The Weekly Update #1

Dear Natick Preschool Families,

As the leaves change and cozy storytime returns, I’ve been thinking about the wonder in hearing children share their ideas and stories. At preschool, language grows through singing, pretending, talking about what we notice, and bringing stories to life through books and play. Children’s questions and imaginative ideas amaze us - and help them build confidence, connection, and a love of learning. That same curiosity guides our work as a school community. Our program continues to grow as we listen, learn, and reflect together.

This fall has brought unexpected staffing challenges as we work to fully staff our program with qualified educators and paraeducators. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Families whose child’s programming has been affected have received updates as information becomes available. Our team is planning and collaborating to provide consistency and nurturing relationships, and we hope things will continue to settle in the coming weeks.

Starting preschool takes time and energy. Children may show extra tiredness, clinginess, or big feelings at home as they adjust to new spaces, schedules, and relationships. Every child finds their rhythm in their own way, and we appreciate your partnership.

In the weeks ahead, we look forward to our costume parades and first family engagement event, with more chances to connect throughout the year.

Your partnership helps make Natick Preschool a place where every child and family feels seen and supported. I’m always happy to connect if you have suggestions, questions, or concerns. We look forward to working together.

Warmly,

Cori

Last year parents in the community expressed interest in forming a PTO to support school activities and opportunities for connection and community-building beyond school-based events. Through some hard work by our School Council, the process to establish a PTO was completed and we have a small founding board that are looking to gain community involvement to support the function and growth of this group.

If you are interested in becoming involved or have experience with nonprofit organizations, PTO leadership, fundraising, or community engagement, please reach out to the PTO at
pto@natickpreschoolpto.org.

The council will meet throughout the year (4-5 meetings) to discuss school goals, family engagement, and community initiatives. If you are interested, please reach out - I would love to have your voice at the table! If you are still interested in participating, please complete this form. Meeting Schedule to be posted soon (check the website)!

In October, children are continuing their “All About Me” explorations through themes of fall, apples, pumpkins, and family. As they notice the changing season, they are using their senses, sharing personal likes and ideas, and discovering what makes each of us unique.

Through stories, songs, art, and play, children are exploring leaves, farm animals, apples, and pumpkins. A pretend farm stand invites them to practice language and social play, while hands-on activities encourage them to sort and count fall items, notice colors and shapes, and build with blocks. Some classrooms are also exploring farm animals. These playful experiences connect early learning with children’s curiosity about the world around them. Teachers will continue weaving early literacy and math into these experiences through songs, stories, play, and hands-on activities that spark curiosity and joy in learning.

Long before children learn to read, they build important language skills by listening, communicating, playing, and taking turns in conversations. Everyday back-and-forth interactions help children learn new words, organize their thoughts, tell stories, and understand other people. Children can participate with words, sounds, gestures, facial expressions, signs, pictures, or communication devices - all are meaningful forms of communication.

Simple Ways to Build Language at Home

• Pause and give your child time to respond. After making a comment or asking a question, wait quietly for several seconds. Young children often need extra time to understand what they heard and decide how to respond.

• Add a little more to what your child communicates. If your child says, “Big truck,” you might respond, “Yes, the big red truck is driving fast!” This models new vocabulary and longer sentences without asking your child to repeat you.

• Talk through everyday routines. Describe what you and your child are doing while getting dressed, preparing food, riding in the car, or cleaning up: “First we are washing the apples. Now we are cutting them into slices.”

• Wonder together. Try questions that can have more than one answer, such as “What do you think will happen next?” or “How could we fix it?” Mix questions with comments so the conversation feels natural rather than like a quiz.

• Tell family stories. Share stories about family members, traditions, celebrations, and experiences from when you were young. Invite your child to add what they remember or help tell a familiar story.

• Use all the languages spoken in your home. Talk, sing, play, and tell stories in the language or languages in which you feel most comfortable. A strong foundation in a child’s home language supports communication, family relationships, identity, and the learning of additional languages. Using more than one language does not confuse children or cause a language delay.

Try It Together: Talk About a Family Photograph

Choose a photograph of a familiar person, place, celebration, or family experience. Give your child time to look at it and begin by sharing something you notice.

You might say or ask:

• “I see Grandma standing next to you.”

• “Who is in this picture?”

• “What was happening?”

• “How were you feeling?”

• “What happened before this?”

• “What happened next?”

Follow your child’s interest. If your child points, gestures, or gives a short response, acknowledge it and add a little more. You can also write down your child’s words and save them with the photograph to create a simple family story.

Why Back-and-Forth Conversation Matters

The Harvard Center on the Developing Child describes responsive interaction as “serve and return”: a child communicates through a look, sound, gesture, action, or word, and a caring adult notices and responds. These back-and-forth exchanges support early language, social development, and developing brain connections. (A Guide to Serve and Return)

Resources for Grown-Ups

• ASHA: Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development offers age-based ideas for building communication through conversation, play, songs, books, and everyday experiences.

• Harvard Center on the Developing Child: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return explains how to notice a child’s interests, respond, take turns, name what the child is experiencing, and allow the child to guide the interaction. The handout is available in English and Spanish.

Watch and Play Together

Explore a short Sesame Workshop “Word of the Day” video. Pause afterward to talk about the new word and connect it to your child’s life.

You can also use puppets, stuffed animals, or household objects to make up a story together. Take turns deciding what each character says or what happens next. There is no need for a perfect story - the conversation and shared imagination are what matter.

Storytime Together

• The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds celebrates discovering, collecting, and sharing interesting words. Invite your child to choose a favorite word from the story or begin a family collection of words you hear throughout the week.

• Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds shows the many ways children can express their ideas, feelings, and voices. After reading, ask, “What is something you would like to say?” Remember that children may answer through words, pictures, movement, signs, or gestures.

The Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all-volunteer organization made up of parents and caregivers of children receiving supports and services in Natick Public Schools and private school settings. With more than 800 students in the district supported through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans, SEPAC offers resources, parent perspectives, and connections for families.

Learn more: sepacnatick.org
Follow on Facebook: Natick SEPAC
Questions? Email: naticksepac@gmail.com

Our SEPAC Board and Liaisons would like to know the best way that we can meet your needs and also invite your involvement in SEPAC. We would appreciate it if you can please complete the parent survey below:

Parent Engagement Survey

We know that we are all very busy! This should take no more than 3-5 mins of your time. We look forward to learning more from YOU about how SEPAC can best be helpful in our community!

• Please label backpacks, coats, lunch boxes, water bottles, and other belongings with your child’s name.

• Continue to check SeeSaw for classroom communication and use PickUp Patrol for attendance or dismissal updates.

• Help your child practice carrying their own backpack and managing one or two personal belongings.
• Please communicate any changes in your child’s routine, health, transportation, or dismissal plan through the appropriate school system.
• If you have information that may help us better understand or support your child, please reach out to your child’s teacher or service provider.

• Natick Preschool 2026-2027 Handbook

• How-to Video: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve & Return (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard). 2-minute strategy that strengthens connection. Harvard Center on Developing Child

• How Every Child can Thrive by Five: A TED Talk by 7-year old Molly Wright (2021)

📅 November 4 - Early Release (Preschool and Elementary conferences)

📅 November 11 - Veterans' Day - All Schools Closed

📅 November 18 - Early Release (Preschool and Elementary conferences)

📅 November 25 - Early Release (Thanksgiving break)

📅 November 26-27 No School (Thanksgiving)

📅 November 30 - NLLS - No school

📅 December 9 - Early Release (Professional Development)

Free Flu Clinic for Natick Residents

When: Thursday, October 22, 2026 10:30am to 2:30pm

Where: Natick Community Senior Center 117 East Central St. Natick

Pre-Registration Required At: https://rb.gy/xrfda2

Age: 6 Months+

FREE Regardless of Insurance Status

High-dose available while supplies last for 65+ age

For More Information Call: 508-647-6460

• Weekly preschool story times (Mon, Tues at 10am) at the Bacon St Free Library, 58 Eliot St, Natick CALENDAR

• All Together Preschool Storytime (Tuesday mornings), Purposeful Play (Thursday mornings), Lapsit Storytimes (Monday mornings), and Pajama Time Story (select Wednesday evenings), Morse Institute Library. 14 E Central St Natick CALENDAR

• Kids' Story Time Saturdays 11-11:30 Ten Tree Books. Ten Trees Books. 29 Main St, Natick, MA CALENDAR; Drop-in.

• Project ABC Playgroups, Morse Institute Library, Fridays 10:00am. 14 E Central St, Natick. Drop-in Playgroup through Project ABC. Free. Registration

• Natick Parks and Rec - PreK programming. Various. The Cole Center 179 Boden Ln, Natick. Information and registration Here

• Early Childhood Alliance Bilingual Playgroup (Portuguese, Spanish/English); Mandarin Storytime (Sats 3pm); Book Buddies (read to a dog); Calendar at the Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St. Framingham, MA and McAuliffe Branch 746 Water Street. Framingham, MA

• Friday Farmers (8:30-12:30 Fridays, per semester), Farm Sprouts (1:30-3:30 Tuesdays, per semester), Wee Farmers (10:30-11:30 Sat $25/person per session, drop-in) at Natick Community Organic Farm. For fee. Registration required.