Principal's Newsletter
September 15th, 2020
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Here we go!
The first day of school is upon us and we are excited to get underway. This smore contains detailed information about the beginning of school. I encourage you to work your way through this smore with your student.
Students begin learning remotely on September 22nd at 8:30am. Students can find the link to their advisory Zoom by clicking on their teacher's name under the "Advisory" section here (links will be updated on a rolling basis, please check back) We are including a printed copy of this smore in the bag of materials you and your student will be receiving on Thursday, Friday, or Monday.
It is important that students and families follow along with each of their teacher's Weekly Learning Plans found on the main page of our website, located here.
student schedules
Schedules can now be viewed in PowerSchool. After logging in, students should click on “My Schedule” on the left-hand side of the page. The Add/Drop Deadline for 1st semester and full-year courses is September 30.
It is important to understand that student schedules have been created to accommodate future hybrid cohorting. Please understand that we may not be able to accommodate some schedule change requests to maintain balanced cohorts, moving forward. If you have been misplaced in a core academic course or level, please let us know immediately. However, elective changes are unlikely to be granted unless you are requesting an elective change during the same period (and space is available in that class and cohort). If your desired elective is unavailable for any reason, you will be required to stay in your original placement.
first day schedule
Tuesday, September 22 Schedule
8:30-9:30AM - Advisory/Homeroom
9:40-10:12 - A Block
10:22-10:54 - B Block
11:04-11:36 - C Block
11:46-12:18 - D Block
12:28-1:00 - LUNCH
1:10-1:42 - E Block
1:52-2:24 - F Block
2:34-3:05- G Block
Attendance Policy
Attendance matters! Students earn credit towards graduation by attending their classes each day. Follow these tips to ensure your attendance is recorded correctly:
If you are having trouble with your Chromebook or have any Tech Difficulties (computer, camera, charging cord, hot spot)...
Call 617-926-7730 and let Ms. Maguire, Attendance Secretary, know.
“My name is (your name) and I have (teacher name) right now and I am having Tech Trouble. Can you please let my teacher know?”
Check your Tech Cheat Sheet to see if you can troubleshoot it and/or contact Tech Services at Chromebook_Support@watertown.k12.ma.us.
For additional tech troubleshooting help, students can also contact:
Mr. Brewer - last name begins with A - Ke
Ms. Boudreau - last name begins with Kf - Z
If you are going to be late or absent from class due to an illness or appointment, your parent/guardian should contact Ms. Maguire in the Attendance Office (222) at 617-926-7730 or via email at maura.maguire@watertown.k12.ma.us. Remember: short term absences (3 days or fewer) require a parent/guardian phone call/email. Longer absences (4 days or more) require a doctor’s note.
If a student has more than 5 UNEXCUSED absences in a class, they will receive NO CREDIT in that class for the quarter. Cutting class, Zoom or in person, is considered an UNEXCUSED absence and will result in disciplinary action.
weekly learning plan
Students and families will be able to access Weekly Learning Plans for all classes from this website. These Weekly Learning Plans will be updated by 8:15AM every Monday morning and will include important information for students including:
Zoom links
Google Classroom information
Assignments for the week (synchronous and asynchronous)
Enrichment activities
Helpful Resources
Students are encouraged to set a reminder to check their Weekly Learning Plans each Monday morning!
WHS Material Distribution
WHS will be distributing textbooks and other materials to students for the 2020-21 school year on Thursday, 9/17, Friday 9/18, and Monday 9/21.
Please arrive for your scheduled time based on the schedule below.
Instructions for materials pickup:
Drive into the Teacher’s Parking Lot behind the school, follow the cones, and get in line. Stay in your car.
Please write your student’s full name, in large print, on a piece of paper and hold it up to the window. A staff member will read your student’s name and retrieve their materials. At this time the staff member will also collect the completed and signed forms (Free and Reduced Lunch Application, Chromebook contract, and Health Forms) from a previous mailing. You will then receive a bag containing your materials.
If you are walking please follow the instruction of the staff when you arrive. We suggest that if you are walking to bring a backpack or a suitcase with wheels since the textbooks are heavy.
Please maintain social distance and wear a mask.
We are also requesting that you return any materials from the 2019-2020 school year, including textbooks by Monday 9/14. Any incoming 9th grader that still has a Chromebook from Middle School should also return it by Monday 9/14. You will receive a new Chromebook when you receive your new materials. Materials may be returned to the high school from 8:30-3:00pm, Monday thru Friday, by ringing the doorbell at the main entrance.
athletic update
Based on the recent guidelines established by the EEA, DESE, MIAA, Middlesex League, and Watertown Public Schools, and approved by the School Committee on September 14, the following has been established for the fall:
The following sports will take place this Fall Season. Tryouts/practices will begin the week of Monday, September 21st. The number of participants per team, to ensure health and safety, is in parentheses (actual registration and interest will determine the final team offerings).
Varsity Boys Cross Country (25)
Varsity Girls Cross County (25)
Junior Varsity Boys Cross Country (25-50)
Junior Varsity Girls Cross Country (25-50)
Varsity Girls Soccer (20-25)
Junior Varsity Girls Soccer (20-25)
Varsity Boys Soccer (20-25)
Junior Varsity Boys Soccer (20-25)
9th Grade Boys Soccer (20-25)
Varsity Field Hockey (20-25)
Junior Varsity Field Hockey (20-25)
Varsity Golf (10)
Junior Varsity Golf
Football, Cheerleading, Girls Volleyball, and Girls Swimming have been moved to the MIAA Fall 2 Season, with tentative season dates of 2/22/21- 4/25/21.
Teams will participate in a 10 game interscholastic schedule (Cross-Country will have 5 meets). Varsity Teams will practice 3 times per week and Sub-Varsity Teams will practice 2 times per week throughout the fall season. Practice times are still being determined.
Sub-varsity games and most varsity games will be played on Saturdays in October and November (10/3 to 11/21) as well as Columbus Day (10/12) and Veteran’s Day (11/11).
Golf matches will be played during the week based on course availability.
Watertown will compete against one school in all sports on the same weekend to limit contact and exposure and to also help with contract tracing should it be needed at any point during the season.
There will be no school provided transportation to games, meets or matches in Watertown or in other communities.
Attendance at all practices and games will be strictly monitored. Every student-athlete will be required to answer 4 questions relative to COVID screening with their coach before the start of every practice and game during the 2020 Fall Season.
Only one fan per student-athlete at each Home and Away contest will be allowed. Masks and social distancing will be expected for all spectators.
The Fall online registration process will continue through Wednesday, September 16. The standard WHS User Fee of $200 will be collected at the start of the Fall season.
MASKS ARE REQUIRED AS SPECIFIED BY MIAA SPORT SPECIFIC RULE MODIFICATIONS for all participants and coaches at practices and games. To learn more about the sport modifications that MIAA has put in place to ensure the safety of student athletes, please visit the following links:
http://www.miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/SoccerModificationsFall2020.pdf
http://www.miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/GolfModificationsFall2020.pdf
Guidance Update
Click here for the latest news from the Guidance Department including information about:
Our new School & Community Resources Website
A Remote Learning Student Survey
Preparing for Remote Learning
9th & 12th Grade Seminars
College Rep Visits
Upcoming Events
9th Grade Orientation
Ms. Amanda Makosky and Mr. Mathew Rose are looking forward to meeting all the 9th-grade students and welcoming them into Watertown High School next week. We have 3-one hour presentations planned via Zoom. Students are broken down alphabetically by their last names for each day. Here is the session we have left:
Wednesday, September 16th @ 12:00 - 1:00pm - Last Name N - Z
Please join the Zoom Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/y3yvwgxt. The link will also be e-mailed to you prior to orientation! Please check your school e-mail!
If you cannot make the 9th-grade orientation, contact Ms. Boudreau at 617-926-7760 x36552 or email at annmarie.boudreau@watertown.k12.ma.us, and we will find an alternative method of communicating any and all pertinent information.
PTSO Update
Reminder: High School Remote Schedule
Upcoming dates
September 16 - Fall Athletics Registration Deadline
September 21 - Fall Athletic tryouts begin
September 22 - First Day of School
September 24 - Senior Future Planning Night, 6:30PM (via Zoom)
September 25 - 9th and 12th Grade Guidance Seminars begin
Ongoing (September 28-November 5) - MEFA Live (Virtual) Financial Aid Seminars (Visit mefa.org/events to register)