Spring has finally arrived! There are many fourth quarter classroom activities planned for students. Be sure to mark your calendars with special activities that apply to your child. As a reminder, due to Spring break, Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools will be closed on Friday, April 18th, and Monday, April 21st.

We are grateful for the turnout for Parent-Teacher Conferences in March! Our families dedication to their child's education is incredible! Thank you for partnering with us in your child's educational experience at AGPS!

The last day of school will be determined at the April 21st school board meeting. Once the date is set, it will be shared with families.

We look forward to collaborating with our families to support students in making academic growth and memories as we finish the 2024-2025 year strong!

Megan Poell and Amanda Moon

April 7 - PTO Meeting @ 7:00

April 18 and April 21- No School for Staff and Students

April 14 - Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting for 25-26 Kindergarten Families @ 6:00 pm

April 16 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Platte River State Park

April 23 - 5th Grade DARE Graduation @ 1:45

April 24 - POPS Event @ 6:00 @ Primary

April 29 - Young Authors Program @ 1:00 @ Primary School

April 30 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Lincoln Children's Museum

May 1 - 4th & 5th Grade Music Concert

May 2 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo

May 6 -2nd & 3rd Grade Track & Field @ 12:45-2:35

May 8 - Kindergarten & 1st Track & Field 12:30-2:15

May 7 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Camp Creek-Pioneer Festival

May 9 - No School for CURRENT KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS due to Kindergarten Round-up being held this day!

May 12 - 4th & 5th Grade Track & Field 11:45-2:35

May 14 - PTO Donut Fundraiser

May 14 - Elementary Unified Event

May 14 - Last Day of Quest

We are currently beginning the enrollment process for the 2025-2026 school year. Any child turning five years of age on or before July 31, 2025 is eligible for entrance to kindergarten.

We encourage you to join us this upcoming Monday, April 7th @ 7:00 at the Intermediate for our last PTO meeting of the year! Topics to be discussed are Staff Appreciation Week, officer elections, and more. We hope to see you there!

Track and field days are a favorite event each year. The dates are provided below (weather permitting). All track and field days will take place at the high school track. Parents are welcome to attend!

Grades K and 1st: May 8th; 12:30-2:15

Grades 2nd and 3rd: May 6th; 12:45-2:45

Grades 4th and 5th: May 12th; 11:45-2:35

**Students in 2nd-5th grade will spend one PE class at the high school track in preparation for Track and Field Days. Intermediate students will be bused to and from the high school.

PTO members visited classrooms in March to help sutdents enter their 3rd quarter tickets into the Attendance and Academic Incentive Program containers. Near the end of the school year, members of our PTO will be in attendance to help with raffle drawings and student recognition. If you are interested in supporting this incentive program, please contact the ptoashlandgreenwood@gmail.com

Below you will find the registration form for the girls' basketball, softball, and volleyball youth camps for this summer. Forms are due back to any AGPS school office by May 2nd. If you have any questions regarding specific camps, each coach's email is listed on the registration form.

Help celebrate school nutrition staff with a “thank you”!

Nebraska SNAC and NDE are collecting thank you messages for local school nutrition teams that work hard to feed kids around Nebraska! From March 17 - April 9, share your words of appreciation through their easy online form. Comments will be shared directly with Heroes, on an online Heroes Gallery, and on NDE social media leading up to National School Lunch Hero Day on May 2nd! All are welcome to comment! Don’t forget: behind great students, there are also great Nutrition Heroes.

Each year the Alice Raikes family honors one teaching staff member with the Alice Raikes Distinguished Teaching Award. The award is announced at our annual Foundation spring dinner. The winner of the award receives a $1,250 cash prize and $1,250 to spend on their department or grade level. The Raikes family decides on who to honor based on nomination forms submitted by school staff, parents, community members and students.

To nominate someone, please complete the nomination form that is located on the district’s website under the foundation tab on the front page. When you complete the nomination form, please return it to the district office: 1842 Furnas St., Ashland, NE 68003, or email it to: jason.libal@agps.org. You may copy the nomination form if you desire to nominate multiple individuals.

Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools is looking for dedicated individuals to join us as substitute paraprofessionals. This flexible opportunity is perfect for parents who want to spend time in the school environment, support our students, and make a meaningful impact.

With a schedule that works around your availability, you'll help fill a vital need in our school community. Apply today and make a difference for AGPS students! Apply online: https://agps.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

All intermediate students will take the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) in English Language Arts and Math during the Months of April and May. Students in fifth grade will take the science assessment as well. Classroom teachers will send home specific information regarding testing schedules. It is very important that students arrive to school on time and are in attendance for all testing. A good night’s rest and healthy breakfast help students perform their best. Please take a few minutes to visit with your child about doing his/her best on these assessments. It’s a chance for students to show all that they have learned this school year.

The Cat in the Hat read to Mrs. Murphy's class to celebrate Read Across America!

AG Intermediate and Primary had a golden ticket challenge during the last two weeks of the 3rd Quarter. Teachers selected a target goal and recognized students for following expectations by giving them a golden ticket. The student in each class who earned the most got to have a 🏆️GOLDEN 🏆️ lunch to celebrate. Awesome job showing THE BLUEJAY WAY! 👏🏻

Mark Kistler visited Ashland-Greenwood kindergarten through sixth grade students thanks to a grant funded by the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Foundation! He shared his love of drawing and provided students the opportunity to engage with him in several guided drawings. It was a great opportunity for students to develop a love for art and a talent came become a profession! Thanks to Cori Lightfoot and the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Foundation for making this experience possible!

Third grade had Jordan Luxa from the Nebraska Extension Office visit our classrooms twice, book-ending our use of the Extension's School Enrichment Nutrition Kit Program. She started the unit off with a lesson on the importance of handwashing. Students were given a “germ” lotion and then viewed their hands under a black light. They were able to see all the places where the “germs” were located. They then washed hands using the guidelines Jordan taught and then viewed if they missed any important areas like around the nails or dry patches on their hands. During the month of March, third grade teachers taught several lessons/activities on nutrition: the importance of eating a balanced diet including all the food groups, nutrients, reading food labels, and making good choices at the supermarket. The month ended with Ms. Luxa asking students what they learned and a celebration including a healthy snack of yogurt parfaits.

ALL of the students in Mrs. Kelley's class participated in Reading Rockstars for the month of March! Way to go!!

Click on link below!

Meal program staff will be available in the cafeteria to assist families in making deposits in your child's meal account as well. The cost for meals is:

• Student breakfast - $2.15
• Student lunch - $3.10

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

A variety of resources are available for families and can be found below:

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

Kid's Cupboard: 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

Toys for Tots for the Holidays - Contact Jean Stewart - 402-789-2490