Parent-teacher conferences are a valuable opportunity for parents to engage with their child’s education. On Thursday, March 13th, from 1:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., Middle and High School conferences will take place, allowing parents to connect directly with teachers about their child's progress, strengths, and areas for growth.

Attending these conferences helps parents stay informed about their child's academic development and fosters a stronger home-school partnership. It also provides an opportunity to address concerns and collaborate on strategies to support the student's learning experience.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 13th, from 1:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., and stay connected with your child’s learning journey.

Additionally, Mr. Richards will be hosting a Job Fair at the High School on the same day. See the article below for more details.

To sign up for a conference time, please visit the following links:

• AG Middle School Conference Sign-Up
• AG High School Conference Sign-Up

8th Grade Art is a quarter-long exploratory class focusing on technical skill, problem-solving, and creativity. Students will learn drawing strategies to become better at realism and create optical illusions that fool the eye. Students will build their own ceramic bowl that they will be able to take home and eat out of! 8th Grade Art is a small sampling of what High School Art will be like.

High School art is an elective course where students will encounter a more in-depth, year-long experience and continue to build their technical skill and knowledge base in a variety of media. If students follow the art pathway, each year they are challenged with more and more creative freedom, and as seniors, students create their own lessons for independent study projects. Along the way, there will be opportunities to compete with other students from across the state, participate in community projects, and receive college scholarships. Ashland-Greenwood students have received top awards at the Nebraska State Art Awards Competition since 2017. Photos of winners from 2017 & 2024

Baylor Test Prep/On To College program is returning to Ashland-Greenwood. Ashland-Greenwood was one of the first clients, and now that the ACT test is the STATE ASSESSMENT for 11th graders in Nebraska, we have continued to offer this opportunity to our students.

STATE ACT TEST DAY: Tuesday, March 25.

ACT TEST PREP dates and times for all AGHS Juniors:

Wed. 03/05/25: 8:30 - 10:30

Wed. 03/10/25: 8:30 - 10:30

Wed. 03/19/25: 8:30 - 10:30

Mon. 03/24/25: 8:30 - 10:30

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. A love of independent reading boosts academic success, plus children who read more frequently also report improved mental health. We hope to see you there!

The Nebraska Legislature passed a new requirement for graduation in Nebraska schools REQUIRING that all senior students either fill out the FAFSA–OR–opt out of filling out the FAFSA. Please read more! This opt out form is linked here: https://www.education.ne.gov/fafsa/

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) informs postsecondary institutions about student eligibility for grants, work-study opportunities, and student loans. In addition, some scholarship providers require information from a student’s FAFSA to determine eligibility and award amounts. Financial aid offers based on submitting a completed FAFSA help students pay for educational expenses after high school, reducing barriers to postsecondary education.

You can click HERE to find out more about the FAFSA and to begin filling it out. For your student to complete this at school or on their own, they would need:

Need help filling out the FAFSA (click here)? You will need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA form:

• Your parents’ SSNs if they have SSNs and you're a dependent student

• Tax returns

• Records of child support received

• Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts

• Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-729, provides that, beginning in the school year 2024-2025, each public high school senior student must complete and submit to the United States Department of Education a FAFSA prior to graduating from high school. A student will not be required to submit a FAFSA if an opt-out form is filled out and signed by a parent or guardian, the student themselves is 19 years old, or by the school principal or principal’s designee. This opt out form is attached or linked here: https://www.education.ne.gov/fafsa/

SENIOR PARENTS: What do we need from you? We have to be able to submit whether our senior class either submitted the FAFSA or opted out of the FAFSA for 2024-2025 (Class of 2025). We also may need to know if you or your student may need assistance in completion of the application. We are asking that you fill out this google form survey for us as a means to report our compliance on this new requirement.

Other Important dates for SENIORS:

-Wednesday, April 23 at 2:30 pm/Traditional Senior Tribute event at Ashland-Greenwood Community Performing Arts Center in the Middle School (AGCPAC).

-Wednesday, April 23 5-6 pm is High School Academic Awards night (invites will be sent for those who qualify as we get nearer the event) at the AGCPAC.

-Graduation REHEARSAL for students: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:45 am

-Graduation day: Sunday, May 11 at 2:30 pm at the High School main gym. Expect 1 hour for the event.

-Last day of school for seniors is TBA….until we get fully clear of snow day potential, we will wait on that decision.

Ashland-Greenwood shows inclusion almost every day between each other. Come encourage and support our talented friends who are preparing to compete against each other in the Unified Event! We can encourage each other to do the right thing while also being respectful and responsible. Doing the right thing can look like a few different things. An example of this is supporting our classmates during the event. With support confidence can be boosted, and that is just what we need.

There have been many Unified Events at Ashland-Greenwood and I think that the AG support system is amazing! The Unified Events can allow kids who might not be able to play regular sports to have the opportunity to compete in a fun, exciting way. Therefore, please show up, and bring your clapping hands and cheers! I can’t wait to see your awesome spirit at the Unified Event!

The middle schoolers recently celebrated Kindness Week. Our last kindness week was the week of Valentine's Day. This week is when you do a whole bunch of nice things for people. You should be kind every day of your life, but this week is special. This week you are working on being kind to people and showing kindness to people. A lot of students learn that even though you are not friends with some people or don’t like some people, you still need to be nice and kind to them. The goal of Random Act of Kindness Week is to improve schools, the workplace, families, and society through kindness.

One wise person once told me, “You may not like everyone and they might not like you, but if you kill them with kindness, there is no reason that that person can hate you.” My mother told me that and it made me realize that you may not like some people, but you still need to be nice to them. Kindness Week is about sympathy and empathy, something that you should be giving people every day. Shower people with kindness because you never know what people are going through. Kindness Week is also a week where you can show people who you really are.

The Ashland-Greenwood Schools Foundation is accepting nominations for outstanding alumni. Each year the Foundation honors alumni for outstanding contributions they have made to society. They recognize both an alumnus and a young alumnus. To nominate someone, please complete the nomination form that is located on the district’s website located under the tab “Foundation.”

RAIKES HONORED TEACHER AWARD

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 Middle and High School(s) are bringing the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates Nebraska) program to our students in 2025-2026!

The JAG program offers hands-on learning opportunities through project-based curriculum for both middle school (grades 7 & 8) and high school students. The JAG curriculum is aligned with the Nebraska Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and helps students explore careers, identify career interests and develop skills that prepare them for postsecondary education and entry-level careers. You can learn more about Nebraska Career Education at www.education.ne.gov/nce/

“Ashland-Greenwood Middle & High school is excited to continue to support our students with effective Career and Technical Education opportunities! These experiences have been part of our requirements for quite a few years and we are excited to bolster those efforts to an even higher degree” said Brad Jacobsen, Principal.

The JAG course is led by a JAG Nebraska Career Specialist, and these folks are state-permitted CTE teachers. This JAG teacher will be part of the A-G Staff, and because it is grant supported and a program sponsored by the United Way of the Midlands, there is NO COST to the district for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Looking for more information about the JAG program, click HERE

LINK to JAG overview

Absenteeism occurring by 6th grade is one of the biggest predictors of a youth dropping out of high school. Students who miss just 10% of school (2 days a month) struggle more academically than their peers. Chronic absenteeism is linked to poorer life outcomes. Attendance isn’t just about today, it’s about shaping the future of today’s youth. In Saunders County, the schools partner with a direct support service to provide early intervention to students struggling with attendance.

ARRIVE is an early intervention truancy reduction program centered around building transformative relationships with youth and their families. ARRIVE provides youth and families with a supportive framework to enhance protective factors that increase a youth’s success in the school setting. 100% of youth who successfully complete ARRIVE services do not have future system involvement or engage in criminal activity. The ARRIVE Coordinator is there as a support to you and your family to ensure your student has the resources needed to achieve his/her potential.

Seventh-grade AGMS Ambassadors spent the afternoon of February 6 helping the Food Bank load groceries into vehicles. It turned out to be a beautiful day outside for the students who volunteered to help. The Food Bank of Lincoln distributes food monthly at the American Lutheran Church in Ashland.

Even though middle-schoolers have fewer class choices to make than high-schoolers, there are still a few decisions that need to be considered as we move closer to the end of the year.

Rising seventh- and eighth-graders may have a math choice to make. If a student hits certain markers for math (MAPS score, grades, and NSCAS score), families will receive a letter asking if the student would like to "move up" in math. This means that a seventh-grader may take MATH 8 and and eighth-grader may take ALGEBRA I. Parents/Guardians and students should make this decision together. It is very important that you answer the email or return the letter to the middle school indicating which option your student has chosen. They will be also able to choose whether to participate in band or choir, both band and choir, or neither one.

Eighth-grade students have already chosen their course requests for next year; however, they will also receive a letter at the end of the year about the courses they took this year that could count towards high school credit. Both ALGEBRA I and INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE can count towards high school credit. If families want those grades from this year to be listed on their high school transcript, indicate this is your decision and return the letter to the middle school. An example of when you might choose not to count these classes towards high school credit is if the student plans to retake the course because of a low grade.

Incoming sixth-grade students will need to decide whether or not to participate in Band. Even if students did not join in fifth-grade, it is still an optimal time to join Band and perhaps find a new activity with which to become involved. Choir is still a required course for all sixth-graders.

March 13, 2025 from 5PM-630PM, during Parent/Teacher Conferences, we will host a Job Fair in the High School Cafeteria. The job fair will be for the local businesses in and around Ashland to share with students summer jobs employment opportunities they have for students. There will also be area businesses that are looking to hire for apprenticeships and future permanent employees, which would be a great opportunity for our seniors who are interested in joining the workforce after high school. The job fair is open to all 9-12 students and adults as well who will be attending Parent/Teacher Conferences. This will be our first attempt at hosting a job fair and hoping to see a lot of folks in attendance.

Within the next week or two, pre-registrations for the 25-26 school year will be taking place. Will be meeting with the current freshman and sophomore classes in groups and with the juniors those meetings will be more individualized as dual credit courses and finalizing their academic pathway into post-secondary education, workforce, or military are all on track.

Seniors, keep checking emails, scholarships are still coming in and typically March/April is a busy month for those. Those scholarship listings will be sent out via email.

About 12 weeks of this semester left, FLY HIGH JAYS!!! Seniors, a little less time for you, take some time to absorb this, take some time look around and take it all in!

Monday, March 3: 7-12 Band Concert: 7:00 PM

Tuesday, March 4: AGMS Wrestling Tournament: 2:00 PM

Thursday, March 6: End of Quarter 3

Friday, March 7: No School, Staff Inservice

Saturday, March 8: TBS Wrestling Tournament @ Ralston 9:00 AM

Tuesday, March 11: MS Wrestling @ Raymond Central 4:30 PM

Thursday, March 13: Early Dismissal, 1:10 PM and Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:30-9:00 PM

Friday, March 14: No School

Friday, March 21: Quarter 3 Bluejay Rally

Friday, March 28: Platteview Vocal and Band Contest

https://www.trailblazerconference.org/public/genie/1316/school/203/ LINK TO R School Activity Calendar

DID YOU KNOW....you can sign up for ALERTS for any schedule changes on the R School calendar?

TRADITIONAL SENIOR TRIBUTE AT Ashland-Greenwood Community Performing Arts Center (AGCPAC) on April 23, 2:30 pm. Senior parents and families welcome!

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC AWARDS and NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION: Wednesday, April 23 at 5pm in the AGPAC. Students included will receive invite emails.

GRADUATION: Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 2:30 pm at the High School Gym.

Ashland Public Library Tax Preparation:

The Ashland Library will host free in-person tax preparation services provided by VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) this year. This valuable service is available to families and individuals who may need assistance with their taxes, and we appreciate your help in spreading the word to those who could benefit.

See the document linked HERE for more information.

Our School, with family and community cooperation, promotes life-long learning

to awaken, develop and enhance the individual potential.

Middle School Principal: Matt Flynn

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: matt.flynn@agps.org

High School Principal: Brad Jacobsen

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: brad.jacobsen@agps.org

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: Dustin Deterding

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: dustin.deterding@agps.org

Middle School Counselor: Vicki Washburn

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: vicki.washburn@agps.org

High School Counselor: Jon Richards

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: jon.richards@agps.org

Administrative Assistants: Jody vonRentzell (MS) Amber Westling (HS)

Office Phone: 402.944.2114

Email: jody.vonrentzell@agps.org amber.westling@agps.org