Natick to Host Conversation with National Experts in Internet Safety

Digital Conversation to Digital Citizenship to be held Tuesday, May 7 at Natick High School.

The public is invited to an event tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Natick High School entitled, "Digital Conversation to Digital Citizenship." Sponsored by the Natick Public Schools, Trend Micro, the Natick Education Foundation and the Natick Anti-Bullying Coalition, the event will give parents an opportunity to hear national experts in the field of children and Internet safety speak and participate in discussions related to the topic. "This is a great opportunity," said Lynette Owens, a Natick resident who is the founder and Global Director of Trend Micro's Internet Safety for Kids and Families Program (ISKF), as well as the Internet Safety Education Chair for the Natick Anti-Bullying Coalition. "They're going to be looking at it from a wider …

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Parents Express Anger Over Drug Dogs

Several parents attended last night's School Committee meeting to voice their displeasure over the school district's use of drug-sniffing dogs to search Natick High School.

Several parents expressed anger, outrage and dissatisfaction at last night’s School Committee meeting when the floor was opened for public comment regarding the canine unit drug search that took place at Natick High School on March 12 after Superintendent Peter Sanchioni presented his report on the search. Calling it “part of a comprehensive plan to eliminate drugs on campus” and “part of saying we will not tolerate drugs,” Sanchioni said that doing a search like this, where students remain in the classrooms (called shelter in place) while the dogs go through the hallways, helps keep drugs out of Natick and acts as a deterrent to drug use. “I guarantee that bringing in canines isn’t a deterrent,” said Emily Tobin, who identified herself as…

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Chachi in Charge

7:56 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013

What a moronic comment   more ›

New Lilja School Principal Chosen

Superintendent Peter Sanchioni names Heather Smith new leader of Lilja School.

Heather Smith, the energetic and passionate assistant principal at the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School in Mansfield, has been named the new principal of the Lilja School, Superintendent Peter Sanchioni announced yesterday afternoon. "Heather will relate to the staff and the parents will love her," Sanchioni said, noting that her experience with reading and literacy, bullying prevention and her overall energy and passion were three things that made her stand out over the other candidates. According to a newsletter sent out by Sanchioni, Smith has been at the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School for the past 2.5 years. Prior to that she taught middle school English in Mansfield. She has also taught English/Literacy Strategies at the Hope Arts …

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Did You Read About Some of the Concerns that Some Parents Have About Bullying?

Earlier this week parents had an opportunity to ask questions and express concerns to school administrators about many issues related to bullying.

Natick Principals Talk Bullying

Principals from all nine Natick Public Schools joined Superintendent Peter Sanchioni as they welcomed parents to voice their questions, comments and concerns about bullying.

Superintendent of Natick Public Schools Peter Sanchioni welcomed parents to Town Hall last night as he and the principals of all nine schools in the district were in attendance for a discussion about bullying and the ways to combat it. "We do this on an annual basis," Sanchioni said at the beginning of the meeting. "Getting the award made us feel good, but we know the work isn't done. We always continue to evaluate our efforts." Natick High School principal Rose Bertucci spoke first about a renewed interest in the bullying curriculum the past couple of years. She said that two guidance counselors lead the program, and that there are students on a leadership team. Some of these students even attend a three-day workshop with the Anti-…

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Natick Public Schools to be Open Tuesday

Superintendent Peter Sanchioni wants parents and students to be careful with the large amount of snow that fell in Natick.

In a newsletter emailed to parents of students, Superintendent of the Natick Public Schools Peter Sanchioni wrote that there will be school on Tuesday. Sanchioni commended the Natick DPW for the work they did on the sidewalks near the schools, as well as the parking lots, but he noted that the large amount of snow makes it difficult for drivers to see at some intersections. Because of this, Sanchioni has recommended that if parents are able to drive their children to school instead of letting them walk that they do so. He also asked that parents of students who ride the bus to school remind their children to wait at the bus stop and be aware of nearby cars. "Safety is our greatest concern and we ask your help in that endeavor," Sanchioni …

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Town Goes Solar to Save Money and Energy [Video]

The town recognized the installation of solar panels at Wilson Middle School at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Wilson Middle School recognized the installation of new solar kiosk on Tuesday. The switch to solar at Wilson, Kennedy, Ben-Hem and the new Natick High School is expected to cut back on the schools' energy use by 46 percent—the equivalent of taking 93 cars off the road, according to energy company Amaresco. The project will also offer educational opportunities for Natick's students. An LCD screen in the Wilson lobby will display the panels' current performance and students will learn about different types of energy in their classes. "We here in the town of Natick are very very proud of these projects. They represent a terrific public private partnership between the town and Amaresco...also a great collaboration between general government …

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