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Search Results for: Wellesley High School Class of 2020 graduation ceremony

Wellesley High School Class of 2020 graduation ceremony in full

July 31, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

WHS graduation 2020
Wellesley High Principal Jamie Chisum greets grads

 

About 200 Wellesley High School graduates took part in a scaled down but still rewarding ceremony on Friday morning to celebrate the Class of 2020’s launch to the future. The entire ceremony, clocking in at a bit over an hour and a half, can be viewed in the video embedded below.

Having been through two WHS graduations for our own kids at the field, sandwiched in the bleachers with other proud families, this event was clearly a whole different ballgame. It was eerily quiet at the start, with a couple of people jogging around the track and running up and down the bleachers shortly before festivities began, as if nothing was going on. A couple of students gussied up a Congratulations Seniors sign on one of the uprights, hustling to remove a ladder before the procession began. Then students filed in as Pomp & Circumstance played over the loudspeakers.

Andrew Pini, class vice president, kicked off the event by singing the National Anthem after the red-gowned students made their way to socially distanced seats on either side of mid-field, with their backs to the bleachers. In other years, students face the aforementioned upright, toward the school.

andrew pini sings
Andrew Pini, singing the National Anthem (Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Class President Ryan Silverstein recalled before his fellow “seniors or whatever we are” how no one suspected March 12 would be their last day of high school. He cited the book Lord of the Flies in making observations about the lack of adults at the event and the negative or positive impact adults can have on younger people. He urged his classmates to be catalysts.

“When you feel abandoned by leaders and adults, lead yourself and those around you. When somebody says something you don’t agree with, don’t attack them. Ask them. Have a conversation. Learn about each other. Be more inclined to bring each other up rather than tear each other down. Because a world with us together, for our generation, the next generation and for the adults who handed it to us, is a world better off.”

Class President Ryan Silverstein
Class President Ryan Silverstein (Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Fittingly, musically inclined student speaker Lili Culhane followed with a talk that ended with her brief rendition of Everybody Wants to Rule the World. She wished classmates luck finding “the next song on your playlist.”

WHS Class of 2020
Lili Culhane song-speech (Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Up next was Principal Jamie Chisum, who praised the grads for their agility given circumstances of recent months.

“You’ve proven that you have the ability to adapt and be nimble in the face of great uncertainty,” he said.

“Our charge is to make of use the crash course in uncertainty we’ve all been on these last six months and use it do better for everyone,” Chisum said, referring to efforts to make the world an equitable place.

Principal Jamie Chisum
Principal Jamie Chisum (Photo credit Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Class Treasurer Jason Norris shared his reflections, lauding classmates who lost out on many senior traditions for making good use of their time to raise funds and supply resources to those in need, to support their families and local businesses.

English teacher Caroline Prinn delivered a speech peppered, appropriately enough, with literary references. She also referenced words of the day, like “essential.”

“As you prepare to transition into your next chapter, whatever that exciting adventure might be and whatever it might look like under these circumstances, I invite you to reflect on what you consider essential,” she said. “Perhaps this pandemic and the necessary isolation has actually given you the space to recognize what in your life is essential and what is just noise. Figure that out and don’t wast another minute with the rest. Summon all of your good energy and funnel it into your essential pursuits.” (See full text of Ms. Prinn’s faculty speech embedded below.)

Students in attendance were then recognized individually, and those not there were acknowledged, too.

tassel twist
Tassel twist (Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Class of 2020
(Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Class VP Pini returned to announced the gift of the Class of 2020 scholarship for future classes.

The ceremony wound up with senior awards. Arianna Baffa and Kate Waisel were named valedictorians, and Yasmine Jaffier-Williams and Ryan Silverstein earned senior cups for their all-around accomplishments.

 

Class of 2020
Viewers were online, not in the bleachers (Photo credit: Stephen Keep/SWKphoto)

 

Thank you to WHS’s Diane Zinck for coordinating our attendance, and for Stephen Keep, for upping our photo game. Just the sort of collaboration graduation speakers were encouraging!

 


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Filed Under: Wellesley High School

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Favorite Wellesley photos of 2022

December 27, 2022 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

We don’t claim to be the world’s greatest photographers, but despite our shortcomings, here are some of our favorite Wellesley photos from 2022 that help to tell the town’s story of the past year.

EA Davis, Wellesley
The old cash register at E.A. Davis before the store was renovated (the much-loved antique survived the buyout and remains in the 579 Washington St. store, which is under ownership by Mahi Gold Outfitters.

 

hunnewell clapout june 2022
Hunnewell Elementary School sent off longtime crossing guard Judie Johnson Johnson, who safely shepherded students across the street for 58 years. She retired at the end of the 2022 school year. On clap-out day, Judie was showered with applause, given flowers, and serenaded with a chant of “Judie! Judie! Judie!”

 

Hardy School, Wellesley
Wellesley’s Hardy School students as part of a physical science learning activity took the educational experience out of the classroom and onto school grounds, where they had a blast launching their own water bottle rockets high into the sky.

 

squirrels
Seeing double. Photo courtesy of Jay Prosnitz

 

Herlda Senhouse, Wellesley
Herlda Senhouse and friends celebrate her 111th birthday at the Glen Grove apartment complex in Wellesley. How does a centenarian carry on the party after the cake is cut? In Herlda’s case, she and her entourage were chauffeured by private car to the Encore Casino in Everett, where she played the slots.

 

before and after mopo swim
Swimsuit models pose after a Jan 1., 2022 dip in the cold waters of Morses Pond.

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Wellesley Lacrosse

In case you missed the Wellesley High School Class of 2021’s car parade

June 8, 2021 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

The Wellesley High School Class of 2021 deservingly got to double dip this spring with both a full-blown graduation ceremony AND a car parade.

We unfortunately weren’t around to provide parade banter like last year, but Wellesley Media caught the action, and we’ve embedded a recording of their video below. One exuberant spectator near the camera and mic did provide plenty of support to the students, many of whom were able to pop out of the top of their vehicles. Car tops were down and sunroofs were open, and black, red, and white balloons and streamers made for a festive sight.

Thank you to Darren Bovie & Sue Morris for sharing these action shots from before and during the parade.

WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade

WHS car paradeWHS car paradeWHS car paradeWHS car paradeWHS car parade

WHS car parade

WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade WHS car parade


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Filed Under: Wellesley High School

Sara Campbell, Wellesley

Big week for Wellesley High seniors: Prom Wednesday, Graduation Friday, car parade Saturday

June 2, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

As COVID-19 restrictions have loosened up, Wellesley’s graduating seniors have been able to look forward to a robust slate of end-of-year activities, including an indoor/outdoor prom. Here are the highlights:

Senior Prom

The senior class is holding a semi-formal dance with entertainment, food, music and dancing in the Wellesley High School cafeteria and outdoors in the Courtyard. (Neighbors may hear some music as the Class of 2021 is only able to support dancing outside due to continued State COVID-19 restrictions). The community is invited to Wellesley High School between 6:30pm – 7pm to welcome seniors as they arrive. The event will end at 10pm

DATE: Wednesday, June 2
LOCATIONS: WHS Cafeteria & Courtyard
TIME: 6:30pm-10pm

Graduation

Members of the Class of 2021 will receive their diplomas on Friday, June 4, 6pm (note was moved from 5 to 6pm due to weather), at the Hunnewell Track & Field Complex. The in-person ceremony will take place outside, weather permitting, with assigned seating for families and general seating in the grandstand. Rain date is Saturday, June 5, 9am

Wellesley High School graduation 2020
Wellesley High Principal Jamie Chisum greets grads, July 2020.

Car parade

Line the streets to cheer on the Class of 2021 and their families as they parade through town. The parade route starts at Babson College, continues along Washington Street, Cedar Street, and Wellesley Avenue, and ends at Wellesley High School. If you’re a grad and need inspiration for vehicle decor, check out our livestream from last year’s parade.

DATE: Saturday, June 5
START TIME: 9am
NOTE: If the graduation ceremony on Friday is rescheduled due to rain, the car parade is cancelled.

Wellesley High School graduation 2020
Wellesley High School car parade, 2020

GraduationParadeRoute_2021


If you’d like to share any photos, reports, or anecdotes from the events, please do: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Wellesley High School

Update on Wellesley High Class of 2021 activities

May 15, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley High School, fall 2020Although last month’s announcement that a Wellesley High School Class of 2021 prom would not be held disappointed many, things have changed since as COVID-19 restrictions have loosened. In fact, a “Senior Prom/Activity” will be held on June 2, as part of a series of year-end activities that will appropriately honor graduates while providing plenty of fun.

Here are the highlights:

  • The seniors will enjoy outdoor activities such as a Pep Rally run by the Student Unification Program; a Pet Parade; a Senior picnic and teacher luncheon; a Community Service Day—look for the seniors out and about town on May 26th doing clean-ups and other activities; and more.
  • It will all culminate in graduation on Fri., June 4, 5pm at Darcey Field (rain date is Sat., June 5, 9am at Darcey Field).
  • Then a Senior parade will take place on June 5 starting at 9am at Babson College (rain date Sun., June 6, 9am at Babson). Details on the route are still being worked out.

Although most of these events aren’t open to the general public, it’s nice to know that things are getting back to normal for the town’s students.

This year’s plans are a far cry from last year when due to the pandemic almost all end-of-year senior activities were canceled. The Class of 2020 never dreamed that when they walked out of school on March 12, that would be their last day of high school. Graduation was creatively salvaged with a car parade, and the whole town turned out to cheer students as they were driven on an 8-mile loop that began at Babson College and ended at Wellesley High School, where they picked up diplomas.

Wellesley High School graduation 2020
The Class of 2020, car graduation parade.

 

Then in mid-summer about 200 Wellesley High School graduates out of the class of 400+ took part in a scaled-down ceremony on Darcey Field to celebrate the Class of 2020’s launch to the future.

Wellesley High School graduation 2020
Wellesley High Principal Jamie Chisum greets grads, July 2020.

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Filed Under: Education, Wellesley High School

Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Rick Cram, leader

Wellesley summer round-up, 2020

September 10, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Welcome back to a post-Labor Day Wellesley that looks a lot different than those of years past. We can remember end-of-summer times when our family just barely skidded back into town ahead of the first day of school. Off we sent the kids, practically tracking beach sand into the classroom.

Times have changed. Given that the Wellesley Public Schools, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, has switched over to a hybrid model of learning that doesn’t start until mid-September, many families may have chosen to  hunker down at their summer escape spots for a little while longer. And why not? Remote instruction for students starts September 16th. The transition to a hybrid model that includes in-person instruction will begin on October 1st. So those who have reluctantly left their happy places all too early year after year suddenly have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to extend the season.

Here are some other highlights from Wellesley that you might have missed over the summer:

1) Wellesley residents took to the streets

Hundreds of people, many holding signs bearing the names of those killed in recent years while in police custody, lined Washington Street in Wellesley from Reidy Field past the tennis courts in a mostly silent vigil. SEE PICS.

Wellesley demonstration

The somber crowd, facing the road as honking vehicles drove by, urged justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality. Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after being pinned to the ground by a police officer who kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. READ MORE

2) Wellesley Free Library reopened

We had missed the  Wellesley Free Library terribly since it closed in March due to COVID-19 concerns, so you can bet we rushed right in to get a first look at the main branch the second it opened. No matter how many rules we had to follow (and there are a lot of rules) it didn’t matter. We just wanted to drift through one of our old haunts and remember better days. READ MORE.

Wellesley Free Library
Wellesley Free Library

3) WHS Class of 2020 got its outdoor ceremony

About 200 Wellesley High School graduates took part in a scaled down but still rewarding ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2020’s launch to the future. The entire ceremony clocked in at a bit over an hour and a half. READ MORE. SEE THE VIDEO.

WHS graduation 2020

4) Linden Square art installation refused to go down to coronavirus

Three recent Wellesley High School 2020 graduates took up their paintbrushes and completed a long-planned project for their WHS Art Intensive course. It had been a long time coming. First the public artwork, a 6′ x 27′ mural-style painting on the curved brick wall at the corner of Linden and Everett Streets, faced delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next, the artists were challenged by 90+ degree temperatures. No matter, they got out there and made it happen. Project mentor Alexander Golob said, “The result is a joyous and playful mural that showcases various animals doing activities that community members told us they were doing during the pandemic, baking, listening to music, playing soccer, going for picnics.” READ MORE

Linden Square mural
Mural title: “A Town At Play – Finding Meaning During Covid-19.” Photo credit, Alexander Golob

5) Diamonds in the rough at the RDF

Wellesley’s Felicity Bortolan used to remove her wedding ring before showering. But that routine is no more after a close call this summer during a dump run.

“I’m completely fanatical about where I put stuff and my ring, I always take off and put in the same place when I shower,” she says of the jewelry, which marks 21 years of marriage to her husband Paul. “However there were tissues and other things that were on the counter and these covered my ring. In the sheer hurriedness of getting to the dump I swept the trash off the counter and tied the bag. Paul took it to the dump.” READ MORE, SEE THE ROCKS

6) Colette Aufranc won Wellesley BOS seat in special election

Colette Aufranc, who cited her financial experience and school volunteer efforts as prepping her for a seat on Wellesley’s Board of Selectmen, won a close Special Election race over two other candidates. Just over half of all registered voters cast ballots. Aufranc’s competition for the position were Gwen Baker and Odessa Sanchez. READ MORE

7) Wellesley Square clock

Don’t be alarmed if you notice the 2-dial Wellesley Square clock disappearing in coming weeks. It’s getting a facelift and more. This Wellesley landmark is being completely renovated and hopefully will be back before the holiday season, says the Department of Public Works’ Mike Quinn, who is superintendent of the Park & Highway Division. YOU’VE GOT TIME TO READ MORE

8) Wellesley police went for gold with Winnie the dog

The Wellesley Police Department has welcomed Winnie, a 10-month old English Cream Golden Retriever, as its community resource service dog. SEE THE CUTE PUP

9) Mrs. Swellesley has a thing for Phil

It’s not what you think. READ MORE

10) Letter from Wayne the postal worker to the Wellesley community

Wellesley Square Post Office, Wayne
Wellesley Square Post Office, Wayne

Wayne says, “For approximately the past 10+ years I have had the pleasure & honor of being your “Window #2 postal clerk” at the Wellesley Square Post Office. It has truly been a great & rewarding run! It is time for me, however, to venture on into life’s next adventure as I will be retiring from the United States Postal Service on June 30th after 32 & 1/2 years of employment.” READ MORE


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Filed Under: 2020 Town Election, Business, Education, Embracing diversity, Government, Police, Politics

Local artist delivers ‘Thank You’ to Wellesley High faculty & staff

August 8, 2020 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

cohen mugs Many from the Wellesley High School Class of 2020 got what they wanted last week: An in-person graduation ceremony.

This week, the teachers and faculty were given something of their own, courtesy of local artist Elizabeth Cohen.

Earlier this week she, along with daughter Grace Cohen-Pratt (Class of ’13, who did her Master’s degree teaching internship at WHS) and son William Cohen-Pratt (Class of 2020), delivered 252 handmade porcelain mugs for all faculty and staff.

“When we pulled up to WHS, a flood of custodians appeared, along with my coordination partner extraordinaire, Diane Zinck. Together, we all made quick work of bringing the bags out of our three cars, on to carts and into cafeteria,” says Cohen, who began the project in May. It took eight weeks to make them.

They should serve faculty and staff well, whether they’re spending more time at home or school this fall.

cohen mugs

cohen mugs

cohen mugs
Grace Cohen-Pratt delivering the goods

 

cohen mugs
WHS’s Diane Zinck gets hers

 


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Filed Under: Wellesley High School

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