Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! As summer winds down and the buzz on campus picks up, I am excited about all the opportunities this year will bring. After a few long years with modified safety protocols and schedules, it feels good to be planning with fewer restrictions. Care for the whole child is our focus.

There are things you need to know to help support a successful start to school. Please scroll down and review this newsletter so that you have everything you need to start strong. Thanks in advance for partnering with us this year. It is going to be awesome!

1 - THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

We are returning to pre-COVID routines for the first day of school. All of our faculty and staff will be outside on Wednesday, August 31 to greet our students. Teachers will have name tags and signs to help connect with students. Different grade levels will meet at different entryways on this day:

• GRADE ONE & GRADE TWO: Hard top near the playground; classes will enter through the recess doors
• GRADE THREE & GRADE FOUR: Main entryway; classes will enter through the main doors

2 - THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL & ALL OTHERS

All students (bus, live car drop off, walkers) will enter the school building through the main entry way each day. Students may attend breakfast and can enter through the outside cafeteria door or the main entryway and proceed to the cafeteria. Students will travel to their homerooms where their classroom teacher will greet them and they will settle in for the day. Please note that parents are not allowed to walk their students into the school. Please say your goodbyes on the hard top.

3 - ARRIVAL AT BEN HEM

Ben Hem has an organized morning arrival system that provides a safe and orderly start to the day if everyone follows the plan. Students will not be admitted into the building prior to 8:05 am. Parents can drop off students along the fire lane in the front of the building once live drop off has begun. Students should be prepared to exit the car on the passenger side. Volunteers will help to open and close doors as students transition safely from the vehicles. East Evergreen Road is a one way road during this time of day. All Parents will exit right out of the school parking lot. Please note: Parents will wait until cars in front of them are unloaded and will not pull out into traffic before cars ahead of them.

4 - PICKUP PATROL AND SETTING UP DEFAULT DISMISSAL PLANS

All Natick elementary schools use the PickUp Patrol app to coordinate student daily dismissal plans, absences, tardies and early dismissals. Click on the PickUp Patrol Parent Info Sheet

5 - MEDICATION DROP OFF

Will your child require medication during the school day this year? Medication drop off with Mrs. Twiss will be Monday August 29th from 8:30- 10:15 and Tuesday August 30th from 1:30- 2:30. Please follow the guidelines and provide the proper forms from this link: https://www.natickps.org/departments/health_services. (Please refer to quick links 1-4 and provide what is applicable for your child.)

Check out the Ben Hem PTO Facebook page to see what is happening.

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 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5