State recognizes Wellesley elementary schools for Morses Pond rescue plan

May 16, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Public Schools 4^th grade teachers Irene Gruenfeld (Bates Elementary) and Anne Gayner (Fiske Elementary) and their classes were recognized this week at the State House for efforts to address erosion issues at Morses Pond. Nearly 3 dozen programs were honored at the Annual Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education.

The Wellesley classes did field work at the pond, designed scale models to illustrate solutions to erosion, and presented their results to town officials. The schools received guidance from the Natural Resources Commission on the project.

EEA awards — Wellesley teachers and students honored at the State House (photo via NRC)

Wellesley School Committee holding important meeting on FY19 schools budget, other issues

December 12, 2017 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley School Committee is holding an important public meeting on Tuesday, December 12 at 6:30pm in the Juliani Room at Town Hall, 525 Washington St.

On the agenda:

The Wellesley Public Schools FY2019 budget presentation (this one is last on the Action/Discussion part of the agenda, scheduled at 8:15pm, if all goes in a timely manner). For context, here’s the FY2018 budget request.

Earlier on the agenda:

Discussion about Hardy and Upham Schools Improvement plans

Discussion about Wellesley Middle School facilities projects

A vote on the WMS and WHS programs of studies

A vote on the 2018 – 2019 academic calendar

A vote on the PAWS (Preschool at Wellesley Schools) feasibility study. Some discussion points have been: whether to 1.build out of the existing site, 2. do an addition onto Fiske Elementary to hold the preschool, and 3. develop a freestanding model for potential relocation of PAWS to another site

If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can watch it on the public access TV via Wellesley Media Corporation.

Scrape together your coins for Wellesley trick-or-treaters collecting for UNICEF

October 30, 2017 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

UNICEF, Wellesley — Set aside your change for Wellesley’s trick-or-treaters who will be collecting for the charity that has raised over $175 million to provide humanitarian aid since 1950.

A reminder to set aside coins for Halloween, as many trick-or-treaters will be looking to collect your spare change on behalf of UNICEF, which raises millions of dollars for children who’ve been victims of war, natural disasters, exploitation or disease.

The funds Wellesley trick-or-treaters raise help children in Mali to get life-saving rehydration salts; ensure that mothers and newborns in remote Bolivian mountain areas survive childbirth by way of UNICEF-trained mid-wives; and help keep Laotian teenage girls in school and therefore out of child marriage with the help of UNICEF social workers. Those are just a few examples of the important work that UNICEF funds every year.

Last year, Bates students raised enough money to fund the equivalent of providing two clean water pumps and a medical delivery bicycle.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF provides more info.

Any checks given in lieu of coins may be made out to the “U.S. Fund for UNICEF”.

Scenes from Wellesley’s Bates Pumpkin Fair

October 15, 2017 by bbrown Leave a Comment

Bates Pumpkin Fair, Wellesley

A big crowd flocked to the annual Bates Pumpkin Fair, where kids were treated to a haunted house, lots of clever and spooky games, and of course inflatables to jump on.

Check out a sampling of the action in the slideshow below (click arrows on left or right).

Wellesley Halloween happenings, 2017

October 12, 2017 by bbrown Leave a Comment

2012 wellesley hills congregational church pumpkin patch

Here’s a sampling of Halloween activities in Wellesley this fall (feel free to let us know of other activities):

*Wellesley Hills Congregational Church: The pumpkins arrive on Oct.14…

*The annual Bates Elementary School Pumpkin Fair is slated to take place on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Elmwood Road school from 10am-2pm. As usual, it will feature a chance to buy pumpkins, get spooked at a haunted house, plus take part in assorted games and activities, enjoy live entertainment, and have refreshments. Lots of prizes and old fashioned Halloween fun are promised at this family friendly event, which is open to the public.

*Come dressed in your Halloween best on Friday, October 27 for our creeptastic Halloween Spooky Storytime in the Wellesley Free Library Story Hour Room (4-4:45pm). We will read some spooktacular Halloween stories, dance to some spooky songs on the ukulele and parade around the Children’s Room to show off our costumes. Drop in, no registration required.

*UU Wellesley Haunted House, 309 Washington St., Sat., Oct. 28th. Enjoy Charming Enchanted Chapel (ages 3+) from 3-5 pm or our Horrific Haunted Hallway (teens only) from 7-9 pm. $5 per child or teen ($10 max. per family) for unlimited walk-throughs. Cider and treats available for purchase. For more info, go to: http://uuwellesley.org/haunted-house or email [email protected].

*Wellesley Hills Merchants’ Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 28, starting at 11am at across from Wellesley Hills train station and ending at Clock Tower Park.

*Cheer Tricks and Treats with Wellesley Varsity Cheer

Clinic to be held for grades 1- 6

DATE: Saturday Oct 28th

Time: 11am-2pm, come for all or part

PLACE: WHS Cafeteria

Registration fee: $20/includes a gift, pizza, water and peanut free snacks.

Money raised goes to directly support the WHS cheer club

PRE REGISTRATION SUGGESTED AT http://communityinvestors.net/Registration/Default.asp?n=109644&org=COMMUNITYINVESTORS.NET or walk in and pay cash on site.

Dress comfortably/Costumes welcome

ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT

Odessa Sanchez, WHS Cheer Coach
(857)233-6583 [email protected]

*The Dana Hall School of Music will hold its seventh annual Halloween Open House with musical trick-or- treating on Saturday, October 28, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Families and children of all ages are invited to come in costume. Behind every door, there will be a different instrument to explore, from piano and violin to harp and trombone. Children can participate in a musical scavenger hunt to find each instrument along with some musical trick-or- treating. There will also be a guided “rhythm instrument petting zoo” for the kids to get a chance to make some music of their own. R.S.V.P.s are requested but not required. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in attending the Halloween Open House. The School of Music is located at 103 Grove Street in Wellesley. For more information about the School of Music, please visit http://www.danahall.org/SOM or call (781) 237-
6542.

*Join us for Sing and Swing – Happy Halloween with Deb Hudgins on Monday, Oct. 30 morning from 10:30-11:15 am at Wellesley Free Library. Preschool kids and their grown-ups will enjoy singing, dancing and movement along with stories and a variety of fun props including rhythm instruments, scarves and more. Drop into the Wakelin Room for this fun program. No registration is required.

Halloween decorating contest