Ashland Middle School

🌎✨ Celebrate Earth Day with a twist! Join us at The Farm @ SOU for an extraordinary Rogue Earth Day event! 🚴‍♂️🎭🎨 🗓 Mark your calendars: April 19 | 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM 📍 155 Walker Ave, at the heart of SOU. Don't miss out on the fun and the opportunity to connect with the community in celebrating our planet. 🌱💚 For more info, pedal over to 👉 sou.edu/earthday

🏀 Calling all young athletes! 🏀 Join us for the Ashland High School Girls Basketball Camp! Open to girls in grades 5-8 for the 2024-2025 school year. This is your chance to improve your skills, make new friends, and have a blast on the court! 📅 Dates: JULY 15-19 2024 📍 Location: 201 S Mountain Ave. Ashland, Or 97520 Register now to secure your spot: https://5il.co/2hufp or scan the QR code in the image. For more information, email allison.gida@yahoo.com or visit the AHS Athletic Office.

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.

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.

National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9. Please join AMS in celebrating and appreciating our Behavior Health Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Interns this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you team!!! Abdiaziz Guled: Student Advocate Abdiaziz really needs no introduction. We can’t imagine any community member who has not crossed paths with this extraordinary individual. Abdiaziz has worked for ASD since 1994 and in his current position since 1997. You can frequently find Abdi at the “Cubs Corner” but he actually seems to be everywhere at once, organizing a lunchtime game, teaching a leadership class, co-leading a BSU meeting, coaching track, or soothing a student who feels left-out and is having a hard day. After 30 years in the district, he shares that he loves “seeing students later in life become great human beings and helping their community and the world”. Outside of work, Abdiaziz enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening with his wife and playing sports.

National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9. Please join AMS in celebrating and appreciating our Behavior Health Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Interns this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you team!!! Michaela Skye: Behavior Health Specialist Intern (one day/week) Michaela just joined ASD as a BHS intern at both Helman and AMS at the beginning of January. She meets with students to provide mental health support, characterized by active listening, maintaining unconditional positive regard, and collaborating with them to develop essential skills and emotional processes. She shares that “working with students and offering support while witnessing their growth in their mental health journey is a rewarding aspect of my position. I am also grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the exceptional staff at the Ashland School District”. Beyond the school setting, you'll often find Michaela teaching or performing music on most days of the week, or spending quality time with my family and pets.

National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9. Please join AMS in celebrating and appreciating our Behavior Health Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Interns this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you team!!! Brooke Emberle: Social Work Intern (two days/week) Brooke joined AMS in January. She grew up in Idaho, lived on the east coast for a number of years and now has returned to the PNW to complete graduate school in Social Work. Brook will be working with students individually to support problem-solving and general coping skills and will run a few groups for students needing support with consistent attendance. Brook is also looking forward to learning more about the Peer Leader Sources of Strength program and supporting 6th-8th grade students as they develop, plan and implement school-wide campaigns. Beyond the school setting, Brook enjoys spending time with friends and in nature, doing yoga and snowboarding (when there is enough snow).

National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9. Please join AMS in celebrating and appreciating our Behavior Health Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Interns this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you team!!! Lance Matthewson: CDS/Child Development Specialist (4 days/week) This is Lance’s second year as a Child Development Specialist at AMS. He has worked with children and adolescents as a classroom teacher, play therapist and social worker for the past 15 years. His work focuses on helping students “safely” learn to recognize, regulate, and respond to overwhelming feelings. Lance uses interactive techniques including social-emotional learning, mindfulness, movement-based learning, group work and cognitive behavioral therapy. Outside of school, Lance loves to move in nature, travel and explore different cultures, dance and spend quality time in the company of friends and family.

National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9. Please join AMS in celebrating and appreciating our Behavior Health Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Interns this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you team!!! Julie Bleicker: Behavior Health Specialist Julie has worked at AMS for two and half years. She moved from the Bay Area a few years ago where she worked at the high school level for a dozen years. She brings an extensive knowledge and passion for work with students with learning differences, is a strong advocate for student support needs and enjoys working as part of a team. Julie can generally be found in her office or counseling area, or walking the track with students who benefit from movement and fresh air. Recently she has begun work with 6th-8th grade Sources of Strength Peer Leaders, supporting a school-wide campaign to recognize and celebrate connections to strength and positivity. On the home front, Julie loves spending time with her husband, boys (when they are around), and dog. Her favorite pastimes are running, reading, and cooking.

🏈🥫 Touchdown for Charity! 🥫🏈 Hey Ashland Middle School community! Are you ready for some friendly competition for a great cause? It’s time for our 1st Annual Souper Bowl of Caring! 🍜🏆 Here’s the play-by-play: From February 5th to 9th, bring in your non-perishable food donations to support local families in need. Cast your vote for the ultimate champion by donating items to the team bin of your choice: The mighty 49ers or the fearless Chiefs! 🏈 Every can counts! The team with the most donations wins, but the real victory will be the support we provide to those who need it most. Let’s huddle up for hunger and show how much we care. Together, we can tackle poverty and make a difference in our community. 🤝 📍 Drop your donations at the school entrance. 💡 Don’t forget to check expiration dates.

KQED, the Bay Area public station, featured student work from Samantha McMillan's Social Studies classes in their Youth Media Challenge. This website provides a platform and showcases middle and high school students who are making their voices heard by engaging deeply with the challenges facing our society and producing work for the larger community. Check out the website at https://youthmedia.kqed.org/showcase?city=Ashland&district=Ashland%20School%20District%205&state=OR

Greetings, Ashland School District Community! The Board of Directors would like to share a quick progress update in the search for the district’s next Superintendent. The recruitment window for applications ended on December 28th, 2023. In the coming weeks, the Board will review applications and conduct preliminary interviews to determine semi-finalists. These semi-finalists will be invited to interview in-person with the board and the Community Interview Panel later this month. If you haven’t applied for the Community Interview Panel, it’s not too late! This volunteer group of students, staff members, parents, and community members will have the opportunity to interview Superintendent finalists on January 23rd. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to apply, please visit ashland.k12.or.us/supsearch. The deadline to apply is noon on Monday, January 8th. If you have questions, concerns, or input about the Superintendent Search process, the Board wants to know! You can connect with the entire School Board by emailing school.board@ashland.k12.or.us. We hope that you’ll consider playing a role in this critical process for Ashland Public Schools. Thank you!

Help make this holiday season merry and bright for some Ashland family! AMS is collecting new, packaged toys in the Main Office from December 4th-15th. Drop-off is in the Main Office.

We hope you can join our Ashland Middle School Bands and larger community this evening for a benefit concert in support of our Ukrainian students, families, and refugees. The concert starts at 7pm in the AMS Large Gym. Donations are welcome!

Please join us for session two of our substance use awareness nights, organized in collaboration with Ashland High School and community partners. This night will feature Kolpia. Regardless of your attendance at night one, we welcome your participation in this informative session. These nights are designed to cultivate awareness and establish partnerships with both guardians and community organizations. We hope to facilitate ongoing discussions concerning substance use, awareness, and the various resources accessible within the school and the community.

AMS OPEN HOUSE December 7th, 4:30 PM- 6:00 PM Refreshments provided!

🎶✨ You're cordially invited to warm your hearts at "Minka's Sleigh Ride!" - a special evening of music dedicated to supporting our Ukrainian refugee friends. 🇺🇦 📅 Date: December 7th 🕖 Time: 7:00 p.m. 📍 Location: AMS Auditorium Join us for a night filled with enchanting melodies, featuring the talents of our Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Cadet Band, ASD Choir, YSSO students, and the illustrious Alexander Tutonov. 🎺🥁🎹 From the resonating 'Ukrainian Bell Carol' to the exhilarating 'Minka’s Sleigh Ride' and the stirring 'Hej Sokoly', let’s celebrate the spirit of giving through music. 🎼 Let's come together in spirit and harmony for this noble cause. Your presence and contributions are the best support we can offer to those in need. Donations are warmly welcomed! 💙💛 🤝 "AMS cares for every student!" - let's show the world what our community stands for. See you there!

"Let's innovate together! 🌟 Ashland School District seeks your feedback on our school calendar and schedule. We value the diverse needs of our families and invite students, staff, parents, and community members to take a brief 12-question survey. Your insights are crucial for our collaborative and comprehensive review process. Have your say and make a difference! ✏️ Survey closes 11/24/23 - click to participate: https://www.smore.com/jhnx8

🎵✨ Last Wednesday's Ashland Middle School Choir debut concert was a resounding triumph! The auditorium rang with the vibrant blend of our voices alongside the High School Choir, thanks to Ivan Olinghouse and Amy Merwin. It was a joyous celebration of music and community. 🎵🌟 Our sincerest thanks go to the families, friends, and the Ashland community for your enthusiastic support. Your presence and cheers are the true melody that inspires us. As we look to the future, save the date for our next concert: Join the Ashland Middle School Choir and AMS Bands on December 7th as we come together for our Ukrainian Benefit Concert. More details will follow—your support in this event will help make a meaningful impact.

Ashland School District Board of Directors has launched a search for Ashland School District’s new Superintendent, who will join our district in July 2024. They are committed to finding the right leader for our unique and dynamic community. To lay the foundation for a meaningful search that reflects the needs and priorities of the Ashland community, the Board is seeking input through a Superintendent Search Survey for students, families, staff members, and community members. To participate in the Superintendent Search Survey click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SuptAshland For additional information about the Superintendent search process, click the following link: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/school-board/page/superintendent-search