May 20, 2022

Good afternoon-

We look forward to celebrating a wonderful evening tonight with the Class of 2023 Prom. 

• Grand March begins at 6:00pm in the AHS gym. Families and friends are welcome to attend!
• After the Grand March, students will then go to Lake Pearl in Wrentham  from 7:00pm to 11:00pm  (299 Creek Street, Wrentham MA).
• Students must arrive at prom by 8:00pm at the latest and can not leave prior to 10:00pm without parent permission.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 on their last day of classes!! Their schedule for the next two weeks can be found here:

Senior Exam schedule: week of May 23

Senior Week schedule: week of May 31

     Families of graduates are encouraged to attend Class Day and Graduation

News from Student Council-

Class Officer Elections:

The election process for the 2022-2023 class officers has begun!  Any student interested in running for a class officer or elected Student Council representative position should read through all the information here.  All nominations and administrator endorsements are due to Mr. Wiczer by Friday, May 27th, at 3pm.

School Committee Advisory Council:

We need to elect a five-person "School Committee Advisory Council" that meets regularly with the School Committee to update them on what's going on at AHS.  In addition, one member of this group will be chosen to be the official "student representative" on the School Committee, attending all meetings and offering suggestions from the perspective of an AHS student.  To learn more and learn about the election process, please read through all of the information here.   All nominations and administrator endorsements are due to Mr. Wiczer by Friday, May 27th, at 3pm. Any questions?  Contact Mr. Wiczer at jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us

DAET Supporting Teens Mental Health

AEFI Annual Fundraiser - Virtual Cooking Class with Chef Kelsey Murphy

Due to Covid concerns, we are going on our 3rd year of not being able to hold our annual in person fundraiser.  This year, we decided to replace it with something a little different and fun.  We are hosting a virtual cooking event (via Zoom webinar) by Chef Kelsey Murphy (she is the most recent winner of a very popular television cooking competition show with Gordon Ramsay)!  This is our only fundraiser this year so we hope you can join us!  Don't love to cook?  No problem!  You can still donate by visiting our website at www.ashlandeducation.org.  Your donations go directly back to the Ashland Public Schools in the form of grants applied for by faculty and staff.  Thank you very much for your support. 

Planet Fitness is offering free gym memberships to students this summer!

May 13, 2022

 Happy Friday-

Our Academic Awards ceremony will be held Monday night at 6:30pm in the AHS auditorium. Students receiving an award and a parent received email notification and an invitation to attend. we look forward to celebrating the achievement of many of our students.

NHS members of the Class of 2022 who were inducted via Zoom last year(in November 2020) will be recognized with certificates and pins at the Awards Night on Monday, May 16.  Parents are invited to see their children publicly recognized for this accomplishment.  (Note: seniors who were inducted in Fall 2021 already received their certificates and pins at the induction ceremony in October, so they will not be part of this)

All members of the Class of 2024 will participate in the math MCAS on Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 18. Students should bring their Chromebook and charger each day.

Students in other classes should be aware there will be no loaner Chromebooks or chargers available on those days. 

Friday, May 20 is an early release day. AHS is dismissed at 12:45pm (note correction). Lunch will be served. 

We are looking forward to celebrating prom with the Class of 2023 next Friday. Students are reminded they must attend the entire day of school in order to attend prom. The Grand March will be held in the AHS gym at 6pm. Students participating should report to the cafeteria at 5:45pm.

If your student is interested in poetry please check out this flyer: Juneteenth Poetry contest

May 6, 2022

Good afternoon-

We are looking forward to enjoying this evening with the Class of 2025 and their first dance at AHS. Tickets are $10 at the door. The dance begins at 7pm with doors closing at 7:30pm. Parents will be called for any students leaving before 9pm. Pizza, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. 

Senior Assassin: We have a received some parent concerns about the safety of this game. We share the concerns. This is NOT a school sponsored event. Students who are caught with any water gun, etc. at school will have it confiscated. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Please click here to access the Family SEL Newsletter with a focus on Mental Health resources and events happening in Ashland this month. 

Final exams for grades 9-11 are scheduled for June 15-22, 2022. The schedule can be found here. Teachers will share their expectations with each class (exam, project, etc.).

Happy Mother's Day to all moms and mother figures out there!

Juneteenth Poetry contest

The Dangerous Truth about Today's Marijuana

PTO meeting

April 28, 2022

Good afternoon-

The deadline is fast approaching for early bus registration. Register prior to May 1 for discounted prices: Early bus registration 

AHS Final Exams are scheduled from Wednesday, June 15- Wednesday, June 22. The schedule will be shared shortly. Teachers will be discussing exam expectations in the coming weeks with students.

Ashland High School is participating in the JED High School technical assistance program which helps schools assess and strengthen policies, programs, and systems that prevent suicide and support the emotional well-being of our students. The JED Foundation is a national nonprofit that seeks to support the emotional well-being of young adults ages 13-30. As part of assessing what we currently have in place, our JED High School Advisor will be facilitating virtual focus groups with students, caregivers, and educators to learn more about the emotional health of the school. No school or district staff will be part of the caregiver or student focus groups and identifiers will be kept confidential so your identity will be protected.

The caregiver focus group will take place on Tuesday, May 17 from 6-7pm via zoom. We are looking for 10-12 participants. If you are available and interested please complete this form by Tuesday, May 10. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Jennifer Cutler | she/her
Director of Counseling & Social-Emotional Learning | Ashland Public Schools
jcutler@ashland.k12.ma.us | www.ashland.k12.ma.us
Office: 508.532.4015 | Mobile: 774.410.5184
87 W. Union St., Ashland, MA 01721

Dear Ashland family members,
As part of our equity audit process, L&P Educational Services, an educational consulting organization will facilitate two discussions about our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for:
Family members of 9-12 grade students
Tuesday, May 10
6-7 p.m.
To participate, you will need a computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection, camera and microphone. We also ask that you connect in a quiet place with enough light so that your face will be visible.
If you're interested in participating, please fill out this form by Tuesday, May 3. If selected to participate, you will be emailed with meeting details.
Please don't hesitate to contact Assistant Superintendent Michael Caira at mcaira@ashland.k12.ma.us with any questions about our equity audit process.

 

DAET is hosting three parent programs in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. 

This week check out:

Lisa Campbell - "Mindfulness for Parents of Teens"

Laura Stack - "The Dangerous Truth About Today's Marijuana: Johnny Stack's Life & Death Story"

The Clocker Club is holding our 2022 Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 19th at the Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton! Registration is open for golfers and corporate sponsors. There is also a lunch-only option available. Please consider grabbing a friend or three and signing up to play, dine OR take part in one of our sponsorship levels. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year.  

HERE IS THE LINK TO REGISTER FOR GOLF or SPONSOR: 

https://spring-clocker-club-golf-tournament.perfectgolfevent.com/

We are also holding a fun event, not a fundraiser, on Saturday, May 14th at the Corner Spot. Busker will be playing and there will be food and drinks. It's a great time to catch up with old friends. 

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at one or both of the events!

If you don't golf or can't make an event, please consider making a general fund donation via Venmo @Ashland-ClockerClub.

The Clocker Club is dedicated to the support and advancement of all the athletic programs at Ashland High School and Middle School by promoting the purpose, pride, and performance of all student-athletes. We provide support through financial and volunteer assistance to the athletic programs, coaches, and student-athletes. 

AREA (Ashland Residents for Equity and Action) has some upcoming events where students can earn community service hours.  

Please contact: area@ashlandequity.org for more info.

Upcoming AREA events 2022

News from the Ashland Public Library:

Once Upon a Bookfest!

Bookfest flyer

April 14, 2022

 Happy April break!

We hope everyone has a restful week and is ready for the mad dash to the end of the school year.

Term 3 grades are now posted in iStudent/iParent. Report cards will be available next week in the reports section of the system. If you have questions or concerns about grades please reach out to the teacher for information.

Seniors have a very short 4th term and only 20 regular school days once we return. 

The Senior Exam Schedule can be found here. As a reminder, here is the letter detailing Senior Graduation Events.  

The exam schedule for underclassmen will be shared after vacation. Exams will be held in the traditional format and will begin on Wednesday, June 15. June 22nd will be a make up day for students. 

We encourage anyone with a home test to take it before returning to school on April 25, 2022.

Have a safe week!

April 8, 2022

Good afternoon-

Today marks the end of Term 3. The year is flying by! The administration and faculty is looking forward to celebrating prom with the Class of 2022 tonight. 

Grades should be ready to be shared at the end of the school day on Thursday, April 14. It is the goal to have Report Cards uploaded into iParent/iStudent as well but that sometimes can take a little longer. 

If your student drives to school please remind them of the importance of following the rules of the road. The bus company recently reached out to me as well as APD to report several incidents of students passing buses, throwing items at the buses, as well as other potentially unsafe behavior. 

Reminder, there is no school on Friday, April 15 and school is closed for vacation for the week of April 18. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

April 1, 2022

Good afternoon and happy April!

This message was shared with all students this morning. If your family celebrates Ramadan please make sure your student sees this information. 

We recognize Ramadan, which begins this evening, as a month-long observance by Muslims worldwide, marked by spiritual reflection and worship. For students who observe Ramadan and may be fasting, we want to offer you a space during your lunch period to be away from the cafeteria. The library and distance learning lab has been reserved for you for reflection and prayer throughout the month. The DLL is the room off the library.  If you have 3rd lunch the counseling office will be open as a space for you. As always, please reach out to your counselor or administrator with any questions or concerns or if you need to access quiet space at additional times during the day. We wish a safe, happy, and generous Ramadan to all members of our community who observe the holiday.

With one week left in Term 3 all students are encouraged to check iPass and seek out teachers if needed. X-block is the perfect time to make up a missed assignment or quiz or ask for extra help. 

Ashland High School Student Council Bingo Night

The Ashland High School Student Council is running its 12th Annual Bingo Night on Wednesday, April 6th.  This event is open to all ages and is always a fun time.   A pack of 6 cards good for the entire night will cost a suggested donation of $10.  Bring your own Bingo dauber or bring $1 to buy one.  Free coffee and baked goods.  The class of 2023 will be selling pizza.

We have over $1700 worth of prizes to give away, donated by local businesses and restaurants.  For a full listing of all of the prizes, visit our website at: https://sites.google.com/ashland.k12.ma.us/stucoashland/events-2021-2022/bingo-night

And check out our commercial online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEHMheqGrYM

It'll be a fun night!  Come join us!  If you have any questions, you can contact the Student Council at STUCO.ashland@ashland.k12.ma.us or Josh Wiczer (Student Council advisor) at jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us

Financial Reality Fair
The AHS Student Council is working to put together our third annual "Financial Reality Fair" for the graduating seniors.  This event will be held on Friday, May 27th in-person at the high school.  Each senior will receive a paycheck and credit score and will need to navigate various booths where they will have to make financial decisions (renting an apartment, getting a car, getting insurance, etc.)  

To run this event successfully we need parent help!  To learn more about what volunteering involves and to sign-up to help, please visit our website at https://sites.google.com/ashland.k12.ma.us/stucoashland/events-2021-2022/reality-fair.  If you have a background in any of the fields listed on the website, that's great!  If not, we'll train you for the fair!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nayonika Singh at SinghNay@ashland.k12.ma.us (Student Council President) or Josh Wiczer at jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us (Student Council Advisor).

Ashland Public Library programs:

Poetry for Neanderthals

Static Shock