Wellesley school news: Academic calendar forum; Dr. Mac earns another Grammy nomination; Homecoming Weekend is Oct. 18-19

October 13, 2024

The latest Wellesley, Mass., public school news:

 

Academic calendar forum

The Wellesley Public Schools’ Academic Calendar Task Force invites parents/caregivers, teachers/staff, and students to a community forum this Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. on Zoom to learn more about the work of the Task Force and options being considered for the next school year prior to a recommendation being made to the School Committee.

Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and share feedback. Registration is open. The Task Force can also be emailed in advance of the meeting.

Three potential calendar models have emerged: 

  • Include federal/state holidays only, including Christmas Day

  • Include up to three additional school holidays – either Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, one Eid, and Lunar New Year

  • Include three additional school holidays that rotate annually among the six days currently observed

As seen during a recent Task Force meeting, neither this year’s calendar (includes six additional religious or cultural holidays) nor the previous calendar (included two Jewish holidays and Good Friday) were favored by the Task Force.

 

Dr. Mac earns another Grammy nomination

Kevin McDonaldKevin McDonald, who counts director of choral music at Wellesley High School among a seemingly endless number of jobs, has been named as one of 25 semi-finalists for the Music Educator Award from teh Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. This marks the third year in a row he has reached this stage.

In addition to his work at Wellesley Public Schools, McDonald is conductor of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses of Tenors + Basses, and director of music at Village Church.

The winner of the Music Educator Award will receive a $10,000 honorarium along with a $10,000 matching grant for their school.

 

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Homecoming Weekend is Oct. 18-19

 

Wellesley High School will be hosting a Homecoming Weekend Oct. 18 and 19.

The fun starts with the football game on Friday at 6pm vs Newton North. Fans are encouraged to wear black.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, a Community Showcase will be featured at the Hunnewell practice field (indoors if it rains). This is student run by senior class officers and their younger peers, and is being hosted by clubs, sports teams, performing arts, and more. There will be over 25 tables of activities including face painting, games, and prizes. There will be snacks, pizza and an ice cream truck.

This event is appropriate for all ages.

There is no entry fee or ticket sales. There will be donation bowls and venmo codes at every table for people to donate to the school. There will also be raffle baskets. All funds raised are being shared amongst grades 9-12. This is an important fundraiser for all of the events students want to have.

Wrapping up Homecoming Weekend will be a student-only dance on Saturday night.