{"id":9786,"date":"2026-02-06T13:54:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/?p=9786"},"modified":"2026-02-06T16:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:59:34","slug":"whs-principals-newsletter-for-06-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/2026\/02\/06\/whs-principals-newsletter-for-06-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"WHS Principal’s Newsletter for 06 February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WHS Principal’s Newsletter<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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February 6, 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,<\/div>\n
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Happy Friday at the end of the first week of February and the end of the first week of our 3rd quarter.\u00a0I actually wanted to write to you about something that happened last Friday evening after I sent out my weekly newsletter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Last Friday night I had the absolute pleasure of attending our Rock Band concert in the Little Theater.\u00a0We had a fantastic audience in attendance with lots of parents and family members coming together to enjoy the performance from the over twenty members of the Rock Band group.\u00a0If you don\u2019t know, this group rotates in different musicians to play different instruments and different vocalists to sing different songs.\u00a0The student performers choose their own songs and they practice without direct instruction from our performing arts staff.\u00a0Of course they follow some WPS rules around safety and supervision while they are in our spaces, but largely, and appropriately to their age and genre, they operate with a lot of independence.\u00a0I have to tell you I love that independence and spirit so much.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Developmentally adolescents have one job to do – individuate. In the past it was adolescents that coined phrases like, \u201cNever trust anyone over 30\u201d or \u201cQuestion Authority\u201d, that frankly drove me and my predecessors crazy.\u00a0And yet, teenagers need to express themselves. They need to learn to build their own communities.\u00a0Sometimes art, in this case performance art, is the perfect outlet to do that. What I saw last Friday night was the expression and exploration of this group of teenagers.\u00a0Their performances expressed joy, frustration, hope, love, and more I\u2019m sure.\u00a0I wish everyone in the community could have seen it.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Of course what the students displayed was their talent and hours and hours of practice.\u00a0I love and admire their commitment, and what I loved about being there the most was watching them bravely displaying themselves.\u00a0If you were worried about kids on their phones and computers too much not interacting with each other, you would have been inspired by Rock Band.\u00a0I get to see so much good in your children every day when I walk the halls of Wellesley High School and last Friday night I got to witness kids doing exactly what they were meant to be doing at this age.\u00a0I\u2019m thankful for it.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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If you want to know my favorite tunes, there are too many to name, but I\u2019ll highlight \u201cThe Seeker\u201d, \u201cFake Plastic Trees\u201d, \u201cLight my Fire\u201d, and \u201cThe Chain\u201d as just a sample of songs that took the roof off.\u00a0There were more, and if you\u2019d like to hear them live yourself, I think they have an upcoming gig in a couple of weeks at Lockheart Restaurant in Wellesley Square. Look for them on social media.\u00a0You won\u2019t regret it.\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\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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PTSO Meeting & Course Selection Process <\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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We have our second of two important\u00a0PTSO\u00a0meetings next\u00a0February 11\u00a0<\/strong>from 10:00\u201311:45am in the WHS Faculty Dining Room<\/div>\n
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The meeting will focus on the upcoming course selection process, with representatives from each department sharing information and answering questions. Please see below for the February meeting schedule.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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WHS School Council Meeting February 11th<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The Wellesley High School Council serves as the legislative branch of the school government. The Council is responsible for conducting open discussions and making recommendations on matters of school policy, school culture, curriculum, and other issues brought to its attention from its respective constituencies of the Student Congress, Faculty Senate,\u00a0PTSO, local residents and the principal.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Please see the WHS School Council<\/a> page on our website\u00a0for the latest updates and information.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Wellesley Education Foundation Event: AI in Education<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Making Sense of AI in Education: Understanding What Matters Most – 02\/12\/26<\/strong><\/div>\n
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We\u2019re excited to share an upcoming event hosted by the\u00a0Wellesley Education Foundation<\/strong>:\u00a0Making Sense of AI in Education: Understanding What Matters Most.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> <\/div>\n
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The event will feature<\/em>\u00a0Greg Kulowiec, <\/em><\/strong>who will share insights into how AI works and what it means for education. The discussion will examine the impact of AI on learners, along with the opportunities and risks associated with generative AI. <\/em>This event is open to\u00a0WPS Staff, Families, and Caregivers<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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Event Details<\/strong><\/div>\n