Update from the Middle
September 6, 2024
Learning Portal
AMS Facebook
AMS Website
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Website: Jostenspix.com
A few days after Picture Day, you will be able to view your images online using the event code: FE248024
- Personalize your pictures
- Buy prints
- Photos ship directly to your home
Picture Day To-Dos:
- Mark your calendar
- Plan your outfit
- DO NOT wear green
- Plan your hairstyle
Please don't wear green!
Our green technology lets you choose your background after Picture Day, but it also makes green clothes disappear into the background.
Auditions are 2 days each:
Tuesday & Thursday or
Wednesday & Friday
Email andrea.royse@ashland.k12.or.us with any questions.
We need your help!
With the loss of our Ashland Middle School Librarian and no replacement for the coming year, we depend on parent volunteers to continue a beloved OBOB program.
AMS has always been a strong competitor in the Battle of the Books competition. We have some amazing students who love to read and compete with other schools for the honor of attending state. This will not happen in 2024-2025 school year without parent volunteers to step up and run our OBOB program.
What would it take:
- 1 coordinator to oversee the program and communicate with all parent volunteers.
- 1 parent per group to organize the practice times with your group…4 kids per group.
(Number of groups depends on the number of students that sign up) - A positive attitude and the love of seeing middle School kids read books.
6-8 Division
For more detailed information about the competition check out the following website: https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org
Student passwords have been reset for the new school year!
To learn your student's new password, log into the PowerSchool parent portal (https://ps.ashland.k12.or.us).
On the homepage, you will see a "Welcome to the 2024-25 school year!" header. Beneath that, you will find your student's email address, username, and password. Please share this information with your student!
If you need assistance with PowerSchool, please call the front office at 541-482-1611 or email
When the AHS Grizzlies have home games, AMS students are welcome to come cheer them on!
Here are the expectations for AMS students:
- Students must be accompanied by a paying adult to attend.
- Adults bringing students to the game are expected to stay for the duration of the game, no dropping students without adult supervision.
- NO backpacks, purses, small personal bags, footballs, or other balls permitted.
- NO outside food or drinks are allowed.
- Ticket cost: Middle School students $4, adults $6 and anyone 55 or over is free.
- Boys Basketball (October 21st)
- Wrestling & Girls Basketball (January 6th)
- Track & Field (March 3rd)
Students must be registered on FamilyID, and have a current sports physical on file.
As you might know, Ashland School District adopted a learning tool called i-Ready. i-Ready has two parts: 1). A diagnostic assessment; and 2). Personalized instructional programs for each student based on their individual learning needs in both math and language arts.
What does this mean for your student?
In the next couple weeks your student will take the i-Ready Diagnostic for both Math and Reading. This year these diagnostics will occur in their Math class and their Language Arts class, or in a resource room if appropriate. After this diagnostic, every student will have access to a personalized instructional program that will provide practice for the specific learning needs they have in math and language arts! Math and Language teachers will be preparing students for the diagnostic in their class and letting families know what dates these will take place.
What do students and parents need to understand about the AMS i-Ready Diagnostic?
- This diagnostic is adaptive, which means it will get easier or harder based on the questions your student can answer - so your student will see questions they do not know how to answer, and that’s okay!
- Help reassure your student, that 50% of the questions might feel really hard, and that is normal!
- This diagnostic determines what a student has learned, and what they still need to learn, so that their personalized instructional program fits their learning needs.
- If a student rushes too much, they might have to re-do it.
What can parents do to help?
To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to:
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment.
- Try their best on each question and try not to rush.
- Try not to worry about questions they do not know—remind them that it is expected they will get only about half of the questions correct.
- Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.
We encourage you and your student to watch this family video i-Ready Preparation Video to understand the approach of this diagnostic.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s Math and Language Arts teacher.
Free Meals for All Students This School Year
We are excited to announce that all students in our district will receive free breakfast and lunch this school year, regardless of economic status. No applications are necessary - students can simply come to the cafeteria to enjoy fresh, nutritious meals.
Quality You Can Trust
Our robust farm to school program ensures that many ingredients come directly from local farms and producers. This means:
- Fresher, more nutritious meals
- Support for our local agricultural community
- Reduced environmental impact
- Educational opportunities for students to learn about local food systems
This new program ensures that every child has access to high-quality, locally-sourced fuel they need to learn and thrive. We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity and have their students participate in the meal service.
Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors. Together, we can make sure no child goes hungry during the school day while supporting our local farmers and economy.
Ashland School District uses the Safe Oregon tip line system.
A link to the tip line is located at the bottom of every school web page.
Who receives tips to the School Safety Tip Line? Specially trained technicians field incoming tips 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year for all public schools Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Oregon State Police provides this service through a contracted vendor.
For details on how the tip line works, click here.
Ashland’s Favorite Costume Family Fun Event!
Join the 16th Annual Monster Dash
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Presented by
Lithia4Kids
Ashland Kiwanis Club
Ashland Schools Foundation
The 16th Annual Ashland Monster Dash Run for Education is both IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL!
Participants can choose to join us for an official Race Day event at Lithia Park on Saturday, October 26 OR run, walk, stroll or zombie stroll virtually anytime October 21-31.
Runners choose from 1-mile Fun Run, 5K or 10K distances.
All racers will receive a runner’s bib, finisher’s medal (for virtual runners, in their packet). Children’s packets include some small Halloween goodies and toys.
Ashland Library Teen Events
Sunday, 9/8: Star Trek Day Celebration from 2;30-4:30
Sunday, 9/15: Tween D& D from 1-3 p.m.
Wednesday, 9/11: Teen Hangout: Video & Board Games from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, 9/12: What is Ranked Choice Voting from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Monday 9/23: Take and Make: Mini Zen Gardens all day
Youth Connect Fall 2024
8 Weeks: Sept-Nov
Middle School Wednesdays
All Genders / 2:30-4:30
Connect with other teens and be your authentic self. Join us for Council, games, activities, snacks and fun.
Ashland Middle School
Email: kerri.mallory@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us/ams/
Location: 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-1611
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashland-Middle-School-143374639027500/