Principal's Newsletter
March 15, 2021
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Reopening School Survey
Last week the Superintendent sent out an email through SurveyMonkey with the survey asking for your preference for your child(ren)'s learning model once we return to school five days a week. If you didn't get the survey, here is the link that you can use. You only have to use one survey for all of your children in school.
If you have not done so already, please complete the survey by tomorrow, Tuesday, March 16 at midnight. This survey is very important for our planning purposes. We will be discussing the return to full in-person learning at the School Committee meeting tonight, March 15 at 5pm. If we don't hear back from you by March 16, we will assume that if your child(ren)'s current model is hybrid, they will move to five days in-person. And if they are remote, they will stay remote.
We will be hosting a panel discussion on Tuesday, March 16 at 7:30pm with Alan Geller, an epidemiologist from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Dr. Benjamin Weintraub, the Watertown Public Schools' pediatrician. During this event, we will discuss several important safety considerations for the return to school and the benefits of the return to full in-person learning. The Superintendent will be there as well to answer additional questions, and all members of the WPS Community are welcome. This will be a Zoom webinar. If you are unsure of your preference for your child(ren), I recommend attending this event.
Mykee Fowlin: You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me
On Monday, March 15, many of our middle school and high school students will attend a presentation by Mykee Fowlin: You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me. We will be offering a similar presentation to families Monday evening at 6:30pm via Zoom, and everyone in the WPS community is invited to attend. Please see the flyer for more information about the event.
"To varying degrees, we all wear masks. We are conditioned to hide our true selves, out of fear of being rejected and/or judged. We are taught to devalue or ignore our pain, as if its utility is better served hidden than exposed. But what if this approach is ultimately to our detriment, not our survival? What if our authentic self is all we have, and our pain is the gift we use to change this world? And imagine…we are raised and trained to celebrate differences, as an inclusive process, not just a tolerable one.” -Mykee Fowlin
This event is sponsored by the Watertown Youth Coalition, the Watertown Community Foundation and the Watertown Public Schools. We are very appreciative of the support for this important event.
Ed-Tech Update
Visit the WPS Family Ed-Tech Website or the Live Ed-Tech Support Sessions to access ed-tech resources.
If you need help or have questions, please fill out the WPS Ed-Tech Support Request Form. A member of the WPS Ed-Tech team will reach out to you ASAP.
View the 3/14 Family Ed-Tech for all Newsletter here.
Additional resources for Women's History Month:
- Online exhibit's from the National Women's History Museum
- Science NetLinks Women's History Month
- ReadWriteThink Women's History Month
Equity Team Announcement
I have formed a WHS Equity Team composed of faculty members that represent and celebrate our diverse student body. This group of 12 amazing staff members will meet regularly to discuss issues of equity as they pertain to WHS and the community at large. We are excited for this group to plan educational events, advise on WHS and district policy, and most importantly, advocate on behalf of and listen to our students to ensure that nobody ever feels marginalized in their student experience.
Please welcome the following team members:
- Bianca Jones - School Nurse
- Caitrin Zellers - Special Educator/History
- Fabian Rivera - School Counselor
- Ian Ward - Special Educator/English
- Ingrid Wolfson - Community Partner
- James Buck - History Teacher
- Joel Giacobozzi - Principal
- John Bresnihan - Social Worker
- Kacie Kirkpatrick - Special Educator/Theater Teacher
- Laura Licuanan - Speech and Language
- Pat Ferdinand - Instructional Assistant/Head Coach
- Sadye Vogel - Special Educator/English
- Sean Morris - Special Educator/Math/GSA Advisor
We have already begun the work, and look forward to continuing!
WHS Guidance Update
Please review the WHS Guidance Newsletter for information about:
- Understanding Financial Aid Awards - An Evening Event
- PSAT Scores
- SAT School Day Registration
- Scholarships
- Course Selection
- Special Opportunities
- Guidance Night
PE, Health & Wellness Update
WPS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Webpage
This section of our website highlights earlier, ongoing, and upcoming work across the Watertown Public Schools in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI & B). These are central tenets in the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support of our students and staff. All of our work supports our WPS District Strategic Initiative - To engage all WPS faculty and staff in embracing anti-bias and inclusive practices that promote equity and ensure all students feel valued and supported in their learning. We will be adding items to it throughout the spring at Watertown High School, for Black History Month and beyond.
Weekly Covid Pool Testing
Thank you to all who have signed up for weekly Covid pool testing thus far. Testing is the best way of keeping everyone safe. Please use this form to sign up.
Only positive pools and close contacts will be alerted as soon as possible with the weekly testing results. If you do not receive an update 24-48 hours after your child participates in pool testing, it means their pool tested negative. If your student's pool tests positive, it is highly recommended that family members quarantine until individual test results are available (usually within 24 hours).
Testing takes place in the main lobby as students arrive to school. During school, lunch, and after school the testing location is in the hallway by the gymnasium.
For more detailed information on the testing, click here.
Previous Communications
March 8th Newsletter
February 12th 2020 WHS Report Card
February 8th Newsletter
January 31st Early Release
January 25th Newsletter
January 25th Change in Learning Model
January 21st Zoom Intrusion
January 19th Newsletter
January 11th Newsletter
January 7th PSAT Testing
December 29th Covid Pool Testing
December 21st Newsletter
December 14th Newsletter
December 4th Newsletter
November 24th Newsletter
November 19th Newsletter
November 12th Newsletter
November 4th Newsletter
Bridge to Return Plan for Watertown Public Schools (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RnyRvhYE1h17FjUj0wrkA1so-N5W-UhC7xn-ObczgcE/edit)