Save the date: WCCC Fun Run and Fun Fair is March 23

March 4, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Community Children’s Center invites you to its 39th annual Fun Run & Fun Fair, which takes place on Saturday, March 23, 8:30am -12:00pm inside Wellesley College’s Keohane Sports Center.

The Wellesley Community Children’s Center (WCCC) Fun Run & Fun Fair began in 1980 as a small pre-Boston Marathon race for WCCC preschool children. Today, hundreds of children and families enjoy non-competitive races for kids ages 2-12, carnival games, face painting, refreshments, a silent auction and raffle, book and stuffed animal sales, and representatives from area independent schools, camps, and family-friendly businesses.

WCCC Fun Run

All proceeds from the event benefit programs for the Wellesley Community Children’s Center, which was established in 1971 to provide childcare and early learning for working families. At its Early Childhood Program on the Wellesley College Campus and After School sites in the Wellesley Public Schools, WCCC has grown to provide programs each year for over 400 children ages 3 months through 5th grade.

Entrance Fees

Included in the entrance fee is a racer number bib which allows a child to race, play there will be carnival games, face painting, refreshments, book and stuffed animal sales, and representatives from area independent schools, camps, and family-friendly businesses. Fees are as follows:

Pre-Event (Online Payment) Entrance Fee for Children Ages 2-12: $15
Day-Of Entrance Fee for Children Ages 2-12: $17
Family Entrance Fee (for families with 4 or more children): $55

Grown-ups and children under 2 are free.

Race Schedule and Silent Auction items

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Wellesley Public Schools kindergarten registration

January 15, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Private school spotlight: Charles River School in Dover

December 13, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: Regardless of age or grade, students at Charles River School in Dover experience hands-on science with real-world applications as part of the curriculum. Experiences like these are supported by the school’s innovative curriculum and unique facilities like its Wetlands Lab and state-of-the-art middle school science lab.

For example, 5th graders are participating in a Citizen Science project supporting and monitoring the presence of salamanders in the CRS Wetlands Laboratory, and sharing their findings with the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Students measured a 10-meter by 5-meter transect near the school’s vernal pool, placed 50 untreated pine boards within the space, and monitored the areas beneath the boards for the presence of salamanders. Since salamanders are an indicator species that helps gauge the health of a wetland, the students have been excited to document the salamander sacs beneath the boards.

Charles River School, Dover — Students participate in a Citizen Science project that supports and monitors the presence of salamanders in the CRS Wetlands Laboratory,

This fall, middle school students have undertaken a collaborative, cross-disciplinary study of climate change in their science and social studies classes. They have explored evidence of climate change and both human and natural causes of it, and researched climate-related policies in countries around the world. “The students are gaining an understanding not just of the science involved, but also the practical application of scientific knowledge,” explains teacher Chris Raskin. The unit’s culminating project will be a Model United Nations simulation held at the Dover Town Hall where students will represent points of view from various international governments, and also demonstrate a deep understanding of the science behind the policies.

Call the Admissions Office to learn more or to plan a visit:508-785-0068, or email [email protected] CRS is also hosting drop-in Information Sessions on December 14 and January 11.

Private school spotlight: Dedham Country Day School

November 8, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Visit us, and you’ll get a sense of how our students learn to think creatively and critically. You’ll see that from Pre- Kindergarten to Grade 8, kids are 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. Explore DCD through our admissions events and a personal tour.

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

Private school spotlight: Riverbend School Open House on Saturday, Nov. 3

November 3, 2018 by admin 1 Comment

SPONSORED POST: Riverbend School in South Natick hosts a true community of learners. Every member of the Riverbend community, from teachers and students to parents and other family members, is actively engaged in improving how we teach, learn, and inspire one another to embrace each new challenge. Take a tour on November 3rd with a current parent or teacher, chat with students and faculty, and learn what’s going on in each classroom right now.

Join Riverbend School at our Open House on Saturday, November 3rd

Children’s House (Ages 15 months through Kindergarten)
Elementary & Middle School (Grades 1 through Grade 8)

WHERE: 33 Eliot Street, South Natick, MA
WHEN: Saturday, November 3rd, 11:00am – 12:30pm

A true community of learners

Last Thursday, the Lower Elementary students were visited by their Upper Elementary “buddies” to share the love of reading. It was a wonderful experience for both groups of students. For Lower Elementary, this program allows students to practice their reading and listening skills with new audiences. For Upper Elementary students, they practice reading out loud, leadership skills, giving helpful tips, and showing empathy. In addition, it was wonderful to see many children reconnect, on an academic level, with previous Lower Elementary classmates. Both groups of students had a ton of fun and everyone is looking forward to the next visit. We hope this becomes a new weekly tradition.

Visiting Riverbend School is absolutely the best way to truly discover the many wonders of Montessori education and its community. Here at Riverbend every student of every age is inspired and nurtured to develop a lifelong passion for learning. It’s magical – come and take a look. We have many opportunities to visit.

More on Riverbend School in South Natick

Here’s what those Halloween teal pumpkins in Wellesley are all about

October 31, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

If on Halloween you see a teal pumpkin on a Wellesley doorstep, it’s not just a holiday decorating project run amok. To those in the know, teal pumpkins are purposefully placed, and they’re sending out a special code. I am here to crack that code as wide open as a vandalized jack-o-lantern.

This Fuller Brook St. neighborhood home is ready to give out candy to those who imbibe, and toys to those who do not. The teal pumpkins signal to all comers that non-food treats are available here.

Part of the Teal Pumpkin project, the blue-green symbols are all about making sure that trick-or-treating is fun and safe for everyone. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 8% of U.S. kids have food allergies and other conditions that preclude them from joining in on the traditional autumnal candy bacchanal. Teal pumpkins serve as a signal to the treats-seeking community that here is a place where non-food loot is available such as glow sticks or small toys. It’s a simple act of consideration designed to promote inclusion for kids whose food allergies turn the fun of Halloween into a just another time when mom and dad are saying a whole lot of “no.”

Teal — it’s not just for 1980s bridesmaids anymore

Teal as the color of food allergy awareness and has been used for 20 years to raise awareness about food allergies — think bumper stickers and banners. The pumpkin add-on came in as a national initiative launched in 2014 by Food Allergy Research & Education to “raise awareness of food allergies and promote inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.”

What got going as a social media campaign has spread to more and more communities. It’s something Wellesley mom and Mass General hospital allergist Kimberly Gold Blumenthal and her family have done for several years. “We have a teal fake pumpkin and a plastic teal pumpkin that we will fill with toys…Children with food allergies, especially those with anaphylactic-type allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, used to feel left out of the Halloween fun. What fun is it to collect a bunch of candies that may not be safe to eat? The teal pumpkin project helps ‘mark’ houses where food-allergic kids can trick or treat at safely, so they can join in the fun.”

It’s an idea whose time has come because let’s be real here. There’s nothing scarier than a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Wellesley Halloween — Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for kids with allergies.

Nobody’s trying to take candy away from a non-allergic baby

Candy is still king on Halloween, but the work-around of a toys option for some means a safe and happy Halloween for all. Rebecca Flanagan (those pics, above, are of her home) says, “My 5 year old has severe food allergies, so the Teal Pumpkin Project has really helped to make Halloween easier for my son and make him not feel different from the other children. In our family, the kids trade in the candy they collect for a LEGO set and are given a small bag of safe candy from home. With the inception of the Teal Pumpkin Project he is now able to keep the non-candy treats he collects trick-or-treating, making him feel more included on a day that can be a real challenge for food allergy kids and parents.”

If you’re thinking about joining in this year and don’t have the time to paint a pumpkin or buy a fake one, you can go to the Teal Pumpkin Project website and download a sign. And if it’s the first you’ve heard about all this and you know running out for a bag of el-cheapo toys just isn’t going to happen this year, no guilt allowed. Moms have enough of that. There’s always next year. That’s my plan.

Take these Wellesley HS surveys if you are: a) a parent/guardian or b) a student

October 31, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley High School Principal Jamie Chisum is asking all WHS families to take a Challenge Success survey designed to measures parents’ perceptions of their children’s experiences in areas such as academic stress, homework, sleep, technology use, and family rules and norms.

The Challenge Success initiative was put into action at WHS last year in an effort to increase students’ academic engagement while addressing concerns over their health and well-being in areas such as homework, extracurricular activities, sleep, physical health, stress, parent expectations, academic engagement, academic integrity and teacher support. WHS is this year focusing on “balance” with an emphasis on technology, sleep and workload.

The parent survey, and its resultant data, is part of a Challenge Success pilot program that is free to WHS. In order to gather a large enough sample, WHS needs a 50% or higher participation response rate.

Since I’m a WHS parent, I took the approximately 15-minute survey. I kept it real when they asked what our family’s biggest stressor is right now (the college applications process) and was honest about the technology use (why yes, since you ask, my child does spend an inordinate amount of time on various devices). I even confessed to not knowing how much time is spent on homework. Who could know with distractions popping up and dinging their alerts at every turn?

Here’s a link to the survey. Show your school spirit and dive right in.

For more on this, check out our interview with Principal Chisum on the Challenge Success program.

Semi-annual MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey

Students at Wellesley High School are being asked to participate in a survey called the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey so that administrators can learn about their attitudes and behaviors with regard to a variety of health issues, Principal Jamie Chisum said in an email to families.

The questions of the survey cover many topics including alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; violence and safety; nutrition and physical activity; sexual behaviors; online behaviors; mental health; and protective factors. This project will help the district develop and enhance its health education and prevention services. Wellesley has participated in the survey six times now, over a 12-year period. Students in grades 9-12 will take the survey on Thursday, November 8th during an extended Advisory period.

The survey is anonymous. There will be no identifying information on any of the surveys. Completing the survey is voluntary. Students’ grades in school will not be affected by whether or not s/he participates. Students can opt not to take the survey and may skip any questions. Parents/guardians may see a copy of the survey in the Main Office at the High School through November 7th.

For questions, contact Joanne Grant, Director of Fitness and Health at[email protected], or 781-446-6210, Extension #5894

MORE: Wellesley stress levels high, mental health levels a concern according to 2014 survey results

Private school spotlight: Riverbend School in South Natick

October 19, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: Riverbend School in beautiful South Natick is a toddler through grade 8 co-ed Independent Day School that combines the best practices of a Montessori education such as an emphasis on connected learning throughout the curriculum. along with active engagement through today’s technologies. Students in our multi-aged classrooms benefit from the Montessori way of following the child. Using this philosophy, our highly educated Montessori-certified faculty (over 45% of whom hold advanced degrees) nurture and guide children as members of a diverse, inclusive community of learners.

Our students enjoy low teacher-to-child ratios of 4.5:1 for our toddlers; 9:1 for primary and Ks; and 10:1 for 1st through 8th grades. At Riverbend, children become active participants in their own education in our structured classroom environment. Riverbend children learn indoors in groups and individually as well as outdoors on our five-acre lot, which includes two full playground and garden plots for each classroom, along with a newly constructed gaga pit. Their campus is their home base, a jumping-off point as students explore the wider world.

From science classes and recreational outings at Elm Bank Reservation, hiking and nature studies at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, local historic site visits such as to the Eliot Church (founded in 1651), and the Bacon Free Library (opened in 1881), our students are hands-on, active learners whose curiosity is sparked, never quashed, by their daily classroom work.

Come for a tour and see first-hand what’s happening at Riverbend School’s amazing Charles River campus with its state-of-the-art facilities. Let us show you why Montessori is such an effective educational philosophy for promoting academic excellence, creativity, problem-solving skills, and an endless capacity for compassion and care.

Wellesley Business Buzz: Babson on top of the world, Mom’s Day Out, bridging the digital divide and more

September 17, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Here’s a round-up of the latest Wellesley business news:

Babson celebrates being No. 1 again

The US News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are out, and Babson College in Wellesley ranks #1 for entrepreneurship, for 22nd consecutive time, just ahead of MIT (though MIT also ranks #2 in Business Programs, besting Babson at #30).

Digital Bridges Returns To The Wellesley Community Center

Wellesley High School senior Luis Hoderlein is spearheading a five-week Python 3.7 programming course for middle and high school students, and proceeds from this will be used to buy computers and tablets for schools in underserved areas. The Wellesley Digital Bridges program run by Hoderlein and fellow students aims to help bridge the digital divide between technology haves and have nots.

WHEN: Every Friday, September 14 – October 19 (except Oct. 5), 2018
TIME: 5pm – 6:30pm
WHERE: Wellesley Community Center, 219 Washington Street, Hoffman Room
FEE: $190

All proceeds from this class will go towards the purchase of computers or tablets for underserved schools and communities in the Boston area. To sign up, please visit https://wellesleydigitalbridges.wordpress.com

5th Grade Parents, info on Wellesley Dance Assembly classes

Boston Assemblies has scheduled a new session. There will be six 75 minute classes (4:30-5:45pm) on Mondays starting on Sept. 24th @ Italo American Club. Register now at http://www.bostonassemblies.com to save your spot for this social milestone and memorable learning experience. Email [email protected] with any questions

White People Challenging Racism (WPCR), workshops

WPCR brings people together to examine white privilege and racism in order to galvanize them to anti-racist action. Our mission is to provide people with tools and resources to challenge and change attitudes and actions that perpetuate racism. While our focus is on white people’s role in dismantling racism, our courses are open to everyone who is committed to achieving racial justice.

WHEN: September 26 – October 24
WHERE: 90 Washington Street, Wellesley Recreation Center
REGISTRATION: call 781-235-2370
FEE: $85 covers all 5 sessions and materials.
QUESTIONS: Contact Michelle Chalmers at [email protected]com or 781-591-9435

CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS — Oldtown Photo Competition

You are invited to enter the Oldtown Photo Calendar Competition, October 21, 2018. This annual tradition is part of Natick Artists Open Studios Weekend, and features images taken in parts of Natick, Dover, Sherborn, Needham, and Wellesley. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. Winning photographs are published in the Oldtown Calendar, a popular gift and fundraiser for local nonprofit groups. To register, email [email protected]gmail.com. There is no cost to enter (other than the expense of getting your photos ready), and you take your photos home with you.

DATE OF EXHIBIT: October 21, 2018
PLACE: 40 Eliot Street (Route 16), Memorial Hall, South Natick, Massachusetts

Wellesley Merchants’ Association, Mom’s Day Out

The weather cooperated beautifully for the annual Wellesley Square shopping event for moms that was held over the weekend. Wellesley Square Merchant’s Association businesses offered special deals, free parking and a festive atmosphere featuring colorful balloons. Here are a few pics:

London Harness, Wellesley — London Harness owners (and spouses) Demian Wendrow and Amy Lynch tend the store on Mom’s Day Out.