Schools

Watertown School’s DEIB Director Aims to Create Spaces Where Folks Can Connect

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Now in her second year in the role of the Watertown Public School’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Dr. Ceronne Daly said she approaches her work with a goal to build connection not just between her and students, but between families. Her work incorporates programs that started before DEIB began, and she seeks to make it part of what students and families experience in the Watertown Schools. “We’re not doing DEI as an add-on,” Daly stresses. “This work is woven into our strategic plan. If we stopped calling it DEI tomorrow, we’d still be doing restorative practices, still fostering student voices, still building inclusive curriculum.”

Entertainment

Catch the 12th Annual Watertown MusicFest on April 11

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Watertown MusicFest will be held at Watertown Middle School on April 11, with musicians of different ages and a wide variety of styles. See more in the announcement from the Friends of Watertown Music below. Friends of Watertown Music invites you to our 12th Annual MusicFest this Friday, April 11th. Doors open at 5:15 pm and performances start promptly at 5:30 pm! Come celebrate music with us!

Schools

Watertown Cable Offering Scholarships for Watertown High School Seniors

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable:

The WCA-TV Board of Directors and Executive Director Andrea Santopietro are proud to officially open the application process for the Watertown Cable Access Scholarship for the Class of 2025. Deadline for applications is April 18th, 2025. (2) Scholarships are available for $500 each. Eligibility is open to any graduating student of the Class of 2025 from Watertown High School who is both:

1. Attending post-graduate education at a 2-year or 4-year institution of higher learning including colleges, universities, and vocational schools within the area of television, radio, journalism, communications, media arts or any communications related field.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Principal Selected, Will Begin Over Summer

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Jeff Gaglione has been selected as Watertown Middle School’s next principal. Watertown Middle School will have a new principal. Superintendent Dede Galdston announced the selection of Jeff Gaglione as the new WMS principal. He currently works in Hudson, and will take over in the summer. The school is currently being led by Joel Giacobozzi, who is also the Watertown High School principal.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Presents “Mary Poppins Jr.” the Musical

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Watertown Middle School will present “Mary Poppins Jr.” on March 28-30. See the information provided by the Watertown Public Schools below. The musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film will go on the WMS Auditorium stage on March 28 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 7 p.m., and March 30 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: General Admission $10, WPS Students Free

Watertown Middle School is located at 68 Waverley Ave., Watertown.

Schools

LEGAL POSTING: Watertown School Committee Holding Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

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The following legal posting was provided by the Watertown Public Schools (originally posted on March 7):

WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 30 COMMON STREET WATERTOWN MA 02472 – In Accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, Section 38N, the Watertown School Committee will hold a Public Hearing on its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Learning Commons, Lowell Elementary School, 123 Lowell Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472 or via Zoom at https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86285942047

A copy of the FY2026 Proposed Budget will be available to the public in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools and on the Watertown Public Schools Website, www.watertown.k12.ma.us , forty-eight hours before the date of the public meeting.

Schools

Watertown Rotary Club Offering Scholarships for Watertown Seniors

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The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown:

All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. 

All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 18, 2025 to:

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNc/o Anthony Donato42 Arden RoadWATERTOWN, MA 02472

The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. All information supplied on this form will be kept strictly confidential. Only one application need be submitted to be eligible for consideration for all scholarships available through the Rotary Club of Watertown.

Schools

School Committee Update: Support of LGBTQ Students & Staff, Possible Budget Shortfall

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The School Committee update was provided by the School Committee Chair Kendra Foley:

The Watertown School Committee has had a busy start to 2025, with three meetings in the last six weeks that have been filled with reports, votes, and action items.

In the face of executive orders that threaten the safety, security, health, and humanity of the LGBTQ community, our committee unanimously reaffirmed our 2018 resolution supporting LGBTQ students and staff. Every student and staff member of the WPS community is entitled to an environment that feels safe, respectful, and welcoming, in which they can learn and work free from bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats, and violence. The WPS School Committee is committed to providing such an environment, and it will stand up to actions made by individuals or institutions to threaten, intimidate, or harm transgender and gender nonconforming students and staff. This commitment is grounded not only in our shared values but also in our adherence to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 76, Section 5, which ensures that “no person shall be excluded or discriminated against in our schools based on race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.”

Budget season is underway. Initial numbers show that, with the city’s annual 3.5 percent funding increase, WPS would still be on pace for a shortfall of $495,000 to meet a level services budget.