WELCOME TO UPPER
SCHOOL
Orientation for 9th grade parents
ATTENDANCE
Who do I call if my child is sick?
Nuts and bolts of attendance
• The school day begins promptly at 8:00.
• If your child is sick, please call the attendance voicemail
(401-421-8100) or call or email Lynne Bell (401-528-2141,
lynnebell@wheelerschool.org) before 8:00.
• Attendance is taken at assembly, in advisor groups, and in
first period classes. If we have not received notification of
an absence, we will call home.
• Students who are late to school should sign in in the
Upper School office.
What happens if my child is tardy?
• When a student is tardy 4 times (per quarter), s/he will
serve a 1 hour after school detention.
• After 6 tardies, a letter is sent home and parents are
called.
• We waive tardies in the event of extreme weather and
when we know of terrible traffic conditions. We do not
waive tardies when a parent calls and says “my child is
going to be late”.
What happens if my child has a doctor’s
appointment?
• Please call Lynne Bell in advance of the appointment.
With your permission (and only with your permission) we
will allow a student to sign out and leave. They are
expected to sign back in (in the US office) when they
return to school.
• Without a note or phone call giving permission for a
student to leave campus, Lynne will call home to verify.
What if my child falls sick at school?
• Students who become sick at school should report to the
health center.
• If a student needs to be dismissed due to illness, they
must be checked out through the health center.
What do I do if I know my child is going to
be absent?
• We ask all students with a prearranged (or excused)
absence to fill out an “intended absence form” (informally
known as a purple sheet). The sheet is signed by parents,
the student’s teachers, his/her advisor and the dean of
students.
ATHLETICS
Nuts and bolts of sports
• Busses leave campus for the farm at 3:15 and return to
campus between 5:45 and 6:00.
• Students must attend school to be eligible to participate in
after school athletic events. Students who miss one (or
more) class due to illness will be evaluated by the health
center.
• Athletic schedules can be found on line. When practices
or games are cancelled, students are notified via email.
Game cancellations are posted on the website, and
parents can sign up for text or email notification of
cancellations.
PE requirements
• Any student not participating on an athletic team is
required to elect one activity per term (fall/winter/spring).
• Students are notified of class offerings via email and
assembly.
• Independent contracts are available for those who
participate in out of school lessons or activities. Contracts
are signed by the student’s parents. Rhode Island law
requires 100 minutes of physical education per week.
COMMUNICATION
Who do I call?
• Advisor – the advisor is the first point of contact and is the
person most likely to have a comprehensive overview of
how your child is doing.
• Dean of Students (Peter Lau)
• Head of Upper School (Neeltje Henneman)
• Health Center (Nurse Kathy McKenna or our school
counselor, Peggy O’Neil)
ADVISING SYSTEM – Points of contact
• All advisors will make contact within the first two weeks of
school.
• Teachers will complete anecdotal reports at the end of the
first 4 weeks of school. Advisors will call home.
• 1st quarter grades and comments will come home in early
November
• Parent/Advisor Conferences are on November 15th.
Upcoming parent events
• Dinner for Families of Color (Friday, September 6th)
• New Families Dinner (September 10th)
• Back to School Night (September 19th)
• Dinner for LGBT families (September 20th)
• 9th grade parent evening (October 10th)
The Website
• If you haven’t already done so, log in and check your
profile for accuracy of email.
• Please check the master calendar regularly.
• It’s a good first stop when looking for forms.
• The Weekly Word is sent out Thursday at 3:00 pm and
often includes links to important information.
ORIENTATION
How do we help 9th grade students make the transition
to Upper School?
Orientation Schedule
• 8:15
• 8:30
• 9:00
• 10:00
• 11:00
• 12:30
• 2:00
• 3:00
Check-in with advisors and peer supporters
(courtyard)
Assembly in Wheeler Hall
Tour
Full Upper School in Wheeler Hall
Advisor group meetings/lunch
Student led assembly
Class meeting/advisor time
Dismissal
Building class unity during the first weeks
of school
• Jamboree – M slot, September 12th – news students are
assigned their colors
• Septemberfest – September 12th – Wheeler Farm
• Class retreats - September 13th
Co-curricular activities
• A wide range of options will be introduced to your child
over email and in assembly.
• Club fair – September 19th.
• We encourage 9th grade students to try a range of
activities.
And finally . . .
• Please don’t hesitate to call or send an email with any
questions or concerns.
• Neeltje Henneman (401) 528-2142,
Neeltjehenneman@wheelerschool.org
• Peter Lau (401) 528-2213
Peterlau@wheelerschool.org