Friday, June 7, 2013
Teachers at the middle and high schools used iPads this year and found students thrived with them.
A few Spanish and French teachers in Watertown got the chance to use iPads in their classes and they found the students took to it like fish to water and got more out of it than if they were using textbooks. The teachers told the School Committee about their experiences this week, raving about the technology. Some students got so excited about using the iPads they did extra work. Watertown High School French and Spanish teacher Pat Hayes finds the iPads easier to use than textbooks. She gives the students the hyperlink to the lesson and reading of the day, so they can access it on the iPad or at home on their computer. Parents can see it, too. Hayes said she had one of the top students in the school in her class and two who have special …
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Not only no new positions, but the School Committee has even been told more positions will be cut.
Town Councilors told Watertown school officials they need to find a way to make their budget sustainable in the long term so the district can provide an excellent education and not face year after year of cutting jobs. This year, Town Manager Michael Driscoll allocated $36.7 million for the public schools, a 3.8 percent increase, but Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the district needed nearly $350,000 more to provide the same services and programs next school year as Watertown students now have. Watertown School officials had hoped to add two teachers to help deal with the growing number of students enrolled in the town's elementary school, but in order to meet the budget those additional teaching positions had to be scrapped along with…
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The students took part in the "Teach Children to Save" program.
Some of the youngest students at the Cunniff School got their first lesson in the importance of saving money during a recent visit from a visitor from Cambridge Savings Bank. Jessica Bourne, a digital marketing specialist for the bank, came to speak with kindergarten classes and read the book "Just Saving My Money." Afterward, Cambridge Savings Marketing Specialist Jacqui O'Donnell showed students the value of different coins. Each of the 70 children received a dollar in coins and a piggy bank, according to an announcement from Cambridge Savings. “The kids really loved the lesson and had a lot of fun,” said kindergarten teacher Dana LaCava. “We love when Cambridge Savings Bank visits. I hope that they return next year.” The visit came …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Parents and residents can come meet the finalists this week.
The two finalists for the Hosmer School principal position will be at the school this week to meet with parents and residents. Watertown school officials seek a successor to Anne Hardiman, who is retiring at the end of the year. Those interested in meeting the candidates are welcome to stop by the school. Scott Williams, will be at the school Wednesday, May 15 at 8:30 a.m. Beth Gannon will be at Hosmer on Friday May 17 at 8:30 a.m. Come to main entrance of school and sign-in.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
The candidates will be at the high school Tuesday night.
Parents can meet the finalists for the Watertown High School head master position when they are at the school on Tuesday, May 14. The district is searching for a replacement for Steve Watson, who will leave the school at the end of the school year to become a pastor at a church in Cambridge. The finalists were chosen from applicants that were screened by a committee of parents, teachers and administors. They will be at the high school Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the high school Lecture Hall on the second floor of the school. The high school head master is just one position being filled this year. The Hosmer School is also seaching for a new principal.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Businesses, organizations and residents gave money for a variety of programs in the Watertown Public Schools.
The Watertown School Committee accepted several gifts made to schools in town at it meeting on Monday. Gifts came from restaurants, businesses, a PTO and a parent. Here are the gifts: The Hosmer School PTO gave $17,000 to purchase iPads and accessories for each classroom at the school. Watertown's Nancy Teeven gave $1,000 to support the Watertown Middle School ISP Program. Watertown Ford gave $3,750 to the music and culinary arts programs at Watertown High School as part of the "Drive One for Your Community" campaign. The Chateau Restaurant in Waltham gave $97 to help pay for the Watertown High School Music Festival trip to New York. Uno Chicago Grill in Newton donated $413.04 to help pay for the Watertown High School Music Festival trip …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Eileen Hsu-Balzer lauded the way teachers and staff of the Watertown Schools welcomed back students after the Boston Marathon Bombings and chase of the suspects that ended in town.
Watertown School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer thanked the first responders who helped stop and capture the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects in Watertown, and gave a special hand to the staff of the Watertown Public Schools. Here is the text of what she read to the School Committee Monday night: I join with the many other Watertown voices that have expressed gratitude to the Watertown Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works, for their incredible responses to a horrific threat to the residents of our town. I also must acknowledge a group of people who have stepped forward in the days since those events, to support our students. Of course, I am speaking of the staff of our school system. Many of our staff …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The proposed town budget reduced the amount the schools would get after Legislature proposed higher special education funds.
Just when an increase in the state budget provided a ray of hope for Watertown school officials, town officials reduced the funds heading to the schools by the same amount as the increase in state dollars, said Watertown School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer. At Monday night's School Committee meeting, she wants to see the funds restored so that the Watertown Public Schools have as much money as they can. "The School Committee’s FY14 budget request to Town Hall is extremely lean," Hsu-Balzer said. "The bottom line is a 4.77 percent increase over last year’sbudget. It is well below a level services budget." School officials said their budget, despite being nearly 5 percent higher that the current year, will not provide the same …
Watertown High School's third quarter honor roll has been released.
The following Watertown High School students made the grade to make the honor roll for the third quarter of the 2012-13 school year. High Honors Ninth Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Honors Ninth Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
Thursday, May 2, 2013
School officials, residents and parents will meet to create a recovery process for the schools and community.
An organization that works with communities to build resiliance following disasters is coming to the Watertown schools week, officials said. The Israel Trauma Coalition, sponsored by Boston's Jewish Federation, will be working with Watertown Public Schools officials, clinical staff, parents and community groups to create a "recovery process" in the community and schools, according to a press release. Meetings will take place from May 6 to 10, and include work on the coalition's model of using local infrastructure to support those in need, while setting a long-term support system in place. “The outpouring of help to our schools and community has been tremendous," said Watertown Superindent Jean Fitzgerald, in the press release. "We are …
Wilfredo
8:24 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Gannon wrote a soft porn book called crazy fortunes and was suspended in Lawrence. Why is she a finalist?????? more ›