Chapter 74

School Committee Creating Committee to Study Vocational Education Options for Watertown Students

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The School Committee will create a committee to look at options for vocational and technical education available to Watertown students, including programs at Watertown High School, as well as vocational schools in the area. For many years, the primary option for Watertown students looking for training in a trade or other vocational program was Minuteman High School in Lexington. Superintendent Dede Galdston said Minuteman recently built a new school and the past couple years it has been difficult for students from Watertown to get admitted because the city is not a member of the Minuteman District. Programs at WHS

Watertown High School now offers one Chapter 74 Career and Technical Education Program which prepares students to work in a profession, or to pursue further in college. The first group of students, 10 seniors, have been going through the Engineering Technology program since they were sophomores and will finish the program this year, Galdston said.

Artificial Turf

Residents Air Concerns Over Artificial Turf & Field Sharing with BB&N, Council Maintains Agreement

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BB&NThe plan of the athletic complex on Grove Street, on the right, presented in November 2020 when the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) agreed to a field sharing plan that includes the City’s fields at Filippello Park. Residents for and against the field sharing agreement between the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School spoke for nearly two hours Wednesday night during a special City Council meeting. In the end, the Council took no action, which means the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the school remains in effect. Opponents of the agreement focused mostly on health and safety concerns due to the two fields being covered with artificial turf. Others said they were concerned that the Council entered the agreement without knowing artificial turf would be installed, and that the agreement calls for “green open space,” which they said means grass.

Around Town

Middle & High School Students Wanted to Shovel Snow for Seniors, Can Earn Gift Cards, Community Service Credit

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

In coordination with the Watertown Middle School, Watertown High School, Recreation Department, Council on Aging/Senior Center, and the Marshall Home Fund, the City of Watertown is offering a snow-shoveling program specifically for our senior residents over age 60 and those who are disabled. Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School students are matched with senior residents in their neighborhood, and assigned to be responsible for shoveling snow from the sidewalks and driveways for the duration of the winter season. This year, thanks again to generous support from the Marshall Home Fund, students will have an opportunity to earn community service as well as gift cards by assisting with snow shoveling in their neighborhood. Applications for both the residents in need of assistance, and the students volunteering to help them, are available here. 

Letters

LETTER: Parent Pleased With Watertown Public Schools Vaccine Clinic

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This Wednesday, we brought my child (first grade at Hosmer) to the vaccine clinic the Watertown Public Schools arranged to take place at the Middle School. I’m happy to report that everything went off without a hitch! As of Nov. 3, 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a reduced dose COVID vaccination for children ages 5-11. We were eager to get my child vaccinated and signed up for the WPS vaccine clinic without hesitation.

Schools

Minuteman High School Hosting Virtual, In-Person Tours for Middle Schoolers

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Minuteman High School vocational technical school in Lexington. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School will hold both in-person and virtual events this month for families of middle school-age students who are interested in attending the career technical education high school for the 2022-23 school year. 

“Minuteman students gain a competitive advantage by finding their passion, engaging in hands-on learning experiences, and developing professional skills integrated with robust academics and faculty support,” said Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent-Director. “The open house, tours, and information sessions are great opportunities for families to make informed decisions about their students’ high school careers.”

Minuteman High School now offers 19 career technical education majors with the addition of Animal Science this year. Other majors include engineering, biotechnology, environmental science, robotics, culinary arts, cosmetology, plumbing, heating, automotive, carpentry, multimedia, and more. In addition to offering 14 sports teams and 20 clubs and activities, Minuteman provides robust academic programming. Last year, Minuteman received the Massachusetts Reading Award from the Massachusetts Reading Association – the first time a high school has ever received the honor. In 2018, it received a Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education. 

On Wednesday, November 10, Minuteman will hold its annual “Showcase Day” during the school day.

COVID-19 Vaccine

LETTER: Resident Objects to Vaccine Requirement for Watertown Public Schools Staff

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To the Citizens of Watertown,

Watertown Public Schools is now forcing a COVID vaccine mandate on all WPS staff, even though, according to school committee members that I emailed, 96-98% of their staff are already vaccinated. The schools have already achieved herd immunity. Clearly, this new mandate is targeting the handful of people who do not want to try this new vaccine. There is plenty of evidence, both anecdotally and statistically, showing that some people have been severely injured or even killed by the new COVID vaccines. This is not a conspiracy theory, it’s a fact.

Around Town

Candidate Q&A: School Committee

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Charlie BreitroseThe public gathered outside the new Cunniff Elementary School before open house on Tuesday. Three spots on the Watertown School Committee are up for grabs, and half a dozen candidates have put their name forward. The School Committee has four-year terms, and two incumbents seek another term. Longtime School Committee member, and current chair, John Portz announced in June that he would not be running for re-election in 2021. Amy Donohue and Lily Rayman-Read seek re-election, and four challengers are running for spots on the Committee: Jessica Middlebrook, Jennifer Nicholson, Colleeen Mahoney Farherty and Rachel Kay.