December 14, 2018

Good evening- With just one week to go until the winter break there is a lot of energy in the building. There are also a lot of students who are having a more difficult time than usual with their emotions. I hope your student had a chance to tell you a little bit about the "Just Talk About It" presentation from Minding Your Mind yesterday. The young adult speaker did a great job of reminding students to reach out and be the person that offers a hand to help, and to not be afraid to ask for help. Thanks to those of you who came to the evening presentation! Breaks and holidays can be a hard time for some students and families. Don't hesitate to reach out to one of our counselors if you have questions or need any assistance of any kind. Next Friday is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:35pm and there will be no late bus. Lunch will be served. A message from the AHS library: Books donated to the AHS Library at the 2018 Band Book Fair at Barnes & Noble We would like to thank all those who donated books to the AHS library during the Band Book Fair at Barnes and Noble last Friday.  Most of you chose not to use a donation sticker, so I don’t know who to thank. We very much appreciate all 15 new books that will now be available to the students. 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by Mitchell Zuckoff

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff (donated by Moyra and Robert Traupe)

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Dear Evan Hansen by Emmich, Levenson, Pasek & Paul

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (donated by Griffin Young)

Fridays with Bill: Inside the Football Mind of Bill Belichick by John Powers

How Psychology Works: Applied Psychology Visually Explained

How to Be Alone by Lane Moore

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (donated by Henry Young)

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Psych 101: A Crash Course in the Science of the Mind by Paul Kleinman

Relentless:A Memoir by Julian Edelman

We Say #Never Again: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists (donated by Moyra and Robert Traupe

What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens by Carol Christen (donated by Mr. & Mrs. Mina)

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera The National Honor Society is hosting "Strike Out Suicide" a bowling fundraiser at Bowlero in Shrewsbury on Saturday, January 26, from 5 to 7 pm.  You can form at team (of up to 8 people), at a cost of $80 (so, $10 per person for 8, $20 per person for 4, etc.) for one of the two times slots, 5-6 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m. (or get your bowl on for two hours for $160!). All funds raised go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, this year's charity.  Bring your family and friends for a fun time supporting a great cause.  Here is the link to sign up!  You don't have to have 8 people, you could have 4, or whatever number, the cost of the lane for the hour is $80.  This is after midterm exams are over and a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends.   Go here to sign up!   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054ea9a823a7fd0-nhsbowling If you have any questions, see an NHS officer or Marybeth Gallant at mgallant@ashland.k12.ma.us Please help us STRIKE OUT SUICIDE!  Thanks! The Clocker Idol - Season 5 On Wednesday, December 19th, the Ashland High School Student Council will be presenting the fifth year of "The Clocker Idol" (our version of American Idol) at 7pm in the high school auditorium (65 E. Union St.)  Admission is $5/person and all the proceeds will go to the Ashland Emergency Fund.  The entire community is invited to watch this family-friendly event and help vote on who the next "Clocker Idol" will be. The participants are: Samantha Boccuzzi, Rachel Dintino, Caroline Ellis, Justin Galang, Brady McGuire, Maeve McMahon, Emma Pawl and Anakin Sullivan The MCs for the event are: Kiara Leak and Adrianna Fawkes The judges for the event are: Mr. Curran, Ms. Nemeth, Ms. Reap, Ms. St. Coeur, and Ms. Twomey Check out our promotional video online: https://youtu.be/IA97otJaCBw Parents of seniors, our Class Rings/Graduation needs vendor, Jostens, is offering the opportunity for parents of the senior class (or any family member!) to order customize yard signs to celebrate the proud graduate!   You can order them directly from Jostens using the attached link: https://jostens.typeform.com/to/oSljf9 Check out the Parent Flyers  to see what is going on around the schools and town!

December 7, 2018

Good afternoon-
Only a few quick reminders this week. 

The AHS Band Barnes & Noble Bookfair is tonight at 6:45pm.  Swing by Barnes & Noble in Framingham for some great family entertainment and a portion of your purchases will support the band.

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! Donations are being collected through 12/10/18.

Please join us for:

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.T

The Clocker Idol - Season 5

On Wednesday, December 19th, the Ashland High School Student Council will be presenting the fifth year of "The Clocker Idol" (our version of American Idol) at 7pm in the high school auditorium (65 E. Union St.)  Admission is $5/person and all the proceeds will go to the Ashland Emergency Fund.  The entire community is invited to watch this family-friendly event and help vote on who the next "Clocker Idol" will be.

The participants are: Samantha Boccuzzi, Rachel Dintino, Caroline Ellis, Justin Galang, Brady McGuire, Maeve McMahon, Emma Pawl and Anakin Sullivan

The MCs for the event are: Kiara Leak and Adrianna Fawkes

The judges for the event are: Mr. Curran, Ms. Nemeth, Ms. Reap, Ms. St. Coeur, and Ms. Twomey

Check out our promotional video online: https://youtu.be/IA97otJaCBw

Parents of seniors, our Class Rings/Graduation needs vendor, Jostens, is offering the opportunity for parents of the senior class (or any family member!) to order customize yard signs to celebrate the proud graduate!  
You can order them directly from Jostens using the attached link: https://jostens.typeform.com/to/oSljf9

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