AMS Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

I hope your family has a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with quality time together. I also hope our students enjoy the extra days of rest and relaxation, returning refreshed and ready for the three weeks leading up to winter break.

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

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.

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, December 2nd-F Day

Tuesday, December 3rd-A Day

Wednesday, December 4th-B Day

Thursday, December 5th-C Day

Friday, December 6th-D 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.

"My daughter came home yesterday so excited about a science lab that she is doing with Ms. Scully. It is so wonderful to see her so enthusiastic about science, and we deeply appreciate Ms. Scully's dedication and creativity."

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 holiday season approaches, we are excited to share our December menu with you, featuring the vibrant and nutritious Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Carrots!

This month, our menu includes delicious side dishes that highlight the wonderful flavor of carrots such as Honey Carrot Coins and Zesty Carrot Fries.

Carrots are a versatile and nutrient-rich vegetable that will be prominently featured in our meals throughout December. Locally grown in Massachusetts, these carrots are an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and B6, as well as fiber and antioxidants.

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

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 carrots into your meals at home to enjoy their 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.