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WHS Principal’s Newsletter
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Dear Families,
I’m going to start by reposting a letter from Adam Steiner, the WPS Director of Technology, and me about the Nationwide Canvas hack:
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Canvas LMS Disabled
Dear Members of the WHS Community,
Based on advice this morning from the attorneys of the TEC Student Data Privacy Alliance, the district has made the decision to disable the Canvas learning management system until the platform’s security can be confirmed and our student data is secure. As you know, Canvas has been hit with a significant cyber attack, and the SDPA is still in the process of evaluating the security of the platform. At this time, we do not know when Canvas will be safe to reactivate for WHS. We know this is extremely disruptive to our students and teachers and WHS is working now to develop alternate ways to share content and collect work from students. Solutions will be specific to each class. For AP classes, we are looking for ways to help teachers move test prep materials to another platform to share with students.
The WPS technology department will continue to monitor the situation and keep our WHS community up to date. We apologize for this disruption and will work to support our students and teachers until it can be resolved.
Sincerely,
Dr. Adam Steiner, Director of Educational Technology
Dr. Jamie Chisum, WHS Principal
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I have no additional update for you all this evening, but we will surely be in touch with you all as soon as possible when we have relevant information.
We’re a week into May and the testing season is off and running. We had a full week of AP exams and we have several more before we hold our Math MCAS tests. Next Thursday also marks the midterm of Q4 for the underclass students (senior midterm for Q4 was LAST Thursday, April 30th). Please check in with your kids to see how they are doing with all this and the many other school events that go on this month. Let us know if we can partner with you on anything.
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Attention Class of 2026 Students and Families
The WHS 2026 Senior Prom will be held on June 1st from 6:00-9:00PM at the State Room, 60 State Street in Boston. There will be a DJ, photographer, food, and much more. Secure your spot today! Early ticket sales directly fund our venue deposit and help us get an accurate guest count. Tickets can be purchased on RecTrac through this link. Ticket sales end Friday May 15th at 11:59pm.
If you would like to invite a guest to the senior prom who is not a WHS student, please pick up a Guest Application from the Perrin House on the third floor. The form needs to be completed by an administrator from the school that your guest attends. All forms must be returned to Mr. Shattuck in Perrin House by Friday, May 15th. If you have not submitted your form by then, your guest will not be permitted to attend the event.
If you have any questions, please contact one of the class officers listed below. We can’t wait to see you all there!
Sincerely,
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Attention WHS Class of 2026 Graduates and Families:
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.
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There’s Still Time to Buy Your Junior Boat Cruise Tickets!
Join The Class of 2027 students for an unforgettable experience on Boston Harbor. The junior year tradition of embarking on a beautiful sunset cruise with delicious food, music, and dancing will take place on Friday, May 15th from 6:00-9:00 PM.
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Dr. Kevin McDonald, WHS Choral Director, has been awarded the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence, honoring 30 extraordinary educators across 12 states who are using the power of music to transform lives. The program leverages the reach and influence of Country Music to elevate music education across the U.S., shining a national spotlight on the teachers building stronger, more well-rounded young people every day. By partnering with music industry leaders and like-minded organizations, the CMA Foundation directs research-informed funding where it makes the greatest impact—empowering teachers through professional development, equipping classrooms with essential resources, and creating life-changing opportunities for students who might not otherwise have them.
This year’s honorees represent 12 states and work across every corner of music education, from choir and band to orchestra, percussion, piano, and fine arts. Selected through a rigorous application process that considers instructional excellence, innovation in the classroom, and a demonstrated commitment to leadership, collaboration, and student success, each honoree receives a cash award to be used for their classroom or program. Honorees plan to direct their stipends toward new instruments, recording equipment, sheet music, guest composers, after-school clubs, and student scholarships, among other needs.
“Music Teachers of Excellence was built on the belief that our industry has a responsibility to invest in the people building the pipeline of music lovers, artists, and fans for generations to come. This milestone year isn’t just a celebration of these remarkable educators. It’s a celebration of the legacy we have built together, and a reminder of how much more we can do when the music industry unites around a shared cause.” CMA Foundation Director
Congratulations Kevin for being recognized as a transformative educator shaping the next generation through music.
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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.
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WHS Rock Band will be providing the entertainment for an amazing fundraiser right here in town.
- Kick it up to support the Wellesley “A Better Chance”.
- Show Time: 6PM-9PM
- Location: The Wellesley Village Church, 2 Central St, Wellesley
This is an incredible organization, and Rock Band is truly honored to have been invited to play.
And don’t miss the WHS Rock Band In The Little Theatre tonight!
- Date: Friday, May 8
- Location: Little Theatre, Wellesley High School
- Time: 7PM
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AP Exams will take place from Monday, May 4th through Friday, May 15th:
- Bells will be turned off for the duration of testing.
- The library will be closed for the entirety of AP exam administration.
- Students are asked to move quietly through the 3rd floor during passing times to support a focused testing environment.
Registered AP exam students:
Thank You,
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Wellesley High School students are invited to attend the upcoming Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives Spring Leadership Forum—a great opportunity to connect with student leaders from across the state, build leadership skills, and make your voice heard.
We hope to see you on Saturday May 16th, 2026 from 8:30 to 3:30 at The Atrium at Mass Bay Community College located on 50 Oakland St. Wellesley Hills, MA. This event will feature engaging discussions, interactive workshops, and the chance to collaborate with other motivated students who are passionate about making a difference in their schools and communities.
Spots are limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible to secure your place. Register here!
The MASR brings unparalleled benefits to Student Representatives on School Committees all across Massachusetts, includng:
Resources & Training
- Annual training workshops, access to handouts, articles, research, and resources such as the Student Representative Handbook.
Networking
- Access to the largest network of Student Representatives in the Commonwealth, with opportunities to exchange ideas and initatives.
Advocacy
- Coordinated advocacy efforts to support bills at the State House that improve the state of education in Massachusetts.
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The Office of Congressman Auchincloss is hosting a Virtual Service Academy Night on Tuesday, May 12th from 6:15-7:30pm. This is an opportunity for high school students in grades 9-11 to learn more about the application process for five United States Service Academies: West Point, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard.
During the Academy Night, students will get to hear from Congressman Auchincloss’ staff about the Congressional nomination process required for four of the five service academies (Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination). We will also be joined by representatives from each of the service academies to hear about the individual schools’ application processes.
Pre-registration for the webinar is required. Students and parents may register for the webinar at this LINK.
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We have noticed a significant increase in students ordering food and beverages to the campus from outside food delivery services (UberEats, DoorDash, etc.) during the school day, which has created a few safety and instructional concerns.
To ensure our school remains a secure environment, please review the following points:
- Building Security: Students must never open exterior doors to let delivery drivers (or any unknown person) into the building. Security is our top priority, and all visitors must enter through the main office (delivery drivers are not permitted to enter).
- Instructional Time: We are seeing an uptick in students leaving class to meet drivers or friends or family for food and coffee drop-offs. Being present and engaged in the classroom is vital for academic success, and leaving during a lesson for a delivery is not an appropriate use of school time.
We appreciate your partnership in helping our students make choices that prioritize their safety and education.
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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:
Summer read – TBD
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Our list of clubs and enrichment programs for 2025-2026 has recently been updated.
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I’m glad we have some nice weather for our 10th graders at Elm Bank’s Carriage House tonight for their end of year semi-formal. It is such a beautiful venue. If you are picking up please remember to be on time as the staff has to stay until all the kids are gone. I’m looking forward to a good night with them.
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A happy mother’s day to all the mothers out there! For all you students out there reading this newsletter, please consider doing something nice to honor yours.
A huge thank you to all of you who sent cards and notes to our teachers during Teacher Appreciation week this week. If you didn’t get the chance, I’m sure they’d happily hear from you in the coming weeks as well.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
Jamie
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