Wellesley High School Principal’s Newsletter
September 12, 2025
Dear Families,
Last night I spent my evening at the Wayland High School back to school night for my daughter who is a 9th grader there. It is a similar setup to ours where I followed my daughter’s schedule of classes just long enough to get hints of the courses and an introduction to the teachers themselves. I’m terrible at remembering the details of what is going to be covered in all the classes because I care much more about who the people who will be teaching my child are. I had a mentor who once told me parents want two main things from their children’s teachers: for their kids to be loved and inspired. I have to say that’s true for me. When I came home last night I was truly excited about my daughter’s teachers and for the journey she is lucky enough to go on this year.
I do hope this is some of the feeling you’re already getting from your child about their school experience at Wellesley High School this year. On October 9th we will have our back to school night here at WHS where you’ll get to come and meet your child’s teachers. I do hope you have it in your calendar and can attend so you can feel even more a part of the WHS community.
9/11 Remembrance This Year
Yesterday we marked the 24th anniversary of 9/11 here at WHS during our advisory block. The students heard some remarks from our very own Stephanie Holland, who is our k12 Metco Director. Stephanie’s mother was a passenger on American Airlines flight 11 that crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York that morning in 2001. Her message also told the story of the many acts of kindness that followed that tragedy. One memory she had was that someone dropped a ham off at her home because they “didn’t know what else they could do”. She never found out who that person was. It was a powerful reminder of how simple acts of kindness can change someone’s day and bring people closer together instead of further apart. She encouraged all of us here to keep that thought as we go through our day on 9/11 especially, but also on every day.
We had intended to also show this short video, but given the length and power of Stephanie’s remarks we are letting advisors show it later. I offer it here to all of you as yet another remembrance of the day.
Coffee With The Principal
Our first meeting will also be on Friday, September 19th 9:00 – 10:00am in the FDR. Please note that our PTSO and Principal meeting will run concurrently on this date – please join us for this “two for one” event!
Wellesley High School PTSO – First Meeting of the Year
The first PTSO meeting of the school year will be on Friday, September 19th 8:30-9:30am in the Faculty Dining Room (FDR). The agenda will be available on our website the week before the meeting.
Wellesley Raiders Walk Team for The Jimmy Fund Walk
In the United States, over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. It remains the leading cause of death by disease in children under 19. Approximately 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, oftentimes more than once. Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund Clinic change the lives of both patients and their families through cutting-edge research and compassionate care.
The Jimmy Fund Walk is an annual event held by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, the largest single-day walk fundraiser in the country. It follows the iconic Boston Marathon route, and you can choose to walk a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon. All routes end in the Boston Common. Since 1989, the Jimmy Fund Walk has raised over $185 million towards cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.
Every donation and registration is a step closer to a world where all cancers are treatable and curable. Every step matters in lowering those statistics to what we sincerely hope will become zero one day. Join us in fighting for a future without cancer. Please consider donating to our cause or registering for Walk Day.
We have organized a Shake Shack Donation Day to fundraise towards our goal. The event will take place on Monday, Sept. 29th at the Wellesley Shack; simply mention the code DONATE or type it into the kiosk, and 25% of your total will be donated to the Jimmy Fund Walk.
– Lanting Ran and Grace Cahoon, co-captains of the Wellesley Raiders walk team
https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR/JimmyFundWalk/JimmyFundWalk?pg=team&fr_id=2380&team_id=32005
Fight like kids.
Step Up Day: Wednesday, October 8th
Step Up Day is Wednesday, October 8th at WHS. Students participate in activities tailored to their grade level.
9th & 10th Grade
Students will have intervention time and attend their green block class. Followed by an extended advisory period that includes presentations and community-building activities.
11th Grade
Students will be taking the School Day PSAT/NMSQT exam.
Registration is open till October 6th.
Ensure the latest version of Bluebook is downloaded onto your student’s computer.
Seniors have the option to take a School Day SAT exam
Registration is open till September 12th.
Ensure the latest version of Bluebook is downloaded onto your student’s computer.
Seniors not taking the exam:
Post-high school readiness activities begin at 9:00 AM on the 1st floor
Session sign up will be posted mid-September.
Visit the WHS Step-Up Day for detailed information
Questions? Contact your guidance counselor or Jen Culver, WHS Testing/SSD coordinator.
2026 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists at WHS
Congratulations to the following seven WHS seniors for being named as 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists! The students are: Back row – Julia Cao, Calliope Donner, Elaine Cheng, Chetan Dhebar (with Dr. Jamie Chisum, WHS Principal); Front row – Ellen Kim, Stephanie Xia, Anish Sankar.
Dr. Chisum and Director of School Counseling Meg Walenden congratulated the students Wednesday morning during their Advisory block. All seven semifinalists are eligible to apply for thousands of scholarship opportunities worth nearly $26 million from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, corporate partners and colleges and universities.
Notes from the WHS Library
Ever wonder about the books teens are reading?
Ever read a popular YA book and wished you had someone to discuss it with?
The librarians at Wellesley High School host a monthly Book Club for parents where we read YA books and discuss. If you are interested in participating please email us at whslibrary@wellesleyps.org
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 7th at the Wellesley Free Library Cafe (1st floor) at 7:30pm
to discuss Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick
The Wellesley Free Library will have copies available for check out.
Any question can be emailed to whslibrary@wellesleyps.org.
Senior Parent Night: Wednesday, September 17th, 7-8:15pm
Please join School Counselors for an information session on the college admissions process as it relates to the Class of 2026.
Topic: Senior Parent Night-Zoom
Time: Sep 17, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
wellesleyps.zoom.us/j/87439260570?pwd=Q026wME0SWguHsMbaDkkIFepJ2OFlf.1
Meeting ID: 874 3926 0570
Password: 939974
Friday Night Football Under the Lights
Here is the current schedule for our Home Football Games (with another playoff or non playoff game possible)
– Friday, 9/12/25 6pm: Wellesley vs Andover
– Friday, 9/19/25 6pm: Wellesley vs Milford
– Friday, 10/24/25 6pm: Wellesley vs Natick
Homecoming 2025
We are so excited to have our second annual homecoming at Wellesley High School on October 24th and 25th.
This will kick off with a home football game Friday night at 6 pm, followed by a community day on Saturday on Hunnewell Fields from 11 – 2 showcasing our fantastic high school as well as our arts, athletics, and clubs. This event is for families, children, and community members and will include games and fun activities for kids of all ages.
Lastly, at night there will be a dance at the high school from 6:30 – 9 pm that is open to all students.
Ticket sales will open soon and we will have capacity limits so please keep your eye out when that comes an
Calendar – Upcoming Events
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Friday, Sept 12
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Junior Class BBQ @ WHS
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Tuesday, Sept 16
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School Committee Meeting
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Friday, Sept 19
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PTSO General Meeting
WHS Coffee with the Principal
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WHS/WPS Online Resources and Calendars
This morning I had the privilege to meet with new parents at Wellesley High School in the Auditorium. We got to listen to the venerable Dr. Alan Wyatt of Human Relations Services in town who gave a valuable talk about where adolescents, and their brains, are as they enter their high school years. Dr. Wyatt talked about the every changing dance we do as parents between helping our students navigate a complex environment and giving them the chance to navigate it for themselves, which is ultimately the skill they will need as they eventually leave us.
We had some great questions about school and preparation for the college process at the end and it reminded me of this article given to me by a good friend of mine earlier this week. It is an NPR interview with Jeff Selingo on his new book Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You. I share it in case it is of value to any of you.
I hope everyone has a great weekend after the first full week of school this year.
Best,
Jamie
[Friday, Sep 12 at 6:29 PM]
