Government

Council Approves Middle School Windows Despite Jump in Price

By |

An increase in the cost of replacing the windows at Watertown Middle School gave the Town Council some pause, but councilors ultimately unanimously approved the cost of designing the project, in part because the state will pay for nearly half the bill. Originally, the cost of the windows was estimated at slightly over $300,000, but when representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority came to look, they decided to increase the scope of the project can with it the price tag – which is now $2.7 million to $2.9 million. Last week the council was asked to approve $224,400 to cover the schematic design costs of the project. The windows cover the old portion of the middle school, and are a few decades old. Teachers said they are a distraction at best, and can be a real obstacle to learning at times.

ChopChop

Parents Invited to Workshop Featuring Live Cooking Demonstrations

By |

The Watertown Public Schools has joined with local partners to promote healthy eating and cooking, and will present a healthy cooking workshop with live demonstrations and tastings, plus activities for kids. 

Parents are invited to participate in presentations from WPS Food Service Director, Garden Coordinator, ChopChop, Live Well Watertown, and Metrowest Nutrition, 0n Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 5:30-7 p.m in the cafeteria at Lowell Elementary School, 175 Orchard St.. ChopChop sent out the following information:

ChopChop Kids, the non-profit behind ChopChop: The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families has joined forces with Watertown Savings Bank and the Watertown Wellness Committee to promote healthy eating and cooking in the town of Watertown. ChopChop will be distributed to all elementary school students in the Watertown Public Schools for the 2015-2016 school year. In addition, each issue includes lesson plans for teachers to use ChopChop in the classroom. “The bank is pleased to be able to support this program,” said Carole Katz, VP of Marketing at Watertown Savings Bank.

Conservation Commmision

Watertown High School Students Use Town Forest as a Living Laboratory

By |

When the Conservation Commission wanted to find out exactly what trees, plants and animals can be found in the town’s largest forested area, Commissioner Patick Fairbairn decided to enlist the help of students from Watertown High School. Last week, two honors biology classes spent the morning walking around Whitney Hill, the area overlooking Victory Field, detailing which species are located in 31 plots being studied on the hill. After coming up with the idea to enlist the help of students, Fairbairn approached School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer to ask if a combined effort with the schools could be possible. After speaking with a number of people, he found a WHS teacher who was interested. “Erik Hiltunen was a teacher who saw the value of observation over a long period of time,” Fairbairn said.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Interns Gain Valuable Experience

By |

How do high schoolers get that critical first work experience? Last summer, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) and the Watertown High School Guidance Department piloted an internship program for local teens. For meaningful summer work experience at a business or organization of their choice, students earned a modest stipend. The pilot was intended to cover four students, but the number of outstanding applications led WCF to increase funding and five were selected. “I learned so much from participating….

Around Town

UPDATED: Celebration Planned for Debut of New Multi-Fitness Trainer at Moxley Field

By |

Watertown will soon have a modern multi-fitness trainer at Moxley Field, and a celebration is planned for the debut, featuring area college athletes. When the new equipment is delivered, a ribbon cutting and demonstration of the new Multi Fitness Stair Trainer will be held. The equipment was purchased with funds from a federal grant the Watertown Public Schools received called the Carol White Physical Education Program Grant, or PEP Grant. The program created by the Watertown Public School using the grant is called “Wellness the Watertown Way.” Director of Wellness & Extended Services Donna Ruseckas said the equipment has a stair climbing element, so instead of having to go back down on the stairs, which reduces strain on knees and other joints, they can use a slide.

MassBay Community College

MassBay Community College Hosting Open House for Prospective Students

By |

Massachusetts Bay Community College will hold its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at 10 a.m. Interim President Yves Salomon-Fernandez along staff and students will be on hand to greet and welcome prospective students and their families to the Wellesley Hills campus, the college announced. The Fall Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to meet and talk with current students and staff to learn about the 80 degree and certificate programs that are available at MassBay Community College. The Open House will include a tour of campus, mock classes, student panel discussions, information table for veterans, financial aid session, on-the-spot admissions, and more. MassBay Community College is located at 50 Oakland St., Wellesley Hills, MA.

Government

Council Grudgingly Supports School Project After Price Tag Soars

By |

The Town Council will consider adding millions to the price of the window replacement project at Watertown Middle School after the scope of the project was changed. 

The proposed project calls for replacing 207 plexiglass windows in the old section of the middle school. The estimate for the cost of replacing plexiglass windows at the middle school was $302,642 but after the owner’s project manager appointed by the state studied the project the cost of the project jumped to between $2.6 million and $2.9 million. The change in price was due to a change in the scope of the project, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, chair of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee – the committee which voted to recommend the council endorse the project with the new budget. The project has been submitted to and accepted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This means the state will reimburse Watertown for 48.47 percent of the cost of the project, and that the town must follow the MSBA’s rules and even what will be included in the project. Council Vice President Steve Corbett said he was shocked to see such a miscalculation.

Schools

Google Laptops a Big Hit with Watertown Middle School Students

By |

This year, each eighth-grader at Watertown Middle School has his or her own laptop to use at school, and the reviews have been very positive from both students and teachers. 

As part of the pilot project known as the 1:1 Chormebook Initiative, the students get to use a Google Chromebook while they are at school. They also have access to the Google Drive to look up assignments, organize their papers and keep track of the assignments, a group of students told the School Committee Monday night. WMS Student Council President Susie Howard said the students save about 15 minutes per class by not having to pick up, turn on the Chromebooks at the start of class, and then put away and make sure the wires are plugged in at the end of class. A feature called Google Classroom allows student to look up homework assignments so that they do not lose them or forget about them. Students said as long as they have internet access, they can use the Chromebooks anywhere, anytime.