Schools

Watertown High School Students Could Sit on School Committee

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The sign for the temporary Watertown High School at PFC Ricard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

Members of the School Committee may have Watertown High School students sitting with them during meetings, and the students may even be able to propose motions at meetings if policy changes being considered by the Committee are approved. Currently, WSH has two student representatives, who typically provide updates on student life at the high school, including the flow of the academic year and updates on extracurricular activities. A proposed change to the Watertown Public Schools’ policies would give the students a more significant role, School Committee Vice Chair Lily Rayman Read said at the Aug. 26 School Committee meeting.

Government

Challenger Mara Dolan Wins Governor’s Council Race, See How Watertown Voted

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Mara Dolan won the Democratic Governor’s Councilor District 3 race on Tuesday. Mara Dolan of Concord defeated longtime incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown in Tuesday’s Democratic District 3 Governor’s Council race. With no challenger on the Republican side of the ballot for November’s General Election, Dolan appears headed to the Governor’s Council. The Council votes on the Governor’s nominations for judges and nominees for other boards, as well as voting on the Governor’s proposed pardons and commutations of prisoners. According to results compiled by the Associated Press (AP), Dolan received 52.5 percent of the vote.

Sports

Watertown Field Hockey Seniors Seek to Complete Undefeated Career

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Watertown field hockey co-captains Rachel Egan, left, and Adiranna Williams were interviewed by WBZ Channel 4. (Screenshot from WBZ video). The Watertown High School field hockey team once again has established a long winning streak, has claimed three straight State Championships, and in 2024 the seniors seek to complete an undefeated career with the Raiders, a feat that caught the attention of a Boston news station. Watertown begins the 2024 campaign on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. at Victory Field against Lexington. Last season, the Raiders went 22-0 and defeated Newburyport 4-3 in the MIAA Div.

Schools

New Watertown High School on Track to be Net Zero Energy

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The entrance to the new Watertown High School is taking shape. (Photo from Watertown School Building Committee meeting)

Progress has been made on the new Watertown High School, and the goal of having the building produce all the energy needed to operate is closer to becoming a reality. When the high school project was approved, it was designed to be Net Zero energy and also meet the LEED Platinum standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. Since being approved in June 2021, the project budget has increased significantly mostly due to the rise in construction costs. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council that the project would be completed, with a net zero energy building, and not borrow more than $150 million to cover the cost.

Business

Watertown Fitness Studio Offers Individualized Instruction for Women

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Poli Moronari started Nova Fitness in 2020, and has built a loyal following. When Poli Moronari received an offer to take over a fitness space in Watertown, she took the opportunity to take her personal training business to the next level and start a fitness studio for women. Moronari started Nova Fitness, at 222 Arsenal St., in 2020 and has built a following. She offers Pilates instruction, weight lifting with machines and exercises with kettlebells and dumbells, but one thing that sets her apart, Moranari said, is that focuses on each person’s individual needs. The most she has in a class at one time is six people, and sometimes all six are working on the same thing while other times each person has their own workout.

Around Town

Watertown Added Communities at High Risk for West Nile Virus

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The following announcement came from the Mass. Department of Public Health:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Tuesday two additional human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Massachusetts this year, bringing the total number of human cases to four. Both people are males in their 60s. One was exposed in Suffolk County in an area known to be at increased risk. The other was exposed in Norfolk County.

Schools

Unlike Other Districts, Watertown Prepares to Open School With Nearly Full Staff

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Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston was interviewed by WBZ Channel 4 about hiring teachers. (Screenshot from WBZ)

On Monday, Superintendent Dede Galdston welcomed 42 teachers who are new to the district during the orientation at Hosmer Elementary School. When school opens on Sept. 3, Watertown will be in a position that is enviable to other communities. According to WBZ Channel 4, there are nearly 4,800 open teaching positions in Massachusetts, and the TV station approached the Watertown Schools while doing the story, Galdston said.