Schools

New Watertown High School Nearing Completion — See Photos

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The large W adorns the wall of the glass stairwell near the intersection of Common and Spring streets. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a tour of the nearly completed new Watertown High School, a group saw classrooms that look ready to host classes, along with some of the gems of the new building: the gymnasium, the auditorium, and a two-story media center (a.k.a. the library). Christy Murphy of owner project management firm Vertex gave an update on the status of the project before the group toured the building. “We are about 97% complete, that’s in dollars, but there’s a lot of details (left). So, as we’re walking around, you’re going to see spaces that are shockingly done — some furniture’s here — finishes,” Murphy said.

Schools

College Students from Watertown Earn Honors, Graduate, Complete Projects

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Several students from Watertown earned honors from North Shore Community College, Alabama, Hoftra, Saint Anslem, and William & Mary. Local students graduated from Hamilton College and Emmanuel College. Also, three Watertown students who attend WPI completed projects. The following information was provided by the colleges and universities. Honors

North Shore Community College

North Shore Community College is proud to announce its spring 2026 Dean’s List, honoring students who have demonstrated academic distinction.

Letters

LETTER: Parents Concerned About Students With Disabilities, Call for “Vote of No Confidence” for School Administrator

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To the Editor,

We are a group of Watertown caregivers and community members writing to raise urgent awareness about an active community petition concerning the experiences of students with disabilities in Watertown Public Schools. Families across the district have repeatedly raised concerns regarding access to appropriate special education services, consistency of implementation, communication with families, and meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes. These concerns reflect sustained experiences shared by multiple families over many years and warrant serious public attention. In response, a community petition was created calling for the School Committee to place on its agenda a public discussion and action on a Vote of No Confidence for the Director of Student Services. This petition remains open and active.

Schools

Watertown Students Graduate, Earn Honors at Their Colleges & Universities

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Watertown residents graduated from Salve Regina, WPI, James Madison, and Trine. Local students earned honors at Springfield College, Ohio State, Assumption, Emmanuel, Fairfield, and Quinnipiac. The following information was provide by the college or university:

Graduates

Salve Regina University

On May 17, on the oceanside campus of Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president, conferred 525 bachelor’s degrees upon the Class of 2026 at the University’s 76th Commencement. These local students were among them. Simrin Bakhshi of Watertown

Jesse Cavarretta of Watertown

Michael Cormier-Luce of Watertown

WPI

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its 157th Commencement exercises, honoring graduates whose innovation, perseverance, and purpose-driven achievements will help shape the future.

Schools

Watertown Students Graduate from BC High, Make Honor Roll

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Three Watertown students graduated from Boston College High School, and several made the school’s honor roll. See the information provided by BC High, below. Boston College High School proudly celebrated the achievements of the 277 graduates of the Class of 2026 during the school’s 162nd Commencement Exercises on Morrissey Boulevard. Thousands of family members, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to honor the graduates and welcome them into the lifelong brotherhood of the BC High alumni community. This year’s commencement address was delivered by Vincent D. Rougeau, president of the College of the Holy Cross and a nationally respected scholar of legal education and Catholic social thought

The graduates included the following students from Watertown:

Ben Campolongo

Owen Driscoll

Alex Podgoretsky

Honor Roll

BC High announced the students who received honors in Quarter 3, including several local students.

Schools

Congrats Grads! — See Photos from the Class of 2026

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A member of the Watertown High School Class of 2026 gets a hug after receiving her diploma (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The 175 members of Watertown High School’s Class of 2026 celebrated their graduation at Victory Field Friday afternoon. See the list of graduates and photos from the ceremony. Watertown High School Class of 2026

(+ Cum Laude Society, ^ National Honor Society, * Seal of Biliteracy, % Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, # Pre-Engineering Pathway, £ Pre-Medical Assist Pathway)

Sofia Alejandra Aedo Figueroa

Jafar Raad Al Hilfy

Arianna M Alvarez

Samuel Alves Cerqueira

Aiden Lukas Anker

Manal Anwar

Monika Arakelyan

Eduard Christopher Askaryan

Mazen Mohammad Atiyyat

A 2026 graduate grabs a selfie after receiving her degree. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Kevin Augusto

Houria Awan *

Tobalashe Opeyemi Banjo +^*

Ryder Joseph Barenholtz ^

Abel Killian Barker

Stefano Aldo Barresi

Davit Gevorg Barseghyan *

Gerver Isaac Boteo

Ariana Araxi Boyajian ^

Brixton Panda Brandt

Lucas Joseph Bray

Gabriella De Freitas and Sofia Rojas sing “Dreams” during the graduation ceremony.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Cameron Edward Burke

Marissa Rose Cabral

Mariajose Calderon Castellanos %

Nicholas Daniel Calidonna

Christian Alberto Calix

Joshua Carias Coronado

Danilo Chaves Carvalho

Luciana Castro Guevara ^*

Mia Ann Caterino +^*

Anastasia Chernikova *

Berat Cinar

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Watertown News (@watertownmanews)

Angelina Luz Colon ^

Theresa Helen Corbett

Joshua Sevelle Crespo

Gustavo Ferreira Da Silva

Karina Daldemian ^

Edmond Augustine Daly

Ana Beatriz Lima DaSilva %

Gabrielly Ferreira De Freitas +^%

Ketly Carla De Oliveira

Isaac Gabriel Demelo

Hannah Oliveira Dempsey

Ixchel Mayan Tankard Diaz

Aysha Din +^

Vanessa Sandra Duenas

Almc Elwagia %

Principal Joel Giacobozzi speaks to the Class of 2026 during graduation at Victory Field. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Ned Elwagia *

Arthur De Albuquerque Ferraz +^%

Moya Nicole Flanagan +^

Tyler Joseph Flynn

Danica Erin Foley +^

Gavin Robert Foley

Evelyn Johnson Follett ^

Higor Franca Camara

Joshua Rennan Ferreira Freitas

Arianne Yailyn Galdamez

Tristan Gabriel Galeano Gordillo

MacKenzie Erin Gilligan ^

Yensi Angelly Giron +^%

Jake Ryan Gobbi

Nash Macabee Goldstein

One of more than a dozen groups of students gave a welcome in their home language at the 2026 graduation ceremony.

Around Town

Spring-Summer Watertown Adult & Community Education Catalog is Out, Registration Open

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See what courses are available from Watertown Adult & Community Education in the spring and summer catalog. See details below. The 2026 Spring-Summer Watertown Adult & Community Education Catalog, including information about the Town Wide Yard Sale, is now available online! Courses in the catalog run between June 4, 2026-Aug. 17, 2026. 

Click here to view the 2026 Spring-Summer Adult & Community Education Catalog, including links to our online registration form.

Schools

Watertown High School Adding 3 New Career Pathway Programs

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A rendering of the new Watertown High School from Ai3 Architects. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Watertown High School will launch three new Innovation Career Pathway (ICP) programs, joining a growing list of Massachusetts high schools offering specialized course offerings in high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Healey-Driscoll administration announced plans to expand the Innovation Career Pathway program to 10 new high schools in Massachusetts, including Watertown. These pathways are designed to give students hands-on experience and specialized coursework focusing on different high-growth industries. Watertown will offer 10 different Innovation Career Pathway programs across three different industry sectors: Clean Energy, Environmental and Life Sciences, and Healthcare and Social Assistance.