Natick Redhawks

Hello Natick High School Caregivers,

Our staff enjoyed meeting with so many of you at conferences this week. We really value your partnership and find it so helpful to work with you in support of your NHS student(s). If you were unable to see your teens' teachers on Wednesday, you can always reach out via email to connect.

This past week, we also held our student-run Culture Fair and NHS Theatre put on an amazing production of Beetlejuice, Jr. Both groups did an amazing job bringing our community together, and you can view pictures of the events in the Redhawk Pride section, along with a number of other student accolades. I encourage you to take a look!

In this newsletter, you will also see a new section for senior families. At this time of year, we are starting to have more senior-specific things on the horizon. If you have a 12th grader, please take a look. There are some timely tasks to note, such as ordering your graduate's cap and gown.

Lastly, as we head into this weekend, I wanted to wish our Jewish families a very happy Hanukkah! The Jewish Festival of Lights starts at sundown on Sunday,

Warmly,

Josepha Blocker

Principal, Natick High School

12/14 - Hanukkah begins at sundown

12/15 - Winter Athletics payment portal closes @ noon

12/16 - NHS Band Winter Candlelight Concert @ 6:30 pm

12/19 - Deadline for Seniors to Order Caps and Gowns

12/24 - 1/2 - No School - Winter break

1/7 - 2/13 - ACCESS testing for Multilingual Learners

1/14 - Staff Professional Development - Early Release at 11 am

1/19 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

1/20 - 1/23 - Midterms - Early Release at 11 am

1/22 - 8th Grade Parent Coffee at 8 am

1/23 - End of Term 2; End of Semester 1

The eight days of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, begin this Sunday night (12/14) at sundown. If you celebrate Hanukkah, I wish you eight days of joy and light!

The World Language Department is happy to announce that there will be a student trip to Spain in April 2027.

All students enrolled in Spanish class are able to participate. If you are interested in learning more about this fabulous opportunity, there will be an informational meeting on December 16th at 6:30 pm in the NHS Lecture Hall.

Please register by visiting https://rsvp.eftours.com/vp9as83

or scanning the QR code to the right.

When we return from Winter Break, we will be approaching the end of Semester 1. At that time, students typically have end-of-term projects or take midterm exams in many of their classes. Below you will find some information about the midterm period.

It is important to note that the summative assessment period at the end of the semester is a two-week period, as outlined below. The first week is dedicated to courses that offer assessments other than seated exams; the second week is dedicated to courses that offer seated exams.

It is important to note that midterm assessments:

• Count as 15% of students' semester 1 grade
• Can impact students' graduation status (more on this below)

• We have a typical schedule for all days.

• Class that are giving end-of-term projects, presentations or assessments other than traditional tests, will have those due this week.

• Assignments from classes that are giving traditional seated exams will be minimized.

• Classes with upcoming midterm exams will be preparing students for their upcoming assessments in class and may provide study resources for students to use outside of class.

• All days are early release for students at 11 am.

• Students are expected to attend all class blocks, whether they have an exam or not. This includes study halls, unless the student is excused from school by a parent or guardian.

• If a student will not be in a given class or in school for the day, the usual attendance procedures must be followed: a parent/guardian must call them out prior to their leaving or to confirm their absence or tardy. If students will be leaving early, a dismissal note from a parent/guardian is also acceptable.

• Skills and Workshops are considered classes and will meet during the midterm week.

• Students should make every effort to be present for their exams. If they miss an exam, makeups will be the following week. Students and their teachers will arrange these exams as necessary, either after school or during a mutually agreed upon study block or priv time.

In certain courses can impact students' graduation status due to the recent state requirements around Competency Determination. Those courses include English, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering and US History.

For more information on Competency Determination, please see this communication that was sent our last month or view our website at https://nhs.natickps.org/o/nhs/page/competency-determination.

If you have specific questions on the impact on your student, please contact their guidance counselor.

If you plan on walking in the graduation ceremony, you need to order a cap and gown. Seniors who are planning to borrow a cap and gown from a past graduate, you should still order a tassel.

To order, visit www.jostens.com.

Deadline: December 19th

Also available: Natick Class of 2026 swag!

Now that our December 5th deadline has come and gone, we will be reaching out to individual students who we did NOT receive a photo from. Please ask your senior try to refrain from sending the Yearbook staff "Did you get my photo?" emails, as they will be reaching out to you if we did not. Our goal is to have a photo for every student.

All students missing a photo will receive a Google Form informing us where we can get a photo from them. This includes:

1. School ID photo
2. Late studio photo
3. Free Senior Photo Day happening at the high school early January 2026 (date TBD)
4. I do not want a photo in the yearbook

In late January/Early February, ALL seniors and their caregivers will receive a PDF proof of the page they are featured on, where you will be able to check that:

• Their photos are correct
• Their names are spelled correctly
• Their senior quotes are correct

Final page submission for seniors will be the week before February break, so any changes can be made up until that point.

If you have questions, please contact Yearbook Advisor Jonathan Fleming (jfleming@natickps.org) or a member of the Yearbook staff.

Do not forget that Parent and Business Ads are also still available and are due by Monday, January 19th, 2026.

The Seal of Biliteracy, which is an additional honor placed on students' transcripts, rewards students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak or sign the language other than English at home or learned it at school in the community.

This letter containing more information on the Seal of Biliteracy, was recently sent home to senior families. It includes information on the STAMP test, an important component of the Seal of Biliteracy process. Interested students and families should be on the look out for a sign up form for the STAMP test, which will go out before December break.

We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. If you have any further questions, please contact World Language Department Chair Denise Trubiano at dtrubiano@natickps.org.

Payment Deadline*: Complete payment / Financial Assistance is due on December 15, 2025 @ 12pm

* Payment made after 12/15 at noon will incur a $25 late fee.

* If payment has not been made by 12/22 at 12pm, your student will NOT be permitted to participate until payment is made.

Registration is a two step process:

• Signing your student up through Arbiter Sports

• Submitting payment through UniPay by credit card or eCheck.

Detailed instructions on these processes are here: Online Registration Instruction Sheet

The athletic fees are as follows:

• Ice Hockey: $500 per student athlete
• Alpine Ski: $500 per student athlete
• Boys Swim & Dive: $325 per student athlete

• All Other Winter Sports: $275.00 per student athlete

There is a "family cap" of $1500.

Natick is holding its 12th Annual Interfaith Community Vigil to remember those we have lost and those who still struggle with substance use. This event is open to the entire community and is a place of comfort and support during the holiday season.

The vigil will take place on Sunday, December 14th from 5 pm - 6pm at the First Congregational Church in Natick Center.

For more information contact Natick 180 staff at Natick180@natickma.org or call 508-647-6623.

The MetroWest Digital Wellness Collaborative invites parents and caregivers of children and teens to participate in 60-minute virtual roundtable conversations about digital wellness.

Roundtable discussions will be held on two different evenings next week from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, and all participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card to thank them for their time.

To sign up for a roundtable discussion, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEHbn6-s4TqTay_70GuRaYzJtIi1jCeun60b832ZUKsDZ8xw/viewform

This past weekend, NHS Theatre presented Beetlejuice, Jr., a musical rendition of the popular movie from the 90s! From the sets to the costumes to the acting to the singing, the cast and crew did a phenomenal job!

Through two courses taught by NHS teacher and engineer Ray Salemi, NHS students have the opportunity to learn the popular Mathworks software, MATLAB.

After taking these courses, Mathworks, a Natick company, offers our students the chance to get certified as a MATLAB Associate, a valuable credential for those interested in future STEM careers. For the first time, an NHS student has become a Certified MATLAB Associate!

Congratulation to 12th grader Abhi Saxena on attaining this impressive credential!!

On Wednesday, NHS students showed shared pride in their diverse backgrounds and interests by presenting at the NHS Culture Fair. Students showcased the art, history and languages of their cultures. Among the booths were students from Uganda, Puerto Rico, France, the Dominican Republic, Algeria, Cape Verde, Guatemala, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, China, Spain, Haiti, Brazil, India, and Pakistan. There were also students from the Jesus Club (representing Christian culture and community), the Jewish Student Union, the Black and Hispanic Student Union, and Unified Community Projects. Staff and students' peers were so impressed by the thoughtful work that students put into the fair. Thank you to the Equity Club and its faculty advisors Jill Conroy and Andy Lofaro for organizing this event.

Speech and Debate Team President Christa Belev, Team Vice President Doris Yu and Team Publicity Coordinator Sanjhbati Das were accompanied by their coaches Sarah Donnelly and Joyce Albert when they where interviewed by WBZ News this past Monday morning about the team. The story will run on Thursday morning, December 18th, on WBZ News Mornings as part of a recurring segment entitled "It Happens Here." which airs from 5 AM -7 AM. It will also be available on the WBZ website after that.

We look forward to seeing them live!

Regular attendance to school is vital to your student's education. If your NHS student needs to be absent, please email call the absence line at 508-647-6601 before 10 am on the day of your student's absence. Please note that if we do not receive the necessary call from you, you will receive a call from us! Please see the handbook for other attendance related information regarding excused absences.

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.

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

Please reach out for more information about volunteering opportunities at natickhighptso@gmail.com.

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 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