• DROP OFF LINE: 2nd & 3rd GRADE PARENTS!
  

  Our morning drop off line depends on the parents in our community. In May, we are looking for the parents of 2nd and 3rd graders to help our students out of the cars and to the right place. Live drop-off starts at 8:05 and volunteers are asked to be there from 8:00 to 8:20. Please Sign up here!

• SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES COLLECTION: We hope you safely enjoyed viewing the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th. We have been informed of a wonderful opportunity to donate our used and undamaged solar eclipse glasses to a foundation that will provide glasses to school-aged children in Latin America for an eclipse that will take place on October 14, 2024. If you have eclipse glasses that you no longer need, please consider returning them to Ben-Hem. Your donation will help ensure that students in Latin America can safely observe this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. For more information, click the link!

• DID YOU KNOW...The Bennett-Hemenway School Library gratefully accepts donations of any gently used books. Sometimes these books become additional copies of popular titles in our library. Other times, these books are saved for a giant student book swap which will be held in June. Donated books may also be donated again at the Morse library. All book donations can be left in the main office. Thank you for thinking of Ben-Hem when you clean your bookshelf!

• AUTHOR VISIT: Monday, April 29th: Amanda Foody is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wilderlore series. She is coming to Ben-Hem to talk with 3rd and 4th graders on Monday, April 29th. The Wilderlore series is an ongoing children’s fantasy series published by Simon & Schuster. It currently includes four books, but the series will include seven books in total. It is ideal for readers ages 8-12.
  
  

  If you would like to order an autographed copy of her book, please complete the attached form by Friday, April 12th and return it to Ms. Sullivan-Hall in the library. Prices start at $7.00.

• PTO BIOGRAPHY NIGHT: PTO is hosting the annual Biography Night at Ben Hem on Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 pm. Come dressed as your person and share your learning with all of us.

• 4th GRADE STEP UP DAY & COURSE SELECTION FORM: Step Up Day has been scheduled for TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024. Our students will walk to Wilson Middle School with their teachers and support staff to tour the building, meet their new team members, and have their questions answered! Additionally, please take a moment to review the 4th to 5th grade transition timeline of events here! Also, the 4th grade course selection form is required for each student entering 5th grade. Please complete this form as soon as possible. Here is the Course selection letter from WMS in case you require more information.

• REMINDER: NATICK SUMMER PROGRAM REGISTRATION: 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. Access our dedicated website for more information.

  Families looking for financial assistance this summer can complete this form prior to registering to get the process started: 2024 Summer Programs Assistance. Join us this summer!

• DATES TO REMEMBER:
• SCHOOLS REOPEN - Monday, April 22
• EARLY RELEASE DAY CONFERENCES - Wednesday, April 24
• PTO BIOGRAPHY NIGHT - Thursday, May 2 6:30 pm Ben Hem Library
• NO SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN - Friday, May 3 all day; Incoming Kindergarten Orientation sessions

Dear Parents,

Each spring one of our most important tasks is to determine students’ placements for the ensuing year. This is a major undertaking that we address carefully and thoroughly. Our primary goal is to create classroom communities that will ensure each child feels welcomed and supported, both academically and socially. We do not look to match children with specific teachers since that would not help us achieve our goal and would make the process susceptible to staffing variables that are always vulnerable to change.

We give careful consideration to each child’s strengths and needs. By this time of year, your child’s teacher knows a great deal about your student. The teachers collaborate with their grade-level colleagues and specialists to share their information and to build classes that reflect a heterogeneous mix and balance of abilities, talents, friendships, and learning styles. Teacher names are assigned once balanced groups are achieved. As you can appreciate, it is an artful challenge, not a perfect science. Our goal is for everyone to be positioned for the best year possible. This is accomplished when we create classroom communities that will generate a positive spirit and foster success.

I realize that on occasion, parents may have compelling information to share that may influence student placement. You are certainly welcome to share that information with me via email by April 24, 2024. I will consider all emails received. Please know that specific requests for teachers will not be honored or included in our placement process.

Best,

Karen Ghilani, Principal

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