Schools

11 Watertown Students Graduating from Minuteman, Including Valedictorian

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Minuteman High School’s 121 member strong Class of 2020 includes nearly a dozen students from Watertown, one of whom is the class valedictorian. The vocational technical school will hold a drive-in graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5, at 2 p.m., at the school, 758 Marrett Road, Lexington. The ceremony will also be streamed live on YouTube. “While this is clearly an unusual way to hold a graduation, we hope that it will be a way for students and their families to share their excitement and create a happy memory of this milestone,” wrote Minuteman Superintendent-Director Edward Bouquillon. The graduates from Watertown are (with their program of study and future plans):

Emely AlmonteRouaa AlwazTJ DaleyFahad KhanAnthony LeoneElizabeth LinarteVasiliki MarandianosMichael McNamaraSabrina RaposoRenee ThompsonZachary Umbsen

Rouaa Alwaz (VALEDICTORIAN), BiotechnologyElizabeth Linarte, Biotechnology, University of Mass. Lowell – Pre-Dentistry Honors ProgramMichael McNamara, Carpentry Sabrina Raposo, Cosmetology, Entering the Workforce – CosmetologyVasiliki Marandianos, Culinary Arts / Baking, Entering the Workforce – Culinary ArtsRenee Thompson, Culinary Arts / BakingEmely Almonte, Early Education & CareAnthony Leone, Electrical WiringTimothy Daley, PlumbingFahad Khan, Programming & Web, Bunker Hill Community College – Software DevelopmentZachary Umbsen, Programming & Web

Visit the Minuteman High School Class of 2020 Instagram page to see more of the graduates.

Government

Town Council to Consider Adding to Fire Dept. Repair Fund, Town Attorney’s Contract & Honoring the WHS Class of 2020

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On Tuesday night, Town Council will be asked to approve the reappointment of the Town’s attorney and to increase the amount of money for maintenance of Fire Department vehicles. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m on May 26, and will be conducted online due to the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak. KP Law, which has been the law firm used by Watertown since 1993, will be up for reappointment on Tuesday. The attorney assigned to Watertown since 2003 has been Mark Reich. Along with offering legal opinions to the Town Council and Town officials, the firm also provides seminars on topics such as open meeting law, public records and conflict of interest, according to the letter from Town Manager Michael Driscoll to the Town Council.

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.

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.