Warren School Weekly Update

Happy New Year to all.

We began the week with Comfy Clothes Day, and our students did a wonderful job returning to school and quickly settling back into classroom and school routines. This is quite remarkable given that our students range in age from five to eight and had been away from school for nearly two weeks. Thank you to our families for preparing your children to return to the important work of being students.

I would also like to take a moment to recognize Mrs. VanKleef. While we are excited for her as she begins her retirement, she will be greatly missed at Warren School. Mrs. VanKleef has shared that she plans to substitute for us when she is not traveling, which we truly appreciate. As she transitions into retirement, Mrs. Bhandari will welcome a new teammate in the Health Office, Mrs. Tracy. Many of our students may already recognize Mrs. Tracy, as she has served as a substitute nurse in our school both this year and last.

Please remember that there is no school next Friday, as all staff in the Ashland Public Schools will be participating in professional development. This will result in a four-day weekend for our students. Additionally, there is no school on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Have a great weekend,

Pete

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

Greetings,

Our goal as school nurses is to help keep students healthy so that they can be at school ready to participate and learn. We reinforce hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, and spend time with students talking about ways to keep themselves healthy. There are also ways you can help keep your child as healthy as possible.

Please have your child dress appropriately for the weather. Even during the winter and cold months all students go outside for recess for fresh air and exercise. The exception is extreme cold. When it is 20 degrees or less, with or without wind chill, the children will have indoor recess. For outdoor recess, your child will need a coat, hat, and gloves or mittens. Snow pants and boots are needed when snow is on the ground.

Nutrition is very important in keeping healthy. Have your child start the day with a nutritious breakfast and bring a healthy snack to school. Drinking lots of water during the day keeps their bodies hydrated and cuts down on headaches and stuffy noses.

Getting adequate rest is important. When one is tired and not well rested, it is much harder to learn and participate in school.

Colds are a nuisance. Runny noses, coughs, and generally feeling lousy makes all of us uncomfortable. Having a cold, though, does not necessarily mean your child must stay home. But if your child has a low grade fever, or a productive, frequent cough, and is easily fatigued, it is suggested he or she stays home and get the rest needed.

Children should remain home if they have a temperature above 100 degrees. If your child has a temperature of 100.0 or higher at school, he/she will be sent home. They can return to school once they are fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of tylenol or ibuprofen.

The same goes for vomiting and diarrhea. Your child should be without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, he/she must be on medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Please inform the school nurse of strep or any other contagious condition.

The above guidelines protect other children from coming in contact with germs and also prevents your child from returning to school too soon after recovering from an illness.

You know your child best, but please never hesitate to call the school nurse with any questions or concerns. (508) 532-8065 or (508) 532-8091

Thank you,

Phylis Bhandari RN

Michelle Van Kleeff RN

Jennifer Tracy RN

Hello Families,

This month we are learning about PERSEVERANCE.

We have defined perseverance as: not giving up on something, even if it gets hard.

Here are some things you can do to help your child build perseverance:

• Share real life stories about how your child has shown perseverance, learning to walk, ride a bike, play a sport…
• Talk about it with them. Brainstorm strategies they can use when they get stuck.
• Help your child set goals they would like to achieve. Talk about the steps they could take to help them meet that goal.
• When reading or watching a movie point out times characters show perseverance.
• Praise them when you see them working hard and being persistent.

Books about perseverance:

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
• Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story by Laurie Ann Thompson
• Amazing Grace by Caroline Binch & Mary Hoffman
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
• Brave Irene by William Steig

Warren School’s SEL Team

Our AMS actors are working hard under the direction of Mr. Langmeyer to bring this powerful historical production to the Little Theater. Performances will be held:

• January 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

• January 24th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
  
  

The show explores the true stories of more than 250,000 children who were relocated from Eastern cities to the Midwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With themes of resilience, social responsibility, and belonging, the production reflects on the courage of young people and the impact one person can have on others. The show is rated G, appropriate for all ages, runs 1 hour and 15 minutes, and tickets are $10 cash.

Check out what our Nutrition Services department is serving up for Warren students in January! 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,

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2026, we are thrilled to share our January menu, featuring this

month’s Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Apples!

Apples are a versatile and delicious fruit that will shine in our meals throughout January. Grown

right here in Massachusetts, these apples are packed with dietary fiber, vitamin C, and powerful

antioxidants. This month, we’re excited to offer dishes that showcase their wonderful flavor,

including Apple Cinnamon Compote, Barley & Apple Salad, Apple Cinnamon Cornbread and

Roasted Sweet Potatoes; Apples. For more information on the health benefits of apples and fun

recipe ideas, we encourage you to visit Massachusetts Harvest of the Month

At Ashland Public Schools, we’re committed to providing fresh, locally sourced produce,

supporting our local farmers, and ensuring that every meal we serve offers the highest nutritional

quality. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating apples by incorporating them into your meals at

home!

Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your children’s nutrition and

well-being. Here’s to a healthy and delicious start to the new year!

Warm regards,

Regina Wilkinson

Director of Nutrition Services

Ashland Public Schools

Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508-881-0165

• January 16: No School, staff Professional Development
• January 19: No School in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 23: Drop Everything and Create
• January 27: Whole School Assembly, wear BLUE for Ashland pride
• January 29: Incoming Kindergarten Information Night for parents 6:30 in the Dining Room
• January 31: Incoming Kindergarten Registration 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Warren School library
• February 4: Drop Everything and Play
• February 16-20: No School, February Vacation

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.