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Superintendent’s Bulletin
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Dear Colleagues,
I hope you each had a productive week. At the School Committee’s October 7th meeting, the Administration presented the district’s 2025 MCAS results. While we recognize that MCAS is not an assessment of everything we teach and value, it remains an important source of longitudinal data for our district in key academic areas. At a district level, our scores were similar to 2024. When we disaggregate these data by school, grade level, and student groups, our data become more diverse both in areas of exceptional achievement and growth, from which we can learn, as well as areas of challenge we must continue to address. I appreciate the school, departmental, and grade-level deep dives into these data to help inform our practice this year, particularly in the development of our School Improvement Plans (SIPs) which our school leaders will begin to present to the School Committee on October 21st. Special thanks to Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Sandy Trach, and Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability, Dr. Hannah Tolla, for their work to analyze and present these MCAS data! Earlier today, I shared a message with staff about our work this year related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Along that same front, I had the opportunity this week to attend the MassCUE conference at Gillette Stadium, which has annually become an important Ed Tech conference for educators in Massachusetts. As you might imagine, AI was the dominant theme present in both keynotes and break-out sessions. Special thanks to our new PreK-12 Director of Libraries and Innovation, Sarah Perkins, who co-led a session I attended, entitled “Enhancing Educational Leadership with AI: Tools, Strategies, and Practical Applications.” I learned a great deal about the potential of various AI platforms (Chat GPT, Canva, Napkin AI, and Notebook LM) to support leadership tasks at the school and district level. Great job Sarah!
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As we head into a beautiful fall weekend, please consider coming out to “Acatober” tonight or tomorrow night at Wellesley High School to experience an incredible evening of a cappella music performed by our exceptional choral students.
Thanks for what you each do for our students every day and have a great weekend!
Best, David
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October 21 – Diwali (School in session)
October 21 – School Committee Meeting
November 5 – School Committee Meeting
November 11 – Veterans’ Day (Schools & Offices Closed)
November 18 – School Committee Meeting
November 19 – WEF Spelling Bee
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Please remember to complete both the ArxEd/Litix HR training and the CyberSecurity/KnowBe4 training. Both are due by October 31.
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Make an appointment to get your flu shot on November 12! WPS Nursing Services and the Health Department are teaming up to provide vaccinations from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Wellesley High School faculty dining room. Walk-ins welcome, but you can also make an appointment using this link.
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The WHS Child Lab is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Children who will be three years old or four years old by September 1st, 2026 are eligible to apply. Please contact Heidi Marquedant at marquedanth@wellesleyps.org for an application. All applications are due by November 14th.
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The Lane Change Intention Form must be submitted by November 1st to indicate an intent to change lanes at the start of the following school year. You will receive a notification confirming the submission of your form. Please keep this for your records. The list does not carry over from year to year, so you must submit a new intention form each year until you successfully change lanes.
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Antisemitism shows up in many ways – sometimes openly, sometimes in disguise. In this conversation, we’ll learn how to recogize it, talk about its impact, and explore how each of us can help build a more respectful and inclusive community. Join Dr. Daniel Osborn of Project Mosaics in Part 2 of our Antisemitism series, this time examining antisemitism as shapeshifter & learning how you can confront it.
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The Town of Wellesley offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support employees and their families. Effective July 1, 2025, CMG Associates is the new EAP provider (see announcement). Employees may want to access the EAP because of emotional difficulties, life stress, family difficulties, concerns about substance abuse or other addictive behavior, legal or financial problems, or other personal issues. The EAP is completely free, confidential, and available at all times (day or night, weekdays, weekends, and holidays). Employees may call CMG Associates at 888-851-7032, or they may visit www.cmgassociates.com, click on the link entitled EAP Log-In, and use the User ID: WELL.
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- 2025 Annual Contribution Limit: $23,500
- 2025 Additional Catch Up Limit: $7,500
- 2025 Total Contribution Limit: $31,000
- 2025 Annual Contribution Limit: $23,500
- 2025 Additional Catch Up Limit: $7,500
- 2025 Total Contribution Limit: $31,000
May make changes throughout the year through the company.
Work directly through US Omni and the SMART Plan.
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