Mid-August Update from Dr. Spash!

Dear NPS Families and Community,

I hope you are enjoying these final weeks of summer! Whether your summer has included camps or NPS summer programs, family vacations or staycations, bike rides and walks, ice cream, swimming, time in nature, a few extra books, or perhaps a few extra naps, I hope you have found opportunities to relax, recharge, and spend time with the people who matter most.

It is hard to believe, but the first day of school for students is just two weeks away, Wednesday, August 26! Across Natick Public Schools, our teams are busy preparing to welcome our students and families back for another wonderful year of learning, growth, and connection. We are excited for all that the 2026–2027 school year will bring.

Our 2026–2031 Strategic Plan

While our students and many of our families have been enjoying summer, the district has been busy finalizing plans for the implementation of our new 2026–2031 Strategic Plan.

We will soon share our full published Strategic Plan, along with a roadmap outlining our Year One work. In the meantime, you will find our Strategic Plan poster in this newsletter, which provides an overview of our mission, vision, core values, and focus areas.

As a reminder, we also have a Strategic Plan landing page on the district website. This will be an important resource throughout the life of the plan, where our community can find updated information about our progress and the work underway across the district.We look forward to sharing more with you soon as we begin bringing this plan to life together.

Coming Friday: New Family MCAS Portal

I also want to give families advance notice about an important communication you will receive this Friday (8/14) regarding a new Family MCAS Portal initiative from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The new portal will provide caregivers with access to their student’s MCAS scores. Friday’s communication will include more detailed information about the initiative, directions for accessing the platform, and information about district supports available to families.Please be on the lookout for that message.

Celebrating Our NPS Summer Programs

I want to extend a BIG thank you to all of the staff members who supported our NPS summer programs, as well as the students and families who participated.

I had the opportunity to visit programs at Natick High School this summer, and it was such a joy to see our students learning, having fun, building relationships, and making connections. Summer programming is possible because of the dedication of so many members of our NPS community, and I am grateful to everyone who helped make these experiences possible for our students.

District Program Fees for 2026–2027

As families begin preparing for the new school year, we also want to make it easier to find important information in one place. Our District Program Fees for the 2026–2027 school year are now available on the district website.

The page provides District Program Fee information along with convenient links to the appropriate payment platforms. Families can find the page under the Family Resources tab on our website or [click here] to access it directly.

A Highlight From My Summer

Each year, I enjoy sharing a highlight from my summer with our community. I have found that sharing some of my experiences has resulted in some wonderful conversations and connections with Natick community members. This summer, I was fortunate to travel to Peru and visit Machu Picchu. I went into the trip thinking the highlight would be checking off a bucket list experience: hiking into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. It was every bit as extraordinary as I had hoped!

What surprised me most, though, was how much I appreciated everything beyond the hike. I was struck by the connection between the food, traditions, land, and enduring presence of ancient Andean culture. Machu Picchu was unforgettable, but so was Peru itself. It is a place and an experience that will stay with me for a long time.I’ve included a few photos from my adventure in this message.

See You in TWO Weeks!

As we approach August 26, I hope everyone enjoys these remaining summer days. Soon our hallways, classrooms, playgrounds, fields, and gathering spaces will once again be filled with the energy of our students, and we cannot wait to welcome them back.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for being an important part of the Natick Public Schools community. I look forward to seeing our students and families soon and to beginning another great school year together.

Sincerely,

Melissa Spash

Superintendent of Schools
Natick Public Schools

Thank you NPS staff, students and families for the wonderful summer program experiences!

Information on transportation and bus routes can be found on the transportation page on the District website HERE. Please note that many bus routes have changed!

A Note About Late Buses

Late bus service will begin on Tuesday, September 15.

A reminder that students must have a valid bus pass to ride the late bus. Please make sure your student brings their bus pass with them each day they plan to use the service. Students without a valid bus pass will not be permitted to ride the late bus.

Late buses operate Monday through Thursday, except on early-release days and holidays in which Natick Public Schools are closed. For example: If there is no school on a Friday due to a holiday, there will be no late bus service on the Thursday before the holiday.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our late bus service safe, reliable, and organized!

Dear Natick Families,

It is with great excitement that I reach out to you as your new Director of Athletics at Natick High School. As a lifelong Natick resident and NHS alumnus, I am proud to assume this role with deep passion for our community. Over the last 35 years, I have served as an NHS athlete, teacher, coach, administrator, and parent. These experiences have given me a profound understanding of the important role athletics play in the education, growth and development of our students. I look forward to learning from all of you about NHS Athletics and how I can best support our student athletes, families, and teams.

Starting this August and continuing into the Fall, I will devote considerable time to learning about the strengths and areas for growth in our Athletics Program. I am seeking input and information from our community, and I ask that you please complete this Entry Plan Feedback Form at your earliest convenience before the school year begins.

As I review your feedback, I will look for themes to guide our work together, rather than focusing on individual responses. While I may share ideas and quotes, I will not attribute them to any specific person. Please be honest and open in sharing your thoughts.

I have also reserved time this August for small group meetings at Natick High School where you can share your experiences and insights about NHS Athletics. Please RSVP using this form to help me arrange an appropriate space:

• Wednesday, August 19th, 9:00 a.m.

• Thursday, August 27th, 7:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 2nd, 9:00 a.m.

As the school year begins, I will host open meetings for families during each sports season. If these times don't work for your schedule but you would still like to share input, please reach out to schedule a phone call or meeting.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and look forward to working with you and your athletes this year!

Warmly,

Matt Brenneman

mabrenneman@natickps.org

Click below for a video explaining Housing for All program eligibility and next steps!

Click here if you're interested in reading a back-to-school message from the White House.