Our daily morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. Starting today, you can help your kids track Santa Online to see where he is in the world.

2. The Natick Oldtown Calendar is available for purchase Online for $17.50. The calendar features winning photographs from local photographers. Money earned from the sales will go toward the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Bacon Free Library and more.  Works by photographers Scott Terrasi, Ben Wildman, Nancy Burrel, Susan MacKenzie, Rebecca Hunnewell, Martin Kessel, Eileen Nelson, David Parish, Marlayne Brace, Matthew Cohn, Bill King, Nick Terret, Judy Brown, and Rich Philben will be featured.

3. Brown Elementary School picture retake day is today.

4. We're wondering whether you plan to decrease your spending limit this holiday season or you plan to splurge a little. Take our poll and let us know what you're thinking.

5. If you'd like to blog on Natick Patch and live or own a business in Natick, email Alissa.Letkowski@patch.com.