Natick's Back To School Guide 2018

NATICK, MA—Is it us, or do the summers feel shorter and shorter. Parents perhaps are breathing a sigh of relief, but kids and teachers are checking their calendars daily as the school year gets ready to hit. Most teachers have already headed back to prep for a few days before the children land in those desks.

Here's a guide to help you navigate the march back to the classroom.

When does school start?

Opening day for faculty and staff is Monday, Aug. 27, and the first day of school for all students is Wednesday, Aug. 29.

School enrollment

There are 5,566 students enrolled, with enrollments still coming in daily. "The number of enrolled students has risen and we expect this trend to continue," Superintendent Anna Nolin said.

In the district:

There are nine schools in Natick, which includes the Natick Preschool.

What's new?

There are 52 new teachers joining the Natick schools this year, and all visited a new teacher orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 22. Administrators welcomed them to the district. There are six new administrators joining the system this year, as well. Kirk Downing was named the new district administrator. Ben Gatto and Julia Macewan are moving in as elementary administrators, and Matthew Strother and Jason Hoye take on positions as high school administrators. Read more about these new school system leaders here.

The Kennedy Building Project Committee continued working throughout the summer, moving forward with further developing the design for the project to be shared with the community in the coming school year. Additionally, at the Lilja School, there was a safety rail installed and the modular project was finished. There are no changes to school start times or the calendar.

"We're looking forward to a great school year," said Nolin. "For opening day, we're planning to discuss our theme: 'Relationships Matter.' Faculty and staff hear family/parent stories about teachers who made a difference and learn more about the impact of relationship building from a former NPS student as our keynote speaker. Lastly, we'll be hearing selections from the NHS West Street Jazz Combo group. It's sure to be a day filled with inspiration and encouragement as we start the new school year."

Helpful links:

Public schools website
School Committee
School calendar
Bus routes

Photo Natick public schools