Charity

New Rotary Club Program Provides Meals for Watertown Kids on Weekends

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A new program sponsored by the Rotary Club, called Food for Thought, is providing some Watertown students who might go hungry over the weekend with two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks each week.  

During the week, these students can get free or discounted meals at school. About 30 percent of the students in Watertown are in the Free and Reduced Lunch program, said Watertown resident Lilia Weisfeldt, who came up with the idea for the program. “Over the weekend the kids don’t have access to the program and a lot of kids go without any food,” Weisfeldt said. “We give them a bag of food over the weekend so they can go back to school Monday not hungry and ready to learn.”

Schools

Still Time to Sign Up for the 7th Annual Town Wide Spelling Bee

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The 7th Annual Town Wide Spelling Bee, hosted but the Watertown Ed foundation and the three elementary school PTO’s, will be held on January 29th in the Middle School Gym. To register you must be in grades 1-5, you must have three people and you and your team members must be in the same grade. Teams can be comprised of members from different schools. Please visit lowellpto.org for a registration form and more information.

Schools

Minuteman Offering STEM Camp for Girls in 7th, 8th Grades Over February Break

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Minuteman High School will host Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) camp in February 2017, school officials announced. It is free for seventh- and eighth-grade girls from communities in the Minuteman school district, which includes Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston. The STEM camp will be held at the school, located at 758 Marrett Road in Lexington, from February 21-24, 2017 (Tuesday through Friday during February vacation) from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. There is a $149 fee for students who live outside the Minuteman school district. Participants can extend their learning through hands-on STEM activities led by female students from Minuteman who are certified in mentoring and are enrolled in STEM majors.

Schools

Superintendent Presents Budget Priorities for What Could be a Challenging Year

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The Watertown School budget could be a tight one during the 2017-18 school year, Interim Superintendent John Brackett told the School Committee Monday night. He added that any additions to the budget might require reductions other places. The budget process started in December with subcommittee hearings, and Monday night Brackett presented the budget priorities to the entire School Committee. “The days of adding programs or staff without looking at what we are doing, I think, are beyond us,” Brackett said. “The budget is being pressured just to keep level services.”

Schools

Take the Survey, Join a Discussion About Watertown’s Next Superintendent

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The Watertown School Committee is interested in getting feedback on the superintendent search process, the School Committee announced. There are several ways to participate, including three community focus groups and an online survey.  Your perspective matters, so please make sure your voice is heard. The link to the online survey is:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WPS2017

The focus groups are scheduled at the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 10, 2017            8:30-9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017        4-5 p.m.

Thursday, January 12, 2017          7-8 p.m.

The focus groups will take place in the Innovation Lab, 3rd Floor, Phillips Building, 30 Common Street, Watertown.

Schools

Perkins School for the Blind Hires Veteran Fundraiser as Chief Development Officer

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Perkins School for the Blind has brought on a veteran fundraiser for non-profit organizations. David Whalen brings his 25 years experience to his new role as Chief Development Officer. He will oversee the Perkins Trust – which raises funds from a variety of sources to support Perkins’ programs and initiatives – and work with the Perkins leadership team to develop new funding opportunities that will allow Perkins to expand its mission, according to the announcement from the school. He previously worked with the New England Aquarium, Partners in Health and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Whalen said he enjoyed the energy he found when visiting the Perkins campus, and likened it to a start-up company.

Schools

Master Plan Answers Some Questions on Rebuilding Schools, Creates More

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The School Master Plan presented to a joint meeting of the School Committee and the Town Council provided some insight into Watertown’s schools, but opened many more questions. 

The Master Plan incorporated the work of the Master Plan Steering Committee, which included parents, staff and elected officials, as well as, input from three community meetings and interviews with school staff and administrators, said School Committee Chairman John Portz.  

Representatives from SMMA, the firm hired to create the master plan, included cost estimates for three different options for improving the schools. Option 1 would be bringing the schools into good working conditions, but would not make major changes to the current configurations. Option 2 would renovate the schools and would make some changes inside so the buildings can handle 21st Century education, with more group and project learning and flexible spaces. Option 3 would be to build brand new buildings.

Schools

School Committee Wants to Hear from Public About Hiring Next Superintendent

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As the search begins for Watertown’s next Superintendent, the School Committee wants to hear from parents and community members about what they want to see in the next leader of the town’s schools. 

The Watertown Public Schools sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown School Committee is interested in getting feedback on the superintendent search process. There are several ways to participate, including live focus groups for the community scheduled at the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 10, 2017: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 12, 2017: 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

The focus groups will take place in the Innovation Lab, Third Floor, Phillips Building, 30 Common St., Watertown. In addition, you can go to the following link and participate in an on-line survey that includes ample space for your open responses. That link is:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WPS2017