Dear Upham Community,

It is hard to believe that another year has flown by. Preparations have already begun for next year. Teachers are working on the new class lists, the new PTO Co-presidents will be meeting early this week to plan, and the students will continue to work and have fun throughout the week.

As parents, however, your job is to plan for the summer! I hope that while your family enjoys the slower pace, lack of homework, travel, and relaxation, you will find ways to keep your children excited about learning.

We will be talking to students about reading over the summer in library classes this week. We will be giving each student a Summer Reading Bingo card with a reading log and a bookmark with the link to the online Summer Reading List. There is also a one page paper “sample” of the summer reading list.

In addition to all that, students will take home a flyer about getting Caught Reading, which involves emailing me a picture of them reading somewhere interesting over the summer.

Upham Art

Ms. Piwinski will be taking a leave of absence next year to work as a professional artist. In 2014, Ms. Piwinski completed her MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University and has been actively exhibiting her artwork ever since. She works in her art studio located at Fountain Street Studios in Framingham, MA. Next year she will be participating in several artist residencies including the Vermont Studio Center.

Peter Knapp (Hunnewell) and Christine Desrosiers(Schofield) will be sharing Art responsibilities with Upham. We are very excited to have Christine and Peter work with the Upham staff and children. They are veterans of the district and have a very good understanding of the curriculum, expectations, and students. Welcome Peter and Christine!

Upham Music

The K-12 Director of Performing Arts, Dr. Quintana has asked to share a message with you in regards to performing arts curriculum and instruction.

Dear Parents,

I have had a wonderful first year serving as the new K-12 Director of Performing Arts in Wellesley Public Schools! There are numerous aspects of the department that I am responsible for including curriculum & instruction, leadership, and supervision over all K-12 general music, music technology and music theory, bands, choirs, orchestras, theater tech, drama & acting classes, and after school music lessons; and overseeing Performing Arts programs, performances, and teachers. I am so pleased to be doing what I love …. ensuring that every student in Wellesley Public Schools has equity and access to high quality, meaningful performing arts education.

Instrumental and Vocal Extension Program (IVEP): We are happy to announce that we are implementing an optional installment plan that will allow parents to pay ahead in monthly increments. For example, tuition payments in June, July, and August, will be prepaid by the time lessons begin in September. We are finalizing this system and will begin Fall registration soon for the IVEP program. Please keep checking our website for when registration is live: www.wellesleyps.org, select “online fee payment” in bottom left menu, then select “Performing Arts.” We will also be updating information this summer on our Performing Arts Department website, http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/performing-arts

2016-2017 Elementary Band & Orchestra: We will begin our elementary bands and orchestras the week of September 26th. These ensembles meet before school from 8:00-8:40 a.m. If your child is in band or orchestra, please plan to drop them off at school by 7:45 a.m. so they can unpack their instrument, assemble, tune, and so they can be ready to begin on time. More information will be provided at the start of school. In the meanwhile, mark your calendars:

Bates: Band with Ms. Verret on Mondays, starting 9/26/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Tuesdays, starting on 9/27/16

Fiske: Band with Ms. Verret on Fridays, starting 9/30/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Mondays, starting 9/26/16

Hardy: Band with Ms. Verret on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Thursdays, starting 9/29/16

Hunnewell: Band with Ms. Dexter on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Fridays, starting 9/30/16

Schofield: Band with Ms. Verret on Thursdays, starting 9/29/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16

Sprague: Band with Ms. Dexter on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Fridays, starting 9/30/16

Upham: Band with Ms. Verret on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16

Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16

BAND Info If a student is deemed ready to enter band by a Wellesley IVEP instructor, then they may join the band. If the student is studying outside of the Wellesley IVEP system, the student must first play for the band instructor to be sure they are at an appropriate level for success in the ensemble. The student must be able to independently play the current band music with knowledge of note reading, rhythmic counting, articulation, and metronome use. Deadline for entry in the fall is November 1. Please contact Julie Verret (verretj@wellesleyps.org), or Katie Dexter (dexterk@wellesleyps.org) with any questions.
ORCH Info Who may participate in school orchestra? Any string player (violin, viola, cello, bass, or mandolin) who is in grade 3-5, has had at least one year of lessons, and is able to read music at the level expected in most 1 st -year method books is welcome. Sometimes exceptions are made for 2nd graders who meet these requirements and are ready for the elementary orchestra experience. Students must start orchestra in the fall, making a decision about whether to continue with it by the end of the 3rd rehearsal. Please contact Ms. Mary Alice McCann at mccann.ma@wellesleyps.org with any questions.

POPS: Thank you POPS parents!

It has been a treat working with POPS this year! (Parents Of Performing Students). We have an Executive Board and POPS parents that have been so dedicated and committed to the Performing Arts Department. They are always willing to step up and help with projects and have provided a lot of support our performances. Because of POPS generosity, we have been able to purchase many items needed for our music classes, bands, choirs, orchestras, stagecraft, and drama/acting classes.

A huge thanks to Sharon Lowe, our POPS President, who is resigning after many wonderful years of service to this valuable organization. She has been an outstanding leader of POPS, always staying in contact with parents and organizing every detail of numerous events and projects! We could have not gotten so many things accomplished without her leadership.

My first year working with POPS has been especially enriching because they have consistently expressed their desire to be helpful in a positive, supportive way. If you have not participated with POPS, we need more elementary parents to get involved. I would like to personally invite you to become a member of POPS; we will be distributing information in the fall, so please keep watch. Also, you may visit the POPS website at www.wellesleypops.org for more information.

If I have not had a chance to meet you, I welcome your contact: Dr. Sabrina Quintana, quintanas, (781) 446-6210, ext. 5720. The WPS district-wide Performing Arts Office is located on the 3rd floor of Wellesley Middle School but will be temporarily moved to Wellesley High School during the WMS summer window replacement project.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sabrina E. Quintana

K-12 Director of Performing Arts

Wellesley Public Schools

Last Day of School

June 21, 2016

9:30-10:30 graduation

10:30-11:00 reception/step up

11:20-11:50 sing-a-long

11:50-12:00 clap out

To make room for parents in the hall for “clap out,” the students will start at second grade, proceed past the library and music room, down the stairs past the nurse’s office, turn right past the gym, past 5th grade and 1st grade and out of the 1st grade doors.

Thank You

Thank you all for another outstanding school year. You should be very proud of your children. In an ever-changing world of uncertainty and increasing danger, these children, your children, have shown that kindness, gratitude, hard work, and above all, love… conquers all. The Upham students are a shining example of the outstanding hope that shines bright for all to see.

Enjoy your summer break! See you in 2016-17.

Dare To Dream,

Mr. Dees

Principal’s Message
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