The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:
The Watertown Public Schools Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is inviting members of the community to a series of caregiver “meet and greets” this fall.
These informal forums will give families and caregivers an opportunity to meet one another and will be led by Watertown Public Schools’ Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director Dr. Ceronne Daly.
“We are so excited to launch this series of meet and greets,” said Dr. Daly. “We are hoping these sessions will give us an opportunity to connect in an authentic way with our families and caregivers. It is critical for families and caregivers to know they have access to Watertown Public Schools and they see the district as partners in the education of their children.”
These gatherings are born out of the Office of DEIB’s goal to plan, execute, and attend events that engage staff, families, students and the community in the work of DEIB. The office aims to enable opportunities to build and sustain strong and substantive relationships in the WPS community.
Two key Watertown Public Schools district priorities will also serve as a guiding principle for these sessions. These priorities are outlined in the district’s Strategy for Success and include:
Cultivating belonging and social-emotional wellness
Watertown Public Schools recognizes the role that schools play in the social-emotional development and well-being of students. We are more than just academics. As such, WPS strives to create learning communities where all students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging by creating safe, brave spaces in our schools; by proactively engaging all families; and by staffing our schools with faculty and staff that represent our families and the global community.
Creating a learning community that provides authentic, relevant, and engaging opportunities
Watertown Public Schools create inclusive, safe learning environments where students want to be in school by providing a wide variety of opportunities for students to explore content, demonstrate understanding, and tap into their interests; employing culturally responsive practices; and ensuring we meet all students where they are and provide them the support they need to thrive. Students will feel the freedom to bring their authentic selves to school by adopting inclusive curriculum and instructional practices.
The meet and greets will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. The goal of these sessions is to bring together groups of families who may have some shared experiences.
September 2024 (meet and greets will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.)
● Wednesday September 18, 2024 – Caregivers of Incoming 6th graders
● Tuesday September 24, 2024 – Latino/a Caregivers
● Wednesday September 25 , 2024 – Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Children
October 2024 (meet and greets will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.)
● Tuesday October 1, 2024 – Single Caregivers
● Wednesday October 2, 2024 – Asian-American/Pacific Islander Caregivers
● Thursday October 3 2024 – Black Caregivers
● Wednesday October 16, 2024 – Caregivers of Multi-Racial Children
● Thursday October 17, 2024 – Intergenerational caregivers
● Tuesday October 22, 2024 – Caregivers of Adopted Children
● Wednesday October 23, 2024 – Caregivers Whose First Language is not English & Caregivers of Newcomers
● Tuesday October 29, 2024 – Caregivers committed to raising Anti Bias Anti Racist children