Schools

Watertown School Start Time Might Change So Buses Will be on Time

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The start of school may change next year at the two Watertown schools so that students do not have to endure long waits for the bus after school. 

Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the changes will be proposed as Watertown prepares to bid for a new school bus contract. To allow the buses to have more time, school officials have proposed starting school at Hosmer 10 minutes later, and start Watertown Middle School 10 minutes earlier. The same buses that deliver students to and from Hosmer also serve Watertown Middle School. While the mornings have gone well, the afternoons have been regularly late picking up Hosmer students after the afternoon run at the middle school. There are three buses serving both schools, and one bus has been at least five minutes late every day, and a second more than two-thirds of the time, including one day when it was more than 20 minutes late.

Charity

Join the Lowell School PTO for a ZumbaThon Fundraiser

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The Lowell School PTO invites the public to join in a ZumbaThon on March 15. Zumbathon will be run by Lowell’s own Lindsay Jacobson, Amy Peca and Veronica Castillo. The event runs from 2-4 p.m. in the Lowell School Gym on Sunday, March 15. Both adults and children are welcome. The event cost $10 per person. Plus there will be a 50/50 raffle and bake sale.

Schools

School Committee Debating Adding an Extra Day of School

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All this snow had thrown the school calendar into a bit of chaos, and with the threat of snow still very real Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald has proposed adding an extra day of school. After six snow days, the current last day of school is scheduled to be June 30, but Fitzgerald fears students may get another snow day. The extra day would be on Friday, April 3, which is scheduled to be a day off. “If we had a half day on April 3 and there is no snow the last day will be June 29,” Fitzgerald said. “If we had snow, the last day would be June 30.”

Government

Town Seeking State Money to Repair Watertown Middle School

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It’s time to replace the windows at Watertown Middle School and the town hopes to get help from the state to pay for the work. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald told the Town Council that the school has 207 windows which are 36 years old. On Tuesday, the Council approved the School Department’s application to the School Building Authority’s accelerated repair program. The School Committee then approved the application at a special meeting on Thursday scheduled just to take the vote. The estimated cost of the project is $310,000. If successful, the town would get nearly half the project paid for by state funds.

Entertainment

Watertown MusicFest Coming Up – Performers Wanted!

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Now it its fourth year, the Friends of Watertown MusicFest will be held in March, and musicians are still being sought to play at the event. The fundraiser for the music program in the Watertown Public Schools will be held Friday, March 6, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave. in Watertown. The event features over 50 performances by musicians of all ages, musical styles, and abilities, and an instrument petting zoo. “MusicFest is a lively, eclectic evening of music for the whole community,” says FoWM Board Member Heidi Greisch.

Around Town

New Grant Will Help Wayside Educate Youth About HIV/AIDS

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A new grant received by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network announced will be used to create a social media campaign to inform youth about preventing HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. The $125,000 grants was provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and it will target minority teens and youth in Watertown and other area communities. The Youth Media Action Project (Y-MAP) will use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to increase prevention messages to youth ages 12-18 about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. The target audience is African American, Haitian and Latino youth living in and around public housing in Somerville, Waltham and Watertown, Mass. Wayside will also work closely with Gay Straight Alliances at high schools in these three cities, according to an announcement from Wayside.

Schools

WHS Students Hold Vigil for Classmate Who Took His Own Life

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Saturday afternoon, group of Watertown High School students gathered at Victory Field and exchanged hugs, attempted to light candles in a frigid wind and remembered their classmate who ended his life a week ago. 

The 40 or so students, parents, and others held a candle light vigil next to the court where their friend, Adonis, used to spend afternoons playing basketball. They huddled together, stunned and saddened by the suicide of their friend and classmate. The vigil was organized by WHS students who spread the word over Facebook. Fellow WHS sophomore Abraham Fuentes remembered Adonis as a happy guy who always had a smile. But he also struggled with depression.

Schools

Watertown Spelling Bee Humming Along After 5 Years

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Watertown Middle School was buzzing with activity of the fifth annual Watertown Education Foundation Youth Spelling Bee on Sunday. Unlike many spelling bees, the Watertown event is a team event, with three students combining to spell the words. Students in grades 1-5 could participate, and the second- through fifth-graders competed to be top spellers. While having fun and testing student’s spelling abilities, the event also raises money for the Watertown Education Foundation. It started five years ago, largely due to the efforts of WEF President Amy Donohue.