The Watertown Public Schools open on Thursday, Sept. 4, and here are some announcements from school officials.
Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald sent out the following information:
STUDENT REGISTRATION
For registration at the appropriate school, new students should bring their birth certificate, school records or report cards (if records from their previous school were not already transferred), proof of residency (e.g. lease or utility bill) and complete health records indicating all required immunizations were received. These immunizations are a requirement of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and must be received before the student may attend school or be enrolled.
A parent or guardian should accompany the child to school. The Principal, Assistant Principal or a guidance counselor will be available for consultation. Parents or guardians of students entering Watertown High School for the first time should call 617-926-7736 for an appointment to register their child; students entering Watertown Middle School for the first time should call 617-926-7783, ext. 1005 for an appointment; and students entering elementary school should call 617-926-7726 for the Cunniff School, 617-926-7740 for the Hosmer School, or 617-926-7770 for the Lowell School.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
School bus transportation is available for Hosmer School and Watertown Middle School students only.
To be eligible for transportation, students must live .75 or more miles from their school. Parents of eligible students requiring transportation must register for the bus through the School Business Office, 30 Common Street, Watertown and are processed on a first come, first serve bases. The fee is $300 per year with a $475 maximum per family. The fee for students in Grades K-6th that live south of the Charles River is $200 per year with a $320 maximum. Students in 7th and 8th grade south of the Charles River are subject to full fee. Elementary students who live 1.5 miles or more from the Hosmer School and sixth grade students who live 2 or more miles from the Middle School are not required to pay the fee, but must register. Parents may be eligible for a reduction of the transportation fee due to financial hardship.
Registration forms are available on our website, www.watertown.k12.ma.us, or at the Transportation Office, 30 Common Street. For further information, please call 617-926-7716.
A FY15 Student Bus Pass will be issued to all students who complete a FY15 registration form. No student will be admitted to the bus without a current FY15 Bus Pass. A Watertown Public Schools Bus Schedule will be mailed by Aug. 31 with a student’s FY15 Bus Pass. In addition, a copy of the rules and regulations for all transported students will be included with the bus pass. All students riding on school buses are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not interfere with the safe operation of the bus and/or the safety of other passengers.
Students attending Minuteman Technical High School should have received an FY15 registration form by mail by Aug. 2. The registration must be returned to the Transportation Office at 30 Common Street by Aug. 19. Unregistered students will not be permitted to ride the bus to Minuteman.
Any questions regarding school bus transportation should be directed to the Transportation Office by calling 617-926-7716.
MBTA STUDENT BUS PASSES
High School and Middle School students who use the MBTA may sign up for a Student Pass for reduced fare on MBTA buses. There are two types of Student Passes available. The first option is $25 (weekdays) or a $28 (everyday) pass that will give a student unlimited access to buses and commuter rails for one month. This pass must be paid for by the student prior to the 1st of the month. This is the most economical option for students who use the bus as their primary transportation to and from school.
The second option works like a prepaid charge card. The student can put money on the card and $.75 is deducted from the balance each time the student uses the pass. To obtain an MBTA Student Pass or for more information, please contact the Transportation Office at 617-926-7716.
STUDENT SCHEDULES
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
All Freshmen students will report to the High School Auditorium at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 and on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 will report to school at 9:55 a.m. on Thursday, September 4 and 7:55 a.m. on Friday September 5th. Both Thursday and Friday will be full school days for all students with dismissal at 2:30 p.m. If a student has scheduling problems, Guidance Counselors are available by appointment for to assist you. Lunch will be available for all students on both days. Further details about scheduling will be posted in the Headmaster’s August letter.
WATERTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grades 6, 7, and 8 students report to school on Thursday, September 4, 2014. Students begin class at 7:40 a.m. and are dismissed at 2:10 p.m.
CUNNIFF SCHOOL
Students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Cunniff School report to school on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m.
On Thursday, September 4th, Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their appointment letter sent home by teachers. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes begin on Thursday, Sept. 4 according to the following schedule. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.
Friday, Sept. 5, 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Lunch will be served. No extended day programs.
Monday, Sept. 8, 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Extended day programs begin for registered students.
HOSMER SCHOOL
Students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Hosmer School report to school on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 at 8:20 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:35 p.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 4, Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their placement letter. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes begin on Friday, Sept. 5 according to the following schedule. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.
Friday, Sept. 5, 8:20 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lunch served. No transportation or extended day programs.
Monday, Sept. 8, 8:20 a.m. arrival and 2:35 p.m. dismissal. Extended day programs and transportation begin for registered students.
LOWELL SCHOOL
All students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Lowell School will report to school on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 4, Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their placement letter. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes begin on Friday, Sept. 5 according to the following schedule. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.
Friday, Sept. 5, 8:20 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lunch served. No transportation or extended day programs.
Monday, Sept. 8, 8:20 a.m. arrival and 2:35 p.m. dismissal. Extended day programs and transportation begin for registered students.
WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
On Thursday, Sept. 4 Early Steps Integrated Preschool Teachers meet with parents and children.
Morning classes meet from 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and afternoon classes meet from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Classes begin on Friday, Sept. 5 according to your child’s class assignment. The three day program (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
WATERTOWN COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Before and After School Programs for Grades 1-5 at the Cunniff, Hosmer and Lowell Elementary Schools begin on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. Before School Programs start at 7:15 a.m. and Extended Day
Programs start at the close of the school day. Pre-K/Kindergarten Before and After School Programs begin on Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. For further information, please contact Ms. Beth Sahakian at 617-923-7653.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING SCHOOL
MEASLES VACCINE
All students entering Kindergarten and Grade 7 must have two Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccines. It must be the combined immunization.
HEPATITIS B VACCINE
In addition to the other medical requirements, students entering Kindergarten are required to have proof that they have had the Hepatitis B Vaccine.
Tdap BOOSTER
All Grade 7 students are required to have a Tdap booster within five years of entry to Grade 7.
VARICELLA (Chicken Pox)
All students entering Preschool, Kindergarten and Grade 7 must have two Varicella Vaccines or proof from their doctor that they have had Chicken Pox.
PHYSICAL EXAM
Students entering Kindergarten must have had a recent physical exam (since September 2013) by a licensed practitioner. They must also provide a certificate that they had a recent eye exam. Proof of the physical and eye exam must be given to the school nurse on or before the first day of school.
Grade 4, Grade 7 and Grade 10 students must have had a recent physical exam (since September 2013).
Proof of the physical must be given to the school nurse on or before October 1, 2014.
New students entering the system must provide proof of a recent physical (since September 2013) to the school nurse.
STUDENTS ATTENDING MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATION TECHNICAL SCHOOL
FIRST TIME STUDENTS
The first day of school for new students attending Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School in Lexington is Monday, Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Transportation to Minuteman is provided by the Watertown Public Schools. Students enrolled in Minuteman will receive a bus schedule in the mail.
RETURNING MINUTEMAN STUDENTS
The first day of school for other students attending Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School is Tuesday, Aug. 26. Normal school hours are 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM
The School Breakfast/Lunch Program for both the elementary and secondary students begins at all schools on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2014, which is the first day of school. A full lunch will be available. Lunch prices are:
Breakfast $1.25 /day ($.30 reduced and free to eligible students)
Lunch $3.00/day or $15.00 week ($.40 reduced and free to eligible students)
Pre-packaged salads $3.00
Milk $.55/carton
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM
Choice of low fat, skim, or Lactaid milk is included with school lunch.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM
Breakfast
Watertown High School $1.75 /day ($.30 reduced and free to eligible students)
Watertown Middle School $1.25 /day ($.30 reduced and free to eligible students)
Lunch
Watertown High School $3.50/day ($.40 reduced and free to eligible students)
deli sub sandwich meal $3.50 each
pre-packaged salads $3.50 each
milk $ .55 carton
Watertown Middle School $ 3.50/day (.40 reduced and free to eligible students)
pre-packaged salad $3.50
milk $ .55/carton
PLEASE NOTE: Prices may change due to federal regulations.
Free and/or reduced price meals program, subsidized by the Federal Government, is available to eligible families. Forms for the subsidized program can be obtained in the main office at your child’s school.