This past week offered two wonderful reminders of the creativity, joy, and resilience that live in our schools. Today I had the pleasure of attending the Watertown Middle School production of Willy Wonka Jr. for the final matinee, which followed closely on the heels of Cunniff Elementary School’s delightful performance of Finding Nemo Jr. on February 12. Just moments before the performance was about to begin, a fire alarm sounded and the audience, cast, and crew had to evacuate the building while the fire department assessed the situation. After about thirty minutes, we were able to return, and the students calmly stepped right into their roles and began the show as if nothing had happened. It was a wonderful reminder that in theater—as in life—the show must go on. The confidence, composure, and joy our students showed on stage were truly impressive and reflected the spirit of our schools, where equity, excellence, and community are visible not only in the classroom but also in the way our students support one another and rise to unexpected moments.
At the same time, events happening beyond our community can sometimes weigh on the hearts and minds of our students and families. As news continues to unfold about the conflict in Iran and the broader region, I want to acknowledge that events happening far from Massachusetts can still have a real impact within our schools. Many of our students and families have personal, cultural, or family connections to this part of the world, and the images and stories in the news can bring worry or uncertainty. While schools are not places where we take positions on geopolitical conflicts, we are places where we care deeply about the well-being of every child. Our educators and counselors remain attentive to students who may need extra understanding or support. If families have concerns about how their child may be processing what they are seeing or hearing, I encourage them to reach out to their child’s teacher, guidance counselor, or principal so that we can provide support. In Watertown Public Schools, our core values continue to guide how we care for one another during difficult moments.
Alongside these moments of reflection, there is also tremendous forward momentum across our district. As our community prepares to open the new Watertown High School and continues to benefit from our beautiful new elementary schools, planning is also moving forward for the future of Watertown Middle School. The proposal for a new-construction middle school reflects a thoughtful vision for a learning environment designed specifically for the needs of middle school students, with flexible academic spaces, opportunities for collaboration, and environments that support student wellness and belonging. The funding for this project remains pending final approval from the City Council, and we are hopeful about the opportunity to continue the strong tradition of investing in outstanding school facilities that support teaching and learning for generations of Watertown students.
We are also eagerly anticipating the move into the new Watertown High School. As the building nears completion, teachers and staff will soon begin preparing for the transition, including packing up classrooms later this spring in advance of the summer move. The opening of this beautiful new facility represents years of planning, community support, and collaboration, and it will provide extraordinary opportunities for teaching, learning, and student engagement.
Earlier in February, I presented the preliminary FY27 Watertown Public Schools budget to the School Committee. This initial budget maintains the core programs and supports the programs our students rely on, while also addressing several unavoidable cost increases, including special education tuition, contractual salary obligations, and operational expenses. At this stage, the preliminary budget reflects a projected gap of approximately $2.5 million, which the School Committee is now working to close through its ongoing budget deliberations. As part of this work, the district is using several responsible fiscal strategies, including applying state Circuit Breaker reimbursement, utilizing prepaid special education tuition where appropriate, capturing savings through staff retirements and attrition, and reinstating or adjusting certain fees, to help manage costs while maintaining strong programming for students. The School Department and the School Committee will continue deliberations throughout March with the goal of presenting a recommended FY27 budget on March 23.
The School Committee also considered and approved the recommendation to extend the current 7:45 a.m. start time at Watertown Middle School for one more year due to the temporary loss of field space during the reconstruction of Victory Oval, with plans to return to an 8:30 a.m. start in fall 2027. Maintaining the earlier dismissal associated with the 7:45 start time allows practices and games to begin earlier in the afternoon, which impacts both our middle and high school athletes while they share a limited number of athletic spaces. At the same time, we recognize that research continues to support later start times for adolescents and the benefits they provide for sleep, attention, and overall well-being. For that reason, this extension is intended as a temporary adjustment during the construction period while we work toward restoring the later start time.
Here’s hoping tomorrow morning’s wake-up isn’t too rough. Be sure to double-check those alarm clocks tonight and make sure the time has officially sprung forward!
Dede Galdston, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Watertown Public Schools
Willy Wonka Jr. Wows WHS
Cunniff Performs Finding Nemo Jr. Swimmingly
The Cunniff School Prowl Players put on a great performance of Finding Nemo. Congratulations to our performers and thank you to Ms. Schorr, Ms. Hallisey, Ms. Sadowski, and Mrs. Hager for all their hard work!
Lt. Gov., State Officials Celebrate Watertown Farm-to-School
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll led a delegation of state education officials on a visit to Watertown earlier this month, as part of a tour that celebrated Watertown’s Farm-to-School program and the new WPS Freight Farm.
The visit highlighted a larger statewide funding initiative that aims to support local food production for schools. In total, the state handed out $1.2 million in grants, with Watertown receiving more than $82,000.
Watertown’s funding supported the procurement and installation of the Freight Farm, a converted 40-foot shipping container outfitted to grow produce and crops year-round, thanks to vertical farming techniques, hydroponics, and a closed-loop system. The Freight Farm was installed over the fall and is now fully operational, growing food for Watertown’s school cafeterias, the Watertown Community Fridge, and introducing a new high-tech farming course at Watertown High School. It has the capacity to produce close to 1,000 heads of lettuce per week.
Students led the Lt. Governor and officials on a tour of the Freight Farm and explained how it is increasing their educational opportunities. As part of the high-tech farming course, students are learning about the environment, important plant processes, the physics of light, energy consumption, and the chemistry needed to grow grops effectively through managing two eight-week growing cycles. Students are exploring concepts they have learned in their biology and physics classes, while also learning important chemistry topics and how to apply their knowledge in a hands-on, practical setting.
The addition of the Freight Farm boosts Watertown’s standing as one of the Farm-to-School leaders in Massachusetts. The WPS Farm-to-School program provides food for school cafeterias, while also providing access to school garden spaces, where students engage in hands-on learning by growing vegetables, developing maintenence skills, and composting.
As part of the visit, the Lt. Governor joined Watertown officials and state officials for a press conference and lunch at the Lowell Elementary School, where they discussed the importance of strong school nutrition programs and increasing educational opportunities across the board for students in Watertown and Massachusetts. The event was catered by Watertown High School’s culinary students.
Introducing Bailey
Big news! Hosmer Elementary School is preparing for the arrival of Bailey, the new school resource dog.
Bailey is a labradoodle and is currently training at Auntie Dog Training Studio to be a comfort dog. Bailey lives with his handler and Hosmer social worker Cheryl Wermer. He will graduate his training in the fall and will join Hosmer in an official capacity later this year.
With the addition of Bailey, we now have resource dogs at all three of our elementary schools. He joins co-workers Brady at the Lowell School and Bowie at the Cunniff School, along with Raider, the Watertown community resource dog.
Inside Watertown High School
The new Watertown High School is entering the final phase of construction! We are eagerly awaiting it's opening in September.
Gym
Auditorium (L) and Academic Atrium (R)
Media Center
WHS Students Provide Community Health Clinic
Last week, Watertown High School medical assisting students put on a free heart health clinic for city employees.
Students treated more than 50 patients in the first three hours of the clinic alone. They put their classroom studies to the test by checking patients vital signs, checking vision, screening blood pressure, and drawing blood to test blood type, glucose levels, cholesterol, and more.
Even community resource dog Raider stopped by for a checkup!
Building a Community of Upstanders
The Department of DEIB continues their upstander training, working with students on developing emotional regulation skills and how to speak up when they see something wrong.
On Friday at the Hosmer, DEIB staff met with students in a circle and worked on the CALM Method. This stands for:
Call out
Ask after
Let someone know
Make an exit
As part of an icebreaker, students also shared which superpower they wish they could have and why.
Bandarama!
Band students of all ages took over the Watertown Middle School gym last Thursday for the annual Bandarama event. As always, it proved to be one of the musical highlights of the school year. Congratulations to scores of young Watertown musicians who put on another excellent show.
One of the standouts from this year's program was a performance of Coldplay's Viva La Vida. Click the link below to watch our musicians shine!
A busy winter sports season is winding down for our Raiders teams and we once again are celebrating many accomplishments across the board.
Girls basketball and boys hockey both earned playoff berths and saw their seasons come to an end with first round losses to Lynnfield and Shawsheen, respectively.
Watertown wrestling turned out two All-States competitors, Jimmy Shrestha and Fahad Khan. Shrestha picked up his 100th career win this weekend.
Watertown High School is seeking community professionals, parents, and students to serve on Program Advisory Committees for our career and technical education programming.
The Program Advisory Committees meet twice per year and advises faculty about curriculum and equipment for the Medical Assisting, Pre-Engineering, Digital Media Communications, and Early Childhood Education & Care pathway programs.
Please email the CTE Director at laura.alderson@watertown.k12.ma.us for more information.
Summer Explorations Registration
Registration is now open for the Summer Explorations program, a safe, fun, and engaging summer program for elementary school students offered by Watertown Community Education, a department of Watertown Public Schools.
This program is available to students entering grades K - 5 in September 2026 at the Cunniff, Hosmer, and Lowell Schools.During the program, students will engage in hands-on activities including arts and crafts, STEM, sensory, and critical thinking projects --- all related to the week’s theme. Students will also enjoy various social, movement, and creative activities such as sports, music and dancing, and spend plenty of time outdoors. In addition, when possible, our program may include on-site enrichment programs and experiences as well as local field trips.
The 2026 Summer Explorations Program will run from Monday, July 6, 2026, through Friday, August 14, 2026.
Watertown Polar Plunge raises thousands for Special Olympics
Watertown High School joined the larger Watertown community in this year's Special Olympics of Massachusetts Polar Plunge at Arsenal Yards.
Three WHS teachers and 10 students raised more than $600 for Special Olympics by jumping into a frigid portable pool. In total, more than $14,000 was raised by the Watertown community.
Thanks to our plungers, including student team captains Hasnain Ali and Ruslan Lavrishin, and faculty plungers Mr. Boyd, Mr. Mayer and Mr. Cooke.
Scenes from Around Our Schools
Selenelion lunar eclipse captured over Hosmer
100th day celebrations
Reading to Bowie at the Cunniff
Decades day at WMS
Dress up as teachers day at WMS
Professor Bugman visits Hosmer 1st graders
Upcoming Events
Budget Committee of the Whole meetings
March 9, 2026, 5:30PM, Lowell Learning Commons.
March 16, 2026, 5:30PM, Lowell Learning Commons.
Spring Music Concert
March 12, 7 p.m. at Watertown Middle School
Featuring WMS choral ensembles and the WHS rock ensemble.
