Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed their winter break, made wonderful memories with friends and family, and are in good health moving into 2025. As we embark on a new year, I first want to thank you for your essential support and dedication to our students and staff, as we all work together with the singular focus of preparing the children and youth of our community for a bright future. I am excited for the opportunity to continue working in partnership with our educators, families, and community leaders to positively impact the lives of every student.

Our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our students remains our highest priority. As outlined in our strategic plan, our priorities continue to be (1) students prepared for the future, (2) teaching and learning excellence, (3) family and community engagement, and (4) student and staff wellness. All of our goals revolve around these four pillars and will serve to ensure that everyone has the tools and resources they need to succeed. Collaboration between parents, teachers, and the community will be key in achieving these goals, and I encourage you to actively participate in these efforts. Whether you engage through volunteering, providing feedback and support, reinforcing the importance of education at home, attending campus events, or even just staying well-informed through district communications, I hope everyone will resolve to be actively involved in education in our community.

Around the new year, people talk about their resolutions and make commitments to be better in a variety of ways. But the joke around resolutions is that, as soon as someone goofs up, misses a day at the gym, sleeps in, or whatever else it is they resolved to do, or not do, they get discouraged and give up; "next time." As we get rolling with our 2nd semester, it's a great time for everyone to commit to their goals and keep the gaze forward to the many important milestones that will occur for most of our students. And to not be discouraged by any single failure or mistake. Education isn't a 100 or a 0, an A or an F. It's a process and every perceived failure can just as easily be framed as a step toward greater learning and success. It's imperative that students in all grades put forth their best effort to be at school every day, make progress on their grades and tests, and earn credit toward graduation, no matter what mistake they made the day before. Even more so than athletics, clubs, extracurriculars, and the other excellent opportunities provided in our schools, academic achievement remains a top priority in ECSD as we seek to prepare students for the future.

I wish everyone all the best in the new year. I am honored to serve as your Superintendent and thank you for choosing ECSD for your child’s education.

-Superintendent CJ Anderson

During winter, the Elko County School District prioritizes student safety in the event of severe weather. If road conditions make travel unsafe, schools may delay start times or close entirely.

How Decisions Are Made:

• Our team begins checking weather and road conditions as early as 3:00 A.M.
• We assess road safety, plowing, de-icing, and bus driver availability across the district.
• A decision is made by 5:30 A.M. to give families time to plan.

Notification Process:
If schools close or there is a delayed start, affected families will be notified by 5:30 A.M. via:

• Phone call
• District website and app: https://www.ecsdnv.net/
• Social media: https://www.facebook.com/elkocountyschooldistrict
• Local news outlets

Additional Notes:

• Although this is uncommon, if the temperatures drops below zero and a campus cannot maintain heat, a campus may cancel school.
• Conditions can vary across the district. If you feel it's unsafe for your child to travel, notify the school.

Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus to receive timely alerts.

Help us improve school meals by taking the SFE Foodservice Survey available here!

Your input is invaluable as we work to enhance the food services in your child’s school.

Stay connected by following us on Facebook at "ECSD Nutrition Services" for updates and exciting news from your foodservice team. Thank you for your support!

The 2025 ECSD STEM Fair will be held at the Elko Convention Center March 10-14, 2025. The STEM Fair allows K-12 students to enter projects that use either the scientific or engineering process in 1 of 4 areas; Physical Science, Life Science, Technology or Math. This will be Elko County’s 43rd STEM Fair. Last year we had approximately 471 projects entered, involving over 600 students. The top 2 High School projects will move on to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Columbus, Ohio May 10-16, 2025.

Each school site has a representative and will need entry cards and registration cards for each project. These have a due date of February 28th. Entries will not be accepted after this date. Entry and registration cards can be printed off on the ECSD STEM Fair Website. Requirements for projects can also be found on the website. If you live in a remote area or are home schooled you can scan or take a photo of your entry and registration cards and email them to jbrawley@ecsdnv.net by no later than noon February 28th.

Mark your calendars! Here are the key dates for New Student Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Online Registration begins Monday, April 14, 2025.
• In-Person Enrollment Sessions:
  • Thursday, April 17, 10:00 A.M.–2:00 P.M.
  • Friday, April 18, 10:00 A.M.–2:00 P.M.
  • Location: Central Office Board Room

Age Requirements:

• Kindergarten: Must be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2025.
• Pre-K: Must be 4 years old on or before August 1, 2025.

We look forward to welcoming your students!

Thank you for taking the time to complete the cellphone policy survey last quarter. The responses from families, staff, and students were presented to the Board of Trustees during the December 3, 2024, meeting.

We’re forming a committee with equal representation from parents, teachers, students, and administrators, selected randomly. This committee will begin meeting soon to develop a proposed policy that reflects the input gathered through the surveys.

We appreciate your engagement in this important process and will keep you updated as the policy takes shape.

The Elko County School District (ECSD) Transition Alliance Team (TAT) is hosting a Community Partnership Conversation on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 9:00–11:00 A.M. This two-hour event focuses on supporting students with exceptionalities as they transition from high school to college or careers.

What to Expect:

1. Information Sharing: Learn about transition services, job coaching, shadowing, and post-secondary opportunities.
2. Networking: Connect with local agencies, employers, and community organizations offering support.
3. Building Support: Develop a collaborative network to enhance resources for students and families.

This conversation fosters collaboration, ensuring a person-centered approach to creating meaningful outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities.

RSVP today and join us in making a difference! For more details, contact LeighAnn Hill at lhill@ecsdnv.net or call 775-738-5196.

📅 January & February Calendars Are Here!

Elko County families, January & February’s Mental Health Series calendars are now available! The Mental Health Series Platform offers parents unlimited access to DAILY live sessions, recordings, and key takeaways on topics relevant to issues facing today’s youth. Expert facilitators lead every session and provide ongoing support as needed.

Tune in Monday through Thursday at 4 PM or 6 PM Pacific Time.

✅ Get Your Calendar:

Download it here!

📢 Ask a Therapist- LIVE:

Don’t miss Ask a Therapist - LIVE on Wednesday, February at 5 PM (PST)! This interactive session is a great chance to ask questions and get expert advice for supporting your child’s mental health.

💻 Sign Up for Webinars:

Register at https://lnkd.in/gVqa75-W or scan the QR code on your printed calendar for quick access. Don’t forget, once you’re registered, you’ll have access to recorded sessions!

Reminder: All the resources mentioned here, including one-on-one parent coaching, are available by navigating to any ECSD school website and looking for the "Mental Health Resources" section in the top right corner.

STARS (Staff and Teachers Achieving Results with Students) was designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance and commitment to the education of all students served by the district’s schools. Families can help us recognize an outstanding staff member by filling out our nomination form here!