Ashland Preschool Update
October 16th, 2026
Happy Friday, Pittaway Families!
We’ve had another wonderful week here at Pittaway, and we’re looking forward to a fun and busy week ahead! We have some exciting activities planned, including school pictures and visits from some special guests in our community.
Monday – Picture Day!
Monday is school picture day! All students will have both an individual photo and a class photo taken. If you would like to order pictures, you can fill out and return the order form that was sent home or place your order online using the code on the flyer attached below.
Don't worry if your child is absent or needs another chance to smile for the camera! Picture Retake Day will be held on December 2nd for anyone who misses Monday or would like a retake.
Tuesday – A Visit from the Ashland Fire Department!
October is Fire Prevention Month! We are kicking off our "My Family, My Community" unit with a visit from our very own Ashland firefighters! Students will have the opportunity to meet some of our local firefighters, learn a little about the important work they do to keep our community safe, and get an up-close look at some of the equipment and vehicles they use.
Friday – Special Guest Readers from Ashland High School!
On Friday, we’re excited to welcome members of the Ashland High School C.A.R.E.S. Team (Clockers for Anti-Racism, Equity, & Social Justice) to Pittaway! These high school students will spend time with our preschoolers, sharing a children's book and connecting with our youngest learners.
We have so much to look forward to next week! Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and we can't wait to see everyone on Monday!
Best,
Amanda
Important Safety Update: Understanding Our Protocols and Parent Guidelines
We want families to understand our school’s safety protocols and how we communicate during an incident.
What is a “Stay in Place”?
A Stay in Place is used for isolated incidents that do not pose a threat to the overall safety of the school community. Classroom instruction continues, but hallway traffic and entry to or exit from the building are temporarily restricted.
We may initiate a Stay in Place to:
Keep hallways clear when an ambulance is called for a student or staff member.
Protect a student’s privacy.
Respond to an environmental issue, power failure, or event in the surrounding community.
Building Threats and Safety Drills
ALICE Protocol: In the event of a direct safety threat inside or immediately outside the building, our school follows the ALICE framework: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. This provides staff and students with response options based on the information available.
Announced Drills: All safety and evacuation drills are announced to parents and students in advance.
How Families Can Help During an Incident
If a safety protocol is activated, please:
Avoid calling the main office. Phone lines need to remain available for staff and emergency responders.
Do not come to the school unless instructed. Additional traffic can interfere with emergency vehicle access and safety procedures.
Wait for official communication. Our immediate priority is to care for students and staff and to manage the situation. We will share updates and instructions with families as soon as possible.
School Photos
School Picture Day is October 19th!
School Picture Day is right around the corner! Order forms were sent home this week. You can also conveniently place your order online using the code provided on the flyer below. Get ready for picture-perfect smiles!
Powerschool
Have you logged in to PowerSchool? Have you completed your forms?
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and complete all required forms. LOGIN Directions
Important: Add Emergency Contacts
When completing the forms, please make sure you ADD at least one emergency contact for your child.
You must click the ADD button to create the emergency contact.
Please review your child’s information and make sure all forms are complete and emergency contacts have been added.
Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and our school records up to date!
📆 Upcoming Dates 📆
October 19th: School Picture Day
October 20th: Visit from the Ashland Fire Department
October 27th, 28th, 29th: Early Release 11:20AM - Teacher Conferences
Ways To Get Involved
District Report Card
🎫 Community Bulletins 🎫
Looking for something to do in and around our community? Check out our Community Bulletin Board at ashland.k12.ma.us/flyers. From teen trivia nights to musicals to concerts, there's something for everyone!
📝 Friendly Reminders 📝
Questions? We’re here to help!
For day-to-day operations, curriculum and assessment, community events, and general communication, please contact Amanda Curley at acurley@ashland.k12.ma.us
For questions related to evaluations, team meetings, or IEP development, reach out to Sara Davidson at sdavidson@ashland.k12.ma.us
📄 Smore Help 📱
Please remember that all family members who wish to receive the newsletters from me — or any of our other school, department or district newsletters — must subscribe by visiting ashland.k12.ma.us/subscribe. You can also forward them this newsletter and have them subscribe by scrolling down to the footer and clicking the “subscribe” button.
If you have any issues subscribing or unsubscribing, check out Smore: Frequently Asked Questions.