Schools

Watertown Resident Elected President of Massachusetts Teachers Association

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Watertown’s Merrie Najimy will be taking a leave of absence from teaching kindergarten in Concord for two years so that she can serve as president of the largest teachers union in the state. On May 5, Najimy was elected president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association with her running made, vice president Max Page, a professor of architecture at UMass Amherst. Before being elected, Najimy served on the board of directors of the MTA for six years and was president of the Concord Teachers Association for 11 years. In the classroom, Najimy has taught grades kindergarten to third grade for 28 years, the last 23 in Concord. Both teaching and unionism run in her family, said Najimy, who has lived in Watertown for 25 years, but who grew up in Pittsfield. “When I was a child my Dad was on the board of directors of the MTA,” Najimy said.

Schools

Use of Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco Dropping Among Watertown Youths

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The youth of Watertown are less likely to drugs, alcohol and tobacco than in the prior years, according to the results of the most recent results of the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey. 

Members of the Watertown Youth Coalition discussed the findings from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey at a recent School Committee meeting. The group also  held a town hall meeting to discuss the survey results in April. The survey also tracked depression, suicidal thoughts and bullying. Stephanie Sutherland-Ramsey, Program Coordinator for the Watertown Youth Coalition at Wayside Multi-Service Center, said that the downward trend of the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs continued in this survey. There was a slight increase  in the previous survey in 2014 for alcohol and marijuana use.

Marian Ryan

Watertown High Gets Check from District Attorney for Safe Prom, Graduation Events

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The following information was provided by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office:
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan donated $500 to Watertown High School to promote substance-free events after prom and graduation. Watertown High School is one of 13 high schools that applied to receive $500 from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office for safe post-prom and graduation events. District Attorney Ryan has hosted events across the county to encourage teenagers to make “safe choices” when attending parties and other activities with their friends. District Attorney Ryan has also spoken to parents on the topic of “social host responsibility,” warning parents and caregivers about the dangers of serving underage drinkers.

App

MBTA Piloting Bus App for Blind Riders Developed by Perkins School, Raizlabs

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The following information was provided by Perkins School for the Blind:
Perkins School for the Blind has enhanced its groundbreaking micronavigation app, designed to help commuters with visual impairment find their bus stops, by bolstering it with new technology that makes traveling even easier. Still free to use, BlindWays 2.0 now alerts riders along select MBTA bus routes when they’ve found their outdoor stop via signals from bluetooth beacons, installed in bus stop signs, that trigger iPhone vibration. “Perkins continues to foster innovation by working collaboratively, as we are with the MBTA and developer Raizlabs on this initiative, to solve challenges for people who are visually impaired,” said Luiza Aguiar, executive director of Perkins Solutions. “We’re motivated to help create a transportation infrastructure that is equally accessible to all riders. Augmenting BlindWays to leverage beacons speeds us along that path.”
The first iteration of BlindWays was released in fall of 2016, providing users with crowdsourced landmark clues to help them navigate the last 30 feet of frustration standard GPS models leave between users and their exact destinations.

Schools

School Committee Approves School Bus Contract, Working With College on Routes

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Monday night, the School Committee approved a five year school bus contract, which will only rise three percent over the term of the contract. Most times, the District signs a three year contract, but the winning bidder (and current contract holder), Local Motion, offered incentives for two additional years, said Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. State law requires the contract to also get the approval of the Town Council, because it more than three years. The current contract ends on June 30, 2018. Local Motion and Eastern Bus Co.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Principal Leaving After 13 Years

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Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter will be headed to Weston in July to take the position of Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. The Weston Public Schools announced the appointment on its website on Monday. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee that Carter would be leaving during Monday’s School Committee meeting. “We wish him the best for his future, and thank him for 13 years in the district,” Galdston said. School Committee Chairman John Portz congratulated Carter.

Schools

Don’t Miss Out on Tickets for the Dancing With the Watertown Stars Education Fundraiser

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It’s your last chance to get tickets for Dancing with the Watertown Stars, presented by the Rotary Club of Watertown! On May 11 you’ll get the chance to cheer on your favorite local stars as they strut their stuff on the dance floor! A portion of all proceeds will be used to support education in Watertown. Have a great time AND support an amazing cause! 2018 Watertown Stars: Tony Physic, Kelly Cronin, Andrew Allegro, Diego Ribeiro, Kevin Sanderson, Marilyn Pettito Devaney, Lauren Unsworth, Jan Taylor!

Entertainment

Perkins Teams with Revels Singing Group for A Celebration of Spring Concert

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Revels and Perkins School for the Blind’s 18th annual presentation “A Celebration of Spring.” Directed by Patrick Swanson; Music Direction by Megan Henderson

WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Perkins School for the Blind, Dwight Hall – 175 No. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA

Admission is FREE

Join us for a joyful and inspirational concert of traditional music, dance and song as we celebrate spring with the talented students from Perkins School for the Blind. Revels directors Megan Henderson and Paddy Swanson lead this special one-hour program featuring Perkins’ talented singers with Revels’ adult and children’s choruses, a children’s morris team, and a great band of musicians. Enjoy music and songs from South Africa, Croatia, England and America, plus a wild visit from that ancient harbinger of spring, the Padstow ‘obby ‘oss, all the way from Cornwall, England!