Schools

Several Architecture Firms Interested in Designing Watertown High School Project

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The search for the architecture firm that will design the new Watertown High School has begun, but they decision will not be completely up to local officials. The project to rebuild or renovate WHS will be part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority process. Through the program, the town will receive significant reimbursement from the state (close to 50 percent) but the MSBA process is a very prescribed one. Watertown has been accepted into the program and the next step is to select the firm for design services. The selection will be made by the MSBA’s Design Panel, which is made up of 16 people.

Around Town

Design of Watertown’s Elementary Schools Taking Shape

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A view of the approved addition to Lowell School, seen on the right, which has tall windows, including on the corners. The designs of Watertown’s three elementary school projects solidified Wednesday night, with the School Building Committee selecting its preferred options for Lowell School, and they got previews of the two new schools at Hosmer and Cunniff. While the Hosmer and Cunniff schools will get brand new schools, Lowell School will undergo a major renovation, plus a large addition will be made to the east side of the building. This area will include the library/media center. The look of the addition to the Lowell School was the big sticking point at the Committee’s previous meeting, with members splitting evenly over the two choices.

Around Town

School Committee Gives Superintendent Good Evaluation

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Dede Galdston, current assistant superintendent in Billerica, interviewed for the Watertown Superintendent’s job Monday night. Superintendent Dede Galdston received good marks from the School Committee in the evaluation of her second year as the head of the Watertown Public Schools. The School Committee gave Galdston ratings of “proficient” across the board for her overall rating from the seven School Committee members. The ratings required by the state have four levels, from “unsatisfactory” to “exemplary” with proficient second highest. Galdston was also measured on how well she met the six goals agreed to by the School Committee and herself earlier this year.

Building for the Future

Watertown High School Project Moving Forward, Public Meetings Planned

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The multiyear process that will result in a new or renovated Watertown High School got rolling last week when the School Building Committee heard about what it will take to make the project a reality. On July 11, the Owner’s Project Manager for the Watertown High School project, Compass Project Management, met with the School Building Committee to talk about some of the projects they have worked one, and the schedule for the project. Compass is working on a five-phase, 18-month construction project at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Natick, said Tim Bonfatti, president of Compass. “Much like the current Watertown High School it is on a very constricted site, with limited options around it,” Bonfatti said. “And the solution that is going to be built there is going to be built in phases because we can’t complete it within the constrained footprint of that site.”

Around Town

Students from Jewish, German Schools Come Together for Community Project

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An inspirational drawing created by students at the Jewish Community Day School in Watertown and German International School Boston. The following information was provided by Jewish Family & Children’s Service:

This spring, Jewish Family & Children’s Service was thrilled to host a very special group of volunteers. Seventh graders from Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) in Watertown and German International School Boston (GISB) visited our Waltham headquarters to make birthday cards for clients of our Schechter Holocaust Services program. The collaboration between the two schools was part of an ongoing partnership between JCDS and GISB that focuses on Holocaust education. 

A Unique Partnership 

The Holocaust education program between Jewish Community Day School and German International School Boston was first launched in 2017 by Andrea Silton of JCDS and Andreas Weber of GISB. When the two Middle School teachers were put in touch as part of a comparative religion course, they realized that they had a unique opportunity to explore the difficult history between Germans and Jews.

College Honors

Watertown Students Make Dean’s List at University of Maine

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The following information was provided by the University of Maine:

The University of Maine recognized 2,330 students for achieving Dean’s List honors in the spring 2019 semester. Of the students who made the Dean’s List, 1,649 are from Maine, 623 are from 35 other states and 58 are from 30 countries other than the U.S.

Listed below are students who received Dean’s List honors for spring 2019, completing 12 or more credit hours in the semester and earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Two students from Watertown made the Dean’s List: Yonas Butler and Sarah Tymm

Please note that some students have requested that their information not be released; therefore, their names are not included. About University of Maine:

The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state’s land grant and sea grant university. As Maine’s flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service.

Building for the Future

Energy Efficiency, Sustainability Goals for Watertown’s New Schools

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A rendering of what the new Hosmer Elementary School could look like. The School Building Committee affirmed its commitment to making Watertown’s new elementary schools energy efficient and built in sustainable ways. The committee that is overseeing the school projects at Hosmer, Cunniff and Lowell elementary schools voted unanimously on June 19 to approve sustainability goals for the project. Architect Scott Dunlap from Ai3 also discussed some details of the design and ways they can be efficient and sustainable. The Sustainability Subcommittee of the School Building Committee presented the proposed goal, which called for striving for Net Zero buildings and to reach LEED Gold standards for the sustainability of the projects at the two new school buildings (Cunniff and Hosmer), while efforts would be made to make the Lowell energy efficient and sustainable.

Around Town

Watertown Library Offers a Universe of Summer Reading Options

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A view of what the current Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

Summer reading at the Watertown Free Public Library begins soon! This year’s theme is A Universe of Stories, and we can’t wait to share our stellar book lists, reading challenges, and prizes with you. The library offers summer reading programs for all ages, so whether you’re a fan of CatStronauts, Star Wars, or Stephen Hawking, we’re bound to have something that’s about your speed. And by the way, summer reading isn’t limited to space books!