Back to School: What You Need to Know for the Opening of School 2012

The following information was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

SCHOOL OPENING – SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jean Fitzgerald announces that students in the Watertown Public Schools begin the 2012-13 school year on Thursday, September 6, 2012.

STUDENT REGISTRATION

For registration at the appropriate school, new students should bring their birth certificate, school records or report cards (if records from their previous school were not already transferred), complete health records indicating all required immunizations were received, and proof of residency (e.g. lease or utility bill). These immunizations are a requirement of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and must be received before the student may attend school or be enrolled. A parent or guardian should accompany the child to school. The Principal or Assistant Principal will be available for consultation. Parents or guardians of students entering either elementary school or Watertown High School for the first time should call 617-926-7736 for an appointment to register their child, and students entering WatertownMiddle School for the first time should call 617-926-7783 x 1005 for an appointment.

Watertown High School. Registration for new students is on Tuesday, August 28th from 9:00 a.m. to3:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 29th and Thursday, August 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Watertown Middle School. Registration for new students is by appointment only in August. Please contact Ms. Judith Wheaton at 617-926-7783 x 1005.

Cunniff School and Hosmer School. Registration for new students is on Thursday, August 30th from8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lowell School. Registration for new students is by appointment only on August 30th. Please contact Ms.Brenda Connors at 617-926-7736.

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

School bus transportation is available for Hosmer School and Watertown Middle School students only.To be eligible for transportation, students must live .75 or more miles from their school. Parents ofeligible students requiring transportation must register for the bus through the School Business Office,30 Common Street, Watertown and are processed on a first come, first served bases. The fee is $300 per year with a $475 maximum per family. The fee for students in Grades K-6th that live south of the Charles River is $200 per year with a $320 maximum. Students in 7th and 8th grade south of the Charles River are subject to full fee. Elementary students who live 1.5 miles or more from the Hosmer Schooland 6th grade students who live 2 or more miles from the Middle School are not required to pay the fee, but must register. Parents may be eligible for a waiver or reduction of the transportation fee due to financial hardship. Registration forms are available on our website @www.watertown.k12.ma.us or at the Transportation Office, 30 Common Street. For further information, please call 617-926-7716.

A FY ‘13 Student Bus Pass will be issued to all students that completed a FY ‘13 registration form. No student will be admitted to the bus without the current FY ‘13 Bus Pass. A Watertown Public Schools Bus Schedule will be mailed with a student’s FY ‘13 Bus Pass by August 31st. In addition, a copy of the rules and regulations for all transported students will be included with the bus pass. All students riding on school buses are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not interfere with the safe operation of the bus and/or the safety of other passengers.

Students attending Minuteman Technical High School should have received by mail a FY ‘13 registration form by July 31st. The registration must be returned to the Transportation Office at 30 Common Street by August 17th. Unregistered students will not be permitted to ride the bus to Minuteman.

Any questions regarding school bus transportation should be directed to the Transportation Office bycalling 617-926-7716.

MBTA STUDENT BUS PASSES

High School and Middle School students that use the MBTA may sign up for Student Passes for reduced fare on MBTA buses. There are two types of Student Passes available. The first option is $25.00(weekdays) or a $28.00 (everyday) pass that will give a student unlimited access to buses and commuter rails for that month. This pass must be paid for by the student prior to the 1st of the month. This is the most economical option for students that use the bus as their primary transportation to and from school.The second option works like a prepaid charge card. The student can put money on the card, and .75¢ is deducted from the balance each time the student uses the pass. To obtain an MBTA Student Pass or for more information, you should contact the Transportation Office at 617-926-7716.

STUDENT SCHEDULES

WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

All Freshman students will report to the High School Cafeteria at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday, September6th and on Friday, September 7th. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 will report to school at 9:55 a.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2012. On Friday, September 7, 2012, students in Grade 10 will report at 9:00a.m. Students in Grades 11 and 12 will report at 9:55 a.m. on Friday. Both Thursday and Friday will be full school days for all students. If a student has scheduling problems, Guidance Counselors are available for assistance, by appointment. Lunch will be available for all students on both days. Dismissal is at 2:30p.m. Monday, September 10th, all students will report at 7:55 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Further details about scheduling will be posted in the Headmaster’s August letter.

WATERTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Grades 6, 7, and 8 students report to school on Thursday, September 6, 2012. Students begin class at 7:40a.m. and are dismissed at 2:10 p.m.

CUNNIFF SCHOOL

Students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Cunniff School report to school on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 8:15a.m. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, September 6th, Pre Kindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their placement letter. Pre K and Kindergarten classes begin on Tuesday, September 11th according to the following schedule. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.
Friday, September 7th, 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. No lunch or extended day programs.

Monday, September 10th, 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Lunch will be served. No extended day programs.

Tuesday, September 11th, 8:15 a.m. arrival and 2:30 p.m. dismissal. Extended day programs begin for registered students.

HOSMER SCHOOL

Students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Hosmer School report to school on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 8:20a.m. Dismissal is at 2:35 p.m.

On Thursday, September 6th, Prekindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their placement letter. Pre K and Kindergarten classes begin on Friday, September 7th according to the following schedule. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.
Friday, September 7th, 8:20 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. No lunch, transportation or extended day programs.

Monday, September 10th, 8:20 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Lunch served. No transportation or extended day programs.

Tuesday, September 11th, 8:20 a.m. arrival and 2:35 p.m. dismissal. Extended day programs andtransportation begin for registered students.

LOWELL SCHOOL

All students in Grades 1 to 5 at the Lowell School will report to school on Thursday, September 6, 2012at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, September 6th, Prekindergarten/Kindergarten teachers meet with parents and children according to appointments assigned to each child in their placement letter. PreK and Kindergarten will follow the schedule listed below for the first days of school. Please note arrival and departure times for each day.

Friday, September 7th, 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. No lunch or extended day programs.

Monday, September 10th, 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Lunch served. No extended day programs.

Tuesday, September 11th, 8:15 a.m. arrival and 2:30 p.m. dismissal. Extended day programs begin for registered students.

WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

On Thursday, September 6th Early Steps Integrated Preschool Teachers meet with parents and children.Morning classes meet from 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and afternoon classes meet from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30p.m. Classes begin on Friday, September 7th according to your child’s class assignment. The three day program (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) will begin on Tuesday, September 11th.

WATERTOWN COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Before and After School Programs for Grades 1-5 at the Cunniff, Hosmer and Lowell Elementary Schools begin on Thursday, September 6, 2012. Before School Programs start at 7:15 a.m. and Extended Day Programs start at the close of the school day. Pre K/Kindergarten Before and After School Programs begin on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. For further information, please contact Ms. Beth Sahakian at 617-923-7653.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING SCHOOL

MEASLES VACCINE

All students entering Kindergarten and Grade7 must have two Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)vaccines. It must be the combined immunization.

HEPATITIS B VACCINE

In addition to the other medical requirements, students entering Kindergarten are required to have proof that they have had the Hepatitis B Vaccine.

Tdap BOOSTER

All Grade 7 students are required to have a Tdap booster within five years of entry to grade 7.

VARICELLA (Chicken Pox)

All students entering Preschool, Kindergarten and Grade 7 must have two Varicella Vaccines or proof from their doctor that they had Chicken Pox.

PHYSICAL EXAM

Students entering Kindergarten must have a recent physical exam (since September 2011) by a licensed practitioner. They must also provide a certificate that they had a recent eye exam. Proof of the physical and eye exam must be given to the school nurse on or before the first day of school.

Grade 4, Grade 7 and Grade 10 students must have a physical (since September 2011). Proof of thephysical must be given to the school nurse on or before October 1, 2012.
New students entering the system must provide proof of a recent physical (since September 2011) to the school nurse.

STUDENTS ATTENDING MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATION TECHNICAL SCHOOL:

FIRST TIME STUDENTS

The first day of school for new students attending Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School in Lexington is Monday, August 27th, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Transportation to Minuteman is provided by the Watertown Public Schools. (Students enrolled in Minuteman will receive a bus schedule in the mail.)

ALL OTHER MINUTEMAN STUDENTS

The first day of school for other students attending Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School is Tuesday, August 28th. Normal school hours are 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.