Warren School Weekly Update

Thank you to all of you in the Ashland community for supporting the override vote this week. Your support allows all of us at Warren School, and Ashland Public Schools, to continue the work we love doing each day with the children of Ashland, and we are incredibly grateful for the community’s commitment to our schools and students.

Today, our PTO brought in Mario the Maker Magician for two exciting performances. The first show is taking place as I write this message, and the children are absolutely loving it! He brought amazing energy and many laughs! Thank you to our PTO for continuing to provide such engaging and memorable experiences for our students.

Yesterday, our Grade 2 students had the opportunity to participate in something unique and very special. We created a Warren School version of the Mindess “Kids Night Out” event called “Kids Day Out.” Well over 150 children attended after school and had a fantastic time participating in games, activities, and time together with friends and staff.

Following the activities, many Grade 2 parents attended the Mindess School Grade 2 to 3 Information Night hosted by Principal Kate Altman and Assistant Principal Beth Jones. For families who were unable to attend or would like to review the information again, here is the presentation link:
Grade 2 to 3 Information Night Presentation

Video of the presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf0soXLbWq4&t=177s

Also this week, our students and staff participated in another fire drill in collaboration with the Ashland Fire Department. Due to the strong success of our previous drills, we introduced additional challenges to further strengthen our emergency preparedness. This drill occurred while six classes were finishing lunch in the Dining Room, and a barrier was placed in the blue hallway, requiring children and adults to identify and use alternate evacuation routes. I continue to be incredibly proud of how calmly, safely, and responsibly our students and staff respond during these important safety exercises.

As we head into the long weekend, Memorial Day is an important opportunity to pause and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Their sacrifice has helped protect the freedoms we enjoy every day, and this holiday serves as a reminder of the courage, service, and dedication shown by so many families across our country. This can also be a meaningful opportunity to talk with children about gratitude, service, and the importance of honoring those who have served our nation.

Have a great long holiday weekend,

Pete

We are excited to announce that the 2nd Grade Farewell BBQ is approaching!

To keep the focus on our grade 2 students, this event is for grade 2 students and parents only. The BBQ will take place on Thursday, June 11th 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm (rain date of 6/15).

The school will provide hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, and hotdogs.

If you would like to donate to this Warren School event please see the Sign Up Genius link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C45AFA72BA1FE3-64250040-2ndgrade

We are looking for donations of:

chips/pretzels, water, cookies/desserts, bags of ice, juice boxes, watermelon, ketchup, mustard, relish, and plates.

Donations can be sent to the office with a label for Grade 2 Farewell.

Thank you!

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.

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Legacy, Freedom, and Community

Hosted by Ashland Residents for Equity and Action (AREA)

Submission Period: May 1- May 31, 2026

Who Can Participate? Youth students (all grades welcome)

Submission Guidelines:

• Original writing, artwork, short music or dance piece (under 1 minute)
• 1 submission per student For artwork submit a photo of your piece and keep the original artwork for display
• For music or dance submit a recording of your piece (please limit to under 1 minute)
• For writing please keep to 1 page
• Send to area@ashlandequity.org by May 31st and include you Full Name, Grade and Teacher (if created as a class assignment)

Winners Announced: Week of Jun 15, 2026

Winners will be invited to share their work at: AREA’s Juneteenth Celebration

Ashland Farmers Market

Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM

And will be displayed on AREA's website

**All submissions will be displayed at the event**

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 CITIZENSHIP.

We have defined citizenship as: being a good member of your community and showing that you care about the community and the people in it.

Here are some ways you can teach your child about citizenship at home:

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Do your part to help reduce pollution and water usage.
• Volunteer or donate to a local charity or organization.
• Participate in town cleanup!
• Talk to your child about what you love about your community. Talk about ways you could help improve it even more!

Books about citizenship:

• If Everybody Did By Jo Ann Stover
• The Dog That Ate the World by Sandra Dieckmann
• Carl the Complainer by Michelle Knudson
• What Mess? by Tom Lichtenheld
• Who Will I Be? by Abby Huntsman and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
• Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, Rafael López

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 approach the end of the school year, we are excited to share our May menu with you,

featuring the nutritious and delicious Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Seafood!

Seafood is a vital part of a healthy diet, rich in essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids,

protein, vitamins D and B12, and minerals like zinc and iron. Locally sourced from

Massachusetts waters, seafood provides numerous health benefits and supports our local fishing

communities.

For more information on the benefits of seafood and recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts

Harvest of the Month page: Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Seafood.

On the May monthly menu, highlighting various seafood dishes that show our commitment to

providing fresh, nutritious meals: Local Haddock Fish Sticks, Coconut Crusted Fish Tacos and

Sustainable Kelp Meatballs from the Gulf of Maine!

We are committed to providing fresh, locally sourced seafood to our students, supporting local

fisheries, and ensuring the best nutritional quality in our meals. We encourage you to incorporate

seafood into your meals at home to enjoy its 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 month filled with delicious and nutritious seafood meals!

Warm regards

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

• May 25: No School in observance of Memorial Day
• May 27: Whole School Assembly wear blue for Ashland Pride
• May 27: Incoming Kindergarten Screening by appointment
• May 28: Warren School at Dairy Queen night
• May 28: Incoming Kindergarten Screening by appointment
• June 1: Grade 2 visits Mindess
• June 4: Grade 2 Field Trip
• June 8: Grade 1 Field Day (rain date 6/11)
• June 9: Kindergarten Field trip
• June 11: Grade 2 Farewell BBQ (raindate 6/15)
• June 12: Grade 1 Field Trip
• June 12: Grade 2 Field Day (rain date 6/17)
• June 16: Kindergarten Field Day (rain date 6/18)
• 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.