Schools

Hear Musicians from Around Watertown at the 10th Annual MusicFest

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The following information was provided by the Friends of Watertown Music:

Friends of Watertown Music invites you to attend our 10th Annual MusicFest, on Friday, April 28, from 5:30 to 9:15 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School. MusicFest is a fun community event, offering something for everyone! This year’s event will feature over 40 performances, across 3 stages. The variety of performers will include student musicians, Watertown Public School teachers, local rock bands, established musicians, a vignette of musical theater, and more. Performances run from 5 to 20 minutes, so attendees will have the chance to go around and see as many acts as they wish.

Schools

Local Company Visits WHS Class Bearing Gifts & Knowledge of Biotechs

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown High School teacher Kelly Hannon works with students in her anatomy and physiology class. A Watertown High School science class recently got a visit from representatives from one of the City’s life science companies, which also provided some donations that will help students learn about the human body. In early April, three employees of Enanta Pharmaceuticals stopped by a WHS anatomy and physiology class to speak to the students about their work. Joyce Sweeney Gibbons told the students that she did not take a direct road to her current position as senior scientist in virology at Enanta. “If you have no idea what you want to do, that’s OK,” Sweeney Gibbons said.

Schools

Watertown Superintendent Given Raise, Makes Salary Close to Average for Comparable Districts

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Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston. Watertown Superintendent of Schools Dede Galdston received a 3 percent raise from the School Committee, which will put her around average for comparable school districts. The raise makes her salary $193,636.91 for Fiscal Year 2023, which runs through the end of June. The Superintendent deserves the raise, said City Council President Mark Sideris, who works with her on three boards. “I believe that that is a very reasonable request and I believe that from where I sit in positions on the School Building and School committees and the City Council, we have a superintendent who goes above and beyond constantly,” Sideris said.

Schools

Schools Using COVID Grant to Help Make Up $1.3M Deficit

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The Watertown Public Schools face a shortfall of $1.38 million for the next school year, but the gap will be narrowed by using some grant funds Watertown received for COVID relief. On Monday night, Superintendent Dede Galdston presented the district’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The Watertown Schools will have an operating budget of $57,583,829, which is an increase of $1.947,279 over FY 23, or 3.5 percent. To provide a “level services budget,” where the same educational experience and programs are provided, Galdston said there was a deficit of $1.38 million. Salaries account for about 80 percent of the budget, Galdston said, and the level services budget includes the raises for teachers in the recently approved contract, along with the step and lane change increases given for years working in the district and earning work-related college credits.

Schools

Deadline Approaching for 55th Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarships

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Lt. Paul Sullivan was killed in Vietnam in 1968, and a scholarship in his name has been given out for 54 years. High school seniors can apply for the 55th Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship. The deadline to apply for the scholarship named for a Watertown resident who was killed serving in Vietnam is April 13, 2023. The organizers provided the following information:

We are looking for well-rounded student-athletes who are actively involved in their school, religion, and community. While grades and athletics are important components, CHARACTER is by far the most essential quality we look at in determining finalists.

Schools

Watertown Preschool Worker Being Investigated for Neglect Allegation

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A worker at the Watertown Public School’s preschool has been placed on leave after an allegation of neglect was reported in March. A staff member at Early Steps Preschool, which is run by the Watertown Public Schools (WPS), has been placed on administrative leave after WPS officials got report of “potential classroom neglect,” according to Assistant Superintendent Theresa McGuinness. The district, the Department of Children and Families, and police are investigating the incident, according to a report in on Fox 25. School officials learned of the incident on March 3, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the Boston Globe. “Our district immediately placed the staff member on administrative leave and, per protocol, filed a report with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families,” Galdston said in a statement to the Globe.

Schools

Few Options at Area Vocational Schools, Watertown to Work with Students to Find Best Solution

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Medford High School and Vocational Technical High SchoolOne of the options for Watertown students seeking a vocational education is in Medford. The options for Watertown students looking for a trade or vocational training program have shrunk recently, but local school officials will work with them to try to find a place for them at Watertown High School or in surrounding districts. The School Committee heard the report from the Vocational, Technical, and Career Education Options Ad Hoc Committee on March 27, and unanimously adopted the recommendations. The study of vocational programs in Watertown and at other schools in the area found that spots are difficult to find these days, especially for incoming ninth-graders in the fall of 2023. School Committee member David Stokes, the chair of the ad hoc committee, said that many of the schools in the area have been undergoing changes in leadership, have recent or ongoing construction projects, or both.

Schools

Watertown Student Art to be Displayed at Local Mall

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Artwork created by students in the Watertown Public Schools will be on display beginning this week. The Watertown Schools announced the Visual Art Show at the Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St. The show features works from students in grades K to 12. It begins April 6 and runs through May 2. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, April 11 at 6-8 p.m.