Schools

Watertown School Officials Stand Behind Decision to Delay Start of Hybrid After Release of State Audit

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Watertown School officials stood by their decision to delay the start of in-person learning, citing COVID-19 safety concerns, after the release of the district’s audit by state education officials. Watertown was one of two districts audited in October 2020. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioner sent a letter saying the Town’s COVID-19 rates were low enough that Watertown should start the school year with in-person learning, at least part-time. The Audit report largely summarized the findings of state education officials’ interviews with district officials, and the materials submitted by Watertown officials to DESE. (See the report by clicking here).

Environment

WHS Students Looking to Plant 150 Trees in Watertown, Selling Seedlings

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Two types of trees are available from the Watertown High School Environmental Club, the River Birch and Eastern Redbud. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown High School Environmental Club:

The Watertown High School Environmental Club needs your help to offset school paper usage in the community! During a normal school year, WHS uses up to 1.2 million sheets of paper, which is equivalent to 150 trees. The club has teamed up with Tree-Plenish to sponsor an event in which you can purchase a sapling for $5, and opt to have volunteers plant it in your yard. Tree-Plenish’s mission is to create more sustainable schools by replenishing the environment with these lost resources. 

“As a member of the WHS Environmental Club, I am very proud to be working with Tree-Plenish to help our community,” said Cooper Petrie.

Schools

Watertown Grad Makes Northeast-10 Conference Academic Honor Roll

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Watertown’s Catherine Connors is a sophomore field hockey player at Stonehill College. Watertown High School graduate Catherine Connors, a sophomore at Stonehill College, was named to the Northeast-10 Conference’s Academic Honor Roll. Connors plays field hockey for the Skyhawks. Stonehill Athletics sent out the following information about the NE10’s academic honors:

The Northeast-10 Conference has announced its Academic Honor Roll for the Fall 2020 semester, recognizing 333 student-athletes from Stonehill who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.00 or higher. The NE10 Academic Honor Roll acknowledges the commitment of NE10 student-athletes in the classroom with three distinctions – Academic Excellence (4.00 GPA), Academic Distinction (3.50-3.99 GPA), and Academic Honors (3.00-3.49 GPA).

Schools

Watertown Schools Begin Anti-Racism Training, Looking to Hire Equity Director

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Watertown School leaders have begun equity and anti-racism training, and more staff members will soon be working with the group hired after the reports of racial harassment in the Watertown Schools went public. School leadership recently went through a two hour training on becoming a culturally proficient leader, which is part of a 10-hour course, said Superintendent Dede Galdston. On Monday, Galston introduced Dr. Kalise Wornum of KW Diversity, which is conducting the training and working with the district on related issues, at the School Committee meeting. She also updated the committee on efforts to hire someone for the newly created Director of Equity and Inclusion position. Wornun has been working with schools on these issues with colleges and public schools for three decades.

Entertainment

New Rep Presents Virtual Romeo & Juliet for Schools, Community Groups

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Schools and community groups can view a recording of #RomeoJuliet, New Rep and Queen Mab Productions’ interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s classic plays. New Repertory Theatre and Queen Mab Productions present #RomeoJuliet, a raw and relevant 2-person interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet, directed by Benjamin Evett and starring Diana Lobontiu and Sharmarke Yusuf. Considering our shared experiences of 2020, this production examines deeply the play’s themes of isolation, separation, and what sacrifices we make as we attempt to cross boundaries. The performance will be available to view March 15 – June 15, 2021 for school and group organizations only. More information about #RomeoJuliet can be found athttps://www.newrep.org/productions/romeojuliet/

“We are so thrilled to collaborate with Queen Mab Productions to produce this innovative and contemporary educational version of Romeo & Juliet.” shares New Rep’s Communications Director, Jaclyn Dentino.

Schools

State Officials Have Questions About High School Project, May Delay Final Vote

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A conceptual design of the preferred option for the New Watertown High School, looking down Common Street toward Mt. Auburn Street. The date of the public vote on funding for the Watertown High School project may have to be pushed back after state officials had questions about the size and design of the proposed new school. After reviewing the preferred design of the new WHS, the Facilities Assessment Subcommittee of the Mass. School Building Authority sent back comments, and request for more investigation into other options after their meeting on Jan.

Around Town

Watertown’s Galdston Joins Superintendents Asking for Educators to Get Vaccine Sooner

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Watertown’s Superintendent of Schools joined school leaders from around the region who are urging Gov. Charlie Baker to move educators to a higher priority in Massachusetts’ COVID-19 vaccination plan. Currently, the Watertown Public Schools are operating with a hybrid learning model, where students are split into two cohorts and alternate days they attend school in-person. Some have also chosen to go all remote. At the Jan. 26 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dede Galdston said that a survey found that parents and teachers would like to see increased in-person learning, but she said under current restrictions that would be difficult. She mentioned that vaccination of teachers and staff could help the move toward bringing more students back into school.

BB&N

Sale of Grove St. Land to BB&N Closes, Demolition Delay on Shick House Approved

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The historic Shick House is on property sold by the Mount Auburn Cemetery to Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, and may be torn down. [UPDATED Feb. 3, 2021. The year that the Shick family purchased the house was 1914]

The sale of the land on Grove Street from the Mount Auburn Cemetery to Buckingham Browne & Nichols School closed last week. The Cambridge-based private school plans to build two athletic fields and a field house on the property, which is also the location of the historic Shick House.