The HHU Project: the transformation of Wellesley’s three oldest elementary schoolsOver the next year or so, the Wellesley town will update and renovate Hunnewell, Hardy, and Upham elementary schools. The goal of this larger scale renovation is to provide facilities that meet students’ educational needs in a fiscally responsible manner.
“Based on a 2012 assessment of the elementary school facilities, [the elementary schools] were identified as having serious system deficiencies that could not be solved through minor renovations,” said Melissa Martin, a member of the Wellesley School Committee. “The schools would need to be substantially or entirely rebuilt. After significant deliberation and analysis of numerous options, the School Building Committee recommended an all-new option for both schools.” (read more) |
The SAT, an exam long associated with paper and pen, moves toward being fully digitalStarting in 2024, the College Board will fully digitalize the SAT, a college admissions exam long associated with paper and pencil. The digital SAT will be two hours instead of three, include shorter reading passages, and allow approved calculators on the entire math section. Additionally, scores from the digital SAT will also be returned in days instead of weeks. The College Board believes that this digitalization will benefit students.
“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant,” said Ms. Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Readiness Assessments at College Board in an interview with College Board Newsroom. “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform—we’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible. With input from educators and students, we are adapting to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.” (read more) |
Dr. Jamie Chisum addresses the high school’s most pressing issues in a press conference on October 25On Monday, October 25, principal Dr. Jamie Chisum sat down for a press conference with The Bradford and discussed the high schools’ approach to bullying in light of a recent rally held at the high school on Wednesday, October 20 – a demonstration in support for the victim. Chisum addressed topics such as the bullying incident this summer, racism at the high school, and actions the high school is taking to prevent incidents like these from occurring in the future. Chisum also briefly commented on the high school’s declining national rankings.
Bullying Many people have mentioned to The Bradford their disappointment with the usage of the phrase “Young people make mistakes,” in Chisum’s late-night October 19 email with Lussier regarding the protest the following morning. Students and parents alike have expressed their concerns that the word “mistake” downplayed the incident and took away from its gravity. Chisum noted that he would still describe the incident as a mistake, but with some qualifications. (read more) |
How Wellesley Public Schools administers close contact tracingWithin the COVID testing system at the high school, lies the process that takes place when receiving news of a positive case. A main part of this process, takes place in the contact tracing procedure. Rules such as maintaining a specific seating chart, have been made to administer the process. Dr. Chisum, principal of the high school, explains the many different parts and sides to the process and who exactly is considered a close contact. (read more)
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A vaccine update at the high schoolDuring the past month, news of COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pzfizer has spread rapidly.
On December 11, the FDA issued the first emergency use authorization in history for the vaccine known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Soon after, on December 18, the FDA issued the second EUA for the vaccine known as the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Though many wish to receive the vaccine as soon as possible so that life can return to the way it was pre-pandemic, the vaccine will not be available to everyone immediately. Previously, within phase one of the vaccination outline, frontline workers: third-priority groups, were given the vaccine. Beginning the week of January 18, the current priority group will be vaccinated. (read more) |
The cross country team goes above and beyond: $20,000 raised to help feed frontline workersOn April 25, the high school’s cross country team planned and executed a “virtual runathon” to fundraise for the front line workers of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross country team far surpassed their goal of $2,000, raising $20,000 and donating many meals from local businesses such as Comella’s to the much needed front line workers at hospitals like Newton Wellesley Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and the Boston Medical Center,
After receiving a text from his coach, Jason Norris ’20 wondered how far he could really run; this gave him the idea of a virtual runathon. (read more) |