NPS Engage News
DECEMBER 8, 2023
SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE
Dear Natick Students, Families and Staff,
I hope everyone enjoyed some nice downtime over the Thanksgiving Holiday!
While our students had an additional no school day on the Monday after Thanksgiving, our school staff, faculty and administrators attended a full day of professional learning all together at Natick High School. 170 sessions were offered over three separate 75-minute periods in the morning followed by afternoon PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) which took place across all of the schools. It was a productive day covering a range of topics from all content areas, including sessions on Inclusive Practices, Project Based Learning, Mental Health, Safety and Security, Social and Emotional Learning, Special Education, Digital Learning and Educational Technology, and Universal Design for Learning. The program was created, coordinated and taught predominantly by Natick Public School staff, faculty and administrators. Thank you especially to Grace Magley, Director of Digital and Personalized Learning for the district.
I was very fortunate to be able to attend and be treated by a fantastic performance of the musical “The Prom” by our extremely talented high school students. I was so impressed by every aspect of the production: sound and lights, acting, singing, costumes, dance numbers, orchestra, and set design. The students offered a moving portrayal of a very touching storyline. Kudos to all of them and everyone who supported this performance.
A reminder that the Wilson Middle School musical, “Elf the Musical Jr.” is scheduled for December 15th, 16th and 17th. (The Kennedy Middle School musical comes in the spring!)
I am also pleased to share that Natick Public Schools was notified of two awards this week. We have been awarded a DESE grant to support diversity and inclusion initiatives in our schools. The grant is designed to support recruiting, hiring and retention of staff of color. Second, we were chosen to be one of four school districts to join the upcoming launch of METCO 2.0. The selection was based on the district's previously demonstrated commitment to racial equity.
While warmer temperatures are predicted for this weekend, enjoy the continuing festivities of the winter season!
Sincerely,
Bella Wong
FROM YOUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Superintendent Search Update
Dear NPS Community,
The School Committee is pleased to announce two major milestones we have accomplished in our path towards selecting our next permanent Superintendent:
Screening Committee: The School Committee is proud to announce the formation of the screening committee for our superintendent search. The members of the screening committee are:
Matt Brand (Chair), School Committee
Catherine Brunell, School Committee
Sue Balboni, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Innovation (Central Office)
Aidan McCann, Brown Elementary School Principal
Liz Gregg, Elementary School educator/Education Association of Natick
Marti Neugarten, Middle School educator/Education Association of Natick
Emily Diesl, High School educator/Education Association of Natick
Tamika Scott, parent, METCO
Carie Lyn Carnahan, parent, Parent Coordinating Council (PCC)
Dani Newland, parent, Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Nadini Bajpai, Community Member at Large
Bethany Loughran, Natick High School Student
Jamie Errickson, Natick Town Administrator
The Screening Committee’s tasks will be to review all applicants’ resumes, select candidates for first round interviews, conduct first round interviews, and select three to five candidate finalists for consideration to the School Committee. The Screening Committee will hold its first open meeting on December 14th at 5:30 p.m. in the School Committee meeting room on the 3rd floor of Town Hall. This meeting will include an orientation for the Screening Committee members and an overview of the selection process.
We want to thank all members of the community who participated in our focus groups and surveys! Your input is invaluable in advising the School Committee on the selection of our next superintendent.
If you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact the School Committee at schoolcommittee@natickps.org.
Photos from Paradise Photo & Video of Natick
You're Invited to View Elf The Musical Jr. at WMS
Buy tickets for the following performances:
Friday Dec. 15, 7 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 16, 7 p.m.
Sunday Dec. 17, 2 p.m.
The Wilson Middle School cast and crew have been working hard to get ready for showtime!
Online ticketing: https://www.ticketstage.com/WILSONMS
Save Moments for Music
Note the following dates for upcoming NPS musical performances:
December 14, 6:30 PM - NHS Instrumental Candlelight Concert
December 15, 8:30 AM. - Ben-Hem 4th Grade Chorus Concert
December 18-22, 7:30 AM - Elementary String Concerts
December 19, 6:30 PM. - Winter at Wilson Concert
December 20, 7:00 PM. - NHS Choir Sounds of the Season!
December 21, 9:15 AM. - Memorial 4th Grade Chorus Concert
December 22 - NHS Music Department Winter Tour
January 8 & 9, 2024 6:30 PM - NHS Honors Recitals
Please check with individual schools for the most up-to-date info, including any dates missing from this list or dates that may be rescheduled.
Upcoming Special Education Parent Programs
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.
- During January 2024, Transition Evenings will be held for each of the following levels: PK to Elem, Elem to MS and MS to HS (Dates will be shared by Special Education coordinators).
- Open Parent Forum, January 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Natick High School Library
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.
Resource: Newsletters from the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
Johnson Elementary School Legacy Project
Johnson School turns 75 years old this spring and students want to celebrate its legacy by sharing the stories of those who have taught and learned within these walls.
If you are interested in sharing your stories, photos and/or other media please contact project coordinator: Charleen Belcher via email: cbelcher@natickps.org by January 12, 2024. Thank you!
Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO)
Natick school educators and leaders proudly represented the district at the recent METCO Directors' Association Educators Conference. The event's theme was "Footprints From The Past, Handprints To The Future: Supporting the Educational Journey of Black and Brown Students."
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.
More information on METCO in Natick is on our website. Resource: Sign up for statewide METCO updates.
The application final deadline to apply for MassBay’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Tech Career Academy at NHS is Dec. 8. Contact jmcandrew@massbay.edu for more info or visit https://www.massbay.edu/STEMTech. Students must currently be in 8th grade. The application priority deadline has passed.
School Newsletters: Click the Image for the Latest Issue
Math Warm Ups a Welcome Routine
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. ➖✖️
NPS Registration Moved to Community-Senior Center
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. We are thrilled to offer this evening option for working families.
NEXT MONTH: Beginning in January 2024, 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 7:00 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.
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.
District Calendar
Upcoming Important Dates/Holidays & Observances
Dec. 13: Early Release Day All Schools
Dec. 25-29: Winter Break
Jan. 1, 2024: New Year's Day - Closed
Natick School Committee
Next Meetings: Dec. 18, Jan. 8
Location: The third floor meeting room at Natick Town Hall and through hybrid virtual viewing or on Pegasus local access TV.
NPS Athletics
Access the schedule to view remaining events.
Athletics Office Contacts
🔗 QUICK LINKS 🔗
Parent Academy
Transparency Center
The Natick Public Schools Human Resources Department wants the greater Natick community to be aware of opportunities to learn about avenues for teachers of diverse backgrounds to earn their Masters in Education conveniently and affordably: Dec. 12 session & Dec 21 session. Consider sharing these opportunities with educators you know and with NPS alumni who have recently graduated college.
Join Natick Is United for 'Being LGBTQ+ in Natick'
"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.
NEED HELP? The Town of Natick is Starting a Volunteer Directory
Town staff is asking local organizations seeking volunteers to share their information with the wider community.
ASK: Contacts from local organizations should complete this short form by January 5, 2024.
Prospective volunteers: The volunteer directory will be released in January 2024. In the meantime, help to spread the word so as many organizations as possible submit their details.
Join the Conversation: West Natick Route 135 Plan
Let's shape the future together.
We invite you to a public meeting to gather your ideas and plan for the future of the Route 135 Corridor and the area around the West Natick MBTA station. This is our opportunity to shape a new vision for this area as we think about the role of housing, business, and transportation in West Natick.
Time: Monday Dec. 18, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Kennedy Middle School Auditorium
Hosted by Natick Community and Economic Development, RKG Associates, and Innes Associates.
Share your thoughts by taking our survey today.
For questions or technical assistance, please contact aloomis@natickma.org.
Something's Missing from Your Phone: Our App!
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.