Principal Zeman's Notes

The energy in our hallways on Wednesday night was absolutely electric! It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and welcome new families during our Open House. Seeing students proudly show off their classrooms and reconnect with friends set the perfect tone for what is going to be an extraordinary year.

As we count down to our first official day of school on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, our entire staff is overflowing with excitement and optimism. We have spent the summer preparing engaging lessons, vibrant spaces, and special activities to ensure our students feel supported, valued, and inspired from the moment they step through our doors.

Our top priority for this opening week is to make the transition smooth, welcoming, and fun. We are pulling out all the stops to make Day One a truly memorable milestone for every student.

Important Reminders for Week One:

• First Day of School: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• Arrival & Drop-Off: Doors open at 6:45 am. Please follow our designated drop-off zones to keep traffic moving smoothly (more information below).

Thank you for your partnership, enthusiasm, and trust. Together, we are going to make this school year our best one yet. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and we will see you on Tuesday morning!

The first day of school is going to be AWESOME! You will receive a Herd Mentality Challenge sheet at the doors. If you complete all of the activities on the list before 1st hour, you can win 200 Elk Bucks! We will have all sorts of fun stations in the lunch room set up for you to participate in. Mario Kart, a first day photo booth, Senior graduation gown signing, voting for what happens to Mr. Zeman at Friday's pepfest and more! Come early and join in all the festivities! See you on Tuesday!

Students must be dropped off and picked up exclusively in the West parking lot (located between ERHS and VandenBerge Middle School). For student safety and to avoid interference with buses and the Habitat for Humanity House build, do not enter the East parking lot (the bus lot between ERHS and Lincoln Elementary) for drop-off or pick-up. Thank you for assisting us prioritizing safety of our students.

On Wednesday mornings, classes do not begin until 8 am. Students are still allowed in the building at normal times and I would encourage all students to be in the building at normal times to assist with traffic flow. Traffic on Wednesday mornings can be challenging due to our start times lining up with the middle schools. Please be patient, drive safely, and plan for extra time- be at ERHS earlier is always an option on those days to avoid the traffic.

The PSAT will be offered on October 28, 2026 at ERHS during the school day for any interested juniors (Class of 2028). Interested sophomores (Class of 2029) may also register for the PSAT for practice.

• Give you feedback on academic strengths/weaknesses and preparedness for college

• Compare self to other four-year college bound students

• Enter the National Merit Scholarship competition for qualifying students (when taken as an 11th grader)

• Help prepare for the SAT

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Time: 7:45-11:00 AM

Location: ERHS Zabee Theater

Cost: $18 (Non Refundable)

• Register online HERE. Deadline to register is September 18th.

• Students with an IEP, 504 Plan, or Medical Concern (such as diabetes) may request accommodations. Students must reach out to their assigned counselor by August 28th to request accommodations. The counselor will then work with the student to gather the appropriate materials to submit the request.

• A non-refundable fee ($18) will be assigned to Campus (early October). Must be paid by 12pm Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 to be eligible to take the exam.

• Juniors: If you receive free/reduced lunches, please contact your school counselor if you are interested in a fee waiver.

• Take practice tests offered on the CollegeBoard website - Click HERE

• MCIS also offers free practice tests under the Practice Test tab

Kim Davison

School Counselor

kimberly.davison@isd728.org