Upper School April News

Upper School April News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

One of my favorite Wellington traditions is our daily Morning Meeting. It's a space where you never quite know what you'll experience, as every day is unique, filled with authentic voices and meaningful moments. Students feel empowered to step forward, showcasing responsibility and ambition, sparking curiosity, and nurturing empathy in each other. In today's message, I'd like to share two powerful examples from recent Morning Meetings that beautifully highlight these Wellington values and inspire our message as we approach the final two months of the school year.

Just before spring break ended, Annie Shen ‘26 courageously stood up and shared a poem with our community, "Sometimes the Wolf Cries Girl," by srwpoetry:
 

"sometimes the hero stumbles
and falls right off of the page.
sometimes the princess rolls her eyes
and says 'I don't want to be saved.'
sometimes the dragon needs rescuing
and the villain aches to be helped.
sometimes, in the darkness,
the lost boy finds himself.
sometimes the prince is cunning
and not at all what he seemed.
sometimes the witch's kindness
shows it's she who deserves to be queen.
sometimes we shouldn't define people
by someone else's point of view,
just because it's what we've been told
doesn't make it true."

The poem Annie shared underscores a foundational truth we cherish at Wellington: authentic responsibility involves seeing beyond assumptions and honoring each other's unique journeys. It reminds us that true learning and community flourish when students embrace their authentic selves and look deeply and empathetically at their peers.

Our seniors beautifully exemplified this same authenticity and responsibility following their final performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Eighteen seniors, more than 40% of their class, stepped onto the stage, recognized by their director, David Glover, for their courageous spirit, risk-taking attitude, and consistent dedication. Whether committed for one year or four, these students demonstrated that responsibility means showing up fully prepared, ambitious, and eager to support and inspire others. They modeled what it means to finish strong, setting an example for the younger students following in their footsteps.

As we near the finish line of this school year, your partnership is essential. Let's encourage your children to continue taking responsibility seriously, completing assignments on time, meeting expectations in dress code and in common spaces, supporting one another, and engaging deeply. Remind them why this matters: every responsible action today is practice for who they will become tomorrow.

Together, let's embrace the wisdom shared by Cameron King ‘26, another student who inspires our community during Morning Meeting. Returning from spring break, he offered this Latin reminder:

"Non scholae sed vitae discimus."
"We do not learn for school, but for life."

With gratitude and excitement for a strong finish,

Rishi

Rishi Raghunathan
Head of Upper School

News
Parent and Caregiver Feedback
Just as we offer students feedback to help them grow, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us as a school community. We are committed to living out our mission and values, and your perspective helps us do that even better. Please complete this ten-minute survey by the end of April. Senior leadership will read every response and use the insights you share to improve and refine our work. You will be asked to complete one form for each division in which you have a child enrolled.

Important Dates
04/10:
 

  • WISE 2025 Junior parent meeting (6:30 p.m.)

04/10 - 04/12:

  • Ohio Youth in Government

04/16:  

  • Pinson day (3:00 p.m. US dismissal)

04/21-04/25: 

  • US Arts Week

04/30:

  • US Band/Strings/Choir Concerts (6:30 p.m.)

05/01: 

  • Prom Pledge (9:50 a.m.)

05/02: 

  • Grandparents and Special Friends Day (11:30 a.m. dismissal for upper school)
  • Prom (7:00 p.m.)
    • Please note that students are prohibited from attending prom if they were not in attendance for school.

05/03: 

  • Trimester 3 ends for 11th and 12th grades

05/05-05/16: 

  • AP Tests

05/08: 

  • US Honors Convocation (2:00 p.m.)

05/09: 

  • Senior Run (2:10 p.m.)
  • Last day for 11th and 12th grades

05/16-05/23: 

  • WISE Iceland

05/16-05/24: 

  • WISE Peru

05/20-05/26:

  • WISE Costa Ric