- Ashland Public Schools
- Back to School

2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Get ready for the upcoming school year! We've compiled a list of district-wide resources to help students and families prepare for the new year. Individual school information is available under each school's section.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Grades 1-12: Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022
Pre-K and Kindergarten: Tuesday, Sept 6, 2022
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CHROMEBOOKS
Every student in grades K-12 will be provided a Chromebook to ensure equity of access and support implementation of one-to-one learning. New or returning students may need to exchange the Chromebook they had last year for a new one with their current school's software.
Beginning this school year, if a student reports losing their Chromebook, families will be charged for replacement parts on damaged Chromebooks due to the rising costs of parts and the volume of device repairs. The following examples are charges that may be assessed for Ashland Public Schools-issued devices that are lost, stolen or damaged while in a student’s care or as the result of neglect on the part of the student.
- Broken screen: $50
- Broken keyboard: $50
- Replacement of lost or irreparable Chromebook: $225
- Replacement charger: $25
Students are expected to report any damage to their Chromebook as soon as possible and no later than the next school day.
If a student has a broken Chromebook, please complete the Service Request Form. Loaner Chromebooks will only be available to those students whose device is out for repair.
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COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES
For the 2022-2023 school year, our goal is to ensure the safety of our staff and students and to minimize disruption to learning for our students.
Ashland Public Schools will not require masks and will follow the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and protocols for COVID-19.
Visit our COVID-19 webpage for more details.
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COVID-19 VACCINES
Getting ready for the return to school? Add the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters to your back-to-school checklist. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for people ages 6 months and older.
Throughout August and September, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing many options for free COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
No appointment, ID or health insurance are required. Visit mass.gov for more information.
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MEAL OPTIONS
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has decided to extend free school meals for all students through the 2022-2023 school year. All students will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each full school day, with no pre-ordering necessary.
Even though free meals are available for all students for the entire school year, families should still submit a household application to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals if they have not received a letter from Ashland Public Schools stating that they have been directly certified for benefits. Students may qualify for additional benefits.
Visit the Nutrition Services page to apply for free or reduced meals or view school menus.
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STUDENT ATTENDANCE
As we return for the 2022-2023 school year, it is important to note our expectations for student attendance. School attendance is crucial to learning and is monitored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as it relates to our school accountability rating. Please note that family vacations are unexcused absences, and extended absences may result in loss of credit or, in some cases, the need to repeat a course or grade level. Additionally, if families choose to go on vacation, students are no longer required to stay home for five days as a COVID-19 precautionary measure after they return from traveling. These absences will be considered unexcused.
For more information, please review the student absences and excuses policy set by the Ashland School Committee.
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TRANSPORTATION
Bus routes are now available, and bus passes are expected to be available and distributed by the end of next week. Times and routes are subject to change due to changing ridership numbers or adjustments to routes to accommodate rising needs. While we will make every effort to notify affected families of any schedule changes, we recommend checking the bus schedule the night before and again on the morning of each school day.
Visit our transportation page to view the latest bus routes, complete your bus registration, request a fee waiver or submit your bus payment online.
For questions or concerns, please call 508-532-4007 or email transportation@ashland.k12.ma.us.