AMS Weekly Update
AMS Weekly Update-December 13, 2024
Good Afternoon,
Last Friday evening, we hosted the 7th & 8th Grade Glow Social, and it was a great success with nearly 200 students in attendance. Thank you to the PTO for organizing this fantastic event, and a special thanks to the parent and teacher chaperones who made it possible. We look forward to hosting more social events for our students in the future!
Next week, we will celebrate Winter Spirit Week as we gear up for the holidays and winter break. Below are the themes for each day, and you can find a flyer with additional details attached:
Monday: Holiday Cheer – Wear your holiday accessories (hats, antlers, lights, socks, etc.).
Tuesday: Winter Wonderland – Wear blue and white.
Wednesday: Ugly Holiday Sweater Day – Break out your most festive (or least fashionable) sweater!
Thursday: Favorite Holiday Character – Dress as your favorite holiday character.
Friday: Holiday Pajama Day – Stay cozy and wear your holiday pajamas.
On Wednesday afternoon, we will hold a full-school assembly in the gym. The event will feature performances by the High School Concert Choir and Bel Canto Society, as well as some fun games for students.
The AMS Student Council is hosting a toy drive to support those in need this holiday season. From December 13th–19th, we are collecting new and/or gently used toys and books for children aged 1–14. All new items will be donated to Toys for Tots, while gently used toys and books will be given to the Habitat ReStore. More details can be found on the flyer attached below.
Important Reminder:
There will be no late bus next Thursday, December 19th.
Weather and Recess:
We will continue holding recess whenever conditions allow and the wind chill-adjusted temperature is above freezing. Please ensure your student is dressed appropriately for the weather:
A sweatshirt is the minimum requirement to go outside.
Ideally, students should wear a jacket.
Students wearing only a t-shirt or a lightweight long-sleeve shirt will not be permitted outdoors.
Please note that even when the weather is cooperative, there may be days when we are unable to have recess. This is often due to the time required to get all students through the lunch line or behavior issues during lunch.
Finally, don’t forget to check out the information below regarding Girl Powered sign-ups, the AMS Theater Production, and Ashland Youth Lacrosse registration!
Please reach out with any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend!
Erin Lachapelle
AMS Principal
GIRL POWERED SIGN UPS
Girl Powered is a program designed specifically towards females in Ashland Middle School. The focus within this program is to create positive mental awareness utilizing fitness techniques. During this 8 week program, females will be educated, trained, and assisted on basic strength training using free weights, plate weights with bars, body weight activities, cardiovascular activities, along with injury prevention and safety awareness within a fitness facility. They will associate mood and mental health awareness within fitness activities and develop self assessments to regulate mood management. A pre and post assessment will be utilized to determine students mental and physical health during this program. Assessments will be utilized to provide students with individually designed goals related to their mental and physical needs.
Program will run from January 8, 2024- March 5, 2024. Every Wednesday from 2:45-3:45.
PLEASE SIGN UP BELOW:
Reach out to Dee Mastromatteo, AMS Wellness Teacher or Kelly Roy, AMS Adjustment Counselor with any questions.
Dmastromatteo@ashland.k12.ma.us
AMS Theater Production
Dear APS Community ,
Ashland Middle School Theater Company will present a family friendly production of The Seussificaiton of Romeo & Juliet with a cast and crew of 40 plus students ! The play will open January 24th @ 7pm & Saturday, January 25th @ 2pm & 7pm in the AMS Little Theater. Tickets are $10 dollars at the door and cash sales only. The show runs an hour. The plot involves William Shakespeare meeting Dr. Seuss! It is a whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare’s tragic love story (in this case not so tragic!) complete with Dr. Seuss’s iconic rhyming tetrameter, creative wordplay, and fantastical machines — something Dr. Seuss might have come up with if he ever had his way with the script. This fast-paced retelling is fun for all ages in all grades ! Please join us. Sincerely, Mr. Langmeyer, Drama Director
Full School Spirit Fridays-December
Winter Spirit Week
Weekly Schedule & Important Dates
Monday, December 16th-D Day
Tuesday, December 17th-E Day
Wednesday, December 18th-F Day-Full School Assembly
Thursday, December 19th-A Day
Friday, December 20th-B Day
December 21-January 5th- No School-Winter Vacation
January 18-20th-Family Reconnect Weekend (No School January 20th-M.L.King Jr. Day)
Ashland Youth Lacrosse Registration
Registration for Ashland Youth Lacrosse is open.
https://ashlandyouthlacrosse.org
There is currently a discount of $25 off the registration fee for spring 2025, before 12/16.
Faculty & Staff Recognition
I will provide an opportunity in every weekly update for parents and guardians to recognize the amazing work of our faculty and staff. If your student comes home and shares an incredible learning experience or stories about their teachers, please take a moment to fill out the google form linked here. This will allow me to recognize the faculty and staff members and share the positive experiences that students are having with the community.
"Mrs. Roy, thank you for your Amazing support of my kids at AMS! You provide us with excellent programs (love that Lunch Bunch!) and compassionate and well informed solutions. Thank you!"
Club and Activity Information
Unified Sports
AMS is proud to be recognized by Special Olympics Massachusetts as a Unified Champion School. If your child is interested in participating in unified sports please reach out to Kelly Romano at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us
Best Buddies
Best Buddies is a social club created to foster one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through their participation, students with and without IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, share interests, experiences and activities. Best Buddies helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development. We meet the first Wednesday of every month from 2:45-3:45 in room 119. Please join by filling out this online form: www.bestbuddies.org/join and contact KellyAnn Romano with any questions at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us.
AMS Student Council
Student Leaders is now officially AMS Student Council! Meetings will be held Wednesday mornings, at 7:15am in Mrs. Steinbrick’s room. If students are unable to make it, please let Mrs.Steinbrick know. This meeting is for current student leaders. Interested in joining but not a student leader? Stay tuned for more details! "
Math Counts
Club meets on Monday afternoons in Room 222. Please reach out to Karen Bernier with any questions kbernier@ashland.k12.ma.us
Chess Club
The AMS Chess Club meets every Monday after school from 2:45 pm- 3:45 pm in rooms 208, 210, & 211. Please email Mrs. Sadana gsadana@ashland.k12.ma.us or Mr. Van Wyhe rvanwyhe@ashland.k12.ma.us with any questions.
Art Club
Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions. rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us
Diversity Club:
Diversity Club will have its first meeting on October 17th in the Art room. All are welcome! Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us
Drama Club
Drama Club has started !!! AMS Theater Company will be producing
The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet ! It is a comedy.
Email any questions to : elangmeyer@ashland.k12.ma.us
Yearbook:
Open to all grades. Yearbook will meet on Wednesdays after school in room 142. If you have questions please reach out to Ms. Collins mcollins@ashland.k12.ma.us
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to share our December menu with you, featuring the vibrant and nutritious Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Carrots!
This month, our menu includes delicious side dishes that highlight the wonderful flavor of carrots such as Honey Carrot Coins and Zesty Carrot Fries.
Carrots are a versatile and nutrient-rich vegetable that will be prominently featured in our meals throughout December. Locally grown in Massachusetts, these carrots are an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and B6, as well as fiber and antioxidants.
For more information on the benefits of carrots and fun recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month page: Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Carrots.
We are committed to providing fresh, locally sourced produce to our students, supporting local farmers, and ensuring the best nutritional quality in our meals. We encourage you to incorporate carrots into your meals at home to enjoy their many health benefits.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for trusting us with your children's nutrition and well-being. We look forward to a healthy and delicious month!
Warm regards,
Regina Wilkinson
Director of Nutrition Services
Ashland Public Schools
Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us Phone: 508-881-0165
Commuity Bulletin Board
Don’t forget to visit ashland.k12.ma.us/Flyers where we feature announcements and events offered by organizations, clubs and teams throughout our community that serve to enrich the lives of our students, families, faculty and staff.