Schools

Watertown Students Will Learn About Nutrition, Agriculture in Former Freight Containers

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Watertown Public Schools educators look inside the Freight Farm indoor growing system that was built inside a former freight container. The following piece was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Watertown Public Schools is expanding its educational opportunities for students with the addition of a new Freight Farm, a converted shipping container outfitted to grow food year-round. The 40-foot container allows for food and crops to be grown in a controlled, self-contained environment by utilizing vertical farming techniques and a closed-loop system. The Freight Farm will be used to expand course offerings at Watertown High School while also increasing food production for Watertown’s school cafeterias. “After many years of planning, preparation, and securing funding, we are thrilled to welcome the arrival of our Freight Farm,” said Superintendent Dede Galdston.

Around Town

Rotary Club Celebrating 100 Years; Appreciated Teachers at Each of the Public Schools

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A teacher at each of the Watertown Public Schools received a gift basket from the Rotary Club of Watertown during Teacher Appreciation Week. (Courtesy of the Rotary Club)

The Rotary Club of Watertown turned 100 years old in 2025, and the club has a celebration planned. The Club also presented Watertown teachers with gifts as part of the recent teacher appreciation week. Celebration

The Watertown Rotary 100 Year Gala Celebration will take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 6-9 p.m. The event will be held at Stazione Di Federal in Waltham. For tickets click here https://ticketstripe.com/watertownrotary100

For more information contact watertownrotary@gmail.com

Teacher Appreciation

During Teacher Appreciation Week, the first week of May, the Watertown Rotary Club donated five gift baskets, one for a teacher at each school in Watertown.

Schools

Third Annual Watertown Family Formal Will be Held at Hosmer School

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Watertown will host the third annual Family Formal for on Saturday, May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The event is for students in grades K-5, and will be held at Hosmer Elementary School, 1 Concord Road, Watertown. This is not a drop off event. Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per student, with a family cap of $30. Financial assistance is available. There will be a DJ and photo booth.

Schools

Hundreds Flock to First Community STEM Night at Watertown Middle School

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Watertown Middle School welcomed parents and students to the first Community STEM Night on April 29. (Screenshot from Watertown Cable video)

Hundreds of parents and students came out to see what the Watertown Public Schools have to offer in the areas of science, technology, math and engineering during the STEM Night at Watertown Middle School. The event, co-hosted by the Watertown Public Schools and the Watertown Business Coalition, took place on the evening of April 29. The WBC said the evening was a success, in the group’s recent newsletter:

“We are still basking in the glow from what was an incredibly successful Community STEM Night held Tuesday, April 29 at Watertown Middle School. In conjunction with Watertown Public Schools and the WBC, more than 160 parents, students and STEM professionals attended to learn more about what STEM opportunities are available in the Watertown Schools.”

Schools

Watertown Public Schools Nutrition Director Named Top School Nutrition Director in Mass.

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Watertown School Nutrition Director Brandon Rabbitt

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Brandon Rabbitt, the Director of School Nutrition for Watertown Public Schools, has been honored as the top school nutrition director in Massachusetts. The School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts selected Rabbitt as their Massachusetts Director of the Year. In announcing the award, the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts highlighted Rabbitt’s “leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the world of school nutrition.” He was also lauded for his “dedication to student wellness, [his] ability to lead and inspire [his] team, and [his] efforts to increase accessibility of school meals. “I’m so honored to receive this recognition, but it’s really all about our school nutrition team,” said Rabbitt. “I’m beyond lucky to work with such a hardworking group of people who care deeply about our students.

Schools

Watertown School’s DEIB Director Aims to Create Spaces Where Folks Can Connect

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Now in her second year in the role of the Watertown Public School’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Dr. Ceronne Daly said she approaches her work with a goal to build connection not just between her and students, but between families. Her work incorporates programs that started before DEIB began, and she seeks to make it part of what students and families experience in the Watertown Schools. “We’re not doing DEI as an add-on,” Daly stresses. “This work is woven into our strategic plan. If we stopped calling it DEI tomorrow, we’d still be doing restorative practices, still fostering student voices, still building inclusive curriculum.”

Around Town

Watertown Schools Close a $495K Gap for FY26, Superintendent Will Present Budget March 24

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Watertown school officials closed a budget gap of nearly half a million dollars without cutting staff. On Monday night, Superintendent Dede Galdston will present the Fiscal Year 2026 Watertown Public Schools budget at a public hearing. The budget hearing will take place during the March 24 School Committee meeting, which will be at Lowell School beginning at 7 p.m. While the FY26 Budget of $61.9 million, which will cover the 2025-26 School Year, was a challenge, Galdston said, Watertown is in a better position than many other communities. “In the relative scheme of things, it was a more challenging budget for Watertown, not quite as challenging as Brookline or Newton or Lexington or some of the people who have experienced pretty dramatic decreases in their budgets,” Galdston said. Coming into the budget making process, Watertown knew it would be facing a $1.1 million increase in special education tuition for out-of-district placements, but the district also saved about $227,000 in staff turnover savings that occurs when a veteran staff member retires and someone with a lower salary replaces the person.