Schools

Watertown Schools Piloting New System for School Visitors, Student Pickups

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The Watertown Public Schools are going high tech to keep track of visitors, and to make sure student are being picked up by those who are allowed to do so. This week, Watertown Middle School started using the Raptor Visitor Management System, which enters visitors into a computer system and can also check criminal and custody databases. Jason DelPotro, Watertown Middle School assistant principal and chair of the district’s Critical Incident Team, gave the School Committee an overview of the new program Monday night. Prior to the use of the computer system, the Watertown schools used the old fashion clipboard sheet to have people sign in and out when visiting campuses. Now, people will have to show a driver’s license and have it scanned into the system. The computer will then create a paper visitor ID, DelPotro said.

Donna Martin

New Middle School Principal Thrilled to be in Town, Looking Forward to Working with Students, Staff

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While some may shy away from kids in their preadolescence and early teens, Watertown Middle School’s new principal said she enjoys working with students in those grades, and believes they can be successful as long as they make connections with adults at the school. Donna Martin comes to Watertown after serving as assistant principal at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford for a dozen years. When she looked for her first principalship, she wanted to be closer to her home. “Chelmsford is a great community, too,” Martin said. “When I was looking for a principalship I wanted something a little different.”

Schools

New Principal Selected for Watertown Middle School, Along with Lowell Assistant Principal

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Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston announced appointment of the new Watertown Middle School principal and the new assistant principal at Lowell Elementary School. Donna Martin has been selected as the new WMS Principal. She succeeds Kimo Carter, who is leaving after 13 years to become assistant superintendent in Weston. The superintendent also appointed Candice Whitmore as the assistant principal at Lowell School. This is a new position for the 2018-19 school year (Fiscal Year 2019).

Around Town

MLK Friend: Watertown Embraces King’s Principles Like No Other Community

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Watertown has embraced the non-violence teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. like no other community, according to a Civil Rights activist and good friend of King. 

On Thursday afternoon a celebration for the dedication of the mural created on the back wall of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club was attended by Dr. Bernard Lafayette. The mural, called “The Time is Always Right,” features bright paints and sections of mosaics which demonstrate the six principles of Kingian Nonviolence (and the words on the mural):

Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people (Have Courage)
The Beloved Community is the framework for the future (Be Kind)
Attack forces of evil, not people doing evil (Don’t Hate, Solve)
Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve a goal (Stay the Course)
Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence (Love Yourself)
The Universe is on the side of justice (Trust)

Lafayette knows King’s teachings well. He has dedicated his life to spreading the nonviolence movement by teaching others how to use the principles and become Kingian instructors themselves. Two years ago he came to Watertown to teach 24 students, 17 school staff and three police officers. Since then, that group has reached more than 2,500 people in different events, according to Ruth Henry, a Watertown Middle School teacher who helped bring the Kingian principles to town.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Principal Leaving After 13 Years

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Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter will be headed to Weston in July to take the position of Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. The Weston Public Schools announced the appointment on its website on Monday. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee that Carter would be leaving during Monday’s School Committee meeting. “We wish him the best for his future, and thank him for 13 years in the district,” Galdston said. School Committee Chairman John Portz congratulated Carter.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Classroom Kitchen Gets An Overhaul

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A kitchen used by students in the special education program at Watertown Middle School got a partial upgrade and improvement recently, bringing it into the current century. The kitchen is left over from a now defunct program at the Middle School, said Principal Kimo Carter. “Fifteen years ago we had a home economics program that got discontinued,” Carter said. “This room and the one beside it were the home ec rooms.” The room has counters, cabinets, a stove, refrigerator and microwave.

Around Town

Rotary Club, Watertown Middle School Pack Meals for the Hungry

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On Tuesday, November 22 over 90 kids, parents, teachers, community members and Rotarians headed to the Watertown Middle School to pack over 10,000 meals through the Stop Hunger Now program, the Rotary Club of Watertown announced. The Rotary Club of Watertown hosted the packing party not only to help feed thousands of people around the world but also as a way to foster a spirit of community service among the school children of Watertown. The meals prepared during the Stop Hunger Now Packing Party are distributed through feeding programs operated by partner organizations in developing countries that promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve students’ health and nutrition, address gender inequalities, stimulate economic growth, and fight child labor.

Schools

Fundraiser Planned to Help Watertown Students Go To Washington

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An event will be held to raise money to send Watertown eighth-graders on their annual trip to Washington, D.C.

A cocktail party will be held at The Plumbers Museum, 80 Rosedale Road, Watertown, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 from 7-9 p.m. Catering to be provided by La Bonne Maisonhere, and there will be a cash bar. The event is Sponsored by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee. Suggested Contributions: $30 Guest, $100 Host (Not Tax Deductable)

All funds raised will go to the WDTC Carver Scholarship Fund

RSVP by ordering your tickets now! Get tickets at the group’s Facebook page (click here). For more information contact watertowndems@gmail.com or call 617-610-0402