AMS Weekly Update-August 28, 2024

Good Afternoon AMS Families,

It was wonderful to welcome back our faculty and staff today! We have several new staff members joining the AMS team this year and many veteran educators who are taking on new teaching roles this year!

As we begin this school year, I want to share with you the guiding themes I’ll be carrying with me as principal: positivity, flexibility, and grace.

• Positivity – Middle school years are full of growth and discovery, and I believe it’s important to approach each day with optimism. Even when challenges arise, focusing on what’s going well helps us build momentum and keep moving forward.

• Flexibility – Life in a middle school is fast-paced and ever-changing. Whether it’s adjusting to a new routine, supporting a child through a tough moment, or responding to the unexpected, flexibility allows us to meet students where they are and help them succeed.

• Grace – By extending grace to ourselves and others; being patient, forgiving, and understanding we can create the kind of supportive environment where children thrive. Middle schoolers are still learning how to navigate friendships, responsibilities, and big emotions, and modeling grace helps them do the same.

I’ll be reviewing these themes with students in upcoming class meetings so that, together, we can make them part of our daily school culture. My hope is that by focusing on positivity, flexibility, and grace, we’ll build a community where every student feels supported and ready to grow.

We are excited to welcome students back this Wednesday, August 27th, for the first day of school!

Below are some reminders and important information to help everyone get ready for the year.

Health Office Reminders

If your student has a life-threatening allergy or chronic medical condition, the following items are required before the start of school:

• Medication in original pharmacy packaging
  

• Signed doctor’s order
  

• Signed parental consent form
  
  

Medication drop-off times (Middle School Health Office):

• Please reach out to the nurses directly if you need to drop off medication and you missed one of their drop off times.

• Parental Consent Form attached

Please reach out to our school nurses with any questions. They all respond to the following email ams_nurses@ashland.k12.ma.us

Transportation & Arrival

School Hours: 8:20 AM – 2:45 PM

Buses

• When finalized, bus routes will be posted here and you can also find bus registration on that page as well. Students must be registered if they are planning to ride the bus.
  

• Bus passes will be distributed on the first day of school in homeroom.
  

• Please allow extra time during the first few weeks as routes settle.
  
  

Parent Drop-Off (Morning, 8:00–8:15 AM)

• Enter via James Jackson Way and stay in the left lane. Make a U-turn before the rotary (reserved for buses).
  

• Pull as far forward as possible before stopping—this helps reduce backups.
  

• Students must exit on the passenger side, ready to unload quickly.
  

• If unloading instruments or large items please park in the lot rather than using the drop-off lane.
  

• All cars must yield to buses.
  
  

Student Arrival

• All students enter through the small gym doors. Students have the opportunity to get breakfast and then students will be separated by grade until they are dismissed to first block.
  

• 6th Grade → Small Gym
  

• 7th Grade → Cafeteria
  

• 8th Grade → Large Gym
  

• Homeroom lists will be posted for the first day of school, and 6th-grade teachers will report to the small gym to bring their students up to homeroom on the first day.
  
  

Parent Pick-Up (2:45 PM)

• Follow the same procedure as morning drop-off.
  

• Reserved pick-up spaces are located along the exit road. Once filled, additional parking is available in marked spaces only.
  
  

Afternoon Buses

• Dismissal runs in two waves.

• First wave departs shortly after dismissal and proceeds to the High School.

• The second wave arrives from the High School between 2:55–3:00 PM.

• Students must go directly to buses after dismissal and wait out front. Students riding a bus are not allowed to go to Mobil for a snack.
  
  

Walkers may leave campus immediately at dismissal.

Homeroom & Schedules

• Homeroom will only be used on the first day of school and a few other times (e.g., for photo distribution).
  

• After Day 1, students will report directly to the first block when the bell rings. Announcements will take place in advisory.
  

• Students riding buses are never penalized if late due to bus delays.
  
  

Schedules & Lockers

• Schedules are available now in iPass.
  

• Hard copies will be distributed during homeroom on the first day.
  

• Students will also have time to find and set up lockers.
  
  

AMS Website

Our website is currently under construction as we move to a new provider. I’m working to keep the AMS Homepage updated with important information, including summer reading and supply lists.

Please see the message below regarding fall athletics from Mr. Anderson.

Following the start of the year I will share club information!

We can’t wait to get the year started and see all of our students back in the building!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

Dear Ashland Middle School Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying the final few days of what seemed like an incredibly short summer vacation.

Below is some important information regarding middle school athletics that you should find helpful.

Start Date:

With the exception of middle school football, all middle school sports will start on Wednesday, September 3. Middle school football starts on Monday, August 25. I’ve added an extra day after we return from the Labor Day break to allow for any last minute clerical issues that often arise fresh off of a long weekend.

Registration:

It is extremely important that you register for sports sooner rather than later. The registration link will be listed below. As a reminder, sixth grade students are only eligible to participate in cross country.

Physicals:

No child will be allowed to participate - regardless of any mitigating circumstance - without being registered through the FamilyID portal and with a current physical (valid for 13 months). The physical must be on file with the athletic department. No exceptions. Registration link

Sports Offered (Grades) Head Coach:

Cross Country (6,7,8) - Sarah Dwyer

Field Hockey (7,8) - Erika Dube

Football (7,8) - Mike Capobianco

Boys Soccer (7,8) - Tim Horton

Girls Soccer (7,8) - Randy Stabile

Volleyball (7,8) - Andrea Plichta

Practice Information:

All coaches will reach out to all registered families before Wednesday, September 2 to let them know of their practice plan. Please be on the lookout for that communication.

Remember This:

Competition is important. But your child being a great teammate and you serving as an encouraging presence for your child are paramount. Please remember that as we navigate a season filled with ups and downs and all the emotions that come with being a teenager in today’s society and the enormous pressure they feel.

Fridays Free - For The Most Part:

As a department, we understand that other sports and family commitments arise. My belief is that middle school sports should be a four-day endeavor. Practice twice, maybe three times and then compete. My goal is that those days are Monday-Thursday. There are select Fridays where there are games, but no practices will take place on Fridays.

Thank you for your attention to these details and for your continued support of Ashland Middle School athletics.

Go Clockers.

Best,

Kevin Anderson

kevinanderson@ashland.k12.ma.us

Reminder: There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, August 29, 2025, or Monday, September 1, 2025, in recognition of Labor Day.

Schedule for Next Week:

• Wednesday, August 27th-A Day
• Thursday, August 28th-B Day

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Tuesday, September 2nd – Fall Sports Begin

• Wednesday, September 17th – 6th Grade Open House

• Thursday, September 18th – 7th & 8th Grade Open House

• Friday, September 19th – School Picture Day

I will provide an opportunity in every weekly update for parents and guardians to recognize the amazing work of our faculty and staff. If your student comes home and shares an incredible learning experience or stories about their teachers, please take a moment to fill out the google form linked here. This will allow me to recognize the faculty and staff members and share the positive experiences that students are having with the community.

Here is a wonderful Shout Out from a parent whose child had Mrs. Sadana last year:
"I am so grateful for Mrs. Sadana’s caring and thoughtful teaching approach. My daughter had lost confidence in herself with math, and Mrs. Sadana built her back up, making it her favorite class. We can’t thank her enough for the impact she had on her."

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.

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

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.