Ai3 Architects A rendering of the designs for the new Watertown High School viewed from Columbia Street.
The School Committee voted to take more time to make the decision about after whom the gymnasium and auditorium at the new Watertown High School should be named, and will come up with criteria to judge the nominations submitted by the public.
The original timeline called for having nominations in by Oct. 7 and the final vote on Oct. 21. On Monday, School Committee Chair Kendra Foley proposed a change to the process.
“We are just one Committee in one moment in history and one moment in time,” Foley said. “While we discussed naming two spaces, on greater reflection I recommend that we only name one space. I think we need to make some room for the next generation, the next group, the next moment when it feels appropriate to name something in our school.”
She did not specify which one would be named when.
School Committee member Lisa Capoccia suggested holding off on naming both facilities. She noted that the School Committee is reviewing its policy for naming or renaming facilities, and said it doesn’t have criteria for naming of facilities.
Capoccia said some criteria could be what degree the work of the person named is tied to education, what degree is the person tied to working with youth, how much the person is tied to function of the space being dedicated, or tied to the values outlined in the Watertown Public School’s mission.
She also suggested a temporary committee be formed to make recommendations, and that it include members of the School Committee, the school staff, students, and also a member of the Human Rights Commission.
School Committee member Jessica Middlebrook supported putting the decision on hold. She said she wanted to make sure that the voices of students and the community are heard, and that the decision feels rushed.
School Committee member Rachel Kay asked why the School Committee had to make the decision a year and a half before the school is scheduled to open. City Council President and School Committee member Mark Sideris said the School Building Committee approved the signage for the new school at its most recent meeting.
“I understand there are concerns, but at some point this committee will have to make a decision,” Sideris said. “We have already gotten a number of names. I don’t mind looking at this point and I think there should be a very robust policy to put your name on something. If the committee votes to put a pause on this I’m OK with that, as well.”
People spent time to come up with a name to nominate and reasons why the person would be appropriate, said School Committee member Amy Donohue.
“If we keep putting things on the back burner then we find ourselves with more and more tasks ahead of us,” Donohue said.
Sideris said the gym at the old WHS was named for former Headmaster John Kelley in the 1990s, but he was unable to find a criteria for how that decision was made.
Foley said she was contacted by people who wanted to keep Kelley’s name on the gymnasium.
“I want to make people aware, no matter what we are not going to let past names be forgotten. Those are important people who added a lot of value to our community,” Foley said. “What we are going to do, no matter what we are naming the space at the new high school, we will be commemorating the Kelley Gym as well as the Shaw Auditorium with a plaque in the new space so we can both look into the future at our brand new state-of-the-art high school but also respect and honor the past and so many people who have added to so much value to Watertown.”
The School Committee voted to delay the vote on naming both the gym and the auditorium, but did not set a date to make the decision.
Foley revealed the names that had been submitted to the School Committee. The following information came from a memo on the Watertown School Committee website:
At the September 16, 2024 School Committee meeting, the committee invited members of the
community to recommend names for consideration for the new Watertown High School gym
and/or auditorium. The following 17 ideas have been submitted from 42 people, in no particular
order.
- Eileen Donahue, gym
- Steve Harrington, gym
- Sgt. Jeff Pugliese, gym/auditorium
- Michael Driscoll, auditorium
- Ernie Thebado, gym
- Jack Hahn, auditorium
- Marzaran (the Armenian word for gymnasium), gym
- Dr. John J. Kelley, gym/auditorium
- Eliza Dushku
- Mark Sideris, gym/auditorium
- Private First Class Richard Moxley, auditorium
- Ruth Thomasian, library/media center
- Arshile Gorky, art room
- Don McGillicuddy, gym
- Beverly Smith, auditorium
- Robert Galante, auditorium
- The high school seniors are given the task of submitting names of people that inspire them and then have a process for voting for the final decision.
How about naming it in honor of the students that passed away
I nominate the name Raiders Gym Although it is wonderful to honor all those that are listed in the top 10, but the name Raider honors all Watertown athletes past and present. The gym is a place where many people gather for dances,concerts, and even an occasional graduation so all of our students,past, present and future can feel included and honored when they enter WHS Raider gym. Thank you for you consideration.
✅
I think it should be called the WHS Gym. Any choice of one person or group over another causes stress. To what end? The students will say “See you in the gym!”
Coach Harrington has compiled over 384 career wins as head coach of the Watertown Red Raiders, guiding the team to 21 straight tournament appearances. During his time in Watertown, Coach Harrington led the team to three state titles, eight sectional titles and eight Middlesex League Championships. Coach Harrington has won Boston Globe Coach of the Year on three occasions and is recognized as one of the greatest basketball coaches in MIAA history. He has been inducted into the Brandeis Hall of Fame, Wakefield Hall of Fame and Watertown Hall of Fame.
451 wins and will be approaching or at 500 wins.
Another accolade for Raiders field hockey!
Coach Eileen Donahue has been named the 2023-2024 MIAA Field Hockey Coach of the Year. Coach Donahue led the Raiders to their third-straight state championship last year, and the 21st overall in her storied career. Along the way, the Raiders set the national record for consecutive shutouts (41) and recorded Coach Donahue’s 750th career win.
This article speaks for itself!
I love the idea of Mr. Hahn. Just thinking about all the students that he touched and brought music into their lives. He gets my vote!
To pick one person’s name for the gym while so many people have contributed to the successes in Watertown seems to be a futile effort. If you submit names and take a vote, different generations of students and alumnae will have their own favorites.
I was thinking of a more generic name such as Gym of Champions. That would encompass so many people and areas from sports people to school leaders and students who have made a difference in our youth’s lives.
Perhaps a plaque could be mounted there to acknowledge individual people’s names and contributions and their dates of relevance. Names could be added as time goes on to recognize future champions in our community. Maybe even a QR code could be there so people could look back on the achievements of those people on the plaque.
We all know that kids aren’t going to say they’re going to so and so’s gym; they are just going to reference the gym. Maybe using the Gym of Champions name would incentivize them to want to achieve something noteworthy and have their name added to the plaque someday.
Totally agree!
I also believe in a “ generic” name rather than any one individual. How about … Raider Athletic Center ….. as in “ Welcome to the RAC”.
Peoples names can become meaningless over time.
A generic name does not diminish anyone.
Short Great Quotes of someone are always good to have… like
The secret of life is to dare, to give, to fail, to overcome.
That’s my own but I’m sure there are others as good or better.
Could you please correct the article to spell Dr. Kelley’s name right everywhere, not just in the nominations list? It was particularly noticeable because I read this article just after reading the letter from Dr. Kelley’s granddaughter where it was, of course, spelled correctly throughout. Thank you.
Thanks for the note. It has been updated
Thank you