Flower Sunday
Services for Flower Sunday, one of Wellesley’s longest-standing traditions, were hosted in-person by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life on Sept. 9, 2021 for the first time since 2019. The ceremony was held outdoors on the steps of the Hay Amphitheatre, instead of the usual Houghton Chapel, and featured speeches from religious chaplains and students, as well as performances from the choir. First-year “littles” were matched with upper class “bigs” within their residence halls, and students enjoyed a special brunch following the ceremony.
Safety Notice
On Monday, Sept. 20, the College sent out a safety notice to all students and their parents or guardians following an incident of an approximately 6 foot tall male, wearing a backpack and dark hoodie, harassing a student. Students are encouraged by the College to walk in groups or to call the Campus Police Non-Emergency number for an escort if they feel unsafe. In the case that students identify someone who matches the description given in the report, they can notify Campus Police at (781) 283-5555.
COVID Testing Policy
In order to prevent the spread of COVID on campus, the College has mandated asymptomatic testing twice a week for students, faculty and staff. The tests are evaluated in pools of 10 other members of the community. If at least one person in the pool tests positive, everyone in the pool is required to test again individually with both rapid antigen and PCR tests. However, it is the sole responsibility of students to abide by the Honor Code and follow guidelines for testing. According to the most recent testing communication from Piper Orton, Karen Petrulakis and Sheilah Shaw Horton, students must take extra precautions while waiting on their individual test results, such as wearing masks outdoors and maintaining physical distance. Students are also told not to attend classes or extracurriculars as they await test results. Only after receiving a positive individual test result will students be put in quarantine. Since Aug. 22, seven faculty members and four students have tested positive for the virus, as shown on the COVID-19 Dashboard.
