Superintendent's Newsletter
March 10, 2024
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A Message From The Superintendent
To our amazing Watertown Public Schools Community:
I am reaching out to you with the latest updates and noteworthy achievements within our school district.
First and foremost, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Mena Ciarlone, the dedicated and remarkable Principal of the Cunniff Elementary School. Ms. Ciarlone has devoted an incredible 42 years to the betterment of Watertown's children, leaving a lasting legacy on our school community. I am sure that many of you reading this newsletter had Ms. Ciarlone as either a teacher or a principal. We extend our deepest gratitude to Principal Ciarlone for her unwavering commitment and wish her a well-deserved retirement filled with joy.
This week, I will conduct the final interviews for the Early Steps Principal, a crucial position that plays a pivotal role in shaping the early educational experiences of our youngest learners. Information about the two finalists for the position can be found here. We have also begun the search for a new Assistant Principal at the Lowell Elementary School, adding another layer of excitement as we look to bring in new perspectives and leadership to our schools.
Also, our high school principal, Joel Giacobozzi, has taken over the role of interim Watertown Middle School principal, while maintaining his role as the WHS principal. Our middle school principal, Ms. Chen Fein, has taken a leave of absence through the end of the year, and as such, having an interim with middle school experience, excellent leadership skills, and someone who knows the district is just what is needed at this time. Principal Giacobozzi can serve in this capacity due in large part to the shared swing space at WMS during construction and the proximity of the WHS Moxley Field swing space.
On the athletic front, I am proud to share that our winter sports season has concluded with success. Our students showcased remarkable skill, sportsmanship, and dedication, making our school district proud. Please see more detailed information below, including a news segment on Tessa Master, our state wrestling champion, who also earned third place overall in New England.
And congratulations to our very talented actors and stage crew on their successful production of the spring musical "Working," held at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. Also this week, Bandarama, an event like no other, will take place at the WMS Gym on Tuesday, and MusicFest returns for its annual show on Friday, March 15.
Looking ahead, the decision on our new literacy program will be made in the coming weeks. Following a comprehensive pilot with two structured literacy and knowledge-building programs, Wit and Wisdom and Expeditionary Learning, we are poised to make an informed choice that aligns with our commitment to providing a robust and effective education for all our students.
Your continued support and engagement are greatly appreciated as we navigate these exciting times together.
Wishing you all a wonderful month ahead,
Dede Galdston, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Announcing the Assistant Superintendent
After careful consideration of the final candidates for the position of Assistant Superintendent, I recommended and the School Committee appointed Ms. Emilys Peña to the position. I would like to thank the 14-person Screening Committee for moving forward three exceptional candidates, all of whom could easily be successful in this role.
Ms. Peña brings to Watertown great experience having served in the role of Assistant Superintendent for the past three years in Malden. Prior to Malden, she spent 20+ years in the Boston Public Schools serving in various leadership roles with experience in ESL, language and literacy, and special education. She brings insights from outside of PreK-12 education serving as a consultant for Urban Matters and SchoolWorks. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and ASL and is conversant in Portuguese. I am confident that Ms. Peña will be a great partner and leader as we continue our excellent work here in Watertown.
It became clear that Ms. Peña has a deep belief that all students can and will be successful and that her core values align very well with our values of excellence, equity, and community. She eloquently described this in the Core Qualifications section of her resume:
“I am a visionary educational leader with a strong commitment to championing culturally responsive pedagogies, fostering safe and continuous learning environments, and cultivating equitable K-12 settings for all students. My expertise in student-centered instruction, standards-aligned, high-quality instructional materials, and program and systems development ensures that I tailor the educational experience to the unique needs of each student....... I actively engage in promoting shared power among staff, students, and families to redefine schools as spaces of equity and excellence.”
Ms. Peña will be joining us as of July 1 and will spend several days in the district before her start date to get to know our community and learn more about WPS as she prepares for her entry. I look forward to learning and leading with Emilys for many years to come.
Our Commitment to Pre-K Education
In a major step towards launching one of the state’s few Universal Pre-K programs, the Watertown School Committee unanimously approved a plan to establish no-cost Pre-K education for 4-year-olds in Watertown.
The vote secures funding for 126 Pre-K learners, broken down into seven classrooms of 18 students each. The program will begin in the Fall of 2024. The original plan was for 5 classrooms to be located at the Early Steps Early Childhood Center at the Hosmer campus. Given the large number of families that wanted to be part of this exciting program, we have opened two additional classrooms: one at the Lowell Elementary School and one at the Cunniff Elementary School. Families have been contacted regarding their preference for their child's location.
In addition, all preschool programming for 4-year-olds will also be free. Our goal is to provide opportunities for Watertown's families to enjoy and gain from starting in the Watertown Public Schools when their children are four.
Under the current plan, an additional Pre-K classroom will be opened in the fall of 2026 when the new Watertown High School opens. WHS will offer a Chapter 74 Career and Technical Education program in early childhood education beginning in the fall of 2026.
Any questions regarding our Early Steps Early Childhood program can be directed to Interim Principal Cynthia Paris at cynthia.paris@watertown.k12.ma.us
WHS Construction Progress
With each passing day, we move one step closer to the opening of the new Watertown High School in 2026.
Steel is going up quickly at the site and the new building is starting to take shape. Crews have spent the last few months taking down the last remnants of the old building, laying the foundation for the new one, and working on the underground parking garage.
Working: A Musical
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Working: A Musical. Watertown High School put on three outstanding productions of the show, which details the lives and occupations of everyday workers and lays out their struggles and dreams.
The musical, which originally debuted on Broadway in 1978, has been revised a number of times and features songs written by Lin Manuel Miranda, James Taylor, and others.
A huge thank you to the Mosesian Center for hosting our shows during the Watertown High School construction project. We are so grateful to the Watertown community for all they do to support our students and our schools.
NHS Induction
Congratulations are in order for our 46 new National Honor Society inductees. Their hard work, dedication, and excellence was recognized with an induction ceremony in January.
28 students also earned entry into the Cum Laude Society.
Well done, Watertown High School!
Raiders Shine in Winter Sports
We are celebrating an outstanding winter sports season in which our Raiders boys and girls basketball and boys and girls hockey teams all picked up wins in the state tournament.
It was a record-breaking year for Watertown wrestling. Watertown wrestler Tessa Master won the state championship in the 152-pound division and placed 3rd at the New England regional championships in Providence. Senior Tommy Dicker was also a state finalist. This marked the first time Watertown wrestling has ever had state finalists in wrestling.
Raiders cheerleading had a strong year as well, earning the distinction of the 2024 small co-ed north runner-ups.
Go Raiders!
Watertown High School Introduces New Football Coach
If you would like to get to know the new Watertown High School head football coach, Mr. Carroll sat down with our friends at Watertown Cable News for an introductory interview.
Lowell CultureFest
In January, the Lowell community gathered for CultureFest, which served as an opportunity for Lowell students, families, teachers, and staff to come together and share their food, culture, music, and traditions.
The event was a huge success and was a celebration of the diversity and richness of the Lowell community.
Thank you to all those who made CultureFest possible! Please enjoy some of the scenes from the event below.
Hosmer Winter Warmer Draws Hundreds
The Hosmer Winter Warmer was a huge success, with hundreds of students and families coming out for a multicultural celebration of the Hosmer community. The event featured a potluck dinner and a dance party.
Thanks to the Watertown Community Foundation for their support of this great event.
WHS Medical Science Students Visit EMS Simulation Lab
A group of Watertown High School students recently visited the ProEMS Patient Simulation Lab, where they practiced helping a patient deliver a baby. This comes after completing the unit about the reproductive system during their Medical Science class.
The students practiced what they had learned in the classroom and were walked through how to assess a mother and child in the event of an emergency childbirth situation.
We Are Hiring
We are also actively looking for substitute teachers.
In January, the Watertown School Committee unanimously approved another pay increase for substitute teachers, the second increase in less than a year.
The new pay structure is:
$135/day for non-certified subs.
$145/day for certified subs.
$155/day for retired Watertown teachers.
The School Committee also approved the addition of full-time building-based substitutes for each school in Watertown.
WPS UPCOMING EVENTS
Coffee with the Superintendent
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024, 09:00 AM
Watertown Anti-Bias Coalition
Join us for the Anti-Bias Coalition Meeting, Monday, March 18 at 5:30 pm. The meetings are open to anyone interested in being part of this important coalition.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024, 05:30 PM
J R Lowell Elementary School, Orchard Street, Watertown, MA, USA
School Committee Meeting
Monday, Mar 25, 2024, 07:00 PM
Cunniff Elementary School
Feel free to reach out any time!
Dr. Deanne Galdston
Email: deanne.galdston@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: www.watertown.k12.ma.us
Location: 30 Common Street, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7708
Facebook: www.facebook.com/watertownpublicschools
Twitter: @WatertownSupt