Advance The Excellence!

Many thanks to those who have already contributed to the PTSO this year - we are off to a great start.  "Advance the Excellence," our sole fund-raising activity of the year provides funding for senior projects and teacher requests, support for professional development, underwriting for new initiatives and programs, and much more.

To donate online, please click DONATE NOW button above.  Thank you!


CALENDAR UPDATES

Please mark your calendars:
  • 1st PTSO Meeting of the year! 
    We hope to see many of you at our first PTSO meeting this Wednesday morning, September 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the Faculty Dining Room.  Please come meet your PTSO officers and hear Dr. Chisum and WHS Housemasters Marc Bender, Lynne Novogroski and Andrew Kelton speak about the first weeks of school. 

    If you're unable to attend, please visit our website at www.whsptso.org to view minutes from past meetings.  This week, we'll be voting to approve minutes from our PTSO meeting last May.
  • Standardized Testing Overview for Junior/Senior Parents:
    This is a reminder that on Wednesday, 9/16 at 7:00 p.m. there will be a very informative meeting on standardized testing hosted by the Guidance Department. This meeting will discuss a testing overview, schedule of upcoming tests, preparation and using one's scores effectively. We have also invited a guest speaker to share some key insight on the newly redesigned SAT which will be the test used for all students as of March 2016. Depending on where students are in the process this is a helpful discussion for seniors and juniors alike. 
  • WHS Picture Day -  Friday, September 18, Day 3
    Picture Day for staff and students (underclass);  All students must have pictures taken to have IDs.

WHS DIRECTORY INFORMATION

LAST CHANCE!!  Deadline is Friday, September 18th!
 
This year, the PTSO is creating the WHS Directory from the new "Student Directory" section within PowerSchool.  This is part of a district wide initiative to streamline communication with Wellesley families. 
 
If you have not already done so, please log into the "Annual Permissions" tab within the PowerSchool Parent Portal before September 18th to update or verify your contact information.  You have the option to  "opt out" if you do not want to be included in the Directory.  If you have any questions about the Directory, please contact either Julie Garvey or Jennifer Madden at   [email protected] .


BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS

Come help sort!

Thank you for returning your forms so promptly. We have a few thousand packets to sort and could really use your help to get them organized!  Please join us to sort forms on Monday, September 21st or Tuesday, 22nd.  Please contact Gaby de Grace at  [email protected], if you have any questions.

Click here to sign up to volunteer!


SCHOOL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION

Each fall, parents elect representatives to the WHS School Council.  

School council is comprised of students, teachers, parents and community members who all work together with the Dr. Chisum to examine and make recommendations on school policies, as mandated by the state education department. School Council meetings are held monthly, generally on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 2:40 p.m. 

We have two parent slots open this year. If you would like to become a candidate, please contact PTSO Vice Presidents Wyndham Flaherty [email protected] and Michele de Oliveira.School [email protected].  Please provide a brief paragraph about yourself and why you'd like to serve on Student Council. 

Elections will be held at Back to School Night on October 8th.


WELLESLEY POPS (Parents of Performing Students)

Please join us in the WHS Library on Tuesday, September 15th at 7:00 pm for our first meeting of the school year.

All parents of students in the performing arts are welcome and encouraged  to attend.  Volunteers always needed, especially for the upcoming WHS Musical - "Grease"  Contact Sharon Lowe at [email protected] if you want more information.



WEF ANNUAL FUND &  BOSTON MARATHON OPPORTUNITY
The Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF)is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to investing in programs that enhance, enrich and maintain educational excellence as well as foster innovation in all of the Wellesley Public Schools. N early $1.9 million has been awarded in grants and  assistance to educators in the l ast 15 years alone. 
Support Educational Excellence 
and Innovation at WPS
  • Celebrate the new year with a gift to THE WEF ANNUAL FUND.  Most of you have received a yellow half-sheet requesting donations in your back to school packets already.  Giving is easy!  Go to the WEF make-a-donation webpage to make a credit card or stock/securities donation, or mail your check made out to Wellesley Education Foundation to WEF, PO Box 812321, Wellesley, MA 02482. 
  • Looking for a few good runners to wear our charity bib at the Boston Marathon 2016: WEF is pleased to ANNOUNCE ANOTHER BIG OPPORTUNITY -- Join us in supporting our schools and representing WEF by wearing our charity bib at the Boston Marathon in 2016. Please contact Cecilia Brooks ([email protected]) with interest and any questions.


ROCK LIKE MIKE - 9.26 BOSTON

Rock Like Mike is a concert to remember and pay tribute to Mike Davidson, a Wellesley surgeon who was tragically killed at work in January. 

The funds raised through this event will go to Mike's family to create college savings
programs, and other opportunities that Mike was hoping to provide for his family. Mike was taken from us by an act of hatred and violence, but his legacy lives on in the patients whose lives he saved, in the innovative procedures he helped to develop, and in his children. 

Tickets are selling fast. We hope that you will join us on September 26th at the Paradise Rock Club, but if you cannot attend, please consider making a donation to the Davidson Family at  www.rocklikemike.com.