AMS Weekly Update
AMS Weekly Update-December 20, 2024
Good Afternoon,
It was a spirited and exciting week at AMS, with lots of positive energy throughout the building. On Wednesday afternoon, we held a full-school assembly featuring performances by the Ashland High School Choir and Bel Canto Society. The assembly also included judging for our Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest and a Build-a-Snowman Contest. To my knowledge, this was the first time the entire school has come together for an assembly since before COVID, and the energy in the gym was amazing. Our students’ behavior was exceptional, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Events like these are not only important for fostering a positive school culture but also for teaching students the expectations of behavior in a large group setting.
We also had tremendous participation in our Winter Spirit Week, with students showcasing festive and creative outfits each day. The high level of participation from staff made the week even more special, and I know our students enjoyed seeing the staff join in on the fun.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our toy drive! Our Student Council collected and delivered an impressive total of 1,091 toys and books. New, unused toys were delivered to the Public Safety Building for Toys for Tots, while gently used items were donated to Suburban Childcare. A special thanks to Ms. Steinbrick and the Student Council for organizing this drive and supporting local families this holiday season.
As you know, we will be on winter break for the next two weeks. Please note that faculty and staff will be enjoying time with their families and friends, so if you need to reach out to them, we kindly ask that you wait until school resumes on January 6th. The Middle School office will also be closed as the administration and office staff take a well-deserved vacation.
As the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful community we have here at AMS. Whether you celebrate this season with cherished traditions or spend this time simply enjoying the company of loved ones, I hope this is a season filled with joy and connection for all.
Our upcoming two-week break is a well-deserved opportunity for everyone to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends. I encourage our students to enjoy the time off and come back in January ready to learn and grow.
As we close out this year, I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued partnership in making AMS such a special place. The faculty, staff, and students know that I believe every day is a new day and a fresh start, and that sentiment feels even more meaningful as we prepare to turn the calendar to 2025. Here’s to a year ahead filled with exciting opportunities for our students!
Wishing you all a safe, restful, and joyful winter break. Happy Holidays to those who celebrate, and Happy New Year to everyone!
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-January
Weekly Schedule & Important Dates
NO SCHOOL December 23-January 5th-Winter Break
Monday, January 6th-C Day
Tuesday, January 7th-D Day
Wednesday, January 8th-E Day
Thursday, January 9th-F Day
Friday, January 10th-A Day
January 18-20th-Family Reconnect Weekend (No School January 20th-M.L.King Jr. 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.
"Thank you to the Blue Team teachers for not only being excellent teachers, but for keeping me in the loop regarding my son's progress, and working hard to ensure his success. You're the Best!"
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,
Happy New Year! As we kick off 2025, we are thrilled to share our January menu, featuring this month’s Massachusetts Harvest of the Month: Apples!
Apples are a versatile and delicious fruit that will shine in our meals throughout January. Grown right here in Massachusetts, these apples are packed with dietary fiber, vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants. This month, we’re excited to offer dishes that showcase their wonderful flavor, including Apple and Butternut Squash Casserole, Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Apple Crisp, and Apple Cranberry and Cabbage Slaw.
For more information on the health benefits of apples and fun recipe ideas, we encourage you to visit Massachusetts Harvest of the Month
At Ashland Public Schools, we’re committed to providing fresh, locally sourced produce, supporting our local farmers, and ensuring that every meal we serve offers the highest nutritional quality. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating apples by incorporating them into your meals at home!
Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your children’s nutrition and well-being. Here’s to a healthy and delicious start to the new year!
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.