Schools

Watertown Students Get a Taste of Computer Programing

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Students of all ages tried their hands at computer programing when the Watertown Public Schools participated in the Hour of Code. The world-wide event attracted millions of people to spend an hour learning about computer coding. In Watertown, students in elementary, middle and high school participated in the Hour of Code. The skill is one that could be very important in the future of these students, said Education Technology and Library Coordinator Toni Carlson. “There is going to be a huge need for computer programing,” Carlson said.

Government

School, Town Discuss Reasons for Last Year’s Budget Freeze

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School and Town officials have been looking into why the school budget got in such bad shape that a spending freeze was put into place, and then why the schools ended up with a budget surplus. The budget appeared so out of balance in January that freezes were made on most purchases, including paper for classrooms. This move was made after Town Auditor Tom Tracy recommended the School Administration do so. Special education costs also came in higher that expected, and on May 20, 2014 Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald reported a $640,000 shortfall. A week later the deficit has been adjusted to $355,000 and by June 2 the “perceived deficit” was gone, according to a report by the Council’s Education and School Systems Matters Committee. In August, the School Department reported a surplus of $770,000.

Schools

Congresswoman Clark Visits New Class at Watertown School

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark recently made a special visit to Watertown’s Cunniff Elementary School to see a new program where special education and mainstream students work together in the same class. The inclusion class at the Cunniff, which started this fall, allows special education students to spend more time in with their classmates, and in some cases mean they do not have to go to specialized programs located outside of Watertown. In her latest email update, Clark references her visit to Watertown. “I had a great visit with students and teachers at Cunniff Elementary School in Watertown,” Clark’s email reads. “Cunniff’s mission is to provide a supportive and challenging learning environment to maximize academic achievement, social responsibility and lifelong learning by attending to the intellectual and developmental needs of all of our students.”

Schools

Watertown Before, After School Program Fees Rising Jan. 1

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Monday night, the School Committee voted to raise fees for the district’s Before School and After School programs so they can qualify for state reimbursements. Starting Jan. 1, 2015, the rates for the Watertown Community Education Before and After School Out-of-School-Time Programs will rise. “We have to raise some of our rates to get the maximum voucher from the state,” said School Committee member John Portz. Programs that receive state reimbursement must charge a rate equal to or greater than the state subsidized rate for the same service, Portz said.

Charity

Watertown High School Students Raise Cash for Cancer Reserach

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A group of Watertown High School students decided to raise money to fight breast cancer and they were able to bring in more than $1,000 to fight the disease. The Think Pink drive in October raised money to fight breast cancer, said WHS Senior Class President Kayla Johnson. “I know five brave women battling this terrible disease,” Johnson told the School Committee earlier this month. The group made up T-shirts and sold pink ribbons. They also asked students and faculty to donate change.

Schools

Watertown Students Receive Nation Merit Honors

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Watertown High School can boast five students who received honors from the National Merit Scholarship program this year. The program honors students who have excelled on the PSAT exam, taken by students in their sophomore year. The top

For the 2015 National Merit Scholarships, approximately 1.4 million students from 22,000 high schools took the PSAT. The top 50,000 students are recognized for their accomplishment. The top 16,000 are selected as National Merit Semifinalists.

Around Town

Watertown Preschool Embraces Imagination, Nature

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Tucked away in the bustle of Watertown Square sits a place where young children can play, learn and grow. The Russell Cooperative Preschool opened in 1975 and since the early 2000s it has made its home in the basement of the First Parish of Watertown. The preschool is big on parent participation, nature and it encourages children to be creative and use their imaginations, said Director Sara Andrikidis. The cooperative part of the school includes having parents help out at the school regularly. “One parent a day comes in to help with daily tasks, such as snacks, setting up, clean up and getting beds ready for rest time,” Andrikidis said.

Schools

Superintendent Receives New Contract and Big Raise

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Watertown Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald will be around for some time, and will receive a raised of more than $20,000 after the School Committee approved her new contract. At Wednesday night’s School Committee meeting the board approved a five-year contract with a salary of $180,000 in the first year, which starts on July 1, 2015. “I am honored to be superintendent in Watertown,” Fitzgerald said. “I promise to do my best for the students in the school district for the next five years.”
School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer said the contract is typical for school districts in the region. “The salary range in this general geographic area, according to figures we have from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, averages $187,568,” Hsu-Balzer said.