Schools

Stories by Two Watertown High Journalists Featured on National Site

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Raider Times reporters have produced two recent stories that have been featured on a site that highlights the best high school journalism from across the country. In November, Watertown High School’s Rebecca Grossman chronicled the efforts of WHS science teacher Jennifer MacDonald to cut back on the number of one-use cups from places like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. MacDonald, who teaches AP environmental science and is the mentor for the high school’s Environmental Club, banned single-use cups from her class. At the same time, the school has put in water fountain that has a spigot to fill water bottles. Grossman reports that the new fountain had saved about 7,000 bottles by early November.

Fab Lab

Fab Lab Inspiring Watertown High School Students to Learn, Explore

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A once quiet corner of the Watertown High School Library is now filled with enthusiastic students making their visions come to life in the school’s new Fab Lab. The library staff removed 12 large bookcases with out-of-date books on them and the area now has two 3-D printers, a vinyl cutter and a laser cutter, with a computer station to send their designs to the machines. In addition there is a wood router in the Career and Technical Education room and some old school machines in the library – two sewing machines. While the books are gone, the Fab Lab is another way for students to approach things, said WHS Library Media Specialist Erin Piazza. “The library is a place students use to find information, prepare projects or reflect what they learn,” Piazza said.

Conservation Commmision

Watertown High School Students Use Town Forest as a Living Laboratory

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When the Conservation Commission wanted to find out exactly what trees, plants and animals can be found in the town’s largest forested area, Commissioner Patick Fairbairn decided to enlist the help of students from Watertown High School. Last week, two honors biology classes spent the morning walking around Whitney Hill, the area overlooking Victory Field, detailing which species are located in 31 plots being studied on the hill. After coming up with the idea to enlist the help of students, Fairbairn approached School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer to ask if a combined effort with the schools could be possible. After speaking with a number of people, he found a WHS teacher who was interested. “Erik Hiltunen was a teacher who saw the value of observation over a long period of time,” Fairbairn said.

Around Town

Celebration Held for New Mural Inspired by Coolidge Square

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A brightly colored mural now adorns a wall on Mt. Auburn Street. Called “Seeds of Change,” it features fruit, vegetables, flowers and other items that can be found in markets and stores around Coolidge Square. On Saturday, members of the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee hosted a celebration for the mural, which was painted on a wall next to Uncommon Grounds, at the corner of Melendy Avenue and Mt. Auburn Street. Artist Gregg Bernstein, who designed the mural and mentored the students’ work on the project, said the artists faced tough conditions, with temperatures in the 90s many days.

Schools

Watertown Athletes Honored, League Champ Recognized

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Playing a high school sport requires a lot of effort, dedication and time, so playing three sports a year for four years is a feat that deserves being honored, which is what Watertown High School Athletic Director Michael Lahiff did this week. A dozen Raiders received the Athletic Director’s Award for participating in sports every season for their whole career at Monday’s School Committee meeting. Lahiff created the award to encourage more participation in a small high school. This year’s award winners are:

Brendan Berkeley – golf, hockey and baseball

Anthony Busconi – golf, hockey and lacrosse

Angel Carrion – football, basketball and lacrosse

Brian DallaCosta – football, basketball and indoor and outdoor track

Molly Day – soccer, indoor and outdoor track

Keegan Duguay – field hockey, indoor and outdoor track

Nick Giordano – football, hockey and lacrosse

Najmul Sahar Kahn – field hockey, indoor and outdoor track

Emily Loprete – field hockey, hockey and lacrosse

Austin Farry – football, hockey and baseball

Prosper Lubega – cross country, soccer, indoor and outdoor track

James McDonald – golf, basketball, indoor track and baseball
Girls’ Lacrosse
Watertown’s latest Middlesex League champions also received their due from the School Committee. The girls’ lacrosse team won its third straight title this year, and made it to the State Tournament where it won its first ever tournament game.

Schools

WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Announces Inductees for 2015!

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The Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s class of 2015 includes a pair of teams and half a dozen athletes – including four sisters! Inductees for this year’s celebration to be held at the Hellenic Cultural Center on Saturday Oct. 17, include six athletes and two teams.

For the first time in its distinguished history, the HOF will induct four talented sisters from the same family, including Bethany Rogers, ’95, Jane Rogers, ’98, Catherine Rogers, ’00, and Mary Rogers, ’03. As players and coaches, the fantastic foursome in field hockey contributed multiple All-Scholastic and MVP awards, 25 Middlesex League titles, 21 Div. II North Section titles, and 12 State Championships.

Schools

See Which Teachers Were Honored at the Watertown High School Graduation

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Several teachers received awards and recognition during the graduation ceremony for the Watertown High School Class of 2015 on Friday. Honorees included teachers at the high school and other schools around the district. The big award – Teacher of the Year – went to WHS music teacher Daniel Jordan, who was nominated by the faculty and staff at the high school. He has been a teacher at the high school for more than 20 years, and leads the band in concerts at the school, at athletic events, and special ceremonies such as the WHS Memorial Day Ceremony, said WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg

Jordan is always happy to collaborate with other teachers at the school. “I am really speechless,” Jordan said.