GRIZZ-O-GRAM

Grizzlies,

We’ve wrapped up our second week of school, and it’s clear that learning is already in full swing across our classrooms. It has been great to see students settling into routines, engaging with their teachers, and building the momentum that will carry us through a successful year.

This week also brought plenty of excitement outside the classroom. Our fall sports teams are officially underway—boys’ and girls’ soccer have kicked off their seasons, volleyball traveled to take on Hidden Valley and Grants Pass, and our cross country athletes have begun competing as well. Tonight, we are especially excited to host our first home football game of the season—let’s show up strong in support of our team and our community!

In addition to athletics, we continue to focus on safety and preparedness. We successfully completed our first fire drill this week, and I want to thank both staff and students for taking it seriously and doing an excellent job.

With two weeks now complete, we are off to a strong start and ready to launch into Week 3 with enthusiasm. Thank you all for the energy, positivity, and commitment you bring to Ashland High School each day.

Go Grizzlies!

• Meet Our Counseling Department!
• Upcoming Events
• Counseling
• Athletics Update
• Volunteer & Scholarship Opportunities
• College & Career Center
• Athletics cont.
• Attendance
• Grizzly Merch
• Nutrition Services - ASD Students Free Meals!
• Transportation
• Student Health and Mental Health Support
• Helpful Links

I am currently in my second year at Ashland High School, serving as the 9th grade school counselor. Prior to this role, I spent three years as the Behavioral Health Specialist at Ashland Middle School.

Much of my professional background is rooted in the California Bay Area, where I worked in a high school as a school-based mental health therapist. Since moving to Ashland, I’ve very much enjoyed becoming part of this vibrant community and consider it a true privilege to support and serve its students and families.

My name is Alec Slinkard-Galpin, and this is my 5th year at Ashland High School as a member of the counseling department. I grew up in the Rogue Valley and have a strong passion for helping others succeed. I love being a part of this community and working with the students as both a counselor and as a coach!

With nine years of experience in education and five as a school counselor, I have a deep passion for student well-being. My role is to support students, families, and staff in fostering a positive and inclusive school environment. As a school counselor consultant, I work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure students receive the academic, social, and emotional support they need to thrive. I believe that every student’s journey is unique and influenced by a variety of internal and external factors, such as family dynamics, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. My approach is rooted in the understanding that behavior is shaped by these influences, and I strive to provide holistic, culturally responsive support that meets the diverse needs of our school community. Whether it’s addressing academic challenges, emotional well-being, or social development, I am here to listen, guide, and advocate for every student.

I work to empower students with the skills they need to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. I am committed to creating a safe and welcoming space where all students feel valued, heard, and supported. I embrace the importance of diversity and recognize the power of understanding social location and personal experiences in shaping our perspectives. Together, we can build a school environment that promotes resilience, equity, and success for every student.

My name is Laura Tagg and I am one of the school counselors at Ashland High School supporting students in grades 10-12 with last names Lop-Z. I am new to this role as of this school year but am not a stranger to Ashland High School campus as I previously served as the Maslow case manager. My background includes serving marginalized youth and working tirelessly to identify and remove barriers to student success. I hold an educational background in Psychology and have a strong passion for mental health.

My name is Jen Marsden and I’ve been the College & Career Specialist at AHS since 2011. I grew up in Tucson, attended the University of Arizona as an undergrad and received an MS in Environmental Education from SOU (when it was still Southern Oregon State College!). Before moving to Ashland, I lived in the Illinois Valley for 20 years, working as a botanist and teaching courses for UC Santa Cruz. I was also a cofounder and director of the Siskiyou Field Institute. I love working with students (and their families) providing support as they contemplate their next steps for life after high school.

My name is Alima Matejcek and I’ve been the PY+ Advisor at AHS since 2020. I’ve lived in Ashland for the past 22 years and I am the proud parent of two former AHS students. I graduated from SOU’s teaching program and my undergraduate studies were in theater and literature from UC Santa Cruz. Before moving to Ashland I lived abroad in Senegal and taught in the maternal health field. My passion is working with students, removing barriers to reaching their goals, and helping them to develop post-secondary education or career plans based on their strengths and interests.

9/11 - College Pathways Info Session

9/16 & 9/18 - Club Fair

9/17 - Open House

9/25 & 9/26 - Picture Day

10/10 - In-Service (No School)

10/13 - Indigenous People's Day (No School)

Do you want to be a front office TA? Come on into the main office or visit the counseling department to get your application? You will get real work experience!

Jobs include: Delivering packages and notes, Answering the phone and transferring calls, Making copies for teachers, Assisting visitors in finding where they need to go, and Creating a welcoming front office!

Are you interested in creating a club? Come get a club application from the main office or download and print here! Our Club Fair will be held in the Quad during TCB, Tuesday and Thursday, September 16th and 18th, from 1:30 to 2:05 pm.

All club applications are due September 15th.

September 17th at 5:30 pm we will be hosting our open house at Ashland High School!

We will begin in the main gym at 5:30 pm, then have Community on the Quad from 5:45 to 6:15, then have a tour of your students classes from 6:20 to 8:00 pm.

We hope to see you there!

Join us and meet with other passionate GPA family and friends as we plan and facilitate projects and events that support AHS.

When: September 25th, 2025 5:30pm
Where: TBD
Future Meetings: October 22nd, 2025 5:30pm

Feel free to reach out to Darcy, GPA Representative, at dmkyazz@gmail.com to get added to our contacts list.

Check out these teen events happening at the Ashland Public Library! Snacks are provided at all events. For more information about events and teen resources, visit jcls.org/teens

Student parking pass forms must be turned in by September 30th. Students must include a copy of their driver's license, up to date car insurance, and a parent signature. A $5 fee is also required.

Student parking is only permitted in the back half of the lot on Mountain Ave and Iowa Street. Parking in any of the other lots on campus is not allowed. A new form is required to be turned in every year, so even if you turned one in last year, you will have to resubmit for this coming year with updated insurance.

If students do not turn in their parking pass form by September 30th and continue to park in the campus lots, or park in lots where students are not permitted, a parking violation sticker will be placed on their vehicle.

Picture day will be held September 25th and September 26th this year. Students will be escorted to the picture day location with their English classes as a group.

Picture Day Rules:

-No costumes

-All clothing must be school appropriate

-No hats

-No sunglasses

-You face must be fully visible (no face paint, masks etc)

Information on how to purchase your student's photos will be released shortly.

Picture day is a very important day to attend as this is also how we get school ID's printed for your student. School ID's are necessary for athletic events, school dances and have barcodes on them that can be swiped in the library and cafeteria to access the student's account.

We will have a make up day in October if your student misses one of the original picture days.

All seniors will be required to complete 100 hours of community service. Up to 50 hours may be for paid work. Completed community service hour forms should be turned in to the main office for hours to be recorded. This form can be found in the main office and the counseling office, or click here for a copy: CommunityServiceHoursForm.pdf

All 100 hours must be recorded prior to graduation.

Do you need assistance finding places to volunteer? Volunteer opportunities are posted on the bulletin board outside the counseling office or you can contact our counseling department by calling Karyn Barats at: (541) 482-8771 ext. 2114 or contacting your counselor.

AHS Counselors:

Julie Bleicker: 9th Grade Counselor

Alec Slinkard: 10th-12th Grade - Students with last names A-Lon

(Please contact Alec and Julie): 10th-12th Grade - Students with last names Lop-Z

Attention Students!

Please visit the Counseling Office for available opportunities!

(Flyers posted in the hallway)

Wednesdays at the Ashland UMC, 175 N Main St.

Work alongside friendly people of all ages: from elementary students to retired folks. Apply your hours to required community service for school or sports. Morning or afternoon shifts available. Text: 303-718-6659 or email fumcashlandfoodpantry@gmail.com

Students are invited to participate in AHAA's Student Arts Mentorship Program!

AHAA's Student Arts Mentorship Program partners with local artists, teachers, and the Ashland School District to match students with arts mentors outside of the classroom. Whether you are someone who loves to paint or enjoys singing, this is the perfect chance to enhance your creative skills and participate in private lessons, mentoring, or arts programs and camps outside of school. Students who are interested in trying something new or would like to pursue something after school with their friends are encouraged to participate.

AHAA offers scholarships to cover the costs associated with each of these opportunities. To learn more and to apply for a scholarship, please visit www.ashlandarts.org/studentscholarships.htm.

Our transcript request PDF forms for current or former students are located here on the AHS website or attached below!

This fall, 12th grade students will be exploring post high school pathways in their AHS College & Career Readiness (CCR) and AP Macroeconomics/CCR classes, where they will be getting guidance on finding and planning for post high school education and/or career options that will be a good fit for them. All 9th- 11th students will be receiving grade appropriate career and college exploration in various classes during the school year. Jen Marsden (AHS College & Career Specialist) and AHS Counselors and are also available to individually help students explore their interests, and to assist in navigating the college admissions and financial aid process.

Juniors/seniors, other interested students, and parents/guardians are encouraged to attend upcoming College & Career Pathways Info Sessions and to check out the AHS College & Career Center webpage, where you can find the AHS College Handbook, a list of upcoming college visits and field trips, ACT/SAT updates, information on the AHS ASPIRE mentoring program, and other resources described below. We welcome students and parents/guardians to reach out to jennifer.marsden@ashland.k12.or.us or their AHS Counselor with questions or to schedule an appointment regarding career and college planning.

All of these information sessions will take place in the AHS Library from 5:30-6:30 pm

Thursday, September 11 - College Pathways 101: Finding an educational pathway that is a good fit takes some planning. AHS Counseling Department staff will present information on college pathways, specifically geared toward junior and senior students and their families. Topics covered will include a general overview of the process of applying to both community colleges and four-year universities, ACT/SAT testing, and how to access financial aid/scholarships.

Thursday, October 9 - Financial Aid 101: Learn about the ways to access financial aid and scholarships! We will discuss the process for completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), an online application which qualifies students to receive the Federal Pell Grant, the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), the Oregon Promise Grant (OPG), government loans, and grants/scholarships from many private colleges.

The 2026-27 FAFSA our seniors need to complete will go live on October 1 and use income information from 2024. This info session will also cover the ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application) for students eligible for the OOG and OPG, who cannot complete the FAFSA, and the CSS Profile, an additional financial aid application required by some private colleges.

Thursday, October 23 - Four Year Colleges & Universities - Navigating the Search and Application Process: AHS Counseling Department staff will present information on how to make the most of the college search process, how to apply to both public and private four-year colleges and universities, ACT/SAT testing, and how to access financial aid/scholarships.

Thursday, November 6 - Community College Opportunities, Professional Trade School & Apprenticeship Pathways: Community colleges offer an extensive array of professional training programs in fields such as Mechanics, Electronics, Culinary Arts, Massage Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy, Graphic Design and more! Students can also complete general education credits at a community college, receive a two-year A.A or A.S degree and then transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor’s degree. We will also discuss professional career schools, apprenticeship programs, and the Oregon Promise, our state’s grant to make community college affordable for all Oregon grads.

Thursday, November 20: Scholarships 101 and Financial Aid 101 Recap: AHS counseling staff will provide information on scholarship opportunities for AHS seniors, including tips on how to complete the online OSAC Scholarships E-app and the AHS Local Scholarships applications. Scholarship information will be presented first, and then staff will review and answer questions about financial aid applications, including FAFSA, ORSAA and CSS completion, for parent/guardians and students who would like to stay.

AHS College Handbook

Spend time exploring the AHS College Handbook, which contains useful information for all students planning to pursue post high school education. Topics covered include how to find an educational pathway that’s a good fit for you, information on applying to community colleges and four-year public & private universities, ACT/SAT information, how to access financial aid & scholarships, and many other helpful resources. Hard copies of the handbook are available in the College & Career Center and the AHS Main Office.

ACT and SAT Updates

Students planning on applying to four-year colleges that accept or require the ACT or SAT usually take one or both of these tests in spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year. Many colleges are now “test optional” and Oregon’s public universities no longer require ACT/SAT test results for admission, but some do for eligibility for honors colleges or merit scholarships. Check individual universities for current guidelines.

Students register for the ACT and SAT online and those who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program are eligible for fee waivers for both tests. Please contact karyn.barats@ashland.k12.or.us to obtain a fee waiver.

2025-26 Test Dates (registration deadlines are about one month before the test dates; please check ACT/SAT websites to confirm):

ACT (not offered at AHS): October 18, December 13, February 14, April 11, June 13.

SAT (offered at AHS): September 13, October 4, November 8 , December 6, March 14, May 2, June 6

Many of our students do NOT have to pay to take the ACT/SAT, AP tests, and can also receive tuition waivers and scholarships for SOU dual credit courses. To qualify for these benefits this school year, students/families must complete and turn in the Oregon Family Income Survey to the AHS Main Office to demonstrate their eligibility. You can find a link to a fillable PDF of this form at the end of the GOG. Hard copies are also available in the AHS Main Office.

If you need to fill out a transcript request form, you can fill out a physical application from the main office, a fillable PDF on the AHS website, or click here.

ASPIRE at AHS: ASPIRE’s trained volunteer mentors help students explore education and career pathways available to them after high school. Mentors assist students in researching colleges, preparing admissions and scholarship applications, understanding the financial aid process, and many other aspects of the road to post-secondary education and careers. Students who want to learn more about ASPIRE or sign up for a mentor should reach out to jennifer.marsden@ashland.k12.or.us in the College & Career Center.

And here are a few more great resources: Oregon Goes to College, Get Schooled, Rogue Community College CTE Programs, Big Future, Niche, Oregon Private College Week, and Colleges that Change Lives.

It's not too late to join the team! Fall season has just started and will continue through mid-November. Practices are at Rogue X, Monday through Thursday, 6:30 - 8:30, with carpools available.

Become part of a winning team as well as a fun, supportive community. Open to students grades 9-12. All skill levels welcome and scholarships are available!

Visit ashlandwaterpolo.org for more information.

Dear Ashland High School Parents,

Welcome to a new year of Ashland High School Athletics! We look forward to the 2025-2026 season. If your student is interested in participating in a sport this year, please follow the instructions below to complete the Athletics Release Form.

Again this school year the Athletic Release Form will be completed online through our partner company, Arbiter Sports. Arbiter Sports (formally Family ID) is a secure registration site that provides an easy, user-friendly means of registering for athletics. You will need to create a family profile just once during your student’s 4-year high school athletics participation. Once registered, the system will keep track of your information in your family profile. By saving your information future registrations will be simplified.

INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER

It will be helpful to have the following information on hand when completing the online registration form.

• · Health Insurance Information (Carrier and Policy Number)
• · Doctor Information (Name and Phone Number)
• · Emergency contact information

To register, go to: https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/ashland-school-district

Once on the Ashland High School Arbiter Sports Page follow these instructions:

1. Click on Create Account in the upper right hand corner of the screen
2. Enter your family name, email address and create a password. You will receive an email with a link to confirm your new account (if you don’t see the email, check your spam or junk mail).
3. Click on the link in your email confirmation.You will use this account
4. After confirming your account you may now register for athletics.You may need to search Ashland High School in the “Find Programs” tab.
   
5. Once on the Ashland High School landing page on Arbiter Sports select the program (season) for which you would like to register. If your student is going to participate in winter or spring sports, you can sign up for those as well (one sport per season).
   
6. Enter the required information and sign the agreements, click continue.
   You will be prompted to confirm your registration on the next page.
7. Finally, you will be required to submit a Physicians Clearance. (See below)

PHYSICIAN’S CLEARANCE FORM

• 9th and 11th grade student athletes must be cleared by a physician in order to participate in high school sports. This must be on the OSAA form “School Sports Pre-Participation Examination” and is good for two calendar years.
• This form must be turned in to the athletics office before your child will be allowed to participate in any tryouts or practices. This can also be submitted by email Ashley.Caughell@ashland.k12.or.us or fax 541-482-8298, or upload to your Family ID registration.
• A completed physical examination is required dated after June 1, 2023.

SUPPORT

If you need assistance with you registration, you can call Arbiter Sports at 1-800-311-4060 or email: support@arbitersports.com. Support is available 7 days per week and messages will be returned promptly.

FALL (practice starts August 18th)

Cheerleading

Cross Country

Football

Mountain Bike

Soccer

Volleyball

Water Polo

WINTER (practice starts November 17th)

Basketball

Cheerleading

Snowboarding

Alpine Ski (downhill)

Nordic Ski (cross country)

Swimming

Wrestling

SPRING (practice starts March 2nd)

Baseball

Crew

Equestrian

Golf

Softball

Tennis

Track & Field

Volleyball (boys club)

Missing a day of school here and there may not seem like much, but absences add up!

When a student misses 2 days a month: They will miss 20 DAYS a year. They will miss 30 HOURS of math over the school year. They will miss 60 HOURS of reading & writing over the school year. They will miss over 1 YEAR of school by graduation.

When a student misses 4 days a month: They will miss 40 DAYS a year. They will miss 60 HOURS of math over the school year. They will miss 120 HOURS of reading & writing over the school year. They will miss over 2 YEARS of school by graduation.

Attendance matters.

This list is school instructions, not medical advice. Please contact your health care provider with health concerns. Each column depicts the symptoms of an illness and the length of time after which a student can return to school. This time will vary based on type of illness.

Please visit our Athletic Department Store and support our Grizzlies with some customizable gear!

We are excited to announce that all students in our district will receive free breakfast and lunch this school year, regardless of economic status. No applications are necessary - students can simply come to the cafeteria to enjoy fresh, nutritious meals.

Please reach out to Christina.Lehman@ashland.k12.or.us for more information

Ashland School District qualifies as a USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) site; this means all students in the Ashland School District have access to a free breakfast and lunch. AHS still wants to know which of our students would traditionally qualify for free and reduced lunch. We use this information to make sure we can direct resources to the students that need it most. The information is completely confidential and for administrative use only. Students who qualify are eligible for reduced fees for school events like our dances as well as reduced fees for AP Tests. Completed forms should be turned into the Main Office to the attention of the Bookkeeper.

• Oregon Family Income Survey - English.pdf
• Oregon Family Income Survey - Spanish.pdf

Go to the ASD website and select Departments from the top row, then Transportation, and then select the ASD Transportation Request Form.

Please see the letter below for an important notice from the Rogue Valley Transportation District about service reductions.

Medical Appointments will be available June 16th - August 4th!

Phoenix-Talent School District: Phoenix High School, 541-897-5151, Mon-Thurs, 9am-2pm

Medford School District: Jackson Elementary School, 541-842-3771, Tues and Wed, 9am-2pm

Central Point School District: Rogue Primary School, 541-494-6575, Tues and Thurs, 8am-1pm

What we offer:

• Check-ups and general health assessments
• Immunizations
• Preventive Care
• Mental Health Services
• Nutritional Support and Guidance
• Health Education and Outreach Programs
• Referral Services for Specialized Care

All kids age 2+ are welcome!

Ashland School Counselors

541-482-8771 then press 4

Located on the Ashland High School Campus

Hours 8:00am to 4:00pm

Ashland School District uses the Safe Oregon tip line system.

A link to the tip line is located at the bottom of every school web page.

Who receives tips to the School Safety Tip Line? Specially trained technicians field incoming tips 24 hours- a-day, 365 days-a-year for all public schools Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Oregon State Police provides this service through a contracted vendor.

For details on how the tip line works, click here.

For a direct link to the Tip Reporting page, click here or on the image.

Attendance Office:

Deb Falk, Attendance Secretary

541-482-8782

Debra.Falk@ashland.k12.or.us

For information on absences, unexcused absences, and more, please read out Attendance FAQ on our website. Click HERE

Registrar:

Jay Villanueva

Jay.Villanueva@ashland.k12.or.us

Instagram: @ashlandhighschool

Facebook: Ashland High School - Ashland, OR / https://www.facebook.com/AHS.Ashland.OR/

Twitter: @AHS_AshlandHigh

Past Grizz-O-Grams: https://www.smore.com/u/ahs

Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 201 South Mountain Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520, USA
Phone: (541) 482-8771