Schools

School Committee Concerned About Watertown’s MCAS Scores

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Fewer than half of Watertown elementary school students scored in “meet expectations” or higher on the state’s standardized test in 2017, and in many cases scores in the Watertown Public Schools lagged behind the state average. The results concerned members of the School Committee, who heard a presentation on the scores on Monday night. Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Assessment Theresa McGuinness noted that elementary school students took the “next generation” MCAS last spring. The year before they took the PARCC Test and before that they took the original MCAS. Watertown’s results followed a similar trend as the state average.

Schools

Two Watertown Students Awarded Scholarships by MassBay College

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MassBay Community College is pleased to announce 101 students were awarded more than $92,000 in scholarships at its bi-annual Scholarship Awards ceremony, including two from Watertown. The generous donations received by the MassBay Foundation, makes it possible for these 101 students to continue their studies a little easier. Among the students who received these scholarships are single mothers, veterans, first to go to college students, and many more who these scholarships makes all the difference. MassBay students Paul Gorham and Allyson Kazanjian, both from Watertown, were recently honored at MassBay Community College’s Fall Donor Dinner and Scholarship Awards night. Gorham was honored with a General Scholarship and a Health Sciences Scholarship
Kazanjian was honored with a General Scholarship and Merit Scholar Athlete Scholarship

All donations made to the MassBay Foundation go directly to students in the form of scholarships.

Around Town

Perkins School’s Inclusion Speaker Delivers TEDx Talk in Boston

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Jaimi Lard, a Perkins School for the Blind Diversity and Inclusion Speaker, delivered a TEDx BeaconStreet talk called “The Courage To Be Inclusive.” Lard, who has been deaf and blind since birth, lives independently and has lead an active life. She has surfed, skied, swung on a trapeze and testified before Congress, according to Perkins School. On Saturday, Nov. 18, Lard was one of the speakers who took the stage at the JFK Library in Boston to deliver a powerful message of importance to both them, their communities and society as a whole.

Schools

MassBay Community College Hosting Open House for Prospective Students

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Massachusetts Bay Community College will hold its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 10 a.m., the college announced. President David Podell along with faculty, staff and students will be on hand to greet and welcome prospective students and their families to the Wellesley Hills campus. The Fall Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to meet and talk with current students, faculty, and staff to learn about the 70 degree and certificate programs offered at MassBay and transfer opportunities after MassBay. Prospective students are encouraged to attend to learn more about student clubs and organizations, the admissions and financial aid process, 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, on-the-spot admissions, and more.

Asbestos

School Officials Hire Firm to Remove Asbestos from Watertown High School

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A firm has been hired to remove the asbestos found at Watertown High School for more than a quarter million dollars. 

The asbestos was discovered during an inspection by EFI Global, the district’s asbestos consultant. There were a few locations, but the most prominent one was in the skim coat plaster on the walls and ceilings of classrooms in the high school. The district will hire Northstar, a licensed asbestos abatement firm, to work on the high school, said Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mary DeLai. “The estimated time for the work will be 60 work days,” DeLai said. “It will probably take until March 1 to complete the abatement.”

Charity

Watertown Woman to be Honored for Work Spreading Education in Africa and Boston

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Born and raised in Watertown, Jane O’Connor has spread her work as an educator across the globe, and will receive an honor previously bestowed to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and actor and peace and justice activist Martin Sheen. After being principal in the Watertown Public Schools for 24 years – at Cunniff Elementary School and Watertown Middle School – O’Connor worked to help at risk students in Boston, and took part in starting a school for girls in rural Africa. Her work will be recognized by the Paulist Center Community, which will present her with the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice at a ceremony in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 18. A group from Boston was interested in setting up a school for girls in an area of Rwanda that was hard hit by the 1996 genocide, and invited O’Connor to be a part of the effort.

Schools

See What Mascot the School Committee Chose to Represent Watertown High School

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The School Committee selected Watertown High School’s new mascot, or logo: a shield with a large W and Raiders written across it. The Committee unanimously chose the shield from the four concepts brought forward by the Watertown High School Mascot Screening Committee in October. Other ideas were a knight on a horse, a knight behind a shield and a knight’s helmet. Town Council President Mark Sideris proposed that the shield be the choice. “We’re not going to make everybody happy tonight, so we have to make the decision that is best for the Watertown Schools,” Sideris said.

Schools

Open House at Watertown High School, Superintendent Coffees

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Watertown’s Superintendent of Schools Dede Galdston announced that parents are invited to an open house at Watertown High School to meet teachers and find out programs offered by the school. Also, she will be hosting a pair of Superintendent’s Coffees where parents and residents can speak with her in an informal setting. Galdston sent out the following information:

Watertown High School is hosting an Open House on Monday, November 20, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity for Watertown families with students in grades 7 and 8 to visit with High School teachers and students in a variety of content areas. Families will learn about the variety of exciting programs and opportunities available at Watertown High School. I will be holding two superintendent’s coffees, one on Wednesday, November 15 at 9:00 a.m. and again on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. Both of the coffees will be held in the Innovation Lab, 3rd Floor, Phillips Administration Building.