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?

Police/Fire

Sheriff Koutoujian Speaks in DC About Importance of Pell Grants

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Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian (third from right) recently participated in a public briefing on the proposed restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for justice-involved individuals hosted by Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration. Pictured from left are Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration Senior Counsel Taryn Merkl; former Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections Rick Raemisch; Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration Executive Director Ronal Serpas; Sheriff Koutoujian; Co-Founder and President of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Dr. Chris Beasley; and Miea Walker, the Criminal Justice Manager of the Policy and Advocacy Division of Forward Justice. The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office. Peter Koutoujian is a former State Rep who represented parts of Watertown:

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian joined current and former law enforcement leaders for a Capitol Hill briefing Wednesday, September 17, on the importance of restoring Pell Grants and expanding other higher education opportunities for incarcerated students. The event was hosted by Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, of which Sheriff Koutoujian is a founding member.

Schools

Students Welcomed to New Minuteman High School Building

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An illustration of what the new Minuteman High School building. The school was completed and opened this fall. The Lexington-based vocational technical school is attended by dozens of Watertown students. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

An inviting Student Union, a theater outfitted with an impressive array of professional-grade features, and a spacious restaurant with a café, a bakery sales area and a patio that seats two dozen guests are some of the marquee elements in a new school building in Lexington. Although it probably sounds more like a college facility, it’s actually the new, state-of-the-art, visually striking $145 million Minuteman High School, which opened its doors to students for the first time on September 3.

Around Town

OP-ED: Education Reform Bill Would Provide More Funding

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, D – Belmont, who also represents Watertown and parts of Boston:

Friday, the legislature’s Education Committee released the Student Opportunity Act, a very significant education reform bill. It is an especially promising bill because the House and Senate leadership teams are already in agreement on all of its details. 

The bill targets more aid to communities with the highest concentrations of low income students, but schools in every community will benefit. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) computes a budget for each school system in the state, known as the “Foundation Budget.” DESE also computes an amount that the school system should be able to contribute towards that budget. The state then sends the difference between what the community can afford and the Foundation Budget as education aid. Unfortunately, the Foundation Budget computation has not kept up with rising school costs. On average, communities need to spend approximately 30 percent more than the Foundation Budget to run their schools. The poorest communities in the state are unable to spend at that level and are therefore spending much less than the more affluent communities in the state.