GRIZZ-O-GRAM
December 11th, 2020
Ashland High School
Note that we have adjusted our hours to limit in-person contact. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment. Knock on the door if you plan to come to the Main Office. To maintain social distancing, we ask that you stay outside.
Attendance Office:
Deb Falk, Attendance Secretary
541-482-8782
Instagram: @ashlandhighschool
Facebook: Ashland High School - Ashland, OR
Past Grizz-O-Grams: https://www.smore.com/u/ahs
Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 201 South Mountain Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520, USA
Phone: 541 482 8771
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AHS.Ashland.OR/
ASD Calendar
*Updates have been made to the 2020-2021 School Calendar to accommodate for emergency closure.
Red and White Day Calendar
*Updates have been made to the 2020-2021 School Calendar to accommodate for emergency closure.
Bell Schedule Fall 2020
This week's Grizz...
- Principal's Update
- December Calendar
- Winter Fine Arts Festival
- Yearbook Photo Submissions
- Material Distribution Center 12/16
- Community Service
- PSAT Update
- Sport, Clubs, and Activities
- Counseling Office
- Scholarship Opportunities
Principal's Update
Hello Grizzlies!
I hope that you are all well and hanging in there. This year has thrown all of us so many unexpected challenges, pandemics, national and local tragedies that it’s hard to remember that it has all happened in just one year. If this year has demonstrated anything, it is that this community is resilient, compassionate, adaptable and innovative. That includes students, staff, parents/guardians, everybody. I am incredibly proud and honored to lead this school and to be a part of this community.
In order to be as responsive and supportive as we can for our students, many of our staff attended part 2 of a professional development series on Trauma Informed Instruction. In order to attend, these teachers provided asynchronous lessons for their classes. These are good fundamental teaching practices that benefit all students but particularly those that have had to endure challenging life events. This is just another way that we are moving forward to create a safe space at AHS for all students to learn.
On the subject of supporting all students, it's important to celebrate that during the school board meeting this past Monday our district adopted a resolution formerly supporting Black Lives Matter. This is an important step in our district's ongoing EDI work and will further strengthen the EDI efforts at AHS.
A reminder to students: If you have missed an assignment at some point this semester, you still have the ability to turn it in for credit. Please talk to your teacher if you have fallen behind. Often times, turning in missing assignments is the best way to improve grades because it removes the zero from the gradebook, which brings down the overall grade. If you have any questions, just let us know.
We have just one more week to go before a much-needed Winter Break. We got this!
Best,
Benjamin Bell
Reminder: Students must check ASDconnect emails daily!
Looking Ahead at December
Main Office Closure
Closed: December 21st - January 1st
Opens Monday January 4th (Red Day)
No School - January 18th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Virtual Winter Fine Arts Festival - TONIGHT - December 11th
Upcoming Parent/Guardian Night Meetings
Senior Parent Night - Wednesday, December 16th
Wednesday, December 16, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
- Important milestones and calendar updates
- How students are doing with Distance Learning/Tips for Success
- FAQ’s with school counselors and an administrator
Click HERE for Zoom Link
"Dear White Families" Workshop
Material Distribution - Wednesday, Dec 16th
The Distribution center will be open on Wednesday, December 16th.
We've got:
- Textbooks / Library Books
- Class Notes & Material
- 2019-2020 Yearbooks (that have been purchased)
- Whiteboards / Planners
If you need to pick up class materials, please call the Main Office to make arrangements.
If you would like to request a textbook, please email Aimee.Cork@ashland.k12.or.us.
Almeda Fire Family Toy Drive
Continue to support Almeda Fire families & our Latino community by donating to this toy drive! Toys can be purchased at the Amazon Gift List link below and sent to El Tapatio. Some items they need are new games, art supplies, or toys that can be used in small areas.
Click HERE to go to the Amazon Gift List.
Yearbook 2020-2021 Photo Submissions - December 31st
Contact yearbook@ashland.k12.or.us if you have any questions. If you are unable to get a high quality photo taken, contact us and we can arrange photo shoot.
From your Yearbook Staff, dedicated to showing every student at their best!
Community Service
Time to get creative and think outside of the box! Here are some examples of ways you can earn community service hours:
- www.Recovers.org - A local area email alert for continuous help needed for our Phoenix/Talent Fire Victims
- www.DoSomething.org - A youth-led movement for good focusing on advocacy work.
- www.we.org - An organization standing for Human rights & social equality.
- Making and Donating items to local causes (dog toys, grocery store bags, knitted hats, etc.)
- Sending letters to seniors at local retirement homes
- Thank you letters to essential workers
Habitat for Humanity
- Jackson County Fuel Committee
- And more!
There's a lot of ways you can support your community and earn community service hours. If you have any questions, reach out to your counselor.
PSAT Information and Update
The PSAT normally is scheduled for mid-October each year. However, due to the COVID shutdowns, this year’s administration was cancelled. Additionally, further state mandated restrictions have limited other administrations.
Ashland High School is planning on holding a very limited administration January 26, 2021.
We are capable of giving 25 students, in Junior status, an opportunity to take the exam. This is crucial for students who are interested in qualifying for The National Merit Scholarship program, as well as practice for the SAT.
We will be following safety protocols, placing students at least 6 feet apart, and in multiple small groups. Masks will be required during administration and during any time spent on campus.
The cost for the exam is $17.00 per student, unless your student has qualified for free and reduced lunch.
If you are interested in taking the exam and wish to register, please contact Maurice Monteiro at: maurice.monteiro@ashland.k12.or.us
Further information will be given upon registration.
Sports
As of right now all our athletics programs are on "pause" during the Governor's two week freeze. We will evaluate after the two weeks and resume practices as soon as it is safe to do so. We now how much the practices mean to our athletes.
Clubs & Activities
Christian Fellowship Club: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting. Passcode: 456358
Drama Club: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting. Passcode: 456358
Dungeons and Dragons: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting. Passcode: H30
Key Club: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
Mu Alpha Theta: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
National Art Honor Society: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting. Passcode: ahsart2020
Philosophy Club: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
Queer Straight Alliance: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
Tap Club: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
Truth to Power: Click HERE for Zoom Meeting.
Writers & Poets Club: Click HERE for the Zoom Meeting.
Truth to Power Podcast Episode
Click HERE to give it a listen!
The link can also be found on the AHS News & Resources Canvas page.
Want to get involved with Truth to Power’s podcasting or activism? Join us today at 12:30 via Zoom—find the link on the AHS News & Resources Canvas page.
The Rogue News
The Rogue News staff has just relaunched the official Rogue News website with a fresh new look! Our first few stories are posted and more will be rolling in over the coming weeks. We’re excited to also add some multi-media including podcasts and videos this year. Check it out and spread the word! These student journalists are really amazing!
More Than Sympathy - The Rogue News
Click HERE to read.
Student Tutor Center
This year we are offering FREE tutoring online every Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Help is available in all subjects, including Canvas navigation! Your student can access the Student Tutor Center through the AHS News & Resources page on Canvas and join the Zoom session there. For the Zoom link, click HERE. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Anderson at tammy.anderson@ashland.k12.or.us.
Counseling Office
High school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students. They implement a school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period.
If you need to get in contact with your counselor regarding scheduling, academics, etc., call the counseling office at 541-482-2278 or email your counselors.
Diane Berry
Bryanna Trevino
Maurice Monteiro
Jen Marsden
Karyn Barats
College and Career Pathways: Scholarship Season is Here!
Resources for Seniors and their Parents/Guardians
Seniors have been receiving information on scholarship opportunities and have begun work on scholarship applications in their College and Career Readiness (CCR) classes. Jen Marsden, our College and Career Specialist, has been providing support to seniors as they work on completing both the OSAC Scholarship eApp and the AHS Local Scholarships application process. Ms. Marsden is also providing scholarship application support during the optional Senior CCR Advisory on Wednesday mornings and through daily office hours. Seniors (and parents/guardians) are encouraged to reach out to her with questions at jennifer.marsden@ashland.k12.or.us. For more information about scholarship opportunities, please see below.
OSAC Scholarships
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15, 2021
REQUIRED DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2021
The OSAC Scholarship application contains many scholarship opportunities just for AHS seniors and other scholarships for students from Jackson County and Oregon that AHS students can apply for. The majority of OSAC scholarships can be taken out of state. The OSAC Scholarship eApp is completed and submitted online, and the AHS registrar will upload a student’s transcript to their OSAC eApp.
AHS provides OSAC scholarship information sheets (see below) to help students determine which scholarships they may want to apply for. If a scholarship has a code of “auto” that means it is automatically attached to every AHS student’s OSAC eApp and they do not have to specifically apply for it. Students should read through the AHS OSAC scholarship information sheets and use the OSAC scholarship search engine to find other OSAC scholarships they may be eligible for. Students should also complete their FAFSA before the OSAC March 1 deadline to be eligible for all OSAC scholarships.
Important OSAC Links:
- OSAC Scholarship Application
- OSAC Scholarship Application Timeline
- OSAC Ashland High School Student Scholarships
- OSAC Oregon High School Student Scholarships
For questions or assistance on the OSAC Scholarship application, please call Jen at 541-482-2278 X-2130 or email jennifer.marsden@ashland.k12.or.us.
Local Scholarship
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 22, 2021
Ashland is fortunate to have a large number of local scholarships available to graduating seniors. Every year, over $100,000 is awarded by local service organizations and foundations. Students can get started on these scholarship applications by following the links listed below.
Important Local Scholarship Links:
For questions or assistance on Local Scholarships, please call Karyn at 541-482-2278 or email karyn.barats@ashland.k12.or.us.
Ford Scholarship Program
The Ford Scholars Program, funded by the Ford Family Foundation of Oregon, offers scholarship awards to eligible students in Oregon that cover 90% of a student’s unmet college cost of attendance at an Oregon public or private university. To be eligible for the Ford Scholarship, a student must have a FAFSA EFC of 6000 or below. For more information about the Ford Scholars program and to complete an application (due March 1), please visit the Ford Scholars website. Students can also learn more about the Ford Scholars Program and eligibility requirements here.
Other Helpful Resources...
Other helpful resources include the 2020-21 AHS College Handbook and video recordings of AHS financial aid and college information sessions, which can be found on the AHS Youtube Channel.
ATTENTION SENIORS
For a list of current scholarships and opportunities (other than Local or OSAC scholarships), click here: Current Scholarships & Opportunities. This list is updated every Friday.
FAFSA
ACT and SAT Updates
Due to Covid restrictions, Ashland High School will NOT be administering the ACT or SAT until March 2021. Check 2020 ACT Updates and 2020 SAT Updates for the most current information about ACT /SAT testing. The majority of colleges that usually require ACT/SAT scores as part of the admissions process, have waived that requirement for the Class of 2021 as they know many seniors have been unable to test. Please check individual colleges to see their updated policies.
Students who still want to attempt to test this year can register for the ACT and SAT online, and those who qualify for free/reduced lunch are eligible for fee waivers for both tests.
Please contact karyn.barats@ashland.k12.or.us to obtain a fee waiver.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
Greenfield Peace Scholarship
Elk Members Legacy Award - Seniors
Legacy Awards – The Legacy Awards program begins on September 1st. Legacy Awards provide $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk members. The ENF offers a total of 350 national awards. The application deadline is February 5, 2021 at 11:59 a.m., Central Time. Please visit enf.elks.org/Leg
The Collidge Scholarship - Juniors
As a quick refresher, the Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that may be used by recipients for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2022 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply).
Coolidge Scholars are selected based primarily on academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: an interest in public policy, an appreciation for the values President Coolidge championed, as well as humility and service. Today’s competitive academic culture regrettably sometimes drives students to hype their accomplishments and pursue ambitious efforts merely to attain credentials. The Coolidge Scholarship pushes back on this trend. Successful candidates are indeed accomplished, but exhibit humility with respect to their achievements and pursue things of genuine interest to them regardless of the perceived prestige associated with the activity. A complete description of the scholarship’s criteria is available here.
The competition for the Coolidge Scholarship is indeed significant -- but even students who do not win have reported to us they are glad they went through the application process because it helps prepare them for college applications later on. Furthermore, the Coolidge Foundation invites 100 of the top applicants to participate in its Coolidge Senators Program, which includes an all-expenses-paid Summit Weekend in Washington, D.C and a one-time $1,000 scholarship. Applicants who make it to the finalist level, but do not ultimately win the full scholarship, also receive a modest one-time finalist scholarship.
Alert: the application requires that applicants read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and complete a few other reading assignments. While the book is not overly long, we encourage applicants to begin the application early so that they have plenty of time. Candidates who begin the application at the last minute are unlikely to be successful. The submission deadline is 5:00 PM EST, Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
We hope you will share this opportunity with outstanding high school juniors at your school. The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be accessed on our scholarship site: www.coolidgescholars.org. Please note If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, the Coolidge Scholars Program can be reached by email at coolidgescholars@coolidgefoundation.org or by phone at (202) 827-4291.
Class of 2021 Information!
Class of 2021 Senior Grad Attire Ordering Info
Mental Health Counseling Services
These are challenging times that can be even harder on teens. If your teen is experiencing the feelings and/or issues listed below, we’re here to support them - regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Schedule a meet-and-greet or an appointment with AHS Health Center therapist Kimberly Wasserman by calling 541-842-7677.
Somethings to look/listen for are:
• Anxiety, panic or excessive worry
• Grief, loss, disappointment and anger
• Traumatic events including discrimination
• Family conflict
• Depression, apathy or suicidal thoughts
• Isolation, withdrawal, boredom and loneliness
• Substance use or changes in behavior
Please note: If you are having a mental health emergency and are in imminent risk of harm, you should call Jackson County Mental Health at 541-774-8201 or 911 since our services may not be immediately available.
FAQ
Where can I drop off physical paperwork?
Need Technology Support?
Ashland School District Tech Department is here to help if you have questions about a device, PowerSchool, etc.
Click HERE to access Distance Learning Student Portal
For other technical questions, contact our Tech Deparment at:
Email: techhelp@ashland.k12.or.us
Tech Support Helpline: 541-201-2600
Click here to fill out the ASD Tech Support Request Form
Where can I access free internet around town?
- Ashland Public Library - Open 12-4 Mon-Thur
- Talent Library - Open 12-4 everyday but Fri
- Phoenix Library - Open Tues 11-5, Wed 1-7, Thur 11-5
- Medford Library - Open 12-4 everyday but Thur
- Grace Point Church in Ashland - Contact Church for details
- Rogue Valley Roasting Co
- Starbucks
- Bloomsbury Books
- Boulevard Coffee
- Mix Bakeshop
- Nobel Coffee Roasters
- HeartSong Nutrition
School Websites
Parent and Student PowerSchool Portal
Check schedules, grades and pay fees via the PowerSchool website and app:
Ashland High School Website
Social Media
Youtube
This channel will contain Announcements, Parent Night Webinars, Counseling Office udpates, etc.