NPS Engage News

Feb 19-23: February Vacation - Closed

March 13: Early Release Day (All Schools)

Dear Natick Public School Students, Families and Staff,

Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Spash on her appointment as the new permanent Superintendent! Congratulations to the School Committee and to all of you for this excellent choice in a new school leader. My hope is that she will enjoy her future tenure here in this wonderful school community as much as I have in these few short months! I am excited for her and for you as I look forward to supporting her transition to her new role in Natick.

Dr. Spash’s appointment comes at an auspicious moment, the cusp of the new lunar year! The Year of the Rabbit will transition to the Year of the Dragon this Saturday. The Year of the Dragon is much anticipated on its turn once every twelve years as it is considered a lucky year for everyone. Come join us for lunar new year festivities at the high school this February 10 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with our students. I hear lots of fun things are being planned! Thank you to our Mandarin language teacher Yeping Zhu for planning this event with our students and staff for everyone to enjoy.

Best wishes,

Bella Wong

The Natick Public School district officially has a new permanent Superintendent! After a seven-month process, involving feedback and engagement from the Natick community, the School Committee voted to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Melissa Spash, currently Deputy Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. At our February 5th meeting, the School Committee approved Dr. Spash’s contract. We are thrilled to welcome her to Natick!

Dr. Melissa Spash brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to educational excellence and equity. With a career spanning various roles including teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent, Dr. Spash has demonstrated her dedication to student success at all levels. Her core values of equity, collaboration, data-based decision making, and an unwavering focus on student achievement align closely with our community's priorities.

In her most recent role as Deputy Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools, Dr. Spash played a pivotal role in developing strategic plans and goals for the district; overseeing academic programs; and collaborating with district leadership to ensure financial transparency and resource allocation. She also showcased her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as she led initiatives to promote equitable access to education and implemented data-driven strategies to support student learning.

Prior to her district-level leadership roles, Dr. Spash served as a principal at both high school and middle school levels, where she spearheaded efforts to improve academic outcomes, close opportunity gaps, and create inclusive learning environments. Her experience as a mathematics teacher further underscores her passion for ensuring all students have access to high-quality education.

Dr. Spash holds a bachelor of business administration degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education; and a Doctorate of Education from Northeastern University, where her dissertation focused on school autonomy and the potential of principal networks for increasing capacity and effectiveness.

“I look forward to embracing the Natick superintendency with enthusiasm and dedication and to collaborating with families, students, educators, and administrators to continue to grow and foster an environment where innovation, inclusivity, and student success are at the forefront of our collective vision,” Dr. Spash said.

Dr. Spash will assume the role of Superintendent of Natick Public Schools on July 1, 2024.

“Together, let us embark on a journey of growth, learning, and endless possibilities,” she said.

The School Committee wishes to thank everyone who volunteered their time and provided feedback throughout this process. Your engagement was critical to making the best decision for Natick Public Schools and our community. If you have any questions, please contact the School Committee at schoolcommittee@natickps.org.

Do you have a special recipe for biryani or Spanish tortilla? Expertise with a cultural craft?

A musical or dance performance?

Our annual NHS Equity Co-op will take place on Thursday, March 21st. Students will attend workshops centered on this year’s theme, “We Are Natick.” New this year, we will hold a culture fair during the midday Flex Blocks and are inviting staff, students, and community members to lead a mini-cultural celebration or demonstration during this time.

NPS families, friends, and others are invited to come share a cultural tradition during the blocks opposite student lunches to offer engagement, fun, and learning. The Flex Blocks will run from 11:10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the gymnasium. Want to participate? Reach out today to the Equity Advisors: Lauren Adams ladams@naticks.org, Kate Burns kburns@natickps.org, and Jill Conroy jiconroy@natickps.org, with your contributions or questions.

Landmark Learns is a series of educational workshops, presentations, and other resources for parents, guardians, and champions of struggling learners. Check out these spring virtual events:

Thurs. March 7: Dyslexia at School - What Parents Need to Know. 7 p.m.

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.

In January, descendants of the men for whom the Brown School was named visited and had a conversation with Principal Aidan McCann. They had the opportunity to tour sections of the school that have remained largely unchanged since the 1950s, prior to the renovations in the 1990s. During their visit, the Brown family made an impromptu stop to a classroom full of students who were fascinated to learn that the men their school honors had fought in World War II.

Herbert M. Brown, Jr. and Harold B. Brown were both residents of West Natick. The individuals depicted in the photo are the children of Herbert and Harold’s siblings (who also served in World War II). Sadly, Herbert and Harold’s nieces and nephews never got to meet their uncles, as both young servicemen lost their lives in the Pacific during the war.

Herbert Brown, Navy electrician’s mate, third class, was 22 years old when he died in action in the Solomon Islands, as reported in a December 1942 Natick Bulletin article. He was the “first Natick man listed officially as killed in action”. Sergeant Harold Brown, an aerial photographer, was declared missing in action in late 1942, with later confirmation of his death in the Bismarck Sea provided by the U.S. Army Air Forces.

An October 19, 1950 Natick Bulletin article reported that the West School PTA decided to name the soon-to-be-opened Brown School in honor of the brothers. The Brown brothers' mother and other relatives were invited to an event in 1962 dedicating the memorial plaque shown in this photo.

(Pictured above, L-R): Amy Brown (wife of Michael), James Brown, Steven Brown, Michael Brown, Meredith Brown Dumm, and Principal Aidan McCann. Only one Brown relative who visited lives in Massachusetts, the others traveled from Connecticut and Virginia.

• Recently, just under 100 stakeholders (including Natick educators) "attended a key legislative briefing between METCO leadership and State House and Senate members," Milly Arbaje-Thomas, METCO President & CEO announced. Legislators were provided with comprehensive information and key details regarding the budget requirements for the upcoming fiscal year.

• ICYMI: Story from WBUR News, January 16, 2024: A new study highlights the long-term benefits of METCO participation.
  

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.

As National School Counseling Week for 2024 comes to a close, we want to shout out the tireless school counselors across the Natick Public School buildings. This special week honoring school counselors is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association. ALL students benefit from a strong school counseling team. This week offers our administration an opportunity to recognize each counselor's contribution to Natick.

Front row (L-R): Sydney Little (Brown), Amanda Frost (Brown), Jennifer D'Antonio (Wilson), Lis Finocchi (NHS), Laura Loftus (Johnson/Ben-Hem), Leah Mattioli (Memorial), Melisa MacDonald (Kennedy)

Wilson school counselors (L-R): Adam Gray, Kim Lowell, Maddie Kinker, and Jennifer D'Antonio

(Note: Not all NPS counselors are pictured above.)

The faces of the second, third and fourth grade students at the Johnson School Legacy Project kickoff event on the morning of January 16 were full of anticipation for their future discoveries. While it can be challenging to imagine life before 2024 even when reading a historical news article or story, there’s no doubt that hearing from folks who experienced life as a Johnson elementary school student many decades ago had significant impact on these students.

The five-month-long student learning project is managed by Charleen Belcher, Library Media Specialist at Johnson, and Grace Magley, Director, Digital & Personalized Learning. Belcher remarked on the rare opportunity the current Johnson students had to reach future generations by encapsulating memories of a place that was so special to so many. The project is truly project-based-learning in action: students will ask alumni and experts questions about Johnson’s past—in many cases in live interviews--and compile their learnings. The school has been part of the fabric of Natick for 75 years as of this year.

“We’re hoping that this is one of those things they never forget.” Maybe they’ll look at the Johnson legacy website in the future and say “I did that. I was part of that.”

Belcher said the students would be using the Book Creator program, Google Slides and creating interactive digital timelines to “show the evolution of the school and what’s taken place [there].”

At the kickoff event the students gathered in the gym and heard from alumni speakers that included Cricket Lemon (now at Syracuse University), retired Natick postal carrier John Murphy and Natick Police Sergeant Edward Arena.

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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 WBZ (AM 1030) and WRKO (AM 680) as well as by television channels 4 (WBZ), 5 (WCVB), 7 (WHDH), Fox 25, and CW56. A pop-up message will be posted on the Natick Public Schools website. The following news webpages 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 • necn.com/weather/school-closings

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.

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.

Real Self-Care: A Revolutionary Approach to

Taking Good Care of Yourself

Event Date: Wednesday, February 14 at 12 p.m. ET

Event Description: SPARK Kindness presents a virtual “lunch and learn” program. In this Q&A “fireside” chat, author and psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin, MD, offers an inclusive and affirming approach to prioritizing your own well-being. Her approach shifts self-care from a task on your 'to do' list (that you feel guilty about not achieving) to a values-based practice of setting priorities and taking action. Dr. Lakshmin will share accessible, science-based strategies to help you shift your relationships, nurture yourself, and find ownership over your life. Participant questions will be welcomed before the program. Live ASL Interpretation will be provided.

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/788550524847?aff=oddtdtcreator

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. Find out how to apply for this program.

Wednesdays | January 10 - February 28, 7 p.m.

Join Kathy Wick in a supportive and inclusive environment, tailored to accommodate all proficiency levels on the path to mastering the English language. Class is held at the Natick Community-Senior Center, 117 East Central Street, Natick. Center phone number: 508-647-6540.

Upcoming events for 2024. The Natick Rotary Club is an organization made up of business and professional leaders in the community, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill. Meetings are held on Tuesdays.

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Have a story idea to share? Submit it here. Would you like to share a connection to Natick Public Schools' past? Tell us what history you've discovered or taken part in yourself.

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.

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