Warren School Weekly Update

We are excited to welcome everyone to school on Monday!

Students in grades 1 and 2 will attend school for the full day. Kindergarten students and their families should come to Warren only for their scheduled orientation time. If you are unsure of your child’s orientation time, please contact the Warren School office, and we will be happy to help.

PowerSchool

All families should access their PowerSchool family account to confirm that we have accurate contact information. Please review Superintendent Adams’s letter about accessing PowerSchool. Once logged in, you can also view your child’s classroom teacher for the 2026–2027 school year.

Dismissal Plans

We ask that all families complete a dismissal plan for their child for the 2026–2027 school year. This information is critical to keeping your child safe. Having it in advance will help us ensure that every child is dismissed safely and to the correct location each day.

Bus Routes

I know many families are eager to review the bus routes. They are available on the Ashland Public Schools Transportation webpage.

Please keep in mind that buses often run late during the first few days of school. In the morning, many families are taking that last special photo of their child getting on the bus. In the afternoon, students are excited to see and talk with friends and may not always remember to get up quickly when they reach their stop. Some routes may also need to be adjusted during the first few weeks if they are determined to be too long. We appreciate your patience as everyone settles into the new routine.

Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Families who plan to drive their children to or from school should review the Warren School drop-off and pick-up procedures. Click on Warren School to view a visual of the traffic pattern.

Cars should enter the rear driveway at the crosswalk on Eliot Street, near 130 Eliot Street. A crossing guard will be stationed there, and Warren staff members will be available along the unloading area to guide you.

Please expect traffic, especially during the first few days, and follow the directions of the crossing guard and school staff. Your patience will help us keep everyone safe and allow the line to move as efficiently as possible.

Teacher Welcome Letters

If you have not yet read the welcome letter from your child’s teacher, you can find it, along with classroom supply information, through our Teacher Welcome Letters and Supply Lists.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Warren and beginning a wonderful school year together!

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

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

We are excited to share our September menu with you, featuring the delicious and nutritious Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Tomatoes! 🍅

Tomatoes are a versatile fruit that will be highlighted throughout our September meals. Grown locally in Massachusetts, tomatoes are at their peak during late summer and early fall. They are a great source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and antioxidants, making them a flavorful and healthy addition to any meal.

For more information about the health benefits of tomatoes, fun facts, and recipe ideas, please visit the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month Tomato. Massachusetts Harvest of the Month - Tomatoes.

Our September menus will showcase the fresh taste of tomatoes in a variety of student favorites, including Tomato, Cucumber & Feta Salad; Tomato, Corn & Black Bean Fiesta Salad; Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Salad; and Pico de Gallo. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy these tomato-inspired dishes while learning about the importance of seasonal, locally grown foods.

At Ashland Nutrition Services, we are committed to providing fresh, nutritious meals while supporting local agriculture whenever possible. Through our Massachusetts Harvest of the Month program, we help students make connections between the foods they eat, local farms, and healthy choices.

We encourage you to enjoy tomatoes at home by adding them to salads, sandwiches, sauces, or your favorite family recipes.

Thank you for your continued support and for trusting us with your children’s nutrition and well-being. We look forward to a flavorful and healthy month!

Warm regards,

Regina Wilkinson
Director of Nutrition Services
Ashland Public Schools
Email: rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us
Phone: 508-881-0165

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back, Ashland families! We hope you had a summer filled with sunshine, fun adventures, and plenty of time to relax and recharge. The Nutrition Services team is excited to welcome your children back to our cafeterias and can’t wait to see all the familiar faces (and meet some new ones!) as we start another amazing school year.

We are looking forward to serving up delicious, nutritious meals and creating a fun, welcoming cafeteria experience where students can enjoy great food, connect with friends, and start their day ready to learn.

Our goal is simple: to serve healthy, tasty meals that help every student feel their best and do their best in the classroom. We know that when kids are well-fed, they’re ready to focus, learn, and grow and we’re proud to be a part of that support system.

This year, we’re rolling out some new menu items we think your kids will love made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We’re always working to make our meals more appealing and inclusive, with options that reflect different tastes and dietary needs. We hope your student finds a new favorite this year!

Thanks to continued support from Governor Healey and state legislators, Universal Free Meals are still available for every student. That means each child can enjoy one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day, no application required. We’re so grateful for this program it ensures all students have access to nourishing meals at no cost.

To help keep the lunch lines moving quickly, we will not be accepting cash at the register. If your student would like to purchase à la carte items, like snacks or second meals they will need to have funds in their account. You can prepay online at www.myschoolbucks.com, or send cash or a check in a sealed envelope (with your child’s name clearly written on it) to the cafeteria manager at the start of the school day. Since breakfast is free, this is the perfect time to drop off the envelope and enjoy a free meal!

If a student would like a second meal, they’ll first need to stop by the cashier to confirm there are funds in their account. Once the sale is processed, the cashier will give them a ticket to bring to the serving line to receive their second meal. Just a reminder the USDA does not cover second meals or snacks, so these are considered à la carte.

Please note:

· Second servings are not available at the Warren and Pittaway schools.

· At Warren, bottled water is the only à la carte item available.

· Pittaway students will not have à la carte options available.

If your child brings lunch from home, please be sure to pack any needed utensils, napkins, and condiments like ketchup or salad dressing. Students are welcome to purchase a carton of milk for $0.50, as long as they have funds on their account.

If your child has a life-threatening food allergy, please contact both the school nurse and our Nutrition Services department before they begin receiving meals. This helps us take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. More information about our allergy policies is available at ashland.k12.ma.us/nutrition.

We’re also bringing back our Harvest of the Month program! Each month, we’ll feature a local fruit or vegetable in our meals to help students explore new flavors while supporting Massachusetts farms. It’s a fun and healthy way to connect kids to their food.

As always, we’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support your child’s health and success, one meal at a time.

Wishing you a wonderful, healthy school year ahead!

Warmly,
Regina Wilkinson
Director of Nutrition Services
Ashland Public Schools
rwilkinson@ashland.k12.ma.us
508-881-0165

Looking for a fun way to kick off the school year with the whole family? Join us for More Pig, Less Cancer on Saturday, September 12 at Pilgrim Day Camp! This community event brings together live music, BBQ, a pool, bounce houses, high ropes, kids’ activities, a beer garden and more — all while raising money to help fight pediatric cancer. Bring the kids, bring your friends and enjoy the food and music are always free!

Learn more and RSVP at morepiglesscancer.org⁠

• Monday, August 31: First Day of School grades 1-12
• Monday, August 31: Kindergarten Orientation
• Tuesday, September 1: First Day of School for Kindergarten
• Friday, September 4: No School Labor Day weekend
• Monday, September 7: No School in observance of Labor Day
• Monday, September 21: No School in observance of Yom Kippur
• Monday, September 28: Grade 2 Curriculum Night 6pm
• Tuesday, September 29: Grade 1 Curriculum Night 6pm
• Wednesday, September 30: Kindergarten Curriculum Night 6pm

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.