November 30, 2018

Good evening-

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It's so hard to believe December is already here! We have a busy month ahead of us.

I want to make you aware of some faculty changes & updates.
We are very pleased to welcome two new teachers to the World Language department.

Velma Flores joins us as a 0.8 Spanish teacher taking over in the position that was vacated about a month ago. Our students have been very patient during this time and we look forward to getting them back on track.

Bart Franta is joining us on Monday, December 3 as Lauren Wolfe's long-term substitute for the remainder of the school year.  We wish her all the best welcoming her new baby!

Lisa Dunn and Emily Kulik will share the role of World Language department liaison during Ms. Wolfe's absence.

Matt Messer, one of our Wellness teachers, is on leave for the remainder of the calendar year.  John Ciampaglia will be covering for him. Mr. Messer will be back in January.

Brian Garrigan will also be on leave once he and Ms. Wolfe welcome baby Garrigan.  I will share more information on coverage for his caseload while he is out in the next week or so.

Upcoming events in December:
Please consider joining the Superintendent's Zoom session on Thursday, December 6.
I would like to invite you to attend an online Zoom meeting with me and some members of the administration next Thursday, December 6, 2018, from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm.  We will discuss a variety of topics such as the David Mindess School Building Project, the Blueprint for Continuous Student Improvement process, the 2019-20 APS Budget, as well as other topics of interest, and all of this can be done in the comfort of your home.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/680106880

12/13/18- Minding Your Mind presentation-We will host two student presentations during day and invite the entire Ashland community to join us for a presentation in evening. This presentation is "an interactive presentation on mental health, designed to train both adults and youth on how to recognize the warning signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and crisis. Just Talk About It will educate parents, adolescents, and the adults who support them to look beyond stigma and notice warning signs in themselves and their peers... participants will come to understand ways to assist others, how to cultivate positive coping skills, and ways to ask for help."

Check out event details here! Preregistration is NOT required but we would love to have an idea of how many will be attending.

Eventbrite: Just-talk-about-it-adolescent-mental-health

                              

12/18/18- visit from South African students through Hammer & Chisel. We are excited to 
welcome visiting students from South Africa for the school day.  Students will spend the day shadowing our AHS students. We are looking forward to a great experience learning about 
education on the other side of the world.

Does your student ride the bus? Please see the link below if they do. Another bus is being added on Monday, December 3.
Anticipated changes to High School/Middle School Routes

Breaking the Barriers is currently partnering with Hammer and Chisel and Net of Compassion to collect clothes for a street store, a pop-up shop for the homeless where they can "shop" for free. During this cold, holiday season, the homeless are suffering more than ever. A gently used clothing item from the back of your closet could make all the difference when trying to keep warm in the harsh, New England weather. Please send your clothing donations with your child to school; there are collection bins by the front and back doors of the high school. Please see the attached flyer for information on most needed items!

Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!

                              

Happy Thanksgiving

Good afternoon and Happy Thanksgiving!

As always this short week was filled with spirit and the opportunity to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for at Ashland High School.  I am so grateful to work in a community of students that care so deeply about each other and strives every day to make AHS a great place to learn. Today's Pep Rally was kicked off with a reminder of all of the amazing acts of community service all of our clubs participate in.  Here are just a few of the pictures. 

Signs explaining the many acts of community service performed by our clubs, teams an activities.

Pep rally fun!

Students of the Term!

Last night was our annual hall decorating contest:

Here's a video of the halls: https://youtu.be/A9ege737EEY

And here are some photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/x7xpfB1WNvijhTTL9

From the Athletic Department:

Dear Clockers,

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we wanted to touch base with you regarding the annual football game that Ashland is hosting against Hopkinton.  We have been closely monitoring the weather and are on as originally scheduled for Thursday with a 10:00AM kickoff.  

The forecast says that this could be one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record and we have taken the following steps to ensure safety at the game.

• The cafeteria will be available throughout the game as a warming station
• The restrooms inside the gym hallway will be available throughout the game
• Heaters have been secured for both sidelines to offer the players and coaches some added heat down on the field.
• Hot Chocolate will be served at the concession stand

We hope to see many people at the game.  If you are coming, we strongly encourage you to "layer up." 

We will continue to monitor the weather and discuss the safety of all involved as the game gets closer.  

Thank you and as always...GO CLOCKERS!

Does your student ride the bus? Please see the link below if they do. Another bus is being added.
Anticipated changes to High School/Middle School Routes



Breaking the Barriers is currently partnering with Hammer and Chisel and Net of Compassion to collect clothes for a street store, a pop-up shop for the homeless where they can "shop" for free. During this cold, holiday season, the homeless are suffering more than ever. A gently used clothing item from the back of your closet could make all the difference when trying to keep warm in the harsh, New England weather. Please send your clothing donations with your child to school; there are collection bins by the front and back doors of the high school. Please see the attached flyer for information on most needed items!


Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!


Have a happy & healthy Thanksgiving!!!

November 16, 2018

Good afternoon-

Grades were opened today and are available in iStudent and iParent. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the teacher or your student's counselor. As a reminder GPA's are not shared with students until the student has completed 10th grade.

It's spirit week next week!
Pancake Breakfast - Sunday, November 18th 9-11am in AHS cafeteria 
The Ashland High School Student Council would like to invite the entire Ashland community to join us on Sunday, November 18th for a pre-Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast!  This family-friendly event will be held 9am - 11am in the high school cafeteria (65 E. Union St.)  $5 per person for all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, bacon, orange juice and coffee / tea / hot chocolate.  
And check out our commercial at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vosRsTh0aA

Monday, November 19th - Pajama Day
Tuesday, November 20th - Tourist Day
Wednesday, November 21st - Class Color Day

Wednesday is a before lunch early release day. Students will be dismissed at 11:20am.

AHS Blood drive and ECG screenings- SIGN UP NOW!!!
On Monday, November 19 we will have a "health day" at AHS where students and community members can get their heart health checked and then give the gift of potential health to someone by donating blood.  

Ashland HS is pleased to announce a heart screening program being offered on Monday, November 19th during the school day. The program will be provided by Mass HeartBeat, a local organization that specializes in ECG heart
screening. Mass Heartbeat brings their state-of-the-art ECG technology directly to the school to
provide an optional, non-invasive, and affordable screening that can help detect underlying issues
in the heart. The ECG tracings are interpreted by an experienced cardiologist and the results will
be returned within 5 business days.

Students who are interested must sign up for a time slot and register:

https://www.familyid.com/mass-heartbeat/mass-heartbeat-screening-ashland-high-school

Check out this videos for more information:

https://vimeo.com/265481925

https://vimeo.com/264268081

To find out more about the program, see the Heart Screening Guide attached.

Red Cross Blood Drive

We will also be participating in a blood drive through the American Red Cross on November 19 from 12-5pm. Students will have the opportunity to donate from 12-3pm then we will open to the public fronm 3-5pm.  We need you to make this another great community event!

The public can visit RedCrossBlood.org and use Sponsor Code AshlandHigh65 to sign themselves up from 3p-5p.  All presenting donors will receive a T-Shirt!

Does your student ride the bus? Please see the link below if they do. Another bus is being added.
Anticipated changes to High School/Middle School Routes

Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!

Have a happy & healthy Thanksgiving!!!

November 9, 2018

Good afternoon from Providence airport-

I am so excited to be heading to Orlando, FL for my 4th opportunity to volunteer at Give Kids the World with 34 members of the Make-A-Wish Club. It is such an inspiration to watch these students spend the week volunteering to help children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. 

End of Term 1! 
The year is flying by! iParent/iStudent is closed for the week, including Progress Reports.
Grades will be opened next Friday, November 16 after 3pm should all go as planned.  As a reminder, GPA and decile rank are not shared with students until after they have completed their sophomore year.  Students who are new to AHS will not be ranked by decile until they have completed four semesters at AHS.

AHS Blood drive and ECG screenings
On Monday, November 19 we will have a "health day" at AHS where students and community members can get their heart health checked and then give the gift of potential health to someone by donating blood.  

Dear Students and Parents,

Ashland HS is pleased to announce a heart screening program being offered on Monday, November 19th during the school day. The program will be provided by Mass HeartBeat, a local organization that specializes in ECG heart
screening. Mass Heartbeat brings their state-of-the-art ECG technology directly to the school to
provide an optional, non-invasive, and affordable screening that can help detect underlying issues
in the heart. The ECG tracings are interpreted by an experienced cardiologist and the results will
be returned within 5 business days.

Students who are interested must sign up for a time slot and register:

https://www.familyid.com/mass-heartbeat/mass-heartbeat-screening-ashland-high-school

Check out this videos for more information:

https://vimeo.com/265481925

https://vimeo.com/264268081

To find out more about the program, see the Heart Screening Guide attached.

Red Cross Blood Drive

We will also be participating in a blood drive through the American Red Cross on November 19 from 12-5pm. Students will have the opportunity to donate from 12-3pm then we will open to the public fronm 3-5pm.  We need you to make this another great community event!

The public can visit RedCrossBlood.org and use Sponsor Code AshlandHigh65 to sign themselves up from 3p-5p.  All presenting donors will receive a T-Shirt!

News from Student Council: 

The Ashland High School Student Council would like to invite the entire Ashland community to join us for our Thanksgiving Week Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, November 18th, from 9am to 11am in the high school cafeteria (65 E. Union St.).  This family-friendly event is open to all ages!  $5 for all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, bacon, orange juice, and coffee / tea / hot chocolate.  

And check our commercial at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vosRsTh0aA

Any questions?  Contact the AHS Student Council at STUCO.ashland@gmail.com


Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!

November 2, 2018

Good evening-

I hope you are all enjoying this warm weather today. There is so much going on at AHS this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing the play then catching some football as the team competes against Medway in the semi-finals. Let's hope the rain holds off.

If you have a chance this weekend be sure to see the AHSTS production of Twelve Angry Jurors. The production runs Friday, November 2nd and Saturday, November 3rd at 7PM, and Sunday, November 4th at 2PM.

AHSTS offers online sales up to two hours before show time. AHSTS discounts tickets purchased online (Adults: $12.99, 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.  It is sure to be a great show!!!


Tomorrow, Saturday, November 3 from 10am-3pm the Robotics Club is hosting their annual Robot Rodeo! This is a great event for kids of all ages!

We enjoyed a quiet but fun senior Halloween Parade this week, as many of our seniors were off at a different parade. It was still a great time!

We were proud to see AHS listed as the #1 school for passing AP scores this year!  Our teachers work hard to make sure students are prepared for these exams and it shows in the results. Kudos to all of the teachers who help along the way to educate all of our students.


AHS Blood drive and ECG screenings
On Monday, November 19 we will have a "health day" at AHS where students and community members can get their heart health checked and then give the gift of potential health to someone by donating blood.  

Dear Students and Parents,

Ashland HS is pleased to announce a heart screening program being offered on Monday, November 19th during the school day. The program will be provided by Mass HeartBeat, a local organization that specializes in ECG heart screening. Mass Heartbeat brings their state-of-the-art ECG technology directly to the school to provide an optional, non-invasive, and affordable screening that can help detect underlying issues in the heart. The ECG tracings are interpreted by an experienced cardiologist and the results will be returned within 5 business days.

Students who are interested must sign up for a time slot and register:

https://www.familyid.com/mass-heartbeat/mass-heartbeat-screening-ashland-high-school

Check out this videos for more information:

https://vimeo.com/265481925

https://vimeo.com/264268081

To find out more about the program, see the Heart Screening Guide attached.

Red Cross Blood Drive

We will also be participating in a blood drive through the American Red Cross on November 19 from 12-5pm. Students will have the opportunity to donate from 12-3pm then we will open to the public fronm 3-5pm.  We need you to make this another great community event!

The public can visit RedCrossBlood.org and use Sponsor Code AshlandHigh65 to sign themselves up from 3p-5p.  All presenting donors will receive a T-Shirt!

Adopt-a-Family Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Student Council is running its annual adopt-a-family Thanksgiving Food Drive, where classrooms, clubs, and sports have volunteered to "adopt a family" and have committed to filling a laundry basket with specific items.  These will then be donated to the Ashland Food Pantry and each basket will be given to a local family in need.  This running from Monday, November 5th through Tuesday, November 13th.  The baskets will be delivered to the food pantry on Wednesday, November 14th.  Please check with your child to see if they are involved with this, and if so, please remind them to bring in the item(s) that they signed up for (or remind them to be sure to sign-up for an item when the baskets go out on Monday)!

Have a great weekend and stay dry!

Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!