Wellesley Middle School bid farewell to 8th graders at the annual WMS commencement ceremony, which this year took place on June 13. The event had it all—speeches, awards, singing, and some beautiful piano music. Wellesley Media captured the action.
Take surveys to help Wellesley Middle School 8th graders with civics project
From Adam Blumer, Social Studies Department Head for Wellesley Middle School:
Across the state, all 8th graders take part in Action Civics Projects, where student groups pick an issue they want to work on at the school, local, or state level and develop strategies to try to make change happen. As part of this, we teach students how to create simple surveys to get data on how people feel about their topic and their possible goals/strategies for change. While this is still very much a developing skill, students benefit from getting rich data from an authentic audience to help shape their ultimate proposals at our Civics Fair.
With this in mind, please consider helping out our 8th graders with their Civics Action Projects! If you want to fill out any (or all!) of these surveys, please do so by Wednesday, March 27th. Thank you! If you have any questions about the surveys or the Civics Action Project, please contact Adam Blumer, WMS Social Studies Department Head, at blumera@wellesleyps.org
![Wellesley Middle School, Kingsbury St.](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/04121549/IMG_7376-524x393.jpeg)
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Wellesley school news: Light poles up at Hunnewell track & field; Robotics team back in action; Countdown to mini-marathons
The latest Wellesley, Mass., school news:
Lights up
Two of the four light poles at the Hunnewell track and field are up, making it possible that lighted action could take place within months. Footings for the 80-ft. poles were installed last month.
The bathroom/concession building is expected to arrive during the summer; the old concession building has been removed.
It was said during a recent Playing Fields Task Force meeting that lights could be working by April or May, though conditions must still be met for various town bodies before games or practices can take place under the glow.
![hunnewell track and field 2 lights](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/19124420/IMG_1284-1000x750.jpg)
![hunnewell track and field 2 lights](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/19124402/IMG_1289-750x1000.jpg)
Robotics team back in action March 23-24
The community is invited to watch the Wellesley High School Robotics Team compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition as Team Ultraviolet #8567 on March 23 and 24 at Revere High School.
The New England District Greater Boston Event is the culmination of months of work put into building the team’s robot, and an exciting event to witness for all ages, especially kids interested in STEM.
Nearly 40 teams will compete at this event, which is free and open to the public. Qualification matches will start at 11am and run all through the day till 7pm on Saturday, March 23. On Sunday March 24, there will be additional qualification matches in the morning (9:30am-11:30am), and playoffs and award ceremonies in the afternoon (1pm-4pm).
![CAD (computer aided design) image of this year's robot](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/05114327/WHSRobot2024-300x234.png)
Countdown to mini-marathons
Both Bates Elementary School and Wellesley Middle School have mini-marathons on tap next month that will sandwich the Boston Marathon, slated for April 15.
The 13th annual Bates mini-marathon is scheduled for April 10, with students running or walking for 20 minutes around the school. Funds will be raised for Friends of Wellesley METCO.
The Wellesley Middle School mini-marathon will take place on April 25 at 10am-noon, with students doing a 1.3 mile loop around the school and the area. Students typically where different colors by grade in this colorful event.
All of that is a good tune-up for the Schofield 5K Race & Fun Fair, a community-wide event scheduled for June 2 at Schofield Elementary School. It’s challenging course, so get in some hills workouts if you plan to run it.
See something, send something: Our kids are outta school, so we rely on staff, parents, and students to keep us in the loop: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
Wellesley Middle School’s French Fête: Dancing, feasting & even a bit of learning
I conjured up some childhood French on my way over to Wellesley Middle School on Wednesday, ready to wow students and staff by ditching English when asking questions at the annual French Fête. I didn’t get too far beyond Bonjour and Oui, but still found it easy enough to immerse myself at this after-school party attended by at least a couple hundred French and non-French students, and supported by parent volunteers and staff.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171958/IMG_1156-e1710366461876-1000x914.jpg)
The World Languages Department party got started with groups from grades 6-8 each flash mobbing to European pop hits. French teacher Mme Rebecca Blouwolff impressed with some fancy footwork of her own, alternately dancing, emceeing, and taking photos.
Parent organizer Catherine Cerio described this French frenzy as an opportunity for “high octane after-school snacking.” Students armed with French Cheese Passports got to (or for some, had to) sample a handful of French cheese such as Comtê to earn credits that would let them score crêpes, croissants, and other treats. The bread table was largely down to crumbs by the time I cruised by. A mom who escorted me through the cafeteria was scandalized that so much good cheese still hadn’t been gobbled up.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171932/IMG_1175-e1710365972743-460x524.jpg)
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13172202/DSC_0488-524x349.jpg)
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171845/DSC_0485-524x349.jpg)
Some food was donated by local businesses, while other delicacies came from parent and pastry chef Lisa Sewall, whose husband Jeremy—a local chef and restauranteur—said he was handling clean-up duty.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171940/IMG_1179-e1710365855106-524x404.jpg)
Students could also earn credits by taking part in various educational games, such as matching artists with their work, for example. Others played Twister, putting their main gauche or pied droit on the rouge or bleu dots, and a crowd gathered around a fancy game called Quilles that in this version involved bowling down empty bottles.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171754/DSC_0497-524x349.jpg)
The Mona Lisa was on loan for the day from the Louvre Museum.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171950/IMG_1172-1000x750.jpg)
Mme Blouwolff said Wellesley Public Schools’ Spanish program for K-5th grade students has led many students down that language path, but that French remains a popular offering taught by herself and Hafsa Abdelmoula.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171929/IMG_1169-1000x750.jpg)
When I asked 7th grader Dylan Peak if he liked French, he replied: “It’s better than Spanish,” then quickly added that he really likes the culture. Peak knows his stuff on that front: His family lived in France for a year.
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171943/IMG_1182-e1710365520651-1000x884.jpg)
![French Fete](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13171947/IMG_1186-e1710366315515-1000x714.jpg)
Hanna Stevens, an 8th grader, said French is fun, and that “the language is really pretty.”
Some of that prettiness came out in the song lyrics belted out by the dancers, as well as by the merci beaucoups that Blouwolff reminded students to shower volunteers with on their way out of the cafeteria.
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Upcoming Wellesley theatre productions: 13, The Musical; Shrek, Jr., & Newsies, Jr.
Non-stop entertainment is coming to Wellesley this month thanks to talented local theatre students:
13, The Musical
Wellesley Theatre Project presents 13, The Musical at its Studio Theater, 219 Washington St., on March 14, 15 and 16 at 7pm, and March 16 & 17 at 2pm. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, and may be purchased online in advance, or at the door for $20 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.
Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents’ divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain…or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?!
Wellesley Theatre Project is an arts academy and Wellesley nonprofit devoted to providing students (PreK – 12th Grade) with the opportunity to study and experience theatre and performing arts through year-round classes, staged productions, workshops and summer camps.
Shrek, Jr.
The Dana Hall Middle School presents its spring musical, Shrek, Jr., on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m., in Bardwell Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public.
Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek, Jr., based on the Oscar-winning film and Broadway musical. It’s a big bright beautiful world as everyone’s favorite ogre leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairytale, Shrek, Jr., is a fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.
Newsies, Jr.
Newsies, Jr., based on the Disney film, will be held March 21 at 4:3o pm, March 22 at 7pm, and March 23 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets will cost $10 and the Wellesley Middle School Drama show will take place at Wellesley Middle School.
Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
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Wellesley Middle School flies into the Year of the Dragon
The Wellesley Middle School community this week welcomed the Year of the Dragon with dumplings, games, crafts, and performances by students.
The after-school Lunar New Year event, featured a lion dance, kung fu demonstration, Chinese yoyo performance, and music.
Wellesley Middle School Chinese teacher Min Zhou organized the celebration, which was supported by students, staff, and parent volunteers.
Thanks to Wellesley Public Schools’ Sharon Gray for sharing photos.
![WMS Lunar New Year](https://media.theswellesleyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15172729/IMG_55591-1000x895.jpg)
More: Wellesley Chinese Language School celebrates Year of the Dragon in style
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Wellesley public schools fall sports registration is open
Fall sports registration is open for Wellesley High School and Wellesley Middle School athletes.
Sport physicals are due in the Health Office by Monday August 7. The Athletic Office or individual coaches will not accept physical examination reports.
All students are required to have a current physical examination on file in the SNAP Health Portal before participating in the athletic program. This means that before students can try out, practice or participate on a team they must have a copy of their physical examination on file as required by the MIAA guidelines.
Please contact Shari Johnson johnsons@wellesleyps.org with any physical exam-related questions.
Wellesley High School fall sports
For questions about whether a sport requires try-outs; information on summer practice sessions; and more, contact athletics@wellesleyps.org
781-446-6290 x7
Wellesley Middle School fall sports
- Boys and girls cross country—grades 6, 7, 8
- Girls Field Hockey—grades 7, 8
- Boys soccer—grades 7 and 8
- Girls soccer—grades 7 and 8
- Girls volleyball—grade 8