Mindess School Weekly Update

What a wonderful first week back at Mindess! It has been so great to have our students back in the building. The halls and classrooms are once again filled with energy, excitement, and lots of smiling faces. Thank you to our families for helping us get the school year off to such a positive start!

We held our first fire drill of the school year today, and our students and staff did a fantastic job. Everyone exited the building quickly, safely, and calmly. We were very proud of how well our students followed directions and practiced this important safety procedure.

For the next week, we will continue to begin dismissal at 1:50 p.m., 10 minutes earlier than our normal dismissal time. This extra time allows students to become familiar with their routines and ensures that everyone has plenty of time to find the correct dismissal location. Beginning Monday, September 14, we will return to our regular dismissal time of 2:00 p.m. Thank you for your patience as our students continue to learn and become comfortable with their dismissal routines!

As we begin the new school year, I also want to put out a plea for substitute teachers! We are always looking for substitutes to join us at Mindess. If you have flexibility in your schedule and are interested in spending the day, or even an hour or two, with some pretty amazing students and staff, we would love to have you! Please consider becoming a substitute or spreading the word to friends, family members, neighbors, or other members of our community who might be interested. We need subs! Email me directly if you are interested, kaltman@ashland.k12.ma.us.

We are also looking for parents and caregivers who are interested in joining the Mindess School Site Council. In accordance with DESE guidelines, we will hold elections for parent representatives at our Back to School Nights this year. If you are interested in running for a spot on the Mindess School Site Council, please email me directly. Parent representatives will serve a two-year term, and we typically meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 2:10–3:10 p.m. During our meetings, we discuss our School Improvement Plan, the school budget, upcoming events and initiatives, and other topics that impact the Mindess community. We would love to have parents and caregivers partner with us in this important work.

I also want to share a few reminders about our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures. In the morning, the doors to Mindess open at 7:30 a.m. Please do not have your child exit your vehicle until an adult is present outside at the car drop-off line. When you enter the drop-off line, please pull all the way down to the sign that says “Please Pull Up To Here.” This allows us to unload more cars at one time and helps keep the line moving. Students should also exit their cars independently whenever possible. Parents and caregivers, please remain in your vehicles. This helps us keep the process moving efficiently and safely.

The same reminder applies during afternoon pick-up. Please pull all the way down to the “Pull Up To Here” sign, even if you see your child before you reach it. Please do not stop as soon as you see your child, as this prevents us from loading as many cars at one time. Students have been instructed to watch for their vehicle and follow it down the sidewalk once they see it. Your child will make their way to your car as you move forward in the line. Thank you for your patience and for helping us make arrival and dismissal as safe and efficient as possible.

We had a great first week, and we are so excited for the year ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping make Mindess such a special place!

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Warmly,
Kate Altman
Principal

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.

September

Monday, September 21 - NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur

Tuesday, September 22

• Grades 3 and 4 Open House - 6pm

Wednesday, September 23

• Grade 5 Open House - 6pm

Thursday, September 24

• Grade 5 iReady ELA

Friday, September 25

• Grade 4 iReady ELA

Monday, September 28

• Grade 5 iReady Math

Tuesday, September 29

• Grade 3 iReady ELA

Wednesday, September 30

• iReady Make-Ups

October

Thursday, October 1

• Grade 4 iReady Math

Friday, October 2

• Grade 3 iReady Math

• Grade 4 and 5 iReady Make-Ups

Monday, October 5

• Grade 3 iReady Make-Ups

Wednesday, October 7

• Walk to School

Thursday, October 9 - Early Release - 10:40am Dismissal

Monday, October 12 - NO SCHOOL - Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Wednesday, October 21

• Unity Day - Wear Orange (everyone, staff and students)

Tuesday, October 27 - Conferences - Early Release - 10:40 Dismissal

Wednesday, October 28 - Conferences - Early Release - 10:40 Dismissal

Thursday, October 29 - Conferences - Early Release - 10:40 Dismissal

Friday, October 30

• Spooky Run

• KNO - 6pm

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November

• November 4: Picture Day
• November 10: Early Release/ Dismissal at 10:40
• November 11: No School
• November 25: Early Release/ Dismissal at 10:40
• November 26 and 27: No School

BOY=Beginning of the Year

We couldn’t have asked for better weather to kick off the school year! Our students have been soaking up the sunshine, reconnecting with friends, and enjoying lots of time on the Mindess playground. What a perfect way to start the year!

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.