Upper School Back-to-School News

Dear Upper School Families,

I hope this note finds you well and savoring the final stretch of summer. As we prepare to welcome your children back to campus, I want to share a few reflections about where we’re headed this year in the Upper School and the values guiding us there.

Wellington is the engagement school. In a world that constantly pulls at our attention and rewards distraction, we are choosing to lean into focus, presence, and community. Engagement is not just about being here. It is about showing up with purpose; intellectually, academically, and emotionally. It means leaning into complex ideas, asking hard questions, wrestling with uncertainty, and pushing through discomfort in pursuit of growth. Engagement requires effort, and it thrives when students are challenged to think deeply and supported to take meaningful risks. At Wellington, we nurture engagement. And we practice it every day in our classrooms, hallways, advisory meetings, and community spaces.

To support that mission, we are ready to live the new Upper School schedule, intentionally built to deepen learning, promote well-being, and foster growth across all four years. The new structure includes more classroom touch points that allow for deeper dives into complex content and skill development. In addition, the schedule creates space to embrace challenge, complete assignments with thoughtfulness, and seek help when needed. The dedicated advisory block continues to prioritize mentorship, reflection, and connection. Our updated LEAP Academic Block continues to offer robust programming tailored to each grade level: First-year Seminar, Sophomore Forum, Junior Initiative, and Senior Seminar. These courses help students build executive functioning, explore careers and community service, develop global perspectives, and have dedicated time for the college application process. We’ve also protected time for study blocks, student clubs, guest speakers, and community events, ensuring that learning happens not just in traditional classes but through authentic, relational experiences. This schedule reflects who we are. We are a school that prioritizes depth, flexibility, and student agency.

We’ve also made a significant shift in our cell phone policy. This year, the Upper School will be phone-free from the start to the end of the school day. The human brain wasn’t designed for constant interruptions, and our students deserve the chance to focus, to connect, and to build the habits that sustain deep work and meaningful relationships. By removing phones during the school day, we are helping students reclaim their attention. Attention is the most valuable resource they have, and we are reminding them that they are fully capable of being present. This change is rooted in research, empathy, and a long-term view of what supports adolescent development.

You may also notice updates to our dress code expectations this year. As a school that values both individuality and responsibility, we believe students can be themselves while learning to express their identity with care and intention. The new dress code is also designed to be easier to follow and easier to enforce, which helps us maintain consistency and clarity for everyone. Dressing for school is another way students can practice good judgment as they learn to navigate different spaces thoughtfully and confidently.

As your family gets ready for the first day of school, be sure to check out the back-to-school resources for everything you need to know, including Wellington Parent Association information, safety and security protocols, and required forms.

For upper school-specific information, click here. This is also a quick reminder to complete any back-to-school tasks before their deadlines. Taking care of things early helps ensure a smooth start to the year for everyone. Thanks for staying on top of it.

We are a school that believes in challenge and joy, in structure and freedom, in accountability and empathy. Every student, no matter where they are on their journey, is capable of growth. And every adult in this building is committed to walking alongside them with clarity, compassion, and high expectations.

As always, do reach out to one of us when you have questions.

Next week, you will receive another welcome email from your child’s grade level dean. This message will have more information about advising, opening day activities, technology, and other important details about the first week of school.

Thank you for your continued partnership, for trusting us with your children, and for helping us build a community where students feel known, inspired, and ready to thrive. I can’t wait to see you all again soon.  It’s going to be a great year.

Warmly,

Rishi

Rishikesh Raghunathan
Head of Upper School