Enrollment

Enrollment for Kindergarteners Put on Hold at 2 Watertown Schools

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Kindergarten classes at two of Watertown’s three elementary schools are close to full, and school officials will put enrollment for kindergarten at those schools on hold. 

Monday night, Interim Superintendent John Brackett told the School Committee that enrollment projections at Hosmer and Cunniff elementary schools show that the classes could be on the top end of the class size guidelines. “We want to make sure we don’t get caught short on enrollment and class size,” Brackett said. “We are most closely following kindergarten projections, which are up quite considerably.” At Hosmer the current projection is 112 kindergartners, Brackett said, which would mean 6 classes of 18 or 19 students. At Cunniff, the number of kindergartners is projected to be 57.

Schools

Committee Selected to Choose New Mascot to Go With Watertown Raiders Name

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An 18-member committee has been appointed to find a new image to represent Watertown High School. The Committee is called the Mascot Screening Committee, but on Monday night School Committee Chairman John Portz said the Raiders name will not be changed, nor will the school’s red and black colors. The group has been given the task of finding a mascot, or logo, that represents the high school, its teams, clubs and other organizations. The current status of the mascot is confusing. While the image of the dancing cartoon American Indian can be seen around town, that is not the official mascot for the high school.

Schools

New Superintendent to Judge Education Foundation’s Dancing With the Stars

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The Watertown Education Foundation just announced that Watertown’s incoming superintendent, Dr. Deanne Galdston will be one of four judges at this years Dancing with the Stars event. Along with Dr. Galdston, Georgia Mulgrew, Jay Hughes and Maria Scalzi-Monahan will be judging this years competition. Dancing with the Stars will be this Friday, May 5, at the Hellenic Center in Watertown. Today is the last day to purchase tickets online at www.watertowned.org.

Schools

Come to the Last Superintendent’s Coffees of the Year, Meet the New Superintendent

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The last superintendent’s coffee for this school year is scheduled for April 26, from 9-10:30 a.m. and from 7-8:30 p.m., in the Data and Innovation Lab on the 3rd Floor of the Phillips Building, announced interim Superintendent John Brackett. This coffee will be a superintendents’ coffee. Joining me at each session will be incoming superintendent Dr. Deanne Galdston. We can chat about current issues but will allow ample time for Dr. Galdston to share reflections on her transition and entry plan and to get to meet those in attendance. I hope you will be able to join us.

Around Town

Watertown’s Canino Inducted into Westfield State’s Criminal Justice Hall of Fame

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Town native and Watertown High School graduate Carlos Canino was honored by his alma mater – Westfield State College – for his accomplishments in criminal justice and on the athletic field. Canino currently works as the Deputy Assistant Director Field Operations for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, after a long career with the agency. He also was a standout in football at Westfield state. Canino be inducted in to the WSC Criminal Justice Hall of Fame along with fellow 1988 Westfield graduate Cheryl Bassett. Westfield State sent out the following announcement before the event:
Former Westfield State University athletic standouts Carlos Canino ’88 and Cheryl Bassett ’88 will be inducted into the school’s criminal justice Hall of Fame on April 5.

Schools

Watertown High School Looking for New Mascot to Represent ‘Raiders’ Nickname

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After the first effort to come up with a mascot to go along with Watertown High School’s Raiders nickname stalled, school officials will once again look at the issue. 

Two years ago the School Committee decided to let the status quo remain, which was to have no emblem to represent the Raiders. The issue became a contentious one because some groups – particularly WHS alums – felt they were not being included in the discussion because the selection process was limited to students at the high school. Others opposed the use of the cartoonish Native American symbol being used by many youth sports, and some opposed any logo portraying an Indian. Interim Superintendent John Brackett said he has been approached by several people asking for a mascot for the high school. “(The mascot) brings a common identity to the Watertown High School Raiders, and are often used by other youth groups,” Brackett said.

Dede Galdston

School Committee Approves Contract for New Watertown Superintendent

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The School Committee officially welcomed Watertown’s next superintendent, Dede Galdston, on Monday night when they also approved her contract. 

Galdston told the School Committee she is grateful for the appointment and she is excited to be coming to Watertown. “First off, than you all for believing in me and having the confidence that I will shepherd you through the coming years and helping the children of Watertown move forward,” Galdston said. She will continue to work in her current position of assistant superintendent in Billerica through the end of June, but she has already started getting to know her new district. “I have been here already, and I can’t wait to get started with the work,” Galdston said. The incoming superintendent brought her husband and four sons to the School Committee meeting.

Lowell School

Superintendent Announces Appointment of New Lowell School Principal

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After a long, intense search, Stacey Phelan was named as Lowell School’s new principal. Phelan will begin her new position on July 1, 2017, said interim Superintendent John Brackett. She comes to Watertown from Swampscott, where she has been the principal of Hadley Elementary School for the past three years. Before that she was vice principal at Connery Elementary School in Lynn. “She has worked at both high-performing schools and turn around schools,” Brackett said.