Hello Hardy

Hello Hardy

Highlights from the Past Week: On Wednesday we had a Back to School Picnic. Thanks to the PTO for planning this event for our community. On Friday, we had a kick-off all-school meeting. We welcomed new students and staff. We also introduced students to our mascot Hero the Husky, who sports a new look.

Back to School Night Our Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th. The schedule is: 5:45-6:15 PM  K-2nd grade classroom presentations 6:20-6:40 PM  Principal/PTO welcome in the cafeteria 6:45-7:15 PM  3rd-5th grade classroom presentations *This is an adult only event (however, the 5th graders & their parents are offering fee-based babysitting in the library as a fundraiser for 5th grade events). See below for more information.

METCO Family Friends We are excited to continue our METCO Family Friends program this year. The Family Friends program is an opportunity to connect with a Hardy school student from Boston through school-based activities and a stay day playdate in a Wellesley student’s home one Wednesday a month.  These stay days give students a chance to spend time with classmates outside of school and to enhance the connection between Wellesley and Boston families.  If you are interested in hosting a stay day once a month for the year or even just a few times over the course of the year, please reach out.  We know all families are busy, and we will partner with you to ensure that Family Friends works with both student and family schedules.  Please email our School Adjustment Counselor Julie McMenamy at mcmenamyj@wellesleyps.org to learn more about this wonderful opportunity. Read below in the PTO News for more ways to support Wellesley METCO.

School Council Parent Representatives As a reminder, we have three parent representative vacancies on the School Council. We have two parents who are planning to return as representatives and one new parent who has expressed interest in joining the Council. However, if there are other parents who are interested, the representatives will be determined as part of an election. The School Council meets on the first Thursday of the month (with meetings held in October, November, January, March and May) from 7:45-8:30 AM over Zoom. The Council is composed of the principal, a community representative, and an equal distribution of teachers and parents. Councils are tasked with assisting the principal by reviewing the school building budget and the school improvement plan. The Council also helps to support overall school improvement initiatives. If you have an interest in serving on the School Council or if you have any questions about this opportunity, please email me directly at smithg@wellesleyps.org by this Wednesday, September 10th. Stay tuned for more information on this election in next weekend’s newsletter.

Carline Reminder During Pick Up If you are picking up your child by car, please remember to use a family last name card during dismissal posted to the passenger side of your vehicle. It is suggested that families leave this card up throughout the duration of the pick up line process as sometimes more than one staff member will need to see this card as cars move up in the line as part of matching students to cars. Vehicles Exiting onto Weston Road Reminders We have received feedback from our School Resource Officer who has been observing at the intersection of Weston Rd. and Hardy Rd. When the pedestrian light of the crosswalk is on and the crossing guard is in the process of crossing students/families, vehicles exiting onto Weston Rd. from Hardy Rd. are prohibited from turning until the pedestrian light is off.

Walkers to/from School As part of the above mentioned feedback, we have also been told there are families who are not observing the pedestrian light and walking through at the crosswalk when the light is not indicating pedestrians should cross. Please follow this light and the direction of the crossing guard.Vehicles Exiting onto Weston Road Reminders

Students Riding Bikes to School Students riding bikes to school are asked to walk their bikes on school property, particularly on the sidewalk next to the bus/van drop off/pick up lane. This will help to provide safety for pedestrians and those on bikes.

Have a great week! Respectfully yours, Grant Smith Principal