Schools

COVID-19 Numbers Low in Watertown Schools, Officials Look at When to Increase In-School Time

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The Watertown Public Schools have significantly lower COVID-19 positive test rates than the Town, and more than two-thirds of students and staff are participating in the district’s free testing program. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the staff and students tested in the district’s pool testing is 0.15 percent, which is below the most recent positivity rate Townwide, which was 4.4 percent as of Dec. 28. She discussed the COVID-19 rates and the testing program, along with what factors will be considered when looking at increasing the amount of in-school learning during Monday’s School Committee meeting. Galdston credits staff and students taking the COVID-19 protocols seriously for the low rates of the virus.

Around Town

COVID-19 Cases Slightly Down in Watertown, Positive Test Rate Up

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The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in Watertown dropped slightly in the most recent community-by-community report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), but the percent of positive tests rose. The number of cases over the prior 14 days in the Dec. 24 report (released on Dec. 31) was 236, down from 241 the prior week. The drop was the first since the DPH’s Sept.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Vehicles Broken Into, Small Fire at Business

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

None

Incidents

Watertown Police received one report of unemployment fraud for the week of Dec. 21-27. Dec. 21, 6:25 p.m.: An employee of a company on Pleasant Street was supposed to receive a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but did not get it.

Schools

Watertown Schools Starting 2021 Remotely, COVID-19 Testing Available for Students

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public School:

Due to our desire to kick-start our new year off well, we will be focusing on testing students and staff who may have traveled or spent extended time with people outside of their immediate household prior to the return to in-person learning. In order to accomplish this, we will start the year in our remote learning model, Monday, January 4 through Wednesday, January 6, with a return to in-person learning on Thursday, January 7. In addition to our protocols for social distancing, PPE, handwashing, and staying home when sick, student testing is one of the safety measures that has allowed us to remain open. To date, we have processed 3698 staff tests, with 5 positives, and 317 pools of up to 10 students in each pool withonly 3 positive pools. The indication from these tests is that less than .15% of our students and staff that are part of our testing program have tested positive.

Around Town

COVID Vaccinations Coming Soon to Watertown Senior Living Community

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People living at The Residence at Watertown Square senior living community will be among the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine. {Updated on Jan. 4, 2021 at 4 p.m. with new testing day}

The residents of a senior living community will be some of the first people in Watertown to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The first shots are expected to be given to residents and staff at The Residence at Watertown Square on Jan. 22, 2021, said Ted Doyle, a spokesperson for The Residence, which is part of LCB Senior Living.

Business

Watertown Restaurants Cooking Something Up for New Year’s Celebrations

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Several Watertown restaurants have special menus planned to ring in 2021. City Works & Pour House will host a Brew Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31, 2020 with a special menu, including filet medallions, short rib and Cajun linguine. See more details here. Branch Line will be cooking up special meals to take home to celebrate New Year’s Eve, including entrees of prime rib or lobster thermidor.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Bank ATM Damaged, Customer Threatens Store Clerk

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

None

Incidents

Watertown Police received 2 reports of unemployment fraud from Dec. 14-20. 

Dec. 14, 10:47 a.m.: Two men were caught on video at the Santander Bank damaging the ATM inside the bank. The pair was seen at about 2:13 a.m. on Dec.

Sports

Watertown Field Hockey Player Named Globe All-Scholastic

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Watertown’s Maggie Driscoll plays Tewksbury in the 2019 State Tournament as a freshman. This season she was named to the Boston Globe’s All-Scholastic Team

The Boston Globe named Watertown High School’s Maggie Driscoll to the 2020 All-Scholastic Field Hockey team. The sophomore midfielder helped the Raiders finish a perfect 8-0 in the COVID-19 shortened season. She scored 12 goals this season. Driscoll also was named a Middlesex League All-Star and the co-Most Valuable Player for the Middlesex Freedom Division.