Around Town

Shortage of ESL Teachers in Watertown Schools

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By Charlie Breitrose

One in ten students in the Watertown Public Schools are in English as a Second Language classes, but more than half are not getting the ESL (now known as English Language Learner) instruction that is required by state law.The students are in all five Watertown schools, and they come in speaking one of 27 different languages, said ESL Program Director Allison Levit said during a School Committee Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting. Students who know the least amount of English are supposed to get 150 minutes a day of ESL instruction. That amount drops to 60-120 minutes for mid-level students and 30 minutes for those close to moving into a regular classroom full time, Levit said. A couple years ago Watertown Middle School received an award for its ESL program, but now the system is struggling. Levit, who is in her second year as director, asked for more staff last year, and did not receive any more instructors.

Schools

New Group Pushes for ‘Watertown Strong Schools’

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By Charlie BreitroseA new group has emerged advocating for quality public schools in town, known as Watertown Strong Schools.The group seeks to support the Watertown Public Schools in the effort to get the “full funding needed to staff schools and purchase materials to provide quality education to Watertown students,” according to the group’s website, http://www.watertownstrongschools.com.Watertown Strong Schools has a three-tiered approach to improve the schools – data driven understanding and documentation of the schools; building relationships with the school, town and community leaders; and positive communication and outreach.The website provides a place to find out about upcoming meetings that impact the schools and town. It also has announced informational meetings about Watertown Strong Schools. The meetings will be held on Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, and one on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. – place to be determined.

Police/Fire

Reward Offered for Info on Person Behind Threat at Watertown High School

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By Charlie BreitroseAfter another threat that evacuated Watertown High School on Friday, a reward has been offered for helping to catch the person behind the threat.The State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Watertown Police Department have put up a reward of up to $5,000 reward for “information leading to the arrest of a suspect,” according to the press release from the Watertown Police.”Any individual offering information will remain anonymous,” the announcement reads.The threat was the third this school year. Two occurred in December. Once a threatening note was found and the second time a single bullet was found on a desk in a classroom at WHS.What do you think about the repeated threats at Watertown High?

Police/Fire

Watertown High School has Been Evacuted, Again

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By Charlie Breitrose

For the third time this school year Watertown High School has been evacuated due to a potential threat. Reports that a threatening note has been found at the high school. State Police are being called in to search the building. Principal Shirley Lundberg sent parents a letter saying that at threatening letter was found at about 11:30 a.m. Friday and the school was evacuated as an abundance of caution. “The threat was determined NOT to be credible.  As soon as the police have secured the building, we will be returning students to classes,” Lundberg wrote.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Gym Roof Needs Replacing

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{Originally Posted on the Watertown News Facebook page on Feb. 12, 2014}

By Charlie Breitrose

The roof over Watertown Middle School’s gym has been leaking, and school officials will be applying to the state to get money to replace it. The project will cost about $605,000, the School Committee learned last week. Watertown will apply for money from the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Accelerated Repair Program. The leaks have caused events at the gym to be canceled, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald, and there are fears that the floor will be damaged by water sitting on it for extended periods of time.

Entertainment

Watertown Mural Receives Award at State House

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{Originally posted on the Watertown News Facebook page on Feb. 11, 2014}

By Charlie Breitrose

The mural of scenes around Watertown painted over the summer will be recognized at the State House Tuesday afternoon. The work, “Spirit of Watertown,” was created by Watertown High School students who worked with artist Gregg Bernstein. It is 207 feet long and went on a formerly graffiti covered wall on the path between Whites and Waverley avenues. The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded the mural a Gold Star Award.

Schools

Are Watertown Children Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress?

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{Originally posted on the Watertown News Facebook page on Feb. 7, 2014}

By Charlie Breitrose

This week Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald told the School Committee that there has been a rise in Watertown students getting risk assessments. The reason is not clear, Fitzgerald said, but there is one major traumatic incident this year that may be the cause. “We believe it may be related to post-traumatic stress from the bombing and aftermath in Watertown,” Fitzgerald said.