MESSAGE FROM THE PTSO PRESIDENTS

Our first Course Selection meeting will take place this Friday, January 31st at 9am in the Faculty Dining Room.  Please join us for this informative conversation.  

For those who missed our prior PTSO meetings, here are links to the minutes from the  September Meeting,  October Meeting, and November Meeting.

Connie Burton & Andra Jensen
WHS PTSO Co-Presidents 2019-2020
whsptsopres@gmail.com
COURSE SELECTION FOR 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR
  
It will soon be time to figure out which courses your student(s) will take next year.  Attend the two meetings the PTSO will be hosting and hear first hand from Principal Chisum, Assistant Principals, Department Heads, Guidance, and teachers about course offerings and levels in a variety of departments.  We encourage and invite all parents to attend.  
  • Course Selection Session #1 -  January 31st -- overview by Dr. Chisum, Director of Guidance Dana Plunkett, and Assistant Principals Marc Bender and Sarah Matloff; at this meeting, we will hear from representatives of the Art, the Mathematics, and the Science and Technology departments.  
  • Course Selection Session #2 - February 12th -- at this meeting, we will hear from representatives of the English department, the Classical and Modern Languages department, the Social Studies department, and the Evolutions Program. 
(Both meeting will be at 9am in the Faculty Dining Room.)

To prepare for these meetings, we invite parents to review the Program of Studies and two videos on course selection discussions held in prior years that might be informative -- video one (covering Math, Computer Science and History) and video two (covering Science, Business and Technology).  

I f you have any specific questions or topics you would like to have addressed at these sessions, please email us at whsptsopres@gmail.com.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS/DATES

January 2020
  • 28th - Band Step Up Concert @ 7pm in Auditorium
  • 30th - Orchestra Step Up Concert @ 7pm in Auditorium
  • 30th - Final Day to Purchase Senior Ad for 2020 Yearbook
  • 31st - PTSO Meeting / Principal's Coffee @ 9am - Course Selection 
February 2020
  • 4th - Final Day to Purchase 2020 Yearbook @ $95
  • 7th - Senior Project Proposals Due  
The following is just a sample of all the events on the calendar. Click  here to see the whole calendar.  
INFORMATION ON SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS... 

Are you thinking about summer opportunities for your student?  Jobs, Internships or interesting camps, study abroad for the summer or a gap year?  Are you interested in hearing about college fairs or scholarships?  Check out our redesigned  blog, view all posts.   The PTSO receives information about many opportunities we are unable to include in the weekly newsletter, but they can always be found in our   blog.  Parents and students must conduct their own research and vetting into these opportunities.

FOR PARENTS OF SENIORS ... 

Each senior who participates in graduation must wear a red cap and gown, families can purchase from University Cap and Gown.  You may also use a gown worn in the past by a friend or sibling and only purchase a cap and/or 2020 tassel, as needed.  If you do not require any regalia, please contact your students House Assistant and confirm that with the House Assistant.

All your graduation needs (cap, gown, and tassel) can be purchased online and your order will be sent to the High School.  Students will receive their regalia the morning of Graduation at our required rehearsal which begins at 8:00 am on June 5th, 2020.

Cap, gown, and tassel cost $16.00.
Cap and tassel cost $8.00.
A cap cost $5.00
A tassel cost $3.00

All orders must be made by February 28th, 2020.  Please order as soon as possible.  Here is the link and directions to order  University Cap and Gown.

Please be advised instead of submitting your student's ID Number type in their last name and first initial, i.e. parkera.

Wellesley Cotillion follow-up ... 

From Sue Morris and Jen Madden, Cotillion Co-Treasurers -- Once again, We would like to reiterate how grateful we are for all the efforts of the people that volunteered for the Cotillion. And a special thanks to Linda Messore, Kate Yen and Sarah Greene for chairing Cotillion and making it such an awesome night for the kids!
 
There is one housecleaning item. There was an envelope found in the girls bathroom at Lombardo's at the end of the night of Cotillion. The envelope had some money and a note on the front of it. We are looking for the parent that gave their daughter this envelope so that we can return it to you. If you think it might belong to you please email me at  susan.morris@verizon.net.

REDISTRICTING PUBLIC FORUMS ... 
  
A public forum on restricting will be held on Tuesday, January 28th at 9am at the Wellesley Middle School Auditorium to review and provide feedback on the draft redistricting plans.  

COMMUNITY EVENTS --

Wellesley PAC -  February PAC Coffee with the special education elementary leadership team.  C ome meet the preschool & elementary special education leadership team on Thursday, February 6th!  A coffee will be held at the home of Christine Mizzi, 16 Suffolk Road, from 8:30-9:30.  T he monthly PAC coffee will follow at 9:30. Please feel free to stop by anytime between 9:30-11.  T here will also be a coffee to meet the middle school & high school special education leadership team on Thursday, March 12 from 8-9 am at the WHS faculty dining room.   We hope to see you at an upcoming coffee soon! 
   
Wellesley POPS is looking for auction item donations and sponsorships for POPS Cabaret 2020 -- the Wellesley Parents of Performing Students annual benefit gala -- set for February 7 at 6:30PM at TCAN. Becoming a Cabaret 2020 sponsor or donor will help POPS further its mission to foster and enrich performing arts education at all grade levels throughout the Wellesley Public Schools - from chorus, to orchestra, to drama, to dance, to stage tech and beyond. Your support will make a meaningful impact to over 1,000 young performing artists! Learn more by clicking here for the POPS e-newsletter.   




Wellesley Scholarship Foundation  Application Deadline is March 1, 2020 
The Wellesley Scholarship Foundation (WSF) is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 academic year through March 1, 2020. Each year, WSF awards numerous financial awards to qualified candidates to assist with their unmet financial need. In 2019, WSF awarded $340,000 in need-based awards. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating from Wellesley High School, Wellesley residents graduating from high school in or outside of Wellesley, or Wellesley residents currently attending undergraduate institutions on a full-time basis. In addition, WSF also awards privately endowed merit scholarships to two high school seniors each year who are Wellesley residents in recognition of their outstanding scholastic achievement and citizenship. For more information and to apply, please click  here.  

League of Women Voters - Register to Vote  
The League of Women Voters of Wellesley will be back on the WHS campus to register student voters on February 4, before the registration deadline of February 12, to vote in the presidential primary on March 3.   To register, students must provide either the number of a valid MA driver's license or the last 4 digits of the social security number.  18-year-olds may register to vote and 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister.  Pre-registration will automatically convert to voter registration on the 18th birthday.  To vote in an election, citizens must be registered and 18 years of age on or before the date of the election.  If you have a valid driver's license or signature on file through a state agency, you may register online here.  

Friends of Wellesley Library will be holding is Winter book sale February 6th through February 9th.  Please see flyer for more information.  

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club is  accepting scholarship applications for 2020-2021 through  March 1, 2020 .   In the 2019, the Club awarded a record $72,700 in scholarships and awards to 21 Wellesley students. Scholarships were given to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate college students in amounts ranging from $1,000 - $4,000.     Applications are evaluated based on demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and involvement in community service. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating from Wellesley High School, Wellesley residents graduating from high school in or outside of Wellesley, or Wellesley residents currently attending undergraduate institutions on a full-time basis.   For more information, please click here.   

Wellesley Historical Society is having The Wellesley Historical Society is having a Trivia night that WHS families might be interested in on Thursday, February 6th.  Please see flyer for more information.

Junior Class Parents -- Save the Date --   Junior Parents, please come to our Junior Class Parent Party on May 15th, 2020, the same evening as the Junior Class Boat Cruise!  The Junior Class Parent Party is being held at the Wellesley Country Club, from 6 - 10 pm.  Just drop your Junior off at the Wellesley High School and head on over!  A large thank you to our many Wellesley Country Club members who kindly offered to host this party for us.  We will have appetizers, drinks, and dessert, all while looking out onto the sunset over the golf greens. Isn't this is a great opportunity, to meet and laugh with other parents of our Junior student's friends?