Warren School Weekly Update

Happy Thursday. I am sharing the newsletter today as there is no school tomorrow due to staff professional development. This also creates a four-day weekend, as there is no school on Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an important time for our school community to pause and reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and his powerful work toward equality, justice, and peace. These ideas align closely with our core values of being kind, safe, responsible, and respectful. Dr. King believed in standing up for what is right, treating others with kindness and respect, and working together to build a better world for everyone. Families can honor Dr. King’s message by choosing one small act of service this weekend, such as writing a kind note to someone, helping a neighbor, donating to a local organization, or doing something thoughtful for a family member, and then talking together about how these actions help make our community stronger and more welcoming for all.

It seems many families have added technology to their homes over the break. As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment, I would like to share Warren School’s expectations regarding student use of smart watches and/or phones at school.

Students may wear smart watches during the school day; however, these devices are to be used as a watch only. Taking pictures, recording video, or recording audio of any kind is strictly prohibited while at school.

Students who are unable to follow these expectations will be asked to place their smart watch in their backpack or turn it in to the front office for safekeeping until the end of the school day.

Thank you for your partnership in reinforcing these expectations with your child and supporting a positive school experience for all students. Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions.

If you know of any soon-to-be five-year-olds (children who will turn 5 on or before September 1, 2026), please help us spread the word about kindergarten registration. We are hosting an information session for parents on Thursday, January 29 from 6:30–7:15 p.m. to review the registration process and share important information to help families prepare for kindergarten this fall. More information is included below.

Have a great long weekend,

Pete

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

Greetings,

Our goal as school nurses is to help keep students healthy so that they can be at school ready to participate and learn. We reinforce hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, and spend time with students talking about ways to keep themselves healthy. There are also ways you can help keep your child as healthy as possible.

Please have your child dress appropriately for the weather. Even during the winter and cold months all students go outside for recess for fresh air and exercise. The exception is extreme cold. When it is 20 degrees or less, with or without wind chill, the children will have indoor recess. For outdoor recess, your child will need a coat, hat, and gloves or mittens. Snow pants and boots are needed when snow is on the ground.

Nutrition is very important in keeping healthy. Have your child start the day with a nutritious breakfast and bring a healthy snack to school. Drinking lots of water during the day keeps their bodies hydrated and cuts down on headaches and stuffy noses.

Getting adequate rest is important. When one is tired and not well rested, it is much harder to learn and participate in school.

Colds are a nuisance. Runny noses, coughs, and generally feeling lousy makes all of us uncomfortable. Having a cold, though, does not necessarily mean your child must stay home. But if your child has a low grade fever, or a productive, frequent cough, and is easily fatigued, it is suggested he or she stays home and get the rest needed.

Children should remain home if they have a temperature above 100 degrees. If your child has a temperature of 100.0 or higher at school, he/she will be sent home. They can return to school once they are fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of tylenol or ibuprofen.

The same goes for vomiting and diarrhea. Your child should be without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, he/she must be on medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Please inform the school nurse of strep or any other contagious condition.

The above guidelines protect other children from coming in contact with germs and also prevents your child from returning to school too soon after recovering from an illness.

You know your child best, but please never hesitate to call the school nurse with any questions or concerns. (508) 532-8065 or (508) 532-8091

Thank you,

Phylis Bhandari RN

Jennifer Tracy RN

Hello Families,

This month we are learning about PERSEVERANCE.

We have defined perseverance as: not giving up on something, even if it gets hard.

Here are some things you can do to help your child build perseverance:

• Share real life stories about how your child has shown perseverance, learning to walk, ride a bike, play a sport…
• Talk about it with them. Brainstorm strategies they can use when they get stuck.
• Help your child set goals they would like to achieve. Talk about the steps they could take to help them meet that goal.
• When reading or watching a movie point out times characters show perseverance.
• Praise them when you see them working hard and being persistent.

Books about perseverance:

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
• Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story by Laurie Ann Thompson
• Amazing Grace by Caroline Binch & Mary Hoffman
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
• Brave Irene by William Steig

Warren School’s SEL Team

Our AMS actors are working hard under the direction of Mr. Langmeyer to bring this powerful historical production to the Little Theater. Performances will be held:

• January 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

• January 24th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
  
  

The show explores the true stories of more than 250,000 children who were relocated from Eastern cities to the Midwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With themes of resilience, social responsibility, and belonging, the production reflects on the courage of young people and the impact one person can have on others. The show is rated G, appropriate for all ages, runs 1 hour and 15 minutes, and tickets are $10 cash.

Check out what our Nutrition Services department is serving up for Warren students in January! 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,

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2026, we are thrilled to share our January menu, featuring this

month’s Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Apples!

Apples are a versatile and delicious fruit that will shine in our meals throughout January. Grown

right here in Massachusetts, these apples are packed with dietary fiber, vitamin C, and powerful

antioxidants. This month, we’re excited to offer dishes that showcase their wonderful flavor,

including Apple Cinnamon Compote, Barley & Apple Salad, Apple Cinnamon Cornbread and

Roasted Sweet Potatoes; Apples. For more information on the health benefits of apples and fun

recipe ideas, we encourage you to visit Massachusetts Harvest of the Month

At Ashland Public Schools, we’re committed to providing fresh, locally sourced produce,

supporting our local farmers, and ensuring that every meal we serve offers the highest nutritional

quality. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating apples by incorporating them into your meals at

home!

Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your children’s nutrition and

well-being. Here’s to a healthy and delicious start to the new year!

Warm regards,

Regina Wilkinson

Director of Nutrition Services

Ashland Public Schools

Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508-881-0165

• January 16: No School, staff Professional Development
• January 19: No School in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 23: Drop Everything and Create
• January 27: Whole School Assembly, wear BLUE for Ashland pride
• January 29: Incoming Kindergarten Information Night for parents 6:30 in the Dining Room
• January 31: Incoming Kindergarten Registration 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Warren School library
• February 4: Drop Everything and Play
• February 16-20: No School, February Vacation

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.