{"id":9618,"date":"2026-01-16T12:40:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/?p=9618"},"modified":"2026-01-16T15:49:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:49:46","slug":"whs-principals-newsletter-for-16-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/2026\/01\/16\/whs-principals-newsletter-for-16-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"WHS Principal’s Newsletter for 16 January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WHS Principal’s Newsletter<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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January 16, 2026<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Dear Families,\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Next week will mark the end of the second quarter and the first semester of the school year.\u00a0This means some elective courses will be ending and many classes will be giving major assessments next week.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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This year, my advisory consists of 10th graders. Once per cycle, upperclassmen from the Journey\u2019s program join us to offer advice. Today they shared a universal tip: use a three-day weekend wisely. They recommended studying for a chunk of time each day instead of cramming everything at the last minute. Spreading study sessions over several days is a more effective and less stressful way to reinforce learning than pulling an all-nighter.<\/div>\n
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A quick reminder that 8th grade parent\/guardian night will take place Wednesday starting at 7 pm.\u00a0If any parent wants a tour they can arrive at 6:30 and have a tour of our building from one of our student ambassadors.\u00a0We did send this message directly to our 8th grade families already but some of you may have another child coming up or a friend\/neighbor.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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When students are called out of school they are expected to leave the building<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Over the past few years, we have been seeing an unexpected situation where parents call the house offices to release their child from school, but then the student does not in fact leave the building.\u00a0This is a challenging situation for us because we are responsible for their whereabouts and well being, especially our underclass students. Please note if we find a student in our building who has been called out but is not in the class they belong in at the time, this will be considered a class cut and appropriate consequences will be given.\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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WHS 10th Grade SBIRT Screening<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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SBIRT screening (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) will be conducted during 10th grade Health classes. SBIRT is a mandated screening for substance use\/abuse in public schools. The screening is interview-based and takes approximately 5 minutes. All results are kept confidential and are not included in your student’s school record. The screening is completed by trained health teachers and nurses. For more detailed information see the full letter here:\u00a0SBIRT Info Letter<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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If you would like to have your child opted-out of this screening for this year, please let us know by filling out this form:\u00a0SBIRT Opt-Out Form<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Practice PSAT and Digital ACT: Saturday, February 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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SAT Practice Exam:<\/strong><\/div>\n
When:\u00a0<\/strong>Saturday, February 7, 2026<\/div>\n
Time:\u00a0<\/strong>9:00 AM -12:00 PM<\/div>\n
Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Proctored online via Zoom<\/div>\n
Cost:\u00a0<\/strong>$20 \u2013 100% of the proceeds benefit Wellesley HS Class of 2027<\/div>\n
*Please note that these live exams are proctored in standard time only. If you have been approved for an extended time accommodation, go ahead and register for the exam, then use\u00a0this self-proctoring guide<\/a>\u00a0to walk you through the process of self-proctoring with extended time.<\/div>\n
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Digital ACT Practice Exam:<\/strong><\/div>\n
When:\u00a0<\/strong>Saturday, February 7, 2026<\/div>\n
Time:\u00a0<\/strong>9:00 AM -12:30 PM\u00a0<\/div>\n
Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Proctored online via Zoom<\/div>\n
Cost:\u00a0<\/strong>$20 \u2013 100% of the proceeds benefit Wellesley HS<\/div>\n
*Please note that these live exams are proctored in standard time only. If you have been approved for an extended time accommodation, go ahead and register for the exam, then use\u00a0this self-proctoring manual\u00a0<\/a>to walk you through the process of self-proctoring with extended time.<\/div>\n
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Step 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Register here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.revolutionprep.com\/partners\/495<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> <\/div>\n
Step 2:<\/strong>\u00a0Schedule a free 30-minute score report review with a Revolution Prep testing expert to help you interpret the results and develop a customized plan to prepare. Please schedule this appointment for the few days after the exam. You can pre-schedule this Score Report Review here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.revolutionprep.com\/vasilios-kostakis<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n
Step 3:<\/strong>\u00a0Attend the mock exam and instantly receive our best-in-class score report, illustrating three high-impact areas to focus on for each section of the test.<\/div>\n
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Questions?<\/strong>\u00a0If you have questions or want to learn more about Revolution Prep, you can reach out to Vasilios Kostakis at (781) 916-8668 or by email at\u00a0vasilios.kostakis@revolutionprep.com<\/a><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Wellesley Service League Centennial Youth Service Award<\/h2>\n
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Each year, Wellesley Service League solicits applications from service-oriented WHS seniors (and Wellesley residents who are seniors at other high schools) for this $3,000 award. <\/div>\n
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This year applications and mentor recommendations are due on March 20th. The application can be found on our website\u00a0https:\/\/wellesleyserviceleague.org\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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WHS Girls Who Code Club Newsletter<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The Wellesley High School chapter of Girls Who Code aims to foster a safe, welcoming, and judgment-free space for girls to learn and pursue computer science. Every month, the club releases a newsletter packed with current\u00a0artificial intelligence<\/strong>\u00a0trends and\u00a0computing insights.<\/strong> <\/div>\n
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Please see their current newsletter <\/a>for the latest AI updates and news. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Volunteers Needed for Wellesley Cotillion – January 31st<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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This year\u2018s Cotillion will be on Saturday, January 31st at The Verve Hotel in Natick. All juniors and seniors who either live in Wellesley or go to school in Wellesley are welcome to attend.<\/div>\n
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We are looking for parent volunteers for that evening. Please complete the Sign Up Genius Form<\/a> and thank you in advance for your support.<\/div>\n
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We need everyone\u2019s help to pull off this wonderful evening!<\/div>\n
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Thank you in advance.<\/div>\n
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Jill Fischmann and Kerrie Grover\u00a0<\/div>\n
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WHS Counseling Department: Winter 2026 News to Use <\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Additional information visit:\u00a0<\/strong>WHS School Counseling Website<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong> <\/div>\n
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Parent Nights<\/u><\/strong><\/div>\n
1\/21\/26\u00a0– 8th Grade Parent\/Guardian Night\u00a0\u00a0*This event is in person: WHS Auditorium<\/em> <\/div>\n
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Past Parent Nights: please click link to view recording:<\/u><\/strong><\/div>\n