LETTER: Parents Back Watertown School Committee Candidate

As parents of students at all levels in the Watertown Public Schools, we write to enthusiastically express our support for Lisa Capoccia for Watertown School Committee. The three of us have separately known Lisa for over a decade in various capacities – as a public health colleague working in suicide prevention, as collaborators on school and community initiatives, and as fellow parents. Lisa has dedicated an incredible amount of time to the Watertown Public Schools over many years, and often behind the scenes, by advocating for resources for students, families, and staff who need them the most, improving transparency of health data to the community, sharing and compiling resources on a community and individual level, and much more. As long as we have known Lisa, she has deeply valued the diversity among families in Watertown and has seen that as one of the greatest strengths of the Watertown Public Schools. She is a tireless advocate for equity in public education and has offered important feedback to the district through the Equity Audit process that was developed last year.

Watertown High School’s Class of 1978 Planning 45th Reunion

The old Watertown High School building. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The Watertown High School Class of 1978 announced it will hold its 45th reunion on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. The reunion will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight at Stazione de Federal, 123 Moody St., Waltham 

There will be music, dancing, hearty appetizers, and pizza. A full bar with great cocktails, wine, and beer.

Watertown Schools Receive Recognition, Superintendent Gets Raise & More

By Kendra FoleySchool Committee Chair

The 2023-2024 school year is underway in Watertown and we hope you are having a good start to your year. 

Our year began with exciting news, as the Hosmer Elementary School was honored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School of Recognition. Hosmer was only one of 66 schools in the state to earn this title as part of DESE’s release of MCAS data and accountability metrics. Our district as a whole also earned high marks from the state. You can read more about the recognition in Ms. Moulton’s newsletter to the Hosmer community. Watertown High School was also recognized for strong academic achievement, earning a place on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll with a Silver Distinction.

Old School Has New Look, Public Gets First Look Inside Lowell Elementary After Renovation

Parents and students explore the learning commons, a new addition to Lowell Elementary School. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Before the new Lowell Elementary School opened its doors on Tuesday afternoon, the hundreds gathers were entertained by student musicians, including the Lowell chorus who sang the Beatles’ song “Here Comes the Sun.” The song has a fitting line, “It seems like years since it’s been here.” The sun shone on the ceremony held outside Lowell School. The outside looked very similar to the school the students, teachers and staff left a few years ago, but inside it is filled with light, and features an expanded cafeteria, a new library, and a group learning commons with windows stretching two stories skyward.

Lowell School Renovation to be Unveiled at Ribbon Cutting

The Watertown Public Schools invites the public to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the latest school construction project to be completed: Lowell School. There will be an opportunity to look around the renovated and expanded school. School officials sent out the following information:

Please join us for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated J.R. Lowell Elementary School on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The ceremony will take place at the Lowell Avenue entrance at 4:00pm. After the ceremony, the Watertown Community is also invited to walk through the renovated building.

State Recognizes Hosmer Elementary for Improvements on MCAS

(Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The following information was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

The Hosmer Elementary School has been named a School of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education following the release of 2023 accountability data. Hosmer is just one of 65 schools in the state to earn this honor. The Hosmer School outperformed 2023 MCAS targets in both Math and English Language Arts while also improving on scores from 2022. Hosmer recorded a 93% score in DESE’s Progress Towards Targets metric. The state considers 75% as the threshold for meeting or exceeding targets.

Watertown High School Class of 1983 Holding 40th Class Reunion

The old Watertown High School building. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The following announcement was provided by the WHS Class of 1983 Reunion Committee:

The Watertown High School CLASS OF ‘83 Reunion Committee is thrilled we have finalized plans for our 40th, yes 40th, class reunion! We will be holding our event at the recently renovated OAKLEY COUNTRY CLUB! Our reunion will be SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25th from 7-11 p.m.

We will be serving passed Hors d’oeuvres and there will be a cash bar (sorry, only debit/credit cards accepted per Oakley CC policy). Purchase your “tickets” NOW ~ Special Pricing~ $40 for our 40th~ if purchased by October 15th.

LETTER: School Committee Member Seeks Re-Election

School Committee member Kendra Foley seeks re-election. My name is Kendra Foley. I have served on the Watertown School Committee for eight years, the last two as Chair. I am running for re-election on November 7th and I am asking for one of your three votes for School Committee. I’m running for re-election because I love this community and I believe in the power, value and promise of public education.