Schools

Perkins Employee Receives Award for Outstanding Contributions to Special Education

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Cristy Lonardo, Coordinator of Residential Living at Perkins School for the Blind. The following announcement was provided by the Mass. Association of Approved Private Schools:

On Thursday, May 1, the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) held its annual spring board meeting and awards ceremony, spotlighting teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to special education over the past year. 

Cristy Lonardo, Coordinator of Residential Living at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, was presented the Albert E. Trieschman Direct Service Award, acknowledging superior direct service contributions to special needs children by a clinician, specialist or child care worker. For over a decade, Lonardo has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the residential program at Perkins, fostering a nurturing and open environment that builds trust among families and where creativity flourishes. Cristy’s ongoing participation in special events showcases her investment in the broader community and her advocacy for students with complex needs.

Schools

College Students from Watertown Earn College Honors, Graduate

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Students from Watertown earned honors at Lasell and Wisconsin, and graduated from Stonehill, and Texas. The following information was provided by the colleges and universities:

Honors

Lasell University

The Spring 2025 Dean’s List includes students who have completed at least 12 credits as a full-time student in that semester and have achieved a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. Georgy Arshakyan of Watertown MA

Kayleigh Dore of Watertown MA

Alicia Karunaratne of Watertown MA

Theo Jacobs of Watertown MA

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Phi Kappa Phi, Chapter 021, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, initiated 101 students and 3 honorary members into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society this year, including Watertown’s Cecelia Maillis. 

The 105th Phi Kappa Phi Induction Ceremony, was held on April 27 in Tripp Commons; Evjue Centennial Professor Douglas McLeod was the keynote speaker speaking on “News Coverage of Social Protest in a Polarized Political Landscape.” Honorary membership was granted to three UW-Madison faculty/staff: McLeod of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Pete Keys, Associate Director for Admissions & Engagement for the College of Letters & Science Honors Program; and Diana Rodriguez-Gomez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Education Policy. Phi Kappa Phi recognizes the achievements of the most outstanding students in every school and college at UW-Madison.

Schools

Local Students Launch “Unpacking History”: A Mobile Holocaust Memorial

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The following announcement was provided by the Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston:

The Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston (JCDS) proudly invites the public to experience a unique and moving museum exhibit: Unpacking History – A Mobile Holocaust Memorial. Developed by the JCDS Class of 2025, this innovative traveling exhibit was created by teens, for teens to educate and inspire a new generation about the realities of the Holocaust. Sponsored by the renowned educational organization Facing History and Ourselves, Unpacking History approaches Holocaust education in a thoughtful, age-appropriate way. The exhibit aims to combat rising antisemitism and Holocaust denial by empowering young people to learn, reflect, and take a stand against hate. The exhibit features powerful storytelling, personal artifacts, and interactive elements, encouraging visitors to connect deeply with the past while considering their role in shaping a more just future. “This isn’t just a school project,” said one student curator. “It’s our response to a world where too many people are forgetting — or even denying — what really happened.

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

Watertown High School Teacher Named Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year

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Watertown High School chemistry teacher Liz Mundy was named Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year. (Contributed Photo)

A Watertown High School science teacher was recently honored as one of the two Massachusetts STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) teacher of the year by the New England Patriots. See the announcement from the Watertown Public Schools, below. The New England Patriots have named Watertown High School chemistry teacher Liz Mundy as one of their two Massachusetts STEM Teachers of the Year. Mundy was selected for her unwavering commitment to her students, her dedication to teaching, and her innovative work with CoLAB, a Watertown nonprofit where local life science professionals and high school educators collaborate to inspire students to pursue STEM careers.

Schools

Dozens of Local Students Earn Honors at Several Colleges & Universities

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Many Watertown students made the honors list at their college or university, another was part of an award winning project and one graduated. Among the colleges were UMass Amherst, Tufts, Emmanuel, Simmons, WPI, Wentworth, Wisconsin, Hamilton, Holy Cross, Minnesota, Salve Regina, William & Mary, Saint Anselm and Miami University. The following announcements were provided by the colleges and universities. UMass Amherst

The following students were named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  

Students are appointed to the Dean’s List at the end of a semester in which they have completed a minimum of 12 graded credits and have earned a grade point average of 3.500 or better.  Ariana Aufiero Philip Centola Aidan Conneely Lana Curic Carina DeLorio Riley Donlan Ronan Greene Levon Gukasyan Benjamin Heep Jackson Helie Olivia Hoover Deion Howe Alyce Judge Lara Kebabjian Ilana Krebs Liam Lawn Maeve Lawn Robert Martirosyan Veronica Merhy Selina Nebiye Ruari O’Sullivan John Pavlidis Vishakha Rath Henry Sarris Oscar Shepard Adelle Sheynkman Benjamin Surenian Isabella Tancredo Daniel Tattrie Alexandra Thuene Hrachya Tonyan Gregory Venizelos Anna Zarkadas Christina Zouein

WPI

Marley Fortune is a member of one of two undergraduate teams that won first place in the 2024 President’s IQP (Interactive Qualifying Project) Awards at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

Schools

Watertown High School Earns National Recognition for STEM Education

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The sign for the temporary Watertown High School at PFC Ricard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Watertown High School has been named a Distinguished School by Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a national nonprofit organization aimed at educating and preparing students for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics careers. The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their STEM programs. To be eligible for the designation, WHS had to meet multiple criteria in the 2023-24 school year such as number of PLTW courses available to students, percent of students enrolled in PLTW, and percent of students taking more than one PLTW course. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition from PLTW,” said Laura Alderson, Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Watertown Public Schools. “WHS has been partnering with PLTW since 2015 for our Pre-Engineering program.

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.”