Schools

School Committee Approves Interim Student Services Head, Creates Subcommittee to Review Special Education

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The School Committee approved the hiring of the interim Director of Student Services, who will oversee the special education program in the Watertown Public Schools, and also created a subcommittee focused on Student Services that will look at the district’s special education program. The moves made at the July 27 meeting, came in the wake of a push by parents of students in the special education program to make changes to the program and remove the Director of Student Services for not providing the services needed by students and creating an environment of fear and distrust. The discussion around Watertown’s Special Education program has become heated, including an online threat directed toward one of the School Committee members. Parents Concerns

For the past few School Committee meetings, parents have spoken about their experiences, their concerns about the special education program in Watertown, and what they would like to see change. Many have spoken about not feeling heard, being targeted for asking for services for their children, and not trusting Watertown special education program.

Schools

Watertown Residents Graduate and Make Dean’s List at Their Colleges

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Watertown students earned degrees from Tufts, UMass Amherst, and University of Wisconsin. Local students also earned honors from Tufts, Holy Cross, UMass Amherst, and Wisconsin. The following information was provided by the colleges and universities:

Graduates

Tufts University

More than 3,600 students across all schools graduated from Tufts University on May 17 during a university-wide commencement ceremony that featured the awarding of honorary degrees to a number of academic, business, and civic leaders making a positive impact on the world. The following students were among those who graduated:

Leyla Mandel of Watertown (02472)

Eraste Talla Ngoualadjo of Watertown (02472)

UMass Amherst

Approximately 7,000 students received bachelor’s degrees in over 100 majors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Undergraduate Commencement on May 15, 2026 at the McGuirk Alumni Stadium. 

Below is a list of students from your area that received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst:

Watertown, MA

 Philip Richard Centola Levon Gukasyan Benjamin Harrison Heep Olivia Juliet-Mei Hoover Deion Adam Howe Duncan Alexander Lepera Sophia Lucille Noble Gregory Steven Venizelos

University of Wisconsin-Madison

More than 9,100 students, including students from your area, earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2026. The university held its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony for doctoral, MFA, and medical professional candidates at the Kohl Center on Friday, May 8 and its ceremony for undergraduate, law, and other Master’s degree candidates at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, May 9.

Schools

Students from Watertown Make Dean’s List at Three Colleges

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Local students made the dean’s list at Georgia Tech, Northern Essex Community College, and Salve Regina. See the information provided by the universities. Georgia Tech

Flynn Coyne of Watertown, MA, made the Dean’s List for the Spring 2026 semester at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have earned a 3.0 or higher academic average for the semester. Northern Essex Community College

Congratulations Catherine Elliott, of Watertown on earning a spot on the Dean’s List for the Spring ’26 semester!

Schools

7 Watertown Students Earn Honors at Boston College High

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Boston College High announced last honor roll, which included several students from Watertown. See the announcement from the school, below. The following local students made the Q4 Honor Roll at BC High for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments! RobertAirasianQuarter 4 Honors2027WatertownRobertDiStefanoQuarter 4 Honors2027WatertownRobertMacKerronQuarter 4 Honors2028WatertownChetBrackettQuarter 4 Honors2029WatertownThomasMoloneyQuarter 4 High Honors2027WatertownSamuelCarpenterQuarter 4 High Honors2028WatertownWilliamCuddyQuarter 4 High Honors2028Watertown

Schools

Special Education: Director of Student Services to Step Down, Plans to Improve Program Discussed

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Watertown’s Director of Student Services will be stepping down before the beginning of school in September. The announcement came after parents of students in the special education program aired their complaints at the second straight School Committee meeting. A group of more than 100 parents also signed a petition requesting that the School Committee take a vote of no confidence for the Director of Student Services, who oversees the special education program. At the meeting on July 22, members of the School Committee requested that the Watertown School administration make special education its priority. Some committee members also asked for the creation of a subcommittee to focus on special education so that they can hear directly from parents, students and others.

Schools

Watertown College Students Earn Spring 2026 Honors, Graduate

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Watertown students earned honors at Dean College, URI, WPI, Saint Anselm, Plymouth State, and Maryland Global Campus; and graduated from Georgia Tech, Framingham State, and Hartford. The following information came from the colleges and universities. Honors

Dean College

Isabella Nitschke of Watertown has earned a place on the President’s List for the Spring 2026 semester. Students named to the President’s List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their studies while at Dean College. The President’s List recognizes full-time students who have earned a perfect semester grade point average (GPA) of 4.0.

Schools

2026 Perkins School for the Blind Graduation Ceremony Includes Address by Lt. Gov. Driscoll

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Graduate Hugh celebrates with Perkins Chair of the Board Steve Pelletier, left, and Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll during the 2026 commencement ceremony. (Courtesy of Perkins)

Perkins School for the Blind celebrated the Class of 2026 during a graduation ceremony on Friday, and the commencement speaker was one of the highest elected officials in Massachusetts. See more in the announcement from the Perkins School for the Blind, below. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of Perkins School for the Blind on Friday, June 26, 2026. Perkins School for the Blind, a global leader in education services for children and young adults with disabilities, celebrated 18 graduates this year as they prepare for the next stage of their lives.

Schools

Students & Parents Ask for Armenian Classes to be Expanded; French Most Popular World Language Unavailable at WHS

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

Watertown High School students, alumni, and parents of students who took part in the Armenian language program urged School officials to bolster the program for fear of losing the classes that are more than just about learning a language. At Monday’s School Committee meeting, several people spoke about the Armenian classes, which are part of the World Language offerings at the High School. During the meeting, the School Committee also heard a report about the district’s World Language Program, a survey of what languages students and parents are interested in, and the progress of students who have been in the elementary school Spanish immersion program. The speaker noted that the Armenian teacher recently resigned, and said that having students with four levels of proficiency in the same class is not something that other languages or subjects would have to do.