Building for the Future

Bids on Elementary School Projects Under Budget, But COVID-19 Creates Additional Costs

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The latest rendering of the new Cunniff Elementary School, with the solar array in the parking lot. The bids on the construction projects at two of Watertown’s elementary schools came in millions of dollars below budget, but the requirements for working in the COVID-19 world will mean some added costs. Hosmer and Cunniff schools will start construction in June, and the bids were recently opened, said Town Council President Mark Sideris. The project budget estimated the cost of the two schools at just over $100 million including the cost of adding solar on the school roofs ($5 million), Sideris said. “The good news is low bidder came in at $92,335,000 and all the solar came in at $2.6 million,” Sideris said.

Schools

Watertown Teachers Get Some Love With Car Parade

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Students and parents at Lowell Elementary School showed their love for the teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers at Lowell School got a special celebration during Teacher Appreciation Week, which was May 4-8. A car parade, escorted by the Watertown Police Department, visited the school. They even had a surprise appearance by the Lowell Leopard, the school’s mascot, and Watertown’s resident sousaphone player (also known as the Tuba Guy)! “I believe we had about 100 cars of families lined up all the way down York Ave and out into Belmont Street,” said Lowell PTO Co-President Lauren Coughlin Unsworth.

Around Town

Watertown Woman Excited to Enter West Point Military Academy in the Fall

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Watertown’s Hannah MacDonald will be entering West Point Military Academy in the fall. She is holding the document informing her of her appointment to the Academy. This fall, high school senior Hannah MacDonald will begin her career at campus that few people from Watertown have ever attended. It’s not Harvard, or Yale or another prestigious college. She will be a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. 

Gaining entry into West Point, or any of the military academies, is no simple feat, and MacDonald had to qualify in ways that those admitted to other institutions of higher learning do not have to worry about.

Class of 2020

WHS PTSO Raising Money to Celebrate the Class of 2020 in the Time of COVID-19

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. A fund-raising effort has been started to help the Watertown High School Class of 2020 celebrate their graduation in style, despite the COVID-19 restrictions. The effort was started by the Watertown High School PTSO on RallyUp.com. As of Friday morning, the page has already raised more than $1,500. The money will used to create gift packs for all seniors which they will collect with their cap and gown after the last day of class.

Schools

Two Watertown Students Named Outstanding Seniors at Minuteman High School

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In this photo, taken in early March prior to the coronavirus-related school closure, Minuteman High School students who were selected as Outstanding Seniors for the Class of 2020 and honored with a luncheon are photographed with school administrators. Top row (left to right): James Riley of Lancaster, John O’Keefe of Stow, Liam DaSilva of Arlington, Ben Tangora of Concord, Roxanna Sanjar of Bolton, and Career Technical Education (CTE) Director Michelle Roche. Bottom row (left to right): Assistant CTE Director Katie Bouchard, Superintendent-Director Ed Bouquillon, Joshua Kerble of Arlington, Nicholas Moy of Concord, Sabrina Raposo of Watertown, Otto Eademacher of Arlington, Jason Kim of Belmont, Assistant Superintendent Amy Perreault, and Principal George Clement. (Missing from photo: Rouaa Alwaz of Watertown and Emily Hawkins of Lexington.)

Minuteman High School sent out the following announcement:

Twelve students from the Class of 2020 at Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School were recently recognized as “Outstanding Seniors” shortly before the coronavirus emergency closed schools in March. The 12 seniors were treated to a luncheon with Minuteman administrators in the school’s student-run restaurant, The District Café.

Around Town

An Open Letter to WHS Seniors from Wayside & the Watertown Youth Coalition

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. This letter was written by Lisa Gibalerio, Prevention Specialist, for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and the Watertown Youth Coalition. Dear Seniors:

When the news came down last month that schools across Massachusetts would not reopen for the rest of the school year, a collective thud of disappointment resounded across town from you and your parents. The news confirmed what had been feared since schools closed back in March: there will be no spring athletic season, no awards ceremony honoring four grueling years, no prom, no Senior Week activities, and, perhaps most crushing of all, no graduation ceremony and no All Night Party. All time-honored events.

Schools

High School Looking for Ways to Celebrate Graduating Seniors in a Time of Social Distancing

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This week, lawn signs will begin to pop up around Watertown congratulating the high school’s Class of 2020. This is one way the school has come up with to celebrate the seniors in a year when a normal graduation ceremony and other traditional events will not likely happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People at the school and the community are trying to come up with other ways to acknowledge the Class of 2020, WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg told the School Committee on Monday night. There may be a car parade of seniors, a specific time when the town applauds the senior class (similar to the celebrations of medical workers), and at some point in the future, perhaps, a live and in-person graduation ceremony. The last day of class for seniors is May 28, and graduation was scheduled for Friday, June 5.