Natick Redhawks

Hello Natick High School Caregivers,

I hope that you and your student had a great week. We just closed out our week at NHS by announcing our new 9th grade class officers. I want to congratulate the large number of students who took the brave step of running for class office and speaking in front of their peers. I was impressed with their poise and advocacy for their peers.

Below, you will find a few opportunities for students to get involved with our community partners, including METCO and the Flutie 5K for Autism. There are also a number of announcements for parents of juniors and seniors around post-secondary planning.. Finally, you will find a chance to connect with other parents, while riaisng funds for the Class of 2027 at our upcoming Bingo Night.

Warmly,

Josepha Blocker

Principal, Natick High School

10/4 - 9th & 10th Grade Homecoming Dance, 7 pm - 10 pm

10/8 - Early Release @ 11am for Staff Professional Development

10/8 - MEFA Financial Aide Night @ 6:30 pm

10/13 - Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day - No School

10/14 - Winter Athletics Registration Opens @ noon

10/16 - ELPAC Meeting (English Learner Parent Advisory Council), 6 pm virtually

10/25 - PSATs (Information shared to 10th grade and 11th grade families)

10/26 - Flutie 5K for Autism (Community event taking place at NHS; info below)

10/31 - Last Day of Term 1

11/1 - Class of 2027 Parent Bingo Night Fundraiser

AP® (Advanced Placement ) Exam registration is now open. Students must register before November 1st to avoid late fees. Please note that simply taking a course does NOT automatically register a student for the AP exam.

Here is the link to the 2025-2026 AP Exam Registration Site.

Note: These exams are intended for students who are currently enrolled in an AP course at Natick High School or have prepared for exams independently.

Natick is forming a parent group for all parents and guardians of current or former English Learner students. If you are interested, please complete this form.

The first meeting will be virtual on October 16th. More information can be found HERE.

Questions? Please reach out to Assistant Director of Multilingual Learning, Joseph Santiago-Silvestri,

by phone: 508-647-6500 (Ext 8793) or by email jsantiagosilvestri@natickps.org.

You can now purchase your 2025-2026 yearbook HERE.

Any questions related to yearbook orders should be directed to Yearbook Advisor, Jonathan Fleming, at jfleming@natickps.org.

Please visit the Natick High School Yearbook's website for further information about:

• Senior photos
• Senior quotes
• Senior surveys

• Purchasing an ad in this year's yearbook

A provision of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, a federal law, requires secondary schools, upon a receipt of a request, to release the names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of students attending the high school to United States military recruiters. If you wish to have your student’s name removed from this reporting list, please fill out the Military Exempt Form by October 31, 2025 and return it to Mrs. Slattery in the NHS Guidance Office via email at doslattery@natickps.org.

Thank you in advance for carefully reading the athletic registration information below. We look forward to working with your student athlete this season!

We are thrilled to be offering a traditional slate of winter athletic opportunities including:

• Boys' Basketball
• Girls' Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Dance
• Gymnastics
• Boys' Ice Hockey
• Girls' Ice Hockey
• Alpine Ski
• Nordic Ski
• Boys' Swim/Dive
• Boys' Indoor Track
• Girls' Indoor Track
• Wrestling

Registration Opens: October 14th 2025 @ 12pm

Registration Deadline: November 14th 2025 @ 12pm

NEW INFORMATION REGARDING PAYMENT

Payment is not needed until teams are made.

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.

To register, each student athlete will need:

• A Completion of Course certificate from the two required online courses for student athletes
• A copy of the student athlete's up-to-date physical

Information on each of these requirements, the registration link and the payment link are below.

First Day of the MIAA Winter Season: December 1, 2025

The MIAA allows winter athletics to begin as of this date. More information will be shared from the Athletics Department in the coming weeks on specific first-day details for each team, including sites and times.

All student athletes from MIAA schools, including NHS, MUST complete two free NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) courses before registering for a sport: one general course and one concussion course. These courses are available at the links below.

• The Arxed Student course : English. Spanish

• The Concussion course

After completing a course, a student athlete will earn a Completion of Course certificate, which the athlete will need to upload as a part of the registration process.

A few details for multi-sport athletes:

• A multi-sport athlete must only complete the courses one time during the academic year.
• If an athlete has already completed the course after May 23, 2025 the course completion certificate should already populate into the registration and/or the athlete should use their previous course completion certificate to proceed with the registration process.

Your student's physical must have taken place within 13 months to suffice for athletics registration. If you need a new physical, and cannot get an appointment with your child's physician, you may need to consider going to an Urgent Care or Minute Clinic OR have your doctor write a note stating the date of your child's upcoming physical and that your child is "healthy and able to participate in sports". A current physical or doctor's note is necessary to participate in sports. Please note that you must submit a physical, not the summary.

We continue to work with Natick Central School Administration, The Natick Health Department, and The Natick School Committee to ensure that we are up to date with Health Metrics and Guidance.

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 fee is $275.00 except for, Boys Swim & Dive which is $325, Ice Hockey which is $500, and Alpine Ski which is $500. There is a Family Cap of $1500.

On October 8th, NHS will welcome representatives from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) for an informational evening about college financial aid. The presentation will take place from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm in the High School Auditorium.

Attendees will learn about how to complete the FAFSA form, which is required for all students seeking financial aid for college in the 26-27 school year. You will also have the chance to ask questions about the financial aid process.

MEFA is hosting FREE college financing webinars, with daytime and evening hours, presented by industry experts. You can register for a webinar at mefa.org/events.

The MassHire Healthcare Expo is on Thursday, October 23rd. The event will give students the opportunity to explore a wide range of healthcare careers: traditional healthcare, behavioral health, veterinary care, childcare, and first responders. If your NHS student would like to participate, please ask them to pick up a permission slip in the Guidance Department.

Deadline to return the slip is October 15th.

Natick High School will be hosting the ASVAB Exam, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The test for any JUNIORS AND SENIORS that are interested in taking the exam.

This test is optional, free, and administered during the school day to students who register for it. The ASVAB test is coordinated by NHS College and Career Counselor, Jon Nardi (jnardi@natickps.org), and administered by local military representatives. It is an excellent way for students to learn how their skills may be used in the workforce and to learn which careers best match your skills and interests.

Who: Juniors & Seniors who register

Test Date and Time: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 from 8:10am - 11:10am

Test Location: Natick High School Lecture Hall

Registration: By October 24th HERE: https://forms.gle/h14BuLkhcx1NtrTW7

*It is crucial for students to sign up by the deadline, if they would like to participate. Prior to the test date, those taking the test will need a caregiver to sign a very short district waiver because an outside organization is providing the test.

To learn more about the test and see practice questions, please check out the test's official website:

https://www.officialasvab.com/

The ASVAB Career Exploration Website (test takers are given access after they finish the test):

https://www.asvabprogram.com/

If you have any questions about the test or registration process, please reach out to Mr. Nardi in Guidance: jnardi@natickps.org

As a reminder, all Juniors are automatically registered and are encouraged to take the PSATs. Sophomores had the option to sign up and pay the fee of $35 to take the test. As we prepare for this exam, we wanted to share some important information:

Important information for the Junior Class.

Important information for the Sophomore's signed up to take the test on 10/25.

Future Leaders Program in partnership with Boston University where students will focus on either College Readiness OR Civic Engagement and Mindfulness.

• The program will meet in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting October 14th, at the METCO, Inc. office (11 Roxbury St., Roxbury, MA 02119)

• Students will be paid $15/hour for their time in the program, and will be paid to complete surveys and interviews.

• Total compensation can be up to $599.

• This internship is a part of a research study conducted by Boston University faculty that will require students to provide feedback via surveys and interviews.

• This opportunity is open to district resident students as well as METCO students. (i.e. The student does not have to be a Boston resident student to participate.)

• Unfortunately, if you participated in this program before, you cannot participate a second time.

• Interested students should complete the BU Interest Form.

More information on the program is below.

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is hosting the 26th Annual Flutie 5K for Autism. This community event helps the Foundation achieve it's mission: "to help people and families with autism to live life to the fullest." This year members of the Natick High School community have organized a team, which families, staff, alumni and students are invited to join by clicking here or by scanning the QR code in the flyer below.

* Please note that this is a community event that will be taking place at NHS. As such, this event will not be supervised by NHS staff.

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