AMS Weekly Update
AMS Weekly Update-December 6, 2024
Good Afternoon,
We’re looking forward to welcoming 7th and 8th graders who are registered for the Glow Social tonight! The event runs from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Important Reminders:
- This event is for 7th and 8th grade AMS students who are pre-registered.
- Students must check in at the door, and anyone not registered will not be allowed entry. No tickets will be sold at the door.
- Students should enter through the small gym entrance for check-in.
- Parents/guardians should arrive for pickup at 8:30 PM when the event concludes.
- All school rules are in effect for this event.
Morning Drop-Off
With colder weather, we’re seeing an increase in morning drop-offs. To ensure a smooth process:
- Please pull up as far as possible to allow more cars to line up behind you.
- If your student needs extra time to exit the car (e.g., for instruments, projects, etc.), please park in the lot to avoid slowing traffic.
- For students on crutches, you may pull around the circle to drop them off directly in front of the school. Be sure to leave space for buses to pass.
Weather and Recess
We will continue holding recess outdoors as long as conditions allow and the temperature, factoring in wind chill, is above freezing. Please ensure your student is dressed appropriately:
- At least a sweatshirt is required to go outside.
- Ideally, students should wear a jacket.
- Students wearing only a t-shirt or a light long-sleeve shirt will not be permitted outdoors.
Lost and Found
Please remind your student to check the Lost and Found before Winter break.
- A table outside the cafeteria and small gym holds sweatshirts, jackets, and other clothing.
- Shelves in the cafeteria contain water bottles, lunch boxes, and other items.
- Unclaimed items will be donated after school on December 20th.
Planning Ahead
- No Late Bus on Thursday, December 19th.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. As always, please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Erin Lachapelle
AMS Principal
GIRL POWERED SIGN UPS
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.
Program will run from January 8, 2024- March 5, 2024. Every Wednesday from 2:45-3:45.
PLEASE SIGN UP BELOW:
Reach out to Dee Mastromatteo, AMS Wellness Teacher or Kelly Roy, AMS Adjustment Counselor with any questions.
Dmastromatteo@ashland.k12.ma.us
AMS Theater Production
Dear APS Community ,
Ashland Middle School Theater Company will present a family friendly production of The Seussificaiton of Romeo & Juliet with a cast and crew of 40 plus students ! The play will open January 24th @ 7pm & Saturday, January 25th @ 2pm & 7pm in the AMS Little Theater. Tickets are $10 dollars at the door and cash sales only. The show runs an hour. The plot involves William Shakespeare meeting Dr. Seuss! It is a whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare’s tragic love story (in this case not so tragic!) complete with Dr. Seuss’s iconic rhyming tetrameter, creative wordplay, and fantastical machines — something Dr. Seuss might have come up with if he ever had his way with the script. This fast-paced retelling is fun for all ages in all grades ! Please join us. Sincerely, Mr. Langmeyer, Drama Director
Full School Spirit Fridays-December
Winter Spirit Week
Helping Our Own
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.
Weekly Schedule & Important Dates
Monday, December 9th-E Day
Tuesday, December 10th-F Day
Wednesday, December 11th-A Day
Thursday, December 12th-B Day
Friday, December 13th-C Day
Ashland Youth Lacrosse Registration
Registration for Ashland Youth Lacrosse is open.
https://ashlandyouthlacrosse.org
There is currently a discount of $25 off the registration fee for spring 2025, before 12/16.
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.
"I would love to give a shoutout to Mrs. Ferrari as a parent of a student who is now in high school. She not only thoroughly teaches the curriculum, but she also gives students important skills that prepare them for success in any class. My child still reflects on how hard, but beneficial Mrs. Ferrari’s class was."
AHS Winter Concert
Club and Activity Information
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
Commuity Bulletin Board
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.