Dear Colleagues,
I hope you each had a productive week after a restful April break. Town Meeting concluded on Monday night with more than three hours devoted to the article focused on academic excellence brought forward by a member of the community. (I won’t go into the details, which I outlined in my last bulletin to you prior to the break.) The motion failed with approximately 68 percent of Town Meeting members opposed and 32 percent in favor.
Central themes of the conversation Monday night included what we value most in schools and how we measure our progress. Within these brackets, what actually stood out the most to me were the incredibly powerful voices of some of our current students and recent graduates who are members of Town Meeting. A strong undercurrent of our Profile of a Graduate is the idea of student agency. When students feel empowered to manage their own learning and become active citizens engaged in their community, they are on a track to be life-long learners who will likely shape the future.
Seeing and hearing the thoughtful, composed, and articulate voices of our students throughout this community dialogue, I was reminded that they were actually showcasing the type of academic excellence we are striving to support in WPS. I hope their example and that of other students will continue to have resonance around these questions in the days ahead.
Thanks for all that you do to support our students each day. Have a great weekend!
Best regards, David
Calendar
4/29/22 – Open Enrollment for Benefits Deadline
4/30/22 – Applications Due for WPS Enrollment of Staff Children
5/03/22 – School Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm
5/10/22 – School Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm
5/24/22 – School Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm
5/30/22 – Memorial Day – No School
Open Enrollment for Benefits is here until April 29th!
Open Enrollment begins on April 4th and ends on April 29th, 2022. Click here for more information on plan details and offerings. All benefit-eligible employees should have received a letter with details about open enrollment and the various benefit offerings. If you have not received the letter, have questions, or need assistance enrolling online, please email benefits@wellesleyma.gov or call 781-431-1019, ext. 2244.
Note: If you do not complete the enrollment process, the only benefit that will roll over will be your health insurance plan if you are enrolled in one at the time of open enrollment. If you have a Fallon plan, you will be enrolled in the corresponding BCBS plan that matches your current plan tier (individual or family) and your current plan type (Benchmark or High Deductible).
Tutors needed for K-12 WPS Academic Tutoring (April – June 2022)
Wellesley Public Schools will offer K-12 Academic Tutoring for WPS students in ELA, Math and Science, from April through June 2022
WPS is seeking applicants for Tutors (several positions available at the elementary and middle schools) $44.47/hour.
Please click here to apply to the internal posting. ** You must create your account in TalentEd to view the Internal Postings.
- Tutoring may occur before/after school and/or weekends and April break.
- Tutoring will be held in WPS schools during building hours and/or on WPS Zoom. Students are recommended for tutoring by teachers and administrators based on their classroom performance.
- Students will utilize their current school work during tutoring sessions.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Sandy Trach, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning trachs@wellesleyps.org with any questions.
Timeline for WPS Enrollment of Faculty Children (Kindergarten – Grade 12)
Children of Unit A and B members residing outside of Wellesley shall be entitled to attend Wellesley Public Schools without charge for tuition on a space available basis (Article 12, WEA, Unit A and B Contract).
Below is the timeline for submitting applications:
March 1: Interested applicants may submit a letter of intent with the one-page application to Marissa Capone, District Registrar, at registrar@wellesleyps.org.
Eligible staff members can also access the application on the WPS website.
April 30: All applications are due to Marissa Capone, District Registrar at registrar@wellesleyps.org. Late applications will not be accepted.
Mid-to-late May: Placement decisions will be made. Once notified of a determination, applicants will be provided with access to the online registration forms. Registration of students is not completed until all forms have been received and approved by the District Registrar and Nurse.
If there are any questions, please reach out to Marissa Capone District Registrar, at registrar@wellesleyps.org. A survey will be sent out in mid-March to confirm currently enrolled faculty children will be returning in school year 2022-2023.
Coaches Still Needed for Spring Season:
- WHS Freshmen and Part Time Varsity Assistant Coach for Boys Volleyball
Season: Monday, March 21st through Friday, May 27th
Questions or to apply, please contact: Athletic Director John Brown brownj@wellesleyps.org or 781-446-6290, ext. 4614
Tuition Reimbursement Info and Deadline
Just a reminder that Unit A members seeking tuition reimbursement for graduate coursework in accordance with the Unit A collective bargaining agreement must submit the completed application for reimbursement, along with evidence of enrollment into a program and course cost, proof of payment and transcript, no later than June 1, 2022. The Tuition Reimbursement form can be found on the HR page of the WPS website.
The contract states:
Course reimbursement for graduate courses taken by staff who are without master’s degrees and/or who are seeking professional licensure as required by the Massachusetts Department of Education or when a specialist teacher’s immediate supervisor, subject to the approval of the Assistant Superintendent, verifies that there are no further in‐district courses available for recertification in that specialist’s field, that specialist may apply for tuition reimbursement. Any Unit A member for whom no DESE license exists, including but not limited to occupational and physical therapists, so long as that member maintains appropriate certification and/or licensure required to perform his or her duties, shall be eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement.
Human Relations Services
The Human Relation Services (HRS) can help. Wellesley Public Schools has contracted with HRS to provide up to ten free counseling visits for you and/or your family members. This program is designed to help you deal with stresses of life and work –including personal and family issues, drug or alcohol problems, and job related tension. It offers prevention and intervention to reduce these stresses and improve coping skills.
HRS is located at 11 Chapel Place in Wellesley and can be reached at 781-235-4950. This is a confidential service. Wellesley Public Schools is not aware of the names of employees or their family members who utilize this service.
Do you have a question for the WPS Human Resources Department?
Email AskHR@Wellesleyps.org. The Human Resources Department is happy to assist you.
WPS Internal Job Postings on District Website
For all Internal Job Postings, please go to “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website.