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/78488
letter editor's the arrivalof fall is decidedly bittersweet as we say goodbye to summer afternoons reading on a beach, family reunions, picnics in the park, and splashing in local pools. But along with fall comes crisper, cooler weather, beautiful foliage, shopping for school clothes and supplies, and reuniting with friends who have been away for the summer. I recall waiting with anticipation to hear all about the first days of school from my children. Our daughter JILL NILSEN jill@wellesleywestonmagazine.com would tell us everything about her day: impressions of her teachers, the new kids at school, what she ate for lunch, her best friend's cute shoes, all down to the tiniest detail. Our son told us absolutely nothing. We had to rely on Back-to-School night to learn all that we could about the curriculum, his teachers, and who the other kids were in his classes. I also remember climbing the crowded, narrow staircase at the old high school up to a dark and sweltering third floor classroom, wondering how the teachers and students could tolerate the first few weeks of school when the summer weather had not yet given in to the cooler fall air. What a difference a few years makes. Last March, I had the privilege of being one of the guest speakers at Wellesley High School Career Day, where I was able to tour the new high school and use one of the classrooms for my presentation. I was awed by the expansive, open spaces, the technology, the views to the outside, and how bright and cheerful the entire premises appeared. And the new school is the greenest building in town. You'll have the opportunity to take your own tour with our "Back to School at the New Wellesley High School" article in this issue. Perhaps what was more impressive than the building, however, were the students who planned and exe- cuted the day, which involved many speakers and countless moving parts. All of the students I met were friendly, poised, professional, polite, and extremely articulate. I enjoyed the same experience when I spoke at Weston High School's Career Day two years ago. As Dr. Andrew Keough, principal of Wellesley High School, put it eloquently to his students: "In the end, a school is a shell without all the people in it. Students, faculty, administration, parents, and the community make it what it is." This issue has a variety of features that will help you and your family welcome and relish the fall season. Our "Ten Tips for What to Do with a Pumpkin" provides some fun ideas to fill an autumn afternoon, and our Food and Wine department provides nutritional answers to that inevitable question every school-age child asks: "What's for lunch?" And don't forget to check out our new Fashion department where local stores offer their choices for fall's "must haves." I hope that your transition from summer to fall is an easy one and that you enjoy this issue. Happy Fall! 16 WellesleyWeston Magazine | fall 2012 CAROLY N ROSS