Wellesley Public Schools

Hunnewell Track & Field Phase II Proposal Continues Moving Ahead 

School Committee’s proposal to install bathrooms, a concession stand, team rooms, lights and an improved sound system – collectively known as Phase II Enhancements to the Hunnewell Track & Field – has now moved through the Design and Permitting process and is ready to go out to bid. After the Wetlands Protection Committee issued an amended order of conditions in July 2023 to allow for lights and improved sound, in addition to the previously approved bathrooms and concessions, the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) signed off on the final plan for the track & field. The focus for School Committee, NRC, and the Department of Public Works is now on Bidding, Ordering and Installation, with groundbreaking for the next phase to begin at the end of 2023.

Read more on the T&F Projects page.

The Wellesley Public Schools is in the process of updating its district strategic plan, for implementation in Fall 2023. The Strategic Plan Steering Committee developed a framework for the 2023-28 Strategic Plan that was approved by the School Committee on June 13. On November 14, 2023, the School Committee approved the 5-year worksheet that serves as the blueprint to the Strategic Plan. Please visit the strategic planning page for additional information on the process and goals.

The Hunnewell and Hardy construction projects are well under way! The new Hunnewell is scheduled to open in February 2024, with the new Hardy opening in August 2024. With the opening of two new buildings, the closing of a school, and redistricting planned for the 2024-25 school year, WPS has created a detailed schedule of events to share with the community. This schedule will be updated throughout the year as plans are finalized. Please see this link for the full timeline of events. More information about the building projects is available at wellesleyHHU.org.

On September 19, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the official 2023 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results online. Wellesley Public Schools is proud to share that all schools have met or exceeded the MCAS achievement targets set by DESE, as we continue to focus on pandemic recovery. The district is also pleased to announce that Wellesley is home to four of the 66 Massachusetts schools designated as Schools of Recognition by DESE: Bates Elementary, Sprague Elementary, Wellesley Middle School, and Wellesley High School. The Wellesley School and District Profile is available on the DESE website. Read the full update.

Wellesley Public Schools is pleased to announce that two Boston resident parents have been appointed to serve together as METCO Representatives to the Wellesley School Committee. This new, non-voting position was created by the School Committee in May 2023. The new representatives, Nicole Daley and Dr. Joanne DaSilva Moreira, will represent and advocate for Boston resident students and families; participate in biweekly School Committee meetings; collaborate closely with district leaders to support Boston resident students and families; and work to ensure Boston resident students and families feel welcomed, supported, and valued in WPS. Their first School Committee meeting appearance will be October 3. Read more about them here.

September 11, 2023 – The Nursing Services team wants to ensure that you start the school year with the most recent guidance regarding COVID-19. The following Frequently Asked Questions have been reviewed by Wellesley’s Health Department. Please speak to your school nurse if you have any questions or concerns specific to your child. We are here to help and answer questions throughout the school year. Please review this list of Frequently Asked Questions.

August 21, 2023

Dear Members of the Wellesley Public Schools Community:

I hope you are enjoying the remaining days of summer and that these past few months have been restful and restorative for you and your families.  We look forward to welcoming our students, staff, and families back for the start of the 2023-24 school year, which will begin on Wednesday, August 30th. 

We have a busy calendar in store for our district in the coming year! Read the full WPS Welcome Back Letter.

The WPS Nursing Department is in the process of updating your student’s health records for the upcoming school year. All SNAP Health Portal information needs to be confirmed annually by parents/guardians. To do so, log into Powerschool using the same username and password you use to access report cards and click the SNAP Health Portal icon on the left sidebar. From there, you will receive prompts to confirm or update your student’s immunizations, health conditions, and renew permissions. This process ensures that the information in your student’s health record is accurate and confirmed for the new school year.  Read more about the SNAP Health Portal on the WPS Nursing website.

Kindergarten: For children 5 years of age on or before August 31, 2023. Click for Registration Forms, Required Documents and More Information.

Grades 1-12:  Registration for Grades 1 through 12 will begin on March 1, 2023.

Child Find: Under federal and state special education regulations, the Wellesley Public Schools has a responsibility to locate, identify, refer, evaluation and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate, public education to students with disabilities who reside in the town of Wellesley. Click for more information.

For more information on grading practices at Wellesley High School, please find the presentation from the January 31st School Committee Meeting, an informational video, as well as the slideshow and recording from the March 9 forum at Wellesley High School. Wellesley High School principal Dr. Jamie Chisum shared an update with the community in May. 

Profile of a Graduate (Accessible)

The Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan was developed as a roadmap for the future of our community and its residents. Launched in February 2022 after more than a year of work, the Plan outlines specific actions Wellesley will take to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change and to build resilience to climate change impacts. It is organized along six pathways: Governance, Energy, Buildings, Mobility, Natural Resources, and Waste.

Please visit the WPS Anti-Bullying Resources page to learn more about bullying prevention or to report a bullying incident.

Please go to the School Building Committee website at this link for information and updates on these projects.

• Current Elementary Districts
• Approved Redistricting Map – September 2024
• Hunnewell Swing Space Update – 02/07/2022
• WPS Swing Space/Redistricting Proposal for SY2022-2024 – 10/05/2021

Please use the following links to access information on the Equity Lawsuit:

WPS Statement on Lawsuit

Settlement Agreement – 2/2022

Materials for Policy Discussion

May 1, 2023

● POLICY IMD – SCHOOL CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES

○ Consider adding policy IMDA – ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS AND

CULTURAL OBSERVANCES

○ Consider expanding school calendar

● POLICY BDCB (NEW) – WELLESLEY METCO REPRESENTATIVE TO

WELLESLEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

● POLICIES IJL – LIBRARY MATERIALS SELECTION AND ADOPTION and IJLA –

LIBRARY RESOURCE POLICY

○ Consider changes to IJL and changes to IJLA

○ Consider adding IJ “INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS POLICY” and IJ-R

“RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES POLICY”

● POLICY LC (NEW) – EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN SCHOOLS

See more details in pdf from May 1st 

Click here for all School Committee Policies. The advanced search feature allows you to search all policies by keyword or phrase.