Natick Redhawks

Hello Natick High School Caregivers,

As we approach the end of September, we are also at the midpoint of Term 1. Now is a great time to check in with your teens to see how their classes are going, and to log into Powerschool to check their grades. If there is something that raises some questions, we encourage you to reach out to your teen's teachers or guidance counselor. We want to make sure that we are partnering with you in support of your NHS student.

In the upcoming weeks, there are also a lot of opportunities for students and families to connect to our community. In particular, next week is very busy for our 9th graders. On Monday and Tuesday, 9th graders will cycle through a Club Fair during CDS. Now that they are into the groove of high school, this is a great opportunity to think more about clubs and activities. Our upperclass students really take pride in their clubs, and will be waiting to add the 9th graders' names to their club email lists. Ninth graders also have elections for their Class Officers on Wednesday, and the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, which is being planned by the 10th grade for both grade levels.

Below you will also notice that there are a number of opportunities for families to connect, including upcoming SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) and ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) meetings, the Flutie 5K for Autism and a Bingo night fundraiser for the Class of 2027 at the Elks. You will also see that there are a number of upcoming opportunities for students to learn about a variety of career options; please review them and encourage your student to register if any of the options appeal to them.

Lastly, I wanted to remind all families that we do not have school on Thursday of this week in observance of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. If your family celebrates, I wish you an reflective day and an easy fast.

Warmly.

Josepha Blocker

Principal, Natick High School

10/1 - Grade 9 Class Officer Election

10/1 - SEPAC meeting, 7 pm in the Kennedy Middle School Library

10/2 - Yom Kippur - No 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

10/16 - 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

This Thursday, school is closed in honor of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. If you celebrate, I wish you a meaningful holiday and an easy fast.

As with religious holidays of all faiths, we never want academics to be a barrier to students' observation of their religious and cultural customs. If your student requires accommodations to allow them to celebrate Yom Kippur, please encourage them to connect with their teachers.

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.

The Natick SEPAC is a volunteer group comprised of parents/caregivers of children receiving special education services in our community. The group is dedicated to promoting effective communication, collaboration, and advocacy for students with disabilities and their families.

Please join the SEPAC for their first meeting of the year, which will be in the Kennedy Middle School Library at 7 pm on October 1st.

At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to meet the Special Education Administrators from each Natick Public Schools, and to connect with other parents/guardians.

For more information, please see this flyer. Please email naticksepac@gmail.com with questions.

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.

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.

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.

On Tuesday, September 30th from 7:00-8:30 PM, the Natick Health Department's Natick 180 team is hosting a hybrid Narcan Training event that is free and open to the entire community.

Narcan is a safe and effective way to reverse an opioid overdose and save a person's life.

In addition to the Narcan training and distribution, this event will include a panel discussion with individuals in recovery and family members who have been impacted by addiction. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a community art project celebrating recovery and remembering those we've lost to substance use.

This hybrid event is both in-person at the Morse Institute Library's Liebowitz Hall (14 E. Central Street, Natick, MA) and virtual over Zoom. Register for the event here: bit.ly/YouCan-Natick.

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