AMS UPDATE

Good Afternoon,

It has been another busy and full week here at AMS! The year is now in full swing, with clubs starting up and athletic games underway. I’ve been able to catch parts of a few games, and it’s always wonderful to see students engaged in activities they love beyond the school day. Club information is posted below and will be updated as I receive details from advisors. Please note that if your child is interested in auditioning for the Winter Play, all of the details are in the club information section below.

It was also great to see so many parents and guardians at Open House on Wednesday and Thursday. Having attended Open House for my own children this week, I know it makes for some long days, but there is something special about seeing the space your child spends their day in and hearing directly from teachers about the learning ahead.

On Wednesday, we held our Math i-Ready testing. Aside from a Wi-Fi issue in one part of the 6th-grade hallway that required relocating a few classes, the day went smoothly. Your children deserve recognition for taking the assessment seriously and working hard. As with Reading, a small number of students who were absent or need to finish will complete their testing on Monday morning. I am also very grateful to our teachers for piloting this new testing format. Overall, student feedback has been positive. Many teams built in fun activities after i-Ready testing to reward students for their effort and to foster team-building.

Today was Picture Day! If your student was absent, retakes are scheduled for November 7th. While we aim to have photos of all students for safety purposes in iPass, we understand that not all families wish to have their child’s photo appear in the yearbook, newsletter, or on social media. If you would like to opt out, please complete this form

Thank you as well for your support in discouraging students from riding electric bikes to school. I am including a legal advisory on E-Bikes in a section below from APD. Those who have been riding are now walking on and off campus, and we are seeing more students wearing helmets—an important improvement. Dismissal has also improved following Tuesday’s communication. Staff have been asked to keep the parking spots along the driveway open for parent pick-up/drop-off and visitors, which should continue to ease congestion.

Finally, a reminder that there is no school on Tuesday in observance of Rosh Hashanah.

Thank you,

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

Schedule for Next Week:

• Monday, September 22nd- C Day
• Tuesday, September 23rd- NO SCHOOL (Rosh Hashanah)
• Wednesday, September 24th- D Day
• Thursday, September 25th- E Day
• Friday, September 26th- F Day

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Thursday, October 2nd-No School (Yom Kippur)

• Friday, October 10th-Early Release Day -Start of Family Reconnect Weekend

• Monday, October 13th-No School (Indigenous Peoples' Day)

I will update this as I receive information from club advisors:

Art Club

Art Club will have its first informational meeting on Tuesday, September 16 in room 139. Any interested students should attend. Students will receive contracts and will be split into groups for future meetings. We will meet on Tuesdays (each group every other week) and Art Club is a time to work on class projects, free art, or the weekly activity choices. Sometimes we will work on group projects for the community. Any questions, reach out to Ms. Micucci rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Best Buddies

The Best Buddies After School Club is a fun, welcoming, and inclusive space where students of all abilities come together to build meaningful friendships, promote inclusion, and celebrate diversity. Our club pairs students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in one-to-one friendships with their peers, helping to break down social barriers and create a stronger, more compassionate school community.

Through engaging activities, games, arts and crafts, and group outings, members of Best Buddies enjoy time together outside of the classroom while learning the values of acceptance, kindness, and leadership. We aim to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Whether you're looking to make new friends, be a leader in promoting inclusion, or simply be part of something that makes a positive impact—Best Buddies is the place for you! We will meet the first Tuesday of every month at 2:45. Any question please email Ms. Izen at dizen@ashland.k12.ma.us or stop by room 118.

Chess Club

Do you have what it takes to CHECKMATE your opponent? The AMS Chess Club is starting on Monday, September 22. We'll be meeting every Monday after school. Participation is free, and all players are welcome. We will have competitive tournaments throughout the year, but we're also helping beginners learn how to play. To join the club, just show up to our first meeting, and you will be invited to join our Google Classroom. Any questions, reach out to Mr. Van Wyhe rvanwyhe@ashland.k12.ma.us

Diversity Club

Diversity Club will have its first meeting on Thursday September 18 in room 139 and we will meet the third Thursdays of the month (with a few exceptions). Diversity Club is a safe space for conversations and support for LGBT+ issues and any other issues around DIVERSITY and anti-bullying in our school (race, religion, gender, and social issues). All conversations are age appropriate. (PG rating only!) ALLIES AND FRIENDS WELCOME! Any questions, reach out to Ms. Micucci rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us or Ms. Payne spayne@ashland.k12.ma.us

Drama Club

All students are welcome!!

The Winter play audition process is about to start! Students must register and fill out an application on Google Classroom. The code is ye47hbot

All show info will be found on Google Classroom. Please email the director with questions elangmeyer@ashland.k12.ma.us

IMPORTANT INFO AND DATES BELOW

Mon, 9/22 Kick off meeting from 245 - 4 pm

Thurs, 9 /25 Audition workshop from 245 - 430 pm

Mon, 9/29 Audition day 1 from 245 - 430 pm ( by appt)

Tues, 9/30 Audition day 2 from 245 - 430 pm ( by appt)

Wed, 10/1 Call backs from 245 - 4pm ( select few only)

Sun , 10/5 Cast List letter sent to families & schedule

Show dates are planned for Fri, 1/23 & Sat, 1/24

This year's Artistic Season is based upon the theme of" Brave Adventures". Students voted last year to do a Drama.

The drama this year is called The Orphan Trains. It is an ensemble show that highlights a specific historical event in America.

THE PLOT:

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the United States was trying to solve two challenges. Due to the increase in factory work in the Eastern cities, many poor families were crowding the streets and apartment buildings. Kids (some orphans, but others abandoned or runaways) ended up packed into orphanages in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. At the same time, the prairies and farmlands of the Midwest were in desperate need of cheap workers. Families trying to make a living needed more help, but didn’t want to pay a lot.

The US government started sending orphans from the Eastern cities on trains westward to be adopted as cheap labor. Some kids ended up in challenging, back-breaking servitude. Others left struggles with homelessness, ending up in loving and supportive homes.

This play follows several children in a train car. Each time the train stops, a new child begins to tell his or her story. These turn into scenes that we get to watch acted out in front of our eyes.

This drama is powerful and moving. We can’t wait for you to join us!

MathCounts

MathCounts is the Ashland Middle School Math Team. We meet every Monday beginning September 15th to practice for local and national competitions. We work to sharpen our critical thinking, teamwork, and strategy skills. The competitions include AMC 8, MathCounts Regional Competition, Purple Comet and the Math League Contests. Whether it’s cracking tricky puzzles, racing against the clock, or collaborating to solve real-world math problems, our team combines brainpower with school spirit. More than just numbers, we build confidence, friendships, and a love of discovery—one competition at a time!

Yearbook

First meeting for Yearbook will be on September 18th! Any student interested in working on the yearbook is welcome to attend. Meetings will be bi-weekly on Thursdays in room 151. Please reach out to Ms. Collins for more information mcollins@ashland.k12.ma.us

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts will be hosting a Webex Webinar Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents. The webinar will take place on the evening of Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30 pm in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Digital Forensics/Child Exploitation/Cyber Crime Unit. The registration flyer is attached. Advanced registration is required.

The webinar will bring awareness to the dangers children face online today and will educate parents/caregivers how to keep children safe online. The webinar will not be recorded. In the event someone is not able to attend on October 22nd, we hope to host several more throughout the school year.

REGISTRATION DETAILS Event address for attendees (use Chrome!): https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r8215d6b4baa3c0ebff54f9844c45790b

Password: PSC1

Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

Webex platform has a maximum capacity of 1000 attendees.

If we have reached registration capacity, please email USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov to be put on a waitlist for the next presentation.

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.

"We met Mrs. Ferrari by chance right before the start of school, and she was immediately very welcoming & so thoughtful in all the information she shared for an incoming 6th grader! Thank you for taking the time out to chat with my son & me. We left that day feeling confident and prepared for the start of school! "

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a brand new school year! I hope you and your family had a relaxing summer filled with fun, rest, and time together. We’re so excited to have your children back in our cafeterias and I’m happy to welcome you on behalf of the entire Nutrition Services team here in Ashland.

Our goal is simple: to serve healthy, tasty meals that help every student feel their best and do their best in the classroom. We know that when kids are well-fed, they’re ready to focus, learn, and grow and we’re proud to be a part of that support system.

This year, we’re rolling out some new menu items we think your kids will love made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We’re always working to make our meals more appealing and inclusive, with options that reflect different tastes and dietary needs. We hope your student finds a new favorite this year!

Thanks to continued support from Governor Healey and state legislators, Universal Free Meals are still available for every student. That means each child can enjoy one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day, no application required. We’re so grateful for this program it ensures all students have access to nourishing meals at no cost.

To help keep the lunch lines moving quickly, we will not be accepting cash at the register. If your student would like to purchase à la carte items, like snacks or second meals they will need to have funds in their account. You can prepay online at www.myschoolbucks.com, or send cash or a check in a sealed envelope (with your child’s name clearly written on it) to the cafeteria manager at the start of the school day. Since breakfast is free, this is the perfect time to drop off the envelope and enjoy a free meal!

If a student would like a second meal, they’ll first need to stop by the cashier to confirm there are funds in their account. Once the sale is processed, the cashier will give them a ticket to bring to the serving line to receive their second meal. Just a reminder the USDA does not cover second meals or snacks, so these are considered à la carte.

If your child brings lunch from home, please be sure to pack any needed utensils, napkins, and condiments like ketchup or salad dressing. Students are welcome to purchase a carton of milk for $0.50, as long as they have funds on their account.

If your child has a life-threatening food allergy, please contact both the school nurse and our Nutrition Services department before they begin receiving meals. This helps us take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. More information about our allergy policies is available at ashland.k12.ma.us/nutrition.

We’re also bringing back our Harvest of the Month program! Each month, we’ll feature a local fruit or vegetable in our meals to help students explore new flavors while supporting Massachusetts farms. It’s a fun and healthy way to connect kids to their food.

As always, we’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support your child’s health and success, one meal at a time.

Wishing you a wonderful, healthy school year ahead!

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

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.