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NPS Engage News
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March 15, 2024
Upcoming Important Dates
March 29: Good Friday - Closed
April 3: Early Release Day
SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE
Dear Natick Public School Families and Staff,
Maybe it is related to living in a post-pandemic world, but this feels like the busiest month of March ever for everyone around me, including myself! A review of our school calendars certainly supports that our students are incredibly busy and productive at this time. There is a lot happening in schools and all around us.
Congratulations to our student athletes for their successful winter regular and postseason performances. After a brief hiatus, the spring season opens officially this Monday. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come cheer our students on the fields and courts.
At the same time, our student performers are super busy with lots of concerts and productions. Many have been performing at various music all-state festivals as they receive accolades and awards along the way. I hope you were able to attend the Art Extravaganza last evening! Send positive vibes to our choral groups and jazz musicians who will be competing in and out of state this weekend. Finally, a reminder to put the Kennedy Middle School musical on your calendar for NEXT weekend. It’s going to be terrific!
The process for setting a new budget for next fiscal year is well underway. The proposed budget has been presented twice to the School Committee and is currently under review by the Education Sub-Committee of the Natick Finance Committee. The School Committee hosted a Public Hearing on March 4 and is expected to approve the proposed budget at its meeting on March 18. While staffing reductions will occur in order to support a fiscally balanced budget, all current programs and initiatives can be carried forward into the next year. The final step of approval will be at the Annual Town Meeting which begins next month.
Congratulations to Deputy Superintendent Timothy Luff who has been selected to be the new superintendent for the Norwood Public Schools to begin July 1, 2024. Mr. Luff started his educational career in 2001 as a special education teacher in Maine! Over his twelve years working for the Natick Public Schools, he has expanded his role of overseeing our student services programs to include safety, human resources, social and emotional learning, policies, and operations. Natick Public Schools has been indeed very fortunate to have benefited from his leadership. We owe him a debt of well-deserved gratitude and wish him well on this next stage in his career!
Best wishes for a wonderful weekend,
Bella Wong
School Newsletters: Click the Image for the Latest Issue
Survey Spotlight
Natick Public Schools is requesting your feedback on the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Plan. The finalized SOA Plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. SURVEY LINK: https://bit.ly/SOA_Plan SURVEY DEADLINE: March 20, 2024. We are grateful for your input. Please contact communications@natickps.org with any technical questions.
Discover Upcoming Events
Special Education Parent Programs
Please join us for these Natick Office of Student Services and SEPAC-sponsored events. Please note that dates may have changed from those listed in previous newsletters.
New Massachusetts IEP - presented by Allan Blume, March 21, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Virtual presentation
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/diw-vnnh-khm
Or dial: (US) +1 323-538-3204 PIN: 396 212 742#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/diw-vnnh-khm?pin=4074240246878
SAVE THE DATE
April 25 @ 6:30 p.m.: Neurodiversity Presentation led by NPS Staff. Live presentation.
May 16 @ 6:30 p.m.: End of Year Wrap-Up/Update Parent Forum. Live presentation.
All virtual presentations will be recorded and all materials from presentations will be shared with families following events.
Gerald E. Ash Memorial Scholarship Concert - Wed. March 20 at 6:30 in NHS auditorium. Donations accepted at the door.
Landmark Learns Spring Educational Workshops for Parents & Guardians
Landmark Learns is a series of educational workshops, presentations, and other resources for parents, guardians, and champions of struggling learners.
Wed. April 24: Building Your Child's Positive Self-Concept - Strategies for Students with Learning Differences. 7 p.m. Register for all webinars and access resources from previous events on the Landmark School website.
Support Student Initiatives at These Events
The "Kids for Wish Kids Club" at Natick High is hosting a charity event with the Harlem Wizards on Friday, May 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Money raised from this event goes to Make-A-Wish of MA/RI to support local children facing critical illnesses. Visit wish.org/kfwk for more information about our club. To get tickets, go to http://harlemwizards.com/tickets/natickma.
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The non-profit Cradles to Crayons is sponsoring a clothing drive at NHS from 3/25 to 4/5/24. Donation boxes will be in the main lobby. All donations will go to homeless and low-income children who don't have access to adequate clothing.
Natick METCO Director Rasheedah Clayton recently brought students to METCO HQ for a workshop on Toxic Speech Prevention from the Northeastern University (NEU) Center for the Study of Sport in Society. In this workshop, students learned about a history of genocide in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with a focus on the linguistic conditions which gave rise to mass participation in these atrocities. Using a combination of reflective games and discussion topics, participants reflected on their own beliefs on the subject, while providing history and statistics to show the realities of these dangers. This training was made possible via the HQ Racial Equity and Integration (REI) funds targeted for supporting districts in implementing antiracist practices that benefit all students. (Photo & copy courtesy of METCO HQ.)
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 METCO's history.
Natick School Committee
Next meetings: Mar. 18, Apr. 1
Location: The third floor meeting room at Natick Town Hall and through hybrid virtual viewing or on Pegasus local access TV.
NPS Music Events
Saturday, March 16:
- The West Street Choir performs in Andover
- NHS Jazz will be at the MAJE All State Festival
- NPS to attend the UNH Jazz Festival
Contact your school’s music department for additional details.
Athletics
Varsity Baseball, Varsity Boys Lacrosse and Varsity Girls Lacrosse games on deck for the end of next week. View the Athletics Calendar for more details.
🔗 QUICK LINKS 🔗
Parent Academy
Transparency Center
Celebrating Excellence
Congratulations go out to the following NPS Recipients of the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards:
GOLD KEY
Erin Walton - Drawing & Illustration, East of Eden Tarot Cards
(Gold Key winners' work will go on to be nationally adjudicated)
SILVER KEY
Aly Kastantin - Drawing & Illustration, Blind Contour Self Portrait
Jessica Liu - Drawing & Illustration, How Time Passes
HONORABLE MENTION
Leila Azar - Ceramics & Glass, Expressions
Keira Lavelle - Ceramics & Glass, Chips
Keira Lavelle - Ceramics & Glass, Orchidacea
Haily Ren - Ceramics & Glass, Nesting Bowls
Lily Wheeler - Painting, A Little Red Apple
Kylie Woo - Drawing & Illustration, Escaping Time
NPS Registration at Community-Senior Center
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 p.m.
For appointments, please contact Lynda Berg, Registrar (pictured), at 774-721-7500 or lyberg@natickps.org. Registration information can be found on our website.
'24-'25 Early Risers/ASAP New Family Registration: 3/13 - 4/10
Early Risers Before School (K - 4): 7 a.m. to Start of School
ASAP After School (K - 8): School Dismissal to 6 p.m.
Locations: Bennett-Hemenway, Brown, Lilja, Memorial, Kennedy, Wilson
Registration: Online only at www.ezchildtrack.com/natickasap/parent from 3/13 - 4/10. If interest exceeds capacity, a lottery of all applications received by April 10 will determine placement.
Space is limited. We recommend that families consider other options in case space is not available at Early Risers or ASAP. A list of area programs can be found on our web page.
For program information, tuition, registration instructions, FAQs and more visit us online at: natickps.org/programs/asap. Check out the program flyer.
Get free online tutoring for students in grades 5-12 via Paper. Explore by clicking the blue "P" in the Chromebook browser plug in. Access Parent Guides and additional information.
Housing Search Case Management Services for Natick Residents
The 5-Town Assistance Program is offered to residents of Natick, Needham, Newton, Weston, and Wellesley. Metro West CD provides one-on-one housing search/counseling sessions, job and financial planning counseling, and, when funds are available, financial assistance.
Managing Moods 101: How to Help Kids Develop an Emotional Vocabulary
Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at Wilson Middle School
All are welcome for this FREE program for parents/caregivers of preschool and elementary aged children! In this interactive talk, author and child development expert Deborah Farmer Kris, M.Ed., will give practical advice about how to help kids name, normalize, and navigate their feelings – especially the tricky ones – so they can better manage themselves and the world around them.
Live ASL interpretation will be provided, and free childcare is available for kids ages 5-11 (pre registration required). For more information and to register for this program, visit www.SPARKKindness.org/programs.
Is someone in your household not receiving the Engage biweekly district newsletter or important notices related to bus transportation or weather delays? Direct them to communications@natickps.org to let us know. Reminder: Review your school newsletters produced by your principal teams.
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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.