NPS Engage 6/18/26

As the 2025–2026 school year draws to a close, this final edition of Engage offers an opportunity to reflect on what has been an extraordinary year for our students, staff, families, and community. I just returned from Kennedy Middle School's 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony and I am filled with such pride of our students, teachers, staff and community.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our staff, students, families, and community partners. Your dedication, support, and commitment make our schools extraordinary places to learn and grow.

One of our most significant accomplishments this year was the development of our new Five-Year Strategic Plan. This effort involved nearly 40 teachers, school and district leaders, School Committee members, caregivers, and community members, along with feedback from more than 2,200 stakeholders through surveys and public forums. The final document is currently being formatted for publication, but you can view the School Committee-approved Strategic Plan presentation HERE.We look forward to sharing the final public-facing document later this summer.

As families begin planning for the months ahead, please remember that the first day of school for students is August 26, 2026. A copy of the 2026–2027 School Calendar is included in this edition of Engage and is always available on our website.

In July, the district will also launch a page on our website dedicated to student activity fees, designed to make information easier for families to access and understand. We hope this resource will support families in planning for student participation in activities throughout the school year. We will share more information when it becomes available.

As we conclude the school year, we also recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. We have included information below on opportunities in Natick to recognize Juneteenth.

We have just two exciting days remaining in the school year. Please remember that our final day of school on June 23 is a half day. I will send a brief message to the community on our final day of school.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melissa Spash

Superintendent

We were incredibly proud of our Lilja students for unlocking all four reward tiers on our final PRIDE incentive board! 💙🦁

Through their consistent demonstration of Perseverance, Respect, Inclusivity, Dependability, and Empathy, students earned a schoolwide celebration on June 17th.

Because the rewards were cumulative, students enjoyed:

🫧 Bubbles & Chalk at Recess

🎬 Movie at Lunch

🌟 Principal in a Glow Costume

✨ A Schoolwide Glow Party Grand Finale

The celebration recognized the positive choices and strong character our students demonstrated throughout the year. Dressed in neon colors, bright white clothing, and glow accessories, students lit up the school during the afternoon Glow Party and truly showed that they were glowing with PRIDE as we closed out an amazing school year.

Congratulations to all of our Lilja Lions for their hard work and commitment to our PRIDE values!

On Monday, June 8th, at Lawrence High School at 7:30 p.m. Natick High School sent nine students and six adults (two staff and four parents) to support three Natick High School students who were nominated to receive a Music Theatre Award through the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild. The Guild created the Music Theatre Awards as a Tony Awards-style program to offer both middle and high school members a season-long opportunity to bring experienced adjudicators into their theaters, compete for recognition for the musical theatre awards, and grant high school students an opportunity to participate in the Jimmy Awards - a National High School Musical Theater Award program sponsored by the Broadway League Foundation.

This section is not district sponsored

Join the Natick Historical Society and Natick is United for a community reading of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to a Slave is the 4th of July?” at 10:30 AM on Natick Common. See more event details here.