Schools

Rates of Alcohol & Drug Use Down for Watertown Students, But Depression & Stress Has Risen

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The rate of alcohol and marijuana is dropping for Watertown students, according to a survey by the Watertown Youth Coalition, but school officials have concerns about use among certain groups, as well as the feeling of depression and not having trusted adults with whom they can speak. For the past three decades, the Watertown Youth Coalition has monitored the well-being of Watertown students by tracking the use of alcohol and drugs, and rates of depression and stress. In November, the WYC reported the results of the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was taken by 424 Watertown Middle School students and 591 from Watertown High School. At the high school 18 percent of students reported they had consumed alcohol over the previous 30 days, down from 23 percent in 2021 and 32 percent in 2017. The middle school went from 4 percent in 2021 to 3 percent in 2023.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Coalition Revealing Results of Youth Risk Behavior Survey

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

On Wednesday, November 8th at 6 PM, Watertown Youth Coalition staff and Peer Leaders, along with the school department and other community members & stakeholders, are hosting a community forum to review Watertown’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results. Through discussions and activities run by the Peer Leaders, we will strategize programs on how to best-support Watertown’s youth moving forward. Come engage with your community and hear directly from Watertown’s young people about their experiences with the survey and its results! The event will be held at J. R. Lowell Elementary School (175 Orchard Street), we will end the night with a raffle consisting of 3 gift cards worth $25 each! Light refreshments starting at 5:30. Click Here to RSVP 

Watertown Youth Coalition is also offering childcare for the event! Click Here for Childcare ”

Schools

Watertown Youth Coalition to Present Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results

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The following announcement was provided by the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network:

Join Watertown community members & stakeholders to review the 2023 YRBS data & strategize how to best-support Watertown youth moving forward. Wayside and Watertown Youth Coalition staff, with the help of Watertown City Council members, Watertown School administration and staff will review the 2023 Watertown Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data in order to strategize youth wellness programing in Watertown. Discussions and activities will be run by WYC Peer Leaders who will also provide their own testimonials and opinions on the data. The event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at Lowell Elementary School, 175 Orchard St., Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Coalition Gives Community Spirit Awards to Several People, Groups in Watertown

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The Watertown Youth Coalition handed out the Community Spirit Awards at Arsenal Park on June 5. (Photo courtesy of Watertown Youth Coalition)

The following information was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

The rain held off on Monday for Watertown Youth Coalition’s annual Community Spirit Awards! We had such a good turnout at Arsenal Community Park for a delightful and uplifting evening, celebrating all the WYC Peer Leaders’ accomplishments this year and any and all who made a positive impact on young people in the Watertown community. Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and the Watertown Youth Coalition would like to thank all those who made this event possible! Congratulations to all of the 2023 Community Spirit Award recipients, especially our Peer Leaders!

Around Town

New Youth Engagement Specialist Joins Watertown Youth Coalition

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Watertown Youth CoalitionRaphael Marinho joined the Watertown Youth Coalition as the Youth Engagement Specialist. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

Raphael Marinho is the new Youth Engagement Specialist at Wayside Multi-Service Center and will be working with Watertown Youth in two capacities: as the Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leadership Advisor and will also be available to intervene with youth engaged in or at-risk for substance misuse. He will screen, assess, and refer youth to appropriate programs and activities that support their health and wellness. Raphael immigrated from Brazil to get his college education in the U.S., where he studied psychology and acquired a master’s degree in Community Social Psychology. Through a work-study opportunity at an early literacy program, he found his passion for education and community work with at-risk youth and immigrant families.

Around Town

Community Spirit Awards Return, Watertown Youth Coalition Holds In-Person Celebration

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Watertown Youth CoalitionThe Watertown Youth Peer Leaders pose with the staff from the Watertown Youth Coalition after the peer leaders received their awards at the 2022 Community Spirit Awards. For the first time since 2019, on June 8, the Watertown Youth Coalition along with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network hosted their yearly Community Spirit Awards ceremony and reception at Arsenal Park in Watertown. The event was put together by Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) Peer Leadership Advisor, Zhane Goode, and WYC Program coordinator Stephanie Sunderland, who had to miss the ceremony due to unforeseen circumstances. Zhane, who has been working with all of the honored students for a few years, was very happy to finally be able to hold the awards in person and noted that the students were especially excited to get to celebrate together with their friends and family. For Zhane herself, she began her work at the WYC during the pandemic, so she said it was really nice to see everyone all together as a community. 

The event has not been held in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was attended by many members of the community, including the honorees, those who nominated them for spirit awards, and families, friends, and other Watertown citizens who came to celebrate their achievements.

Around Town

Nominations Wanted for 2022 Community Spirit Awards

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition and Wayside Multi-Service Center:

Watertown Youth Coalition and Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi-Service Center invite nominations for our 2022 Community Spirit Awards and welcome the community to our annual awards event to appreciate and honor the individuals in the community committed to the health and well-being of Watertown’s youth and families. This event is free and open to the public. Light dinner will be provided. To nominate someone, please fill out the form by May 23, 2022 (Click here for the Form: Nomination form Community Spirit Awards 2022)

*Individuals eligible for nomination are those who have:

● Served as a positive influence or mentor to a Watertown Youth Coalition memberor to others in the community● Had the courage to address challenging issues that affect youth and thecommunity● Actively taken steps to improve the Watertown community for youth and families(in big and small ways)● Not received an award in the past 5 years

When: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Where: Arsenal Community Park, 458 Arsenal St., Watertown

Register here to confirm your attendance:

Click here for the Eventbrite Tickets for Community Service Awards Ceremony

About Watertown Youth Coalition

Watertown Youth Coalition’s mission is to support the wellness and empowerment of Watertown youth by engaging young people, families, and the community. About Wayside Multi-Service Center

Since 1968, Wayside Multi-Service Center has provided community-wide health promotion initiatives and counseling services to youth and families in Watertown and surrounding areas.