October 29, 2017

Good evening!

I read this quote tonight in a blog I follow and had to share.  What would AHS be like if we modeled learning, collaboration, exploration, etc. on a daily basis.  I highly recommend checking out George Couros when you have a chance.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I am ready for a some quiet after so many great things happening at AHS last week starting with Courageous Conversations: Love, Inclusion, Trust Tuesday night.  We were so lucky to have Jamele Adams speak to the community.  Our panelists, especially the students, shared their thoughts and opinions on diversity and inclusion at Ashland High School.  Some of their stories were powerful.  One student shared a story of a teacher questioning his friend on why he was out of school on a Jewish holiday...asking if he was really that Jewish.  We can and must make sure a story like that is NEVER repeated at AHS.  Other stories were shared of black students referred to as "Oreo" or asked which form of the N-word they preferred.  These are the things that are happening in our building.  I hope we can continue to work together to create a culture that is truly supportive of all students.  I am grateful to the committed students, faculty, parents, and community members who are willing to do the work of making sure AHS is a safe community for all.  Just like during the student presentations we took some more great selfies and had some great conversation about making Ashland High School the best it can be!

As you know, last Thursday night the Socios Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 62 new members.  These students have worked hard to demonstrate the pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.  It was a beautiful ceremony and we are very proud of this hard-working, caring group of students.  Please review the email Ms. Gallant shared on Friday and let her know if you have any concerns about students who do not demonstrate these pillars.  

 

Thank you for your support of the senior class Halloween  parade.  This was a great group with super creative costumes.   Here's a snapshot of a few, including some of our math department who always get in on the fun.

Term 1 end on Tuesday, November 6. The year is certainly flying!   The grading window will open at 3pm that Tuesday and will close on Monday, November 13 at noon.  This timing is new so please make sure you plan ahead to have your grading completed.

A reminder to review your lockdown procedures and see me or one of the Deans if you have any questions.

Please click her to see our first ever Ashland Athletic's Newsletter!  Click on the following link to access the newsletter- Clocktown Sports Volume 1, Issue 1

Just a quick reminder that the AEFI Innovation Grant applications for 2017-2018 will be due on November 3rd.  Please feel free to email me at teachergrants.aefi@gmail.com with any questions or if you have any ideas you’d like to discuss!

I look forward to seeing many of you at the play this weekend!  

Tickets are now on sale for the AHSTS production of Museum. The production runs Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th at 7PM, and Sunday, November 5th at 2PM. Patrons may buy tickets in advance online at ahsts.com. AHSTS offers discounted tickets purchased online. All seating is reserved. For more information or tickets, visit ahsts.com.

Ashland Raises Healthy & Happy Kids! Helping Your Children Learn Social Media Wellness

Social media is a fact of life for teens and tweens. And it is not all bad - it provides access to music, shows, TED talks, cute animal videos, and an easy way to communicate and make plans with friends. But we all know it can consume kids. It is important that children understand anything they post on social media can be seen by ANYONE, but scaring them and monitoring them 24/7 is not the solution. We need to teach them to make good choices intrinsically - give them freedom and responsibility, with limits.

1. Check your kid’s phone. This does not mean 24/7 monitoring of every post and text but make spot checks. Know their passwords.  If you find something you do not like that was sent or received, talk to your child about why you find it inappropriate — and then ask them what they think. Once they verbalize their thoughts, it allows them the opportunity to think things through and contemplate the consequences of their online activity.
2. Be app-savvy. You do not need to have every app your children have but know how they work so you can have informed discussions about them.
3. Help kids understand their “why”.  Encourage your kids to ask themselves the following questions:

Why am I picking up my phone?

Am I bored, am I lonely, am I sad?

Am I just uncomfortable because I’m in a room where I don’t know anyone?

Why am I posting this?

Does spending time on this app make me feel energized or drained?

Asking themselves “why” helps them make decisions that reflect  their own values and choices and slows down impulsive online communication.

4. Set clear ground rules. Talk to your kids about appropriate social media use before you give them a phone or allow them to download a new app. Once you hand it over, they’ll be too excited to focus on your instructions.

5. Create opportunities for digital breaks daily. Give your children a voice in when they will take these breaks….before bed, after dinner, in the car, certain times on weekends.  While most kids won’t admit it to their parents, an enforced break from technology could be just what they need. Research shows that 24 percent of our teens feel like they’re online all the time. When parents put restrictions on how much and when kids can use technology, it can be a relief. And remember our community challenge of not allowing your kids to have their phones in their rooms at night!