Schools

Two Watertown Students at Minuteman High School Earn Book Awards

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Twenty-five juniors from Minuteman High School in Lexington have were recently honored with book awards from various colleges and universities for demonstrating outstanding scholarship, leadership, community service and achievement in specific academic areas. The honorees and their awards are as follows:

The Air Force awards the Math and Science Award to a student who excels in math and science. Michael Whitmore (Arlington)

The Sage Colleges recognize two students who embody the Sage College motto: “To Be, To Know, To Do.” The recipients will receive a scholarship of at least $5000 per year to attend the Sage Colleges. Mitchell Cupp (Concord) and Rustam Ragin (Needham)

The Regis College Book Award goes to a student who demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills, displays outstanding academic promise and exhibits exceptional leadership quality. Dominic DeCampo (Arlington)

In recognition of the value that the St. Lawrence community places on service to others, the St.

Schools

Watertown Junior Chosen as a Winner in National Essay Contest

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The international nonprofit organization Facing History and Ourselves today announced the seven student winners of The 2016 Facing History Together Student Essay Contest. The winning students – including a Watertown junior –and their classrooms and teachers will receive over $9,000 in scholarships and prizes. This year’s contest, “Student Voices: To Kill a Mockingbird in Today’s World,” invited students to reflect on the themes, characters, and settings from Harper Lee’s classic American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, in order to make connections to their own experiences. Nearly 4,000 seventh-12th grade students from across the U.S. submitted an essay. Meet the Winners:
Cicada Scott, Senior
Manitou Springs High School, Manitou Springs, Colorado
“Congratulations!

Charity

Woman Biking 200 Miles to Put a Salad Bar in the Watertown Public Schools

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Jenn LaVardera of Dole will cycle approximately 200 miles from Napa Valley to Monterey, Calif. on behalf of Watertown Public Schools to raise funds to donate a salad bar to the district. They will both ride as part of the third-annual Tour de Fresh Cycling Event benefitting the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools campaign, which has provided more than 100 salad bars to schools across the country in the last two years – providing tens of thousands of students with fresh produce options on a daily basis. The event, a collaborative effort by fresh produce industry professionals and presented by The California Giant Foundation, will begin in Napa Valley on July 26 and conclude in Monterey, Calif. on July 28 just before the industry’s annual PMA Foodservice Conference.

Government

Legislative Breakfast in Watertown to Address Opiates, Homelessness and More

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The Metro Suburban Advocacy Initiative – East group will host a Legislative Breakfast in Watertown to discuss a variety of issues, including the opiate crisis, homelessness and disabilities. The event will be Friday, May 13 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave. in Watertown. Watertown’s State House legislators – Sen. Will Browsberger and Reps. John Lawn and Jonathan Hecht – have been invited to attend.

Letters

LETTER: Parent Pushes for Later Start Times at High School, Middle School

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I am very happy to see that Watertown is considering moving start times later for both the Middle and High School. Thank you to the Wellness Committee and to everyone that worked on this initiative. While any movement towards later start times is a positive development, I would like to show my support for moving start times to 8:30 a.m. If we are going to make a change, why not go for the best solution possible? According to the survey data, 50 percent or more of students and parents are either neutral or in favor of moving start times as much as 45 minutes later, and that was with little to no district-wide education on the benefits. The survey cited that one of the major stumbling blocks was perceived to be conflicts with after school sports.

Schools

MassBay Community College Hosting Spring Open House

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Massachusetts Bay Community College will hold its annual Spring Open House on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 9:45 a.m. Interim President Yves Salomon-Fernandez along faculty, staff and students will be on hand to greet and welcome prospective students, newly admitted students, and their families to the Wellesley Hills campus. The Spring Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to meet and talk with current students, faculty, and staff to learn about the 80 degree and certificate programs offered at MassBay. Newly admitted students are encouraged to attend to learn more about student clubs and organizations, sign up for placement testing and orientation sessions, and talk with academic divisions. The Open House will include a self-guided tour of campus, mock classes, information sessions, student and alumni panel discussions, information for veterans, financial aid session, on-the-spot admissions, and more. WHAT: MassBay Community College Spring Open House

WHERE: MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland St., Wellesley Hills, MA

WHEN: Saturday, May 7, 2016

TIME: 9:45 a.m. (registration starts at 9AM)

Prospective students can learn more about the event and RSVP at www.MassBay.edu/OpenHouse or call the Office of Admissions at 781-239-2500.

Around Town

Hundreds of Volunteers Clean Up Charles River for Earth Day

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On Saturday, April 30, over 300 people volunteered in Watertown as part of the 17th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. In a collaboration led by Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), over 3,000 volunteers from 133 groups throughout the watershed worked together to remove litter and debris as well as eradicate invasive species in an effort to beautify the Charles River and surrounding parklands, the CRWA announced. For 17 years the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup has provided thousands of volunteers an opportunity to serve as parkland stewards at sites throughout the Charles River watershed including in Watertown. Through their service, volunteers deepen their connection to the Charles River while increasing their commitment to protect it. On Saturday, participants joined thousands of volunteers across Massachusetts who came together for Park Serve Day MassParks’ annual statewide day of volunteer service.

Charity

Tickets Still Left for Watertown Education Foundation’s Dancing with the Stars

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The Watertown Education Foundation (WEF) will host its third annual, “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) event on Friday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., East Watertown, the Foundation announced. Modeled after the popular television show, the event features Watertown “stars” partnered with professional dancers from Ballroom in Boston located in Allston. The 2016 Stars are: Marianne Cameron, Cunniff School; Chris Crombie, Watertown Boys & Girls Club; Mialisa Depaolis, Mialisa Salon owner, Watertown; David Leon, Watertown resident and former School Committee member; Georgia Mulgrew, Hosmer School; Kim Seacrist, Cunniff parent; Ernie Thebado, Watertown Recreation Department; and Michael Venezia, Watertown resident. “This event the past two years has been a tremendous success,” said Amy Donohue, WEF co- president. “It is a fun night out for the adults, and a wonderful opportunity to support the WEF grant program.