Natick Redhawks

We are almost through our first two cycles of the Red/Blue day cadence, and students and staff seem to be settling into the year well. I heard feedback from some students that faculty have been spending extra time and effort getting to know their students and build a sense of community in their classrooms. Strong relationships are built on shared experiences and value for human differences. It was really nice to hear the students perspective about this, as well as hear their appreciation for those efforts from staff.

Seniors kicked off Spirit Week this past Tuesday in full tourist gear. Add red/white/blue Wednesday, decade day Thursday, and a Red out Friday (photo from the gym) to close it out. It's great to see their enthusiasm and energy around this Senior tradition. Friday morning, we held a Senior class meeting to review some information specific to their class and took a class picture. Our first home football game is Friday night at 6pm vs. Needham. Our pep band, cheer teams, athletes, and community come together in full force to support the Redhawks. Please be sure to review all the upcoming athletic events in the live calendar below. Clubs/Activities, Fine and Performing Arts programs, and Athletics are all ramping up at the same time, it's an exciting time for our students and community. Have a great weekend!

Jason Hoye

Interim Principal

1) **Please Read** Road Construction near NHS through 9/26. Please allow extra time in the morning and try to avoid the construction areas when and if possible

2) School Pictures will be taken this upcoming week. Students in grades 9-12 should have a photo taken for their student ID's. Please see the dates, times and format HERE. The order form is below.

3) Late buses start Monday, September 12th for all schools district wide. Please check the late bus routes for NHS HERE

Mr. Fleming has put together a comprehensive website for NHS Yearbook resources. It includes Senior photo requirement guidelines, how to purchase a yearbook, as well as how to advertise. Please see the NHS Yearbook Website here.

To view our Guidance Departments current bulletin please click here.

For all of our Athletic teams schedules, information on how to buy tickets for games, and our school spectator and user guidelines, please REFER TO THIS PAGE.

We are looking for two Natick families to host for about five months apiece, generally to coincide with the two semesters. For more information, please read more here...

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) clients have been the target of benefit theft through skimming, in which thieves put a device on a store’s card-swiping machine to copy card information. To protect clients from skimming, DTA is requiring cardholders in locations with a high incidence of skimming (Eastern Massachusetts) to set a new PIN to use their EBT over the next few weeks and is encouraging all clients to change their PIN regularly. Cardholders can change their PIN through automated steps by calling the number on the back of their card, as outlined in this flyer. More information and steps on how to change a PIN are available at Mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT and Mass.gov/ProtejaSuEBT, and outreach materials are available in 11 languages.

Reminder If you want to volunteer in schools, you must have a CORI check conducted and you must go into the building with identification (drivers license or passport) to do this. Click here for description of what a CORI check is and does. Without a CORI check, you cannot volunteer in the school. Here is the form to fill out for a CORI.

This is a particularly exciting year for the Music Department, as Natick is introducing a 3rd-12th grade Orchestra program for the very first time! Students in the 3rd and 4th grade can sign up for violin, viola, or cello, join the lesson program, and play in before-school ensembles just like Band students! We are also adding string ensembles at both Kennedy and Wilson Middle Schools. Beginners are welcome at all grade levels, as well as more experienced players looking for an ensemble experience. Students can sign up for lessons at the music website here or email Sirkka Natti, our new Elementary/Middle School Orchestra teacher, for more information at snatti@natickps.org. She looks forward to hearing from you!

Natick Public Schools is excited to announce an amazing resource partnering with Paper for on-demand tutoring for ALL NHS students. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages. For additional information SEE THE INFO PAGE

Thank you to our PTSO for their ongoing support to our students and faculty. Our PTSO is looking for more volunteers to assist them with their work for the school year. You can learn more about the NHS PTSO, and how to get involved by visiting their website. Thank you in advance for your help!

You can subscribe to their monthly newsletter at the top of their webpage.

PTSO Website and Information

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