Update from the Middle

December 22 - January 2

Winter Break

(NO SCHOOL)

Ashland Middle School theater students are excited to bring the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life in Seussical Jr. this December! Join us in the AMS Commons for a colorful, family-friendly show filled with music, imagination, and beloved characters.

📅Performance Dates:

• Friday, December 12 at 7:00 PM

• Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 PM

• Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 PM

🎟️ Tickets: (may be purchased in the office before Dec. 12)

• $10 at the door (cash or checks only)

• $5 for students and seniors

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Come support our young performers—you won’t want to miss this fun and heartwarming production!

Ashland Middle School Student Council is excited to offer a limited edition AMS beanie as a fundraiser supporting student incentives, events, and other Student Council initiatives.

Pre-orders are open December 9–19
Cost: $18 per beanie

How to order:
• Pay in person at the AMS Main Office
• Or pay by phone through the Main Office

Thank you for supporting our Student Council and Bear Cubs community! 💙💛

Doggy Dollar Drive is wrapping up December 17th!

The countdown is on — which homeroom will raise the most and win the donut party 🍩?

Every dollar helps support local animals, and a sweet reward is waiting for the winning class. Let’s finish strong, Bear Cubs! 💙💛

AMS Band Concert "DECK THE HALLS" on December 18th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the large gym.

Featuring Beginning Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and an indoor parade!

The Mt. Ashland ski and ride program is back for AMS, Trails, and Willow Wind 6th–8th graders! Registration runs December 5–19, and the program includes three Friday sessions: January 9, 16, and 23 (with a make-up on January 30 if needed). Lessons run from 6–8 PM, and participation in the lesson is required.

Buses will transport students to and from AMS. Families should watch for an upcoming Ashland Schools Foundation fundraiser supporting transportation costs.

Scholarships are available, but applications must be completed before registering. Several packages are offered depending on whether rentals or lift tickets are needed.

For details or volunteer coordination questions, please contact Michelle Cruz.

Register now!

We’re excited to share a new tool that will make transportation easier and more transparent for our families. My Ride K-12, the district’s new bus tracking app, works directly with our routing system and lets parents and guardians see their student’s bus location in real time. You can also view when your student loads and unloads from the bus.

The app is secure, easy to use, and only accessible to parents/guardians who have their student’s ID number.

Getting Started:

1. Download My Ride K-12 from the app store.

2. Create an account using your email and password.

3. Check your email and confirm your account.

4. Sign in and select Ashland School District 5.

5. Add your student by entering their student ID number, then tap “Add Student.”

6. In the app’s Settings, you can adjust language and font size, and turn on features like Notifications, ETA Early/Late Alerts, and ETA Reminders.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out. We’re excited to offer families this real-time transportation support!

Now is the time to sign up for winter sports:

• 7th & 8th Grade Girls Basketball (Starts Jan. 5th)
• 6th-8th Grade Wrestling for Boys & Girls (Starts Jan. 5th)
  
  

Please make sure you are registered on FamilyID and have a current sports physical on file.

December 13th is the deadline to order fall sports photos.

We are grateful for the many parents and community members who support Ashland Middle School. If you are interested in volunteering on campus, chaperoning field trips, or helping with school activities, please be sure your volunteer application is complete.

All volunteers must complete the district volunteer process before participating. Directions and requirements can be found here:
👉 https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/volunteer-in-the-schools

Thank you for partnering with us to support our students and school community.

FACTS

• Regular attendance is correlated with higher achievement rates.
• Regular attendance allows students to stay on grade level, keep up with work, and understand assignments.
• Being at school opens up students to new opportunities to learn academic as well as social skills.
• Attendance helps kids feel connected to their school community.
• Regular attendance sends a message that education is important.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

It is important to take an active role in your kid’s lives. Checking homework, talking about school and making education seem important all lead to good attendance and school success.

Help your student get to school on time every single day by creating a morning routine.

ROUTINES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

WHAT YOU CAN DO - Set a regular bed time • Create a solid morning routine • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before • Get an alarm clock for yourself and your child • Wake up with plenty of time to have a stress free morning • Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick • Complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him feel comfortable and excited about learning • Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent • Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session • Make school and education seem of utmost importance to your child

Ashland High Arts Advocates (AHAA) is proud to present the 34th Annual Winter Fine Arts Fair on Friday, December 12, 2025—a community favorite that brings together visual art, live performance, and culinary creativity in one bright, festive evening.

This celebration showcases the incredible work of our students across the arts. From gallery displays and music to theatre pieces and culinary creations, the fair highlights the talent, heart, and imagination that thrive in our schools.

Guests are invited to enjoy light dinner and exhibits beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the evening show at 7:00 p.m. It’s a relaxed, joyful space to wander through artwork, listen to student musicians, and soak in the winter magic.

Tickets are available online: www.ashlandarts.org
$15.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.

The Ashland School District is seeking one volunteer to serve on its Budget Committee. This committee, comprised of all five school board members and five community members at large, meets 2 or 3 times each spring to review and recommend the annual budget for the next school year. More information about the Budget Committee is available HERE.

Currently, one position is available for a term ending June 30, 2028. To be considered, you:

• must be a registered voter in the Ashland School District;
• must have lived in the district for at least one year;
• must not be an officer or employee of the Ashland School District.

Interested individuals are asked to submit a Budget Committee Application or a letter of interest that includes their full name, address, email address, phone number, reasons for their interest in serving on the budget committee, references, and an explanation of why they believe they are qualified for the appointment.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on January 9, 2026. Please submit by email to holly.rosser@ashland.k12.or.us or send to:

Budget Committee

Ashland School District

885 Siskiyou Blvd.

Ashland, OR 97520

Questions may be directed to the board secretary, Holly Rosser, at the email address above or by calling 482-2811 ext. 1119 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please share if you know of others who might be interested.

The Rogue Valley Symphonic Band invites you to a festive afternoon of music and holiday cheer at “A Shakespearean Holiday with Music of the Season.” This free community concert brings classic winter favorites together with Shakespearean flair for a fun, family-friendly event.

Join the celebration on Sunday, December 14th at 3:00 p.m. at Oakdale Middle School in Medford. It’s a wonderful chance to enjoy live music, support local performers, and soak in the warmth of the season.

This concert is free and open to all—bring the whole family and enjoy a memorable holiday performance right here in the valley. Reserve your tickets at RogueValleySymphonicBand.org/concerts.

Saturday, December 13th: Noon-4pm

Sunday, December 14th: 11am-2pm

@ Carpenter Hall OSF

Corner of Hargradine and Pioneer

Visit Santa and make a holdiay craft in Santa's workshop. Families are welcome to take photos.

12/17: DIY Snow Globes, 3:30-5:00

12/21, 1/4 & 1/18: Tween D&D, 1:00-3:00

12/28: Stretch & Sketch, 1:30-3:00

1/6: Teen Crafternoon, 4:00 - 5:30

1/14: Video Game Hangout, 2:30 - 4:30

1/20: Winter Wonderlandscapes, 4:00 - 5:30

1/28: Teen Trivia, 2:30 - 4:30

Baseball and Softball Registration

January 1st - January 15th

Ashland Little League is open to everyone ages 4–13 that live in Ashland, OR or go to school in the Ashland School District. No prior experience or equipment needed. Opens January 1st and closes February 15th.

• Tee Ball 4-6 years
• Rookies 6-8 years
• Minors 8-10 years
• Majors 10-12 years
• 50/70 Intermediate 11-13 years

Skills Assessment Day is February 22, 2026.

Practices can begin March 2nd and the season ends May 30th.

Everyone makes a team.

The various programs offered in this email newsletter are distributed to Ashland School District students as a courtesy to parents per board policy. Ashland School District does not endorse or sponsor community activities including any described in this newsletter. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact your student’s principal.

Email: kerri.mallory@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us/ams/
Location: 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-1611
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashland-Middle-School-143374639027500/

The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and services and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated at our school to handle inquiries and complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies and to coordinate compliance efforts:

Name: Steve Retzlaff Title: Principal
Address: 100 Walker Ave
Telephone: 541-482-1611 ext. 3109
Email: steve.retzlaff@ashland.k12.or.us

Inquiries or complaints may also be directed to the Student Services Office at 885 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland Oregon (phone: 541-482-2811)

Complaints may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172 (TTY).