Schools Archives - Natick Report

Time for Natick Public School families to make the call

August 12, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

The Natick Public School System is asking families to fill out a survey by 10pm on Sunday, Aug. 16 to indicate whether their students plan to start the school year with the hybrid model voted on by the School Committee this week (1 week in school, 1 week remote) or go all-remote via the cringy-named Edgenuity program.

Everything’s subject to change depending on how Natick’s COVID-19 infection numbers go, but for now, the town has a very low rate.

Special education students will have in-person school throughout, and additional communications is being shared with families by the school system.

Natick grads making the most of their moment

August 10, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Thanks to Don Warren for sharing photos of recent Natick High School grads, who just can’t seem to take off those Class of 2020 graduation gowns. Seen here, a handful of grads hoop it up at Murphy Field on Monday, Aug. 10, 3 days after they graduated at Memorial Field.

While they’re too far away to see in detail, we’ll assume they were masked up.

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Congratulations to Natick High School Class of 2020

August 7, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

natick high graduation gis — Photo courtesy of Richard Ames, Natick GIS coordinator

Natick High School’s Class of 2020 patiently waited a couple of months, but finally got its graduation ceremony, which lasted from light until dark on a beautiful August night. Congratulations to the grads, and best of luck going forward.

We’ll add the Natick Pegasus recording of the event when it’s available.

Natick High School Class of 2020 graduation — Photos courtesy of Alisa TeSelle

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Those Natick summer reading books aren’t going to read themselves—time to get serious

July 28, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Summer is slipping away, and that means it’s time for students to make sure they get their assigned summer reading done by the first day of school which is, as of right now, September 1. Timing is essential. Read the books too early in the summer, and memories of plot, theme, and character development fade. Leave it too late, and the stress of finishing the books overshadows the enjoyment of curling up for a transporting experience.

Don’t anybody panic, there’s still plenty of time to get students engaged in that most lovely of summer activities, cozying up with a good book.

We’ve listed the summer reading books for Natick public schools students in grades 5 – 12, along with links for more information. Students in grades K – 4 don’t have a formal summer reading requirement, but the Morse Institute Children’s Room librarians have put together the perfect list for them, too. Contact the library at (508) 647-6520 to find out how to access that list.

Summer reading, Natick Middle School (Kennedy & Wilson)

Incoming Grade 8:

All Natick Middle School 8th graders have one required book to read over the summer — The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 7 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds
The Next Great Paulie Fink, by Ali Benjamin
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 6 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Song for a Whale, by Lynne Kelly
Ghost, by Jason Reynolds
To: Night Owl From: Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 5 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Because of the Rabbit, by Cynthia Lord
Enginerds, by Jarrett Lerner
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Natick’s Language & Literacy teachers have put together questions on each book, which will help students be ready for in-class discussions, essays, and other learning experiences. You can find the information at this link.

Summer reading, Natick High School

All students must choose one book from the list of six options below. In the fall, students will participate in a small group discussion on the major themes and topics of their chosen text.

Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi
Craig and Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other, by Craig Grossi
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
Patron Saints of Nothing, by Randy Ribay
Piecing Me Together, by Renee Watson

Info here on how to access an Ebook for free with your library card though Hoopla and Libby.

Info here for additional Honors and AP requirements.

Natick elementary schools

There are no formal summer reading requirements or assignments for grades K – 4. But don’t let that stop kids from enjoying all the good books they can get their hands on. Contact the Morse Institute Library at (508) 647-6520 to find out how to access a list the librarians have put together.

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Sneak peek: Riverbend School’s newest South Natick campus additions

July 6, 2020 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Riverbend School the construction zone has made its final leap to becoming Riverbend School, the campus. Located at 33 Eliot St., the K – 8, 200-student Montessori-method institution has finished the Upper School building and the gymnasium, the last of three major building projects that kicked off in 2014. Let’s just say it’s been a busy six years at Riverbend, which has had a presence in South Natick since 1986.

Designed by Piatt Associates Architecture, the Upper School contains three purpose-built lower elementary classrooms, as well as dedicated design and art studios. A stand-alone, full-size gymnasium provides plenty of space for indoor recreation, and will also generate revenue through rentals of the space. Both new buildings are located on the field adjacent to the Middle School, which is part of the historic Peletiah Morse Tavern, on Rte. 16.

“All of the buildings for the campus were intended, as designed, to be respectful of the character of the John Eliot Historic District and I hope the new buildings will be seen that way as well,” says architect Jim Piatt.

The two previous building projects, both also designed by Piatt, were Children’s House, completed in 2014; and the Middle School, attached to the tavern, completed in 2017.

Head of School Whitney Slade took time out of his day to give me a tour of the campus, which he said is “geared toward our kids, Montessori kids, the way they’re taught and the way they learn. In the Montessori method, big open spaces are needed.” Here are a few pics of how that was achieved:

Riverbend School, Natick — Children’s House, completed in 2014, is what drivers-by would likely identify as the main building of Riverbend. The 13,000 square-foot building houses the approximately 100 students in the toddler-kindergarten program, as well as administration offices.

Riverbend School — Interior of the gym, which is air conditioned, as are all of the Riverbend buildings. “We’ll be renting out the gym to Natick Rec, Dover-Sherborn basketball, and others, so the gym is also a revenue opportunity for us,” Slade said.

All told, the school has put over $5 million into creating its new campus. The Natick-owned brick building the school worked out of for decades is now vacant. But with grades 4-6 located in Memorial Hall, Riverbend hasn’t completely crossed Eliot Street.

Slade is now focused on what September will look like for Riverbend. “We’re developing protocols to keep everyone separate,” he said. “We’re working with the Natick Board of Health with the goal of providing a safe learning environment for our students, their families, and our staff. We’ll miss out on field trips this year, unfortunately. Maybe we’ll go over to Elm Bank, since we can walk there.”

“And there’s always Forest Friday,” Slade said, pointing to the wooded conservation land the school abuts. “That’s very big here.”

Other sneak peeks:

Sneak peek: we get a look at the Babson College globe

Sneak peek: the renovated Hood Museum at Dartmouth College

Sneak peek: an early look behind Door No. 7 in Wellesley