Update from the Middle
April 16, 2021
Important Dates to Remember
- Thursday, April 22nd: Planning Day (NO SCHOOL)
- Friday, April 23rd: Planning Day (NO SCHOOL)
More Updates!
As you may have heard, the Ashland School District is working to bring even more students on-campus at least four days a week, beginning on April 26. While the changes to the AMS program will not be as significant as they will be at the elementary and high school level, the district has elected to give teachers across the district time to prepare for this transition. For this reason, there will be no school for all students on April 22 and 23 to allow for preparation at all sites.
Thank you for your response to our family commitment survey last week. This information was very helpful for our planning. It looks like we will be able to accommodate all students who are currently on-site 2-days a week but who have requested a 4-day program. And, if your student is already attending on Wednesdays, they would continue to do so. We are also working through our waitlist of families that first elected for Comprehensive Distance Learning, but now are hoping for an on-site program. You will receive an email next week for your student confirming how many days a week they will be attending on-site beginning April 26.
Attendance Reminders!
As we transition to bring more students to campus four days a week and reduce the physical distance between students, it is even more important than ever that parents pre-screen students before sending them to campus. If your student is showing any signs of illness, and particularly COVID-19 symptoms such as fever/chills, new on-set cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, headache/muscle pain, please keep them home. Unfortunately, we have had students come to campus sick and expose other students who have then had to quarantine for 14 days. It’s been devastating to some of those students and families, so please remember, we are all in this together and it’s very important that we all follow the CDC, ODE, and Jackson County Health Department guidelines around staying home when symptomatic.
Additionally, if your student is healthy, it is very important that they attend school on-site the days that teachers are expecting them. Teachers are finding there are a number of families and students who are choosing to attend classes virtually even when it is an on-campus day for the student. This is causing additional hardship on teachers. Our teachers care deeply about the students and have worked hard to accommodate many needs this year. Please help the teachers by ensuring your healthy student attends on-campus during their on-site school days!
Finally, we want to remind everyone that the last day of school is later this year, on June 18, due to the week of school lost because of the Almeda fire.
Thanks,
Steve and Katherine
Information from the Survey Introduction from April 9:
As you may have heard, the Oregon Department of Education has once again revised its Ready Schools Safe Learners guidance allowing school sites to reduce the mandated distancing between students from six-feet to three-feet. While this change is helpful in enabling AMS to bring more students back to campus more days a week, there are still a number of limitations in the guidance that create logistical challenges for us to work through, but we are busy working to address them!
Things that that will remain the same even after April 26:
- Students must still wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while on campus
- During lunch, while students are eating, the mandated distancing is still six-feet
- Staff and students will continue to hand sanitize often
- Students are still expected to stay home if they are symptomatic
- If there is a positive COVID-19 case on campus, those students sitting within six-feet distance of that student will be required to quarantine, as per the Jackson County Health Department
- Students participating in Comprehensive Distance Learning will continue to log into the Zoom Classrooms and participate synchronously following the AMS bell schedule
AMS Food and School Supplies Drive
The Spanish classes are organizing 2 drives. Not only will this help our study of food and school vocabulary, but also we’ll get to contribute to our community.
- Food Drive to donate food and supplies to the Ashland Emergency Food Bank. Non-perishable foods and supplies such as canned foods, boxed foods like cereal and pasta, oils, rice, beans, peanut-butter, etc. They also accept toiletries and supplies such as toilet paper, diapers, soap, etc. When children visit the Food Bank, they are invited to take home a book, so we’re also collecting gently-used books from board books and picture books, on up to young adult books. They especially welcome books in Spanish.
The Ashland Emergency Food Bank distributes food and supplies to our neighbors in the valley, free of charge. https://ashlandefb.org/
- School Supplies Drive to donate school supplies to the Maslow Project. The Maslow Project distributes school supplies to homeless youth every August and they are very excited that we are supporting them! Suggested items: notebooks, pens, pencils, paper, backpacks, calculators, folders, glue sticks, erasers, crayons, binders, pencil pouches, scissors, etc.
The Maslow Project is a non-profit in our valley that supports homeless youth meet their basic needs so they can achieve their dreams. https://www.maslowproject.com/
How do I donate? Send a bag of donations to school with your child, or drive by with your donations and drop them in the donation boxes. Donation boxes are located in front of the school during the school days.
When? This will be happening during the entire month of April.
AMS Spring Track & Field
Season Dates: Track and Field from April 26 through May 28th (must be registered & cleared by 4/26/21)
Make sure your student is cleared to practice:
- Registered on Family ID
- Current sports physical on file
- NEW COVID CONSENT FORM
Having trouble getting a doctors appointment? Try these places:
- Valley Immediate Care -1401 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR (541) 734-9030
- Talent Clinic - 312 E. Main St. Talent, OR (541) 535-9108
- Asante Urgent Care - 55 Black Oak Dr. Medford, OR (541) 789-2273
- Ashland Family Practice - 935 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR (541) 482-2716
Yearbook Deadline Extended
The 2020-2021 school year has been the strangest ever, and many people have asked if we are going to have a yearbook this year. The answer is yes! Absolutely! It wouldn’t be a school year without a yearbook.
Yearbooks will now be delivered sometime this summer. This means there is still time to submit photos or purchase a yearbook. We are looking for pictures of student on campus and at home to commemorate this unusual year.
Also, 8th grade parents…we are going to have a section dedicated to our graduates heading to high school next year. The yearbook club has decided on baby pictures! This is a fun way to see how far they have come.
Please send photos to Christopher.plouhar@asdconnect.org.
Call the office today to purchase your PANDEMIC YEARBOOK. 541-482-1611
28th Annual Spring POWWOW
Virtual Facebook Event
Winner takes all men's grass and women's jingle hosted by Keeli Littleleaf Kotchik
Opening song by Dancing Spirit
Stay tuned for more info on dances, artists, and youth opportunities!
For more info contact: Maxwells@sou.edu
Jackson County SART Community Parent/Caregiver Night
Tuesday, April 20th 6:30-7:30 pm on Zoom
Simultaneous Spanish interpretation provided
Join other parents and caregivers in exploring ways we teach children about topics like healthy relationships and consent.
We at Jackson County SART will share how we introduce these topics in age-appropriate ways to your K-12th graders – part of the state-mandated sexual violence prevention program we teach in Jackson County schools.
- What would you like to know about prevention education?
- What conversations are you having -- or would like to have -- with your children?
- We’ll also share information on how YOU can help us revise our K-5 prevention lessons in your schools.
We look forward to meeting you!
What: Community Parent/Caregiver Night
When: Tuesday, April 20th, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Where: Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84903559415
If you’re not able to attend but interested in giving feedback on our lesson revisions or would like information about our prevention education in schools, feel free to reach out to us directly at kyndra@jacksoncountysart.org.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates.
Jackson County SART is a non-profit organization working to ensure an effective, collaborative response to sexual assault that prioritizes victim’s needs and reduces the traumatic after-effects of this crime; to help bring more offenders to justice; and to prevent sexual violence through community egagement and change.
Ashland Branch Library
Spring Storywalk
Date: 4/18 - 4/24
Time: All Day Event
The Ashland Branch Library is celebrating National Poetry Month. Join us for a self-guided poetic stroll and story outside! Pages from the picture book Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre will be placed along a walking route in Ashland. People of all ages are invited to enjoy the book’s gorgeous nature photography and poetic language celebrating springtime and flowering plants.
Earth Day "Seed Bombs"
Date: 4/22/2021
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
After the fires in September devastated our region, there are many public areas which could use new plant growth. Come by the Ashland Library to make some "seed bombs" (balls of soil and native seeds) on the library lawn. Then, whenever you have time, take your seed bombs to one of the locations that has been approved by Parks & Recreation (list provided at event) and toss them as far as you can on the location you chose in order to help new life sprout there! This event will take place outdoors, weather permitting. Masks and social distancing required. Seed varieties graciously donated by the North Mountain Park Nature Center and the Friends of the Ashland Library.
Take & Make: Garden-to-Go
Date: 04/24/2021
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Swing by the Ashland branch to pick up a Take & Make Kit with supplies to start your own mini garden-to-go! Each department will be offering a different variety of kit. Children: Flowers Teen: Veggies & Edible Flowers Adult: Windowsill Herb Garden. Kits are available while supplies last.
SOU Summer Better Than Others
Day Camps and Classes for Youth Ages 7-15
June 21-25, June 28-July 2, July 5-9, July 12-16, July 19-23 and July 26-30, 2021
SOU Academy 2021
A Residential Camp for Academically Talented Highly-Motivated Students Who Love to Learn, Completing Grades 5-8
June 28 - July 2
Ashland Family YMCA
- Art Class
- Gymnastics/Parkour
- Sports Classes
- Swim Lessons
- BSA Girls Troop 211
Newsletter Translation
The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and services and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated at our school to handle inquiries and complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies and to coordinate compliance efforts:
Name: Steve Retzlaff Title: Principal
Address: 100 Walker Ave
Telephone: 541-482-1611 ext. 3109
Email: steve.retzlaff@ashland.k12.or.us
Inquiries or complaints may also be directed to the Student Services Office at 885 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland Oregon (phone: 541-482-2811)
Complaints may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172 (TTY).