Dr. Nolin’s Dispatch—Natick Public Schools podcast hits Spotify

May 14, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Tired of the tunes? You can now toss “Dr. Nolin’s Dispatch” onto your Spotify playlist.

The idea for this new podcast from Natick Public Schools came via the Parent Academy town hall held in January 2020, and parents have since confirmed that they’d like a podcast featuring school Supt. Dr. Anna Nolin and touching on timely topics.

A trailer has been released teasing the first episode, which will explore “agility, innovation, and a Natick profile of a graduate.”

The podcast will start with three episodes, distributed over the summer at dates to be determined. Nolin will look to differentiate the podcast from her other communications, including a weekly newsletter and appearances before the School Committee and other town groups.

“This podcast will be focused on discussing the nuts and bolts of our district work by introducing some of our leaders and the work they’re doing that impacts the district,” Nolin explained in an email to us. “In addition, this is also an opportunity for us share our deep community-student connections in new and exciting ways; the first episode shares a glimpse into that aspect specifically.”

The podcast has been produced by Natick students, who are leaning on their technical theatre and production backgrounds.

“The great part of doing a podcast is that allows flexibility in how we record our episodes, so most of our work is done in a remote capacity right now. However, when things allow, we plan to move to recording in-person (using the NHS studio) in the future,” Nolin says.

Nolin and the Natick Public Schools Communications Office met with students 6 times this spring to create the podcast (students Allie Conwell, Sammy Scharr, Ellie Pantekidis, Anna Victor, and Daniel Zogby are cited in a recent Natick Public Schools newsletter item on the podcast).

Natick is not the only school district to have a podcasting superintendent, but there aren’t many around here.

We give Dr. Nolin credit for bravery (we’ve been encouraged to add podcasting to our mix and have held off).

Which podcasts does she listen to, and perhaps take inspiration from?

Modern Love (NY Times)
Kind World (NPR)
The Moth
Harvard Business Review

Stay tuned for the first episode.

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Natick student art showcased at Page Waterman’s Virtual Gallery juried exhibit

May 10, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick High School artists shine this year at Page Waterman Gallery’s 5th annual juried exhibition, NEXT UP!, taking place online through May 28th. It’s been nice to see that Natick entrants have increased their presence in the prestigious show—four painters, drawers, printmakers, and photographers have entered their talents this year, up from one last year.

The NHS artists are: Rabkwan Chaimattayompol; Shanna Deng; Tia Perkins; and Rebecca Riley.

Natick HS, Page Waterman — Rabkwan Chaimattayompol; Natick High School; Mixed media (watercolor, collage, color pencil)

138 art submissions have been entered. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be chosen, plus honorable mentions and people’s choice awards, in the following categories:

Painting, drawing and printmaking
Photography
Sculpture

NEXT UP! jurors are Keris Salmon, a former network long-form news producer now working as a photographer, filmmaker and textile designer, as well as a media consultant on independent television and film projects; and Allison Tolman, owner at The Tolman Collection of New York who has worked as a private dealer of contemporary Japanese works on paper for 25 years.

Winners will be announced May 16.

Here’s how to support your favorite artists by casting a People’s Choice vote.

About Page Waterman, Gallery & Framing

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Natick Class of 2021 to create their final high school memories on Memorial Field

May 7, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Although the desire for area high school seniors to hold Prom has intensified with students returning to full in-person learning, the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) has not changed its guidance on proms. DESE earlier this month strongly discouraged schools from hosting them, citing the continued risk by students and staff of exposure to COVID.

Natick High School Memorial Football Field and Track — Memorial Field will be the site of some important events for NHS’s Class of 2021.

Specifically, the DESE guidelines say, “Prom is an inherently high-risk activity, as it is a social gathering that involves dancing and singing (both of which are activities with increased respiration), and also presents concerning opportunities for students to break health and safety protocols in a relaxed environment.”

Keeping DESE concerns in mind, Natick High’s 400+ seniors instead of a traditional prom will enjoy a semi-formal senior dinner, which will take place on June 1 at 7pm on Memorial Field. The outdoor fun will include dinner catered by local restaurants, DJ music, a hypnotist, laser tag, a PTSO sponsored raffle and more. The event will mark the first time the Class of 2021 will celebrate together over a year.

Masks and safety protocols will be enforced at the outdoor events. Although Natick’s COVID vaccination rate continues to climb, with over 67% of its population having had least 1 dose, up from 62% a week ago, only 9% of Natick residents aged 0-19 are partially vaxxed. Anyone aged 16 and older who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts is eligible to get vaccinated.

Two days after Prom, the Class of 2021 will hold its graduation rehearsal and senior picnic, also on Memorial Field. Food trucks and COVID-safe games will be part of the year-end events.

And then, finally, graduation will take place on Fri., June 4th, 7pm, at Memorial Field, with a Sun., June 6th, 7pm rain date. Grads can have five guests, and only immediate households may sit together. Family pods will sit six feet apart from other pods per DESE graduation safety standards.

Last year’s senior were feted in a car parade that streamed through town in May, and a late-summer graduation ceremony took place at Memorial Field.

Natick High seniors want a car parade in May

April 5, 2021 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

While details of Natick High School’s June 4 graduation ceremony and other year-end activities remain to be seen, one activity that graduating seniors are hoping to pile on will be a car parade featuring up to 400 vehicles.

Natick Public School teachers and staff saluted students and families last May with a modest car parade, but the one that senior class officers have planned would be more elaborate.

Wellesley High held such a parade last spring and it was spectacular—way more fun than a graduation ceremony.

Natick’s proposed Saturday afternoon parade on May 29, which students are coordinating with the backing of NHS Principal Brian Harrigan and the Natick Police Department, goes before the Select Board for consideration this week.

The route that the vehicles would take has yet to be determined, but other rules include that students will not be allowed to drive.

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Spring scene in Natick

March 24, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Battered tin buckets collect sap from ancient maple trees that border the Walnut Hill School campus.