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.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Accepting Applications for Watertown Schools Program Grants

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) is pleased to announce they are accepting applications for the Watertown School Grant Program. This program focuses solely on Watertown’s public schools and seeks to support activities that improve instruction and learning.  For the first time WCF is partnering with Life Science Cares to fund STEM grants. The application form is available online. Eligibility

Applicants must be public entities or nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.Organizations implementing programs within a school(s) are welcome to apply. It is also required that applicants review their proposed project with the school principal or department chair before applying.

Around Town

UPDATE: Watertown Police & Watertown Schools Hosting First Listening Session on Thursday

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UPDATE: Superintendent Dede Galdston announced Wednesday that the Oct. 21 Listening Session has been postponed, and the new date is to be determined. The Watertown Police Department and Watertown Public Schools will host the first of a series of listening sessions to allow people to share their experiences and speak with department leaders. The event will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, from 6:30-8 p.m, at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, 25 Whites Ave., Watertown.

Election 2021

See How to Watch the School Committee Candidate Forum Replay

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Watch the candidates for School Committee discuss a variety of subjects at the Oct. 14 candidate forum. The six candidates appeared on the virtual forum co-hosted by Watertown Cable Access TV and Watertown News. Watch the forum on the Watertown Cable website by clicking here: vodwcatv.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/1267?channel=1

Also, mark your calendar for Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. when the forum featuring the District Town Council candidates will be held.

Business

New STEM Education Fund Will Provide Grants to Watertown Teachers, Funded by Local Companies, WCF & Life Science Cares

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation and Life Science Cares Boston:

Life Science Cares Boston is collaborating with the Watertown Community Foundation and four Watertown-based life science companies to launch the Watertown STEM Education Fund, a special effort to fund science, technology, engineering & math programming in the Watertown Public Schools. Four corporate contributors — Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics & Landmark Bio — and Life Science Cares have committed a total of $15,000 in funding for teacher-driven requests for supplemental materials, books, equipment, special events and speakers, student programs and experimental school or district-wide initiatives. The fund builds on the Watertown Community Foundation’s annual school-based educational grants program and will increase total funding for the foundation’s grants this fall. “This exciting new partnership and funding commitment will expand our ability to support Watertown teachers through our annual education grant program. Each year we receive far more grant requests than we can fund, particularly in the area of science and technology. This STEM Fund will truly transform our grant giving capacity and provide teachers and our schools with more resources to support students in the classroom,” said Jan Singer, Watertown Community Foundation Executive Director.

Elections

School Committee Candidate Forum on Thursday, Candidate Interviews Available on Cable

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Charlie Breitrose

Learn about the candidates running for office in Watertown this fall at a live candidate forum featuring the School Committee hopefuls on Thursday, and hear what the people running in all the races during interviews recorded by Watertown Cable. On Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access TV will co-host the School Committee Candidate Forum. The event will be broadcast live by Watertown Cable on the Public Channel (Comcast Ch. 9, RCN Ch.