AMS UPDATE

Good Afternoon,

The first full five-day week of the school year is in the books! It was a busy one, highlighted by our first school-wide i-Ready testing day on Wednesday. In the past, students completed the assessment over multiple blocks, but based on feedback, we tried testing in one uninterrupted session. The students did an amazing job! While it made for a long morning, many appreciated finishing their ELA testing in one sitting. Thank you to families for such strong attendance on Wednesday as well.

A small group of students who were absent or need additional time will finish testing Monday morning in the activity room. We’ll follow the same model for the math diagnostic next Wednesday. After that, students won’t take i-Ready assessments again until midyear. We plan to mail home student score reports in early October, and I’ll share an update when they are sent.

The progress report tab in iPass is now open for you to view your student’s progress. While online grading is a great tool, I encourage you not to become too focused on checking it daily. Teachers update grades at least every two weeks (many update more often), but you may notice some assignments without grades right away, especially if they were just submitted. Additionally, please keep in mind that today is only the 11th day of school, and your student might not have many grades entered yet.

If you see a zero or a grade that doesn’t make sense, please start by asking your child about it. If they’re unsure, reach out to the teacher. Mistakes happen, sometimes a grade is entered incorrectly or missed, and encouraging your child to communicate directly with teachers is a valuable advocacy skill. The progress report tab will remain open until November 6, when Term 1 closes. It will reopen on November 15 with Term 1 grades posted and Term 2 progress available.

If you’re attending after-school athletic events at AMS, please park in the main lot and walk to the fields or gym. After-school programs also use the building, and parents have difficulty finding parking near the main island when events are underway. Thank you for helping keep pick-up safe and accessible.

Bus arrival times have improved this week. While two buses are still arriving close to the bell, the situation is getting better, and we’re continuing to monitor and work with the bus company. A reminder: students are not allowed to ride the bus without a valid bus pass.

We’ve noticed many students riding bikes, electric bikes, and scooters to school—often without helmets and sometimes through the parking lot at dismissal. This is extremely dangerous. We are working with the Ashland Police Department, as some of these bikes are not street legal. Beginning this afternoon, all students on any type of bike or scooter must walk it on and off campus rather than riding. Keeping our students safe is our top priority.

Finally, school picture order forms went home this week. Picture Day is next Friday, September 19. All students will have their photos taken.

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTK8SP7M. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com .

Open House
We are excited to welcome families to our upcoming Open House events!

• 6th Grade: Wednesday, September 17th, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

• 7th & 8th Grade: Thursday, September 18th, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Each evening will begin with a brief presentation for parents/guardians in the large gym, followed by an opportunity to walk through your child’s Term 1 A Day schedule. Teachers will provide an overview of their class and expectations. This is a chance to learn more about the curriculum and what students will experience this year.

To ensure all families receive information about courses offered across the year, our Wellness and Unified Arts teachers will divide their presentations between the two nights. This way, regardless of the term your child is scheduled for these classes, you’ll be able to hear about the curriculum and opportunities they will have.

Please note that Open House is not intended for individual conferences about your child. If you would like to discuss your child’s progress or specific concerns, please contact teachers directly to schedule a time to connect. If you plan to attend and need an interpreter, please complete this form.

We also ask that students do not attend this event.

Finally, I will provide an opportunity in every weekly update for parents and guardians to recognize the amazing work of our faculty and staff. You will see that section of the newsletter below, but I wanted to call attention to it in the main part of the letter this week. 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.

Other Important Dates

Parent iPass Access Opens: September 12

i-Ready Math Diagnostic: September 17
6th Grade Open House: September 17
7th and 8th Grade Open House: September 18
School Picture Day (all grades): September 19

Thank you,

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

Schedule for Next Week:

• Monday, September 15th- E Day
• Tuesday, September 16th- F Day
• Wednesday, September 17th- G Day
• Thursday, September 18th- A Day
• Friday, September 19th- B Day

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Wednesday, September 17th-Math i-Ready Diagnostic Testing

• Wednesday, September 17th – 6th Grade Open House

• Thursday, September 18th – 7th & 8th Grade Open House

• Friday, September 19th – School Picture Day

• Tuesday, September 23rd-No School (Rosh Hashanah)

• Thursday, October 2nd-No School (Yom Kippur)

I will update this as I receive information from club advisors:

Art Club

Art Club will have its first informational meeting on Tuesday, September 16 in room 139. Any interested students should attend. Students will receive contracts and will be split into groups for future meetings. We will meet on Tuesdays (each group every other week) and Art Club is a time to work on class projects, free art, or the weekly activity choices. Sometimes we will work on group projects for the community. Any questions, reach out to Ms. Micucci rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Best Buddies

The Best Buddies After School Club is a fun, welcoming, and inclusive space where students of all abilities come together to build meaningful friendships, promote inclusion, and celebrate diversity. Our club pairs students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in one-to-one friendships with their peers, helping to break down social barriers and create a stronger, more compassionate school community.

Through engaging activities, games, arts and crafts, and group outings, members of Best Buddies enjoy time together outside of the classroom while learning the values of acceptance, kindness, and leadership. We aim to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Whether you're looking to make new friends, be a leader in promoting inclusion, or simply be part of something that makes a positive impact—Best Buddies is the place for you! We will meet the first Tuesday of every month at 2:45. Any question please email Ms. Izen at dizen@ashland.k12.ma.us or stop by room 118.

Chess Club

Do you have what it takes to CHECKMATE your opponent? The AMS Chess Club is starting on Monday, September 22. We'll be meeting every Monday after school. Participation is free, and all players are welcome. We will have competitive tournaments throughout the year, but we're also helping beginners learn how to play. To join the club, just show up to our first meeting, and you will be invited to join our Google Classroom. Any questions, reach out to Mr. Van Wyhe rvanwyhe@ashland.k12.ma.us

Diversity Club

Diversity Club will have its first meeting on Thursday September 18 in room 139 and we will meet the third Thursdays of the month (with a few exceptions). Diversity Club is a safe space for conversations and support for LGBT+ issues and any other issues around DIVERSITY and anti-bullying in our school (race, religion, gender, and social issues). All conversations are age appropriate. (PG rating only!) ALLIES AND FRIENDS WELCOME! Any questions, reach out to Ms. Micucci rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us or Ms. Payne spayne@ashland.k12.ma.us

Drama Club

All students are welcome!!

Auditions, show title, and meeting dates will be announced after 9/15 around school and in advisory. PLEASE NOTE: Official kick off and audition meeting times will be released on Mon, 9/15.

Once it begins Drama Club typically meets 3-4 days a week from 245 - 430pm and closer to the show they meet until 6pm. This year's artistic season is centered around the theme of "Brave and Courageous Adventures" ; a key character strength that helps kids grow and succeed and found in many of our books here at AMS.

Show dates:

Thursday, Jan 22nd = Dress rehearsal

Friday, Jan 23rd = 7pm show

Saturday, Jan 24th = 2pm & 7 pm

If you have any questions please email Mr. Langmeyer elangmeyer@ashland.k12.ma.us

MathCounts

MathCounts is the Ashland Middle School Math Team. We meet every Monday beginning September 15th to practice for local and national competitions. We work to sharpen our critical thinking, teamwork, and strategy skills. The competitions include AMC 8, MathCounts Regional Competition, Purple Comet and the Math League Contests. Whether it’s cracking tricky puzzles, racing against the clock, or collaborating to solve real-world math problems, our team combines brainpower with school spirit. More than just numbers, we build confidence, friendships, and a love of discovery—one competition at a time!

Yearbook

First meeting for Yearbook will be on September 18th! Any student interested in working on the yearbook is welcome to attend. Meetings will be bi-weekly on Thursdays in room 151. Please reach out to Ms. Collins for more information mcollins@ashland.k12.ma.us

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts will be hosting a Webex Webinar Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents. The webinar will take place on the evening of Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30 pm in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Digital Forensics/Child Exploitation/Cyber Crime Unit. The registration flyer is attached. Advanced registration is required.

The webinar will bring awareness to the dangers children face online today and will educate parents/caregivers how to keep children safe online. The webinar will not be recorded. In the event someone is not able to attend on October 22nd, we hope to host several more throughout the school year.

REGISTRATION DETAILS Event address for attendees (use Chrome!): https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r8215d6b4baa3c0ebff54f9844c45790b

Password: PSC1

Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

Webex platform has a maximum capacity of 1000 attendees.

If we have reached registration capacity, please email USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov to be put on a waitlist for the next presentation.

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.

"Shout out to our two amazing administrative assistants, Mrs. Watt & Mrs. Lester for holding down the fort! In the chaos of a new schedule, new students, and all the other day to day things, they still always have a smile on their face and are happy to help anyone who walks in. It's not an easy job, but they make it seamless and we couldn't function without all they do for all of us!"

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a brand new school year! I hope you and your family had a relaxing summer filled with fun, rest, and time together. We’re so excited to have your children back in our cafeterias and I’m happy to welcome you on behalf of the entire Nutrition Services team here in Ashland.

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.

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

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.