Hardy School grand opening celebration for public on Nov. 23

November 21, 2024 by Bob Brown

While the new Hardy Elementary School opened to students in late August upon the return of classes, the wider Wellesley community is now invited to a grand opening celebration at 293 Weston Rd. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

A brief ceremony will take place inside the new building at 10am, followed by self-guided tours from 11am-2pm.

Learn about the design and construction of the net-zero-ready school, and more. Plenty of parking will be available.

(We flashed our press pass and secured a tour last month—but you’ll want to see it in person if you can at this rain or shine event.)

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We get a look at Wellesley’s newest building—Hardy Elementary School

October 21, 2024 by Deborah Brown

When the Town of Wellesley goes back-to-school shopping, it goes big. As in, “I think we should get the kids a whole new elementary school this year, don’t you?”

Although the big-ticket (over $72M) item didn’t exactly come to fruition on such a whim, the new Hardy Elementary School did, indeed, open for students and staff in time for the start of this school year. The original Hardy, which last year celebrated 100 years educating students, was torn down and built back up in near-record time. Teardown start date: July 9, 2024. Hardy School opening date: Aug. 28, 2024. That’s 50 days from demo to done.

Hardy Elementary School, new construction, Wellesley — Hardy Elementary School, front view. All students enter via the front door at the start of each day.

The old building, located in the “front yard” of the property, close to Weston Road, stayed open and operational, while the new Hardy went up in the Route 9 eastbound side “back yard.”

The old Hardy was less than half the size of the new Hardy, a 80,039 square foot, 18-classroom school designed to serve approximately 365 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and was funded in part with a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

In case you’re planning a Wellesley teardown of your own and would like to stay in your old home while your new one is built in that unused corner of your vast property holdings, the answer is no. Something about safety regulations. Ah well, start looking for your swing space.

We were invited in to tour the brand-new Hardy building, and we’ve got pictures to show you.

If you, too, would like to get a good look at how your tax money is being spent, then save the date. The Grand Opening of Hardy Elementary School will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 10am. Wellesley Public Schools will hold a brief ceremony celebrating the completion of the new Hardy. Following the ceremony, visitors can tour the building and learn more about the design and construction process. This event is open to everyone in Wellesley.

At the end of our tour, Principal Smith had something important he wanted to get across. “We’re all so grateful for the Town’s support and feel that the new Hardy School is a beautiful and a highly functional space that’s able to meet all the educational demands of teaching and learning in the modern age.”

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New Hardy Elementary School Opens With Ribbon Cutting and Hardy the Husky

August 30, 2024 by Jennifer Bonniwell

By contributing reporter Jennifer Bonniwell

The newly constructed Hardy Elementary School opened for the first day of school Wednesday with cheers and applause from parents, students, teachers and the costumed school mascot Hardy.

Hardy fifth graders Kennedy Coffey, William LaCombe Graf, Emily Lin and Eva Piazza helped Hardy Principal Grant Smith cut the ribbon while the students watched with their classes and teachers from the sidewalk. After, Smith welcomed the students and teachers to walk through the front doors for the first time.

hardy opening — Hardy the Husky along with Hardy Principal Grant Smith & fifth graders, from left, William LaCombe Graf, Kennedy Coffey, Emily Lin and Eva Piazza. (Photos by Jennifer Bonniwell)

“Today, we turn a page in Hardy’s history with the opening of this beautiful new school, which we hope will serve the children of Wellesley for the next 100 years, starting today,” Wellesley Superintendent David Lussier said.

School Committee Chairwoman Linda Chow said opening day was “extra special” because she has lived in the Hardy neighborhood for the past 30 years and her grown sons attended Hardy.

“I’m honored to be here today to take part in this wonderful and joyful milestone,” said Chow, whose mother still lives across the street from the school. “This is a wonderful reminder of how fortunate we are to be living in a community that values public education so highly.”

Faster Than a Wellesley Kitchen Reno

For those of you who left for the summer break when the old Hardy building was still standing, you may be wondering how this all happened so quick. It’s true, the old Hardy building was demolished July 9, just 50 days before the new building reopened to students (Yes, that’s faster than renovation time for most Wellesley kitchens). However, the new building is near the back of the school site, so construction began in February 2023 while students continued to use the old building. Students finished the 2023-24 school year in the old building and didn’t have to attend any other schools before the new Hardy opened. See the construction timeline and photos here.

The 18-classroom, all-new construction 80,039 square-foot Hardy building is designed for an enrollment of 365 students, with the flexibility for space to be reconfigured to include a 19th classroom in the case of a “bubble” year. The design includes purpose- built spaces for the district-wide Skills Program, a highly individualized and modified curriculum for students with autism spectrum disorder and/or other related disabilities that present with similar challenges.

The project is estimated to cost more than $72M, with a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) reimbursement that will keep the town’s share under $60M.

Two New Elementary Schools

Wellesley residents voted to approve debt exclusions to fund construction of new Hardy and Hunnewell elementary schools in December 2021. The special election followed Town Meeting’s approval for the projects’ funding in October 2021. The Hunnewell project began first, with demolition in summer 2022. Hunnewell reopened to students Feb. 26, 2024. Students from Hunnewell were distributed to the town’s other six elementary schools.

In Other School News: WPS Honored For School Budget

Kudos to the Wellesley Public Schools (WPS) business office that prepares the annual school budget! For the third year in a row, WPS has been nationally recognized for the quality of its annual budget document. WPS received the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association of School Business Officials International for its Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.

Only three Massachusetts school districts received the award: WPS, Worcester Public Schools and Springfield Public Schools.

The budget is prepared by the WPS business office team led by Cynthia D. Mahr, the WPS Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations.

A panel of school finance professionals reviewed the materials for compliance with the MBA criteria and noted in their comments that “the District’s budget document for another year meets or exceeds all MBA requirements. The document flows well and is an exceptional explanation in narrative and visual form of the District’s financial condition, goals, and long-term strategic financial management.”

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More Hardy Elementary School tear down action: The cupola

July 11, 2024 by Bob Brown

Yesterday we shared video of the start of the tear down of Wellesley’s 100-year-old Hardy Elementary School building, and today we have footage of the distinct cupola being demolished.

Thanks to Sarah Kunz for sharing the video, and the photo of the Hardy plaque from the Weston Road school.

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Hardy Elementary School in Wellesley — Former spot for the Hardy plaque

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Countdown on for Wellesley’s Hardy Elementary School demolition

July 1, 2024 by Bob Brown

Wellesley’s 100-year-old Hardy Elementary School building is set to be demolished beginning later this month as the school system preps for the August opening of the new Hardy building adjacent to the old.

Emily Sarazin, a project manager with Vertex, said during the June 27 Permanent Building Committee meeting (see Wellesley Media recording, where Hardy discussion starts about 3 minutes in) that the planned demolition start date for the old Hardy building is July 8. Notices have been sent to abutters, she said.

Most stuff being saved from the inside of Hardy has been moved to Upham Elementary School, which is no longer serving as an elementary school with the arrival of the new Hunnewell Elementary School and Hardy Elementary School.

The 18-classroom, all-new construction 80,039 square-foot Hardy building is designed for an enrollment of 365 students, with the flexibility for space to be reconfigured to include a 19th classroom in the case of a “bubble” year. The design includes purpose-built spaces for the district-wide Skills Program, a highly individualized and modified curriculum for students with autism spectrum disorder and/or other related disabilities that present with similar challenges.

The new school’s groundbreaking took place in spring of 2023.

Much progress is being made internally and externally on the new building, with classrooms, the gym, and kitchen all coming along, per the Permanent Building Committee update.

The project is estimated to cost more than $72M, with a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) reimbursement that will keep the town’s share under $60M.

More: Wellesley art mystery: Hardy School “chalk” outlines

If only the MSBA would reimburse us. Contributions to support our work are welcome.

Wellesley schools round-up: Academic calendar; Hardy hits 100; METCO showcase; Robotics Team goes to State House

December 5, 2023 by Deborah Brown

The latest Wellesley Public Schools news:

Academic calendar 2024-25

The Wellesley School Committee is seeking community input on its draft version of the Wellesley Public Schools 2024-25 academic year calendar. Takeaways on what the School Committee is thinking so far: an August 28, 2024 first day of school; a June 23, 2025 last day of school (assuming 5 contingency days—typically snow days—are used); and an extra-long 12-day winter break.

Comments can be emailed to the School Committee at School_Committee@wellesleyps.org

Larger visual of the draft calendar available here.

Happy 100th birthday, Hardy Elementary School

From the Wellesley Public Schools:

The Hardy students and staff celebrated an amazing birthday last Friday. The Hardy School building turned 100 years old on November 12, and the second-grade class marked the milestone by leading an all-school assembly featuring a very special guest. Former principal Gayle Vonasek—who led Hardy from 1995-2008—told the story of how the Hardy community came together to create the R.I.S.E. curriculum in 1995. It was a way, she explained, to get rid of all the lists of rules (for the hallway, for lunch, the bathroom, the playground …) and create a simpler way to set daily expectations.

Decades later, to Ms. Vonasek’s delight, students still follow the standards of: Respect for others, Inclusion of all, Showing safe behavior, and Encouragement of all to participate and solve problems. “If you show RISE behavior,” she told the students, “you will be successful all of your life!”

The second graders, as part of their “life long ago” learning, also shared history about their school building, what school was like 100 years ago, and that the branch library across the street used to be a one-room schoolhouse. Cheering them on was another special visitor, Kate Walker, who taught second grade at Hardy for 24 years.

METCO program gets a boost at Roxbury Showcase

Wellesley Public Schools and METCO leadership turned out for a METCO Showcase in Roxbury during which Boston parents were encouraged to explore opportunities for their children to attend suburban schools through the program.

Founded in 1966, METCO has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students in predominantly white school districts, creating the opportunity for students in those districts to learn in a racially and ethnically diverse setting.

Wellesley has partnered with the state-funded METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) program since 1966 as one of the original seven founding districts.

Wellesley METCO — Wellesley Public Schools and METCO leadership turn out for METCO Showcase in Roxbury on November 18, encouraging Boston’s diverse students to apply to METCO for a chance to be referred via lottery to their preferred choice of outstanding suburban schools. (l-r) Dr. David Lussier, Wellesley Superintendent of Schools; Stephanie Holland, METCO Director, Wellesley Public Schools; Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO, METCO, Inc.; Dr. Jorge Allen, DEI Director, Wellesley Public Schools.

WHS Robotics Team visits State House

The Wellesley High School Team Ultraviolet, a student-led Robotics team, visited the Massachusetts State House in Boston where they ran an open house-like demonstration where legislators could stop by and speak informally to the students. Team members discussed with lawmakers how their group makes an impact in the community through outreach programs including robot demonstrations and STEAM workshops. The students also lobbied for their bill that would establish an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program.

Wellesley High School Team Ultraviolet at the State House in Boston.

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Wellesley school community tops off new Hardy Elementary building

September 3, 2023 by admin

The first exciting lesson of the new school year at Hardy Elementary in Wellesley took place on Friday morning, as members of the community gathered to watch the final steel beam put into place at the new building as part of a traditional topping off ceremony. Students, teachers, staff, and town officials had a chance to sign the beam, which was painted white and topped with an evergreen tree and American flag.

Ground was broken at the site in April. The 18-classroom, all-new construction 80,039 square-foot building is designed for an enrollment of 365 students, with the flexibility for space to be reconfigured to include a 19th classroom in the case of a “bubble” year. The design includes purpose-built spaces for the district-wide Skills Program.

The new school is being built behind the existing one and is slated to open about a year from now.