- Wellesley High School is a public high school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, educating grades 9 through 12. Its current principal is Dr. Andrew Keough, who assumed the position in 2007 after the retirement of Ms. Rena Mirkin . Its two assistant principals are Lynne Novogroski and Jamie Chisum. As of 2008, it has over 1300 students and is one of the most academically challenging public high schools in Massachusetts. In 2007 it was ranked the 70th best public high school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, earning a Gold Medal.
- History and current state
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Wellesley High School is a comprehensive four year institution whose goal is to provide an outstanding educational experience to its students. Guided by a set of core values (Academic Excellence, Respect for Human Differences, Cooperative and Caring Relationships and Commitment to Community), the school maintains a high standard for its students and faculty. A culture of professionalism and collegiality exists throughout the school, with administrators and faculty working together to promote and maintain a high level of excellence. Students are challenged to achieve excellence through a rich selection of classes, extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities.
- The current school building was originally built as a public works project in 1938 during the Great Depression, designed by Perry Shaw and Hepburn and built by M. Spinelli and Sons Co., Inc. The building has been modified with several additions throughout its existence, most recently with a new fitness center.
- Of the class of 2004, 92% of students planned on attending four-year colleges, while the remaining 8% planned on attending two-year college, specialized school, or post-graduate school. Many graduates attend some of the most selective and prestigious institutions in the nation. According to matriculation data provided by the high school's guidance department, the Wellesley High has been a major feeder school for NESCAC colleges.
- Renewal and expansion
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Age and maintenance issues have taken their toll on the school structure. The increasing size of the student body as well as the evolving nature of education have challenged the capability of the building to meet the needs of the school community effectively and safely. In October, 2005, the exploration of options for a new building or refurbishment was commenced by the town.
- In October 2007, a public meeting was held to introduce several options for the expansion of the school, including renovation and extension of the existing building and its demolition and replacement by a completely new structure. The site has been expanded by purchase of three adjacent properties in Seaver Street and transfer of publicly owned land. The project duration could be up to five years from start of construction, depending upon the chosen option.
- On December 10, 2008, town voters approved the project, by nearly 2 to 1 (5,026 YES to 2,869 NO), to build a new, state-of-the art high school on the parking lot next to the existing buildings. Construction will begin in the March of 2010 with an estimated completion date of late 2012.
- After much analysis, the existing structure, although a good example of the Art Deco style of Architecture, was found, by the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.), not to be a historically significant example and it will be demolished. The State authorities still hold the final say in this ruling, but the A.I.A. review should open the door to start the final site plotting. The new structure will incorporate some of the design features of the prior building and will be limited in its visual impact to be in scale with the surrounding residential neighborhood. The total cost is estimated to be $130 million with $85 million of that total to be raised from State and Federal matching funds.
- Site clearance started in August, 2009 with the relocation of one house to a nearby site.
- Governing bodies
- Students: Student Congress
- President - Anthony Dibiase, Vice-President (Senior) - Intae Kim, Vice-President (Non-Senior) - Michael D'Ortenzio Jr., Secretary/Treasurer - Nick Danger
- Teachers: Faculty Senate
- Administrative: ATM
- Legislative: School Council
- Co-Moderator (Teacher) - Mr. Steve Plasko, Co-Moderator (Student) - Nick Danger, Co-Moderator (Student) - Michael D'Ortenzio Jr.
- District Wide: School Committee
- Class Officers:
- Senior Class (2010):President - Neil Bhatt, Vice President - Sam Wickham, Treasurer - Mary McMahon, Secretary - Mark McKenna
- Junior Class (2011): President - Austin James Sedaghatpour, Vice President - Eva Lauer, Secretary - Will Valle, Treasurer - Eamon Bousa
- WHS Class of 2011 website
- Sophomore Class (2012): President - Sean Carver, Vice President - Christopher Mckenna, Secretary - Cailegh White, Treasurer - Willie (Kitae) Kim
- Freshman Class (2013): President - Richard Mariscal, Vice President - Bennett Capozzi, Secretary - Hannah Hunter, Treasurer - Anna Zannetos
- Representatives to Greater Boston Regional Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: Michael D'Ortenzio Jr. & Peter Edmunds
- Extracurricular activities
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Wellesley High School offers many after school clubs that are mostly run by students. Notable clubs include the active Debate Club, the Key Club,WHH, and the many other cultural and humanitarian-focused clubs.
- Sports
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Wellesley participats in the Bay State Conference and consistently sending various sports teams to the Eastern Massachusetts playoffs. Over 70% of all WHS students participate in one of the 34 different offered sports at some point during their time at Wellesley High. Altogether, there are 63 varsity, junior varsity, and freshman teams at the school.
- In 2005-2006, the Wellesley varsity girls ice hockey team won the state championship. The boys lacrosse team made it to three straight state finals between 2004 and 2006, managing to capture the title of state champions in 2006. In 2007 the Wellesley Raiders golf team came in 2nd in the state finals. Then in 2008, the girls varsity basketball team defeated Millbury at the DCU Center in Worcester, bringing home Wellesley High School basketball's first ever State Championship.
- Varsity Sports in Wellesley for the 2008-2009 academic school year are as follows:
- Fall
- Football
- Boy's Soccer
- Girl's Soccer
- Field Hockey
- Cross Country
- Volleyball
- Girl's Swimming and Diving
- Golf
- Water Polo
- History Class
- Winter
- Boy's Basketball
- Girl's Basketball
- Indoor Track and Field
- Boy's Hockey
- Girl's Hockey
- Boy's Swimming and Diving
- Dance Team
- Ski Team
- Boy's Wrestling
- Gymnastics
- Spring
- Softball
- Baseball
- Outdoor Track and Field
- Boy's Tennis
- Girl's Tennis
- Boy's Lacrosse
- Girl's Lacrosse
- Boy's Volleyball
- Sailing Team
- Football and Thanksgiving rivalry
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The Wellesley High School football team was formerly known as the Red Raiders, but the name was changed to simply the Raiders (Pirates) in the 1990s. The 2008 football team, led by head coaches Bill Tracey and Andy Levin, finished with a record of 2-9. The school continues to participate in the oldest high school rivalry in the nation, between Wellesley and Needham. The game is played every Thanksgiving and began its tradition in 1882. In the most recent game, November 27, 2009, the 121st consecutive meeting, the Raiders lost to the Rockets 26-7. The all-time record of the Thanksgiving Rivalry game now stands with Wellesley leading at 58-54-9.
- Curricular offerings
- Performing arts
- Band
- 1 o'Clock Jazz Band - Winner of many different medals at the International Association for Jazz Education.
- 2 o'Clock Jazz Band - The 2 o'clock Jazz Band was a finalist at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition and Festival in New York City for the second year in a row. The group has been accepted as a finalist again in 2009 for the third time. They won first place at the 41st Annual Berklee Jazz Festival in 2009, their second consecutive victory there.
- Concert Band
- Wind Ensemble - Since the origin of the WHS Wind Ensemble, it has won the gold medal at the MICCA state finals three of the past four years, and has performed at both Mechanics Hall in Worcester and Symphony Hall in Boston.
- Orchestra (strings) - The orchestra won a gold medal at MICCA in 2009 and performed at Symphony Hall in March.
- Drama Program
- Technical Theatre
- Choral Program
- Brooks Brothers - The all male choir that meets in the morning three times a "cycle".
- Song Sisters - The all female choir that meets in the morning three times a "cycle".
- Concert Choir - choir open to anyone wishing to sing that meets like a major, five times a cycle.
- Keynotes - Keynotes was established in 2007. An audition-only choir, Keynotes consists of over 30 students who sing classical repertoire.
- Rice Street Singers - The Rice Street Singers is an audition-only, jazz choir with a devotion to musical excellence, that won a gold medal and ranked first place in the UNH Jazz Festival in 2005-2006. On April 8 2009, Rice Street earned a Gold Metal and the MAJE Jazz Festival.
- There are also a total of four student-run a cappella groups that meet during after school hours: A Cappella Anonymous (co-founded by seniors Lauren Grewal, Lisa Hu, and Gabriella Newton), Renagade A Cappella (co-founded by Wellesley alums Aria Varasteh and Benjamin Sung), Ladies First (founded by senior Emily Francis), and Madrigals (co-founded by senior Katie Kinkey, junior Nate Wardwell, and sophomore Eleanor Mears ).
- Foreign languages
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Regular classes are offered in French, Spanish, German, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese (as of 2008).
- The foreign language department regularly engages in exchange programs with students of Spanish-, French-, and German-speaking countries. The German program was involved in an exchange with students from Munich, Germany in the 2005-2006 school year.
- Science and technology
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The science and technology department at Wellesley High School offers a comprehensive program of science education and a selection of electives in technology. The departmental sequence in science consists of earth science in ninth grade, chemistry in tenth grade, biology in eleventh grade, and physics in twelfth grade. AP courses are offered in chemistry (as a second-year course), biology, and Physics B.
- Electives in technology consist of wood manufacturing, automotive technology, and design technology. Robotics is offered occasionally, depending on demand.
- Social studies
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The social studies department offers several elective majors, available for junior and senior students. These include Russian History, Theory of Knowledge, East Asian History, Economic Theory, Political Science, and Sociology. The department offers two advanced placement courses: AP Psychology and AP United States History.
- English
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The English Department offers a comprehensive program that covers writing, poetry and literature. Students are exposed to a wide range of literature and given a strong background in writing. Opportunities exist to take variouselectives, and the department sponsors a summer reading program where a particular book is read over the summer by the entire school community. The program culminates with a school wide seminar, usually lead by the author of the book, or an individual knowledgeable about the book or its subject. During the summer of 2007, students and faculty read 1776 by David McCullough, who came in to speak when the school year began.
- Health and fitness
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The Health and Fitness Department offers a variety of courses designed to promote the current and future health of students. A variety of fitness options are provide to allow all students to participate in a fitness program that is appropriate to their level. Classes covering various health related topics are offered to ensure that students are aware of the risks and benefits that various life activities may entail.
- Mathematics
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Standard mathematics classes include geometry freshman year, algebra sophomore year, analysis junior year and calculus and statistics senior year (all offered in varying levels). AP Calculus, both AB and BC, and AP Statistics are offered senior year. There is also a separate Interactive Mathematics Program track through junior year.
- Art
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Along with elective courses leveled by ability in jewelry making, ceramics, film making, photography, digital art, and newly added creative journal making, the school offers a five-credit honors course for serious artists called Drawing and Painting Intensive. The course is taught by artist and teacher Dr. Robert Callahan and, in addition to requiring weekly homework assignments, is counted towards students' GPA.
- Associated programs
- Child Lab
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Child Lab is a developmentally appropriate laboratory preschool for 3, 4, and 5 year olds located on the ground floor of Wellesley High School. Since its inception in 1979, the Lab School has enrolled 18 children each year. It is an elective in which high school students enroll to learn about the development of young children and the best ways to approach optimum learning for the children. Child Lab is a great opportunity for high school students to learn about different ages and stages of children as well as to have the children taught by the students who have taken an interest in early childhood development.
- Partnership with Wellesley College
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Students at WHS may take classes at Wellesley College without paying tuition, provided that the classes are not offered at WHS.
- METCO Program
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Wellesley is a member of the METCO Program, which gives inner-city students access to a better education, by busing them in from the City of Boston.
- Bridge Program
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Students out of school for an extended period of time due to hospitalization are eligible for this support program. It is run by former Magic 106.7 DJ Adam Diliberto and Social Worker Lindsey Slotnick.
- Notable alumni and teachers
- American poet Sylvia Plath, former Wellesley resident, remains an influence on the town and school. Ms. Plath attempted suicide while living on Elmwood Road, a story which she retold in her acclaimed work The Bell Jar.
- Wellesley High School graduate Jane Curtin went on to join the original cast of Saturday Night Live.
- Jonathan Carmen, aka "Johnny Wendell", Los Angeles based talk show host and writer/musician under the nom du plume "Johnny Angel", attended Wellesley in 1972-73.
- Richard Preston, a 1972 graduate, wrote the best seller The Hot Zone, later the basis of the movie Outbreak.
- Duncan M. Rogers, a 1982 graduate, is an actor and award-winning filmmaker.
- Billy Squier, a 1968 graduate, became a rock star during the late seventies and early eighties.
- Stephen Pierce, a 2001 graduate, musician in Amherst-based Ampere.
- Craig Mustard, a current English teacher at WHS, also works as a Boston Red Sox commentator on WEEI 850 sports radio for the weekend show "Mustard and Johnson."
- Greg Yaitanes, a 1988, graduate, actor, film director, writer
- Jay Harrington, a 1989 graduate, is an actor in Los Angeles and is now playing the titular role of Ted Crisp on the ABC sitcom "Better Off Ted"'
- David Rempis, a graduate of the class of 1993, is considered one of the premiere jazz saxophonists in the country. His work with the Vandermark Five has been noted in the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Reader, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Down Beat, as well as the Boston Globe, in which noted jazz critic Bob Blumenthal referred to him as the band's "primary firebreather."
- R. Nicholas Burns, former US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- Damon Santostefano, a 1977 graduate, director of several feature films and television shows, notably "Three to Tango" starring Matthew Perry and Neve Campbell (1999).
- Biz Stone , a 1992 graduate, Co-founder of Twitter and also helped make Xanga, Blogger, Odeo, and Obvious. Publisher of two books
- Stephen Burns, a 1978 graduate who also attended the Juilliard School, is a world-renowned trumpeter who has performed with numerous famous orchestras.
- Phil Laak, (pronounced "lock"; born September 8, 1972, in Dublin, Ireland) is a professional poker player, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Laak was the winner of a World Poker Tour (WPT) title in 2004 and has appeared on numerous nationally-aired television shows.
- External links
- Official Wellesley Public Schools Web Site
- Official Wellesley High School Website
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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