Schools

WHS Changes Policies on Dress Code, Cellphone Use; School Committee Discusses Policy for Reporting Harassment

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The sign for the temporary Watertown High School at PFC Richard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

(UPDATED Aug. 20: Additional information was added about the cellphone policy at the high school and the personal electronic device policy.)

When the 2025-26 School Year begins in September, Watertown High School students will have a new dress code, and fewer days to add or drop a class. The School Committee also discussed the sex-based harassment reporting policy, and heard about individualized instruction for math and literacy, and district policy changes. The School Committee approved the changes to the WHS Handbook at its meeting on July 28.

Schools

High Marks for Watertown Superintendent on 2024-25 Annual Review

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Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston. Members of the School Committee gave the Superintendent high marks when they met on July 28, but added a few areas where they would like to see more work. Superintendent Yearly Review: A Shining Endorsement 

Superintendent Dede Galdston has delivered yet another strong school year at the helm of Watertown Public Schools, according to the positive annual review for the 2024-25 school year from members of the School Committee. Overall, five committee members – out of a total of seven – marked her performance as “Exemplary”, the highest mark possible, with the two others giving her the second highest mark of “Proficient.”

“Dr. Galdston continues to provide the blueprint for what a superintendent should be,” wrote School Committee Vice Chair Lily Rayman-Read in her overall review, with School Committee Chair Kendra Foley adding that, “she is a tireless leader who is dedicated to the continual improvement of the district.” 

Some highlights in the review included “Instructional Leadership” – with five marks of “Proficient” and two of “Exemplary” – and “Management and Operations”, which received four “Proficient” and three “Exemplary” marks. Her “Professional Practice” and “Professional Culture” also netted her four “Exemplary” marks each. 

Multiple committee members touted the district’s successful implementation of the ParentSquare communication platform. 

Committee member Lisa Capoccia wrote that she would like to see clear data on the success of ParentSqaure, and that more could be done to meet and program with, “community organizations (and their clients, customers, or members) that serve or represent student groups with the highest needs.” Still, she also praised many of Galdston’s efforts, adding that, “not highlighted in either Goal document include Superintendent Galdston’s ongoing commitment to offering monthly Coffee with the Superintendent sessions, her collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Watertown, and her visibility at community events both in and outside WPS.”

Galdston also received high marks for “Finance, Operation, and Human Resources”, with committee members Mark Sideris (who is also City Council President) and Rayman-Read both agreeing that she exceeded expectations. 

Rayman-Read mentioned Director of Finance and Operations Lisa Gibbons and Director of Human Resources Amanda Owens – both brought on by Galdston – who she noted had done, “incredibly robust work.” Sideris similarly wrote that, “there has been a very robust push to make sure we are hiring a diverse staff to align with our diverse student population.”

“Student Learning” also netted positive marks from everyone, with Amy Donohue bringing up the successful K-5 literacy program Wit and Wisdom.

Schools

Watertown Students Make Dean’s List at Hamilton, Simmons; Graduate from Wisconsin

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Watertown students continue to earn honors for work at their college in the spring 2025 semester, and one student gradated. Dean’s List

Hamilton College

Taylor Lambo, of Watertown (02472), has been named to the Dean’s List at Hamilton College for the spring 2025 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must be a current member of the Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027, have carried a course load of four or more graded credits throughout the semester, and earned an average GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. Simmons University

The following local residents were named to the 2025 spring semester dean’s list at Simmons University in Boston. * Eileen Coleman, Watertown (02472)

* Marwa Kabir, Watertown (02472)

* Kaleigh Stout, Watertown (02472)

Graduate

University of Wisconsin

A total of 9,424 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 9-10, including a student from Watertown.

Schools

Watertown Schools Settle Lawsuit Filed by Families of Students Allegedly Mistreated by Preschool Teacher

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The Watertown Public Schools settled a lawsuit brought by the families of four students in the district’s preschool program after alleged verbal and physical treatment by a teacher in the Early Steps Preschool Program. The name of the teacher was not released. The district removed the teacher from the class immediately and the person no longer works for the Watertown Public Schools. KCS Attorneys announced the settlement in a statement on July 9, 2025. “After months of negotiations and a lengthy mediation, the parties reached a $300,000 settlement to be distributed among the plaintiffs and their families,” the announcement said.

Schools

Watertown Engineering Teacher Learning About STEM Careers in Construction Sector

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WHS engineering and robotics teacher Jason Welch

The following announcement was provided by Associated General Contractors of Mass.:

Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) will present its fifth annual Building Advancement Externship (BAE) program from Monday, August 4 – Friday, August 8. The program exposes educators to a wide array of STEM-based careers in the construction sector and prompts greater awareness of professional work opportunities for young people. Jason Welch, engineering and robotics teacher at Watertown High School, is one of 15 educators to be selected for the program. “Participants in AGC MA’s annual Building Advancement Externship become well-informed and passionate advocates for the construction industry, eager and able to share its many diverse and fulfilling opportunities with students,” says John Ferrante, CEO at AGC MA. “The participation and enthusiasm of our membership has been essential to the program’s success, and reflects its value in developing and strengthening the regional construction workforce.”

Participants in the 2025 AGC MA Building Advancement Externship include:

* Andrew DeLuca, Greater Lawrence Tech

* Eric Furlong, Wahconah Regional High School

* Josh Greeley, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School

* Grace Haggstrom, Randolph High School

* Jacob Humiston, South Hadley High School

* Timothy Lavin, Charlestown High School

* Joseph Migliore, Greater Lowell Technical High School

* Maureen O’Donnell, Boston Community Leadership Academy

* Julie O’Leary, Framingham High School

* Keith Powers, Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School

* Tracey Schryba, Franklin County Technical School

* Mario Sousa, Salem High School

* Melissa St. Pierre, BMC Durfee High School

* Heather Toomey, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute

* Jason Welch, Watertown High School

The 2025 Building Externship is supported and presented by BOND, Colantonio Inc., Collier’s Engineering & Design, Columbia, Consigli Construction, Dimeo Construction Company, Erland Construction Inc., Fontaine Brothers, Inc., North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Turner Construction, and Walsh Brothers, with support from Building Mass Careers, Building Pathways, Center for Smart Building Technology at Roxbury Community College, Fitchburg State University, Franklin Cummings Technical College, Mass CEC, Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytech Institute of Technology, and YouthBuild Boston.

Schools

Students from Watertown Make Dean’s List, Graduate from College

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Watertown students made the dean’s list at UMass-Amherst, Roger Williams, Tufts, and William & Mary. Also, local students received their degrees from Plymouth State and Tufts. Dean’s List

UMass-Amherst

The following students from Watertown were named to the Spring 2025 Dean’s List at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students are appointed to the Dean’s List at the end of a semester in which they have completed a minimum of 12 graded credits and have earned a grade point average of 3.500 or better.  Gayane Badalyan Gabriela Bondaryk Philip Centola Aidan Conneely Lana Curic Carina DeLorio Riley Donlan Ronan Greene Levon Gukasyan Benjamin Heep Jackson Helie Olivia Hoover Rosha Jalalian Saeb Awais Khan Ilana Krebs Robert Martirosyan Veronica Merhy Selina Nebiye Roy Nicolas Sophia Noble Ruari O’Sullivan Vishakha Rath Giulia Salvucci Oscar Shepard Adelle Sheynkman Mason Smith Benjamin Surenian Daniel Tattrie Gregory Venizelos Anna Zarkadas

Roger Williams

Bella Johnson, of Watertown, MA 02472 has been named to the Spring 2025 Dean’s List at Roger Williams University, in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List that semester.

Elections

LETTER: School Committee Candidate Joins Race, Lays Out Priorities

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Sheila Krishnan (Photo by Cydney Scott)

My name is Sheila Krishnan, and I’m excited to share my candidacy for one of the three School Committee seats up for election in Watertown this November. I have long appreciated the role that public education plays in contributing to a thriving, healthy democracy as someone who has worked in public health and higher education for over 17 years. Over the past five years, I have been an active Watertown Public Schools parent volunteer and community member through a variety of roles. Understanding how decisions are made in our district is important to me, not only for my children but so that I can advocate on behalf of students and families in the district. Now more than ever, having engaged, informed citizens will be vital to the future of our communities and the challenges we face ahead.

Schools

Watertown College Graduates from WPI, Hamilton, MassBay Emmanuel, William & Mary

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Clipartpanda.com

Students from Watertown graduated from several colleges in the spring of 2025. See the list below. WPI

On Friday, May 16, Emily Azevedo, who majored in Biology and Biotechnology, was bestowed a bachelor’s degree at WPI’s 156th Commencement. Nearly 1,300 undergraduate degrees were awarded during the ceremony. President Grace J. Wang, PhD, and Board of Trustees Chair William Fitzgerald presided over the exercises.