Class of 2020

WHS PTSO Raising Money to Celebrate the Class of 2020 in the Time of COVID-19

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. A fund-raising effort has been started to help the Watertown High School Class of 2020 celebrate their graduation in style, despite the COVID-19 restrictions. The effort was started by the Watertown High School PTSO on RallyUp.com. As of Friday morning, the page has already raised more than $1,500. The money will used to create gift packs for all seniors which they will collect with their cap and gown after the last day of class.

Schools

Two Watertown Students Named Outstanding Seniors at Minuteman High School

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In this photo, taken in early March prior to the coronavirus-related school closure, Minuteman High School students who were selected as Outstanding Seniors for the Class of 2020 and honored with a luncheon are photographed with school administrators. Top row (left to right): James Riley of Lancaster, John O’Keefe of Stow, Liam DaSilva of Arlington, Ben Tangora of Concord, Roxanna Sanjar of Bolton, and Career Technical Education (CTE) Director Michelle Roche. Bottom row (left to right): Assistant CTE Director Katie Bouchard, Superintendent-Director Ed Bouquillon, Joshua Kerble of Arlington, Nicholas Moy of Concord, Sabrina Raposo of Watertown, Otto Eademacher of Arlington, Jason Kim of Belmont, Assistant Superintendent Amy Perreault, and Principal George Clement. (Missing from photo: Rouaa Alwaz of Watertown and Emily Hawkins of Lexington.)

Minuteman High School sent out the following announcement:

Twelve students from the Class of 2020 at Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School were recently recognized as “Outstanding Seniors” shortly before the coronavirus emergency closed schools in March. The 12 seniors were treated to a luncheon with Minuteman administrators in the school’s student-run restaurant, The District Café.

Around Town

An Open Letter to WHS Seniors from Wayside & the Watertown Youth Coalition

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. This letter was written by Lisa Gibalerio, Prevention Specialist, for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and the Watertown Youth Coalition. Dear Seniors:

When the news came down last month that schools across Massachusetts would not reopen for the rest of the school year, a collective thud of disappointment resounded across town from you and your parents. The news confirmed what had been feared since schools closed back in March: there will be no spring athletic season, no awards ceremony honoring four grueling years, no prom, no Senior Week activities, and, perhaps most crushing of all, no graduation ceremony and no All Night Party. All time-honored events.

Schools

High School Looking for Ways to Celebrate Graduating Seniors in a Time of Social Distancing

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This week, lawn signs will begin to pop up around Watertown congratulating the high school’s Class of 2020. This is one way the school has come up with to celebrate the seniors in a year when a normal graduation ceremony and other traditional events will not likely happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People at the school and the community are trying to come up with other ways to acknowledge the Class of 2020, WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg told the School Committee on Monday night. There may be a car parade of seniors, a specific time when the town applauds the senior class (similar to the celebrations of medical workers), and at some point in the future, perhaps, a live and in-person graduation ceremony. The last day of class for seniors is May 28, and graduation was scheduled for Friday, June 5.

Government

School Committee Meeting Online Monday, Rec Department Hosting Facebook Live Open Forum

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The Watertown School Committee will hold its May meeting as an online meeting on Monday night at 7 p.m. and the Recreation Department will host an Open Forum session on Facebook Live. The School Committee’s agenda includes a presentation about the Phase 3 of remote learning in the Watertown Public Schools, information about WHS seniors and an update on the Building for the Future school building projects. See the entire agenda here. The meeting can be viewed live on WCA-TV (Comcast Channel 99, RCN Channel 13) and on Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3f7AAfy (Meeting ID: 926 0404 0459, Password: 142869). Recreation Department Meeting

On Tuesday night, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Recreation Director Peter Centola will hold an open forum on Facebook live.

Government

Town Council Approves Lights for Fields at Filippello Park

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Filippello Park’s two athletic fields, picnic area, playground and more draw lots of visitors. The biggest park on the Eastside of Watertown will receive new lighting at its two athletic fields after the Town Council approved funding for a project that has been in the works for more than a year. The $1.3 million project at Filippello Park replaces the lights on seven poles at the Grove Street Field with LED lights, and adds four poles with LED lighting at the Arlington Street Field, mostly used for soccer. The project also replaces the scoreboard at the Grove Street Field, which is used for softball and soccer, and replaces the backstop and infield fencing at that field. One of the impetuses for the project was the lack of lit field space in Town.

Schools

WHS Guidance: Course Selection for Next Year, New Dates for SATs, APs Online

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While Watertown High School students are in virtual learning mode for the rest of the school year, they can start planning for the return to campus next year, as well as, taking tests to prepare for college. The WHS guidance department sent out the following information for students:

Dear Watertown students and families,

First and foremost, I hope this email finds you and your family well during this challenging time. So much is changing, and all of it quite quickly. While it’s possible that more will have changed by the time you read this email, the WHS Guidance Department wants to provide you with some information in regards to course selection, post-secondary planning, and resources for support. We also plan to share a brief video covering this information in the coming days.

Entertainment

Watertown High School Student Honored by Boston Area Emmys

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Watertown High School senior Toni Carton, left, in a screen shot from her show “Toni & Me,” shown with family and consumer sciences teacher Deborah Johnson. A Watertown High School senior received an honorable mention in the 2020 Boston/New England Emmy Awards for her work on a show created as part of the school’s Radio and Television Production program. Toni Carton received an honorable mention in the High School – Talent category of the 2020 Boston/New England National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for hosting “Best of Toni & Me.” See “Best of Toni & Me” below:

Best of Toni and Me Host Reel from WHS on WCATV on Vimeo. Carton also played one of the leads in the WHS musical, Chicago, earlier this year.