Around Town

Free, On-Demand Tutoring Available Through Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

Brainfuse HelpNow, a digital platform offering on demand learning support for all ages and levels is now available to Watertown residents through the Watertown Free Public Library. “We want to help people get through this strange and difficult time and we know that remote learning and working is a real struggle for a lot of people,” says Carey Conkey-Finn who runs the Teen Department at the library. “We’re hoping that this resource will fill a hole that COVID life has created.”

HelpNow is available to all Watertown residents with a Minuteman Library Network library card from any computer with internet connection or via mobile app. To access HelpNow, please visit the library’s website at watertownlib.org/brainfuse. For more information, contact 617-972-6436 or libraryteendepartment@watertown-ma.gov.

About HelpNow

Live Tutoring (available 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. 7 days a week): HelpNow offers live tutor access for homework help, skills building and test preparation.

Schools

COVID-19 Numbers Low in Watertown Schools, Officials Look at When to Increase In-School Time

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The Watertown Public Schools have significantly lower COVID-19 positive test rates than the Town, and more than two-thirds of students and staff are participating in the district’s free testing program. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the staff and students tested in the district’s pool testing is 0.15 percent, which is below the most recent positivity rate Townwide, which was 4.4 percent as of Dec. 28. She discussed the COVID-19 rates and the testing program, along with what factors will be considered when looking at increasing the amount of in-school learning during Monday’s School Committee meeting. Galdston credits staff and students taking the COVID-19 protocols seriously for the low rates of the virus.

Communities United Inc.

Group Awarded Grant for Food Backpack Program, Got Assistance from Local Church

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The following information was provided by Communities United:

Communities United Inc., a non-profit organization that provides high-quality education and family services throughout 11 MetroWest cities and towns including Watertown, announced it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Mildred’s Dream Foundation (MDF) to support the launch of CUI’s new food backpack program. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic increasing food insecurities in local communities, CUI has created a food backpack program in which fresh food, including fruits and vegetables, will be distributed to local families every other week. CUI has established an Amazon Food Pantry wish list as well so community partners and donors can contribute to this important cause. Grace Chapel of Watertown, MA has been instrumental in assisting CUI in the collection of non-perishables to support the program. Due to a significant increase in food insecurities for the children and families CUI serves, the organization has instituted an extensive food backpack program. With this initiative, food will be distributed to local families every other week with an emphasis on providing fresh fruit and vegetables. CUI has established an Amazon Food Pantry wish list so community partners and donors can contribute to this important cause while also partnering with Grace Chapel of Watertown who has been instrumental in assisting CUI in the collection of non-perishables to support the program.

Schools

Watertown Schools Starting 2021 Remotely, COVID-19 Testing Available for Students

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public School:

Due to our desire to kick-start our new year off well, we will be focusing on testing students and staff who may have traveled or spent extended time with people outside of their immediate household prior to the return to in-person learning. In order to accomplish this, we will start the year in our remote learning model, Monday, January 4 through Wednesday, January 6, with a return to in-person learning on Thursday, January 7. In addition to our protocols for social distancing, PPE, handwashing, and staying home when sick, student testing is one of the safety measures that has allowed us to remain open. To date, we have processed 3698 staff tests, with 5 positives, and 317 pools of up to 10 students in each pool withonly 3 positive pools. The indication from these tests is that less than .15% of our students and staff that are part of our testing program have tested positive.

Schools

Watertown Schools Receive Grant to Support Engineering Program

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Superintendent Deanne Galdston is pleased to share that Watertown High School has been awarded a $150,000 Skills Capital Grant by the Baker-Polito administration. The grant will support Watertown High’s Engineering Technology Program, the school’s first vocational/technical pathway, which is completed over three years beginning in students’ sophomore year. There are nine courses that students complete as part of the engineering program — engineering design, principles of engineering, digital electronics, civil engineering and architecture, computer integrated manufacturing, environmental sustainability, introduction to robotics, engineering design and development, and all aspects of the engineering industry. The Skills Capital Grant will allow Watertown High School to purchase and install state-of-the-art equipment that students will use to gain hands-on experience with real-world tools used in the engineering field. The equipment includes:

CNC milling equipment3D printersRobotic arm kitsMicroscopesDigital shaking waterbathElectrophoresis kitsBand saw, drill press and laser engraverVEX kits for computer integrated manufacturingNikon AX2S auto level, and more

“The Engineering Technology Program is an exciting way for students to gain practical experience in a growing and ever-changing field, and the Skills Capital Grant will be a tremendous help as we work to make the program more immersive and engaging,” Career Technical Education Coordinator Laura Alderson Rotondo said.

Schools

MassBay College Winter Course Registration Open Now

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The following announcement was provided by MassBay Community College:

MassBay Community College’s registration for winter intersession courses, which run January 4–15, 2021, is now open. Winter intersession courses are intensive, 10-day courses offered for credit and non-credit. All winter intersession courses are being offered remotely. This is a chance for high school students, area college students visiting on winter break, and/or enrolled MassBay students to take courses in a short timeframe to help get ahead in their studies, earn college credits quickly, or get a step closer to graduation. “Intersession is a wonderful opportunity for students to take care of general education requirements or pre-requisites for advanced coursework,” said MassBay Dean of Admissions and Community Learning, Alison McCarty.

Around Town

School Committee Opposes MCAS as Graduation Requirement During Pandemic

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The Watertown School Committee passed a resolution opposing the graduation requirement of passing the MCAS for the Class of 2022 because the students were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The subject came up when the School Committee considered a resolution from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) that opposed requiring the Class of 2022 who missed the MCAS having to make up the test and pass it in order to graduate. It also called for a moratorium on high-stakes testing during the 2020-21 school year as well as the following three years. While School Committee members agreed that the pandemic adversely impacted students learning, not all agreed that the testing should be suspended for three years. The resolution was brought to the attention of the School Committee by Lily Rayman-Read, who is one of Watertown’s representatives to the MASC.

Schools

Creation of Position Focused on Racial Equity and Diversity Approved by School Committee

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The School Committee approved the creation of a new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position in the Watertown Public School administration on Monday night. The person will lead the district’s effort to ensure equity for students in the Watertown schools, but Superintendent Dede Galdston said he or she will not be the only one working on the issue. “It is about having somebody there in a full-time position that can keep us moving, hold us accountable, make sure the plans that we create — not that they create — are actualized,” Galdston said. “And really pinpoint and targeting the support that we need in terms of professional development, in terms of family engagement, in terms of hiring and recruitment and retainment (of staff members of color). They are going to be able to keep us going and keep us in the right direction.” 

School Committee members spoke in support of creating the new position.