Ashland School District - Inspiring learning for life...

At the recent School Board meeting, Superintendent Hattrick presented his comprehensive Budget Reduction Proposal, outlining strategies to enhance fiscal responsibility and reduce the district budget to better reflect funding levels for current student enrollment. After a detailed review and discussion, the School Board voted to approve the plan, marking a significant step forward in achieving the district's financial goals. To view the Budget Reduction Proposal, click on this link: https://5il.co/33e3q Stay tuned for updates as the district works to implements the plan.

We invite you to participate in a series of listening sessions designed to provide transparency as we share insights to systematic spending patterns affecting the District's budget. These sessions are a chance for you to provide valuable input as we work together to navigate our current budget challenges impacting our schools and community. Listening Session Schedule: • Session 2: Dec. 2 @ 6:00PM – Ashland High School Theatre • Session 3: Dec. 3 @ 6:00PM – Walker Elementary Cafe • Session 4: Dec. 4 @ 6:00PM – Ashland Middle School Library • Session 5: Dec. 5 @ 6:00PM – Helman Elementary Cafeteria

This week, we recognize the invaluable work of our school psychologists, who play a critical role in supporting student learning, mental health, and overall well-being. School psychologists collaborate with teachers, families, and administrators to create safe and supportive learning environments. Through their expertise in assessment, intervention, and counseling, they help students overcome barriers, promote positive behavior, and develop lifelong skills for success. Join us in thanking our dedicated school psychologists for their ongoing commitment to nurturing our students’ potential! Let’s give a big THANK YOU to these incredible professionals for their dedication and expertise in helping students thrive! 🙌👏 #SchoolPsychologistWeek #ThankYou

🎃👻 Happy Halloween to all our awesome students! Our fantastic transportation staff is getting in the spirit by dressing up for the occasion! Wishing you a night full of fun, treats, and spooky adventures. Remember to stay safe out there! 🍬👀

📚✨ Quick Reminder of next weeks school schedule! 🎉 🗓️ Important Schedule: Monday, Oct. 28: No School for Grades K-8 (conferences) & AHS students out at 12:30 Tuesday, Oct 29 & Wednesday, Oct. 30: No School for all Students (conferences) Thursday, Oct 31 & Friday, Nov. 1: No School for all Students (Staff Planning) We’ll see you back on Monday, Nov. 4! Enjoy this fall break, and make sure to have some fun!! 🎈🌟 #NoSchool #FamilyTeacherConferences #FallBreak #EnjoyYourWeek

📢 Attention Parents, Guardians, and Community Members 📢 This morning, you may notice an increased presence of emergency personnel on the Ashland High School campus. We want to reassure you that there is no safety concern for staff, students, or the community. We’re collaborating with local first responders to conduct important safety drills, allowing our school administration and emergency personnel to work together effectively. Your child's safety is our priority! For more information on Ashland School District safety drills, please visit our district safety webpage: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/school-safety #AshlandHighSchool #SchoolSafety #CommunitySupport #EmergencyPreparedness

🚍✨ National School Bus Safety Week is here! As the days get shorter and visibility decreases, it's crucial to keep our kids safe on their journeys to and from school. Be sure to always stop when the bus's red lights are flashing. Keep a safe distance from the bus and wait for the driver’s signal before crossing. Let’s work together to ensure every ride is a safe one! 🛑💛 #SchoolBusSafetyWeek #SafeRides #RedLightsMeanStop #ItsTheLaw

Southern Oregon Pride! We are committed to serving ALL in our community. Excited to start the SOPride Parade! Come out and show your support Ashland! Parade starts at 10:00. #ASDProud #allmeansall #lovewins

Check out the article by Ashland.news highlighting our new summer lunch program. Free meals are now available for all children ages 1-18 at Walker and Bellview elementary schools, Monday through Thursday until August 8th. The piece explores how recent eligibility changes made this possible after years of ineligibility. Please click to read more about this exciting initiative and its impact on our community. https://ashland.news/no-free-lunch-actually-if-youre-up-to-18-years-old-you-can-get-one-this-summer-in-ashland/

Free summer meals will be served at Walker Elementary School and Bellview Elementary School June 17th - August 8th , Monday through Thursday 11am to 12:30 pm . All children age 1-18 will eat free regardless of enrollment.

On May 13, 2024, Ashland High School proudly unveiled a plaque at the Mountain Avenue Theater in honor of Richard L. Hay, a beloved figure in the theater community. Presented by Betsy Bishop, the ceremony was attended by around 30 community members, including OSF members, actors, theater professionals, students, alumni, and school staff. The AHS community expressed deep gratitude for Mr. Hay's generous donations of time, expertise, and funding for numerous school theater productions, significantly enriching our local arts scene. Richard L. Hay, who has been a cornerstone of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival since 1950, has an impressive legacy as a theater and scenic designer. With over 245 productions and four theater designs to his name, his influence reaches far beyond Ashland. His remarkable work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Oregon Governor’s Arts Award and the Hollywood Drama-Logue Critics Award. We are incredibly thankful for Mr. Hay’s dedication and contributions to our school and the wider theater community. His generosity and passion for the arts have left an indelible mark on all of us, and this plaque serves as a lasting tribute to his outstanding legacy.

A Big Shoutout to Three Remarkable Leaders! We couldn't be prouder of Christina Lehman, Rebecca Bjornson, and Stace Cheshire, who represented Ashland School District with brilliance at the Women’s Leadership Conference held at Ashland Hills last Friday! Christina Lehman, our stellar Director of Nutrition Services, Rebecca Bjornson, the dynamic Bond Administrator, and Stace Cheshire, the driving force behind our Transportation Department, soaked in invaluable insights and forged connections with inspiring women leaders from across the Rogue Valley. Their dedication to growth and empowerment is truly inspiring! Let's give them a round of applause for their outstanding leadership and commitment to making a difference in our community. #Leadership #Empowerment #AshlandPride https://womensleadership.co/conferences/

🎉 Today we celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! 🚌💐 To all our wonderful bus drivers in the Ashland School District: Thank you for ensuring our students travel safely every day. Your dedication and care make a world of difference in our community. We appreciate your early mornings, patient guidance, and the smiles you share with every child who steps onto your bus. Join us in showing gratitude to our heroes on wheels. Drop a comment below to thank a bus driver who has made an impact or share your favorite memory of school bus rides! #AshlandSchools #ThankYouBusDrivers #SchoolBusDriverAppreciationDay

A Big Grizzly Nation “Thank You” to Our Local First Responders! AHS had a successful lockdown drill to practice a campus-wide emergency response today. Our grizzlies and staff did a great job! We are incredibly grateful to our APD, SOU, AFD first responders, and the City Emergency Response Director for their invaluable support, expertise, and professionalism. By working closely with these community partners, we get feedback on our drill performance and learn how to respond effectively to campus emergencies. Our partners gain greater familiarity with our school and we celebrate together as a community that cares about kids and safety!

PREVIEW NEW ONLINE CURRICULUM FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) HERE: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/sel-curriculum-adoption The State of Oregon has launched its Transformative SEL Framework and Standards, a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering holistic development in students and educators alike. This comprehensive approach centers around the belief that learning is inherently a social and emotional process, deeply intertwined with the development of healthy identities, empathy, supportive relationships, and responsible decision-making. To align with the state framework, Ashland is preparing to adopt new K-12 curriculum tools. These will be online tools designed to be used in age-appropriate ways at each grade level from Kindergarten through high school graduation. Visit the site in the next 30 days to preview the online tools, read more about top choice WAYFINDER, and register your comments.

Join Oregon's Early Literacy Success Initiative! 📚✨ In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill to support the development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in young children, both at home and in the community. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is partnering with Oregon's Kitchen Table to gather input from families and community groups. We want to hear about: • Activities that help children develop literacy skills • Important topics for community groups • Interests and barriers in early literacy • Hopes for children's literacy development Your feedback will help create a framework and toolkit for community groups to support families. Share your thoughts in this survey by April 10th: https://tinyurl.com/okt-earlyliteracy For more information: https://www.oregonskitchentable.org/news/early-literacy-communities-and-home

🎒 Embark on the Educational Journey: Ashland Schools Kindergarten Registration Now Open for Fall 2024! 🌈 Ashland Public Schools is excited to announce the opening of kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year! We're dedicated to providing an engaging, comprehensive, and inclusive educational foundation for every child. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join Our Kindergarten Orientation Webinar Save the Date! 📅 Wednesday, April 3rd at 6:00 PM Dive into what makes our kindergarten program a nurturing and formative experience. This webinar is your opportunity to ask questions, and prepare for this significant milestone in your child's life. See link below or scan QR code in image for zoom link. 📌 Click the link to register your kindergartner today and for more information about our orientation session: ashland.k12.or.us/kinder We're eager to welcome you and your kindergartner to the Ashland Schools family, where every student's potential is cherished and nurtured. 🌟

Congratulations to AMS/TRAILS on their ribbon cutting yesterday, Wednesday, March 20th celebrating the completion of its new solar array at the fields for AMS/TRAILS Outdoor School, 158 Walker Avenue. The School District is pleased to share that the new ground-mounted solar array on the campus's southeast corner is operational. It is a substantial accomplishment for the district to honor the commitment to align its 2018 bond with the City of Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP). The new structure boasts 288 individual panels that have already produced up to 168 kWh during peak production. The ground-mounted array and location were selected carefully to minimize impact and use district space with minimal use. The Ashland School district is investigating additional solar sites to create other solar generation, lessening their carbon footprint and further aligning with the overarching City’s CEAP plan. Thank you to our Ashland community for your commitment to supporting our schools and our regional partners, True South Solar, HMK Co., and Adroit Construction, for your work! The solar field will provide power to the district’s TRAILS Outdoor School.

🌞✂️🎉 Solar Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Ashland School District Join us in embracing renewable energy for a brighter future! We're thrilled to announce the grand opening of our very own Solar Array at the Ashland School District. 📅 Date: Wednesday, 3/20 🕙 Time: 10 AM 📍 Location: TRAILS field by the solar array This event is a milestone in our commitment to sustainability and education. Witness the unveiling of a new chapter as we cut the ribbon on this eco-friendly initiative. Highlights: Free and open to all community members A morning filled with inspiring green energy No need to RSVP - just bring your enthusiasm for clean energy! Have questions? Reach out to Rebecca.Bjornson@ashland.k12.or.us. 🌱 Let's nurture our environment together - one solar panel at a time. See you under the sun! #AshlandSolar #RenewableEnergy #CommunityEvent #Sustainability #AshlandSchoolDistrict

📢 Ashland High School Celebrates OBOB Regional Champions! 📢 We are excited to share that our talented team, "Four Birds, One Scone," has emerged victorious at the OBOB Region 5 Championship! Congratulations to team members Finn, Rowan, James, Jack, Noah, and Niko on their remarkable achievement. Their journey of hard work and team spirit leads them next to the State Championships this April. Join us in cheering them on as they prepare to take on this new challenge with the same determination and passion that brought them this far. Stay connected for more updates and stories of their journey. Go, team!