Schools

Public Will Have Multiple Chances to Give Input on WHS Construction Project

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Watertown’s School Building Committee has begun looking at the high school renovation/rebuilding project, and the public will have multiple chances to weigh in, beginning in November. The first public meeting about the Watertown High School project will be held Nov. 19 at a time and place to be announced, Town Council President Mark Sideris announced at Wednesday’s School Building Committee meeting. The School Building Committee learned that the process for the WHS project will be different from the one used for the three elementary schools — the other half of Watertown Public School’s Building for the Future. The high school project is part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program, which has many requirements and deadlines to meet.

Principal

WHS Principal Retiring, District Starting Process to Find Successor

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Watertown High School Principal Shirley Lundberg announced she will be retiring at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Her successor will be selected after a process that will begin in December and end in February. Lundberg is in her seventh year leading WHS. She announced her retirement to her staff in the spring and to parents in the first newsletter of the new school year. “This school year will be my last with Watertown, as at the end of it I intend to join my husband in retirement.

Minuteman High School

New Minuteman High School Celebrated at Grand Opening

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The ribbon cutting at the new Minuteman High School in Lexington. Pictured, from left, are Needham Selectman Dan Matthews, Minuteman Superintendent-Director Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, State Senator Cindy Friedman, State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority Jack McCarthy, Ford Spalding, Dover representative to the Minuteman District School Committee and chair of the Minuteman School Building Committee, and State Rep. Michelle Ciccolo. The following piece was provided by Minuteman High School. Dozens of Watetown students attend the vocational high school. State Senator Cindy Friedman said that on the morning of Friday, October 4, when a grand opening and ribbon cutting that she attended was held at the new Minuteman High School, she could not get one song out of her mind – “The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles.

Bright Horizons

Museum of Science Teams with Watertown-Based Child Care Network to Teach STEM

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Students at a Bright Horizons child care center participate in a challenge created by the Museum of Science. The Museum of Science has teamed up with Watertown-based Bright Horizons to get young children at their centers excited about engineering and science. Using the museum’s EiE Wee Engineer program, Bright Horizons curriculum encourages children to be creative and innovative as they participate in hands-on challenges designed to nurture their love of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and demonstrate that there is more than one way to solve a problem, according to Rachel Robertson, Vice President, Education & Development at Bright Horizons. “As a Watertown-based organization, we’re very familiar with the Museum of Science and the high caliber educational programming it offers, both in the museum and through its work in schools across the region,” Robertson said. “At Bright Horizons, we’re always looking at new and innovative approaches that not only prepare our students for elementary school, but also lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Cunniff School

Watertown School Recognized for MCAS Results, No Schools Require Intervention

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Hosmer Elementary School in Watertown. The State recognized a Watertown School for its results on the 2019 MCAS test, and Watertown Middle School improved its scores enough so that it will no longer be under special scrutiny by state officials. Superintendent Dede Galdston gave an overview of the Watertown Public Schools’ results on the statewide standardized test at Monday’s School Committee meeting. “We did very well on the exams,” Galdston said. “I am very proud of the work that was done last year, and we will no longer require assistance or intervention (from the state).”

Environment

What It Would Take For Watertown to Have Net Zero Energy Schools

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An example of a solar array canopy with a timber frame in a parking lot. They can be made of other materials, including metal. Architects showed the School Building Committee what it would take to make Watertown’s new elementary schools net zero — so the campus would generate enough energy to cover the electricity used to run the building. Watertown will be building two new elementary schools — at Cunniff and Hosmer — and school officials seek to make them not only green schools, but are looking at possibly making them net zero schools. Wednesday night, architect Scott Dunlap of Ai3 Architects, told the committee overseeing the project that the energy would be generated by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Entertainment

Watertown Artist Hosting Drawing, Watercolor Classes

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“The Rangers Camp,” by Watertown artist Audrey Jones Childs, who is teaching a watercolor class. Local artist Audrey Childs announced she will be hosting drawing classes and will be adding a watercolor course, too. The classes are part of the Art Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Belmont, 129 Lexington St., in Belmont. Drawing (Beginner and Intermediate)

A Great Way to Relax! Learn to draw or perfect your drawing skills.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Coalition Seeks Community’s Input

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The following information was provided by Watertown Youth Coalition:

WYC would like to hear from all Watertown residents about how we can best support you in taking responsibility for the wellness of our youth and community. Youth wellness is at the heart of community wellness. Please come share with us about your passions, concerns and ideas for welcoming, educating and supporting our wonderfully diverse community! Hot topics these days are vaping, youth substance misuse prevention, mental health, acceptance, racial justice and equity, LGBTQIA+ and social justice, intersectionality, legalization of marijuana, underage drinking, screen time, managing stress and supporting overall wellness. Which are most important to you?