School’s out, but Durango School District 9-R is encouraging students to work on learning through the summer – with fun events as a motivating reward. The Summer Bridge program combines free activity books with checkpoints, events, and prizes to continue learning this summer and be ready for the next grade level.

We all love summer break, but EMS is excited to enter the 2023/24 school year! Counselors are busy building schedules and will have those completed in August. We invite families to EMS for Check-In night by grade level, then by team. The times are listed below and you should expect an email the week of August 7th describing which team your student is on. Please see below for the 2023/24 School Supply List and Football or Volleyball Information. Contact the office beginning August 1 if you need help purchasing supplies. 970-247-9490

EMS Check-In Nights:

6th Grade - August 15, 2023
Ocelots 5:00 - 5:45 PM
Falcons 6:00 - 6:45 PM

7th Grade - August 16, 2023
White Tigers 5:00 - 5:45 PM
Timberwolves 6:00 - 6:45 PM

8th Grade - August 17, 2023
Taz 5:00 - 5:45 PM
Panthers 6:00 - 6:45 PM

Dear EMS Community,
Our Celebration of Learning Event will take place on May 23 from 3:45 to 6:00 PM. Our goal is to have all students showcase at least one piece of work or be involved in a performance on that day. Parents and community members can come anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 PM to celebrate a year of learning with us and enjoy our student’s displays and performances. The school will be running transportation after school on the 23rd; however, in the past, the vast majority of our students stay at school and meet parents at the event.
We will be distributing summer workbooks to prepare for next year’s instruction to parents for your child at the Celebration of Learning event as well. If you are not able to attend, we will send the workbooks home with students on the 24th. If a workbook does not make it home with your child, as backpack mail can be unreliable in middle school, we do have some extras in the office you can pick up before June 8. The EMS office will be closed after the 8th.
On the 24 and 25th, students will be turning in their Chromebooks and chargers during Crew. Please ensure all school materials and technology return to EMS before our last day on the 25th.
I look forward to closing out the school year in style next week. I have enjoyed the last eight years as principal at Escalante and have grown so much professionally during my tenure. I look forward to celebrating the year’s learning with you on the 23rd as a closing salvo before I move into the next stage of my career.
Many thanks,
Jeremy Voss
EMS, Principal

On Saturday, April 29, 34 Escalante Middle School (EMS) students competed at the state competition for National History Day at the University of Colorado, Denver. Five students will advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

We invite incoming 6th grade families to join us for an Open House at Escalante Middle School on Wednesday, May 17th, to learn more about Escalante Middle School and the transition from elementary to middle school.

4/17/23 SEE THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE BELOW

The Eagle Track and Field season kicks off Tuesday, March 14th after school and will run through Friday, May 5th. To be eligible to participate, students need to complete the registration checklist (see below) and bring running shoes, a water bottle, and clothes for the various spring weather conditions. We recommend layers and a warm hat.

Home Event Help:
We have one large home event which is an invitational track meet on Saturday, 4/8/23. To make these run smoothly we need parent volunteers. Please let us know if you are willing to help out. We always need timers and people to work field events. We can definitely put you in the event your athlete is participating in.

Questions? Contact Coach John Hise at [email protected] or Athletic Director Eva Duce at [email protected]

Escalante Drama club presents: "Looking Glass Land". This delightful romp through Alice’s looking glass land retains all of the familiar characters and then introduces dozens of new ones: a baseball team, a gospel group called The Responsibilities, a train conductor, a peanut salesman, detectives, a Miss America pageant, star-struck tourists, plastic light saber wielding knights and much more. Shows are THREE NIGHTS ONLY! Please support our amazing Drama Team April 4, 5, and 6 at 7 PM in the Escalante cafetorium. Admission is free.
Questions? Please contact Mike Jordan at [email protected]

Retakes for students who were absent or purchased pictures and want to retake their photos is April 4th at 8:45 am. You can purchase school photos from Allison Ragsdale Photography. Please contact them at 970-259-9255 or at allisonragsdalephotography.com

Escalante Middle School is excited to host Allison Ragsdale Photography on March 14th. All students will have their picture taken for School ID purposes. Purchasing pictures is not required, but if you would like to order pictures, see the flyer below or visit https://allisonragsdalephotography.com and click on "School Photos". Please remember, students are not allowed to wear hats or sunglasses in the photos. SMILE! It's Picture Day!

Retakes are scheduled for April 4th.

Due to the number of Snow Day school closures this winter, Durango School District 9-R has announced a plan to make up school days in the remainder of the 2022/23 school year.

Do you or a family member currently have health insurance through Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program)?  If so, here’s what you need to know: Everyone with Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) health insurance will need to renew their coverage in the coming year.