WHS Principal’s Newsletter for 15 May 2026

<!–

WHS Principal’s Newsletter

May 15, 2026

Dear Families,

I’m sorry I’m writing this on Saturday morning instead of last night, but we had to get things rolling for our Junior Boat Cruise fairly early to get through traffic to the dock. It was a little chili on the upper deck last night but the kids had a lot of fun and they were really well behaved. We got some very nice compliments from the Odyssey staff on how great they were. I’m really proud of them.

A Boston city skyline illuminated at dusk with lights reflecting on the water.

This week saw the end of our daily AP testing. There are still some makeups that will happen soon, but for the students who took those exams it was a long and arduous year to get to this point. I know our underclass students have more time remaining than our seniors, but this moment is a good one to pause and take stock of getting this far.

A reminder that our 10th graders will be taking the Math MCAS on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we will have a special schedule. Please see that below.

Athletic Director Search Update

Today I need to report to you all that after many steps and hours of process our search has so far not yielded a new director. Our plan is to repost for the position and continue the work of finding the best match for who the middle and high school need at this time to make sure our student athletes have the best possible experience in our program. A huge thank you to all the people who have volunteered to be a part of our listening sessions prior to interviews, our interview teams, and our finalist day open sessions. Your feedback has been extremely helpful to the process.

Grade 10: Math MCAS – Tuesday and Wednesday

There Will Be No Advisory During MCAS Days
Please Note That Class Times Have Changed For Testing

A schedule for Tuesday, May 19th, detailing MCAS Testing MATH and class blocks.

A schedule for Wednesday, May 20th, detailing MCAS Testing MATH and class blocks.

WHS Graduation Ceremony 2026: Accessible Seating Requests

Attention WHS Class of 2026 Graduates and Families:

If you have guests attending the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 5th that require accessible seating, please email Andrea Ridge (ridgea@wellesleyps.org) no later than Friday, May 22nd, 2026.

Please provide the following information:

Name of the student graduating, and their House (Bradford, Perrin, or Phillips)
Number of guests who need accommodations
The guests’ names/relationship to the graduate

Please note: Requests should be limited to the guest(s) who require accessible seating and an additional guest as needed to provide assistance, as we cannot accommodate entire families in the accessible area. We kindly ask those who do not require special accommodations to please use the bleachers.

WHS Ceramics Intensive Portfolio Exhibition

You’re warmly invited to our final exhibition of the year, featuring work from all of our WHS Ceramics Intensive students.

Opening Reception
Monday, May 18 @ 6:00–7:30 PM
Gorse Mill Gallery, 31 Thorpe Road, Needham MA

All are welcome, and we hope you can join us. Additional details can be found on the postcard below.

A collage of ceramic art pieces displayed around a poster for the Wellesley High School Ceramics Intensive Portfolio Exhibition.

Y.E.S. Group Presents International Night

Hello WHS Community:

Get ready for an unforgettable journey around the globe! Our Young Ethnic Scholars (Y.E.S.) leaders proudly present International Night, a vibrant celebration of world cultures. Join us for an evening featuring student performances, including spoken word poetry, singing, and dancing, followed by a delicious tasting of cuisines from around the world.

This event is meant to bring people together and create a welcoming community where students can share their culture and learn more about others.

Whether people come with friends, family, or alone, everyone will be welcomed and accepted.

International Night will take place on Monday, May 18th, from 6:00–7:00 PM at Wellesley High School.

We truly think it will be a fun and meaningful experience for students, families, and friends and we look forward to seeing you there!

Thank You,

Y.E.S. Leaders

A family poses with a giant tortoise in a grassy, natural setting.

Visit the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador

Imagine your student hiking the volcanic terrain of Isabela Island, spotting a blue-footed booby nesting just feet away, and snorkeling through crystal-clear Pacific waters beside sea lions and marine iguanas. Picture them standing on Santiago Island—the very ground where Darwin spent the most time during his historic expedition—and feeling the weight of that scientific legacy beneath their feet.

Along the way, students build a deeper understanding of ecology, evolution, and conservation that no textbook can replicate—along with the curiosity and confidence that come from exploring the world’s most extraordinary natural classroom.

Mr. Bateman’s Charting the Galápagos Islands information meeting is taking place this week, and this is your last chance to RSVP: https://bit.ly/4shtRF4

If you’ve already RSVP’d—you’re all set! But feel free to remind friends to register, too, so they don’t miss out on important trip details and enrollment information.

We hope to see you there!

Attention Seniors: Important Message from WHS Tech Dept

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! We wish you incredible success in all your future endeavors. Before you head off to your next chapter, please review these important technology wrap-up steps to ensure a smooth transition:

Account Deactivation: Your @wpsraiders Google account is scheduled for suspension on August 1, 2026.
Data Backup: Please download any Google Drive files you wish to keep before August 1, as you will lose access after that date. Feel free to visit the Tech Office if you need any assistance with this process.
Update Contact Info: If you have provided your WPS email address to colleges or other organizations, please update them with your personal email address as soon as possible.
Login Credentials: For any external accounts or portals where you used your WPS email to create a login, remember to update your profile settings to a personal email address.
Equipment Return: If you were issued a WPS laptop and charger, please return them to the Tech Office on or before Friday, May 29th.

WHS Library Parent Book Club

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-group@wellesleyps.org

Upcoming dates and books:

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the Wellesley Free Library (in the first floor cafe/commons) at 7:30pm

to discuss The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (realistic fiction)

Upcoming dates and books:

Summer read – A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Next year (2026-2027)

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – discussing A Prayer for Owen Meany!

Any question can be emailed to whslibrary-group@wellesleyps.org

WHS Counseling Department: Spring 2026 News to Use

Please see the recently updated School Counseling Page for Spring events and information.

WHS Clubs and Enrichment Programs for 2025-2026

Our list of clubs and enrichment programs for 2025-2026 has recently been updated.

To print your own copy or access the list, see Complete List of 2025-2026 Clubs on the WHS website.

WHS/WPS Online Resources and Calendars

WHS 2025-2026 Student Handbook
WHS Calendar Monthly View on the WHS Homepage: for WHS events
WPS All-School & District Calendar: daily event information for all schools
WPS 2025-26 Academic Year Calendar: district-wide school year summary for all schools
Raiders Athletic Calendar: Wellesley Middle School & Wellesley High School athletic event listings
WHS Blocks and Cycle Days Calendar

WHS Calendar – Upcoming Events

A table lists upcoming events with dates, times, and locations, including International Night and an Orchestra Concert.

Wellesley Performing Arts May Schedule lists upcoming events like orchestra concerts and plays.

I did want to mention how thankful I am for how well the students and staff handled the Canvas hacking disruption. It was a quick pivot and it took some creative workarounds to keep working. It was frustrating to not be able to access all the materials we had stored on Canvas, but the teachers and students managed to make the best of the moment and carry on. It wasn’t as easy as it may have looked from the outside.

As the weather heats up next week it will start to feel like summer even though there is still a solid month to go for our underclass students. Hang in there everyone. We can do this, but we’ve still got some work left to do.

Enjoy the weekend.

Best, Jamie

View in ParentSquare

Stay involved with your child’s learning and activities at school.

You received this email because you are a ParentSquare user in Wellesley High School. If you received this email in error or wish to disable your account, click here to unsubscribe.

ParentSquare Inc – 6144 Calle Real, #200A – Goleta, CA 93117

WHS Principal’s Newsletter for 15 May 2026

← WHS Principal’s Newsletter for 08 May 2026