TRAILS Outdoor School News
June 28, 2022
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Principal's Message
Dear TRAILS Outdoor School Families,
Welcome to the first edition of the TRAILS Outdoor School News and the final newsletter for the 2021-22 school year!
Some important information:
- On Monday, 6/13 the Ashland School Board approved our new name! We are now TRAILS Outdoor School. Please see below for more details. Also please note that it will take some time to update all of our materials but we're working on it and are excited to embrace our new name!
- We will start school (K-8) on Wednesday, 8/31 on the Lincoln campus. Our newly rebuilt site is slated for an 10/21/22 completion.
- Class lists will be posted on the Lincoln main entrance doors on Friday, 8/26 at 4pm.
- We are sadly saying good bye to some incredible staff members that will be dearly missed.
- We are enhancing our middle school model for the year to come. Read more in the letter from Jim and Marcia below.
- MyPath is available this summer to help support students' growth and skill development and retention.
- Our TRAILS Office is closed and I will be taking some time for connection and adventure with my family during July. I'll look forward to returning on August 1st.
I hope that all of you are enjoying the sunshine and have some amazing adventures of your own on the books. If you want to share them with us- check out our "ducks running amok" on the school Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/trailsoutdoorschool
Warmly,
Principal
Pronouns: she, her, hers
TRAILS Outdoor School
The name TRAILS Outdoor School was chosen from over fifty names that were suggested by staff, students, and members of the Ashland community. A committee of ten volunteers researched the name suggestions and narrowed the list down to four finalists which aligned with the values of the school and district. Then, staff, students, and families at the school engaged in a thorough process of considering the pros and cons of each of the four finalists and submitted a first and second choice to the school board. The Board then sent out a community survey to get additional input. The Board chose TRAILS Outdoor School, the top choice from the outdoor school community. TRAILS Outdoor School students are scheduled to move into their remodeled building on Walker Avenue during the next school year.
In 2020, the Board created a committee to review all of the names of district facilities. That committee studied each school name and recommended that the district consider a new name for the John Muir Outdoor School. While acknowledging Muir's important work for the preservation of many beautiful places, the committee found some of his attitudes towards Native Americans and people of color to be offensive. The committee shared a full report that both praises Muir for his good work and delves into some actions that have negative reverberations to the present day.
The TRAILS Outdoor School community can celebrate a new name that is welcoming to all students and will inspire them to be the change they want for the world. The Ashland School District appreciates the hard work and transparency of the members of the renaming committee as well as the students, staff, and families of the school for their thoughtful work and engagement in choosing a new name for their school.
2022 End of Year Slideshow
All School Music Performance and 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
A Message from our PTC:
Such a special evening last night, the sun relenting to clouds amidst musical performances to remember, and then the chance to celebrate the journeys and accomplishments of our graduating 8th graders. And it all happened in person!
Special thanks to the 7th and 4th grade classes families who helped support the evening under Sage's leadership, especially Eric Hansen for the True South Solar power hookup and Sandra Weingart for coordinating the many fronts. Thanks to Allison Wildman for guiding the process, and all who helped out, David Hampton, Marie Trammel, Jeremy Rothenberg, Keet Beck-Brattin, Amanda Groover, Michelle Ahearn, staff Jessica, Tommy, and Ryan, and the many parents and family members who jumped in to help with take down and more (even graduate Morgan Scheer was out there folding chairs after his own graduation ceremony). Nasser's 4th graders painted pots for each grad and Ryan's 7th graders made the cool camp setup that decorated the field. And thanks to Laurie Green for ordering the PTC grad gifts, steel water bottles emblazoned with a JMOS goodbye.
Goodbyes
We have some members of our team who will not be returning for the 2022-23 school year. We will miss them all dearly!
- Lindsay Wiegel (JMOS Office Manager) will be taking a position in Student Services.
- David Schlichting (JMOS Custodian) will be moving to a position with the maintenance department grounds crew.
- Chad Wikander (EA) will be available to sub occasionally but he's moving on to his next adventure.
- Erin Finney (Special Education Teacher) will be taking a full time position teaching at Helman Elementary.
- Ryan Ritchie (6/7 Teacher) is looking to utilize his curriculum development skills in his next position. With opportunities to work remotely, he'll have so many options.
- Maddi Reames (Explorations Teacher, Ashland Connect EA, and JMOS "All The Things") is moving to Bend where she will teach at a Waldorf school.
- Kelly Anderson (PE and Health Teacher) will be moving to AMS and AHS.
Where will your duck go?
Class Configuration 2022-23
K/1: JoEllen Meyeroff
1/2: Randi Nash
3/4: Charlie Henry
4/5: Nasser Rihan
6/7/8: Jim Bowers
6/7/8: Marcia Ososke
Note: Class lists will be posted on Friday, 8/26 at 4pm at the Lincoln campus main entrance.
Middle School Message from Jim and Marcia
Dear parents of rising sixth, seventh and eighth graders,
As you know, next school year JMOS is embracing a shifted model for our middle school-aged students. Marcia and Jim will each have a “homeroom” that is a mixture of sixth, seventh and eighth graders. This model will be a combination of our self-contained classrooms and a traditional middle-school configuration. Marcia, Jim, and David Wasserman, our Math Specialist, will each teach one grade level of math. The two classes will be intermixed in different groupings for other content areas. This model will offer:
- A broader “middle school experience” for our approximately 55 students
- The ability to differentiate instruction for all students in a variety of configurations throughout the day and year
- A mirrored schedule for both classes, offering flexible groupings in Music, P.E., and throughout all content areas.
- The ability to dive deep into the district’s newly-adopted social studies curriculum.
- An age-appropriate separation from youngers in the school at times while still offering the benefits of learning in a K-8 environment. Both classes will be down in the “upper-grades wing” of our new site.
- A team-teaching approach with two teachers who have both taught multi-aged blends and who’ve worked well together for eleven years to make the middle school experience for TRAILS students fulfilling.
- Flexibility to differentiate outdoor education experiences for students, honoring grade levels with age-appropriate opportunities.
- Increased opportunities for leadership
We have a really exciting schedule of outdoor education experiences lined up for next year that will challenge your child, deepen their connection to the natural world, and strengthen their bonds with one another. Marcia and Jim love the outdoors and can’t wait to share that love with your middle school kids. Outdoor Education calendars will be out soon and we hope parents are able to block out a few important dates and join us!
- Annual Unit Studies Trip: October 11th to 14th – Redwoods National Park and Oregon Coast (this trip requires parent involvement)
- Fall Backpacking Trip: September 22nd to 23rd – Pacific Crest Trail
- EarthTeach Upper Grades Parent Day: To Be Announced
Summer
Reading: We encourage summer reading! Students can use books read over the summer towards their genre goals (a variety of genres, and a minimum of six to eight books throughout the year), so keep track of titles and authors!
Community Service: Any community service hours completed over the summer can count towards next year’s target goal of 25 hours per student, so if your student participates in a summer program, be sure to ask for signatures on hours completed! Community Service hours count if time is given to those outside of our immediate family and no compensation is received.
We’re looking forward to a great school year!
Jim and Marcia
MyPath Lessons on iReady
We have had a number of parents ask how they can support their students with learning in the summer so that students can come back to school feeling confident. Tutors can be difficult to find, cost prohibitive, and difficult to manage with summer schedules. We highly encourage families to have students continue with My Path lessons on iReady over the summer. They all have a username and password and are familiar with the lessons. Even more importantly, the lessons are targeted to what they individually need based on their most recent assessment data. If there is a missing foundational skill, that will be targeted. If the student is above grade level and in need of a challenge to move to their next step, that is what's targeted. Consider making this a part of your child(ren)'s summer routine. Oh, and know that reading for pleasure is always a great choice too! Books, magazines, audiobooks- you name it, kids benefit from reading each day.
Last Day of School Celebration
Capstone Success
WOW, WOW, WOW! Thanks to YOUR support by purchasing Parker's JMOS Merch, she was able to donate $800 to Kiva.org. She made 8 loans for $100 each to people needing money for education, healthcare, and art around the globe. (see image) Parker is feeling very proud and is excited to continue to microloan for years to come as these loans are repaid. Thanks, everyone!
PTC Corner
Hikeathon wrap-up from our PTC
We ended strong! With a grand total of 11,692 miles hiked we have collectively raised $4,257 for future enrichment, community events, and outdoor ed. A special shoutout to Randi's class for fundraising like champs and to 2nd grader Oliver Willumsen (who reached his goal of hiking 200 miles!) and 1st grader Autumn Willumsen who were the hike-a-thon's leading fundraisers. This effort would not have been possible without the hard work and ongoing support of Liz Galicia. Thank you, Liz!
Community Resources and Opportunities
Access Free Mobile Market
1760 E Main St, Ashland
2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month.
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
See below for more information.
Academia Latina
An amazing opportunity for current 7th and 8th grade Ashland School District Latino/a/x students!
July 10-16, 2022
Academia Latina is a summer academic residential program for Latino Youth in southern Oregon. The program offers of a broad range of classes, lectures, cultural experiences, and recreational activities for Latino students who have completed grades 7 through 9. Students selected for the residential camp will live on campus at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. They will interact with other Latino students from throughout southern Oregon while being challenged by creative, imaginative instructors and activities.
Please visit the website for more info and to fill out an application.
All application documents (online application, letter of recommendation, academic transcript, Covid attestation, and essay) are due May 27, 2022.
Families in Need
The Ashland Emergency Food Bank, located at 560 Clover Lane is ready to serve you for free regarding any supplemental nutrition needs you may have. They take pride in offering a vast pantry with a plethora of nutritional options as well as shelf-stable necessities for anyone in your family. Additionally, they also supply fresh organic produce from local farmers daily in their generously packed food boxes, which families can get up two twice a month. Stop by Monday through Friday 9:30 am -12:30 pm or or email them on their website at www. ashlandefb.org.
Also, if transportation is an issue, they offer home delivery services to clients. Please reach out. They can’t wait to be of assistance to you!
Summer 2022 SOU Youth Programs
Summer Better Than Others - Brochure 2022
Bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to kindle curiosity, inspire college confidence, and ignite expectations for a bright future!
Online Registration: inside.sou.edu/youth/summer
Rogue Rowing Summer Camps
Come Learn How to Row with Rogue!
Camps available for youth ages 10-18.
Details and registration at roguerowing.org
Collaborative Problem Solving Parenting Classes
If you've been struggling with your child or teenager's tantrums, meltdowns, explosions, implosions, or other negative behaviors, you are not alone and you are in the right place! Tried being firmer, more consistent, giving out stickers, unending time-outs, big rewards, yelling, giving up, and medication without success Collaborative Problem Solving® is different!
Upcoming Important Dates and Events
June 14: Report Cards Mailed
June 14: TRAILS Office Closed for Summer Break
July 11-28: Summer School Session #1
August 1-18: Summer School Session #2
August 31: First Day of 2022-23 School Year (All Students: K-8)
September 2: Touvelle River Crossing (K-8; Families Welcome)
September 5: Labor Day (No School)
October 21: Estimated Site Completion Date
School-wide Unit of Study: Ecosystems (September-Thanksgiving Break)
TRAILS Outdoor School
- Trust
- Respect
- Awareness
- Interdependency
- Leadership
- Stewardship
TRAILS: Inspiring our students to deepen their connection with the Earth through integrity, the arts, stewardship, and authentic learning experiences.
At TRAILS Outdoor School, we value the outdoors, the arts, collaboration, responsibility, and kindness. We guide students to become resilient, independent learners who give back to their community.
#wegetkidsoutside
Email: jennifer.parks@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/trails
Location: 320 Beach Street, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-8577
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trailsoutdoorschool