Warren School Weekly Update

Today was another exciting day here at the Warren School as we celebrated Drop Everything and Read! It was wonderful to welcome so many guest readers into our classrooms. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to make reading such a special experience for our students.

Next week is shaping up to be just as exciting with our upcoming Jog-a-thon. This event provides a great opportunity for classrooms to make connections to the Boston Marathon, especially as runners will be coming through Ashland on Monday, April 20. We look forward to the energy and enthusiasm this brings to our school community. Please see the sponsor sheet below. This event supports funding for our upcoming field trips and other enrichment opportunities.

Congratulations to Jacqui Golder for receiving a grant from the Ashland Education Foundation Inc (AEFI) to bring music therapy into our school for students in our specialized programs. We are incredibly grateful for AEFI’s continued partnership and support in enhancing educational opportunities for our students.

Looking ahead, when we return from April vacation, we will celebrate Comfy Clothes Day on April 27, followed by our Whole School Assembly on April 30, where student presentations will focus on the theme of confidence.

Lastly, please take a moment to read the message from Katie Kriete of the Ashland PTO to all Room Parents. I fully echo her sentiments, your efforts and dedication continue to make a meaningful impact on our school and provide enriching opportunities for all of our students. Thank you for all that you do!

Have a great weekend,

Pete

Hi to all the amazing 2026 Room Parents!

We just wanted to say thank you so much for your help in supporting the PTO and creating such amazing raffle baskets for the Literacy Night fundraiser!

As we’ve shared before, these fundraisers are instrumental in supporting programs for our students. Without your help, this simply wouldn’t have been possible.

We truly appreciate all of your efforts in communicating with families in your classrooms, as well as the time and creativity you put into assembling such incredible baskets. Your contributions played a huge role in helping us move towards our fundraising goal this year.

We couldn’t have done it without you, thank you again for everything you do!

I'd also like to give a shout out and thank you to our awesome Literacy Night coordinators, they went above and beyond to pull off an amazing night, and successful fundraiser for our school! Thank you again to Becca Harrington, Samantha Carrera, Rafa Bueno and Christine Graham!

With a HUGE amount of gratitude to you all,
Katie Kriete

Please use this link to learn more about how your child can submit artwork!

Parents! Don’t miss out!

Turn your child’s artwork into something special and support our schools at the same time!

Order by April 19!

The Linclusion 5K is a local event focused on building a more inclusive community for individuals with disabilities. It’s a really special day centered around belonging, connection, and fun for all families whether they run, walk, or just come to enjoy the festivities. It is coming up on Sunday, April 12th at the Rec Center. Linclusion was founded by a local Ashland family to help create more inclusive opportunities and experiences for kids of all abilities in our community.

This is more than just a race, you don’t have to run to join in the fun! Come hang out and enjoy a great day with cotton candy, face painting, Wally the Red Sox Mascot, bounce houses, a DJ, Silent auction, raffles, and more. It’s a wonderful way to bring families together while supporting an amazing cause. Plus an awesome after party at Clover Road.

We’d love to see you there!

Scan the QR code below for more info!

Dear Families,

I want to share a helpful resource: our local partners at the MetroWest Food Collaborative have created an easy-to-use website where food pantries, community meal sites, farmers markets and more are listed for our region. You’ll find flyers and calendars in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and you can search by town to see what’s available. MWFC

Please check it out if you or your family ever need additional support: metrowestfoodcollaborative.org/find-food

The Class of 2029 is hosting an Apex fundraiser on May 1st from 5:00–10:00 PM, and everyone's invited! This fun-filled night is open to all grades, friends, and family. For just $20, participants receive a package that includes one round of laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf, and an arcade card. 25% of all proceeds will go toward making the freshmen’s high school experience as fun and memorable as possible. Be sure to check out the attached flyer for more details and come out to support the Class of 2029 while enjoying a great night of entertainment and fun!

Hello Families,

This month we are learning about CONFIDENCE.

We have defined CONFIDENCE as: believing in yourself and trusting that you can do something, even if it is hard.

Here are some things you can do to help your child develop confidence:

• Praise them for their effort instead of end results.
• Encourage them to try new things. Help them find their passion.
• Normalize mistakes. It is tempting to jump in and fix things for your children, but confidence comes when they solve problems on their own.
• Embrace imperfection, having flaws is part of being human!
• Encourage and model positive self talk. When starting a challenging task, have them say things like, “I’ve done hard things before!” or “This may be hard but I’m going to try my best.”

Books about confidence:

I Like Myself By Karen Beaumont

I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self Esteem By Jamie Lee Curtis

Chrysanthemum By Kevin Henkes

Dear Girl By Amy Krouse

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright

Warren School’s SEL Team

Check out what our Nutrition Services department is serving up for Warren students in April ! Menu items are subject to change without notice, based on current supply chain issues or other factors. If dietary concerns are an issue, please contact us.

To view a translated version of the menu, please visit ashland.k12.ma.us/Nutrition.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As April begins, we’re excited to share our monthly menu featuring the versatile and nutritious Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Potatoes!

Potatoes are a beloved staple crop known for their versatility and health benefits. Grown locally here in Massachusetts, they are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. This month, we’re excited to serve a variety of delicious potato dishes, highlighting their versatility and flavor. The menu will include mashed sweet potatoes, crispy fries, roasted rainbow potatoes, and even creamy au gratin potatoes!

For more information on the benefits of potatoes and fun recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month page: Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Potatoes.

We’re committed to providing fresh, locally sourced potatoes to our students, supporting local farms, and ensuring the highest nutritional quality in our meals. We also encourage you to try incorporating potatoes into your family meals to enjoy their many health benefits.

Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your children’s nutrition and well-being. We look forward to a month filled with delicious and wholesome meals

Warm regards

Regina Wilkinson
Director of Nutrition Services
Ashland Public Schools
Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us Phone: 508-881-0165

• April 20: Patriots Day and Marathon Monday
• April 20-24: No School April school vacation
• April 27: Wear Comfy Clothes Day
• April 30: Whole School Assembly wear blue for Ashland Pride
• May 8: Early Release at 1:15 for staff professional development, lunch will be served.
• May 21: Grade 2 to 3 Parent Information session at Mindess 6-7 PM
• May 25: No School in observance of Memorial Day

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.