Update from the Middle

January 19th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL)

January 23rd: Teacher In-Service Day (NO SCHOOL)

The Junior Thespian Society is kicking off the season with exciting news and big plans for winter.

Launch Meeting:

Friday, January 9th

Room 208

3:15–4:00 PM

This year’s winter production is Young Sherlock — a fast-paced mystery set in an elite boarding school in London during Sherlock Holmes’ teenage years. Expect intrigue, danger, clever twists, and plenty of fun along the way. The script is written by Craig Sedaro and presented with permission from Pioneer Drama.

Audition Schedule

• Auditions: Tuesday 1/20 & Wednesday 1/21

• Callbacks: Thursday 1/22

• Interested in backstage or tech? Please contact Meg Fischer to arrange audition times or learn how to help.

Performance Dates

• March 12–14

If you’re curious, creative, or just ready to try something new, we’d love to see you there. Let’s make this a great season!

Ashland Middle School will be hosting free dental screenings and sealants for students from February 2–6, 2026, as part of the Ashland School District’s ongoing commitment to student health and wellness. Permission forms will be sent home on Wednesday, January 7, and must be returned to school by January 19.

Participation is optional, and families may choose which services, if any, they would like their child to receive. Students who already see a dentist regularly are still encouraged to participate as additional screenings are always beneficial. Please be sure to return the form even if you choose to decline services, so we can confirm it was received.

Thank you for partnering with us to support healthy smiles!

We are grateful for the many parents and community members who support Ashland Middle School. If you are interested in volunteering on campus, chaperoning field trips, or helping with school activities, please be sure your volunteer application is complete.

All volunteers must complete the district volunteer process before participating. Directions and requirements can be found here:
👉 https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/volunteer-in-the-schools

Thank you for partnering with us to support our students and school community.

Survey Window: February 2nd - 27th

Ashland Middle School wants to hear from our students! We’re partnering with YouthTruth to hear what students have to say about their school experience. AMS students can help us understand how to improve our school climate!

Although we want to hear from all students, participation in this survey is voluntary.

Survey questions are available for review upon request, and opt-out forms are linked below. Please return opt-out forms to the AMS office before February.

English Opt-Out

Spanish Opt-Out

Ashland Middle School will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Thursday, March 12, 2026. NAEP is the largest nationally representative assessment and provides a snapshot of what students across the country know and can do in various subject areas. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education.

Unlike state assessments, NAEP is not used for individual student or school accountability. Instead, it serves as a common measure of achievement nationwide.

A random sample of 50 eighth-grade students has been selected to participate. Families of selected students have already received a separate email with additional details.

We’re excited to share a new tool that will make transportation easier and more transparent for our families. My Ride K-12, the district’s new bus tracking app, works directly with our routing system and lets parents and guardians see their student’s bus location in real time. You can also view when your student loads and unloads from the bus.

The app is secure, easy to use, and only accessible to parents/guardians who have their student’s ID number.

Getting Started:

1. Download My Ride K-12 from the app store.

2. Create an account using your email and password.

3. Check your email and confirm your account.

4. Sign in and select Ashland School District 5.

5. Add your student by entering their student ID number, then tap “Add Student.”

6. In the app’s Settings, you can adjust language and font size, and turn on features like Notifications, ETA Early/Late Alerts, and ETA Reminders.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out. We’re excited to offer families this real-time transportation support!

FACTS

• Regular attendance is correlated with higher achievement rates.
• Regular attendance allows students to stay on grade level, keep up with work, and understand assignments.
• Being at school opens up students to new opportunities to learn academic as well as social skills.
• Attendance helps kids feel connected to their school community.
• Regular attendance sends a message that education is important.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

It is important to take an active role in your kid’s lives. Checking homework, talking about school and making education seem important all lead to good attendance and school success.

Help your student get to school on time every single day by creating a morning routine.

ROUTINES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

WHAT YOU CAN DO - Set a regular bed time • Create a solid morning routine • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before • Get an alarm clock for yourself and your child • Wake up with plenty of time to have a stress free morning • Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick • Complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him feel comfortable and excited about learning • Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent • Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session • Make school and education seem of utmost importance to your child

Ashland Scout Troop 112’s 40th Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Day is Saturday, January 10th, 2026.

Please have your trees at the curb in front of your house for pick up by Friday evening, January 9th.

Troop 112 and its charter organization, the Ashland Lions Club, as well as the Ashland Kiwanis Club, will collect trees to be chipped by the Ashland Parks Department crew and used as mulch in Ashland city parks.

Donations for this service will be accepted, however please do not attach donations to your tree. We accept donations via PayPal, or you can mail in a donation - see the Troop's website (troop112.com) for more information.

This project benefits the citizens of Ashland, the Scouts of Troop 112 and the environment. The scouts are able to perform a service and the community is invited to support the scouts. Additionally, turning thousands of trees into mulch enhances our parks while sparing our landfills.

This service is only provided within Ashland’s city limits.

For updates in case of inclement weather please check the Troop's website: troop112.com

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Register

An educational conference designed for Latino/a/x families where participants learn about resources available surrounding familial success. Families, including students in grades 8 through 11, will participate in various topics including tools for academic success, building healthy social and life skills, growing leadership skills, and a ton more! Sessions will be offered in Spanish for parents and bilingually or in English for students.

1/14: Video Game Hangout, 2:30 - 4:30

1/18: Tween D&D, 1:00-3:00

1/20: Winter Wonderlandscapes, 4:00 - 5:30

1/28: Teen Trivia, 2:30 - 4:30

Baseball and Softball Registration

January 1st - January 15th

Ashland Little League is open to everyone ages 4–13 that live in Ashland, OR or go to school in the Ashland School District. No prior experience or equipment needed. Opens January 1st and closes February 15th.

• Tee Ball 4-6 years
• Rookies 6-8 years
• Minors 8-10 years
• Majors 10-12 years
• 50/70 Intermediate 11-13 years

Skills Assessment Day is February 22, 2026.

Practices can begin March 2nd and the season ends May 30th.

Everyone makes a team.

The various programs offered in this email newsletter are distributed to Ashland School District students as a courtesy to parents per board policy. Ashland School District does not endorse or sponsor community activities including any described in this newsletter. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact your student’s principal.

Email: kerri.mallory@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us/ams/
Location: 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-1611
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashland-Middle-School-143374639027500/

The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and services and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated at our school to handle inquiries and complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies and to coordinate compliance efforts:

Name: Steve Retzlaff Title: Principal
Address: 100 Walker Ave
Telephone: 541-482-1611 ext. 3109
Email: steve.retzlaff@ashland.k12.or.us

Inquiries or complaints may also be directed to the Student Services Office at 885 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland Oregon (phone: 541-482-2811)

Complaints may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172 (TTY).