Schools

Watertown Schools Receive Recognition, Superintendent Gets Raise & More

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By Kendra FoleySchool Committee Chair

The 2023-2024 school year is underway in Watertown and we hope you are having a good start to your year. 

Our year began with exciting news, as the Hosmer Elementary School was honored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School of Recognition. Hosmer was only one of 66 schools in the state to earn this title as part of DESE’s release of MCAS data and accountability metrics. Our district as a whole also earned high marks from the state. You can read more about the recognition in Ms. Moulton’s newsletter to the Hosmer community. Watertown High School was also recognized for strong academic achievement, earning a place on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll with a Silver Distinction.

Schools

Watertown High School Class of 1983 Holding 40th Class Reunion

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The old Watertown High School building. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The following announcement was provided by the WHS Class of 1983 Reunion Committee:

The Watertown High School CLASS OF ‘83 Reunion Committee is thrilled we have finalized plans for our 40th, yes 40th, class reunion! We will be holding our event at the recently renovated OAKLEY COUNTRY CLUB! Our reunion will be SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25th from 7-11 p.m.

We will be serving passed Hors d’oeuvres and there will be a cash bar (sorry, only debit/credit cards accepted per Oakley CC policy). Purchase your “tickets” NOW ~ Special Pricing~ $40 for our 40th~ if purchased by October 15th.

Schools

Public Forum Scheduled for Construction Project at Watertown High School

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The old Watertown High School building. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

A public forum will be held about the old Watertown High School building, will soon begin the process of demolition and construction of the new school building in its place. The Watertown Public Schools sent out the following information:

The old WHS building has been turned over to the general contractor for the new WHS project. Construction activity will pick up in the coming weeks as crews prepare for demolition. A community forum is scheduled for Thursday, Sept.

Schools

Students, Parents Get a Look Inside the Temporary Watertown High School After Ribbon Cutting

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The temporary campus for Watertown High School at PFC Richard Moxley Field opened after a ribbon cutting on Aug. 31 by, from left, Superintendent Dede Galdston, Principal Joel Giacobozzi, Assistant Superintendent Steve Magoon, and City Council President Mark Sideris. (Photo by Maya Shwayder)

The huge, empty hallways smelled like the wood aisle at Home Depot. Large boxes – empty and not – lined most corridors, and all the computers and monitors in the media room were still wrapped in plastic. But nonetheless the modular Watertown High School at PFC Richard Moxley Field held its grand opening five days before the first day of school, complete with a red ribbon and giant scissors to cut it.

Schools

Enrollment Up at All Levels in Watertown Schools, Especially at the High School

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Enrollment is up at Watertown High School, despite moving into the temporary location at PFC Ricard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

Watertown’s schools are growing at all levels, and some classes at two elementary schools are near or at capacity, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee. The biggest growth, however, is at the secondary level. Typically, School officials wait until September to provide the first enrollment report to the School Committee, Galdston said, but she wanted to inform members before school started incase they receive questions about it. “Our enrollment is up,” Galdston said.

Schools

Changes to Watertown Schools Attendance Policies, Other Policies at Middle and High Schools

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The new school year brings new policies for the Watertown Public Schools, including families being asked to report student absences with an online form, new rules for tardies at the high school, and actions for middle school students failing math and English Language Arts. The School Committee heard about changes to the student handbooks at Watertown Public Schools starting this fall at the Aug. 21 meeting. Absences

Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the big change for the procedures when a student is absent is filling out and sending in a Google form online. “If you have an excused absence, any absence, you have to fill out a form, a Google form, instead of an email or phone call,” Galdston said.

Schools

Public Invited to Ribbon Cutting & Tour of Temporary High School at Moxley Field

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A view of the temporary Watertown High School at Moxley Field from a presentation to the School Building Committee. (Courtesy of the Watertown Schools)

The public can get an inside look at the place where Watertown High School students will call home for the next three years. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the Watertown High School at Pvt. First Class Moxley Field on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m.

“The public is welcome and invited to see what beautiful work has been done there for our temporary high school,” City Council President Mark Sideris said.

Schools

Watertown High School Prepping for Life at Temporary Campus at Moxley, Other Locations

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A view of the temporary Watertown High School at Moxley Field from a presentation to the School Building Committee. (Courtesy of the Watertown Schools)

The final touches are being made on the temporary campus in preparation for Watertown High School students to return to class on Sept. 5, and the students and staff alike will have to adapt to their new digs, which include sites outside the modular campus at Moxley Field. Principal Joel Giacobozzi told the WHS community that they will have to adjust to a new way of “doing school,” in the introduction in the student handbook (see below). Meanwhile, construction crews continue to work to get the two-story school made from prefabricated modules ready for class.