AMS Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

This week, we held our first “Clocker Cash” store on Thursday, sponsored by the PTO. Students had the opportunity to spend the money they’ve earned through our PBIS program. This was my first time experiencing this event, and while it was a great success, we recognized the need for some logistical adjustments for the future. I’m deeply grateful for the efforts of the PTO, Josh Sweeney, and the AMS PBIS team for supporting these events. The students were thrilled, and some of them had impressive stacks of cash!

All 8th-grade students who wanted to shop were able to do so during their lunch period. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get through all the 6th and 7th-grade students during their lunch periods, which understandably caused some frustration. We addressed this by calling down all 6th graders who hadn’t had a chance to shop during the next block, and they enthusiastically cleaned out the PTO inventory. This morning, the remaining 7th graders had their opportunity to shop.

Upcoming Safety Drill
On Wednesday, Superintendent Adams sent out communication regarding our upcoming safety drill. AMS will conduct an ALICE barricade drill on Monday at 10:15 AM. Students have been informed about the drill, and the announcement will make it clear that this is only a practice. District administration, as well as the Ashland Police and Fire Departments, will be on-site to assist.

While we understand that drills can cause some anxiety, it is crucial that we discuss and practice school safety protocols. Please talk with your student about the importance of taking these drills seriously and following the directions of the adults they are with. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me or Dr. Caira, who chairs the safety committee.

Yearbook Photos

Work on this year’s yearbook is underway! If you do not want your student’s photograph to appear in the yearbook or on any social media pages, please complete the photo opt-out form attached here.

Lost and Found
Please remind your student to check the Lost and Found before Thanksgiving break. A table outside the cafeteria and small gym contains sweatshirts, jackets, and other clothing. Shelves in the cafeteria hold water bottles, lunch boxes, and other items. Unclaimed items will be donated after the break.

Food Drive
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the food drive sponsored by our LAUNCH program. The generous donations have been delivered to the food pantry in waves, and the staff there has expressed immense gratitude. Your contributions will help make the holidays special for families in need.

7th & 8th Grade Glow Social
The Glow Social for 7th and 8th graders is on December 6th. If your student would like to attend, please register them as soon as possible. Spots are limited, and registration will close on December 2nd to allow us time to finalize the attendance list. Students who are not pre-registered and paid will not be able to attend. This social is a fundraiser for the PTO, and money will go towards supporting a variety of Middle School events.

• Registration & Payment Information: Click here to register.

• Chaperones Needed: Sign up to volunteer here.

Thanksgiving Week Schedule
Next week is a short week leading up to Thanksgiving Break. Wednesday is an early release day, with dismissal at 11:20 AM. If your family will be traveling and your child will miss school, please notify the office to report their absence.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for our incredible middle school community. It’s truly a privilege to work with your students and the dedicated AMS faculty and staff every day.

Over the break, I encourage everyone to reflect on the small moments that bring us joy and connection—whether it’s a meaningful conversation at the dinner table, cheering on a favorite team, or simply spending quality time with loved ones. These moments matter and remind us of the things we hold most dear.

Wishing you a restful and joyful Thanksgiving!

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, November 25th-C Day

Tuesday, November 26th-D Day

Wednesday, November 27th--E Day-Early Release 11:20 A.M.

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

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.

"AMS nursing provides compassionate nursing care which is tailored to each student's need. They go above and beyond to communicate with families, thereby promoting students' best health while at school and in the community. Thank you for your exceptional care."

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.