Students at Norwell High School and Norwell Middle School are enjoying a homework-free weekend — part of a policy aimed at relieving stress and giving families more time together.

The high school declared its first homework-free weekend for Homecoming in the fall, and the middle school joined in for Thanksgiving and Easter weekends. There also will be a homework ban on Memorial Day weekend, school officials said.

“Sometimes we need to let everyone know it’s good to take a break, to have some downtime and recharge,’’ said Superintendent ­Matthew Keegan, who said the initiative came from the high school. “And we wanted to find a time when parents, students, and teachers knew this is a time for family.’’

He said reaction has been positive.

“You hear from a parent that it was nice to know we had time together as a family and the Sunday night we didn’t have to ask, ‘Is your homework done?’’’ Keegan said.

Numerous other school districts have been experimenting with no-homework weekends as a way to reduce student stress, including Duxbury, Newton, and Dover-Sherborn High School. The topic can be contentious, though, with education specialists taking different positions on the importance of homework and the amount recommended.

Keegan said the amount of time Norwell students spend on homework varies widely, depending on their grade, and course load and level.

Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com.