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October 15, 2024

Good morning-

It will be a busy week here at AHS. Please read this carefully and let me know if you have questions. 

As a reminder, Tuesday is the only day we will have an x-block. 

Wednesday, students will engage in community service, take the PSAT, and explore post-secondary options. 
    If you are proctoring the PSATs, please leave a note on your door asking any students who are present to go to the cafeteria. 
    If you are attending community service, you will receive a separate email from me with times and locations. You should also leave a note on the door asking students to go to the cafeteria. 
    Teachers of senior classes and teachers who are displaced because of PSAT's, please come to the cafeteria for coverage assistance. 
    Other teachers, you can remain in your classrooms for any students who are present.
    Any student who is assigned to AHS for community service will meet in the auditorium in the morning. If you have classroom jobs/tasks, please let me and Sue Reap know ASAP, as we have students still looking for service opportunities. Students who did not sign up or reach out to us will attend class. We will have lists and help direct students. 

The iDecide schoolwide survey will be administered on Thursday, October 17 to all students during x-block. 
iDecide, designed in collaboration between Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Institute for Health and Recovery, aims to provide schools with a scalable, effective, and youth-centered tier-two intervention that can be used as an alternative to punishment for school-based substance use infractions. We have successfully used this program since 2022 as an intervention for students who have been caught with substances in school.  
 Students will receive the link to the survey via email. It is important that all students have their Chromebooks out in order to participate. Please encourage them to do so. Students who have been opted out by their parent/guardian will be assigned to report to the office.

If you received a 503 error this past week when logging into iPass please update your bookmark to use this URL: https://ashland.ipassweb.net/school/ipass/syslogin.html

The schedule for October 18 is found here as well as on the AHS Google calendar. Please note that we will follow an F day lunch schedule. Students will be dismissed from B block or 3rd lunch and teachers are asked to sit or stand with your homeroom (or B block class if you do not have a homeroom). 

It is about time to renew our EdPuzzle subscription. If you are still actively using EdPuzzle please let me know.  


Communication Reminders

Logos and Brand Guidelines

Whether you're designing a flyer, t-shirt or newsletter, please remember to use our approved logos here and review our brand guidelines. We have individual building logos as well as district logos in different file formats for ease of use.


Email Signatures

Email from an "ashland.k12.ma.us" address is considered official district correspondence. Please format your email signature with one of the following options:


Option 1

Full Name (option to include pronouns here) | Title

Department or Program name | Ashland Public Schools

Email @ ashland.k12.ma.us | www.ashland.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508.XXX.0000 | Fax: 774.XXX.0000

Mailing or Physical Address Ashland, MA 01721


Option 2

Full Name | pronouns

Title | Ashland Public Schools

email@ashland.k12.ma.us | www.ashland.k12.ma.us

Office: 806.XXX.0000 | Cell/Desk/Fax: 774.XXX.0000

Mailing or Physical Address Ashland, MA 01721


You don't have to add a confidentiality statement or non-discrimination statement, as any correspondence from an ashland.k12.ma.us address has an automated footer added to every email message regarding anti-discrimination and public records law. If you have any reference to either of these topics, please remove them from your signature now that we have established a district standard for these statements.


Profile Pictures and Avatars

Adding a profile photo to your account on district digital platforms, such as Google Workspace or Zoom, is not a requirement. If you choose to add a photo, use your yearbook or badge photo or a similar headshot. You may use a digital avatar such as a bitmoji if it aptly depicts you. Please don't use a logo or photo of someone else.


Additional Assistance

Questions or comments regarding branding guidelines, the district website, Smore or other communications-related topics? Contact Media and Communications Director Esmer Casas at ecasas@ashland.k12.ma.us.


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