NPS Engage News

Natick High Seniors Addison Scully and Ryan Weierman were presented with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Award for Academic Excellence by Superintendent Bella Wong at the Natick School Committee meeting on November 20. Read more.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Natick Girls Soccer Team beat Bishop Feehan, 2-0, to win the MIAA Division 1 girls soccer state championship.

Congrats to the players and to Dave Wainwright, head coach! Cheers to hard-working game staff and the Pegasus videographers. Shout out to the team's dedicated supporters and parents who were there from the beginning all season long! And thank you for all you do, NPS Athletic Director Tim Collins and staff.

The math leadership team at Ben-Hem (made up of Principal Karen Ghilani and math coaches Erin Stillman and Katie O'Neil) recently shared some observations about students learning with the new math curriculum:

We are in the third month of our elementary math curriculum rollout with Illustrative Mathematics. Classrooms are filled with students creating their own understanding of mathematical concepts through purposeful activities and intentional discussions. Elementary teachers from across the district are sharing that their students are talking about math in meaningful ways more than they ever did before.

One of the ways that students engage in mathematical discussions is through the daily warm up that is a part of every lesson in grades K through 4.

These warm ups are intentionally planned to invite every student into the lesson. They often serve as an entry point for that day's lesson or may review a previously taught concept. The warm ups are intentionally designed to be accessible to all learners and are part of the mathematical routines that students will see from Kindergarten through Grade 4. Having a familiar mathematical routine allows students to focus on math because they are already familiar with the procedure of the routine.

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➗➕ Ask your students about these warm ups during your time at home and

share your math questions with your elementary team. ➖✖️

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.

• December 7 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Natick High School
  The Federation for Children with Special Needs Presents: Basic Rights - Evaluation and Eligibility
  
  
• The month of January: Transition Evenings for each of the following levels: PK to Elem, Elem to MS and MS to HS (Dates will be shared by Special Education coordinators.)
  
  
• January 18 7-8:30 p.m. in the Natick High School Library
  Open Parent Forum: 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

Congratulations to Natick METCO Senior Seniyah Hood and her classmate Hannah Schwichtenberg on their acceptances as student representatives to participate on the 2023-2024 Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The goal of the council is to gain a deeper understanding of the legislative process and in the ways in which legislators address the issues of concern to their constituents. Students will share their diverse experiences and perspectives with Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka and her staff as they consider proposed legislation. Seniyah describes YAC as "a kick-start at pursuing a long-term goal of promoting equity in her community and a revolution for young adults to positively shape their communities and cultures."

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 here.

For more information on METCO in Natick, please click here. Sign up for statewide METCO updates.

There is ONE LAST info session available to learn more about MassBay’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Tech Career Academy at NHS. This grant sponsored program is designed to support students who may come from low income homes as well as students of color, English language learners, students with learning differences, and students who will be first in their family to attend college.

The candidates for this program should be current 8th grade students who will attend 9th grade at Natick High School in fall 2024. To obtain a Zoom link for the Nov. 28th session, go to https://www.massbay.edu/STEMTech. Application Priority deadline: Dec. 1. Application Final deadline: Dec. 8. Contact jmcandrew@massbay.edu for more info.

According to Barbara Brown, former Johnson School Principal from 2001-2008, the school's legacy can be expressed as “Everyone matters - Every voice counts!”

“Long before school districts became focused on the important work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Johnson School laid a foundation of ensuring that students and teachers connected their learning experiences to themes of social justice,” Brown said.

Principal Brown emphasized, “The Peacemakers' "music with a message" provides the ultimate symbolism for these important core values. The connectedness between educators, students, and their families made Johnson a remarkable community.”

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Throughout the year, NPS will share various contributions from Johnson students, staff, alumni and others. If you'd like to share your thoughts, please go to: https://bit.ly/npsjaguars_share.

Registration for the Natick Public Schools has moved to the Natick Community-Senior Center. Registration is provided, by appointment only, on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Thursdays from 12 noon to 7 p.m. through December. We are thrilled to offer this evening option for working families.

Beginning in January of 2024, appointments will be available four days a week. 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.

November is National Family Literacy Month. Check out tips from WETA Learning Media and Reading Rockets on helping your children when they have reading challenges.

Reading Resources:

NPS District Libraries' Catalogs

November Events at Morse Institute Library

Minuteman Library Network Catalog of Books & More

Borrow Digital Books With the Libby App

Save the Date for This Event:

Dec. 2 - Holiday Book Sale for Kids & Tweens

at the Morse Institute Library

All books are 50 cents

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.

The presentation "Edibles, Vapes, & Spiked Seltzers: Tips for Talking with Your Teen about Drugs & Alcohol in Today’s World" scheduled for Tuesday, December 5th 6-7pm (via Zoom) will be led by Dr. Safdar Medina. Register at this link: www.bit.ly/475yc3m

Dr. Medina is the Pediatric Director at the Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge and is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School. He treats youth who struggle with mental health conditions and addiction, including providing medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

This event is sponsored jointly by Natick Public Schools, Natick Police, Natick Fire Department, Natick 180, the Natick Health Department, SOAR Natick, SPARK Kindness, and Sober in the Suburbs.

"Being LGBTQ+ in Natick," a Natick Is United online panel discussion, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The discussion will be moderated by OUT MetroWest.

To learn more and to register, visit this Natick ls United link.

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.

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.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5