AMS Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

I hope everyone had a great week! The cool weather has certainly settled in. Term 1 report cards are now posted in iParent and iStudent. To access your student's report card, click on the “Grades” tab after entering iPass. Be sure to select Term 1 at the top of the page to view the correct term. The "Progress Report" tab is also now open, allowing you to view Term 2 assignments and grades as they’re entered.

The 7th grade enjoyed a spirited week with a high level of participation, and many students came dressed in flannel today for Spirit Friday!

A big thank you to our band director, Brian Koning, and the following students—Luke Caparole, Margaret Musoke, Ben Deibler, Sam Apostola, and Jonah Bloom—who performed at the school committee meeting on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, our 7th and 8th grade bands gave a wonderful concert. The 8th grade band also had the chance to perform with the AHS band, which was exciting for all involved.

Looking ahead, next week is a full five-day week, the only complete school week in November. As a reminder, we have an early release at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27th, with no school on Thursday, November 28th, or Friday, November 29th, for Thanksgiving break. As we enter a season focused on giving back, please consider having your student bring a donation for the food drive organized by our LAUNCH program. Additionally, please see the message below regarding the Ashland Helping Our Own fund.

8th Grade Parents:

Our 8th-grade students visited Keefe Tech today, where each explored three technical programs and learned more about Keefe as a potential high school option. If your student is interested in applying to Keefe Tech, please have them email Traci Bartlett at tbartlett@ashland.k12.ma.us. Ms. Bartlett will meet with all students interested in applying to review the application process. Attached below is a flyer for their career night, which is next Thursday, November 21st. If you are interested in attending with your student you can pre-register for the event here.

Private School Applications:

If your student is interested in applying to a private school, please follow these steps, and reach out to Ms. Bartlett with any questions:

1. Students can find the "Request for Recommendation" on the Ashland Middle School website. Go to the “Students” tab, then click on "Recommendation Request Form."

2. Print and complete the form, then submit it to the Middle School Main Office along with the requesting school's Transcript Release(s). Please be mindful of application deadlines and allow two weeks for processing.

3. The completed Recommendation Request Form will be sent to your student's school counselor and any teacher(s) from whom a recommendation letter is needed. Be sure to enter the counselor and teacher names and email addresses in the application portal.

4. The school counselor’s administrative assistant will upload or mail the requested transcripts, report cards, standardized test results, and attendance records.

5. The school counselor will upload or mail the recommendation letter as requested.

Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

Parents, bring your kids and join us in the Ashland High School Gymnasium for the Harlem Wizards game on Friday, November 22nd at 7:00pm, doors will open for early entry at 6:00pm! This event is hosted by the Ashland High School Make-A-Wish Club with all proceeds going towards their goal of granting wishes to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Hope to see you there!

Get tickets now at: https://harlemwizards.com/schedule-tickets/ (look for Ashland MA on November 22)

7th & 8th Grade Social sponsored by the PTO will be on December 6th from 6:30-8:30.

Link to registration and payment information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6d_egkyt9KdAbUPSgt9Akmh-D88CAvCC2RhSLC0MVx1y67w/viewform

We need chaperones to volunteer! Please use the link below to volunteer to help out.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/508084AA8AF2EAAFC1-53018478-glow

If you are a parent concerned about how your financial situation may impact your children at the holidays, please reach out to Jennifer Pavia-Shiels, AHS school adjustment counselor at jpaviashiels@ashland.k12.ma.us or through her direct line 508.532.8018 to have a confidential conversation regarding holiday assistance by December 6, 2024. We will be utilizing the Helping Our Own fund in conjunction with community partners (Holiday Dreams Foundation and Ashland Human Services) to make a difference. We will do our best to offset the challenges the holidays may bring.

If you are in the position to assist with financial donations and would like to help with holiday generosity, we ask that you send a check written out to: Ashland Public Schools Helping Our Own fund to Ashland High School 65 East Union Street, Ashland, MA 01721 Attention: Jennifer Pavia-Shiels. You can also make an online donation by clicking on the following link: https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/selection. From there, all you will need to do is click on the Helping Our Own link in the drop down menu. The Helping Our Own fund is a fund that is utilized all year long to provide extras for students in our district whose families are facing financial challenges. Examples of how the fund has been utilized to date are holiday gifts, calculators, senior week tickets and prom dresses to name a few.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We want to let you know about the upcoming health screenings at the middle school and give you the opportunity to opt your child out. In November, we will begin to screen students for scoliosis. Screening will take place for all grades between November 15th and November 21st.

Postural screening is done by examining a student's spine. Students will be asked to remove upper body garments. Female students will remain in undergarments, bras, or camisoles. If at any time during the screening, your child is uncomfortable with the process, he or she should let the screener know so adjustments can be made for modesty's sake. This screening will be done by the school nurses in a private setting.

The postural screening is part of routine physical exams, so if you (or your child) are not comfortable or this is already being done by their primary care provider, please feel free to opt them out by clicking on the link below and filling out the Google opt-out form.

https://forms.gle/s5XKT7gfJbHYpe537

Thank you. Please email ams_nurses@ashland.k12.ma.us with any questions!

Best,

Cori Jones, RN, Lisa DeRubeis, RN and Anne Gately, RN

Winter sports registration is now open! Use this link to register for AMS basketball, available for boys and girls in grades 7-8. If you have any questions, please contact Athletic Director Kevin Anderson at kevinanderson@ashland.k12.ma.us

Monday, November 18th-D Day

Tuesday, November 19th-E Day

Wednesday, November 20th-F Day

Thursday, November 21st-A Day

Friday, November 22nd-B Day

Wednesday, November 27th-Early Release

Thursday, November 28th & Friday, November 29th-NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

**There has been a decrease in faculty/staff shout outs from the beginning of the year. I still have some saved up, but please consider submitting one. Highlighting the positive work our staff is doing is very important to me.

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.

"Mrs. Mullin has made a big impact on my student’s life and has improved her overall middle school experience. In addition to being kind, Mrs. Mullin is a very effective teacher and an exceptional role model. We feel extremely lucky to have her in our community."

GIRL POWERED

Girl Powered is a program designed specifically towards females in Ashland Middle School. The focus within this program is to create positive mental awareness utilizing fitness techniques. During this 8 week program, females will be educated, trained, and assisted on basic strength training using free weights, plate weights with bars, body weight activities, cardiovascular activities, along with injury prevention and safety awareness within a fitness facility. They will associate mood and mental health awareness within fitness activities and develop self assessments to regulate mood management. A pre and post assessment will be utilized to determine students mental and physical health during this program. Assessments will be utilized to provide students with individually designed goals related to their mental and physical needs.

Keep a lookout for sign ups!

Please reach out to Dee Mastromatteo, AMS Wellness Teacher or Kelly Roy, AMS Adjustment Counselor with any questions.

Dmastromatteo@ashland.k12.ma.us

Kroy@ashland.k12.ma.us

Unified Sports

AMS is proud to be recognized by Special Olympics Massachusetts as a Unified Champion School. If your child is interested in participating in unified sports please reach out to Kelly Romano at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us

Best Buddies

Best Buddies is a social club created to foster one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through their participation, students with and without IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, share interests, experiences and activities. Best Buddies helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development. We meet the first Wednesday of every month from 2:45-3:45 in room 119. Please join by filling out this online form: www.bestbuddies.org/join and contact KellyAnn Romano with any questions at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us.

AMS Student Council

Student Leaders is now officially AMS Student Council! Meetings will be held Wednesday mornings, at 7:15am in Mrs. Steinbrick’s room. If students are unable to make it, please let Mrs.Steinbrick know. This meeting is for current student leaders. Interested in joining but not a student leader? Stay tuned for more details! "

Math Counts

Club meets on Monday afternoons in Room 222. Please reach out to Karen Bernier with any questions kbernier@ashland.k12.ma.us

Chess Club

The AMS Chess Club meets every Monday after school from 2:45 pm- 3:45 pm in rooms 208, 210, & 211. Please email Mrs. Sadana gsadana@ashland.k12.ma.us or Mr. Van Wyhe rvanwyhe@ashland.k12.ma.us with any questions.

Art Club

Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions. rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Diversity Club:

Diversity Club will have its first meeting on October 17th in the Art room. All are welcome! Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Drama Club

Drama Club has started !!! AMS Theater Company will be producing

The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet ! It is a comedy.

Email any questions to : elangmeyer@ashland.k12.ma.us

Yearbook:

Open to all grades. Yearbook will meet on Wednesdays after school in room 142. If you have questions please reach out to Ms. Collins mcollins@ashland.k12.ma.us

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the fall season progresses, we are excited to share our November menu with you, featuring

the nutrient-packed Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Kale!

This month, our menu includes delicious side dishes that highlight the wonderful flavor of kale,

such as Kale Caesar and a Kale and Cabbage Slaw.

Kale is a versatile and highly nutritious leafy green that will be prominently featured in our

meals throughout November. Locally grown in Massachusetts, kale is an excellent source of

vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber and antioxidants.

For more information on the benefits of kale and fun recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts

Harvest of the Month page: Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Kale.

We are committed to providing fresh, locally sourced produce to our students, supporting local

farmers, and ensuring the best nutritional quality in our meals. We encourage you to incorporate

kale into your meals at home to enjoy its many health benefits.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for trusting us with your children's nutrition and well-

being. We look forward to a healthy and delicious month!

Warm regards

Regina Wilkinson

Director of Nutrition Services

Ashland Public Schools

Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us Phone: 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.