Principal Jamie Chisum has let the families of Wellesley High School know that students will participate in The Stanford Survey of Adolescent School Experiences in mid-January:

I write to share information about Wellesley High School’s partnership with the Challenge Success program directed by Stanford University. For the past decade, Challenge Success has helped nearly 130 schools transform policies and practices to address the need for academic engagement and well-being for their students. Wellesley High School’s partnership with Challenge Success includes a multi-stakeholder team comprised of parents, students, teachers, and administrators who reflect upon and examine the challenges, obstacles, and needed best practices to supporting our community of learners at Wellesley High School.

To deepen our understanding of students’ perspectives on their school experience, Wellesley High School will administer a survey in all grades on January 11th. Our High School staff will use the data results from this survey to support our work to meet the learning, social, and emotional needs of every Wellesley High School student. Please read through the following information carefully for details about this upcoming, online survey.

The Stanford Survey of Adolescent School Experience:

Wellesley High School is administering The Stanford Survey of Adolescent School Experiences this January. This survey is part of a collaborative effort between Wellesley High School and the Challenge Success project in the School of Education at Stanford University. The online survey measures high school students’ perspectives on homework, extracurricular activities, sleep, physical health, stress, parent expectations, academic engagement, academic integrity, and teacher support. Over 80,000 students from more than 70 schools have taken the survey over the past several years, and schools have gained a great deal of information such as what students see as stressful and challenging, as well as supportive, within school. Survey results have also guided schools in their efforts to make changes in areas requiring improvement. The survey will help Wellesley High School identify areas of focus to better support student well-being and our students’ overall school experiences.

The following link takes you to the Challenge Success website where you can learn more about the program. Also, we would like to invite all of you to a presentation from the co-founder of Challenge Success, Dr. Denise Pope. She will be giving a talk entitled, “The Well-Balanced Student” on January 24th at 7 pm in the High School Library. This event is being co-sponsored by the WHS PTSO, WEF, and a community donor.

The survey is expected to take 30 – 40 minutes, and families may have their students opt out.

Here in Wellesley, we’re big on surveys. WHS students also take the Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey every two years, along with 26 other school systems in the Metrowest region.

Other surveys various town groups have put together in 2016:

Wellesley United Plan Kick-Off survey: Residents are invited to share their views on quality of life, town services and functions, and your top priorities for Wellesley’s future in the first survey for the Wellesley United Plan. This survey will remain open until January 6, 2017. Take the Kick-off Survey here.

The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission conducted a survey regarding the community’s needs surrounding the Kelly Field tennis courts. (That survey is now closed.)

The Wellesley Education Foundation put out a survey designed to inform the future direction of the Wellesley Education Foundation. (That survey is now closed.)

So don’t say nobody every asked for your opinion.