MESSAGE FROM THE PTSO PRESIDENTS

Challenge  Success Parent Survey
Make sure your voice is heard.  Please complete  the Challenge Success Parent Survey by 11/13.  We need at least 50% participation to make the results valuable.  Click here to access the survey.

Looking  Ahead: PTSO Meeting 11/15 in Boston
Mark your calendars for the combined WHS and WMS PTO meeting in Boston. This is a great opportunity to hear from Superintendent David Lussier, WMS Principal Mark Ito and WHS Principal Dr. Jamie Chisum.  

Please join us  Thursday, November 15th, 7:00PM  at the Shelburne Community Center (2730 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA, 02119).  Make an evening of the event! - go for dinner in Boston with friends then come to the PTSO meeting. Contact us at whsptsopres@gmail.com if you would like to carpool.

Can You Spell?
We are looking for one more parent volunteer for the WHS parents BEE team on November 14th 7pm at Sprague.  No previous experience needed!  Please email  whsptsopres@gmail.com  if you are interested.  This is simply a fun event to raise money for our schools through WEF.

Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. whsptsopres@gmail.com

Colette Aufranc & Catherine Mirick
WHS PTSO Presidents 2018-2019
UPCOMING EVENTS

November:
  • 7th - 7.00pm - Junior Auction kickoff meeting, WHS Library
  • 8th - 9:00am - PAC coffee, 16 Suffolk Rd
  • 8th, 9th, 10th - WHS Musical "Spamalot"
  • 10th - 10am - Diversity Club daffodil planting for hope, WHS
  • 14th - 6:45pm - Guidance Dept. College Planning Night for Junior Parents, WHS Auditorium
  • 14th - 7:00pm - WEF Spelling Bee, Sprague Gym - see below 
  • 15th - 7:00pm - PTSO Meeting in Boston
  • 16th - Winter Sports Physicals due to School Nurse - see below
  • 22nd - 26th - Thanksgiving recess
  • 30th - 9:00am - Principal Coffee, Faculty Dining Room
Want these dates in your calendar automatically? Subscribe to the WHS Calendar  here
Challenge Success
Challenge Success Parent Survey
Parents/guardians should have received an email from Principal Chisum asking for your participation in the 2018 Challenge Success Parent Survey.  The survey will remain open for your feedback until November 13th.  If you have not done so already, please follow this  link to take the survey.  Your input is greatly appreciated!  If you have any questions please check out the   Survey FAQ.

Challenge Success White Paper on College Admissions
Challenge Success has surveyed over 100,000 high school students and found that the college admissions process is one of the primary root causes of stress for students.  Their findings are summarized in   A "Fit" Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity.  Also, you can watch this  90-second video explaining the paper and read an  "Open Letter to College Applicants (and their Parents)" written by Paul Franz, Challenge Success Research Associate.

WHS FALL MUSICAL - MONTY PYTHON'S "SPAMALOT"
November 8th, 9th and 10th

Showtimes as follows:
  • Thursday, November 8th - 4.30pm
  • Friday, November 9th - 7pm
  • Saturday, November 10th - 2pm and 7pm
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Click here and choose Tickets - Assigned Seating.  Get them while you can - tickets sell quickly!
Not appropriate for children under 13.
GUIDANCE NOTES

Junior Parent Night
Wednesday, 11/14, 6:45pm, WHS Auditorium
Get started thinking about post-graduate plans for your student.

Self-Care and Self-Compassion Group for High School Students 
Starting Soon
     Many students work extra hard to succeed academically, but experience real anxiety and stress. This can interfere with sleep, relationships, and physical well-being, among other things, and can eventually affect academic performance, emotional well-being, as well as family and social life.
     How can ambitious students harness anxiety so it doesn't overwhelm them, improve self-compassion, while also continuing to strive and succeed?
     HRS will offer a repeating, five-session workshop to help teens to build strategies for coping with anxiety, stress, self-criticism and pressure, to improve their capacity to care for themselves.
     The group will meet Tuesday nights, this fall, from 5:00-6:30 at The Human Relations Service, 11 Chapel Place, Wellesley.
     Cost: $100 (for five sessions). Sliding scale fees are available. All teens are welcome!
Human Relations Service 11 Chapel Place Wellesley, MA 02481 781-235-4950
Contact: Dr. Lucas Baker-Siroty, Group Facilitator or Linda Galper, LICSW, HRS Group Coordinator

Guidance Webpage
Take a moment to browse through the  guidance webpage.

FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE:

Winter Sports physicals are due in the nurses office by Friday, 11/16.  Click this updated memo  for more details.

Freshman and new students at WHS must have current physical exams on file.  If you have not already done so, please submit a copy of a physical exam dated 8/1/2017 or later to our office. 

The physicals can be emailed , faxed , dropped off or mailed to us.  
 
Thanks,  WHS Nursing Staff 
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Junior Auction Parent Meeting 
November 7th, 7pm, WHS Library
Please come join us to learn about the Junior Auction -  the main fundraiser for all Junior and Senior activities, including Junior Boat Cruise, Senior Prom, and Senior Banquet.  
If you can't make it, please contact loriwsilverstein@gmail.com 

PAC Coffee
Please join the Wellesley PAC for our next monthly coffee on Thursday, November 8 . The coffee will be held  from 9-10:30 am  at the home of Christine Mizzi at  16 Suffolk Road .  It is a nice opportunity for parents and caregivers to get together, share information and offer support to one another. 
Please email  Christine Mizzi  with any questions about the PAC. We hope to see you at any upcoming coffee! 

WHS Diversity Club Event
The Diversity Club at Wellesley High School invites the whole community to our event taking place on Saturday, November 10, at 10 am, at the Wellesley High School. 
We will be planting daffodils, as a symbol of hope in light of recent tragedies. Please join us for this event - nothing to bring - just come as you are! Cider and donuts will provided. We hope to see you there! 

WEF Spelling Bee
Wellesley Spelling Bee
Wednesday, November 14th,
7pm at the Sprague School Gym our community adult spelling contest and fundraising event is back for the 29th time.  Come cheer on the Assis ta nt Principals as they represent the high school!

 
Saturday, November 17th, Wellesley High School
Sponsored by the Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club.  More information is here.

YOUR PTSO DONATIONS AT WORK:

Among other things, the PTSO funded the following professional development courses for teachers last year.  We look forward to making more grants this year with your support.
  • Flogers Shakespeare Library Workshop
  • German and French seminars
  • Mokume Gane jewelry workshop 
  • National Biology Conference
Amazon Smile
Donate or update/connect your Amazon Smile support  here

Learn more about your PTSO $$ at work   here.   

TOWN OF WELLESLEY INFORMATION

School Committee Holds Office Hours
The School Committee is pleased to continue to schedule 'office hours' which provide the community an opportunity for engagement with one or two members of the Committee on a monthly basis.  Sessions are currently scheduled for:  

November 15, 9 to 10 am - Felix Juliani Room, Town Hall 
December 13, 7 to 8 pm - Arnold Room, Wellesley Free Library.   

Community members who wish to engage with the Committee but cannot attend office hours are encouraged to participate in Citizens Speak at a future meeting, or email the Committee at  school_committee@wellesleyps.org.
 
School Building Committee
Are you interested in keeping informed on all the school building projects happening in Wellesley?  Sign up for the School Building Committee newsletter. Their meetings are also open to the public and available via Wellesley Media.