Enrollment

Policy Changes Will Allow Superintendent to Place Students to Avoid Overcrowding

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In hopes of avoiding situations like last year at Cunniff School when classes got overcrowded the School Committee’s Policy Subcommittee approved recommendations to allow the superintendent to place students out of their neighborhood school if it avoids large class sizes. In June, the School Committee requested that Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald freeze enrollment at the town’s three elementary schools, and not place students coming in over the summer until August. They also requested that the Policy Subcommittee come up with a policy to place the students. On Wednesday afternoon, the Fitzgerald told the subcommittee she thought that the current policies regarding attendance areas and assignment of students to schools gave her the tools she needed to make the placement. Students will still be placed in their neighborhood school when possible, Fitzgerald said, but if classes are too large at the school, they will be placed in other schools.

Government

A Few Meetings That Might Interest You This Week

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The Fourth of July Week is not all about vacations and beaches. Town and Watertown School officials have a few meetings that could be important to you. Transportation Projects
Tuesday night the Town Council’s Transportation subcommittee will discuss two major transportation proposals – the Transportation Demand Management policy and the Transportation Management Association. Transportation Demand Management is a proposed policy to require new developments to reduce the number of people commuting alone in cars. The policy has five main components:

Threshold for requiring a TDM
Traffic management targets
What does the program achieve
Monitoring the progress after implementation
Consequences for not meeting the targets

The issue was first discussed in April, and details will be discussed at the meeting.

Letters

LETTER: Lack of Participation & Info in Planning for Future of Town Schools is Worrisome

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Hi Folks,

Here’s my take on the 6/29 Monday night First Community Forum to discuss the framework for evaluating Watertown’s aging school buildings and facilities in light of changing educational needs, teaching modalities, and enrollment numbers. Some topics that were touched upon: What is a Master Plan? Existing Conditions, 21st Century Skills, 21st Century Design Patterns. There was a bit more but without a written agenda, I’m sure I missed something. There were no handouts regarding the power point presentation that often could not be read on screen.

Schools

Parents, Public Asked About What They Want to See from Schools, Education

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This summer will be an important one for the future of the Watertown Public Schools, and a first step toward designing new schools for 21st century learning was taken Monday night. Parents and community members gathered in the Watertown High School Auditorium for the first of three community forums being held as to help come up with the School Facilities Master Plan. Those at the forum were asked to try to think about the schools of the future, and how they might be built using the current schools or in new ones. Also, organizers wanted to know what educational qualities people want to see in Watertown’s schools. Michael van Hamel of  SMMA, the group doing the master plan for the district, showed some modern classrooms. They are designed to be more flexible, with more natural light and allow for more movement by students.

Schools

Perkins School for the Blind Celebrates Graduation for the Class of 2016

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The Class of 2016 celebrated graduation day recently at Perkins School for the Blind. The school based in Watertown held the big event in historic Dwight Hall, and when the 12 graduates took the stage to, “the room erupted in camera flashes and cheers, with a few high-fives mixed in,” according to the school. Two members of Perkins’ Class of 2016 delivered remarks, including Ashley Riva, a student in the school’s Deafblind Program, who delivered her speech using sign language. Senior Class President Brendan Flynn about the opportunities he received at Perkins, including vocational training that prepared him for life in the real world, according to Perkins. Read more about the graduation by clicking here: http://www.perkins.org/stories/news/celebrating-the-perkins-class-of-2016?utm_campaign=infocus%20june2016&utm_source=in%20focus&utm_medium=email

Letters

LETTER: Parent Thanks Her Children’s Teachers for a Great Year

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Editor,

As this school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank our wonderful teachers. Our two oldest children are at the Hosmer Elementary School in Kindergarten and second grade. They both had amazing teachers this year. 

Our daughter’s kindergarten teacher created an environment centered on kindness, empathy and inclusion with a focus on academic progress. She took the time to really understand our daughter and was therefore able to individualize her learning experience and challenge her. She was also engaged with the parents; inviting us into the classroom for special presentations, sending home weekly letters and maintaining open lines of communication at all times.

Schools

Film Showing and Discussion of the Future of Education Coming to WHS

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A movie about how to reimagine education will be shown at Watertown High School on June 28, with a discussion to follow. 

Organizers sent out the following information:

The Watertown Community Foundation and Watertown Public Schools are pleased to present a screening of Most Likely to Succeed. Come see this groundbreaking movie about education and be a part of the discussion about the future of education in our community – with parents, other residents, students, and faculty. School systems around the nation are using the ideas from the movie to drive discussions about re-imagining education and what our students are capable of. The film will be shown at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 in the Watertown High School auditorium. Please stay afterward for a panel discussion with parents, community members, and school administration.

Schools

Watertown Schools Hosting Community Forum on Facilities Master Plan

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Come find out about planning for the future needs of the Watertown Schools at a community forum on June 27.Watertown School officials sent out the following information:

The Watertown Public Schools are conducting a Master Plan Facilities Study. On Monday, June 27, 2016, there will be the first Community Forum for the project, where you will be able to learn about the process, and express any ideas you have. Please plan to attend. Community Forum
Watertown Public Schools Master Plan Facilities Study
Monday, June 27, 2016
7:00 PM
Watertown High School Auditorium
50 Columbia Street
Watertown, MA 02472