Ai3 Architects

Construction Underway on Lowell School Renovation, Project Has it Challenges

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Charlie BreitroseMembers of the construction team working on the Lowell School renovation project look up at the school during the groundbreaking ceremony. City Council President Mark Siders had a big grin on his face as he held up three fingers and donned a construction helmet. On Wednesday afternoon, he and others involved with the Watertown Public Schools’ building projects gathered for the official groundbreaking at Lowell Elementary School’s renovations and expansion — the district’s third elementary school project in recent years. The site work had already commenced at the school that overlooks Orchard Street. Like the other two elementary school projects, Lowell was designed by Ai3 Architects and the project management firm is Hill International.

Armenia

Watertown Teacher Traveling to Armenia With Genocide Education Project

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Watertown High School English teacher Jess DePamphilis will travel to Armenia this summer to learn about the Armenian Genocide. A Watertown High School English teacher will travel to Armenia this summer as part of a program sponsored by The Genocide Education Project. Jess DePamphilis was chosen as one of 17 secondary level teachers from 14 states chosen to be GenEd Teacher Fellows. The group will spend 10 days in Armenia in July to take part in a professional development program based at the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute. While in Armenia the group will be based in Yerevan, the capital city.

Schools

Demolition of Old Hosmer School Will Impact Neighbors; Placement of Solar Panels Discussed

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Charlie BreitroseThe new Hosmer School opened in February but the old section still stands. It will be soon be deomolished. The brand new Hosmer Elementary School recently opened its doors, but the main classroom building of the old one remains standing. It will soon be torn down and it will have some impacts on the neighborhood, including cutting off water for a period. Tom Finnegan from Hill International told the School Building Committee on Wednesday that the demolition of the old building will soon begin.

Schools

Lowell School Project Will Kick Off With Groundbreaking Ceremony

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of the renovated and expanded Lowell Elementary School. The following announcement was provided by CTA Construction:

CTA Construction was awarded the contract in March to renovate and add two new additions to the historic Lowell Elementary School. The groundbreaking ceremony is set to take place on April 27 at 4:30 p.m.

CTA staff members will join the school building committee, members of the community, andschool district staff for the ceremony. “We are happy to be working again with both Ai3 Architects and owner’s project management firm Hill International,” said Jeff Hazelwood, principal of CTA Construction Managers. CTA Construction has previously worked with Hill International on eight projects, including the Tufts Library for the Town of Weymouth.

Engineering

Watertown Robotics Team Earns Honors for Success in Competition & Team Spirit

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Travis NorrisThe Watertown High School Robotics Team celebrated after becoming a finalist at the FIRST Robotics Greater Boston Event and winning the Team Spirit Award. A small but dedicated group of Watertown High School students designed, programmed, and piloted a robot that competed and fared well against competition from around Eastern Massachusetts. And the WHS Robotics Team enjoyed one of its most successful years in 2022. The team reached the final of the knockout stage of the Greater Boston Event in late March. This is the farthest the team has ever advanced in its history.

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

FY23 Watertown School Budget Adds Funds for Several Positions

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The Watertown Public Schools budget for Fiscal Year 2023 will include a 3.5 percent increase, and planned additions for the 2022-23 school year include funding for equity coordinators, drama and music teachers, assistant principals and a family engagement and communication specialist. The total budget will be $55.63 million, which is a $1.88 million increase from the previous fiscal year, said Superintendent Dede Galdston, who presented her recommended budget to the School Committee Monday night at the meeting held at Cunniff Elementary School. Most of the increase, about 80 percent, will go to providing a level-service budget, Galdston said, which is maintaining the programs and services provided during the current school year. The remaining funds, $370,835, will mostly be spent on new staff and positions. No budget area has increase significantly, Galdston said, but the Administration and Curriculum budget appears to be much higher than FY22 (46.8 percent more).

Around Town

SPEAK Week Returns to Watertown High School, 2022’s Theme: Strive to Thrive

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Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders and Wayside staff with Wes from Minding Your Mind. The 12th annual SPEAK Week was back at Watertown High School (WHS) March 14-18 !! SPEAK(Sharing Personal Experiences and Knowledge) Week is organized by Wayside Multi Service Center’s Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) Peer Leaders from WHS. Every year, in collaboration with Watertown High School, WYC Peer Leaders organize a fun-filled and educational week with special guest speakers, activities, and knowledge building that relate to helping youth make positive healthy choices. For this year’s SPEAK Week; themed “Strive to Thrive,” students engaged in assemblies, workshops, and activities throughout the week that addressed Mental Health and Wellness, LGBTQIA Safe Spaces, Mindfulness and Stress Reduction, Therapeutic Music, Speak Up Art Sessions and a visit from Lydia the Comfort Dog.

Government

Funding to Renovate, Expand Lowell School Approved by Council

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Ai3 ArchitectsA view of what the renovation to the Lowell School, including the addition seen on the right, which has tall windows, including on the corners. The funds for Watertown’s third elementary school project got approval from the City Council Tuesday night. The Lowell Elementary School project, unlike the first two, will not be a brand new school. Instead the historic building will undergo a major renovation and will have some additions. The approval for borrowing $48.895 million for the Lowell project on Tuesday came on the same night that the Council approved borrowing $198 million to construct the new Watertown High School.