Schools

Governor Stops by Watertown High School to Give a Teacher Appreciation Week Gift

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Gov. Maura Healey, right, presented Watertown High School teacher Liz Mundy with flowers and a proclamation on May 7. (Screenshot from the Watertown Public Schools’ Instagram)

Watertown High School teacher Liz Mundy received some special gifts on Thursday as part of Teacher Appreciation Week: flowers and a proclamation delivered personally by Gov. Maura Healey. Healey said she wanted to honor Mundy, a science teacher who was Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year. A video of the visit was posted on the @massgovernor Instagram account. “It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, so I stopped by Watertown High to surprise Ms. Mundy, the STEM Teacher of the Year!

Around Town

THE DISH: Ritcey East’s Max Ritcey Talks About Fish Taco, Lending a Helping Hand & More

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Ritcey East owner Max Ritcey presents a fan favorite: fish tacos. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Dish is a new collaboration between Watertown News and the Little Local Conversations podcast which takes a deep dive into a favorite dish from a local restaurant and beyond. Watertown’s Ritcey East has become a favorite place for people looking for comfort food, a cocktail, and enjoy it in a laid back, fun atmosphere. One of the most popular menu items, the fish tacos, also harkens back to owner Max Ritcey’s culinary roots, and has strong family ties. Ritcey’s fish tacos are simple, but burst with complex flavors.

Schools

WHS Seeing More Students from Diverse Backgrounds in Advanced Classes

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

The students taking Advanced Placement classes at Watertown High School have become more diverse, and more students come from low-income backgrounds. The total number of students in AP classes increased, too. On Monday, the School Committee heard a report from the WHS AP Pathways Working Group, which presented the outcomes of efforts to expand access to advanced courses and make the process more transparent. Casey Andrews, the Grade 9-12 English Language Arts Coordinator, presented the data.

Schools

Student Cell Phone Ban During School Day Approved by School Committee

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The School Committee approved a Personal Electronic Device (PED) Policy that prevents students from using or having access to a device — such as a cell phone or tablet — during the entire school day, including during lunchtime and breaks. The PED Policy came out of the PED Task Force, which studied the subject and provided a recommended policy to the School Committee. The policy was approved at the May 4 School Committee meeting. The Policy reads: “The Watertown Public Schools (WPS) personal electronic device (PED) policy aims to improve students’ social/emotional health and development, student engagement in academics, the overall school social climate, and students’ connectedness to the school community.” The Personal Electronic Device (PED) policy reads, “subject to the exceptions outlined below, students may not access or use any PED for the entire duration of the school day, and PEDs should be off or in silent mode from the first bell of the school day until the end of the day while in the school building.”

Around Town

Watertown Playground Named for Soldier Killed in Vietnam Will be Upgraded

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Drawings of plans for renovating the Lt. Paul Sullivan Playground. (Source: City of Watertown)

A playground named in honor of a Watertown man who died in Vietnam will be getting an update, with new play structures and paving. The City Council received a report on the Sullivan Playground project at the April 28 meeting. The playground located at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets was dedicated in honor of Lt. Paul Sullivan in 1969, a year after he died in Vietnam where he served in the U.S. Army Rangers.

Entertainment

Noah Kahan References Watertown in a Song on His New Album

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Noah Kahan, from his Facebook page. Watertown got a shoutout in Noah Kahan’s latest album “The Great Divide.” The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter said he enjoyed the time he spent living in town. The City of Watertown noted the City’s connection to the album in an Instagram post on April 30. Thank you Noah Kahan for the Watertown mention in your song “Orbiter” in your new album “The Great Divide.”

Schools

School Officials Outline Strategies to Improve Watertown’s Special Education Program

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A study of the Watertown Public Schools’ special education found a number of areas of concerns, including a lack of uniformity, a need for better communication with families, and a distrust among parents of students in the program. A group called the Special Education Strategy Development Committee, made up of 31 people from different levels in the schools, as well as parents, discussed Watertown’s special education data, reports from state on the district’s special education program, as well as the report from AthenaK12. The district committee put out a Special Education Success Strategy report. The special education committee pointed to multiple areas to focus on to improve the program for students with special needs, said Kathy Desmarais, Watertown’s Director of Student Services. One issue rose to the top in the report.

Food

Restaurants Won’t be Allowed to Automatically Include Plastic Utensils Under New Ordinance

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Restaurants in Watertown will not longer be able to automatically include packets of plastic utensils with takeout or deliver orders. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A new ordinance approved by the City Council prohibits restaurants from automatically including plastic utensils with takeout orders, however customers can request these items when they order or pick up their food. The Council considered the Skip the Stuff ordinance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Watertown Skip the Stuff ordinance is designed to reduce unnecessary plastic waste in our community,” said City Councilor Nicole Gardner. “Under this simple, common sense policy, restaurants and food businesses will no longer automatically include items like plastic utensils, straws and condiment packets with takeout or delivery orders.”