Friday, January 26, 2018

January 26, 2018

Good afternoon-

We had a great week of exams and I am sure students are looking forward to a weekend of rest.

Term 3 starts Monday.  There will be a brief homeroom for students to get their new schedules but they will also be able to see them on iStudent.

Grades will be available next Friday, February 2 after the end of the school day.

This week we also enjoyed welcoming the 8th grade students as they begin the process of considering choices for their high school career.

On Monday we will announce the Term 2 Students of the Term. We would love parent support in hosting the SOT Breakfast.  Please see the message and sign-up sheet from our PBIS Team below.
A message from the PBIS Team:
Dear Parents,

Each term, teachers at AHS nominate students who have embodied our school’s Core Values throughout the term.  Last term, we held our first Student of the Term Breakfast to celebrate these outstanding students.  Seeing the joy and pride in our stellar students was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my 15 years of teaching.  However, we are not financially able to make this breakfast a continued success without the help of our community.  We are hoping that you will help us to make these breakfasts an ongoing reality.  Our next breakfast is scheduled for February 16th.  We have created a list of items that we need for the breakfast, and hope that you will help us by signing up to make donations for our breakfast.  If you would like to sign up to bring one or more items, please add your name and email to the list at the following link:


Thank you for your continued support of our students!
Lisa Dunn & The PBIS Team

A message from the nurse:
Please review the attached document for important information on Influenza (Flu) and Influenza (Flu) Vaccine from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (Espanol, Português)
Please contact your school for any questions or concerns. 


Ashland Raises Happy & Healthy Kids
In her book iGen, Jean Twenge, PhD describes today’s kids as “less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy and completely unprepared for adulthood”. Each of the ten chapters of her book theorizes on the “why” of this, backed up by research comparing the current generation with past generations. Since every child currently in the Ashland schools is part of this generation, the next ten weeks of this column will cover each of Twenge’s chapters which she cleverly titles beginning with the letter “i”. These will be very general, broad overviews. I encourage you to read the book for more in-depth information.

Today’s generation is In No Hurry: Growing Up Slowly.  iGen teens are less likely than previous generations to go out without their parents. Research found that 12th graders in 2015 went out less than 8th graders did in 2009. Anecdotes from teens show that they feel they don't really need to see friends in person since they are in constant contact via texting and social media. Studies show that today’s teens are also getting their driver’s licenses later than previous generations and are less likely to have jobs outside the home. Today’s teens therefore are less likely to experience the freedom of being out without their parents and learning from their own decisions, both good and bad. They are also less likely to learn the skills, responsibility and money management that comes from a part-time or summer job.

As a result of going out less, today’s teens are less likely than previous generations to date, have sex, and drink alcohol. One of the most positive youth trends in recent years is the teen birth rate hit an all time low in 2015. In essence, adolescence is now an extension of childhood where in previous generations it was the beginning of adulthood. The question that needs to be asked is, “Are today’s teens prepared to go to college or enter the workforce?”.  Teens admit they are scared of the responsibility of being an adult and college staff see current students at being less independent and responsible. They still rely on their parents for many things including course selection and laundry.

What can we, as parents, do?
  1. Encourage your children to see their friends IN PERSON.
  2. Teach your children basic life skills around cleaning, cooking, money management, and self care.
  3. Encourage your children to get a part-time job when they are old enough. Even babysitting or shoveling snow teaches kids responsibility, money management, and how to interact with adults.
  4. Let your children do things without hovering over them or tracking their every move via their phone. Will they stumble or even fail? Probably. But they will learn valuable resiliency skills from these stumbles.  And may even be able to do their laundry in college without turning all their clothes pink!


You’re students are invited!  We are hosting the 3rd annual Green Industry Job Fair in February.  I invite you to take advantage of this program to learn more about the opportunities in the green industry; provide an opportunity for your students to get a jump on seasonal and/or full time work in the green industry; and meet with industry leaders one on one.  In the past, high school students have found a great value in attending – I am actually bringing my eighth grade daughter to talk to someone about a future in Landscape Architecture!
If you have students that have mathematical and analytical skills, creativity, environmental awareness, technology savvy, love for the outdoors and a desire to work with their hands – a career in horticulture might be the perfect fit.  We need your help to educate them and help them explore the opportunities available.
We would be so appreciative if you could please forward this invite to any staff or students that might be interested.  Thank you! 
Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Assn.’s 3rd Annual Career Fair
Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 ~ 1 – 5 pm & Wednesday, February 28, 2018 ~ 8 am to 12:00 PM
It’s FREE but pre-registration will be required: www.mnla.com/job-fair-2018    



The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is excited to announce the re-launch of our High School Apprenticeship Challenge! The program creates new internship opportunities for high school students by enabling small businesses and academic researchers to hire paid interns. The MLSC connects students with employers via an online platform and reimburses host organizations for stipends paid to students.

This internship program is modeled on our highly successful Internship Challenge for college students, which has been running year-round for nine years and placed more than 3,300 students in internships with over 680 companies. Many of these companies are looking forward to hosting high school students in addition to the college students that they hire through this program.

Since the program first launched in 2016, the MLSC has supported 106 internships for high school students at 49 life sciences companies and research institutions!

We are now accepting applications from eligible students through our website, where they will register via a secure, password-protected portal. Interns must be Massachusetts high school students that are at least 16 years old and currently in their sophomore, junior, or senior year. There is no application deadline, but internships will take place between June and August.

Applications will be made available to prospective host organizations that have completed the required registration form and have been approved by MLSC. Representatives from these organizations will review applications and reach out directly to candidates to inform them about their opportunity. Students are then interviewed, hired, and paid directly by the employer. The MLSC will reimburse eligible host institutions for intern stipends of up to $2,880 for students selected through the program (amount is based on a pay rate of $12/hour for 6 weeks).

We kindly request that you and your school/district assist us in notifying students about this opportunity.

For further details regarding this program, please visit our website: www.masslifesciences.com/programs/hsapprenticeship  

If you have questions, please email internship@masslifesciences.com

Sincerely,
Ryan

Ryan H. Mudawar
Director, Academic and Workforce Programsrmudawar@masslifesciences.com | 781.373.7719 | @ryanmudawar
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Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
1000 Winter Street
Suite 2900 | South Entrance
Waltham MA, 02451

Friday, January 19, 2018

January 19, 2018

Good afternoon-

We have reached the halfway mark and mid-terms are here:  mid-term exam schedule .  Students only need to attend for their exams.  However, the building will be open regular hours and teachers are available outside of exam hours for students needing extra help.  The attached schedule shows regular class meeting times so students can plan when is the best time to me   The cafeteria will be open for sandwiches and salads for any students who will be at AHS for the day.  

Mid-terms can be stressful for students so it is important to remind them that it is just a portion of their grade.  Here are some study tips for a successful exam week!  We encourage students to focus on understanding, not memorizing.  Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.  I hope everyone has a successful end to Semester 1!

Reminders for 2nd semester:
All AHS students are reminded to check their 2nd semester schedules in iStudent right away, and to make certain that 2nd semester half year classes are in order.  See your counselor immediately if you need to discuss a change.

The course selection process for 2018-2019 will be starting in a couple of weeks.  Make sure your iParent accounts are set up and ready to go so you can have a part in approving your students courses.

Course Selection information:
Teachers will begin making course recommendations for the 2018-2019 school year on Monday, January 22nd.  They will have two weeks to discuss recommendations with students and enter them in iPass.  The student course selection window will open on Monday, February 5.  We will hold class meetings with the 9th-11th grades on January 30th to make sure students understand the process and will share more specific information about the parent role in course selection in the coming weeks.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to your student's teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator. 


A message from the PBIS Team:
Dear Parents,

Each term, teachers at AHS nominate students who have embodied our school’s Core Values throughout the term.  Last term, we held our first Student of the Term Breakfast to celebrate these outstanding students.  Seeing the joy and pride in our stellar students was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my 15 years of teaching.  However, we are not financially able to make this breakfast a continued success without the help of our community.  We are hoping that you will help us to make these breakfasts an ongoing reality.  Our next breakfast is scheduled for February 16th.  We have created a list of items that we need for the breakfast, and hope that you will help us by signing up to make donations for our breakfast.  If you would like to sign up to bring one or more items, please add your name and email to the list at the following link:


Thank you for your continued support of our students!
Lisa Dunn & The PBIS Team


Tickets are now on sale for the AHSTS production of Pippin. The production runs Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd at 7PM, and Sunday, March 4th at 2PM.

AHSTS offers online sales up to two hours before show time. AHSTS discounts tickets purchased online (Adults: $11.99, Students and AHSTS Alumni $8.99), Patrons may buy tickets at the door at full price. (Adults: $15, Students and AHSTS Alumni $10) Visit www.ahsts.com to purchase tickets.

AHSTS is offering a sale on adult tickets purchased online by 2/1/2018 using the code AHSTS. Sale price is $9.99. Enter the code: AHSTS to receive the option of purchasing sale tickets.

Please Note:

-Sale price cannot be applied to prepurchased tickets

-No exchanges or refunds.

For more information or tickets, visit www.ahsts.com.




A message from Decisions at Every Turn:
Dear Ashland Parents and Guardians,

This is a reminder that the Decisions at Every Turn (DAET) Coalition is still collecting information related to parent and guardian perceptions of youth substance use and prevention in the Ashland community through the DAET Coalition 2017 Parent Survey. This survey is part of DAET’s comprehensive Community Assessment necessary to apply for a $625,000 federal grant. The survey will be open until February 9th; if you have not had a chance to respond yet, your participation is greatly appreciated. 

The survey is anonymous, and though there are questions about demographic information, they will only be used to identify groups, not individuals. The survey should take you about 10-20 minutes to complete. Please only complete the survey once. The survey is distributed online via SurveyMonkey, and is available via the links below in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. You may request a paper copy by contacting Saumya Sankhavaram, the DAET Coalition Coordinator, at s.sankhavaram@ashlanddecisions.org. You will also be given an opportunity to provide feedback to DAET at the end of the survey; your comments are very important to DAET’s prevention work.  


Please complete the survey by the end of the day on February 9th; as a reminder, please complete the survey one time only. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Saumya Sankhavaram at s.sankhavaram@ashlanddecisions.org or coalitioninfo@ashlanddecisions.org or by calling 508-881-0177 x8284.
Thank you for taking the time to assist the DAET Coalition by completing this survey!

Saumya Sankhavaram, MPH
DFC Project Coordinator
Decisions at Every Turn Coalition
Ashland, MA 01721
DAET Office: 508-881-0177 x8284
Ashland Raises Healthy & Happy Kids:
Ways to Reduce School Stress
Results of the Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey show that the number one source of stress for middle and high school students in Ashland is academics. Below are a few ways to help reduce school stress. Share with your children, especially the high school kids who have mid-term exams next week.

  1. Take time for self-care. Sleep (more than most kids think they need) and eating healthy are very important in reducing stress. Also, taking breaks to engage in a creative or active activity help digest what you have been learning and process bit.
  2. Learn to change your thinking. When thoughts turn to things such as, “I will never finish this paper/project”, or “I am going to fail this test”, come up with specific phrases to combat the negative thoughts.
  3. Take assignments one baby step at a time. Make a list of the steps needed to get an assignment or studying done. Breaking things down into chunks make them feel more manageable and less anxiety provoking.
  4. Lower your goals. This seems counter-intuitive and does not mean “become lazy”. But taking the pressure off to get a perfect grade can reduce stress and thus lead to better academic success. Instead of setting a goal to get a perfect score, set a goal to put in the effort and feel satisfied you did your best.
  5. Stay balanced during exam periods. No matter how hard you push yourself, nobody can maintain constant focus, and you will burn yourself out if you try. Take frequent, short breaks for fun activities so that you’ll be able to go back to your writing or studying refreshed. Do something you loved to do when you were six years old - play outside, do a puzzle, play a game, draw, color - to counter-balance stress and take a little break.

Monday, January 15, 2018

January 15, 2018

Happy Monday!  

I hope you have all enjoyed the Family Reconnect Weekend.  We are lucky to enjoy today off to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. but this day does remind me of how much still needs to be done.  Students at AHS are the kindest I have ever worked with, yet we are dealing with regular incidents of discrimination and behaviors that cause hurt to groups that are different, whether it be because of their skin color, religion, sexual or gender identity, and a host of other reasons.  We have always taken behaviors that hurt other students with the utmost seriousness.  As we move into 2018 we will continue to find ways to educate students on how to treat all members of the AHS community with respect and kindness.  I hope today offers you some time to have conversations about positive, kind, respectful behavior with your child as well as how to address hurtful behaviors when they encounter them.  I fear we still have such a long way to go to achieve MLK Jr.'s dreams, but my hope is that AHS students can make a positive impact on the world as we work to build a community of respect.  

Mid-term exams:
Mid-terms are at the end of the month: here is the mid-term exam schedule .  Students only need to attend for their exams.  However, the building will be open regular hours and teachers are available outside of exam hours for students needing extra help.  The attached schedule shows regular class meeting times so students can plan when is the best time to meet with teachers if they need to.  The cafeteria will be open for sandwiches and salads for any students who will be at AHS for the day.



Attention all parents: Exam Care Packages for your child are now for sale! Midterm exams are coming up and the Class of 2020 is offering you the opportunity to send your favorite student a little package of goodies just prior to their first exam to show that you care!  It also contains a note of luck from you letting you know that you are thinking of them. Sending an exam care package costs only $10 per package. You can find order forms on the AHS website or can be found at the main office or guidance office.  If you have any questions, you can contact Mr. McGann at cmcgann@ashland.k12.ma.us.


Reminders for 2nd semester:
All AHS students are reminded to check their 2nd semester schedules in iStudent right away, and to make certain that 2nd semester half year classes are in order.  See your counselor immediately, and no later than January 19th if you need to discuss a change.

The course selection process for 2018-2019 will be starting in a couple of weeks.  Make sure your iParent accounts are set up and ready to go so you can have a part in approving your students courses.



Tickets are now on sale for the AHSTS production of Pippin. The production runs Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd at 7PM, and Sunday, March 4th at 2PM.

AHSTS offers online sales up to two hours before show time. AHSTS discounts tickets purchased online (Adults: $11.99, Students and AHSTS Alumni $8.99), Patrons may buy tickets at the door at full price. (Adults: $15, Students and AHSTS Alumni $10) Visit www.ahsts.com to purchase tickets.

AHSTS is offering a sale on adult tickets purchased online by 2/1/2018 using the code AHSTS. Sale price is $9.99. Enter the code: AHSTS to receive the option of purchasing sale tickets.

Please Note:

-Sale price cannot be applied to prepurchased tickets

-No exchanges or refunds.

For more information or tickets, visit www.ahsts.com.



Enjoy the afternoon and be sure to check out the Parent Flyers .



Sunday, January 7, 2018

Happy New Year!

Good afternoon!

The snow days have thrown off my schedule but I'm dug out and ready for a great week.  As a reminder, students have another short week as Friday is a Teacher Professional Day.  It is also the kick-off to Family Reconnect Weekend.  I am looking forward to more quality time with my family. 

Mid-terms are at the end of the month: here is the mid-term exam schedule .  Students only need to attend for their exams.  However, the building will be open regular hours and teachers are available outside of exam hours for students needing extra help.  The attached schedule shows regular class meeting times so students can plan when is the best time to me   The cafeteria will be open for sandwiches and salads for any students who will be at AHS for the day.

Attention all parents: Exam Care Packages for your child are now for sale! Midterm exams are coming up and the Class of 2020 is offering you the opportunity to send your favorite student a little package of goodies just prior to their first exam to show that you care!  It also contains a note of luck from you letting you know that you are thinking of them. Sending an exam care package costs only $10 per package. You can find order forms on the AHS website or can be found at the main office or guidance office.  If you have any questions, you can contact Mr. McGann at cmcgann@ashland.k12.ma.us.


Here is the link to the women's lacrosse team store!
https://www.warrior.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-warrior_us-Site/default/Team-MemberOrder?orderId=52153