Help chart the course for Wellesley Public Schools (no pressure, though)

February 2, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

We just helped the Wellesley Public Schools chart a course for its future and you can, too, by taking part in the WPS Strategic Planning Survey. Access the survey here.

The WPS Strategic Planning Survey will be open until Friday, Feb. 10, 5pm.

The Strategic Planning Survey is open to all those invested in the future of the Wellesley Public Schools including parents and guardians, teachers and staff, current 8-12 grade students, alumni, and Wellesley residents. It is available in five languages.

It takes about 15 minutes to complete multiple choice questions on about a dozen topics such as academics, communication, diversity, equity, school bus use, the MCAS test; extracurriculars, residents’ feelings on exploring the concept of adding universal preK to the Wellesley Public Schools, the importance of school rankings (such as those put forth by national news sources and ranking services), and more.

Most sections include room for respondents to elaborate on their bubble-filling choices with a few sentences.

The survey is part of the WPS Strategic Planning process that has been underway since fall 2022. The results from the survey will help guide the vision and direction for the district for the next five years.

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

Wellesley Theatre Project is 1 of just 5 groups asked to pilot production of Dot and the Kangaroo Jr.

December 10, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Theatre Project this month will present the World Premiere Pilot Production of Dot and the Kangaroo Jr., a new Australian outback adventure at the Sorenson Center for the Arts at Babson College (18 Babson College Dr., Wellesley). The outfit is 1 of just 5 organizations being invited to debut the production.

Performances will take place on Friday, Dec. 16 at 5pm and 8pm, Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, and may be purchased online at in advance, or at the door for $20 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Seating is assigned. Audience members are required to wear a mask.

The musical tells the story of rambunctious Dot, who longs for an adventure exploring everything her country has to offer. When she finds herself lost and afraid in the darkening Australian bush, Dot befriends a wise mother Kangaroo who enlists the help of Australia’s favorite bush creatures to help Dot find her way back home. Based on the 1899 novel of the same name, with Book by Daniel Stoddart, Music by Daniel J. Mertzlufft, and Lyrics by Kate Leonard.

Mertzlufft is a NYC-based composer/arranger most known for The Thanksgiving Musical on The Late Late Show with James Corden, and his arrangement of “Remy The Ratatouille” by Emily Jacobson that launched the TikTok Ratatouille musical movement. Wellesley College graduate Leonard is a lyricist and librettist working in theater, tv/film, and new media.

In Summer of 2022, several Wellesley Theatre Project students traveled to NYC to participate in a workshop of Dot and the Kangaroo Jr., with the writers and team at iTheatrics.

The upcoming shows feature two talented casts, composed of 30 students each, between the ages of seven and eighteen.

It’ll be Super Bowl Sunday for Wellesley 7th & 5th grade football teams

November 18, 2022 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Best of luck to the 5th and 7th grade Wellesley Youth Football teams, both of which have earned spots in American Youth Football Baystate Super Bowl games on Sunday in Brockton.

The 5th graders will play vs. Walpole at noon on Sunday.

The 7th grade team will compete vs. Norwood at Brockton High School at 2pm. The Wellesley team comes off a 22-12 win last weekend vs. an undefeated Brockton team.

The 7th graders are coached by Matt Comella, Ken Largess, Ronnie O’Brien and Brian Cullinan.

7thgrade football wellesley — Wellesley Youth Football 7th grade Team

Fired up for Halloween in Wellesley

November 1, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Windsor/Inverness/Lincoln neighborhood has an annual Halloween party, ending with a parade around the triangle. This year the Wellesley Fire Department kindly came, which was a huge hit. They led the parade…

(Photos shared by a Swellesley supporter.)

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

Happy Halloween, Wellesley

October 31, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Monday, Oct. 31—How Wellesley does Halloween

Wellesley is definitely an October 31st trick-or-treating kind of town. (Even though every year there are pockets of fret about kids getting all wound up on a school night.)

Generally speaking, the littlest ones go out in their own neighborhoods at about 6pm.

The older kids head out a little bit later, around 6:30. We heckle kids who show up either without a costume or wearing a Patriots jersey and claiming, “I’m dressed up like a football player.” Seriously, big kids, if you’re too cool to put together a real costume, it’s time to let it go and fondly remember trick-or-treating as part of your misspent youth.

Most residents at 8pm close their doors, blow out the candles in their jack o’ lanterns, and turn off their front porch lights to signal that their house is done with Halloween.

This can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, but not by much. As far as the candy goes, certain houses have a reputation for handing out full-sized bars, and the rabid following that goes with such generosity. We’re not going to spill those sweet secrets here. You’ll have to get out there and find the best pickings for yourself.

Families dressed up and headed for the Hills

Costumed kids and adults came out in big numbers on Saturday for the annual Halloween Stroll among Wellesley Hills merchants and at Clocktower Park.

wellesley hills halloween stroll — Fun & games at Clocktower Park

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

Kids hit Wellesley trails to hunt for treasures

October 26, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Dozens of kids and their parents/guardians took to the Wellesley town forest at Longfellow Pond on Sunday to hunt for treasure boxes, collect ink stamps, and enjoy donuts and cider at the end of the 1-mile adventure. The annual Kids’ Trails Day event is organized by the Wellesley Trails Committee.

While the skies were gray, the trails were hopping, not just with the kids and adults on the treasure hunt, but by a good number of dog walkers and anglers.

Wellesley Longfellow Pond town forest kids trails day — The Trails Committee thanked Whole Foods for donating cider and donuts

Pumpkin paradise in Linden Square

October 24, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Costumed kids, from mermaids to dinosaurs to ferocious lions, packed the Linden Square courtyard in Wellesley on Saturday morning, for pumpkin decorating and a little trick-or-treat warm-up.

While I happened to be there at the start, dressed as “sweaty runner,” I was only able to see the kids securing their pumpkins before adorning them with stickers and other decorations. I trust that they made the most of the situation.