Wellesley High Class of ’25 grads revisit their elementary schools

June 10, 2025 by Bob Brown

Wellesley High Class of ’25 students who attended elementary schools in town had the chance to go back to those buildings last week after receiving their caps and gowns. They got the clap-out treatment from current students and staff.

Upham has been shuttered since students attended, but former Principal Jef Dees (now at Hunnewell) and a few teachers went over there for the photo opp.

The tradition was formalized after years of seniors showing up in a more casual way at their former elementary schools on graduation day.

Photos from several of the elementary schools courtesy of Wellesley Public Schools.

Upham senior day — Upham Elementary School

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Wellesley’s Upham Elementary School starts its “Farewell Tour”

June 6, 2024 by Deborah Brown

Upham Elementary School held a community celebration on Thursday afternoon featuring entertainment and refreshments for all comers. The school community, alumni and others showed up for the big farewell.

Upham is closing as part of a district-wide consolidation plan, with initial uses for the building being a voting location and swing space for upcoming Warren Building renovations. The School Committee’s plans are to retain ownership of the building and the property until such a time that the town’s elementary school enrollment increases to the point when a 7-elementary school model is once again needed.

But enough about such details. On to the fun part of the day…

Upham Elementary School, Wellesley — Upham Elementary School, front entrance.

A long farewell

There’s still time to say goodbye.

Monday, June 10 at Hardy
Hardy Lights Out Event! From 6-7:30 p.m. come say goodbye to the Hardy school building. Alumni and community members are invited to visit the 100-year-old school before it is demolished.

Wednesday, June 12 at Upham
Alumni and community members are invited to visit the Upham school building for “One Last Walk” before the building closes. Self guided-tours will be available from 4-7pm.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Leadership change coming to a Wellesley elementary school

March 20, 2024 by Deborah Brown

The Hunnewell School community will lose its beloved principal at the end of this school year. Ellen Quirk, who has led the school since 2013, has announced that she will retire. Over the past 11 years, Ellen has been a steady presence throughout, especially during the years the 86-year old Hunnewell School went from planning phase, to total teardown, to a brand-new 76,500 sq. ft., 18-classroom school.

Hunnewell Elementary School principal Ellen Quirk, pictured here in her new office at the new building, will retire at the end of the school year.

Ellen will leave big administrative shoes to fill. If only Wellesley had another great principal who was going to be out of a job in June. Then that principal could simply transfer to Hunnewell. Hmmm…now that we think of it, isn’t Upham School closing at the end of this year? And won’t that closure leave Upham’s principal Jeff Dees without a school to lead?

Here’s what Superintendent David Lussier had to say about such a scenario in a letter to the Hunnewell and Upham communities:

Typically, when principalships have opened in WPS, our practice has been to begin a search process and move through the vetting of candidates with the assistance of staff and community members. But with Upham’s planned closure in June, we find ourselves with the opportunity to keep an outstanding principal in Wellesley, one who already knows our students, curricula, district systems, and community.

Principal Jeff Dees is our longest-serving principal, having led Upham for the past 12 years. During his time there he has not only created an environment of belongingness among the students and staff, he has been exceptional in his support of Upham’s SKILLS program. This positions him well to support another in-district specialized program, the Therapeutic Learning Center at Hunnewell. While Jeff will have to re-establish himself in the new environment at Hunnewell, his experience serving as Upham’s instructional leader and beloved principal will shorten this learning curve considerably.

With all of this in mind, I am very happy to announce that I am appointing Jeff Dees as the next principal of the Hunnewell School, effective July 1, 2024.

We join the superintendent in congratulating Ellen Quirk on her retirement, and Jeff Dees on his upcoming position as Hunnewell School principal.

Redistricting news

In separate email, Supt. Lussier updated families about redistricting:

I wanted to inform you that all families of current K-4 students will be receiving an email on Thursday morning that will confirm their student’s elementary school placement for next year, based on address, current enrollment in a district-wide program, or previous placement through the open enrollment/elementary transfer option (ETO) process. This confirmation will not take into account any outstanding applications for the elementary transfer option for next year, given that the ETO application process is open until May 1.

More here on the redistricting planning process.

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Now that was a colorful Wellesley weekend

May 16, 2023 by Bob Brown

Blooming flowers and trees weren’t the only colorful things in Wellesley this past spring weekend.

Dozens took part in the Upham Color Dash, a Holi festival-inspired fun run at Upham Elementary School where participants are sprayed with colored dust as they traverse the course. Those dishing out the colors seemed to be having a little too much fun…

Across town at Tenacre Country Day School, kids and adults were having fun at the annual Tenacre Fair, an inflatables-filled fun fest.

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Registration open for Wellesley’s Upham Color Dash

April 10, 2023 by admin

Registration has opened for the Upham Color Dash, a town-wide event scheduled for May 13 at the Upham Elementary School campus. Register by April 16 to guarantee a T-shirt.

Inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, the Upham Color Dash is an easy fun run with six stations along the course. Participants will be showered with food-grade colored powder, finishing the run covered in a rainbow of colors. The celebration continues at the finish line party, with music, food, games and entertainment for the entire family.

This is an untimed, non-competitive, all-inclusive event – no winners, no medals, no prizes…all fun. Runners and walkers, scooters and strollers are all welcome.

Color Dash - Alison Wade — Photo courtesy of Alison Wade

Color Dash - Jacey Shumaker — Photo courtesy of Jacey Shumaker

The schedule:

9:30AM – 10:15 AM Upham Color Dash Registration & Packet Pick-Up

10:15AM – 10:30 AM Pre-Dash Pump Up

10:30AM Upham Color Dash Start

Until 1PM Upham Color Dash After Party

Location

Upham Elementary School

35 Wynnewood Road

Wellesley, MA 02481

Communications board makes Wellesley’s Upham school playground an even more welcoming space

May 29, 2022 by Bob Brown

Upham Elementary School in Wellesley earlier this month held a ribbon cutting for the addition of a giant core communication board in its playground. The first such playground board in town features a combination of images and commonly used words that can be used to help those who may not use spoken language to understand and be understood.

The 5-foot-wide solid board was received through a grant in partnership with the Flutie Foundation, which has a mission of helping people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest. The board is located in the upper playground and is wheelchair accessible.

“It is beautiful. I am so proud of it and happy for my students” says Upham teacher Jacey Shumaker. “The Upham playground will be a welcome play space for all abilities.”

When Upham school closes as part of the town’s school consolidation plan, the board will be moved to Hardy Elementary School, she says.

Select Board member Leda Eizenberg recently gave kudos for the project during a meeting. “It is a real testament to the above-and-beyond efforts of our educators and to the Upham community’s commitment to honoring all communications styles, and including all children.”

upham board — Upham teachers Lisa Mossner, Liz Korandanis & Jacey Shumaker

More: Wellesley teens make Warren Park playground sensory friendly

Upham Color Dash registration open

April 10, 2022 by Bob Brown

Upham Elementary School is hosting a new fun run to celebrate diversity called the Upham Color Dash on May 14—and it’s going to get messy.

All are invited to take part in this untimed event inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, which celebrates spring and more. It will take place at Upham Elementary School at 35 Wynnewood Rd., Wellesley, Mass.

Participants will run along a mile-long course and get showered with with food-grade colored powder, finishing the event covered in a rainbow of colors. The celebration continues with music, food, games and entertainment for the entire family.

The cost is $30 per person (free for kids under 3) and includes an event t-shirt, face painting, live DJ and more. Registration is open. Send email with questions, or if registration cost is a barrier.

UPHAM COLOR DASH – 5.14.22

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Upham Color Dash Registration & Packet Pick-Up

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Pre-Dash Pump Up

10:30 AM Upham Color Dash Start

Until 1 PM Upham Color Dash After Party

Wellesley League of Women Voters event: Hardy & Hunnewell School projects

November 16, 2021 by admin

Join the League of Women Voters of Wellesley during a Zoom meeting on Wed., Nov. 17th, 7pm, to learn about the Hardy & Hunnewell School projects. After a presentation by School Committee members Catherine Mirick and Melissa Martin, there will be ample time for Q&A. Learn about project costs, anticipated state reimbursement, tax impact, and more. To register for this session, go to: https://bit.ly/3mC3Uk8.

Don’t forget to vote on December 7th.

(Mail-in ballots must be at the Town Clerk’s office by December 7th)