We once again wanted to thank all of our Bluejay families for your support with our Bluejay Boogie Bash Fundraiser! Our fundraiser raised approximately $38,000 thanks to you! We had over 85% of our families register and almost 70% participate! We will split these funds between the two elementary schools and utilize the funding to pay for playground equipment, speakers/assemblies, prizes to support our Bluejay Rallies, opportunities for teachers to get extra classroom incentives and instructional items.

After losing several days of school for students, administrators are closely tracking student instructional hours to make sure we meet the requirement. Unfortunately, winter weather may not yet be over; there is a chance we could lose additional days of school. In an effort to initially make up some lost instructional time, adjustments have been made to the school calendar. The early outs scheduled for February 7th and April 24th will now be full student days. There will be both AM and PM preschool on these days. Please plan accordingly.

We hope you get out and enjoy this beautiful weather with your family and friends!

Megan Poell and Amanda Moon

Feb 5 - PTO Meeting 7:00 @ Intermediate Building

Feb 13 - Preschool Baking Buddies Day (invitations and details coming soon)

Feb 14 - Valentine's Day parties

Feb 15 - No school for Students; Staff Inservice

Feb 16 - No school for Staff or Students

Feb 21 - Young Author's Celebration

March 12 & 13 - Parent Teacher Conferences

April 11 - Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting for 24-25 Kindergarten Families @ 6:00 pm

May 3 - No School for CURRENT KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS due to Kindergarten Round-up being held this day!

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on March 12th from 4:00-9:00 and March 13th from 1:30 - 4:30 pm. We will again be using the online system for sign-ups. An email will be sent on February 19th at 4:00 with directions on registering for Parent-Teacher Conferences.

We are currently beginning the enrollment process for the 2024-2025 school year. Any child turning five years of age on or before July 31, 2024 is eligable for entrance to kindergarten. We will be hosting a Kindergarten Round-up/Parent night in April. Please look for more information to come via mail.

Each year in an effort to communicate with district patrons the school provides an annual report. This report contains information about accomplishments in both academics and activities. The report also highlights educator effectiveness, student mobility, and district financial information.

The Beanery Truck visited the elementaries on January 26th. All teachers and support staff were treated to a yummy coffee or smoothie. A great way for everyone to start their day!

All elementary students participate in the Young Authors Program during the third quarter. The program is designed to celebrate and support student writing. All students will be asked to submit a piece of writing to their teacher. Each classroom will then select one student’s story or poem to represent their room. Twenty-four young authors will be recognized at a Young Authors Celebration in February. This year, the K-5 event will take place at the primary building. Happy writing!

Thank you to our PTO for supporting this event for our students!

Please consider nominating an Ashland-Greenwood teacher for the Raikes Teaching Award for 2023-2024. The link to the application can be found at the link below or you can download the PDF.

https://news.agps.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Administration%7CAGPS%20Foundation

A paper copy will be sent home with each student in February.

February - Thursday, 8th, 6:30-7:30

March - Thursday, 21st, 6:30-7:30

April - Thursday, 18th, 6:30-7:30

Valentine’s Day parties will be held on Wednesday, February 14th. Classrooms focus on respectful behavior and friendship skills and Valentine’s Day offers a time to celebrate our friends and the people we care about. A reminder to parents that gifts such as flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, and other items sent to school remain in the office until dismissal time. Families are encouraged to share their personal gifts at home and not have them delivered to the school. Please know, balloons cannot be sent home on school buses.

Scholarships to attend the YMCA Camp Kitaki free of charge are available to students in 3rd-5th grade. Ten scholarships are being offered for a one-week session at the camp during the summer of 2024. These scholarships are funded through community donations. Camp Kitaki is located near South Bend, Nebraska. Campers will attend camp during a week long session of your choice this summer. Camp Kitaki offers your child the chance to stay at one of the premier camps in the area. Additional information and an application will go home with students on February 2nd.

On Thursday, January 25th, preschool students took their learning outdoors to have fun in the snow! Playing with snow can be an important winter-time experience for preschoolers. When children play with snow, they can strengthen their fine- and gross-motor skills. They can also apply basic principles of art, science, and engineering.

Mrs. Starns' Kindergarten completed the Holiday Reading Challenge and met their January Reading Goals 100%!

Super Reading Harper Allemann, Ralph Atkinson, Bo Beranek, Paisley Collins, Ben Drelicharz, Laiklynn Foutch, Owen Haynes, Seth Lane, Granger Leuck, Fletcher Lofing, Hunter McMeekin, Tate Mink, Cruz Moon, Lucas Novotny, Hudson Phillips, Joey Rasmussen, Olivia Ruiz, Karter Sayer, Harper Shirm, Cohen Smith, Juliet Vrbka, Chloe Wolf.

These students in Mrs. Murphy's first grade class met their reading goal for the month of January: Addy Anderson, Elizabeth Bloch, Jace Carlson, Landree DeJong, Katherine Dekarske, Raegan Finnigan, Ansel Huetson, James Hyatt, Nate Jacobs, Rex Karl, Hunter Kuhl, Reese Loges, Sophia Miner, Lincoln Novotny, Lennyn Rech, Emersyn Rossell, Jacob Slocum, Ryker Stobbe, Lauren Sullivan, Cade Welch, Winnie Welch

Mrs. Holz’s students celebrated the 100th day of school and also celebrated 100% of her students reaching their January reading goal! Way to go Bluejays!

Congratulations to the following students who had their art selected to be displayed in the AG Intermediate building. These students also earned a certificate for their amazing artwork! Bristal Barnt, Linas Makaitis, Carter Perillo, Layne Behrens, Millie Slocum, Avri Heflin, Arabella Adel, Macie Alcorn, & Easton Fox-Phillips.

Congratulations to the following students in Mrs. Gude-Rung's class who met their December reading goal: Arabella Adel, Brooks Anderson, Brooklyn Bryant, Christian Claus, Quentin Duncan, Rayna Hanlin, Liam Hansen, Caileigh Logue, Abbi Malousek, Easton McFerrin, Thomas Myers, Jacob Richardson, Allie Varilek, Delanie Vrbka, Grayson Wolf, and Natalia Wood. Terrific job!

Community activities are not sponsored by the school. If you are interested in including information in a newsletter, you may call 402-944-7083.

Learn more about classes we are offering to begin 2024!

https://www.southeast.edu/business-and-community/community/learning-centers/wahoo.php

Resources for Food:

Food Pantry - American Lutheran Church - Jean Stewart - 402-789-2490 - By appointment

Ashland Mobile Food Pantry Every 4th Monday of the month from 3:00-4:00 at the American Lutheran Church

Children's Food Backpack Program - American Lutheran Church - 944-3535

Ashland Ministerial Association - Contact any area church for assistance.

• American Lutheran Church 944-3535
• First Christian Church 944-7070
• Methodist Church 944-7135
• Riverview Community Church 944-6134
• St. Mary's Catholic Church 944-3554
• Word of Hope Lutheran Church 402-521-0046

• Other churches may be found in the phone directory

Resources for Clothing:

The Closet at the American Lutheran Church provides free clothing. Contact Nicole Chudomelka at 944-3535 for more information.

Other Resources:

School Supply Backpack Program. Contact ashlandbackpackprogram@gmail.com or call Karen at 944-2794