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Natick Redhawks
Your Weekly Update from Natick High School
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From the Principal's Desk
Hello Natick High School!
May and June are always a whirlwind in schools! Students are looking forward to the end of school. Teachers are coordinating end-of-the year assessments to see how much students have grown academically, and there are myriad celebrations, concerts and athletic events. And at NHS, the last two weeks definitely held all of these things including the end of AP testing, the 10th grade math MCAS, the senior prom, and the junior boat cruise.
Natick also celebrated the 100th annual Transfer of Flags ceremony, which was a moving way to start the Memorial Day Weekend. Our outgoing senior class president, Kenzo Batt, and our incoming senior class president, Nolan Cloutier, both spoke eloquently about their roles as symbolic flag bearers for the high school. It was clear from both young men, and all the speakers, from our youngest students, to the military veterans, that Natick values service to one's community and one's country. As the daughter of a veteran, I was truly touched.
This week, we also had the privilege of hosting the MIAA's Unified Track and Field State Championships. The stands were filled with visitors from across the state along with many NHS students, who attended with their classes. Our student athletes competed with so much heart and ultimately won! It was truly a day to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the power of teamwork.
Tonight, I am looking forward to graduating the almost 400 students in the Class of 2024. This class that will always hold a special place in my heart, as the first class that I will graduate from NHS. I know that we are all looking forward to clearer skies after yesterday's (slightly soggy) senior picnic.
The next two weeks are the last two weeks of the school year. This coming Tuesday and Wednesday, the 9th graders will be taking the physics MCAS, the first of the MCAS exams required for graduating high school. More information on MCAS is below.
Many classes will also have final projects or papers due next week. Any classes giving seated final exams will do so during the final week of school, the week of June 10th. Thanks to the generosity of the PTSO, we will also be hosting one last celebration for our 9th, 10th and 11th graders on June 11th, a barbeque on 6/11. Information on signing up for that are below.
We are rooting for our students to finish strong!
Best,
Josepha Blocker
Principal, Natick High School
Calendar for the Next Two Weeks
UPCOMING STUDENT EVENTS
Grades 9 thru 11 - End of Year Celebration, 6/11 @ 11 am
A huge thank you to our PTSO for sponsoring and helping to plan this culminating event for the 9th, 10th and 11th graders.
Students should sign up here!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Important Dates for the Rest of the Year
The end of the year is a busy time! Here are the important dates for the last few weeks. I will update this as there are more added.
6/3 - 6/7 - Final Projects, Essays or Portfolios due for grades 9 - 11.
6/4 - 6/5 - Science MCAS, including 9th grade physics
6/6 - Last late bus for the year
6/7 - Last Day of Classes
6/8 - METCO Picnic, 12 pm - 3 pm, Franklin Park, Boston, MA
6/10 - 6/13 - Final Exams; 11 am Dismissal
6/11 - End of Year Celebration for Grades 9 thru 11, 11 am - 12:30 pm, behind NHS cafeteria
(6/12 - Rain Date for End of Year Celebration)
6/13 - Mentorship Student Training, (Time & location sent separately by Mr. Cuoco)
6/14 - Final Exam Make-Ups and Last Day of School
Science MCAS, 6/3 and 6/4
Our 9th graders will be taking the Physics MCAS exam this Tuesday and Wednesday. They should be sure to arrive at school on time to avoid missing the start of testing. All students should come to testing with:
- Their school-issued Chromebook, completely charged (The testing software will not work on other machines.)
- Their charger, just in case they need it
- Water
- A pencil
- A calculator that does not have communication capability (i.e. phone calculators, or internet-connected calculators are not permitted.)
We are rooting for our 9th graders to do their best!
Final Exam Information
Projects and Other Assessments
Classes that do not have seated exams will conclude their summative assessments this coming week, including final projects, papers or presentations. This week, the week of 6/3, is a typical schedule.
Seated Final Exams: the Week of 6/10 - 6/14
- Students are expected to be present for their entire schedule during the week of 6/10 unless dismissed by a parent or guardian.
- If a class is giving a final exam, it will take place during the week of 6/10.
- If a class does not have an exam, class time may be used for any necessary end of year, wrap-up activities required for the course. Students are expected to participate in those activities. Some teachers may also choose to give students quiet study time to prepare for other courses' exams.
- All study halls will meet in the Dining Hall instead of their typical classrooms. Again, students who have a study hall must remain in the Dining Hall during that time unless dismissed by a parent/guardian.
- Juniors with Priv who chose to stay in the building must remain in the Library.
- There will be late buses at 11:45 am during each day of exams to accommodate those with testing accommodations on Monday (6/10), Wednesday (6/11) and Thursday (6/13). These buses will meet students in the bus lane.
- On Tuesday (6/11), we will be hosting our End of Year Celebration. The late bus will come at noon that day in front of the school.
- Friday, June 14th is the exam make-up day and the last day of school. Students are only expected at school if they have to make up an exam.
NHS Fall Athletics - Registration Opens on May 27th
Fall athletics registration opens on May 27th, 2024 at 12 pm.
Registration closes and payment is due August 6th by 12 pm.
A late charge of $25 will be added after 12 pm on August 6th, 2024.
Sports offered for the fall season are:
- Football
- Cheerleading
- Boys & Girls Cross Country
- Field Hockey,
- Golf
- Boys & Girls Soccer
- Girls Swimming
- Girls Volleyball
- Unified Basketball (Has a separate registration, with additional information below)*
Football Start Date - August 16th
Unified Basketball Start date - September 9th
All Other Fall Sports Start Date - August 19th
Required Coursework and Physicals for Student Athletes
All student athletes are required to take these two courses:
We have updated the courses to make them more time efficient and effective. By state mandate, these courses have to be done each academic year. Courses completed after May 2024 will be valid for the 2024-2025 school year. All of the courses are embedded in the registration to make them easier to find. Students will need to upload their certificates of completion.
Students' physicals must be within the last 13 months, and their required courses must be completed and uploaded to be approved to start the season.
Important Links
General Registration Link:
https://students.arbitersports.com/natick-public-school-athletics/fall-2024-high-school-registration
Unified Basketball Registration Link:
The required Concussion course: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/concussion-for-students
The required ArxEd Student Athlete course: https://studentathlete.arxed.com/enroll/2631694?price_id=3447778
Natick Summer Programs Are Back! Register Now.
Students will enjoy week-long courses for enrichment, exploration, and fun–right here in Natick! The Summer Enrichment and Summer Scholars programs will allow your children to explore their interests and help prevent summer slide. Pre-approved students are welcomed into the Extended School Year (ESY) program and the High School Credit Recovery Program. Our Strength and Conditioning Program provides dynamic exercises and drills from some of the best coaches in the area.
Registration through Active.com is open now. Our popular Summer Enrichment program courses include Cooking, Arts and Crafts, Pondology, Chemistry, Sports, and much more. Students from rising Kindergarteners up through rising 8th graders are grouped by grade level.
NEW THIS YEAR: All participants in Summer Enrichment and Summer Scholars will receive a complete schedule of classes (subject to availability) running from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every day. Join us this summer! Access our dedicated website for more information.
Looking for financial assistance this summer? Please complete this form prior to registering to get the process started: 2024 Summer Programs Assistance. Thank you!
This Week's Guidance Update
Each week our Guidance Department updates their page with important grade-specific information, including:
- Information for all grades on College and Career Readiness
- Information on specifics for post-secondary planning and other school details.
https://sites.google.com/natickps.org/nhsguidancedepartment/guidance-newsletter?authuser=0
MESSAGES FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
NHS Virtual Food Drive
Please click on the link below to access the NHS to access the virtual food page for NHS.
Family Stress Survival Guide Workshop
Join us this June for the "Family Stress Survival Guide", an interactive virtual workshop for youth ages 11 to 18 and their primary caregivers (parents, guardians, grandparents, etc.). In collaboration with Families for Depression Awareness and Natick 180 this FREE program will occur in two sessions and each participant will receive their own copy of the Family Stress Survival Guide. Any family in Massachusetts is welcome to join! Sessions will be held on Zoom on Monday, June 3, and Monday, June 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Advance registration is required.
Registration link: https://familyaware.wufoo.com/forms/zu5g98b0lw2275/
IMPORTANT REMINDERS AND REPOSTS
Dismissing Students Early
If your student needs to leave school early for a doctor's appointment or other reason, please send them into school with a note that morning. Students should come to the Main Office with the note, and exchange it for a pass, which they can show their teacher to be released from class at the correct time.
We are happy to accept phone calls, but they often take longer to get off the machine when the office is busy; so if it is possible, we would prefer you send students with a note.
Help for Teens Who Want to Quit Vaping
We have a number of resources at the high school for students who are struggling with early vape use, including the iDecide program and a partnership with the Natick Service Council. If you or your NHS student would like to know more about these resources, please contact your students' guidance counselor, dean or vice-principal. Those who are trying to stop using on their own may also find that practicing the 6 D's can help.
- Text VapeFreeMass to 88709 to use a free, confidential texting program called This is Quitting.
- Call or text Start My Quit to 855-891-9989 to access trained coaches at My Life, My Quit (www.mylifemyquit.com) who can help.
- Visit teen.smokefree.gov
Does Your Student Need Academic Help?
All Natick High School students have access to Paper Tutoring, which offers 24-hour online support to students in the form of live, one-to-one sessions with knowledgeable tutors. Paper also offers feedback on written submissions. Students can log in to paper using at app.paper.co/login/students. There are also online info sessions available for parents and guardians if you would like to learn more.
Student Parking - Important Reminders
Juniors and Seniors are permitted to park on campus, with a parking permit decal displayed on their vehicles, in the following locations:
- Seniors are permitted to park in the Memorial Football Lot or the Mahan Baseball Field Lot.
- Juniors are permitted to park only in the Mahan Baseball Field lot.
- No students are permitted to park in the Faculty or Visitor lots without individual approval from administration.
- Students may NOT make their own spots by parking in unlined areas. This creates potential safety issues.
- Students who do not abide by the school parking rules risk disciplinary action including detention, loss of priv. and/or loss of parking privileges.
Obtaining a Parking Permit
To obtain a parking permit, students must register their cars. Students may also obtain a parking permit in the Main Office during school hours.
Students must bring photocopies of the following to obtain a permit:
- A copy of their driver's license*
- A copy of the car's registration*
- This form filled out an signed by a parent/guardian and the student
- $200 - Cash or check accepted. (Checks should be made out to Natick Public Schools.)
* Please note that we will be KEEPING these photocopies for our records.
Parking permits are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students this Year
Governor Maura Healey's Office decided to institute free breakfast and lunch for all public school students in Massachusetts.
In the NHS Dining Hall, you can pre-order your lunch so it is waiting for you when you arrive!
With Nutrislice, students can pre-order their lunches, so they are ready when they get to lunch. Just order through this link by 9:30 a.m. each day, and lunch will be ready to pick up in the far left line near the salad and sandwich area. Students' names will be on the receipt attached to their orders. Just grab and go!
Calling Your Student in Absent
Thank you to our PTSO for their ongoing support to our students and faculty. Our PTSO is looking for more volunteers to assist them with their work for the school year. You can learn more about the NHS PTSO, and how to get involved by visiting their website. Thank you in advance for your help!
You can subscribe to their monthly newsletter at the top of their webpage.
Reminder for Parents Who Want to Volunteer--CORI Checks
Reminder If you want to volunteer in schools, you must have a CORI check conducted and you must go into the building with identification (driver's license or passport) to do this. Click here for description of what a CORI check is and does. Without a CORI check, you cannot volunteer in the school. Here is the form to fill out for a CORI.
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