Ashland Preschool Weekly Update

Hello Families,

We are so excited and counting down the days until we see you at Orientation on Thursday, August 28th!

Orientation Schedule:

• AM Session (3-year-olds | Mon–Thurs | 8:30–11:00 AM)
  Thursday, 9:00–10:00 AM

• PM Session (Mon–Fri | 12:10–2:55 PM)

• Full-Day Session (Mon–Fri | 8:30 AM–2:55 PM)
  Thursday, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

🌟 After each session, the playground will be open for 30 minutes so families can meet, mingle, and play together.

Important Dates:

• Teacher Assignments: Families will receive welcome emails from teachers by 3:00 PM on Tuesday, August 26th.

• First Day of School: Tuesday, September 2nd — we can’t wait to kick off another fantastic year filled with learning, laughter, and growth!

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Warmly,
Amanda

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.

Please note:

- Second servings are not available at the Warren and Pittaway schools.

- At Warren, bottled water is the only à la carte item available.

- Pittaway students will not have à la carte options available.

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

August 28: Orientation- 9am &11am-

September 2: First day of Preschool

September 8: Lissencephaly Awareness Day

September 11: PBIS Bee Day - Wear Black and Yellow

September 23: Rosh Hashanah - No School

October 1: Custodian Appreciation Day

October 2: Yom Kippur - No School

October 7: School Picture Day

October 13: Indigenous People Day - No School

October 20: Diwali - No School

October 28, 29, 30: Early Release before lunch - Full Day dismissed at 11:20- No PM Class or Late Pick-up Program

Please remember that all family members who wish to receive the newsletters from me — or any of our other school, department or district newsletters — must subscribe by visiting ashland.k12.ma.us/subscribe. You can also forward them this newsletter and have them subscribe by scrolling down to the footer and clicking the “subscribe” button.

If you have any issues subscribing or unsubscribing, check out Smore: Frequently Asked Questions.

Looking for something to do in and around our community? Check out our Community Bulletin Board at ashland.k12.ma.us/flyers. From teen trivia nights to musicals to concerts, there's something for everyone!

DESE Report Card Information- 2024