a note from the head of school
Alumni are a key part of the Wellan community. Whether you graduated recently from our Voyager program or back when we were known as Newton Montessori, we hope you stay connected. In sharing your experiences, updating us on your milestones, and returning to campus, you help sustain the strength of our school for future generations of Montessori learners.
In this issue, you’ll find exciting updates from campus, highlights of alumni engaging with the school throughout the year, and a warm welcome to our newest group of
WELCOME BACK, ALWAYS.
Throughout the year, alumni return to campus to give back in small but meaningful ways—and to reconnect with the teachers, staff, and families who were an important part of their time at Wellan.
Whether they’re mentoring students, helping out at events, or just dropping in for a visit, our alumni continue to be a valued part of the Wellan community.
future alumni: the Wellan Class of 2025. We’re proud of where our alumni have gone, and we’re just as excited about where we’re all headed together.
Warmly, Beth Black Head of School
5.
1. Class of ‘22 alum and current After School teacher Ben Jolly plays in the annual staff vs. students basketball game. 2. Maggie McNeal (’23) and Hailey Strand (’24) return to Wellan as counselors for Wellan’s Summer Programs. 3. Sophia DeDomenico, class of ’22 alum and Assistant Director of Wellan Drama Club’s 2025 Oliver Twist production, receives flowers from an actor after the show. 4. Current Yale student and Newton Montessori alum Caroline Fei reconnects with her former primary teachers.
Class of ‘24 alum JJ Peyton serves at the 2024 Thanksgiving Feast. 6. Class of ‘24 alum Eva Candal visits her former MS teachers over Spring Break.
ALUMNI A CAPELLA
This past December, we had the pleasure of hosting Wellan alumna Caroline Fai, now a Cognitive Science major at Yale University and the Boston Tour Manager for the prestigious Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest collegiate a cappella group.
Caroline and the Whiffenpoofs delivered a dynamic vocal performance, blending talent with humor, showcasing not only artistry but also the skills of collaboration and self-confidence.
Following the performance, Caroline revisited her old Primary 4 classroom, reminisced with faculty about Newton Montessori School (Wellan's former name), and shared stories with current students about her time in the classroom.
Caroline’s journey from Wellan to Yale is a shining example of how our school sets students up for success. We are so proud of her achievements
and grateful for the inspiration she and the Whiffenpoofs shared with our community. Their visit sparked joy and curiosity, reminding our students to dream big and embrace their unique talents.
The Whiffenpoofs will return to Wellan next school year for another live performance. Their visit gives students a chance to experience live performance, hear from accomplished alumni, and see real-world examples of where curiosity and commitment can lead.
BONDS THAT LAST
Thirteen alumni from the classes of 2021 through 2024 joined Middle School faculty for a night of catching up, reminiscing about their favorite Voyager moments, and testing their skills at Puttshack’s high-tech mini-golf course in Natick.
Older students swapped college plans while younger alums compared notes on their first year of high school. Over food, drinks, and mini-golf, there were plenty of inside jokes, throwbacks to Middle School projects, and reminders of the traditions that made their time at Wellan meaningful. The night was a reminder that Wellan connections don’t end after graduation — they grow.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
ELEVATE WELLAN
The Inside Scoop on Wellan’s First-Ever Capital Campaign
In June 2024, we broke ground on the Wellan Accessibility and Expansion Project—an exciting step in our master facilities plan, which is designed to ensure that every student can thrive in an inclusive, inspiring environment.
The Main Building now has an elevator connecting all three floors and a ramp from the lower level into the gym, making every area of the school fully accessible. The new addition includes a large community gathering space, a student collaboration space in the relocated library, a gross motor room for Beginners, updated classrooms for Specials, and several new offices. Start-up funds for this project came from Wellan’s reserve fund and a contribution from Sacred Heart Parish.
NEW LOOK. SAME GREAT SCHOOL. THE PERFECT CRESCENT LUNGE! But who? And when? Do you recognize these you ng yogis? Email us at alumni@wellan.org if you can tell us anything about this photo!
In March 2025, we publicly launched Elevate Wellan—our first-ever capital campaign. The two-year fundraising initiative will support not only the balance of the Wellan Accessibility and Expansion Project costs but also:
• New curricular investments in drama, art, library, and foreign language
• The growth of Wellan’s endowment to secure long-term sustainability
• Our Annual Fund, which fuels tuition assistance, faculty professional development, and essential day-to-day operations
To date, we’ve raised $800,000 toward our $1.4 million dollar goal.
Throughout Wellan’s history, our community has come together to turn bold visions into reality. A number of alumni and their families have already stepped forward to be part of this historic effort as a way of acknowledging the impact their former teachers have had on their educational journeys. We invite you to join the campaign with a contribution of any size. With your generosity and our shared belief in what’s possible, we can elevate Wellan for generations to come.today is no different. With your generosity and shared belief in what’s possible, we can elevate Wellan for generations to come.
Scan here or visit wellan.org/elevatewellan to learn more!
ALUMNI IN THE ARTS
What began as a short classroom sketch became a full theatrical production, thanks to the creativity and leadership of one Voyager student—and the collaboration of an entire cast.
In the fall of the 2022–2023 school year, JJ Peyton, then a Voyager student, wrote a brief scene as part of a drama project. His take on the classic myth of Perseus and Medusa had a sharp, modern twist—think Saturday Night Live meets ancient Greece.
Later that semester, he enrolled in the playwriting elective and asked his teacher, Wellan Drama Specialist Jen Taschereau, if he could expand on his original idea for his final project. The result was a wildly entertaining 27-page script retelling the Perseus myth, from the hero’s birth all the way to his confrontation with Medusa.
Fast forward to this school year, as Voyager students began
selecting a play to produce for their annual Arts in Action showcase. One group was struggling to connect with the scripts on offer. That’s when JJ’s script came to mind.
After reaching out to JJ—now an alum—to see if he'd be open to having his work staged, we got the green light. JJ and Jen discussed ways to adapt the script for performance. JJ trimmed down his original draft and later joined a rehearsal, providing feedback and making adjustments based on how the actors interpreted his characters. The cast, in turn, had the chance to ask questions and offer their own suggestions, turning the process into a true collaboration.
Bringing JJ’s work full circle gave students a play they were excited to perform and created a meaningful opportunity to connect with an alum whose creativity continues to inspire the Wellan community.
At Wellan, tuition covers only a portion of the true cost of education. Like many independent schools, we rely on the generosity of families, alumni, and friends to help bridge the gap. Your support sustains what makes Wellan exceptional—competitive teacher salaries, tuition assistance for families, enriched curriculum resources, innovative program development, and the ongoing care of our learning spaces.
Families contributing $250+ are recognized on our Alumni Donor Wall. If you’d like to make your gift this fiscal year, scan the QR code to give easily and securely online.
Dziko Caplan
High school: Boston Arts Academy
Physics Deep Dive.
Favorite Wellan project: The Roller Coaster
Favorite Wellan tradition: I love the Festival of Lights because I play drums for it.
Favorite Wellan memory: I loved watching the sunset on Cape Cod, and when Vikram fell asleep on my lap on the car ride home.
Advice for current Wellan students: It ALWAYS gets better.
High school: Beaver Country Day
Favorite Wellan project: The Art History Deep Dive in 7th grade.
Favorite Wellan tradition: End-of-Year
Ceremony and End-of-Year Picnic — I love the sense of community and the feeling of the year coming to an end.
Favorite Wellan memory: The Cape Cod trip in 7th Grade, specifically the night we watched the sunset on the beach.
Advice for current Wellan students: It’s okay to ask for help even before you start really struggling, as long as you try first.
MEET THE GRADS
CLASS OF 2025
High school: Watertown High School
Favorite Wellan project: A lesson about the wealth gap where everyone had a different amount of money.
Favorite Wellan tradition: Week o’ Fun. It’s a relaxing week where you get to have fun.
Favorite Wellan memory: Playing sports during recess.
Advice for current Wellan students: Work hard and pay attention.
High school: Brookline High School
Favorite Wellan project: I like the roller coasters we made this year and the Painting Deep Dive last year.
Favorite Wellan tradition: AutoCamp.
Favorite Wellan memory: Going to the beach last year in Cape Cod.
Advice for current Wellan students: Get to know students from other grades!
High school: Cambridge School of Weston
Favorite Wellan project: Our cell deep dive and model presentation in 8th grade.
Favorite Wellan tradition: The Festival of Lights. We were all together as a class and it was really fun and nice.
Favorite Wellan memory: Mini-golfing together in 7th grade during our overnight Cape Cod trip.
Advice for current Wellan students: Do your work and if you need help ask a teacher or a friend.
Autumn Chiaino
Ashwin Karmacharya
Adeline Philbin
Juliet Ruiz
WELLAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL
@WellanMontessori