COVID-19 Funds

Watertown Offering Free Summer School, Adding Enrichment Classes

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The Watertown Public Schools will offer free summer school in 2021, including both programs for students needing to make up credits or improve skills, and those looking to learn something new this summer. The district will use funds received to assist during the COVID-19 Pandemic to provide most of the programs free of cost, this year. Assistant Superintendent Theresa McGuinness said that the Watertown Public Schools are focusing on getting students back into the groove after the past two school years were impacted by the Pandemic. “This summer and into the fall we are prioritizing relationships, re-socialization and healthy human connections as we plan for both academics and social-emotional wellness for our students through enriching supportive programming,” McGuinness said. For students in PreK to eighth grade who need to boost their academics, the focus will be on literacy and math, McGuinness said, while in the high school grades emphasis will be placed on credit recovery in English, math, science and social studies.

Homepage Featured

LETTER: Group of Parents Support Using Moxley as Site for Temporary High School

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Ai3 ArchitectsA view from Columbia Street of what the new Watertown High School could look like. Last week, the Town Manager announced that the new Watertown High School would be paid for within the confines of Proposition 2 ½, and will NOT require a debt exclusion vote by the community. This is truly an astonishing, unprecedented commitment by Watertown. Thank you to the Town Manager and the Town Council for creating this remarkable opportunity. This is a project that will be transformative for our entire community.

Around Town

Watertown Voters Will Continue to Directly Elect Council President After Vote by Charter Review Committee

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Watertown Town Hall

Voters in Watertown will continue to elect the Town Council President directly, rather than having the position chosen by a majority of the Council. The decision was made by the Watertown Charter Review Committee on Tuesday night. The decision came on the same night that members discussed the makeup of the Town Council and the councilor compensation. Also, if the Council President should serve on the School Committee, or have a designee. The group reviewing the document that defines how the Town’s government operates looked at the Legislative section of the Charter on Tuesday.

Schools

LETTER: Reconsider Using Moxley Field as the Site for the Temporary High School

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It would be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The following letter was originally sent to the School Building Committee and the Town Council:

The architectural firm working on behalf of the Watertown High School project provided the recommendation to build a temporary high school on PFC Richard Stephen Memorial Playground on Westminster Avenue. It is dedicated to our fallen hero who gave his life in Vietnam. Richie played on this field.

Around Town

Resident Group’s Survey Finds What People Like, Want Improved in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. People like the community and diversity in Watertown, but would like to see improvements in the schools and affordability, according to the preliminary results of a survey being conducted by a resident group called Watertown Forward. The group started as an effort to help people understand the Town Charter and the once-a-decade Charter Review, but the group seeks to keep people engaged, said Nicole Gardner, a member of Watertown Forward. “We want to encourage them to get engaged. (Watertown Forward is) at this moment hyper-focused on charter review.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown School Committee Thanks Teachers During Educator Appreciation Week

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From The Watertown School Committee:

Teachers do a job that many do not fully understand, yet everyone knows and hopefully has loved a teacher or two throughout their lifetime. This year we asked our educators to do the unthinkable — to become experts on remote education seemingly overnight, to pivot between plans, learning styles, modalities and pedagogy without everything that usually goes into making those types of switches. And our educators of WPS did not miss a beat. From the first day of the shutdown last spring, until the moment this is being read, WPS educators have put students first, have reached into their hearts, their minds, and their depth of knowledge to provide the very best educational experience for all WPS students. While they faced uncertainty and anxiety that we all faced with this pandemic — they stepped up, and they calmed their students, reassured parents, and found ways to both build relationships with students virtually, and provide a rigorous and joyful learning experience as best they could.

Around Town

Residents Can Sign Up for Vaccination Clinic Hosted by Watertown Health Department

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The Watertown Health Department announced it will be hosting a J&J Janssen Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic. Clinic attendees will be required to provide proof of Watertown residency. The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will take place on 05/13/2021 from 12:30pm-3pm at Hibernian Hall at 151 Watertown St, Watertown, MA 02472. Registration for the clinic can be done by following this link: https://www.maimmunizations.org//reg/6151230932

This clinic is by appointment only and no walk ins will be accepted.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Waltham Man Who Had an Illegal Firearm, Variety of Drugs

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Watertown Police arrested a 25-year-old Waltham man found to have an unlicensed firearm and drugs. On the evening of April 27, a Palfrey Street resident called Police because he suspected two men had been attempting to break into his home. When Police arrived, the homeowner pointed out two men walking down Palfrey Street, away from the house, and officers were able to stop them, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. One was identified as Ernest Russo of Waltham. “While they were speaking with the two men, one of the officers observed Mr. Russo clutching something in his waistband,” O’Connor said.