Friday, April 27, 2018

April 27, 2018

Good afternoon-

Grades are posted in iStudent/iParent as of yesterday, Thursday, April 26.  Please reach out to your student's teacher or guidance counselor if you have questions or concerns.

Here are some important dates to remember as the year comes to a close:
April 24-May 1: Sophomores participate in the MCAS (ELA) Field Test
April 30- May 4: Sophomores participate in Signs of Suicide program
May 7- May 18: AP exams administered
May 11: Early Release for all students
              Grand March & Junior Prom
May 14: Academic Awards Ceremony
May 18: last day of classes for Class of 2018!
May 21-24: Senior exams (schedule)
May 23-24: Math MCAS (sophomores)
May 25: Class of 2018 Community Service Day (attendance is mandatory)
May 29-June 1: Senior Week
June 3: Graduation
June 6-7: Science MCAS
June 15-21: Final exams for grades 9-11

Starting on Monday, April 30 the Signs of Suicide program will be administered in all Wellness II (sophomore) classes throughout the course of the week.  A separate email will go out to all families of student sin the Class of 2020. Students will see a short video on recognizing the signs of depression then complete a short screening tool.  This is the 2nd year Ashland High School has used this evidence-based program when teaching this unit.
I encourage all parents to go to the Screening for Mental Health website at:  
http://sossignsofsuicide.org/
The log-in is: ashlandhs-par
The password is: parent
You can review the video students will watch and can see other helpful tools to help discuss mental health with your child.  If you do not wish to have your child participate in this program please send an email to me at kstcoeur@ashland.k12.ma.us.


Parents of high school seniors:
Tuesday, May 1st
6:30-8:00 pm
Ashland Public Library.

In the rush and flurry of the college search process little to no time is spent focusing on how parents will handle the move to college and how this milestone will impact everyone in the family.  College… Next Stop helps parents think about how to cope with their student’s growing maturity and the new relationship that lies ahead.  From their unique vantage points as Dean of Students, college parent, and recent college graduate the speakers will share their perspectives and engage parents.

BUS REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE MAY 1, 2018.  A discount price of $280 for an individual and $560 for a family is available until the May 1st deadline.  After May 1st, the fee is $350 for an individual and $700 for a family.  You may register by mail or online at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com.  Please call Diane Goudy at 508-532-4005 if you have any questions regarding bus transportation or would like to discuss setting up a payment plan.  Registrations received after May 1st may be placed on a wait list and are not guaranteed a seat on a bus.



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



Ashland Raises Happy & Healthy Kids: How to talk with your children about difficult news
With the prevalence of social media and the 24/7 news cycle, children are exposed to traumatic news events regularly no matter how much parents or teachers try to keep the "bad things" away. Instead of shielding children from the dangers, violence or tragedies around us, adults should talk to kids about what is happening. The conversation may not be easy, but taking a proactive stance and discussing difficult events in age-appropriate language can help a child feel safer and more secure. As much as adults may try to avoid difficult topics, children often learn or know when something sad or scary happens. If adults don’t talk to them about it, a child may misinterpret the event or misunderstand adults’ silence. So, be the first to bring up the difficult topic. When parents tackle difficult conversations, they let their children know that they are available and supportive.
Think about what you want to say. Some advanced planning may make the discussion easier. You won’t have to think about it off the top of your head.

Find a quiet moment.  Choose a time and place where your children can be  the center of your attention. Find out what they know. Ask them "What have you heard about this?" And then listen. Listen. Listen. And listen more. Often what concerns them is different than what concerns you.

Share your feelings with your child. It is ok to acknowledge your feelings with your children. They see you are human. Be a role model. This applies to emotions, too.

Tell the truth. Lay out the facts at a level they can understand. You do not need to give graphic details. For young children, you may need to have the conversation about what death means (no longer feel anything, not hungry, thirsty, scared, or hurting; we will never see them again, but can hold their memories in our hearts and heads).

Say, "I don’t know." Sometimes the answer to the question is "I don’t know." "Why did the bad people do this?" "I don’t know" is an ok answer.


Above all, reassure. At the end of the conversation, reassure your children that you will do everything you know how to do to keep them safe and to watch out for them. Reassure them that you will always be available to answer any questions or talk about this topic again. Reassure them that they are loved.

Attached is some guidance on Talking to Your Children about Violence

Friday, April 20, 2018

April 20, 2018

Good afternoon-

I hope everyone has had a wonderful break.  It always feels like once April vacation is over we are on a mad dash to the end of the school year.

Grades closed this past Thursday and grades will be posted in iStudent/iParent on Thursday, April 26.

Here are some important dates to remember as the year comes to a close:
April 24-May 1: Sophomores participate in the MCAS (ELA) Field Test
April 30- May 1: Sophomores participate in Signs of Suicide program
May 7- May 18: AP exams administered
May 11: Early Release for all students
              Grand March & Junior Prom
May 14: Academic Awards Ceremony
May 18: last day of classes for Class of 2018!
May 21-24: Senior exams (schedule to follow)
May 23-24: Math MCAS (sophomores)
May 25: Class of 2018 Community Service Day (attendance is mandatory)
May 29-June 1: Senior Week
June 3: Graduation
June 6-7: Science MCAS
June 15-21: Final exams for grades 9-11

BUS REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE MAY 1, 2018.  A discount price of $280 for an individual and $560 for a family is available until the May 1st deadline.  After May 1st, the fee is $350 for an individual and $700 for a family.  You may register by mail or online at https://epay.cityhallsystems.com.  Please call Diane Goudy at 508-532-4005 if you have any questions regarding bus transportation or would like to discuss setting up a payment plan.  Registrations received after May 1st may be placed on a wait list and are not guaranteed a seat on a bus.

Safety/anonymous tip line:
Please remember that if you ever hear or see something that concerns about say something.  Ashland Public Schools has an anonymous tip line for anyone, adult or student, who does not feel comfortable sharing information in person.  The safety of all members of our community is always our top priority so we encourage you to reach out to administration or counseling staff with any concerns.

News from Student Council:
State Advisory Council:
Ashland High School is looking for students interested in running for the State Student Advisory Council for the 2018-2019 school year.  This group, made up of two students from every school in the Commonwealth, meets once a month to discuss issues related to education policy and the impacts on students.  Students interested in running should see Mr. Wiczer (in B251) by Monday, April 23rd at 2:45pm.  Students will give speeches on Wednesday, April 25th and the voting will take place that day at lunch.  For more information on this group, please see: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sac/ or contact Mr. Wiczer at jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us 

Second Annual Color Splash Run:
The Ashland High School Student Council, Make-a-Wish Club, and PTO are running our second annual "Color Splash Run" on Sunday, April 29th at 10am at Ashland High School.    

There are two events -- the full "Color Splash Run" (which will involve a 2-mile course) and a smaller "Kids Color Splash Run" (which will involve up to 4 laps around a track.)  The "Color Splash Run" costs $25 per participant, and the "Kids' Color Splash Run" costs $15 per participant.  Registration prior to April 13th will include a race t-shirt.

Register online at: https://sites.google.com/site/stucoashland/color-splash-run by Friday, April 13th to get a free race t-shirt.

And check-out our promotional video: https://youtu.be/1dG_iQlGmyo
Support for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
On Monday, April 23rd and Tuesday, April 24th, during all three lunches, members of the Amnesty International Club and the Student Council will be selling bracelets to support the victim's fund for students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  The bracelets are $5 each and all of the proceeds go directly to students at that school.  For more information regarding this effort, check out: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article201706869.html 


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


Ashland Raises Healthy & Happy Kids: Local resources when seeking mental health treatment
Seeking out effective health care can be confusing and time consuming. This can often be even more difficult when looking for the right mental health treatment for yourself or a family member. Below are a few tips to help navigate this process:

  1. Start at your child’s school. We are very lucky here in Ashland to have one school counselor for every grade, that is rare. If you are worried about your child’s emotional health, start by contacting their school counselor. These professionals can help out with resources needed to help your child at school.
  2. Talk to your child’s pediatrician. Many pediatrician offices have mental health professionals on-site. They often do short term therapy (typically up to 8 sessions),  and assessment and referrals for the members of the practice. They can be an excellent resource for your family.
  3. Contact your insurance company. Insurance company websites have lists of providers broken down by licensure  (MD, RN, LICSW, LMHC) and geographic location so you can contact providers in your area who accept your insurance.
  4. See if your company has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Many companies have an EAP benefit for employees that connects you with a counselor (usually over the phone) who can help refer you to local mental health providers. EAP’s often provide legal, child care, and elder care help as well. Look into this often underutilized benefit!
  5. Be patient. It often takes many phone calls to secure appointments with mental health providers. Set aside the time to dedicate to this task to reduce frustration.
  6. Remember that everyone is different. Just because your best friend’s daughter loves a therapist does not mean your son will “click” with him/her. It is worth it to shop around and even set up appointments with a couple different providers to find the best fit.
  7. In an emergency, go to an ER. If your loved one is a threat to him/herself or others, go to a hospital emergency department. They have mental health professionals who can do a psychiatric evaluation and refer to the appropriate level of care for treatment.

Friday, April 6, 2018

April 6, 2018

Good afternoon-

Last week we had the pleasure of John Trautwein visiting and speaking to our community.  If you missed him here is the link to his presentation.  Thank you to WACA-TV for filming!

Term 3 will now end Thursday, April 12.  Report cards will be released on Thursday, April 26.

Thursday, April 12 is also the rescheduled date for our Student Voice: Cross Community Collaboration.  We are looking forward to some great conversation and hope more students will join. Encourage your student to have his/her voice is heard at Ashland High School with peers from Holliston, Mendon-Upton, and Millbury!

Friday, April 13 we have an Early Release Day.  The schedule will be modified with shortened periods and we will also build in a 20 minute homeroom.  Students will be asked to complete the Positive Community Norms Survey at that time.  Please see the attached letter for more
information about the survey.  This will be our 3rd administration of the survey and provides us with
valuable information about students perceptions of alcohol and drug use.  We use this data, along with data from the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey to determine areas of focus for health education.


A message from our nurses:
State law mandates that every student entering tenth grade have a complete physical exam.  A physical exam done after September 1, 2017 is acceptable.

Please make arrangements now with your physician or clinic to have this physical exam done. Send written medical documentation of this physical exam to the nurse's office as soon as possible. 

If your child participates in athletics, please provide a copy of a physical exam for your child's health records as well as a copy of a physical exam needed for participation in athletics as the nurse's office and the athletic office do not share files. Please contact the nurse's office with any questions or concerns.



Lots going on with Student Council!!!
Student Council Spirit Week:
Next week (April 9th - 13th) is the Student Council's "spring spirit week".  The dress-up days are:
Monday, April 9th: Pajama Day
Tuesday, April 10th: Decade Day
Wednesday, April 11th: Color Day (dress all in one color)
Thursday, April 12th: Vine Day
Friday, April 13th: Tie-Dye Day

Tenth Annual Bingo Night:
The Ashland High School Student Council would like to invite the entire Ashland community to our 10th annual Bingo night, held on Wednesday, April 11th at 6:30pm in the high school cafeteria.  This family-friendly event is open to participants of all ages -- young children, senior citizens, and everyone in-between.  Come join us foryour chance to win great prizes, including a $100 Amazon gift card and 2 tickets to see Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium in July.  Prizes have been donated by local businesses and restaurants (and are listed online at: http://sites.google.com/site/stucoashland/bingo).  $10 for a pack of 6 cards good for the entire night (or $20 for 12 cards, $30 for 18 cards, etc.)  Bring your own Bingo marker or bring $1 to buy one.  There will free coffee/water and baked goods and the Class of 2019 will be selling food.  The evening will be MCd by high school teachers DJ Jost and Randa Istfan.   

And check-out our promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-7ojOCnRc

Second Annual Color Splash Run:
The Ashland High School Student Council, Make-a-Wish Club, and PTO are running our second annual "Color Splash Run" on Sunday, April 29th at 10am at Ashland High School.    

There are two events -- the full "Color Splash Run" (which will involve a 2-mile course) and a smaller "Kids Color Splash Run" (which will involve up to 4 laps around a track.)  The "Color Splash Run" costs $25 per participant, and the "Kids' Color Splash Run" costs $15 per participant.  Registration prior to April 13th will include a race t-shirt.

Register online at: https://sites.google.com/site/stucoashland/color-splash-run by Friday, April 13th to get a free race t-shirt.

And check-out our promotional video: https://youtu.be/1dG_iQlGmyo

Teacher Appreciation Day Cards:
Students will have the opportunity to write "Teacher Appreciation Day" cards on Tuesday, April 10th during break and 10 minutes of their third period class.  Students who need more time to write thoughtful notes are invited to take as many cards home as they'd like and return them to the envelope in the office by Friday, April 13th.  Then can also pick-up and write additional cards at lunch on Tuesday, April 10th and Wednesday, April 11th.

State Advisory Council:
Ashland High School is looking for students interested in running for the State Student Advisory Council for the 2018-2019 school year.  This group, made up of two students from every school in the Commonwealth, meets once a month to discuss issues related to education policy and the impacts on students.  Students interested in running should see Mr. Wiczer (in B251) by Monday, April 23rd at 2:45pm.  Students will give speeches on Wednesday, April 25th and the voting will take place that day at lunch.  For more information on this group, please see: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sac/ or contact Mr. Wiczer at jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us

Parents of high school seniors:
Save the date!!!
Tuesday, May 1st
6:30-8:00 pm
Ashland Public Library.


NEXT STOP: College Understanding….. the New Relationship


In the rush and flurry of the college search process little to no time is spent focusing on how parents will handle the move to college and how this milestone will impact everyone in the family.  College… Next Stop helps parents think about how to cope with their student’s growing maturity and the new relationship that lies ahead.  From their unique vantage points as Dean of Students, college parent, and recent college graduate the speakers will share their perspectives and engage parents.