| 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:
MISSION Elko Middle School is committed to fostering a growth mindset by providing a high-quality education and data-driven instruction within a safe and inclusive environment. |
THE THEME FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR: | MISSION imPOSSIBLE |
ACADEMICS | Eagles, As we navigate the recent stretch of inclement weather, I want to extend a sincere thank you for your resilience and flexibility. While the snow and ice may have disrupted our physical schedule, they haven’t dampened our commitment to your student's success. To ensure our Eagles stay on flight, our instructional team is proactively adjusting our pacing. We recognize the importance of "catching up" without rushing, ensuring that every student feels confident and prepared as we approach the Spring SOLs. Celebrating Our Growth The hard work of our students and teachers is paying off! Our most recent benchmark data shows significant increases across multiple subject areas. These gains are a testament to our students' dedication and our teachers' precise focus on the curriculum. Subject Area Growth Percentage ELA 6 +10% ELA 7 +22% ELA 8 +33% Math 7 +14% Pre-Algebra +20% Data-Driven Instruction We aren't just looking at these numbers to celebrate; we are using them as a roadmap. Our leadership and teaching teams are currently: Enhancing Tier 1 Instruction: Using benchmark trends to refine how we teach new material to all students the first time around. Targeted Remediation: Developing specific "catch-up" plans for students who need additional support in particular standards. Small Group Focus: Utilizing data to group students for personalized interventions during the school day. A Vital Partnership To remain on track with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) guidelines and ensure our school continues to meet and exceed accreditation standards, we need your help. Weekly Check-ins: Please sit down with your student weekly to review their assignments and discuss what they are learning. Open Communication: If you notice discrepancies in grades or if your student is struggling with a specific concept, please reach out to the teacher immediately. Success at Elko is a true partnership. By staying aligned, we ensure our students remain on the path to prosperity. Stay warm and safe. Click here to view the Student Performance and Support Framework Final. |
REMOTE WORK/ASYNCHRONOUS ASSIGNMENTS | Here is a quick update remote learning: The asynchronous assignments posted by teachers will count for both a grade and attendance for the three days. Students will have two full weeks to complete the work. It is vital that students complete their assigned work on time. Please be aware that these assignments are not only graded but are also directly tied to daily attendance records. Our goal is for every student to be successful and accurately counted as "present" during these days. Parents, we ask for your partnership in emphasizing the importance of this work to your children. Ensuring these tasks are finished will help them stay on track academically and maintain a clear attendance record. Where to find the work: All assignments are located in Schoology within each class folder. If parents or students have questions, please reach out to that student's teacher. |
SCHOOL OPERATIONS ATTENDANCE UPDATES | If your student is absent, their absence needs to be reported within 48 hours. Absences can be reported by: Filling out the Elko Attendance Google Doc Emailing Mrs. Nolte: mlnolte@henrico.k12.va.us Sending a Parent Square message to Mrs. Nolte Sending a handwritten note with your student when they return to school Calling the school: 804-328-4110 ID Badges Please ensure that your students are wearing their ID badges every day. Students now need to scan their ID badges when they arrive to school late and when they have an early dismissal. Transportation/Bus Information If your student’s bus is running late in the morning, please call the Transportation Office at 804-261-9401. You can also download the Parent Portal Bus App to track the bus: https://www.henricoschools.us/page/parent-portal-bus-app 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. REMINDER: Attendance flyer -English Attendance flyer- Spanish |
PTSA PRESIDENT MS.NICHOLE WASHINGTON
| She has already hit the ground running, bringing fresh initiatives and innovative ideas designed to enhance our school culture and strengthen family engagement here at Elko. Her energy is exactly what we need to take our community to the next level. We Need You! To bring these great ideas to life, we are looking for dedicated individuals to join our leadership team. We are currently seeking officers to fill various roles within the PTSA. If you have a passion for supporting our students and want to make a tangible impact, we would love to have you on board. Please reach out to Ms. Washington directly via email at: Nichole.a.washington@gmail.com. |
TECHNOLOGY | NO TECHNOLOGY UPDATES THIS WEEK. |
DEPARTMENT UPDATES COUNSELOR'S CORNER
| We’re excited to celebrate Virginia Kindness Week, February 9th through 13th. Throughout the week, students will be encouraged to practice kindness in meaningful, everyday ways—supporting peers, using encouraging words, and making choices that help create a safe and welcoming school environment. Virginia Kindness Week is an opportunity to reflect on how we treat one another. We invite families to join us by talking with students about kindness at home and recognizing the small acts of kindness that make a big difference. Report Cards were posted to ParentPortal on Friday, February 5th. If you cannot access your ParentPortal account or have questions about your student's grades, please feel free to reach out to your student's school counselor. The Counseling Team 6th Grade-Ms. Fish stfish@henrico.k12.va.us 7th Grade - Counselor Rawls glrawls@henrico.k12.va.us 8th Grade - Jennifer Bolding-jbolding@henrico.k12.va.us EL and last names A-B - Dr. Swingen: jkswingen@henrico.k12.va.us |
SPECIALITY CENTER INFORMATION | Click here to visit the HCPS Specialty Center website. |
EVENTS
| February 20th & 21st @ 7:00PM and Feb. 22nd @ 2PM Elko Middle School in the Auditorium. |
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
| FEBRUARY 17TH-CONFERENCES STARTING AT 3PM(IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL) Parents & Guardians, Please schedule your in-person or virtual appointments in advance. Scheduling ensures you have dedicated time with your student’s teacher. While walk-ins are welcome, there may be a wait. Please note that all conferences will conclude at 5 p.m. Sign-Up for Parent/Teacher Conferences HERE! |
| It is never too early to start planning for the next school year. If you are the parent or guardian of a rising 7th grader, Henrico County Public Schools, in partnership with the Richmond/Henrico Health District, will be hosting immunization clinics at every middle school. Our school’s clinic is being held on Monday, Feb. 9 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. These immunization events will provide the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and the MenACWY (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines for rising seventh graders. A full list of required vaccinations is available at the Virginia Department of Health website. You may register for our school’s clinic using the link provided here: hcps.info/ElkoClinic2026. Please note that each link is unique to the school, so be sure to sign up only for your child’s school clinic. Important registration details: Students are eligible to receive their vaccines at these in‑school immunization clinics without the need for a parent or guardian to be present. The online form must be completed in its entirety and signed by the student’s parent or guardian before vaccines can be administered. Please be sure to complete all demographic information and insurance sections in entirety, to include uploading a photo of your insurance card if applicable. Please select BOTH the Tdap and MenACWY vaccines on the consent page, unless there is a specific reason your student cannot receive one of these vaccines. Registration will close at 8:30 a.m. 2 business days prior to the event to allow for staff to prepare for the clinic, so please sign up as soon as possible. For more information about the Tdap Vaccine VIS: https://www.immunize.org/vaccines/vis/tdap/ For more information about the Meningococcal-ACWY Vaccine VIS: https://www.immunize.org/vaccines/vis/menacwy/ Once your form is completed and submitted, you will receive a confirmation email with additional details. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse. Nurse Barrett: klbarrett@henrico.k12.va.us |
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES/ ELKO/SANDSTON COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES | Click here for more information on The Column Fair. |
VOLUNTEER PROCESS
| If you would like to become a volunteer, please click here to complete the online volunteer/mentor application via the link below. |
UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS | Math VGA- February 10th Reading VGA- February 12th. February 16th- Schools & Offices Closed- Wellness Day February 17- Staff Professional Development Day |
ELKO ATHLETICS ELKO ATHLETICS DIRECTOR- Kendra Amis-
| Elko Athletics Week at a Glance 2/9/26-2/13/26. |
RESOURCES SPOTLIGHT: ELKO & HCPS TOOLS FOR SUCCESS | |
ELKO ADMINISTRATIVE 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 Jennifer Jenkins-Administrative Aide- jrjenkin@henrico.k12.va.us 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 Jocelyn Woodson- Administrative Aide-jrwoodson1@henrico.k12.va.us |
The Nest News-21st Edition- February 9-13, 2026
February 8, 2026
