student Schedules Available August 7 Student schedules will go live on PowerSchool starting August 7. Please note: Schedules are not finalized until the first day of school, and changes may still occur. If your student has a missing core class or an empty block, please contact their school counselor. Requests for elective or other schedule changes will open after the first two weeks of school and remain open for two weeks. More information on this will be given after we start the school year. Thank you for your patience as we get ready for the start of the school year! 6th Grade - (Substitute for Ms. Fish) Jennifer Bolding jbolding@henrico.k12.va.us 7th Grade - Counselor Rawls glrawls@henrico.k12.va.us 8th Grade - Ms. Flowers acflowers@henrico.k12.va.us EL and last names A-B - Dr. Swingen jkswingen@henrico.k12.va.us
EVENTS	Monday, August 18, 2025 8.14.2025-FLIGHT SCHOOL (6th Grade Orientation) 9am -12pm 8.14.2025- Open House 3pm-5pm 9.3.2025- Back to School Night 4:30pm-6pm
RESOURCES SPOTLIGHT: ELKO & HCPS TOOLS FOR SUCCESS	ELKO WEBSITE HCPS CAREERS HCPS ONLINE SERVICES & RESOURCES
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES (ELKO AND SANDSTON COMMUNITIES)	NO OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
VOLUNTEER PROCESS	If you would like to become a volunteer, please complete the online volunteer/mentor application via the link below. Volunteer: Your involvement as a volunteer can make a valuable contribution to education in Henrico County. launchelko.henricoschools.us
UPCOMING EVENTS	August 29th - Teacher Student Holiday-Schools Closed September 1st- Labor Day-Schools Closed September 22nd- Student Holiday-Teacher PD Day
ELKO ATHLETICS	Game On, Elko! Start-of-Year Sports Preview- Fall 2025
ELKO LEADERSHIP TEAM	Tyrus T. Lyles, Ed. D- Principal-ttlyles@henrico.k12.va.us Taleesa Meeks- Associate Principal- tjmeeks@henrico.k12.va.us Corey Calder- Associate Principal- ctcalder@henrico.k12.va.us Akeela Tyson- Assistant Principal- altyson@henrico.k12.va.us Brandon Hardy- Assistant Principal- bahardy@henrico.k12.va.us Jorli Swingen- Director of School Counseling- jkswingen@henrico.k12.va.us Kendra Amis-Athletic Director- kdamis@henrico.k12.va.us Jennifer Jenkins-Administrative Aide- jrjenkin@henrico.k12.va.us TBD- Administrative Aide- Torre Siler-Administrative Aide- tsiler@hennco.k12.va.us Abby Thomas- Administrative Aide-arthomas@henrico.k12.va.us Frenchie Travis- Ad-ministrative Aide- fmtravis@henrico.k12.va.us

Eagles Strong

INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW

VISION-

At Elko Middle School, we are committed to soaring from good to great by cultivating a culture of educational excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Our vision is to empower ever student to reach their full potential—academically, socially, and personally.

We will measure our success by:

Sustaining full accreditation through rigorous academic achievement and continuous improvement.
Expanding extracurricular opportunities that foster creativity, leadership, and collaboration.
Building strong partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, staff and student learning and real-world

THE THEME FOR 2025-2026

MISSION imPOSSIBLE

Dear Elko Middle School Families and Community,

As we launch into a brand-new school year, we are thrilled to welcome our students, families, and staff back with the exciting theme: “Mission: imPossible!”

This year, we are on a mission—a mission to inspire, to grow, and to achieve greatness together. Every student who walks through our doors is full of potential, and with the support of our dedicated educators, engaged families, and vibrant community, success is not just a goal—it’s a guarantee.

🔹 Our Mission: To create a safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment where every student feels empowered to explore, learn, and lead.

🔹 Our Tools: Curiosity, collaboration, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.

🔹 Our Team: Students, teachers, families, and community members—working together to make the impossible, possible.

Let’s make this school year one of discovery, achievement, and joy. We invite you to partner with us, stay involved, and help us make this mission a resounding success.

Together, we’ve got this—because at Elko Middle School, every mission is possible!

With excitement and gratitude,

Dr. Lyles

MEET OUR TEAM

Dr. Lyles- Principal

Dr. Lyles

Mrs. Meeks- Associate Principal

Mr. Calder- Associate Principal (8th grade Administrator)

Ms. Tyson- Assistant Principal (7th grade Administrator)

Mr. Hardy- Assistant Principal (6th grade Administrator)

ACADEMICS

SUPPLY LISTS

Click here to view our Supply Lists page on the website.

SCHOOL OPERATIONS

ATTENDANCE UPDATES

Contacts/Pick-up Lists:

Please make sure your student’s pick-up list is up to date by updating the Contacts listed in PowerSchool. You can do this by logging in to your Parent Portal account. Anyone coming to pick up a student for early dismissal MUST be listed in PowerSchool. If someone is not listed in PowerSchool, we will not be able to call the student down.

EARLY DISMISSAL:

The cut off time for early dismissals is 2:30 pm.

TRANSPORTATION

*Transportation information is forthcoming.

Parent Portal Bus App HCPS families can access The Edulog Parent Portal bus tracking app. This app will empower families, improve communication and foster efficiency. Parents, guardians, and caregivers can follow their student’s bus, receive notifications when a bus enters a user-defined zone, and receive notifications that their student has boarded/disembarked the bus. Download on App Store or Google Play.

CODE OF STUDENTS CONDUCT 2025-26

Click here to view the HCPS 2025-2026 Code of Student Conduct.

CELL PHONE POLICY

cell phone

Secondary Schools

To ensure a learning environment free from unnecessary disruptions, cell phones and unauthorized electronic devices are required to be out of visible sight, and silenced, or in airplane mode during the school day, and during instruction-related after-school activities (tutoring, homework help, make-up work, etc.), unless being used for instructional purposes with the teacher’s permission. Unauthorized electronic devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, and smart devices with cellular service or Wi-Fi connectivity.

To further reduce distractions in the classroom, students are required to put their cell phones and smart devices in division-issued storage devices during scheduled class time. This will provide even more consistency throughout and between schools. If a student needs to leave class to visit the restroom, clinic, school counseling office, etc., their cell phone and/or smart device must remain in the classroom. Students will keep their phones and smart devices away in their personal belongings during class changes and at lunch.

Recommended Consequences

First Offense- Device confiscated until the end of the school day, verbal warning and parent/guardian contacted.

Second Offense-Device confiscated, parent/guardian contacted, and parent/guardian must retrieve the device.

Third Offense- Device confiscated, parent/guardian must retrieve the device, and school-level consequences may apply.

Fourth Offense- Device confiscated, parent/guardian must retrieve the device, school-level consequences may apply, and the student shall be banned from possessing a cell phone and/or electronic device at school for the remainder of the school year.

BELL SCHEDULE

2025-2026 Elko Bell Schedule

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Counselor's Corner

Attention 7th Grade Parents!

To start school, all rising 7th graders are required to have the Tdap and Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccines.

Need to get them done?

Elko Middle School will host a vaccine clinic on August 7.

📅 Date: August 7
📍 Location: Elko Middle School
🖊️ Register here: www.hcps.info/EMSclinic2025

Make sure your student is ready for the first day! ✅

Address Affidavit Reminder

If your student is enrolled using an address affidavit, please remember to schedule an appointment to bring in the required documentation. Call Ms. Stacy in the school counseling office to schedule your time.

📅 Student Schedules Available August 7

Student schedules will go live on PowerSchool starting August 7.

Please note:

Schedules are not finalized until the first day of school, and changes may still occur.
If your student has a missing core class or an empty block, please contact their school counselor.
Requests for elective or other schedule changes will open after the first two weeks of school and remain open for two weeks. More information on this will be given after we start the school year.

Thank you for your patience as we get ready for the start of the school year!

6th Grade - (Substitute for Ms. Fish) Jennifer Bolding jbolding@henrico.k12.va.us

7th Grade - Counselor Rawls glrawls@henrico.k12.va.us

8th Grade - Ms. Flowers acflowers@henrico.k12.va.us

EL and last names A-B - Dr. Swingen jkswingen@henrico.k12.va.us

EVENTS

Monday, August 18, 2025

6TH Grade Flight School- Orientation Day 8.14.2025-FLIGHT SCHOOL (6th Grade