First Grade Newsletter

Welcome to First Grade!

I'm excited to work with your first grade students this year. This is my 20th year at Warren School. I have two children, Sophie age 17 and Will age 15. My free time is spent watching field hockey, basketball, softball and baseball games! I love every minute of it, but it goes by super fast. Enjoy your little ones now! I look forward to a fantastic year ahead.

Contact Information:

jbaker@ashland.k12.ma.us

508-881-0188 ext.2

October 2: No School in observance of Yom Kippur
October 7: PTO Room Parent Information Meeting 6 pm
October 10: Early Release at 1:15 dismissal, lunch is served
October 15: Drop Everything and Play
October 22: Unity Day/Wear Orange
October 27: Whole School Assembly: wear BLUE for Ashland Pride
October 28/29/30: Parent Teacher Conferences. 12:00 dismissal, lunch is not served
October 31: Halloween Parade for students and staff only

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025

WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE

Send a visible message of building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.

UNITY DAY VIDEO

Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) Theme of the Month - BELONGING

Books on Friendship and Belonging

A Little SPOT of Belonging is a story about the importance of including others and being kind. It also helps children learn how to make friends!

Showing that we're better together when we play, when we make music and when everyone pitches in, this beautifully illustrated kindness book celebrates people coming together to solve problems, support communities and honor differences. It's perfect for toddlers and young children ages 2-5 who are learning about empathy and cooperation, and for sparking meaningful conversations at home or in the classroom.

Kids learn the ABCs of belonging and expand their view of themselves and their community.

B Is for Belonging uses the ABCs as an accessible framework to explore the importance of belonging. Understanding and learning about belonging helps kids boost their self-confidence, build positive relationships, and foster empathy and inclusion.

Link to Video on How to Make a Friend

https://youtu.be/LvvykdkIeiQ

Students learned and practiced the 6 steps to making a new friend!

Counseling Sessions for Students

In addition to developing academic skills, school is a place where children work on social skills. The Warren School Counseling Department offers the opportunity for students to meet with a school counselor or psychologist to help enhance their overall social and emotional adjustment in school.

Our counselors will meet with students individually or in small groups to help facilitate positive interactions between peers. Sessions will be geared toward encouragement of and practice in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, goal-directed behavior, personal responsibility, decision-making, and optimistic thinking. Meetings may be held weekly or intermittently throughout the school year, depending on the specific needs of the child. Students will be placed in groups with other students working on similar skills. Our goal is to create groups students enjoy and want to attend.

If you have any questions or concerns about our program or would like to opt out of having your child receive any services provided by our school counselors, please contact their counselor below:

Mrs. Julie Baker, School Counselor Grade 1, jbaker@ashland.k12.ma.us or (508)532-8070
Mrs. Ann Myers, School Counselor Grade 2, amyers@ashland.k12.ma.us or (508)532-8071
Ms. Lucie Ftorek, School Counselor Kindergarten, lftorek@ashland.k12.ma.us or (508)532-8074
Mrs. Jess Malone, School Psychologist K-2, jmalone@ashland.k12.ma.us or (508)532- 8552

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.