Schools

Watertown Students Among the Minuteman High School Graduates

By |

Commencement exercises were held for the Class of 2016 from Minuteman High School in Lexington on June 3 at the Tsongas Center at UMass-Lowell. See the Watertown grads below.The occasion featured memorable speeches filled with farewells to dedicated teachers, sage advice for the future, expressions of appreciation to Minuteman for the valuable education it provided and heartfelt final words for the young men and women who have shared the excitement and challenges of the past four years, the school announced. Valedictorian Rachel Toups of Boxborough gave an address that imaginatively compared the function and movement of each finger to each student’s own distinctive history and destiny. “No matter the path we choose, be it a career, continued education, or undecided as of yet, I encourage you to see your hand as a symbol of your life,” she told her peers. “Just as our hands are all unique, so too will be the paths we take from here.”

“This school has been our wonderland, because we have done the impossible,” said salutatorian Tristin O’Connor of Bolton, making a reference to Alice in Wonderland.

Schools

See Photos from the Watertown High School Class of 2016 Graduation

By |

The Class of 2016 bid farewell to Watertown High School in a way that seemed to fit their class, and the school in general – with some humor, good spirit and kindness. Principal Shirley Lundberg noted that the school had been examined thoroughly by a team of accreditors this spring, who looked at all parts of the school, the classes, the teachers, along with the students and their work. Many of the accreditor team’s tours were lead by WHS students, and afterward they told Lundberg one thing that stood out about Watertown High. “They said their entire team had one large impression. They found community of Watertown High School to be extraordinarily kind,” Lunberg said.

Class of 2016

Congrats to the Watertown High School Class of 2016!

By |

Congratulations to the 162 members of the Class of 2016 who graduated at Victory Field Friday evening. 

Valeria Alejandra Aedo

 

Liana Aleksanyan *

Kareem Kamel Alhady #*

Jaime Marie Amedio

Mark Gregory Amirbekyan

Michaela Elizabeth Antonellis *

Marvin Aramthip

Shant Ara Arouyan

Nelli Balian

Tina Anahid Barsoumian

Tristan MacPherson Bennie Underwood

Tawhid Bibi

Zoie Star Bleau

Hallie Xiuyan Jaffe Blitzman

Dominika Sylvia Bondaryk *

Kerikor Boyajian

Jeremy Alvaro Breen *

Thomas Joseph Brennan *

Abiral Bhushan Budhathoki

Taylor Venezia Bunnell

Matthew Joseph Busconi

Demba Jake Kamborian Camara

Amanda Cardoso

Niko Daniel Carvajal Janke *

Gabriel Peregrino Cezario

Ryan Daniel Clancy

Abbie Leigh Cleveland

Hannah Grace Cook *

Michael Robert Corvini

Ethan Ernest Cox

Christian Andre D’Amico

Roman Pavlovich Davis

Erin Caitlyn Delong

Joseph Antoine Der Torossian

Ali Mohamad Dia

Derek Jordan DiPietrantonio

Marissa Mae DiVito

Falena Motta Dos Santos

Allison Rose Dowling *

Grace Catherine Duguay

Barry Joseph Dunn *

Mohammed Ahmed Ali El-Sherbini

Karl Elbakian #*

Brian Richard Ellis

Sofia Gloria Farhadi #*

Daniel James Farrar

Shelby Gwen Farrell

Taylor Alexis Ferrante

Santino Fierimonte

Gabriella Holden Fiorentino #*

Kelly Ann Flynn *

Kyle John Foley #*

Evan Tsiu Foun *

Karina Pereira Franca #*

Dylan James Fulton *

Sara Anne Fulton #*

Tyler John Gardiner #*

Antonia Maria Gardner

Arpy Shake Gavlakian

Gabriel Gerhske

Soleen Tamara Ghahraman *

Natalia Maria Gieza

Paige Riley Gilbeau

Michael John Giordano

Jaslyn Elexa Gomez-Jobson

Michael Gorman

Zoe Rosenthal Grodsky #*

Rebecca Annie Grossman *

Briana Rene Guillory

Brianna Jeanne Rose Hache *

Kristine Shake Hagopian

Mackenzie Nicole Hand

Garabed Krikor Haroutounian

Julia Rose Harrington #*

Emily Rose Hart *

Sasha Blu Helfner #*

Jeremy Edward Holt #*

Eric James Hopkins

Jason Richard Hughes

Nazely Ann Iknaian

Vrej Hagop Jamsakian

Kolbey Lee Jumper

Dorothy Kaoma

Abboud Roger Kaouk

Allyson Tamar Kazanjian

Robert Francis Kennedy #*

Olivia DeCarlo Keuchkarian

Sabiha Khalid *

Christa Rose Knell #*

Felicia Marnie Korte *

Joel Andrew Krislov

Anthony James Lacerra

Andrew Christopher Lamarche

Sarah Ann Lampasona

Nicole Maria Lanzo *

Peter Arthur Laskaris

Jake Kenneth Leitner

Samantha Naomi Lewis

Erika Libertini *

Austin Jei Lin #*

Joanna Nataly Lopez Ordonez

Nicholas Peter Martino

Farid Abdallah Mawanda

Ally Kathleen McCall *

Hannah Vaughn McCall #*

Daniel Thomas McCurley

Kelly Breanna McCusker-Brown

Hermes Teixeira Melo

Ivana Michelle Mendez Juliao

Steven Patrick Mey

Riyan Moore

Luis Enrique Moradel

Molly Jeanne Munger

Taylor Rose Nalbandian

Nathan Nebiye *

Patrick Ryan O’Donnell

Olivia Taylor Oakley

Mikayla Gianna Paone

Christopher Gor Patvakanian #*

Lillian Grace Pennington *

Erica Pepe

Keith William Perrin

Sean Cameron Peschier

Kira Elizabeth Peterson #*

Hillary Ximena Ponce

Tyler Thomas Poulin

Noah David Prior

Rachel Margaret Quinlivan #*

Anna Reyes

Kiana Marcela Reyes

Christopher John Rohlicek #*

Romina Romei *

Melissa Marie Rose #*

Katelyn Jean Rourke

Nathan Turner Ryan

Thomas Park Scudder

Ekta Sharma

Arshdeep Singh #*

Samantha Janet Smith

Deanna Rose Solari

Eve Nichole Souliotis

Layza Chalita Souza

Stephen Joseph Strangio *

Leah Nicole Sutherland

Samantha W.S. Tat

Parkev Terzian

Katherine Beach Tolman

Yesayi Tolmoyan

Emmanuel Lagene Torres

Amin Touri *

Ani Vehapetian

Abigail Jean Vershbow *

Edmundo Vangjel Villa-Perrez

Christopher Paul Vincent

Angelik Wannes

Lana Nasser Wehbe

Jason Taylor Wilkins

Erick David Yax-Vidal

Grigor Yeghishyan

 

# Cum Laude Society

*National Honor Society

Letters

LETTER: Parents Ask Questions About Short Term Plan for School Overcrowding

By |

The Watertown Strong Schools produced this account of the two June 1 meetings held by Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald about short term plan for classroom space and overcrowding. At the end the authors provided their commentary. Note: These are NOT official minutes. Commentary can be found at the bottom of the minutes. Written by: Alyson Morales

School Administration, School Committee Members, and Town Council Members in attendance at one or both meetings include: Dr. Fitzgerald, Superintendent; Bob LaRoche, Hosmer Principal; Mena Ciarlone, Cunniff Principal; John Portz, School Committee Chair; Guido Guidotti, School Committee; Kendra Foley, School Committee Vice Chair; Eileen Hsu-Balzer, School Committee; Candace Miller, School Committee; Elizabeth Yusem, School Committee; Mark Sideris, Town Council President; Vincent Picirilli, Town Council Vice President; and Lisa Felter, Town Councilor.

Around Town

Boys & Girls Club Congratulates Watertown High School Graduates

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls Club would like to congratulate Watertown High School’s Class of 2016 on their graduation! We wish you the best of luck wherever life may take you. While you venture out into the world, we hope you remember where it all began and stay connected with the Club! To learn more about how to stay connected and register as a Club Alum, please contact Club Marketing & Development Coordinator, Kristina Norris at 617-926- 0968.

Schools

Town Council Likes Direction Which Watertown Schools are Heading

By |

Town Councilors liked what they heard from Watertown School officials, who discussed plans to teach foreign language in the elementary schools, giving all students laptops and other initiatives during the school budget hearing. The town’s portion of the Fiscal 2017 school budget is $43.57 million, plus the schools will receive $375,000 in money for one-time curriculum initiatives, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said. The schools will add 34 positions which will add up to the equivalent of 20.25 full-time employees, according to Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. Among the positions are a district Elementary Math & Science Coordinator, two music teachers, a high school engineering teacher, an hourly garden coordinator, a maker space assistant for the middle school and a journalism instructor at the high school. After years of cutting positions, and restoring these jobs, Fitzgerald said the district can now look at adding programs.

“I think we are turning the corner from reinstatement to growth, and I think that is great,” Fitzgerald said.

Letters

LETTER: School Start Times, Changing Athletic Subcommittee to One on Student Wellness

By |

These are the “Unofficial Minutes” of the Policy Subcommittee Meeting on May 19 provided by Watertown Strong Schools, a parents group that follows the Watertown Public School. These Minutes were written by Rebecca Grow and David Stokes. Unofficial Minutes: Policy Subcommittee Meeting on 05/19/2016 – Key Points and Commentary

Note: These are NOT official minutes. Commentary can be found at the end of the minutes. Subcommittee members: Guido Guidotti, Chair; Eileen Hsu-Balzer; Liz Yusem; Jean Fitzgerald, Superintendent

Attendees in the audience: John Portz (SC), Candace Miller (SC), Rebecca Grow (WSS), David Stokes (WSS), Donna Rusekas (and 2 other WPS Administration folks), Stephanie Venizelos (Live Well Watertown and WPS Wellness Committee), Erica Dorenkamp, Charlie Breitrose (Watertown News).

Jean Fitzgerald

See the First Issue of the Watertown Public Schools Bulletin

By |

The first ever Watertown Public Schools Bulletin was released by Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald this week, with news, information and updates about the schools. 

Here is the “The Superintendent’s Word,” by Fitzgerald, which is part of the WPS Bulletin. You can see more stories and view the complete WPS Bulletin by clicking here. The Superintendent’s Word
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read the first issue of the WPS Bulletin. My address in this Bulletin will focus on the learning environment in our schools. We are in a new world that requires diverse, flexible, and highly technological environments that can be customized for the different ways in which students learn.