Schools

Watertown Resident Named Head of Jackson Walnut Park School, Brings Nearly 30 Years of Corporate Experience

By |

Patricia Gray. The following announcement was provided by Jackson Walnut Park School:

Jackson Walnut Park School (JWPS), the only institution in the Boston area offering Montessori early childhood education and an elementary Catholic curriculum, is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Lynn Gray of Watertown as its next Head of School. Gray is an experienced administrator with a track record of success in Catholic education and a former Fortune 500 corporate executive. As head of the Newton school, Gray aims to foster community, faculty collaboration, and enhance the curriculum while upholding academic excellence as a faith-based institution. She will also seek to increase enrollment and bridge the Montessori and K–6 programs for a more cohesive educational experience for all students and families.

Schools

Watertown Schools Recognized by State for MCAS Test Results

By |

Watertown students at some grade levels excelled in the math section of the state’s standardized test in 2025. See more details in the announcement provided by the Watertown Public Schools. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has recognized Watertown Public Schools for its efforts in combating pandemic-era learning loss, as part of a larger release of 2025 MCAS data that shows many schools statewide are still struggling with the academic fallout from COVID-19. State education officials reported strong MCAS test scores for Watertown Public Schools, highlighted by Watertown’s performance in math achievement in grades 3-8. WPS is one of only 41 school systems in Massachusetts to meet or exceed its pre-pandemic math achievement in grades 3-8.

Schools

High School Project Featured in Boston News Channel Segment

By |

A screenshot from the NBC 10 Boston video. Watertown High School, the first Net Zero and LEED Platinum 4.0 high school in the nation, was showcased in a piece on a Boston news channel this week. NBC 10 Boston toured the construction site on Columbia Street for a tour, including the auditorium, gym, and other areas of the new WHS. Superintendent Galdston said Watertown officials wanted the new school to be the flagship, and a leader in climate resiliency and climate leadership. Architect Jim Jordan from Ai3 discussed the challenges of building a high school on a site of a little over 4 acres.

Schools

Watertown Students Earn Honors, Graduate & More

By |

Watertown students at MCPHS, Hamilton College, Holy Cross, SNHU, Rhode Island, and Muhlenberg College have received honors, graduated or had other achievements. Honors List

MCPHS University

Ayushi Saxena of Watertown, Massachusetts, was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University. Saxena is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

Schools

School Building Committee Members Raise New Strategies to Keep Hopes of Middle School Renovation Alive

By |

Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

While the possibility of totally renovating or rebuilding Watertown Middle School appeared to be over, some members of the School Building Committee brought up strategies that they said could still allow the project to happen. The Middle School was a major item on the School Building Committee’s agenda on Sept. 17. The meeting followed the Sept. 9 City Council meeting where City Manager George Proakis told the Council that he would not recommend that Watertown try to rebuild or fully renovate the Middle School.

Schools

Back to School: One School Welcomed a Large Kindergarten, Middle School Renovations Shift, Draft Cellphone Policy

By |

Cunniff Elementary School has a particularly large number of kindergartners this fall. (Photo by Watertown Public Schools)

Students in Watertown returned to class this month, including a large number of kindergartners on one campus. Back to School nights will be held this week, and the School Committee also heard about a proposal that would prevent students from using cellphones and other devices anytime during the school day. At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dede Galdston thanked the Watertown Schools’ faculty and staff for preparing the schools to welcome students to the 2025-26 School Year. The first day of class was Sept.

Schools

Watertown Student Earns Interdisciplinary Studies Award from Emerson College

By |

The following announcement was provided by Emerson College:

Emerson College student Nel Blinman of Watertown earned a Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies Award in spring 2025 at the end of the academic year, recognizing students for their achievements during a ceremony. Blinman, who is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a member of the Class of 2027, earned the Robert E. Engel Award. The award, established in 2011 in honor of Bob Engel, a Marlboro faculty member for 36 years, is awarded to a student who demonstrates Bob’s passion for the natural world and his keen powers of observation and inquiry as a natural historian. The Marlboro Institute puts the “I” at the center of Emerson students’ education-one that is Individualized, Interdisciplinary, Inquiry-based, and Integrative in approach with respect to the different liberal arts disciplines on offer and their connectivity to the arts and communication strengths of Emerson College. About Emerson College

Emerson College is uniquely dedicated to the arts and communication, educating and inspiring storytellers and artists to impact and advance creative industries and media throughout the world.

Elections

LETTER: Outgoing School Committee Member Endorses Candidates in November’s Election

By |

To the Watertown Community, 

For the past almost 8 years now, I have had the privilege of serving as a School Committee member here in Watertown, most recently as the vice chair. Those past years have seen the start of perhaps the best superintendent in the state, Dr. Deanne Galdston, the turnover of all 5 principalships with amazing new leaders, and the rebuilding/full renovation of 4 out of 5 of Watertown’s school buildings. To put it lightly — we got a lot done. To this day, I remain incredibly proud of how hard the Watertown community pulled together during the pandemic, making our schools and our city a leader in safe, effective education through a perilous time. We leaned on and learned from each other, and so many people across the entire community pitched in their expertise and time to help guide us.