Schools

Info on Watertown High School Accreditation, Search for Special Ed Director

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The Watertown Public Schools announced the accreditation visit of Watertown High School beginning Sunday, March 13, as well as the timeline for appointing a new Director of Special Education. The Watertown Public Schools sent out the following announcements:
Accreditation Visit of Watertown High School
Sixteen educators will conduct an on-site accreditation visit of Watertown High School from March 13-16. The accreditation visit will be conducted under the direction of the Committee on Public Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The purpose of this accreditation visit is to review and determine from an outside professional viewpoint the extent to which the school is meeting NEASC’s Standards for Accreditation. As part of the evaluation, the visiting committee will:

Attend a welcome presentation intended to provide an overview of Watertown and Watertown High School, presented by teachers and students
Meet with school committee members
Meet with parents
Meet with teachers
Meet with students
Meet with administrators and curriculum coordinators
Shadow students during the school day
Review samples of student work
Visit classes
Review the school’s self-study

The members of the visiting committee are teachers and administrators from a variety of schools throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Accreditation

Watertown High School Preparing for NEASC Accreditation Visit

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Every 10 years, Watertown High School goes through the accreditation process, and the staff has been busy preparing for a four-day visit by a team which begins on Sunday. A team from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) will be at Watertown High School starting March 13, said Maureen Regan, Grades 6-12 English Language Arts Coordinator, who co-chaired the accreditation preparation with guidance councilor Adrienne Eaton. Preparation
The preparation began three years ago when the school staff did a self study, Regan told the School Committee Monday night. The first step was to create school-wide learning expectations, which had two main focuses: effective oral and written communication, and college, career and life skills readiness. In the fall of 2014, the Endicott College Opinion Survey was given to students, parents and faculty.

Schools

Lowell PTO Hosting Zumbathon, Silent Auction Fundraiser

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The Lowell School PTO presents the second annual Zumbathon, along with other activities that will raise money to benefit the school. The Zumbathon will be on Sunday, March 13, 2-4 p.m. at the Lowell Gym. There will also be a Bake Sale and a 50/50 raffle. Gift Basket Silent Auction with a number of really great themed baskets (coffee and tea with Starbucks and Teavana, lottery ticket baskets with each over $150 dollars in tickets, summer, movie night and more). Tickets purchased at the door, this is a family event so children are encouraged to attend.

Government

State Legislators Get and Inside Look at Perkins School for the Blind

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State representatives and senators from around Massachusetts got a closeup look at what goes on at Perkins School for the Blind this week on Legislator’s Day. 

The Watertown-based school and Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) invited elected officials with students who attend the school to visit campus on Tuesday. Among those who attended were Watertown’s state representatives – John Lawn and Jonathan Hecht – as well as Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. They got to meet students and visit classrooms to see what Perkins students are learning. Perkins School for the Blind does not just teach students the academic subjects, Power said, they also teach students how to live independently after they leave Perkins. “Every class session includes social skills, self-determination and assisted technology,” Power said.

Math

Children Learning and Loving Math in After School Program

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A nearby after-school math program has different strategies to teach children math, and even get them to enjoy the subject that so many dislike. 

The Russian School of Math has locations around the nation, including one in Belmont that started this fall. Principal Sona Antonoyan said her teachers try to “break the fear of math,” show students strategies to tackle math. “We want them to understand concepts, rather than memorization,” Antonoyan said. The school serves students in grades K-12 and attracts students from many towns including Watertown. The strategies allow them to start complex problem solving at a young age.

Schools

Last Chance to Catch Lion King Jr. at Watertown Middle School

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Tonight is the final performance of Watertown Middle School’s production of Lion King Jr.

The middle school sent out the following announcement:

Final Chance to catch the Lion King Jr., a truly colorful Watertown Middle School musical that is not to be missed! The last performance is tonight, Friday, March 4. The preshow — which features some spectacular African drumming and dancing – starts at 6:30 p.m., and the show itself starts at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students, available at the door. Refreshments and t-shirts are also available.

Assistant Superintendent

Find Out About the Finalsts for Watertown Assistant Superintendent

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The Watertown Public Schools’ search for an assistant superintendent has been narrowed to three finalists, who will be at a public meeting on March 10 at 6 p.m. at Watertown High School. School officials sent out the following information on the finalists:

Meet the Assistant Superintendent finalists for the Watertown Public Schools

For the past 5 years, Dr. Kathleen Burnham has served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Wilmington Public Schools where she leads the district’s curriculum development and revision, chairs the district-wide professional development committee, oversees the preparation of federal/state grants, and leads the new teacher orientation. In addition to working as an Adjunct Professor at Fitchburg State College in Education since 2008, Dr. Burnham served as a Curriculum specialist in Tyngsborough and Lowell Public Schools, and a science teacher in Chelmsford and Lowell Public Schools. Dr. John M. Marcus has served as the Chief Information Officer for the Sharon Public Schools for the past 5 years. In this role, Dr. Marcus guided the merger of the Library and Technology departments into a Digital Leadership Team, leads the district’s Data Team and steers new curricular initiatives including STEAM reconfigurations.

Schools

Meet the Finalists for Watertown Assistant Superintendent

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Parents, residents and others are invited to hear from the finalists for the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Watertown Public Schools at an upcoming meeting. School officials sent out the following information:

The initial interview process for the Assistant Superintendent position at Watertown Public Schools has been completed. Members of the community can meet the three finalists at a public forum on March 10 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown High School Lecture Hall. In addition, special thanks go to the interview committee members for their thoughtful work during this process. The members of the team included: Barbara Barry, Toni Carlson, Craig Hardimon, Liz Hopkinson, Barbara Gortych, Debra King, Lynsey Kraemer, Shirley Lundberg, Donna Ruseckas, and Magen Slesigner.