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.

Schools

Watertown Special Education Parent Group Meeting at Hosmer School

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The Watertown SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) invites the public to its November meeting where the focus will be: “What are your basic
rights in the IEPprocess?” Watertown SEPAC sent out the following announcement:

Come hear speaker Cheryl Caira talk about those rights and answer some
questions about the process

Child Care available

Watertown SEPAC meeting

WHEN: Tuesday November 14 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Hosmer Elementary School Library, 1 Concord Road

Election 2017

See How the Watertown Candidates Did in Precinct by Precinct Results

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Anthony Donato won the race for Watertown Town Councilor At-Large by nearly 400 votes, but he did not win every precinct in Tuesday’s Watertown Town Election. See how the candidates for Council and School Committee fared in the precinct-by-precinct results. In the race for the four Town Councilor At-Large seats, Donato got the most votes in seven of 12 precincts – 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 – while second place Caroline Bays won three precincts – 2, 4, 9. Third place candidate and incumbent Tony Palomba won Precincts 3 and 5. Donato’s best showings were on the west side of town – precincts 10-12 – where he won each by at least 85 votes, and precinct 10 by 134 votes.

Election 2017

Watertown Voters Elect 2 New School Committee, See Who Won the Library Trustee Race

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Only one incumbent will return to the Watertown School Committee, as two newcomers won seats on the board in Tuesday’s election. First time candidate Amy Donohue took the most votes, with 2,549, which was 24.20 percent of the ballots. Incumbent John Portz took second with 2,101 votes (19.94 percent). In a narrow race for the third and final seat on the School Committee, newcomer Lily Rayman-Read received 1,691 votes (16.05 percent), just 26 more than incumbent Liz Yusem’s 1,665 (15.81 percent). Incumbent Guido Guidotti got 1,532 votes, or 14.54 percent, followed by Michael Shepard, who was on the School Committee for four years, but lost his re-election bid two years ago.

Schools

Minuteman Student from Watertown Creating on Mural at Lexington Library

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The Cary Memorial Library’s Teen Space will soon have a new mural adorning the wall, thanks to two industrious students from Minuteman High School, school officials announced. Seniors Lucy Couet, of Arlington and Mariana Torres-Roman, of Watertown, are both in the Design and Visual Communications program at Minuteman. They are interning at the Library this fall to complete the mural which they designed, said their teacher, Maria Galante. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Minuteman High School students on this project,” said Jennifer Forgit, the Library’s Teen Services Manager. “From the outset of the Teen Room design project, we knew that it would be important to pay attention to the design and decor so that teens would feel at home.

Schools

Watertown Student Named as Mentor to State Student Leadership Group

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Project 351 today announced the members of the 2018 Alumni Leadership Council (ALC), a group of Project 351 high school alumni, including one from Watertown, who serve as stewards of Project 351’s mission and values. The group sent out the following information:

Project 351 is a statewide youth service nonprofit organization that develops a rising generation of “community-first” citizen leaders. Annually, an eighth grade unsung hero and quiet leader is selected by every city and town in Massachusetts for a transformative year of development, enrichment, and impact through unique service opportunities. Alumni leadership provides invaluable mentorship; extends the reach and impact of Project 351 statewide service; and serves as an innovation lab for aspiring social entrepreneurs and community builders. “Project 351 believes in the unlimited potential of young people to lead in powerful and transformative ways in every community in Massachusetts,” said Carolyn Casey, Executive Director and Founder of Project 351. “As eighth-graders, our young leaders engage hundreds of cities and towns in service, build bridges to foster unity,  and encourage kindness and generosity in their hometowns.

Schools

Details of Asbestos Report at High School, District Will Hire Firm to Remediate

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Superintendent Dede Galdston announced details of the report about the asbestos found in the Watertown Public Schools, Monday evening, including plans to remove some found in plaster on the walls of classrooms at Watertown High School. The study was conducted by EFI Global, the consultant hired to do the work as part of the district’s requirement under the Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The schools must do the inspection every three years, and last week Galdston said that more powerful testing methods found asbestos not detected in prior years. Asbestos was discovered in skim coat plaster at the high school. Air quality was also tested in the rooms where damaged plaster was found, and Galdston said that it came in 10 times lower than the limit allowed by the EPA.

Schools

Find Out How to Give Input on the Watertown High School Mascot

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The final four options for the Watertown High School mascot – or logo – that will go with the Raiders nickname were presented to the School Committee this week, and they seek input from the public about the finalists. The School Committee has set up an online survey for the community to give its input about the four images. The finalists are: a knight riding a horse into battle, a knight’s helmet with “Raiders” on the grill, a shield with a “W” on it, and a knight standing behind a shield. Take the WHS Mascot Survey by clicking here. Students at the high school will be surveyed by the School Committee High School Representatives.