Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

Private education opportunities at local Open House events near Natick

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SPONSORED CONTENT: For prospective families considering a private school education for their children, local private schools are opening their doors to for upcoming Open House events. These visits offer a valuable opportunity to explore campus facilities, meet dedicated administrators and faculty, observe engaging classroom environments, and learn more about each school’s unique educational philosophy and curriculum. Whether your family is considering early childhood programs, elementary foundations, or college preparatory middle and high schools, attending an Open House is the ideal way to ask questions, discover extracurricular offerings, and experience firsthand the vibrant community culture each school has to offer.

Find the right academic environment for your student.

Don’t see your private school listed here? Contact natickreport@gmail.com to learn about inclusion.

Dedham Country Day School, Natick

DCD—Classroom Observation Day, Friday, October 16, 8:30 to 10:30 AM
Register here

Pre-K to Grade 8
90 Sandy Valley Rd., Dedham, MA 02026

Classroom Observations are DCD’s version of an Open House. Experience a typical morning with students and teachers, and explore our brand-new theater and learning spaces! Register now for Oct. 16, Nov. 12, or Jan. 8 to see how your student can thrive at DCD.

St. John, Wellesley

St. John School, Open House—Sunday, Oct. 18, 10am-11:30am
Register here

Pre-school – 6
9 Ledyard St., Wellesley, MA 02481
Built on the cornerstones of Academic Excellence, Faith Development, and Community, Saint John School provides an education within an atmosphere of Christian concern, commitment, and dedication to service.

Dana Hall School, Wellesley

Dana Hall School—Open House, Saturday, Oct. 24, 1-3:30pm
Register here

Grades 5-12
45 Dana Road, Wellesley, MA 02482

An à la carte-style event that lets you customize your day: look inside our classrooms, step into mini-lessons across various academic subjects, talk with program directors, and meet our school administrators to see how you will thrive here.

Star Academy, Boston

Star Academy Boston, Open House—Oct. 27 (Watertown) & Oct. 28 (Wellesley)

Discover a school where small classes, strong academics, and individualized learning help every student grow. Meet our teachers, explore our campuses, and learn more about Star Academy. Register: staracademyboston.com/open-house/

Watertown Campus—Preschool & Grades K–5; October 27, 9:30-11:30am
Wellesley Campus—Preschool & Grades 6–12; October 28, 9:30-11:30am

Fay School, Southborough

Fay School, Open House—Sunday, Nov. 1
Register here

K – grade 9
48 Main Street, Southborough, MA 01772
Coeducational day and boarding school, located on a 66-acre campus, and is the oldest junior boarding school in the United States.

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Natick student-led L.E.A.P. event addresses high schoolers’ anxieties over what comes next

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LEAP
L.E.A.P. organizers and speakers (Courtesy photo)

 
Before Natick High School senior Shresta Chakilam and her teammates at GrowWithGuidance hosted their first L.E.A.P (Listen, Explore, Aspire, and Pursue) event this past weekend, they surveyed classmates about their top anxieties about their futures. Organizers then designed the event, held at the Natick Center Spiritual Center, to address students’ top concerns.

GrowWithGuidance, a student-led initiative, was “created to ease the stress and uncertainty many high school students feel while preparing for college and future careers.”

As you can see from the recording, the L.E.A.P. event was a success. The event featured a handful of speakers and breakout sessions so that students could interact with the guests and one another.


 
Keynote speaker Ashley Olafsen spoke of the rewards of being just plain nice to people, as she recounted her career path, which has taken her to Harvard Innovation Labs and currently vibe coding company Lovable. She also shared an anecdote about what can happen when you aren’t nice to people…

GrowWithGuidance’s Chakilam said afterward: “Something impactful for me was when I heard a student say, ‘I really am just confused about what to do’ and to see everyone’s hand raised when the question ‘Have you felt anxious about your future?’ was asked.”

Chakilam, who co-founded GrowWithGuidance with fellow Natick High student Ellie Olugemo, said she felt that students and parents received “tangible advice, reassurance, and actionable insights on navigating post-high school life” at L.E.A.P.

LEAP
From the L.E.A.P. stage

 
In addition to Olafsen, speakers included:

  • Kathleen Kehrer, a former college admissions officer at Boston College who is now a college advisor. She spoke in part about the importance of getting hands-on experience in the careers you might pursue.
  • Juan Flechas-Beltran, a Tufts Provost Fellow who studies biomedical engineering and an Army officer. He spoke about comparing your past and future selves, and not comparing yourself to those around you.
  • Carolina Miranda, an entrepreneur, spoke about the importance of mentors.
  • Professor Juan Gnecco talked about his “non-traditional trajectory” from community college to MIT. This involved taking risks and not fearing failure. “The things that I still lose sleep over till this day… is that I didn’t apply to jobs, because I thought, ‘Why would I get that job?'”
LEAP at Natick Days
We caught up with the GrowWithGuidance team at Natick Days, ahead of L.E.A.P.

 

 

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First day of school in Natick is Wednesday, Aug. 26th

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We hope the summer has been kind to all Natick families, faculty, and staff. The countdown to the 2026-27 school year is officially on, with classes set to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Regardless of whether you have kids in the school system, get ready for the familiar bustle as our town returns to its high-energy, back-to-school routine.

Memorial School, Natick
Memorial Elementary School, Natick

Important dates

  • Aug. 24 – 25—faculty returns (all school buildings closed to the public)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 26—first day of school for students
  • Monday, Sept. 7—schools closed for Labor Day
  • Sept. 16—early release day, all students
  • Monday, Sept. 21—schools closed for Yom Kippur
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7—early release day for all students
  • Monday, Oct. 12—schools closed for Indigenous Peoples Day

Fun fact: Students will be in attendance for the 45 of the first 48 school days, spanning late Aug. – Oct.

Here’s the entire 2026-27 academic calendar.

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Bike garden dedicated to Mrs. V along Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick

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Mrs V bike garden Cochituate Rail Trail

The red bicycle sculpture alongside the Cochituate Rail Trail at General Greene Avenue in Natick is now surrounded by a lovely pollinator garden that includes a bronze plaque honoring Katie von der Lieth, a longtime Johnson Elementary paraprofessional and cycling enthusiast who died in 2014.

Family and friends of Mrs. V. attended a dedication ceremony on Monday, July 20 at the sight of the new garden.

The bike had originally been at the Johnson Elementary School property in 2019, but was moved to the rail trail last fall after the school closed. Friends of Natick Trails raised funds for the garden and plaque.

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