National School Counseling Week, Feb 5-9.
Please join Helman in celebrating and appreciating our Child Development Specialist, Student Advocate and Behavior Health Specialist Intern this week (and all weeks!). Our counseling team works hard to support all our students with the development of social-emotional, problem-solving, and sound decision-making skills. They provide critical guidance and support of the structures and practices that support our children’s mental and emotional well-being and by extension, that of our staff and parents. Thank you, team!!!
Kat Smith: Child Development Specialist (full-time)
This is Kat’s third year as a CDS at Helman. Kat supports students by providing a safe space where they can be themselves, get the help they deserve, and engage their critical thinking skills. Kat loves laughing and playing with students while learning new skills. Supporting children while being her most authentic self, Kat reminds students of their inherent goodness and the strengths they bring to their community.
You might see Kat welcoming students to school with high-fives and snacks, practicing yoga and mindfulness with students underneath the tree in the field, behind the gym on Walk and Roll to School Wednesdays, or dancing at assemblies, in the hallway, and in classrooms.
Outside of school, Kat finds joy in practicing hot yoga, hiking/backpacking, biking, and dancing! She also loves to travel with her family.
Greetings, Ashland School District Community!
The Board of Directors would like to share a quick progress update in the search for the district’s next Superintendent.
The recruitment window for applications ended on December 28th, 2023. In the coming weeks, the Board will review applications and conduct preliminary interviews to determine semi-finalists. These semi-finalists will be invited to interview in-person with the board and the Community Interview Panel later this month.
If you haven’t applied for the Community Interview Panel, it’s not too late! This volunteer group of students, staff members, parents, and community members will have the opportunity to interview Superintendent finalists on January 23rd. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to apply, please visit ashland.k12.or.us/supsearch. The deadline to apply is noon on Monday, January 8th.
If you have questions, concerns, or input about the Superintendent Search process, the Board wants to know! You can connect with the entire School Board by emailing school.board@ashland.k12.or.us.
We hope that you’ll consider playing a role in this critical process for Ashland Public Schools.
Thank you!
What an exciting event. First responder classroom visits are often organized to educate students about law enforcement, safety, and community engagement. These visits can include discussions about the role of police officers, safety tips, and sometimes even interactive activities or training. Today, the Ashland Police Department (APD) team visited our kindergarten classrooms and toured the Helman buildings. The APD team shared valuable information with students and even answered some students' questions. These visits can help foster positive relationships between law enforcement and our community and promote safety and awareness. Thank you to our friends from the Ashland Police Department!
Helman Music Teacher and Choir Director, Amy Merwin, re-launched the Middle School Choir Program this year. Way to go Amy! Thank you for bringing your passion to Ashland students and fostering a love of music!
https://ashland.news/ashland-school-districts-middle-school-choir-revived-after-more-than-two-decades/
Hello Helman Dragons!
On Wednesday, 11/29, from 4-5:30 PM, we will host an Open House for community stakeholders, neighbors, and friends to tour our beautiful building! Please join us for light refreshments and a guided walking tour.
The final piece to our new playground was installed over the weekend and it is a huge hit! There is a line every recess and our Dragons are so happy! Thank you to our maintenance department and HMK project manager for seeing this through to completion.
"Let's innovate together! 🌟 Ashland School District seeks your feedback on our school calendar and schedule. We value the diverse needs of our families and invite students, staff, parents, and community members to take a brief 12-question survey. Your insights are crucial for our collaborative and comprehensive review process. Have your say and make a difference! ✏️ Survey closes 11/24/23 - click to participate: https://www.smore.com/jhnx8
Ashland School District Board of Directors has launched a search for Ashland School District’s new Superintendent, who will join our district in July 2024. They are committed to finding the right leader for our unique and dynamic community. To lay the foundation for a meaningful search that reflects the needs and priorities of the Ashland community, the Board is seeking input through a Superintendent Search Survey for students, families, staff members, and community members.
To participate in the Superintendent Search Survey click the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SuptAshland
For additional information about the Superintendent search process, click the following link:
https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/school-board/page/superintendent-search
Today we honor and celebrate the perseverance, rich diversity and contributions of all Indigenous peoples—from the first peoples of this place to those from across the globe who now call Oregon home.
We especially recognize our local tribes including the Takelma, Shasta, Modoc, Klamath, and Umpqua as well as the almost 160 students in our schools who identify as Native American and their families. We value the individual and cultural traditions and contributions that they bring that strengthens our ASD community.
Our meal payment and application processing system has changed. We are no longer using Titan. Your student accounts, including account balance, has all been rolled over to mealtime. If you had an account with Titan for online payments, it has been closed.
You will need to set up a new account for your students in the mealtime system.
You will be prompted to set up a username and password.
Your students will be identified with the same student body number they used for Titan and for Powerschool. That number is the same as long as they are students within the Ashland school district.
If you do not have that number, you can get it from the office at your school, or reach out to nutrition services directly at nutritionservice@ashland.k12.or.us
Once you have an account set up you will be able to add funds to your students account, or apply for free or reduced meal benefits.
Note, if you already had an account set up with Mealtime from 4 years ago, that account information is no longer valid and you need to set up a new account.
https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/asd/page/nutrition-services
Congratulations to 2nd grade teacher Kari Smith for her recent recognition!
We wholeheartedly agree that Kari ROCKS and are so lucky to have her on #TeamHelman.
Congratulations to Ashland High School Class of 2023! One of our favorite traditions is the Parade of Scholars where we get to celebrate our former Dragons as they move on to the next chapter in their life. It was so fabulous to see these graduates last Friday!
#AHS2023 #HelmanDragons
Water Polo Summer Opportunities
Summer Drop-In Classes: Beginning June 21, the Daniel Meyer Pool will offer water polo classes on Wednesdays from 6-7:30pm for just $4. This is a wonderful opportunity to maintain your skills over the summer. All ages are welcome!
Regular Fall Season: Practice for the Ashland High School fall season (exclusive to high school students) will commence in August. Please frequently check our website for updates and to register for the fall season.
For more information, visit ashlandwaterpolo.org.
Friday we watched the temporary construction fences come down and today we enjoyed playing on the field for recesses!
Tomorrow Night!
Special visitors today! 5th graders started their morning with goat snuggles from these newborns. Thank you Moss family for sharing these babies with us!
Kinder Open House
Discover our top-notch facilities, dedicated educators, and innovative learning approach. No reservations needed.
May 17th, 2023
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Helman Elementary School 705 Helman St, Ashland, OR 97520
Reminder:
Now is the time to register your Kindergartener for the 2023-24 school year by visiting https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/enrollment-and-registration
🍎 Cheers to #HelmanTeachers! 🌟 Your expertise in nurturing children's independence, sparking their passion for learning, and guiding them to reach their fullest potential is truly inspiring. 🌱 Thanks for your dedication to the whole-child approach and for uplifting the Helman community daily! 💖 #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher
Kinder Open House
Discover our top-notch facilities, dedicated educators, and innovative learning approach. No reservations needed.
May 17th, 2023
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Helman Elementary School 705 Helman St, Ashland, OR 97520
Reminder:
Now is the time to register your Kindergartener for the 2023-24 school year by visiting https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/enrollment-and-registration
🍎📚✏️ Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 📚✏️🍎
As we celebrate #TeacherAppreciationWeek, join us as we express our deepest gratitude to all the teachers who have dedicated their lives to shaping our minds and nurturing our hearts. Their passion, patience, and unwavering support have made a lasting impact in countless lives, inspiring generations of students to reach their full potential.
We'd love to hear your stories in the comments below. Share an experience with a teacher who has impacted you or someone you know. Let's show our appreciation and remind them how much they mean to us.
Feel free to tag your school and use the hashtag #TeacherAppreciationWeek to join the conversation.🏆💖
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher
