Warren School Weekly Update

As we head into the final days of the school year, I would like to wish all of our Warren families a wonderful long holiday weekend.

Before closing out the year, I would like to recognize and congratulate Cathy Canney on her upcoming retirement. After 36 years of dedicated service to the students and families of Ashland Public Schools, nearly all of them spent teaching second grade at the Warren School, Cathy leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. Over the course of her career, she has impacted the lives of hundreds of children, helping them develop not only as learners but as kind, confident, and capable young people. Her influence extends far beyond the students she taught directly; in fact, pictured is one of our current Warren teachers was once a student in Cathy's classroom. That full-circle moment is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact educators have on generations of learners and colleagues. Please join me in thanking Cathy for her years of service and wishing her all the best in this next chapter.

Tomorrow, as a country, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. We also celebrate Father's Day and recognize the many fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who play such an important role in the lives of our students. Finally, with the first day of summer arriving this weekend, we hope everyone enjoys some well-deserved time outdoors with family and friends.

In the past, classroom placement letters have been mailed home during the first week of August. This summer, we will be transitioning to an electronic process. This will be the same for our Grade 2 students moving to Grade 3, as Mindess School will be following the same process. During the first week of August, families will receive an email containing the same classroom placement information that was previously mailed. Teachers will also send an email with their welcome letter and information regarding any classroom materials or supplies that may be needed for the upcoming school year.

In addition, Ashland Public Schools will be transitioning to a new student information system, PowerSchool, for the 2026–2027 school year. Our goal is to provide families with a more user-friendly platform that offers improved access to student information and communication tools, particularly at the elementary level. Additional information about this transition, including account setup and access details, will be shared with families later this summer.

The last day of school for students is Wednesday, June 24, with a 12:00 PM dismissal. Please note that lunch will not be served on this day.

Thank you for your partnership and support throughout the school year. We are proud of all that our students have accomplished and appreciate the many ways our families contribute to the Warren School community.

Have a great long holiday weekend,

Pete

Per Massachusetts General Law, and Ashland School Committee policy, Ashland Public Schools provides free transportation to Ashland students in Grades K-6 who reside more than two (2.0) miles from school. Students in Grades K-6 who live two or fewer miles from school and all students in Grades 7-12 may pay an annual transportation fee if they want to take the bus to and from school. Due to limited transportation options, all paid seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Students will be assigned to a bus once their full and complete application has been received. Once bus capacity has been reached, a waitlist will be created. Late registrations will be placed on a waitlist and offered a seat if one becomes available during the school year.

Early Registration

Received before June 1st, 2026

$290 per student or $580 (maximum family cap) for 2 or more students in the same family. Registration is required for each student. Submit payments to Ashland Public Schools at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com, select the School Department and the drop-down option for Bus Transportation.

Regular Registration

Received after June 1st, 2026

Registrations received after the due date may be processed on September 1st, 2026. $360 per student or $720 (maximum family cap) for 2 or more students from the same family. Registration is required for each student. Submit payments to Ashland Public Schools at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com, select the School Department and the drop-down option for Bus Transportation.

Registration for Grades K-6 who reside more than two (2.0) miles from school

Register at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com, select the School Department and the drop-down option for Bus Transportation. Please select the option for “Qualify for free bus transportation (grades K-6 living over 2 miles from assigned school).”

Requesting A Fee Waiver (two step process)

A waiver of the bus fee is available to families based on the same guidelines used to determine eligibility for free and reduced lunch. Registration forms must still be received by June 1st, 2026 if you are applying for a bus fee waiver.

Step 1)

Please register for the bus fee waiver at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com, select the school department and the drop-down option for Bus Transportation, and select the box titled “Apply for a waiver of the bus fee.”

Step 2)

Please click on the following links to obtain the forms and follow the instructions provided: English Fee Waiver Application, Portuguese Fee Waiver Application, Spanish Fee Waiver Application.

Notification & Contact Information

Families who registered students for the bus by June 1 will be notified by July 30 on the status of their registration. Registrations received after June 1 may not be processed until September 1.

Call Transportation Coordinator, Tamara Saviatto, at (508) 532-4007 for more information.

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

Hello Families,

This month we are learning about OPTIMISM.

We have defined optimism as: believing that good things will happen and having hope for the future.

Here are some things you can do to help your child be optimistic:

• Model it; instead of focusing on the negative when challenges arise, express your belief that things will get better.
• Practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude helps train your brain to look for and notice the positive things.
• Help your child manage their expectations. Young children can have a hard time navigating disappointment and frustration. Helping them know what to expect will help them react more optimistically when things don’t go their way.
• Remind them that we all should expect and accept mistakes.
• When talking about their day frame questions to focus on the positive:
• What was something you did well at school/in the game today?
• Tell me about something that made you smile.
• What did you do today that you are most proud of?
• What was the most fun part of your day?
• How did you help someone today?

Books about optimism:

• Preston’s Positive Thoughts by Jenelle French
• The Awfulizer by Kristin Maher
• Postitive Ninja by Mary Nhin
• The Magic Inside You by Cathy Domoney
• Catching Thoughts by Bonnie Clark
• The Whatifs by Zoe Persico

Warren School’s SEL Team

Check out what our Nutrition Services department is serving up for Warren students in April and May! 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 we wrap up the school year, we’re excited to share our June menu featuring the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Strawberries!

Strawberries are a beloved fruit, known not only for their sweet, delicious flavor but also for their impressive health benefits. Grown locally here in Massachusetts, they’re packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, making them a great choice for a nutritious diet.

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

Our June menu features a variety of delicious dishes highlighting this seasonal fruit, including Fresh Strawberry Romaine & Spinach Salad and Waffles with Strawberries.

We’re proud to provide fresh, locally sourced strawberries to our students, supporting local farmers and ensuring the highest nutritional quality in our meals. We encourage you to enjoy strawberries at home too, to share in their many health benefits.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for trusting us with your children’s nutrition and well-being throughout the school year. Wishing you and your family a wonderful summer filled with delicious and nutritious foods!

Warm regards,

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

Hello,

For families with students who will not be returning to Ashland Public Schools in the fall, please remember to go to www.myschoolbucks.com and disable auto-pay if you have been automatically adding funds to your child’s meal account. Otherwise, even after we issue a refund, the account may be reloaded again.

Please also note that we can only process refunds for balances of $10.00 or more. If your student’s remaining balance is under $10.00, you have the following options:

1. Transfer the funds to a sibling or another student who will be returning next year
2. Donate the balance to a student in need (transfers are done anonymously)

Seniors may pick up a form from the High School cashier to indicate how they would like any remaining funds handled.

If your student is not returning, please be sure to turn off auto-pay as soon as possible so we can avoid any unnecessary reprocessing of refunds.

Thank you!
Regina

• June 19: No school in observance of Juneteenth
• June 24: Last Day of School, Early Release at 12:00. Lunch will not be served.

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.