Colleagues,
I hope you each had a productive week. I am especially grateful for the work of our elementary colleagues which allowed us to transition to full, in-person schedules on Monday. As I traveled throughout the district, there was a palpable feeling of excitement, relief, and gratitude that we were able to make this possible following the events of the past year. WMS will make this same transition next week, followed by WHS the week after April vacation. None of this would be possible without a great team of educators, support staff, and community partners.
Unfortunately, this week was also profoundly sad as we learned of the passing of Tom Zinck, the Facilities Supervisor for the High School. I’ve always believed that great teachers can be found both inside and outside of the classroom. Tom Zinck clearly belongs in this latter category. For those of you who knew Tom, I think you would affirm the impact he had within our high school community. Unfailingly kind, I’m not sure Tom ever used the word, “no.” He just wasn’t wired that way. Whatever the request, Tom would always find a way to make it happen, particularly when it involved supporting our students. (I can remember Tom in full winter attire, snow-blowing the WHS parking lot during a raging snowstorm in January so that the Cotillion could happen that year.) A WHS grad himself (Class of ’72), Tom took such pride in wanting Wellesley High School to always be at its best for the students who walked its halls each day. One can live a lifetime and not come close to the impact that Tom Zinck has had here in Wellesley. We are a lesser district and school community without him, but Tom’s example is one that will remain worthy for each of us emulate. Our hearts go out to Tom’s wife Diane, (Dr. Chisum’s secretary at WHS) and daughters Katherine and Lizzie. We will miss our friend and colleague, but he will not be forgotten.
Thanks for all that you do for our students and for each other. Enjoy the weekend!
-David
Calendar
4/13/21 – School Committee Meeting – Remote Online – 6:30 pm
4/19-4/23/21 – April Vacation – No School
4/26/21 – Annual Town Meeting Begins
4/30/21 – Deadline for WPS Enrollment of Faculty Children
Condolences to Diane Zinck (WHS Secretary to the Principal) and her family on the loss of her husband, Tom Zinck (WHS Facilities Supervisor) on April 6th. He will be dearly missed by the entire WPS family.
Condolences to Val Spruill (Administrative Assistant to the HR Director) on the loss of her father, Robert Mitchell, on April 4th.
Timeline for WPS Enrollment of Faculty Children
Children of Units 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, WTA, Unit A and B Contract). Below is the timeline for submitting applications:
- March 1st: Interested applicants can submit a letter of intent with the one-page application to Asya Kibko, District Registrar, at registrar@wellesleyps.org. Please note: You must be logged into a @wellesleyps.org google account in order to complete the form. You will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your response. The application will be available on the District website starting on March 1st. Forms are accepted starting March 1st until April 30th. Late applications will not be accepted. Placement decisions will be made at the end of May. Once notified of a determination, applicants will be provided an enrollment packet to be completed and submitted to the District Registrar.
If there are any questions, please reach out to Asya Kibko, District Registrar, at registrar@wellesleyps.org. A survey will be sent out in March to confirm currently enrolled faculty children will be returning in school year 2021-2022.
Salary Lane Change Process Reminder
Effective November 1, 2020, a teacher must submit a Course Approval Form (CAF) if: 1) a course may lead to a lane change; or 2) a course is paid by District funds. Forms should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the expected start date of the course. Course approvals are active from the date of approval through June 30th of the following school year (e.g., approved 1/20/2021 for a course starting 3/1/2021 would be active through 6/30/2022). Approvals are based on the course title and course description and cannot be exchanged for another course without prior written approval of the Superintendent or designee. A teacher has until June 30th of the following school year from the course completion date to submit the transcripts (e.g., course ended 4/1/2021 transcript must be submitted by 6/30/2022).
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.