WellesleyWeston Magazine

SUMMER 2017

Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.

Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/819093

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authentic self social transition authentic self — who he'd always been in his heart and mind. The Puopolos wrote a letter to be sent to the first grade classes, but Rob wasn't in favor of it. You wouldn't issue a letter to a class if your child was gay, Rob reasoned, so why should it be necessary if your child is transgender? They discussed, they considered, and they redrafted the letter several times. In the end, they didn't send it. After a few weeks, Principal Cook told them she'd received only one parent phone call. The social transition in his class had gone smoothly thus far. John is an outgoing, charming, and confident boy who was happy to be interviewed. Unlike his mother, he doesn't have any "aha moments" or memories prior to his transition which stand out in his mind. When asked if there are any questions he doesn't like to get about being After much consideration, the family made the decision to complete the social transition — with a new name and pronoun change — and he officially entered first grade as John. John was the first student at Hardy Elementary School — and in the town of Wellesley — to socially transition. The Puopolos were prepared to help educate the Hardy staff and community. Principal Charlene Cook, school psychologist Lisa Goodman, and John's first grade teacher Timothy Baldwin were fully supportive and dug into the literature to educate themselves. The transition went well. John was now able to be his John Puopolo loves all things sports — and has an enthusiastic fan in his dog, Maggie. 90 W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2 0 1 7 Transitions

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