Reminders for Parents/Caregivers
September 27, 2021
Welcome!
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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.
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CONSENT for the Test & Stay Protocols for Close Contacts
We are excited to begin our 'Test & Stay' protocols on Monday, October 4 for students in preschool through grade 12. This will allow unvaccinated students who are identified as close contacts to a COVID positive individual at school to remain in attendance instead of quarantining.
If you are planning to have your child participate in the Test & Stay program, please complete the consent form prior to the start of the program. This will make the process much easier if your child is a close contact and needs to be part of the Test & Stay program.
The process is:
- Unvaccinated close contacts will need to test negative for COVID using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test every morning before school for one week following the in-school exposure. The BinaxNOW will be provided at school prior to the start of the school day. Please note that Test & Stay only applies to COVID exposures in school.
- Unvaccinated individuals who are close contacts of a positive case outside of the school setting need to quarantine.
- *In order to have your child participate in the 'Test & Stay' Program, please sign this consent form at your earliest convenience. Consenting in advance will help to expedite the process if your child needs to participate in Test and Stay.
Reach out to your school nurse or to the Director of Students Services, Kathleen Desmarais, kathleen.desmarais@watertown.k12.ma.us if you have questions regarding this program. Please see this document for more information. I am holding two meetings tomorrow at 9:00 and 6:00 if you would like to hear more about this program. Information on the meetings can be found below.
WPS Equity Audit Focus Groups for Families
Watertown Public Schools has hired Public Consulting Group (PCG) to conduct a districtwide Equity Audit. The goal of this audit is to identify strengths and areas for improvement in WPS and to make recommendations on how we can move towards achieving the best outcomes for each student in our community. An essential component of this work is hearing from a wide range of voices from across our district.
As a part of the Equity Audit, PCG is conducting a series of family focus groups and we invite you to participate.
Please sign up for a focus group using the following link as soon as possible: WPS Equity Audit Family Focus Groups Registration
Once you sign up you will receive a calendar invite that will include additional information regarding the details of the focus groups and a summary of what to expect. Please contact Sydney Menzin with PCG at smenzin@pcgus.com if you have any questions.
We appreciate your participation as we work towards identifying and addressing practices, policies, and communications that may contribute to inequities across our district. We are committed to building a WPS in which each learner reaches their full academic and personal potential in safe, welcoming, equitable, inclusive learning environments.
Reminder: ESSER III Feedback Requested!
Reminder: Please fill out our ESSER III Funding Community Feedback Form. Part of the process of determining how to allocate Watertown's ESSER grant is to solicit feedback from stakeholder groups on our anticipated district priorities with regard to COVID recovery. The survey can be found at this link.
You can read the full scope of requirements here.
The Watertown Public Schools received an allocation of $2,868,929 to be spent through June 2024. Therefore, this will be a multi-year plan for anticipated activities. Once the grant has been awarded, the final proposal will be published on our website for the community.
Superintendent's Chat
Please join the Superintendent for her monthly Community Conversation on Tuesday, September 28 either in person in room 301 of the Phillips Administration Building, or by Zoom. There will be two opportunities for meeting: 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2021, 09:00 AM
Phillips Administration Building 31 Marshall Street, Watertown, MA 0472
CHANGE IN TIME: Superintendent's Chat
Please join the Superintendent for her monthly Community Conversation on Tuesday, September 28 either in person in room 301 of the Phillips Administration Building, or by Zoom. There will be two opportunities for meeting: 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2021, 06:00 PM
Phillips Administration Building
Race Reels- Precious Knowledge
Precious Knowledge interweaves the stories of students in the Mexican American Studies Program at Tucson High School. While 48 percent of Mexican American students currently drop out of high school. Tucson High's Mexican American Studies Program has become a national model of educational success, with 100 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85% going on to attend college. The filmmaker spent an entire year in the classroom filming this innovative social-justice curriculum, documenting the transformative impact on students who became engaged, informed, and active in their communities.
Sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Black Lives and funded through a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation.