Public high school in the United States
Natick High School is an urban/suburban public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12 in Natick, Massachusetts, United States. The school is located on the banks of Dug Pond. Its enrollment was 1,603 students during the 2015–2016 school year. The original building was built in 1953 at approximately 189,000 sq ft (17,600 m2). and opened in 1954. The building was expanded in 1965 (additional 94,000 sq ft.). Additional renovations took place in 1985.[4] In 2010, the town voted to replace the Natick High School building.[5] The new facility was constructed on the fields immediately to the south of the former building. Demolition on the former building began on June 25, 2012.[6] The new building design is based on a model approved by the state of Massachusetts. This was necessary in order to maximize state reimbursement for design and construction; it cost $78 million. The new high school opened to students on August 29, 2012.
The arts at Natick High
- Natick High School Theater produces two full-length plays each year, usually presenting a full-scale musical in the fall semester and a more intimate straight play, revue or theatrical event in the spring. In the winter, students have the option of staging a completely student-run, student-acted, student-directed piece as well.
- The Natick High School Speech Team is a speech and debate team. The team has won the Massachusetts Forensic League State Championship and has had multiple state and national champions. Each year, the Natick High School Speech Team sends students to the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament and occasionally sends competitors to the National Speech and Debate Association's National Speech and Debate Tournament as well.
- The Natick High School Music Program provides students with a rich selection of vocal and instrumental ensembles including Concert Choir, West Street Singers (formally advanced concert choir, currently a competitive show choir), Chamber Singers (all-female advanced choir), Men's Choir (all-male choir), Musae (all-female choir), Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble, all of which offer an honors designation. Natick High School also has a student-led a cappella program consisting of two co-ed groups, Seven's Not Enough (est. 2006) and Scalestorm (est. 2016) and one treble group, Retrograde (est.2019). Each year, Natick High sends vocalists and instrumentalists to the Jr. District Festival, Sr. District Festival, and All-State Music Festival. Historically, Natick High's musical ensembles have had success at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Competition, winning gold medals. Along with this, the Natick High Jazz Ensemble has had the opportunity to perform at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade as a part of the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education (MAJE) competitions.
Notable alumni of Natick High's theatre program, speech team, and music programs include William Finn, Alison Fraser, Jonathan Richman, and Marc Terenzi.
The Sassamon & The Natick Nest
The Sassamon was the school newspaper that was published four times a year, in December, February, April, and June. It eventually became the annual yearbook. The Sassamon was named after John Sassamon, the Native American aid of John Eliot (missionary). Currently, Natick High's newspaper is The Natick Nest, named after the school's nickname, the Redhawk. The Natick Nest is published 6 times a year. [7]
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