Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/schools/page/48/)
A rendering of what the new Watertown High School could look like. The view is from Common Street. Architects unveiled a new concept for the new Watertown High School that would keep the school in one building located on its current site. It would also be cheaper and would have a shorter construction period. The new plans would include building a temporary campus, likely next to Watertown Middle School.
The following letter was provided by the superintendents of school districts in the Middlesex League, including Watertown’s Deanne Galdston. Dear Commissioner Riley:
On Friday, February 26th, the Middlesex League Superintendents discussed your announcement for a full return of elementary students to in-person learning by April 2021. Currently, our districts are engaged in conversations about what a full return might look like, as is appropriate to the local context. There is nothing that we want more than for all of our students and staff to return to schools full time; however, your declaration without a thoughtful plan only exacerbates the challenges we face in schools and belies the current reality of the situation in which we find ourselves. We are nearing the first anniversary of the Middlesex League Superintendents’ decision to close schools on March 12, 2020, which predated the Governor’s school closure order a day later.
Get kids back in school full time — that was the message to Watertown Public School officials from the vast majority of parents and the School Committee on Monday night. Many parents discussed how negative an experience remote learning has been for their children, with students falling behind academically and some not engaging in class at all. Others said their children have shown signs of depression and despair due to not being in school with their classmates. Superintendent Dede Galdston spoke about the district’s planning to reopen the schools for all in-person learning, and said planning has started to make that happen by sometime in April, but she said concerns remain about whether it can be done safely. She mentioned planning for how to hold lunches with social distancing requirements and added she hopes to have all teachers vaccinated by the time students return.
This week’s meetings include a discussion of reopening of the Watertown Schools to in-person learning, the Town’s Charter Review, and an update on designs for the new Watertown High School. School Committee
The School Committee meets Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m., and the agenda includes an update on the reopening and an update on student learning time. A group of Lowell PTO members have written a letter asking the Watertown schools to open to all in-person learning (see the letter by clicking here). Also, the School Committee will hear a presentation about social and emotional learning and health during COVID-19. Reports include a look at the draft 2021-22 school calendar.
Lowell School in Watertown. Dear Dr. Galdston and Members of the Watertown School Committee,
As members of the J.R. Lowell School Parent Teacher Organization and the Cunniff School Parent Teacher Organization many of us have spent years volunteering our time to enrich the educational experience of Watertown Public School children. In March of 2020 we found ourselves in an unprecedented time and the unthinkable happened, all in person learning was suspended. Now, nearly a full year later, we are sincerely grateful for the many steps the school district has taken to keep our children and teachers safe. The thoughtful approach to return to the classroom, COVID testing for teachers and pooled COVID testing for students has in fact proven to keep our children safe.
Recent photos of the construction at Hosmer (left) and Cunniff elementary schools. The construction of the new Cunniff and Hosmer elementary schools will be completed several months ahead of schedule. Students at Cunniff are projected to move into their new school three months early. At Hosmer, children and staff will return seven months early, with the entire project scheduled to be completed a year early, said Vivian Varbedian from owner’s project manager firm Hill International. The School Building Committee received the news last week, and it was shared with the Town Council on Tuesday night.
Arlington Catholic High School announced the second quarter honor roll, and two students from Watertown made the list. Watertown residents Donald MacMillan and Henry Sarris were both named to the second quarter Honor Roll at Arlington Catholic High School. Donny is a junior and Henry is a senior. Both received grades of B or better in all classes during the second quarter.
Lt. Paul Sullivan of Watertown, killed in Vietnam in 1968, will be remembered during the 50th Annual Scholarship Awards in June. Each year, the Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship and other awards go out in memory of a Watertown native who was killed serving in Vietnam in 1968. The following information was provided by the Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship Committee:
Announcing the 53rd Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship
The Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship is now on line:https://sites.google.com/view/lt-paul-j-sullivan-scholarship
The application deadline is April 16, 2021. The top scholarship is $5,000. Additional scholarships will be awarded.