Schools

NBC News Features Watertown School’s COVID-19 Testing Program

By |

A screenshot of Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston’s appearance in an NBC Nightly News piece. A national newscast spotlighted the Watertown Public School’s COVID-19 testing program on Monday. Wearing a Watertown Middle School face mask, Superintendent Dede Galdston was interviewed by NBC Nightly News about the testing program, where students can be tested for free. She described the return of the schools to partial in-person teaching with the district’s hybrid program. “People haven’t said we can’t do this, they said, wow, this is hard, but how can are we going do it?”

Schools

Minuteman Superintendent Wins Award for Commitment to Safety

By |

Minuteman High School Superintendent Dr. Edward Bouquillon accepts the Schettini Award during the virtual ceremony on November 17, 2020. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent-Director for the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, received the eleventh-annual Dr. Patrick A. Schettini Jr. Memorial Award from the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY), Inc., for his longstanding commitment to safety of the students and staff at Minuteman. 

More than 120 school superintendents, police chiefs and fire chiefs joined Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and members of MPY to honor Dr. Bouquillon in a virtual ceremony. The annual event brings together staff from the district attorney’s office, law enforcement, educators, and community leaders to collaborate on student safety, juvenile justice, and crime prevention strategies. 

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for our commitment to the safety and health of our students and staff,” Bouquillon said. 

In selecting Dr. Bouquillon for the 2020 award, MPY cited the integration of security cameras, tap-card systems, information technology infrastructure, and other innovative and cost-effective security features in the new Minuteman High School building that opened in September 2019. 

“Security and safety were foremost in our minds as we worked with students, staff and our architects, from Kaestle Boos Associates, to create a welcoming, yet secure, learning environment,” Bouquillon said. “It’s the work of my committed team, and our shared dedication to fostering a safe environment, which has allowed Minuteman to become a leader in school safety design and implementation. We thank our partners in the law enforcement, first responders, and firefighting communities for their collaboration in this important effort.” 

The Schettini Award, named after the late Reading schools superintendent, is presented annually to a school superintendent, fire chief or police chief for their commitment to the health and safety of students in their communities. 

“We are continually impressed with Minuteman’s commitment to proactively address safety and social-emotional support for students,” said Margie Daniels, executive director of MPY.

Government

Charter Review: Library Trustees Argue to Keep Board Elected, School Committee Discussed

By |

The Watertown Free Public Library. Two Watertown Library Trustees told the Charter Review Committee the board should remain an elected one, saying that having to run for the position keeps them more in touch with the desires of the community. The discussion took place during Tuesday’s Charter Review Committee meeting. Members also of the School Committee gave their input to the group that is examining the equivalent of the Town’s constitution and will likely propose changes. The Committee also discussed the draft timeline of the Charter Review process, and the new website.

Schools

Students Traveling Out-of-State for Thanksgiving Must be Tested or Quarantine

By |

Watertown students who travel outside of Massachusetts to a high-risk area must either get a negative test for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days before returning to school for in-person learning, Superintendent Dede Galdston announced Wednesday. Most states have been put on the the Massachusetts Restricted Travel list, but three of the lower risk ones are in New England — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — along with Hawaii. When returning from a high-risk state, students must get a negative PCR test prior to returning to school according to the Massachusetts regulations, Galdston wrote. Students must quarantine while waiting for test results. Galdston also wrote that the schools will have two remote days after the Thanksgiving break, on Nov.

Entertainment

Watertown High Drama Presenting Virtual Version of “The Crucible”

By |

The Watertown High School Dramatic Arts Department has taken the saying, “The show must go on,” to heart, and will be presenting the fall play, The Crucible, in a remote format. The play will be recorded remotely, and will be available for people to watch online on Nov. 20-22 on the Watertown High School website. When the school year began, all the schools in Watertown operated remotely, and performances indoors were not allowed under the Massachusetts COVID-19 regulations. WHS student Ryan Leonard, who is the stage director for The Crucible, said it wasn’t clear whether there would even be a play.

Letters

LETTER: Residents Support Middle School Student Who Spoke Out Against Racial Harassment

By |

Editor,

We write this letter in support of the Watertown middle school student who has endured repeated racist attacks by her peers. We do not know this student personally, but as a White family and longtime residents of Watertown, we want her to know that we stand with her in solidarity. This young woman, at just 13-years-old, should be applauded and encouraged for using her voice and fighting for racial justice and deserves nothing less than support from our schools and community. Recently a local news channel covered the extensive harassment of this Black Watertown middle school student by her classmates. According to the interview, the harassment started when the student began speaking out against racism and affirming that black lives matter.

Schools

Forum Planned After Racist Incidents Reported by Watertown Middle School Student

By |

A Watertown Middle School student reported being harassed online and by phone after putting up posts supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The incidents were reported by a Boston news station, and the Watertown Public Schools response includes a virtual public forum to address the issue. A 13-year-old African-American girl told her experiences to Boston Fox 25 last week, including being harassed online and receiving threatening phone calls after she put up some BLM messages on her social media accounts. She also reported being called the “N-word” by another student at school after giving a speech about racism in February. The student reported the incidents to Watertown Middle School officials, but said that she is not aware of anything being done about it.

Environment

LETTER: Watertown High Group’s Climate Demands

By |

The following information was provided by members of the Watertown High School student group, Watertown Sunrise, which advocates to stop Climate Change. The demands were presented during a march and rally on the evening of Oct. 23, 2020. WATERTOWN SUNRISE DEMANDS

We demand that the Watertown town council declare a climate emergency. We’re also asking our town government, to help call on other town leaders and to sign onto the Green New Deal pledge to fight for our futures.