Schools

State Recognizes Hosmer Elementary for Improvements on MCAS

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(Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The following information was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

The Hosmer Elementary School has been named a School of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education following the release of 2023 accountability data. Hosmer is just one of 65 schools in the state to earn this honor. The Hosmer School outperformed 2023 MCAS targets in both Math and English Language Arts while also improving on scores from 2022. Hosmer recorded a 93% score in DESE’s Progress Towards Targets metric. The state considers 75% as the threshold for meeting or exceeding targets.

Schools

Watertown Schools Appoint New Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

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Superintendent Dede Galdston announced the hiring of Dr. Ceronne Daly as the Watertown Public School’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Galdston announced the hiring to staff on Monday. Daly has worked in the Boston Public Schools for more than 10 years, most recently as the Managing Director of the Office of Recruitment, Cultivation, and Diversity Programs.

Daly will officially start working in October, but will be attending events starting this week, Galdston said in her statement. Daly succeeds Kimberlee Henry, who was the first Director of DEIB. The School Committee approved the creation of the position in 2020.

Schools

Watertown Schools Retirees Include Spanish, Social Studies & Music Teachers, a Special Educator & More

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The Watertown Public Schools will say farewell to nine educators and staff at the end of the school year, including some who have worked in the district for decades. At last week’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dede Galdston spoke about each of the nine retirees, who work in schools and departments around the district. Mark Boudreau

He worked as the woodshop and construction technology teacher at Watertown High School for 21 years. “Mark is the very epitome of a vocational educator, a consummate wood working and construction technology professional who takes pride in mentoring students in the safe operation of tools to achieve a desired hands-on result,” Galdston said. “Mark’s projects and classes introduced numerous students into the very real possibility of careers in Finish carpentry and the trades in general.”

Schools

Local Company Visits WHS Class Bearing Gifts & Knowledge of Biotechs

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown High School teacher Kelly Hannon works with students in her anatomy and physiology class. A Watertown High School science class recently got a visit from representatives from one of the City’s life science companies, which also provided some donations that will help students learn about the human body. In early April, three employees of Enanta Pharmaceuticals stopped by a WHS anatomy and physiology class to speak to the students about their work. Joyce Sweeney Gibbons told the students that she did not take a direct road to her current position as senior scientist in virology at Enanta. “If you have no idea what you want to do, that’s OK,” Sweeney Gibbons said.

Schools

Watertown Preschool Worker Being Investigated for Neglect Allegation

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A worker at the Watertown Public School’s preschool has been placed on leave after an allegation of neglect was reported in March. A staff member at Early Steps Preschool, which is run by the Watertown Public Schools (WPS), has been placed on administrative leave after WPS officials got report of “potential classroom neglect,” according to Assistant Superintendent Theresa McGuinness. The district, the Department of Children and Families, and police are investigating the incident, according to a report in on Fox 25. School officials learned of the incident on March 3, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the Boston Globe. “Our district immediately placed the staff member on administrative leave and, per protocol, filed a report with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families,” Galdston said in a statement to the Globe.

Schools

Watertown Student Art to be Displayed at Local Mall

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Artwork created by students in the Watertown Public Schools will be on display beginning this week. The Watertown Schools announced the Visual Art Show at the Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St. The show features works from students in grades K to 12. It begins April 6 and runs through May 2. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, April 11 at 6-8 p.m.

Entertainment

WHS Spring Musical ‘Anastasia’ This Week, Bandarama Next Week

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Fans of drama and music have two opportunities to see Watertown’s young performers in action at the Watertown High School spring musical and the districtwide Bandarama. This year’s spring musical is a production of Anastasia, and along with the students on stage and behind the scenes, WHS Principal Joel Giacobozzi will be lending a hand, or a trumpet, to the orchestra for the three performances. Performances will be at the WHS Auditorium, 50 Columbia St., on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 12 and 2 p.m.. Tickets are $10. WPS Students and Teachers can attend for free.

Schools

Musicians Wanted for Friends of Watertown Music MusicFest

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Friends of Watertown Music is excited to announce the return of MusicFest! Come see local musicians and enjoy the musical instrument petting zoo on Friday April 28 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Watertown Middle School. All proceeds benefit music programs in Watertown schools. MUSICIANS! Please sign up to participate using the QR code or go to https://watertownmusic.org/ to sign up.