AGPS Elementary Newsletter

We are excited to welcome our new families to AGPS! New student welcome letters, including teacher assignment information, have been mailed and should be arriving soon. We can't wait to have you join our school community!

This year, AG Activity Passes can be purchased online. Please refer to the link and directions below for purchasing.

Adult and student activity pass covers admission to all Ashland-Greenwood home athletic and activity events (excluding Trailblazer Conference tournament events and NSAA post-season events). Student Activity Passes are $50 and adults are $75.

Once purchased, the adult pass can be picked up in the Main Office of the High School building. Student passes will be identified on the student I.D. with a sticker. Stickers are available in the Main Office of the student's building. Students will be given their pass at school.

For the 2026-2027 school year, the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Board approved a new cell phone policy. Information regarding this update is included in the Elementary Student-Parent Handbook as well.

Elementary students will keep personal electronic devices (e.g. personal cell phones, phone watches, electronic communications and entertainment devices) turned off and kept in their backpacks during the school day. The use or display of personal electronic devices by students is prohibited during the regular school day unless specifically authorized by a classroom teacher or school administrator. Students may not have their phones out in the building, this includes during breakfast. It is recommended these devices stay at home as the school is not responsible for the loss of personal items brought to school. Parents/guardians who need to communicate immediate information with their student during school hours can continue to contact the school office and a message will be shared with the student.

Consistent with the 25-26 school year, art, guidance, music, PE, and library specials classes will follow a 8 cycle day rotation rather than a day of the week schedule. This approach ensures that all specials classes meet consistently, even with holidays and special events. A cycle day schedule means that these specials will not occur on the same day each week. Our cycle day schedule rotates through a series of days, labeled Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, and Day 8 instead of following a traditional Monday-Friday routine. An electronic copy of the cycle day calendar is attached below. A paper copy and class specific schedule information will be shared by your child's classroom teacher.

Looking for a great way to support our schools and stay connected? Join our PTO! Whether you have a little time or a lot, your involvement makes a big difference for our students, staff, and school community.

Thank you to our AMAZING PTO, we will have yard signs courtesy of Sign Dreamers at both elementary schools on the first day of school. This year, our PTO will plan to continue to meet quarterly. Please plan to join us on these dates:

September 14th - Location - Primary School

November 9th - Location - Intermediate School

February 1st - Location - Primary School

April 12th - Location - Intermediate School

Start time at 6:30 p.m.

The PTO is looking for a volunteer to fill the treasurer role. Please email ptoashlandgreenwood@gmail.com if you are interested.

Families/students may bring treats or snacks for the classroom. These need to be store-bought or purchased from a restaurant/bakery. Students are allowed to bring water bottles to school. Water bottles may only contain water. Flavored packets, pop, and other non-water drinks are not allowed in bottles or the classroom except for special activities organized by the teacher.

Meal program staff will be available in the cafeteria to assist families in making deposits in your child's meal account as well. The cost for meals is:

• Student breakfast - $2.40
• Student lunch - $3.35

Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools offers an online payment program called e-Funds for Schools. This program offers various options for parents/guardians to make payments on-line for school meals, preschool tuition, and for MS/HS athletic participation fees. The program is very user friendly. You will have the ability to have payments electronically withdrawn from your checking account or charged to your credit card; you also have the flexibility to make a payment at any time through the school's website. e-Funds for Schools service is offered to you by a third party service provider and the district does not keep records of your account information. Please note there is a low cost fee of $1.00 per transaction for this service. You are in full control and can make a payment when it is convenient for you. At the time a payment for school meals is made, it is automatically applied to your student's Powerschool account for immediate access. No payments will be allowed without your knowledge and authorization through this secure payment system. By providing your email address, an email notification informing you of a student's name, purpose of payment, and the amount of the item will be sent to you each time that a payment is to be processed. e-Funds for School's website is secure and uses industry standard data encryption. Families will need to set up and maintain their own logins, passwords and payment preferences.

To begin the process, click on the www.agps.org home page.

- Next select the link for Online Payments (found under Quick Links at the bottom of the web page).

- Register as a New User or select Login if you already have an account.

- Users will need to establish an account for each of their children. Select Student Number and enter your child's Powerschool ID number. It will be necessary for you to have your student's Powerschool ID number. That number is different from their Lunch ID. If you are unsure of this number, contact your school’s office.

- Continue to follow the directions for online payment If you activate the Low Balance Settings you will be able to review student balances and set up an email notice. Balances are only updated in the eFunds for Schools program once daily. Therefore, please be advised that student balances may not always be accurate. e-Funds for Schools will help to eliminate check writing hassles. Parents will not need to worry about students carrying payments to school. Payments are processed within 24 hours to your account.

Ashland-Greenwood Public School Staff hope you enjoy the convenience of making payments on-line.

Bus drivers will be available on Back to School Night in the parking lot of each building to visit families that are bus eligible. Bus route times will be provided then as well.

Student safety is of utmost importance. All motorists are asked to follow the procedures below when dropping off and picking up elementary children at school.

Drop-off Procedures: When dropping off students at the school, motorists should approach the school using 17th Avenue and enter the main parking lot. Travel along the roadway and pull your vehicle up near the main entrance. Your child should exit the vehicle directly onto the sidewalk and enter the building through the main entrance doors. Students should not exit vehicles into the roadway. Parents wanting to enter the school may opt to pull into a parking stall, exit their vehicle with their child and enter the main entrance. Parents and visitors should check-in at the main office upon entering the building.

Pick-up Procedures: At dismissal time, students will wait outside the main entrance in grade level groups for parents/designated adults to pick them up. Parents are asked to park along the pick-up lane and identify their child by placing a GREEN name card, supplied by the school, on their passenger side visor or window. Teachers will watch for each student’s parent/designated adult, and students will be released to the first 7-8 cars nearest the main entrance door. Parents are asked to pull their vehicles up as far as they can along the lane before loading their child. Once students are in their vehicle, parents will move into the roadway and exit the parking lot. Parents may also opt to pull into a parking stall, exit their vehicle, and pick up their child from the grade level group. Please use the crosswalk if you choose this option. Reminder: When you leave the main parking lot - please make sure to turn RIGHT.

When weather conditions are poor, students will be held in the cafeteria. Staff members will be posted outside. They will communicate with teachers in the building, who will then send students outside as parents pull up near the main entrance.

Parking is available for preschool families near the west entrance of the school. Parents will walk their preschooler into the school at drop-off time. At dismissal time, staff will walk the children outside and to their parents/designated vehicle.

Bus Procedures: A designated bus lane along 17th Avenue is used when dropping off and picking up students. Supervisors are available in the morning to assist students in walking from the bus to the school. Supervisors walk students from the school to their assigned buses at dismissal time.

As motorists near the school, they are asked to drive slowly and cautiously.

By following the procedures above, our students can come and go from school safely and drivers will meet with less traffic congestion. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone safe.

All students should enter the building through the east or west cafeteria doors just off the playground.

Motorists should NOT stop traffic along the roadway or in the parking lot east of the playground to let children out of their vehicles. Using the procedures outlined above will provide a safe way to drop off students and minimize traffic congestion.

Students should not be dropped off in the parking lot west of the school. The west parking lot is designated as a drop-off location for buses only. Also, students should not be dropped off at the Clay Street entrance doors prior to 8:05 a.m. Again, this will minimize traffic congestion.

As motorists near the school, they are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. There is a crosswalk directly across from the school on Clay Street. Many students use this crosswalk to get to and from school.

PICK-UP:

At dismissal time, students will exit the building through the cafeteria doors onto the playground.

School buses will load students in the west parking lot at the end of the school day.

Students who walk or ride a bicycle and need to cross 14th Street (Hwy 63) should use the crosswalk lights between Boyd Street and Clay Street when going home.

Motorists picking up students may park in designated parking stalls along the roadway east of the school building. Boyd Street is a one-way street and motorists may only park on the north side of the street. Traffic moves from Clay Street, to the roadway and then onto Boyd Street. Motorists may also park in the east parking lot.

All students not under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian are to leave the school grounds upon dismissal. Students may not remain on the playground after 3:10 unsupervised.

By following the procedures above, our students can come and go from school safely and drivers will meet with less traffic congestion. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone safe.

Primary School Day: 8:15-3:20

Intermediate School Day: 8:05-3:10

We are looking forward to the first day of school August 19th. The start of school is exciting and requires students to learn morning procedures and how to navigate the school to locate their classrooms. At the Primary, parents are welcome to assist their children in locating their classrooms on the first two days of school. Breakfast is served from 7:40-8:10 AM in the cafeteria at both buildings. At the Intermediate, students will begin to participate in the Jays Walking Program upon arriving at school starting August 19th. Walking Program begins at the Primary on August 20th. Teachers will instruct your children in these procedures, and upon arriving at school, students will participate in these activities. Staff will be available to assist students with these new procedures and supervise the children.

Additional details about attendance and school drop-off/pick-up procedures can be found in the Elementary Student-Parent Handbook. This document is attached and linked on our school website.

Building principals will email information in early August with additional picture order information.

Aug. 17 - Primary and Intermediate Back to School Night 5:30-7:30

Aug. 19 - First Day of School

Aug. 25 - Picture Day for AG

Aug. 28 - PTO Carnival

Aug. 29 - POPS Bike Rodeo Event 9:30 -11:30 AM

Sept. 7 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

Sept. 10 - 5th Grade Instrument Display Night 5:30-7:30

Sept. 14 - PTO Meeting at 6:30 & Digital Safety Presentation for K-5 Parents at 7:00 @ Primary School

Sept. 15 -5th Soccerfest 1:10-2:45

Sept. 17 - Constitution Day

Sept. 22 - POPS Event

Sept. 24 -5th Soccerfest 1:10-2:45

Sept. 28 - NO SCHOOL - Staff In-service

Oct. 16 - NO SCHOOL - Staff In-service

Oct. 21 - Early Dismissal (Intermediate @12:50 & Primary @ 1:00) & Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 23 - No School for Staff or Students

Oct. 30 - Elementary Halloween Parties

Nov. 9 - PTO Meeting 6:30 @ Intermediate School

At Ashland-Greenwood Elementary Schools, we focus on proactively teaching students what it means and looks like to be safe, respectful, and responsible in all learning environments. Check out the matrix below that highlights expectations in each area. During the first few days of school, teachers spend a lot of time teaching and reviewing these expectations.

At Ashland-Greenwood Elementary Schools, we focus on proactively teaching students what it means and looks like to be safe, respectful, and responsible in all learning environments. Check out the matrix below that highlights expectations in each area. During the first few days of school, teachers spend a lot of time teaching and reviewing these expectations.

Did you know, since 2023 the Intermediate school has a shared space called the Collaborative Learning Space? The Intermediate Collaborative Learning Space or CLS is designed to be an area where students can come together and use the space for speakers, activities, projects, etc.

The collab space includes materials for makerspace and STEAM activities. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The purpose of STEAM is to provide opportunities for students to be analytical and creative. It's an integrated approach to learning that encourages students to think more broadly about real-world problems. A makerspace provides materials and resources to foster learning through inquiry. Those materials can range from simple items like craft paper, markers/crayons, glue, modeling clay, Legos, to more high-tech items like taking apart and restoring donated electronics, 3D printers, etc.

The benefits of having this type of space for students include:

• Providing opportunities and materials for students to be innovative.

• Creating real-world applications for classroom concepts. These can be directly connected to state standards and learning goals, leading to positive outcomes.

• Providing students new opportunities for creative learning, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

• Develop important skills including flexibility, collaboration, adaptability, oral and written communication, information literacy, technology literacy, productivity, social skills, leadership, initiative and more.

• To foster a love for learning.

The office is collecting donations to keep the CLS stocked with engaging materials. Please check out the flyer below for additional details.

Thank you!

Similar to AG Intermediate, AG Primary began collecting materials for a MAKERSPACE during the second semester of the 2025–2026 school year. After opening shortly following our STEAM Night in January, it quickly became a place where students could create, explore, problem-solve, and bring their ideas to life!

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, we are excited to continue growing our MAKERSPACE and providing engaging, hands-on learning opportunities for our students. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, we would greatly appreciate your help! Please check out the flyer below to see our current donation needs.

Thank you for helping us inspire creativity, innovation, and imagination in our Bluejays!

Do you know of a community event that would be something our Ashland-Greenwood Elementary students would be able to participate in? Please send us a graphic and we will include each month!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebj4Hk5t7cEToOWX55lIl_lNe1zOspno5pXpsobrTFpJbWZQ/viewform?

Check out our NEW School Activities Calendar!

Resources for Food:

The Ashland Food Pantry operates out of American Lutheran Church on 20th & Silver every Wednesday 4:30-6pm. Ashlandpantry@yahoo.com 402-944-3535

Kids Cupboard is a supplemental food program for PK-12th grade students in AGPS district. It’s also at ALC, every Thursday 5-6pm. Facebook page: Ashland Greenwood Kids Cupboard. Bette McCoy 944-7791.

• American Lutheran Church 944-3535
• First Christian Church 944-7070
• Methodist Church 944-7135
• Riverview Community Church 944-6134
• St. Mary's Catholic Church 944-3554
• Word of Hope Lutheran Church 402-521-0046

• Other churches may be found in the phone directory

Resources for Clothing:

The Closet at the American Lutheran Church provides free clothing. Contact Nicole Chudomelka at 944-3535 for more information. The ALC Clothes Closet is open the 2nd Weds each month 4-7pm and that following Saturday 9-12am.

Other Resources:

School Supply Backpack Program. Contact ashlandbackpackprogram@gmail.com or call Karen at 944-2794

Toys for Tots for the Holidays -Contact Sherri Miller 402-430-0605