Wellesley High School
| Wellesley High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Established | 1938 |
| Principal | Ms. Rena Mirkin |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | approx. 1200 |
| Color(s) | Red and black |
| Mascot | Pirate |
| Newspaper | The Bradford |
| Website | Wellesley High School |
Wellesley High School is a public high school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, educating grades 9 through 12. Its current principal is Ms. Rena Mirkin ( who plans to retire at the end of the 2006-2007 schoolyear) ; its two assistant principals are Lynn Novogroski and Jamie Chisum. As of 2006, it has over 1200 students and is considered one of the most academically challenging public high schools in Massachusetts. It is located at 50 Rice St., Wellesley, Massachusetts, 02481.
History and current state
Originally built as a public works project in 1938 during the Great Depression, the school was 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. Currently the older parts of the building have systems issues, are outdated, worn out, and below standard. As of October, 2005, options for a new building or refurbishment are being explored by the town.
The school continues to participate in the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation between Wellesley and Needham, Massachusetts. The game is played every Thanksgiving and began its tradition in 1882. The most recent game was won by the Raiders by a score of 14-7. Wellesley also leads the all time series against the Needham Rockets. The Wellesley Football Team was formally known as the Red Raiders, but due the name's racial insensitivity, changed its name to simply the Raiders (Pirates) in the 1990s. The 2005 football team finished with a record of 8-3 and was ranked 23rd in the state by the Boston Globe.
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[1]. Many graduates attend some of the most selective and prestigious institutions in the nation. Wellesley High has been a major feeder school to the NESCAC colleges [citation needed].
Governing bodies
- Students: Student Congress
- Teachers: Faculty Senate
- Legislative: School Council
- District Wide: School Committee
- Class Officers
- Senior Class
- Junior Class
- Sophomore Class
- Freshman Class
Performing arts department
- Band
- 1 o' Clock Jazz Band
- 2 o' Clock Jazz Band - The 2 o'clock Jazz Band is one of the best high school jazz bands in the region and in 2006 was a finalist at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition and Festival in New York City for the second year in a row.
- Concert Band
- Wind Ensemble
- Orchestra (strings)
- Drama Program - In 2006, Wellesley's drama program self-scripted a show through improvisation which was entered in the Massachusetts State Drama Festival. This show, "Der Waffle Haus, Ergo Leggo My Ego", went on to win first place and represent Massachusetts in the New England Drama Festival.
- Technical Theatre - "Sound & Light Crew"
- Choral Program
- Brooks Brothers
- Song Sisters
- Concert Choir
- A Cappella
- Rice Street Singers
Departments and programs
Foreign languages
The Foreign Language program at Wellesley High School regularly engage 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 2005-6 school year. Twenty-eight students and two teachers visited Wellesley High School from October 21 to November 12, 2005. Wellesley students returned the visit in the spring of 2006. The Spanish program welcomed students from Chile in the fall of 2006 and WHS students returned the visit that winter. The school also offers classes in Latin.
Social studies
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.
In 2005 one of the best-known teachers in the school, Jon Hamilton, retired after decades of teaching. He was the speaker for the class of 2005's graduation and remains as the head coach of the varsity golf team.
Mathematics
Standard mathematics classes are offered through AP Calculus BC, and there is also a separate Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP) track through junior year.
Art
Along with elective courses leveled by ability in jewelry making, ceramics, film-making, photography, and digital art, and newly-added scrapbooking, 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 assigning weekly homework assignments, is counted towards students' GPA.
Partnership with Wellesley College
Students at WHS may take classes at Wellesley College without paying tuition, barring that the classes at Wellesley College are not offered at WHS. Students typically take advantage of this opportunity for math and language classes.
METCO Program
Wellesley is a member of the METCO Program, which allows for inner-city Boston students to attend the high school.
Notable alumni and teachers
- American poet Sylvia Plath, former Wellesley resident, remains an influence on the town and school. Ms. Plath repeatedly attempted suicide while living on Elmwood Road subsequent to publishing her acclaimed work, The Bell Jar.
- Wellesley High School graduate Jane Curtin went on to join the original cast of Saturday Night Live.
- Richard Preston, 1978 graduate, wrote the best seller, "The Hot Zone," later the basis of the movie Outbreak.
- Billy Squier, class of 1968, became a sell-out rock start during the late seventies and early eighties. He has since faded from the pop charts.
- Craig Mustard, an English teacher currently at WHS, also works as a Boston Red Sox commentator on WEEI 850 sports radio for the weekend show, "Mustard and Johnson".
- David McCullough, Jr., another well-liked English teacher currently at WHS, is the son of the renowned historian David McCullough.
- Jess Hatch, a teacher of business at WHS, is the son of Senator Orrin Hatch.
Parking
School parking is rountinely an issue as the school employs two full time parking clerks to ticket illegally parked cars and maintain civility in the parking lot. Back in the 1960s and early '70s, very few students drove cars to school, so there were always plenty of free spaces. However, today, many students have cars and few are willing to walk to school. Therefore, the school gives the spaces to seniors, and rations out the remaining spaces using a lottery. Juniors are frequently forced to park either on Paine Street or in the parking lot of the local Star Market.
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