Elections

LETTER: Teachers Union President Endorses School Committee Candidates

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Editor,

I am writing to express my support for the incumbents in the School Committee race; Eileen Hsu-Balzer, Michael Shepard and Julie McMahon. Thanks to their hard work, together with the rest of the School Committee members, the Watertown school district is in a much better place than it was four short years ago. In 2011, contract negotiations between the Watertown Educators Association (WEA), the School Committee and School Administration were at an impasse and teachers had been working without a contract for two years. Teachers were working to rule, and frustration on all sides was high. After the election, two new voices joined the discussion – Ms. McMahon and Mr. Shepard – and both sides resumed negotiations.

Election 2015

What Question Would You Ask the School Committee Candidates?

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There’s a hot race for School Committee on the Watertown Town Election ballot, with five people running for three seats. What issue would you like to hear their opinions on? The candidates will take part in two School Committee Candidate Forums hosted by the Watertown Education Foundation and Watertown News. The organizers are gathering questions from Watertown parents and residents. What is the biggest issue facing the Watertown Schools?

Elections

Two Forums Coming Up for Watertown School Committee Candidates

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Come learn about the five candidates for Watertown School Committee at two upcoming candidate forums. 

The five candidates are incumbents Eileen Hsu-Balzer, Julie McMahon and Michael Shepard, and challengers Candace Miller and Kendra Foley. They are running for three seats in the Nov. 3 Town Election. The first will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library in the Watertown Savings Bank Room.

Schools

Perkins School Named One of Top 50 Schools for Special Needs

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Perkins School for the Blind has a top reputation for working with students with special needs, and that status has been confirmed by a national ranking of such schools. 

The Masters’s in Special Education included Perkins in its list of top private schools in the nation for children with special needs. Along with providing itinerant services, independence courses for students who attend public schools, evaluations, and training for educators and other professionals, Perkins serves the world’s largest concentration of students with CHARGE syndrome, which causes complex birth defects including hearing and vision impairments, according to the site. The ranking were  based on the following factors:

Schools were licensed and/or accredited by an appropriate entity relative to the types of services they provide. Schools offer a low faculty to student ratio allowing for individualized instruction when possible. In all programs, the opportunity for 1:1 intensive therapy and additional supports were evident.

Schools

Watertown’s Elementary Schools Hosting 5K Crazy Color Fun Run

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Come out and join students from Watertown’s elementary schools in the 5K Crazy Color Fun Run. 

This 5K has the additional element of adding a different color to your outfit at each kilometer with a crazy color party at the end of the race. The race is hosted by the Hosmer, Lowell and Cunniff PTOs. The color itself is non-toxic corn starch. Participants can walk or run; do the course at whatever speed is your fancy. The race kicks off at 10 a.m.

This race is open to everyone, and kids especially are encouraged to register!

Schools

Heat Causing Headaches in Watertown Schools; Buildings Due for Upgrade

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The unseasonably hot weather during the first few weeks of school have caused headaches and some sweaty brows in Watertown’s schools, and the problem will not likely be solved until schools can be renovated or replaced. The heat got so bad one day that parents of Hosmer Elementary School students were given the option to take their children out of class. About 150 students went home that day, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. “We have never done that before, but we have never had that sort of heat,” Fitzgerald said. School officials did not dismiss Hosmer because they did not want children whose parents could not pick them up to sit at home alone.

Schools

The First Day of Classes for Watertown Public School Coming Soon

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The school year opens on Sept. 8 for the Watertown Public Schools, here is some information that might be helpful. 
School Hours
Cunniff Elementary School: 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Hosmer Elementary School: 8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

Lowell Elementary School: 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Watertown Middle School: 7:40 a.m.-2:10 p.m.

Watertown High School: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Registration
To register for the Watertown Public Schools,  you will need:

2 proofs of residency (mandatory) including a mortgage bill/lease/real estate tax bill and a utility bill (telephone bill, electric bill, water bill, etc.)
Child’s birth certificate (mandatory)
Copy of child’s medical records (mandatory)
Copy of any early intervention or special education evaluations (optional)

In addition you will need to fill out some forms. They are available by clicking here for you to download, fill out and bring when you come to register your child. Other documents may be needed to register. To find contact the school:

Early Steps Integrated Preschool (ages 3 – 5)

1 Concord Road, 617-926-7765

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/dept/student/sped/preschool.html

Cunniff Elementary School (grades PreK – 5)

246 Warren St., 617-926-7726

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cunniff/index.html

Hosmer Elementary School (grades PreK – 5)

1 Concord Road, 617-926-7740

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/hosmer/index.html

Lowell Elementary School (grades PreK – 5)

175 Orchard St., 617-926-7770

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/lowell/index.html

Watertown Middle School (grades 6 – 8)

68 Waverley Ave., 617-926-7783

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/wms/index.html

Watertown High School (grades 9-12)

50 Columbia St., 617 926-7760

http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/whs/index.html

 
School Buses
Registration for the 2015-2016 school year Transportation Program will be available for students in Hosmer, grades K-5 (student must be in Kindergarten and at least 5 years of age) and the Middle School grades 6-8 who live more than .75 miles from the schools. Please note that you must register your child each year; registrations are not automatically carried into the next school year.

Schools

Live Well Watertown Hosting Back to School Bonanza

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Come out to the Arsenal Project on Wednesday to get some ideas for healthy meals or snacks, take a peek at the Watertown Schools lunch menu and have fun with activities and music for kids! Live Well Watertown will host the Back to School Bonanza for Busy Families on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 10 a.m to noon at the Innovation Space, across from Dunkin’ Donuts in the Arsenal Project, 485 Arsenal St. in Watertown. Activities include:

Plan ahead for the school year with some new ideas for healthy eating!