ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯

Dear Families,

If you happened to see a lot of students around the high school today wearing pajamas please don¡¯t be alarmed because we have officially launched spirit week prior to the annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Needham this coming Thursday.?Next week is also our annual pep rally that is always filled with special moments of kids enjoying their community together. Honestly, anytime you have over 1200 students in one place live I hold my breath a little, but somehow I still enjoy the moment of watching our kids celebrate each other with music, dance, games and school spirit.?A huge thanks to our Student Unification leaders both staff and students for helping Mr. Shattuck put on this event.?

I¡¯m certain there were a lot of assessments this week and on Monday and Tuesday.?Anytime we have an extended holiday there is a build up like this leading up to it because teachers are not allowed to give short term homework during the break and they cannot access students immediately following the break. Let us know if there¡¯s anything we can do to help.?

7:30am – 8:30am – Intervention Time

8:35am – 9:35am – Advisory Activity

9:35am – 9:50am – Transition to Pep Rally

9:50am – 11:00am – Pep Rally in the Gymnasium

Please note the important parking restrictions and guidance for two upcoming?events!?

On Thursday, November 27 at 10 a.m. ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ hosts Needham for the 2025 Thanksgiving Day football game at Hunnewell Track & Field, the?! No parking will be available on Paine Street, Rice Street, State Street, Smith Street, Clifford Street (Smith to Twitchell Streets), and Seaver Street.?Signs will be posted and cars will be towed.?For other streets, parking is allowed only on one side of the street unless otherwise posted.?

Parking for the Thanksgiving game will be available at:

Please refer to the parking map below for football game guidance.?

Similar restrictions are in place for Saturday’s ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ Hills Junior Women¡¯s Club Holiday Marketplace at WHS.?See associated map below.

Parking for the Holiday Marketplace will be available in the?WHS lot, Tailby commuter rail lot shuttle service, and the ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ Farms commuter rail lot shuttle service.?Happy shopping!

Our students performed an absolutely fantastic series of concerts¡ªthe Jazz Concert, Band Concert, and Orchestra Concert ¡ª all put together in this past marathon of a week. Having Rice St, both Jazz Bands, the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Sinfonia, and HCO all take the stage looking and sounding awesome is a profound achievement, and the variety of music our students get to experience is truly rich.

We know the sheer magnitude of the logistical and artistic lift required to coordinate and execute these programs¡ªit is immense. Our students not only to bring incredible performances to fruition which consistently prioritize the growth, community, and belonging of our students.

?A highlight for us came at the Band Concert, just before opening the house after the Wind Ensemble warmed up. Band Conductor Steve Scott said to the band, “Turn to your neighbor, give them a high five, and tell them to have a great show”. This perfectly captures the spirit of what we all do.

That moment, seeing the students leave the stage smiling and feeling a deep sense of connection, is the true success. These moments are what stick with our kids and define their experience.

Seven members of the ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ High Class of 2026 have either officially signed or are committed to compete at the collegiate level. At Wednesday¡¯s ceremonial signing event, the student-athletes were cheered on by Principal Jamie Chisum, Athletic Director John Brown and dozens of family, friends, and staff members. The students:

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 ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ 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@wellesleyps.org

Our next meeting will be held on

Tuesday, December 9th at the ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ Free Library Cafe (1st floor) at 7:30pm

to discuss?The Bletchley Riddle?by?Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin (1st runner up in the MTCBA awards)?

January 6 –??by Josh Galarza

February 3 –??by Neil Schusterman (SciFi)

March 10 –??by?Elizabeth Acevedo (novel in verse)?

April 7 –??by John Green (nonfiction)

May 5 –?by Gary D. Schmidt (middle grade novel)

June 9 –??by Angie Thomas (realistic fiction)

The ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ Free Library will have copies available for check out.

Any question can be emailed to?whslibrary-group@wellesleyps.org.

Our list of clubs and enrichment programs for 2025-2026 has recently been updated.

To print your own copy or access the list, see??on the WHS website.?

Monday, November 24:?PTSO Meeting @ 6:00pm – WHS Challenge Success Senior Fishbowl

Wednesday, November 26:?WHS Pep Rally and Early Release Day

November 27-28?¨C Thanksgiving Recess?(Schools & Offices Closed)

December 1?¨C Professional Day?(Schools Closed)

I also wanted to tell you all about an opportunity this coming Monday evening in the high school faculty dining room. The high school PTSO will be hosting a ¡°fish bowl¡± conversation where students past and present from ÎÞ¾¡×ÊÔ´²É¼¯ High School will be discussing their experiences here.? We have done this a number of times in the past, and while the audience does not get to engage with the students directly in this format, they do get to process with each other about what they heard the students say when the conversation is over.? Most attendees find this one of the most engaging meetings they¡¯ve ever attended.?

I hope you all have a great weekend preparing for the holiday next week.??

Best,?

Jamie