Warren School Weekly Update

As we head into the final days of the school year, there has been no shortage of excitement and learning at Warren!

This week, our kindergarten students participated in Fire Safety Day with Deputy Chief Moragan from the Ashland Fire Department. Students learned important lessons about fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and how firefighters help keep our community safe. We are grateful to Deputy Chief Moragan who took the time to make this experience both educational and memorable.

Our first graders enjoyed a wonderful Field Day filled with teamwork, sportsmanship, and plenty of smiles. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and PTO for helping make the day such a success.

Kindergarten students also had an exciting adventure at Southwick's Zoo. Field trips provide meaningful opportunities for children to learn beyond the classroom, and our students had a fantastic day exploring animals and habitats while creating lasting memories with their classmates. Some of our students had never been to a zoo and were very excited to see and learn about animals in real life!

Our second graders celebrated together at the Grade 2 Farewell BBQ last night. As we prepare to send our students off to Mindess School, it was wonderful to gather as a community and recognize all they have accomplished during their time at Warren. Thank you to everyone who donated to this special event.

All students also enjoyed visits from the Ashland Public Library. We are fortunate to have such a valuable community resource, and we appreciate the librarians for sharing information about summer reading opportunities and helping our students stay excited about books and learning throughout the summer months.

Today, our first graders traveled to the Ecotarium, where they explored science, nature, and hands-on exhibits that support their classroom learning. At the same time, our second graders enjoyed their Field Day activities, making the most of another beautiful but warm day together.

A reminder that there will be no school on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. It is a day to recognize the end of slavery in the United States and to reflect on the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice for all.

Have a great weekend,

Pete

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.

Dear Families,

I want to share a helpful resource: our local partners at the MetroWest Food Collaborative have created an easy-to-use website where food pantries, community meal sites, farmers markets and more are listed for our region. You’ll find flyers and calendars in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and you can search by town to see what’s available. MWFC

Please check it out if you or your family ever need additional support: metrowestfoodcollaborative.org/find-food

Hello Families,

This month we are learning about OPTIMISM.

We have defined optimism as: believing that good things will happen and having hope for the future.

Here are some things you can do to help your child be optimistic:

• Model it; instead of focusing on the negative when challenges arise, express your belief that things will get better.
• Practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude helps train your brain to look for and notice the positive things.
• Help your child manage their expectations. Young children can have a hard time navigating disappointment and frustration. Helping them know what to expect will help them react more optimistically when things don’t go their way.
• Remind them that we all should expect and accept mistakes.
• When talking about their day frame questions to focus on the positive:
• What was something you did well at school/in the game today?
• Tell me about something that made you smile.
• What did you do today that you are most proud of?
• What was the most fun part of your day?
• How did you help someone today?

Books about optimism:

• Preston’s Positive Thoughts by Jenelle French
• The Awfulizer by Kristin Maher
• Postitive Ninja by Mary Nhin
• The Magic Inside You by Cathy Domoney
• Catching Thoughts by Bonnie Clark
• The Whatifs by Zoe Persico

Warren School’s SEL Team

Check out what our Nutrition Services department is serving up for Warren students in April and May! Menu items are subject to change without notice, based on current supply chain issues or other factors. If dietary concerns are an issue, please contact us.

To view a translated version of the menu, please visit ashland.k12.ma.us/Nutrition.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we wrap up the school year, we’re excited to share our June menu featuring the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Strawberries!

Strawberries are a beloved fruit, known not only for their sweet, delicious flavor but also for their impressive health benefits. Grown locally here in Massachusetts, they’re packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, making them a great choice for a nutritious diet.

For more information on the benefits of strawberries and some fun recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month page: Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Strawberries.

Our June menu features a variety of delicious dishes highlighting this seasonal fruit, including Fresh Strawberry Romaine & Spinach Salad and Waffles with Strawberries.

We’re proud to provide fresh, locally sourced strawberries to our students, supporting local farmers and ensuring the highest nutritional quality in our meals. We encourage you to enjoy strawberries at home too, to share in their many health benefits.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for trusting us with your children’s nutrition and well-being throughout the school year. Wishing you and your family a wonderful summer filled with delicious and nutritious foods!

Warm regards,

Regina Wilkinson
Director of Nutrition Services
Ashland Public Schools
Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us
Phone: 508-881-0165

Hello,

For families with students who will not be returning to Ashland Public Schools in the fall, please remember to go to www.myschoolbucks.com and disable auto-pay if you have been automatically adding funds to your child’s meal account. Otherwise, even after we issue a refund, the account may be reloaded again.

Please also note that we can only process refunds for balances of $10.00 or more. If your student’s remaining balance is under $10.00, you have the following options:

1. Transfer the funds to a sibling or another student who will be returning next year
2. Donate the balance to a student in need (transfers are done anonymously)

Seniors may pick up a form from the High School cashier to indicate how they would like any remaining funds handled.

If your student is not returning, please be sure to turn off auto-pay as soon as possible so we can avoid any unnecessary reprocessing of refunds.

Thank you!
Regina

• June 16: Kindergarten Field Day (rain date 6/18)
• June 19: No school in observance of Juneteenth
• June 24: Last Day of School, Early Release at 12:00. Lunch will not be served.

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.