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Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Preparing your elementary school child for Fall 2020

July 10, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: While Wellesley school officials begin planning to reopen elementary schools, Wise Education is helping families get their children back on track. Wise is the first online tutoring program just for elementary school students.

Research shows that the average child will return to school this fall 7-12 months behind where they would have been before the COVID-19 disruption. On average, children will experience a loss of 30% of learning in reading & writing and 50% in math.

Wise Education, Wellesley

 

Wise Education, founded by Wellesley residents, offers a practical solution for parents.

Teachers: We all want the best for our elementary school children so Wise built a team of experienced, passionate educators with master’s degrees and state certification.

Matchmaking: Based on each child’s interests and learning style, Wise finds the best teacher fit on its team. Your child then works exclusively with this teacher.

Curriculum: To start, Wise assesses each child against Common Core Standards and builds a highly personalized lesson plan to support each student.

Classes: All virtual, all 1-on-1 and always live. No parental involvement needed during instruction, but parents can expect ongoing communication and outcome tracking.

Program: Affordable and highly flexible for families in these uncertain times — packs of 5, 10 and 20 classes that fit easily into a family’s schedule.

Wise Education, Wellesley

Programs for students entering K-5 start at $500. As a reader of the Swellesley Report, please use promo code “SWELLESLEY” for 10% off any Wise class pack.

For questions, more information or to get started, please visit Wise online. Call or text: 617-679-7877. Or send an email to: director@hellowise.com.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting, Technology

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Happy Mother’s Day Wellesley

May 10, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Vintage Wellesley graffiti at Waban Arches says it all, Moms.

i love you mom graffiti

Filed Under: Art, Holidays, Parenting

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Wellesley Lacrosse

Wellesley School Committee meeting: the challenges of remote learning

April 2, 2020 by Deborah Brown 3 Comments

The Wellesley School Committee (SC) met on March 31 the same way it did last week — remotely via Zoom, the online meeting platform that’s gone from workplace communications tool to lifeline for a socially isolated population trying to remain connected. The SC was unable to hold its meeting at Town Hall as usual due to coronavirus concerns.

With all Massachusetts schools shut down until at least May 4, 2020 per Gov. Charlie Baker, the burning issue before the SC is how effectively the Wellesley Public Schools are managing the education of its over 5,000 students.

The meeting began with public comments, with parents of school-age children coming to the virtual microphone to air their concerns.

Mark S., a Hardy parent of two, said, “It think that the parents of Wellesley would like to see online and remote learning happen quickly.”

His perception is that such learning has ramped up quickly across the country, but that Wellesley has been slow to adapt. He said that the schools should by this point be able to provide “timelines and deliverables” and that “people are hoping the district is going to do a faster job and not necessarily blame the State for certain things. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”

Oscar E., an elementary school parent and former teacher said, “It’s been more than two weeks since this crisis started,” and that educationally it seemed like the ball was just getting rolling. He expressed concerns that teachers are not in direct contact with students, which he said “could be as simple as teachers having a 20-minute conversation with each student per day. The lack of engagement is what concerns me.”

“They are obligated to be working eight hours per day. I’m not saying they are or are not. I’m not their supervisor and I can’t account for their time, but I have that concern. When I look at the current picture, I cannot see the output.”

Superintendent David Lussier, citing Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines, said that equity and access issues around pubic education remain a concern, and that last week the SC was “eagerly awaiting guidance from DESE.”

Since those guidelines were released last Thursday, Lussier said school staff has been busy working on what remote learning 2.0 will look like. “We all agree we’d like to see our approach become broadened a bit, more comprehensive, although some things really can’t change such as a continued focus on equity and access, knowing that not all of our students are going to be able to engage.”

DESE guidelines list the top priority of the schools right now as to ensure the safety, social, and emotional health and wellness of its students.

This is disappointing to parents who want to see learning of new academic material move forward.

In an email to Swellesley from a parent who asked to remain anonymous, the parent said, “No administrator or School Committee member questioned how our students will catch up if they do not continue to learn new curriculum. Where is the concern? How can we possibly make up all of that lost curriculum?  What about foundational material that you need throughout high school to succeed on standardized testing and moving onto next-level math?”

Lussier said the State guidelines are clear that “remote learning is not synonymous with online learning, where everything goes online and we’re just going to be teaching online classes. That is not the approach the state is recommending or that districts are adopting anywhere in the Commonwealth in terms of public schools.”

He went on to say that there’s a rough recommendation for learning for the totality of both indirect and direct learning “to represent about half of what we would normally expect during a traditional school day. There is a strong recommendation for reinforcing and applying foundations that have been built in the first semester.”

For older students, however, Lussier stated the desire to advance the curriculum more traditionally, which would include the introduction of new material.

What about grading?

The School Committee is still working on that. It seems clear, however, that the new Schools Standard-Based Report Cards (SBRC) rolled out this academic year for K – 5 students will not be able to serve as an accurate measure of performance as related to remote learning. Geared to communicate progress toward Massachusetts’ grade-level standards and expectations, the SBRC indicates to families whether their children are meeting standards; progressing toward standards; beginning to progress towards standards; or not yet demonstrating progress.

How grading will look at the K – 5 level for the rest of the school year is as yet undetermined.

At the middle and high-school levels, where students receive letter grades on an A – F scale, the SC is considering a move toward a credit/no credit assessment, or possibly a pass/fail system. More information on that in the coming weeks.

As the schools work toward their next steps in remote learning in what the SC is referring to as Version 2.0, Lussier noted that he and the SC are in meetings with the Wellesley Teachers Association. The constraints of staff as they try to provide productive learning are real concerns.

Lussier also noted that the SC has heard from families who are concerned that remote learning might go in a direction in which “the responsibilities are so significant that a family can’t possibly support their children in everything that’s being asked.”

Joan Dabrowksi, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, spoke about the needs of the district’s youngest learners. “We want to think mindfully about screen time…we have to keep that balanced and measured with the offline work.”

Dabrowksi also talked about emphasizing the social-emotional piece of education, making teacher-student interactions a priority, and ensuring that kids are getting physical activity. “That’s a big part of wellness.”

Sarah Orlov, Director of Student Services talked about the DESI guidelines for Special Education (SPED) students. “Basically , the guidance we were given is directed among providing some services to students and trying to hold some Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings…IEPs in a lot of ways aren’t suited to a remote environment. While we won’t be able to implement every child’s IEP as written — it simply wouldn’t be possible — what we are hoping to do is talk to families around what they feel they need the most. Then try to develop a plan that is implementable.”

As for high school students set to take the upcoming Advanced Placement exams in May, Orlov said, “The College Board weighed in very quickly with a plan.”

Students will take the exams at home, and College Board has modified the exams significantly. The not-for-profit organization has reduced the scope of content students will be tested on to reflect the part of the curriculum students would have covered up until early March, when many schools started closing across the nation.

What’s next?

“Going forward,” Lussier said, “We’ll see how meetings go with the Wellesley Teachers Association.”

Meanwhile, in town there are signs that kids and families are, indeed, getting restless.

Graffiti at Reed’s Pond; a Brook Path as crowded as a Manhattan sidewalk; the Wellesley College campus and the Lake Waban path closed to all but the 200+ students hunkered down on campus and the staff there to support them after throngs poured onto the privately owned property; accusations of hordes of teens congregating; testy exchanges in the Roche Bros. freezer aisle; and more.

The schools have been closed since March 12.

They’re scheduled to be closed until at least May 4.

Whether schools will open at that time is anyone’s guess. The School Committee will meet weekly on Tuesdays through the coronavirus crisis. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings, and to email any SC member with their concerns.

Here is the agenda for April 7, 2020, 6:30pm meeting, along with information on how to view the meeting in real-time, and how to participate in Public Comments.

More: Wellesley schools superintendent: “We need to be doing more than what we’re doing now” (March 25 School Committee report)

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Filed Under: Education, Parenting, Technology

Sara Campbell, Wellesley

Keep your Wellesley student’s education on track during schools closure

March 26, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

As families of school-age children already know, all school districts in Massachusetts have been closed by order of Governor Charlie Baker until at least May 4. By necessity, remote learning is the current educational model until at least then.

Make sure your children’s learning isn’t compromised during the school closure by having them work with a tutor to stay on track. Whether you’re concerned about their day-to-day learning, upcoming APs, SATs, or ACTs, or what this unprecedented situation means for next year’s college application process, there is a tutor experienced in online learning. Thanks to Sexton for major sponsorship of this post.

Sexton Test Prep & Tutoring

Sexton Test Prep

Sexton Test Prep & Tutoring offers online one-on-one academic tutoring, test prep, AP coaching, workshops, and classes. Our unique offerings include a workshop on vocabulary, a FREE workshop on personal finance, and more.


Admit Fit College Admissions Counseling

Admit Fit, Wellesley

Martha Collins of Admit Fit College Admissions Counseling is offering her college admissions expertise to families of college-bound students. Martha is adept at counseling teens and consulting with parents. She understands first hand how to shape a positive college admissions experience for students and their families.


Inspirica at Boston Sports Institute

Inspirica, Wellesley

Inspirica at Boston Sports Institute is an industry leader for online and in-person test-prep services for the ACT, SAT, ISEE, SSAT, and graduate school tests for 37 years. It recently opened a state-of the-art facility at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley. Inspirica also offers online services using Lessonspace, our collaborative video-conferencing platform.


Prepped & Polished

Award-winning Prepped and Polished is a 20-year-old experienced private tutoring firm that provides online tutoring and test preparation for grades K-12. Contact Founder/CEO alexis@preppedandpolished.com, call 781-753-9951, or visit www.preppedandpolished.com


Propel Tutoring

Propel Tutoring

Propel Tutoring engenders a method of teaching whereby each student gains tangible skills and thereby feels more confident when taking the SAT/ACT. Each aspect of tutoring is individually tailored to the student, at an affordable rate. Propel offers online compatibility via FaceTime or Zoom.


Signet Education

Signet

Founded by Harvard graduates, Signet Education reduces stress and increases success with test preparation, admissions consultation, and subject tutoring for high school students. Get personalized 1:1 help right from home with Signet’s cutting-edge online coaching platform.


Don’t see your educational services company here?

Contact deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion in Swellesley’s next Educational Services post, or for premium front-page advertising options.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting

Dedham Country Day School, upcoming admissions events

January 9, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: At Dedham Country Day School (DCD) for children ages PreK – grade 8, we believe that balance matters—in learning and life. We combine academic challenge with support; pedagogical tradition with innovation. Strong scholastics along with outstanding arts and athletics create a program that is balanced and whole. Here, a premium is placed on both academic and emotional intelligence.

Learn more at two upcoming DCD events:

January 9, 2020: Get a better idea of what DCD is all about at an off-campus coffee in Milton, where you will have a chance to chat with DCD parents and staff in a relaxed setting. RSVP to Deb White to receive address information and details.

January 24, 2020: Classroom Observation Day, 8:30am – 10:30am at our campus located at 90 Sandy Valley Rd, Dedham, MA. Prospective parents, please register here for this event. Visit our website to learn more about our program or contact us at admissions@dcds.net to schedule your personal tour.

Dedham Country Day School

Visit the DCD campus:

Visit us, and you’ll get a sense of how our students learn to think creatively and critically. You’ll see kids being kids—and being themselves. You’ll witness them tackling hands-on projects, collaborating, taking risks, solving problems—and, most of all, enjoying their experience.

At DCD, students learn who they are as diverse individuals and how to be part of something bigger. Acceptance is a given, and children find encouragement in every connection they make. It’s a community that nurtures, nudges, and gives. That’s how we grow “whole” children — and, ultimately, adults who will thrive with the intellectual and emotional capacity to contribute to their world and enjoy meaningful lives.

Dedham Country Day School

Our 17-acre campus is just minutes from Route 128 in Dedham. Please visit our website for admissions event details or email admissions@dedhamcountryday.org

Filed Under: Education, Kids, Parenting

Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Rick Cram, leader

LINX Camps spotlight: Bullying and the Mitigating Effects of Camp

November 14, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: Bullying is a purposeful, repetitive, worldwide epidemic that is seen across all races, classes, ages, and genders. While bullying can happen in the workplace, it tends to be most prevalent in school settings among youth:

  • Nearly 1 in 5 students (21%) reports being bullied during the school year, impacting over 5 million youth annually. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2018

  • 160,000 kids per day skip school for fear of being bullied. American Society for the Positive Care of Children, 2018

    LINX, Wellesley
    A LINX Camps counselor and two campers show their Green Team spirit while participating in the annual Eagle Games tradition.
  • Approximately 30% of young people admit to bullying others. Bradshaw, Sawyer, & O’Brennan (BS&O), 2007

  • Bystanders make up the largest group of students affected by bullying in school, with 71% of students saying they have witnessed bullying within the last month. BS&O, 2007

  • Almost all forms of bullying peak in middle school with 6th grade students reporting the highest percentage of bullying (29%). NCES, 2018

LINX, Wellesley
A LINX Camps counselor encourages a camper after a successful execution of a new skill.

Students who experience bullying are at increased risk for poor school adjustment, sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression. Studies have found the effects of bullying to be serious and long lasting on one’s mental health and overall well being. It is important to note these negative outcomes affect all involved in bullying — the bullies, the bullied, and the bystanders.

Noted educator, author, and psychologist, Dr. Peter Scales says, “Camp is one of the few institutions where young people can experience and satisfy their need for physical activity, creative expression and true participation in a community environment.” Continue reading…

Filed Under: Health, Kids, Parenting, Safety

Wellesley Mothers Forum Fall Carnival, September 14, 2019

September 7, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Mothers Forum

Filed Under: Entertainment, Fundraising, Kids, Parenting

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