The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley sports news update: synthetic turf fields project at Sprague Fields

by

The school year is over and the last yellow bus has rolled out of the Sprague School parking lot. Now it’s time for the heavy equipment to roll in for the Sprague Fields Turf Replacement project. Starting Tuesday, June 18  over a period of 8 – 10 weeks, the two synthetic fields that are part of the heavily used five-fields area will undergo a $1 million replacement and maintenance update. The synthetic fields, used for football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse, are referred to as Sprague 2 and 3, and are located between Sprague Elementary School and Wellesley Middle School. Those two fields originally were constructed June – October 2008 and are the ones that will be replaced.

Sprague Field, Wellesley
This is the east corner of Field 2, looking toward Field 3.

The three grass fields will not undergo maintenance work, and there are no plans at this time to convert the grass fields in the Sprague complex to synthetic turf.

According to the Department of Public Works (DPW), the fields will remain closed and inaccessible during most of the summer months. The project will involve removal and replacement of the synthetic turf, reinstalling the Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) and sand infill, and painting of the field lines. The lead coordinator for the project is NET Sports Group. It is anticipated that the fields will reopen sometime in August, 2019.

Why replace the Sprague synthetic fields?

We stopped by the fields back in January and it was clear that in many areas the turf fibers were matted, and in some areas the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and sand infill was starting to become visible. There also was significant wear in high-impact areas. It seemed clear at that time that the fields were due for an upgrade. Given that the life expectancy of such fields is 8 – 10 years, the upcoming maintenance was not unexpected.

The town has opted to stick with using TPE, the same fill material as was used during the 2008 construction of the fields, citing positive user feedback and the potential to reclaim and reuse some of the material. Here are a couple of pics from January 2019:

Wellesley Sprague Field 2
Swellesley file photo: January 2019. Small grey plastic pellets and yellow threads had heaved up all over the Sprague synthetic fields. I picked up some of the material and set it on a picnic tabletop to get this picture.
Wellesley Sprague Field 2
Swellesley file photo: January 2019. In sections of Wellesley Sprague Field 2, determined weeds were poking through the synthetic material.

What happens when no one wants to play with you anymore

According to Dave Hickey, Town Engineer, “We can now confirm that our existing carpet (not the backer pad) will be 100% recycled and the Town will get a certification to that effect. This is apparently a growing component of the turf carpet manufacturing industry.”

Athletic Director John Brown said, “Since 2008 these have been the best fields around and we know the same will be true when they are completed in August. We are excited to start practicing and playing on the new surface. When we initially built the turf fields with the TPE infill they were the first fields done with this product in the United States. Our opponents and officials have all commented what a great surface we have. We look forward to the new turf and to be back playing on two brand new surfaces next fall.”

There will be some inconvenience associated with the project. Hickey said, “This work will shut down all access to Sprague 2 & 3, and the area immediately around it. The contractor will use the parking lot for vehicles and occasionally for material storage, so there will be some loss of parking. Playing on the other fields, such as baseball and tennis, can continue with hopefully little disruption. The contractor will install temporary fencing to keep the area safe during the work. To keep our fairly aggressive schedule this work has been allowed to have Saturday activity.”

The money, then and now

In 2008, the Wellesley Community Preservation Committee (CPC) ponied up $1.5 million of the total $4 million installation cost of the Sprague synthetic fields. This time around, CPC funds are not available because maintenance work is not eligible for such funding. Instead, the Turf Replacement Fund is kicking in $500,000 of the cost. The remaining $500,000 comes from Town Funds, as approved at the May 2019 Town Meeting. Exact cost of the contract with NET Sports for this project: $1,050,612.12. (We hear there was mighty haggling over that last twelve dollars and twelve cents, but in the end NET Sports prevailed.)

Once the $500,000 is transferred from the Turf Replacement Fund, the balance of that account will fall to about $20,000. Hickey said, “This fund will now start accumulating for the next turf replacement project, likely the current two-year old high school turf.” That turf likely has over five more years of use left in it.

The account gains deposits from a portion of the fees on activities, youth sports, rentals, and Recreation Department permitted events. In this way, those who use the fields pay to do so.

The contractors

The town says that Gale Engineering out of Weymouth, Massachusetts responded in December 2018 with the best proposal and was hired to serve as technical adviser. The Town did as much of the plan and project specification as it could and then teamed with Gale to bring current and specialized knowledge. Gale will continue to assist the Town during the shop drawing review and a key stages of the construction work, mostly with things such as materials testing.

NET Sports Group — who has installed fields at Bates College, Bentley University, Lawrence High School, Northeastern University, and more — will do the construction. Heimlich Construction will be a subcontractor to NET for portions of the demo and fine grading. NET and Heimlich are the same team that did the High School Track and Field project.

The Town’s representative for this engagement is David Hickey, P.E., Town Engineer, Department of Public Works, Engineering Division. Questions or comments regarding the project may be directed to him at (781) 235-7600, ext. 3310 or dhickey@wellesleyma.gov

There’s always another project to be done

Next up for a facelift: the Sprague complex tennis courts. The DPW has obtained the permits and completed the bidding documents for a tennis courts replacement project. Hickey said, “In fact the bids are due later this week. While there is no specific schedule yet, it is our hope that the tennis court project will start in early August and be complete by the end of October.”

More to come on that as information becomes available.

MORE:

Sprague synthetic turf fields to get a facelift, our January 2019 story

Advertisements

Linden Square, Wellesley
The Cashmere Sale, Wellesley
Wicked Clear Ice, Wellesley

Wellesley names new Sprague Elementary School principal

by

Sprague School, WellesleyWellesley Public Schools have appointed Leigh Petrowsky as principal of the Sprague Elementary School, effective July 1. She will replace Susan Snyder, who served as principal since 2015 and announced plans earlier this year to retire in June.

The Sprague job was in demand: 51 people applied. A committee of school administrators, staff and community members participated in the selection process.

Petrowsky comes to Wellesley after serving as principal of the Ambrose Elementary School in Winchester for seven years.  In this role, she led and managed a K-5 school with 520 students, over 60 staff members, and a $75,000 budget.  Her accomplishments included identifying and developing school instructional goals for diverse learners.  Petrowsky previously served as an assistant principal in Grafton, and has been a classroom teacher.

Wellesley has had little turnover among school principals in recent years.

MORE: Wellesley High taps new assistant principal, and of course there’s a Swellesley angle

Advertisements

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Haskins Automotive, Wellesley

Wellesley’s Sprague School principal to step down

by

Wellesley, Susan Snyder
Sprague School principal Susan Snyder

Wellesley’s Sprague Elementary School is seeking a replacement for Principal Susan Snyder, who is retiring in June after running the 369-student K – 5 school since 2015.

Snyder came to Sprague from Hannah Elementary School in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she had served since 2006.

“I am proud to work in a school where students are respectful, and speak their minds,” Snyder said in a letter to the Sprague community, “where they are kind and empathetic, and where everyone is welcome. I know Sprague will continue to be this kind of school for as long as its doors are open. For now, I plan to keep on enjoying Sprague and am committed to giving you my best until the day I leave in June.”

Snyder named the pilot and implementation of Spanish Foreign Language for Elementary Students (FLES) instruction and the ongoing work supporting improvement in curriculum and instruction as two of the most noteworthy and rewarding projects on which she worked.

Snyder will leave big shoes to fill. The educator holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gettysburg College (PA) a Masters from Lesley University in Special Education, and a Masters from Salem State University in Educational Leadership. Ms. Snyder is fluent in Spanish and is licensed as Principal / Assistant Principal and Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Superintendent David Lussier said, “We remain grateful for Ms. Snyder’s strong leadership at Sprague during the past five years and for her 37 years of service in public education in Massachusetts. Ms. Snyder has touched the lives of thousands of students during her career and she will be sorely missed both at Sprague and as a member of our District leadership team.”

Lussier’s office is seeking candidates for the 2014-day work-year position who hold at minimum a Master’s Degree and licensure as an elementary school principal. Previous teaching experience and administrative experience at the building or district level is required. The job starts July 1, 2019 and the salary range is $128,265 – $147,151.

Lussier and the transition team has scheduled meetings with parents and staff to provide an overview of the search process and develop the leadership profile that will help inform selection deliberations. The staff meeting is Monday, March 11th at 3:15pm in the Sprague Library, and the parent meeting is Monday, March 11th at 6pm in the Sprague Library.

Lussier hopes to make a final appointment by the end of April.

Some past Sprague principals:

Stephen Goodwin, 2010 – 2015

Donna Dankner, 2007 – 2010

Fiske the last Wellesley school to switch up the top slot

In 2016, Wellesley named Rachel McGregor as principal of Fiske on an interim basis for the 2015-16 school year. She replaced Anthony Colannino, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three years on the job.

After a search that attracted a pool of 53 applicants for the Fiske principalship, McGregor beat them all out and was appointed to the job in March 2016.

Advertisements

YMCA, Swellesley ad
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
St. Andrews Church, Wellesley

It checks out: Mr. K has Wellesley kids loving chess

by

sprague chess

Gyula Kovacs, a special education teaching assistant at Sprague Elementary School in Wellesley, is a walking billboard for the game of chess.

“I do some free advertisement by wearing a chess shirt on Tuesdays at school,” says Mr. K, who has been leading a weekly chess club at the school since the Fall of 2016.

chess t-shirt
Mr. K wears chess on his chest

 

Dozens of Wellesley kids, including from other elementary schools in town, are now playing chess after school, at Wellesley Free Library on Sundays, and in tournaments around the state.

Kiran trophies chess
Kiran Weerapana, 4th grade, has been racking up wins

 

Mr. K says that students often have their interest in chess sparked by siblings or friends, and he’s glad to see kids engage vs. “real” chess opponents rather than just online ones on sites such as chess.com or chesskid.com.

At Sprague, the school provides a classroom for students to play chess, and there’s a bulletin board next to it that highlights kids playing chess and participating in tournaments. A K-3 team won a big trophy 2 years ago, Mr. K says. Wellesley Recreation regularly notifies parents about upcoming chess opportunities for kids, too, he says.

“Dozens of students are able to learn and enjoy the wonderful game of chess every year,” Mr. K says.

sprague chess

chess club bulletin

Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic

You can’t tell this Wellesley geography bee winner to get lost

by

Byline: Mo Henzel, Sprague School 4th grade teacher

Alex Ho, a Fourth Grade student at Sprague School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship. The school-level Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 31st annual National Geographic Bee, a geography bee competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. Questions cover not only geography, but also cultures, physical features, history and earth science.

Wellesley Geography Bee
Wellesley Geography Bee winner, 4th grader Alex Ho, is in the standing row, 2nd from the left

Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories are participating in the 2019 National Geographic Bee. The school champions, including Alex, will take an online qualifying test; up to 100 of the top test scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state State GeoBee.

The National Geographic Society developed the GeoBee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. Over more than three decades, 120 millions students have learned about the world through participation in the GeoBee. The winners of the State GeoBees receive an all-expenses paid trip to National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., next May to participate in the GeoBee national championship, competing for cash prizes, scholarships and an all-expense paid Lindblad expedition to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavor II. Learn more at www.natgeobee.org.

National Geographic will air the final round of the National Geographic Bee Championship in May 2019. It will air later on public television stations; check local television listings for dates and times.

Everyone can test their geography knowledge with the exciting Geo Bee Quiz, an online geography quiz www.nationalgeographic.org/bee/study/quiz, which poses 10 new questions a day and with the National Geographic Geo Quiz Alexa skill, which releases six new questions a day.