AMS Weekly Update-August 28, 2024

Good Afternoon,

We had a great start to the school year! The energy and enthusiasm of our students and staff have truly brought the building to life. Our 6th-graders and new students are adjusting well to their schedules and the transitions from class to class, while our 7th and 8th graders have quickly settled back into their routines.

On Wednesday, we held class meetings with all three grades to review school rules and expectations. We discussed our core values of Respect and Responsibility, and I emphasized the importance of kindness and the power of words. Please ask your student about the video I showed during the meetings and talk with them about the impact their words can have on others.

Here is the link to the 2024-2025 Parent/Student Handbook.

As long as cafeteria behavior remains good, we will begin recess at the end of lunch next week, which I know the students are eagerly looking forward to.

Important Information

Biographical Forms and Health Office Forms:
Students received a printout of their current iPass information, along with an emergency health form, on Monday in Homeroom. Please complete and return these forms to the school with your student as soon as possible.

Buses:
If you registered for the bus, you can find the bus routes posted at this link. Students who registered for the bus have received their bus passes. For those still missing passes, please know that we are working on distributing them. Please be patient with bus route timing during the first few weeks of school.

Late Bus:
The late bus will run Monday through Thursday. Students must have a bus pass to ride the late bus.

Parent Drop-Off:
If you will be dropping off your student at school, please note the following:

Students may be dropped off at Ashland Middle School between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m.
Stay in the left lane upon entering the school. You will take a U-turn before reaching the rotary in front of the school (the rotary is reserved for buses in the morning for safety purposes).
Drivers should pull up as far as possible along the right side of the exit road, regardless of whether there are other cars in front of them, to reduce waiting time for everyone.
Students should exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
All cars should yield to buses exiting the rotary.

Student Arrival:
All students should enter the school through the small gym entrance, where buses drop off students. 6th-grade students will enter the small gym, 7th-grade students will enter the café, and 8th-grade students will enter the large gym to wait until they are released to their lockers. Homeroom lists will be posted in these areas, and students should check these lists when entering the school.

Parent Pick-Up:
Dismissal is at 2:45 p.m. If you will be picking up your student at dismissal, please follow the same procedure as drop-off. Additionally, the parking spaces adjacent to the exit road will be reserved for student pick-up. Once spaces along the exit road are filled, parents or caregivers may park in the reserved spaces, allowing students to cross the sidewalk safely and enter the car without having to go into the parking lot. For safety, all drivers should park in marked spaces only and avoid non-designated parking areas.

West Union Street Sidewalk Project:
Over the next two months, there will be construction along West Union Street to install a new sidewalk from State Park Road to Indian Spring Road. The sidewalk will be along the eastbound lane (State Park side). Please be aware that this may cause additional delays during arrival and dismissal times.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Erin Lachapelle

AMS Principal

AMS Update- August 28, 2024

Weekly Schedule

Reminder: There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, August 30, 2024, or Monday, September 2, 2024, in recognition of Labor Day.

Schedule for Next Week:

Tuesday, September 3rd is a C day
Wednesday, September 4th is a D day
Thursday, September 5th is an E day
Friday, September 6th is an F day

Upcoming Important Dates:

Tuesday, September 3rd – Fall Sports Begin
Wednesday, September 18th – 6th Grade Open House
Thursday, September 19th – 7th & 8th Grade Open House
Friday, September 20th – School Picture Day

Fall Sport Information

Dear Ashland Middle School Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we prepare to kick off another exciting year of middle school sports! I am thrilled to see our student-athletes return to action.

Start Date:
Middle school sports will officially begin on Tuesday, September 3. Practices will take place immediately after school, and it is important that all student-athletes are prepared and ready to participate.

Registration and Physical Requirements:
To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, all participants must be registered through FamilyID and have an updated physical on file with the school. Students who are not registered or do not have a current physical will not be permitted to participate until these requirements are met. Please complete the registration as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

Practice Information:
Each coach will be reaching out to their respective teams before the weekend is over to provide details on practice schedules and any additional information specific to their sport. Please be on the lookout for communication from your child's coach.

Middle School Coaches:
Cross Country: Jonathan Parker, Sarah Dwyer
Field Hockey: Erika Dube
Football: Michael Capobianco
Boys Soccer: Ryan Page
Girls Soccer: Randy Stabile
Volleyball: Andrea Plichta

Contests Begin the Week of September 9:
Contests will begin the week of September 9. Please note that the contest schedule for some sports will remain fluid as we continue to find teams that meet our competitive level. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to ensure the best possible experience for our student-athletes.

Transportation and Late Bus:
We understand that transportation is a key concern for many families. Please note that we will be offering a late bus option for students participating in after-school sports (students must have a bus pass, however). The late bus will depart from the school at 4:00 PM each day and will make stops throughout the community. If your child plans to use the late bus, please ensure they are aware of the schedule and drop-off locations.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly. We are looking forward to a fantastic season and appreciate your support in making it a great experience for all our student-athletes.

Thank you for your attention to these details and for your continued support of Ashland Middle School athletics.

Best regards,

Kevin Anderson

kevinanderson@ashland.k12.ma.us

Faculty/Staff Recognition

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.

Here is a wonderful Shout Out from a parent whose child had Mrs. Sadana last year:
"I am so grateful for Mrs. Sadana’s caring and thoughtful teaching approach. My daughter had lost confidence in herself with math, and Mrs. Sadana built her back up, making it her favorite class. We can’t thank her enough for the impact she had on her."

Nutrition Service Information/Lunch Menu