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NPS Engage News
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DECEMBER 22, 2023
SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE
Pausing for Solstice
This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, it’s cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door
of a vanished house left ajar.
Margaret Atwood
Dear Natick Students, Families, and Staff,
At 10:27 p.m. last night our sun reached its highest point in the southern hemisphere, marking the winter solstice north of the equator and summer solstice in the south. Many lament that the day here is at its shortest thus providing the least amount of daylight. One could also look at it as the longest evening which is not so bad. A long evening time can be a respite from the business of the day.
I like this poem by Margaret Atwood about the solstice. She has us looking forward but the door behind remains open to revisit. We are fortunate to live in a universe with assured cycles of renewal. Each new season is influenced by our experiences of the past.
Did you know solstice originates from the Latin “solstitum,” meaning sun stands still? Of course, it doesn’t really stand still. It just feels like it does as it appears to come around again, like a pendulum. It is one of the only things the whole world experiences at the same time just like when we all look up at the moon.
As you leave for break, take time to appreciate all you have accomplished and all that you have received. Think about how this influences what you want to do more of or do less of as you look forward. Pathways to the future are not inevitable but are up to you to make them as you will.
Have a restful winter break,
Bella Wong
"Elf the Musical Jr." Delivered NYC & the North Pole to Natick!
Delighted patrons enjoyed the adorable musical, which ran from December 15 to 17 at Wilson Middle School.
As Buddy said, “I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.”
Upcoming Special Education Parent Programs
The Office of Student Services is pleased to announce that this year we will continue our series of monthly training programs for parents. All of these sessions are held in collaboration with our Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) **Please note that location and dates may be subject to change, but notice will be provided at least a month in advance.
- During January 2024, Transition Evenings will be held for each of the following levels: PK to Elem, Elem to MS and MS to HS (Dates will be shared by Special Education coordinators).
- Open Parent Forum, January 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Natick High School Library
How to prepare for special education transition. We will be answering all of your questions about how special education services are delivered at each level.
Resource: Newsletters from the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
WIDA Access English Proficiency Testing Starting Soon
English learners across the district will be taking the WIDA Access for ELLs assessment shortly after they return from break. This annual test assesses students' English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Contact your building English Language Learner Teachers for more information.
Johnson Elementary School Legacy Project
Johnson School turns 75 years old this spring and students want to celebrate its legacy by sharing the stories of those who have taught and learned within these walls.
YOU CAN HELP: If you are interested in sharing your stories, photos and/or other media please contact project coordinator: Charleen Belcher via email: cbelcher@natickps.org by January 12, 2024. Thank you!
This archival photo is from September 19, 1949, the opening day of Johnson School.
Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO)
Natick Chosen for METCO 2.0 Committed Districts Cohort
Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), announced last week that Natick was one of only four districts that were selected by the METCO Racial Equity & Integration Committee to join the first METCO 2.0 Committed Districts cohort launching this January. The districts were chosen out of nine applicants. Natick joins Dover/Sherborn, Hingham, and Wellesley. These districts [demonstrated] “a strong desire to improve racial equity in their schools and in organizing a team of leaders to dive deep in this work,” Arbaje-Thomas stated.
Students who participate in the METCO program are thriving from the elementary to high school grade levels. Natick Public Schools became a partner METCO district in 1969. Learn more about the history of METCO.
More information on METCO in Natick is on our website. Resource: Sign up for statewide METCO updates.
School Newsletters: Click the Image for the Latest Issue
Bookmark school websites and frequently-visited pages to save time
Be Prepared: Inclement Weather Cancellations and Delays
Question: How will I find out about school cancellations or delays related to inclement winter weather?
Answer: A notification will be sent to each family's primary contact via our mass notification system (SchoolMessenger Communicate). In addition, announcements will be carried starting at 6 a.m. by radio stations WBUR (FM 90.9), WBZ (AM 1030), WRKO (AM 680) as well as by television channels 4, 5, 7, Fox 25, and CW56. A pop-up message will be posted on the Natick Public Schools website. The following news websites may also list school closings:
boston25news.com/weather/school-closings/
wcvb.com/weather/closings
whdh.com/storm-closings-delays/
www.cbsnews.com/boston/school-closings/
NPS Registration Moved to Community-Senior Center
NEXT MONTH: Beginning in January 2024, registration appointments will be available four days a week at the Natick Community-Senior Center. Appointments will be provided on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Thursdays from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.
For appointments, please contact Lynda Berg, Registrar, at 774-721-7500 or lyberg@natickps.org. Registration information can be found on our website.
Online free tutoring for students in grades 5-12 is available via Paper. Ask your child's teacher about how to access this opportunity or explore by clicking the blue "P" in the Chromebook browser plug in. Parent Guides and additional information about how to use this resource are available online.
District Calendar
Upcoming Important Dates/Holidays & Observances
Dec. 25-29: Winter Break
Jan. 1, 2024: New Year's Day - Closed
Jan. 2: School reopens, PK-12
Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Closed
Natick School Committee
Next Meetings: Jan. 8, Jan. 22
Location: The third floor meeting room at Natick Town Hall and through hybrid virtual viewing or on Pegasus local access TV.
🔗 QUICK LINKS 🔗
Parent Academy
Transparency Center
NEED HELP? The Town of Natick is Starting a Volunteer Directory
Town staff is asking local organizations seeking volunteers to share their information with the wider community.
ASK: Contacts from local organizations should complete this short form by January 5, 2024.
Prospective volunteers: The volunteer directory will be released in January 2024. In the meantime, help to spread the word so as many organizations as possible submit their details.
Survey Opportunity: West Natick Route 135 Plan
Let's shape the future together.
Residents are invited to take a survey to share ideas for the future of the Route 135 Corridor and the area around the West Natick MBTA station.
For questions or technical assistance, please contact aloomis@natickma.org.
Something's Missing from Your Phone: Our App!
The Natick Public Schools mobile app is available for Android and Apple devices in the Google Play Store and the App Store. Having the app at your fingertips will allow you to quickly find school contact info and see important upcoming events.
Enjoy your winter break!
Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.