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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

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Dear Families,

Our hearts go out to the people of Turkey and Northern Syria who have been affected by the recent earthquake. We understand that this natural disaster has caused significant damage and disruption to many lives, and we want to reach out to those affected and offer our support. Our thoughts are with the people of this region as they begin a long and difficult recovery. Here in Watertown, many of our families have family living in Turkey and Syria, and we are deeply concerned for their safety and wellbeing. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy and hope that they can find strength and resilience in the days ahead.

If we can be of any support during this time please contact our team. We are here to help and support as they try to process these difficult emotions. Please contact one of the following individuals.

School Psychologist: Kelley.starrett@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance 3-5: Brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us

Social Worker: Sheila.gomez@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance k-2: Melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us

Social Worker: Abbigail.killeen@watertown.k12.ma.us

or

Stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Qi.chen@watertown.k12.ma.us

Our thoughts and prayers are with you,

Stacy

The 2023 school attendance area (zone) policy is now in effect for incoming kindergarten students. This policy applies to all new students, except for those who have an older sibling already enrolled at Lowell Elementary School. It is important to read and understand this policy to ensure that all students are attending the school in their designated attendance area. Please take the time to read and understand this policy.

Attendance areas for the various schools of the town will be drawn up by the Superintendent

and approved by the School Committee. The primary considerations that govern the

establishment of a school attendance area are school capacity and transportation considerations.

Generally, students will attend the school in the attendance area in which they live.

In establishing an attendance area, the following general guidelines will also be applied:

1. Use of safe walking conditions consistent with the Committee's transportation policies;

where possible, major traffic thoroughfares and natural barriers will be used

for boundaries.

2. Honoring community of interest; where possible, school attendance zones

will incorporate community patterns.

From time to time an overcrowded condition in an existing school, the development of

new residential areas, or the opening of a new school may require the establishment or change

of previously established school attendance areas.

The Committee will confer with community representatives prior to setting new attendance

lines. However, the Committee's primary basis for judgment must be equity of educational

opportunity for all students rather than the personal desires of any one group.

The Superintendent is authorized to make exceptions to attendance lines for individual

children in the best interests of the student and/or the school. Exceptions can be made to support

class size, special programming and other criteria established by the superintendent.

The Superintendent may exercise this authority for any of the following purposes:

• Manage disparities in class sizes between schools and/or prevent or alleviate a condition

of classroom overcrowding utilizing Buffer Zones.

• Preserve family integrity, where two or more children from a single family are

of elementary school age and at risk of separation between schools.

• Assist families facing temporary dislocations or changes in their living situation. ·

Facilitate school construction or renovation projects.

• Provide specialized services addressing specific student needs.

• Address any other situation which the Superintendent deems to be an

extenuating circumstance.

Buffer Zones

The School Committee establishes certain "Buffer Zones", addresses on or near

certain elementary school district boundaries, as areas from which new students in that

elementary school district may be assigned to either one of the immediate elementary

school districts only when a material enrollment problem exists. Once a student is assigned to a

school based on the Buffer Zones, that school will be their school through fifth grade.

Subsequent assignments of siblings in a given family will be made to the same school.

All families of incoming kindergarteners or elementary students new to the district in Buffer

Zones who enroll in the Watertown Public Schools before May 15 will be notified no later than

June 1 of the final placement. Families living in Buffer Zones who enroll after May 15 will be

assigned on a space available basis.

Use of the Buffer Zones is only done when there is a material enrollment problem between

the two schools. With respect to the assignment of new families residing in Buffer Zones, class

size equity is the primary driving factor of using the buffer zones. Any use of the Buffer Zones

will strive for neighborhood continuity and cohesion. It should be accomplished with the

least amount of disruption to families and the local community.

To determine a material enrollment problem, the Superintendent will calculate the potential

class sizes at the schools using the established boundaries. When the superintendent determines

there is a material enrollment issue, it should be addressed through voluntary measures first.

These include use of family preferences within the buffers. Family preferences will be only be

granted where they help address a material enrollment problem. Finally, if voluntary measures

are not sufficient to address the material class size and enrollment issues, the Superintendent will

make assignments.

Buffer Zones can be found on the attached map.

The Superintendent of Schools shall have the sole responsibility for the assignment of

new families residing in Buffer Zones, in accordance with School Committee policy.

LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 71:37C; 71:37D; 71:37I; 71:37J

603 CMR 17.00; 603 CMR 26.00

CROSS REF.: JCA, Assignment of Students to Schools

Special Guest will be joining our School Site Council

Elizabeth Kaplan, Math and Science Coordinator K-7

Ms. Kaplan's departments have been working hard all year! Join our meeting to hear about all the latest news in Elementary Science and Math.

Learning for Grown-Ups

The podcast and article below include information about how to talk about race with children and childrens' awareness/understanding of race at various stages of development. Research tells us that children are aware of and responsive to racial difference as early as infancy. In our diverse community and world, children learn from our words, our actions, and our silence as they grow and navigate. The recent killing of Tyre Nichols makes these conversations even more important. I hope these resources are helpful to you and your family.

Talking Race With Young Children : Parenting: Difficult Conversations

subscribe to Parenting: Difficult Conversations podcast subscribe to Parenting: Difficult Conversations podcast Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape and hair texture. Here's how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children. A few things to remember: Don't shush or shut them down if they mention race.

npr.org

Please join your fellow elementary school families and students as we dance the night away during this fundraiser put on by the class of 2023. Concessions including pizza, drinks and snacks will be for sale. Dressing up a little is encouraged but not required! Please note this is NOT a drop-off event, all children need to be accompanied by an adult.

All participants are asked to register using this Google Form. Online payments ($10 for adults, $5 for students) are preferred so organizers can better estimate the number of participants. Cash will be accepted at the door ($10 entry fee for all ages).

Please email WatertownFamilyFormal@gmail.com with any questions.

A translation of the Google form can be accessed by right-clicking on the form and choosing “translate to English”. You may then “Choose another language” to have the document translated to a language of your choice.

Please join us for Watertown Race Reels this February! We will be screening the film The Color of Care on February 13th (see attached flyer).

We will be serving pizza starting at 5:45 and starting the film at 6pm. After the film (~75 minutes), we will have a post film discussion/activity. Hope to see you there!

In solidarity,

Kara, Teo and Nicole (Watertown Race Reels collaborators)

In-Person Special Event

I Science

Saturday, February 11, 1:00–4:00 pm

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA

Regular admission rates apply

Break out of the winter doldrums and let your inner scientist loose. Meet amateur and professional scientists who study and collect mushrooms, shells, insects, and minerals. Talk with experts who build telescopes, create chocolate, and grow carnivorous plants. Try your hand at finding bugs or exploring sand. Be creative designing an imaginary insect or crafting a button to display your passion for exploration. Watch a live ice sculpture demonstration in front of the museum. Enjoy hot cocoa and chocolate bars available for purchase from Goodnow Farms Chocolate. This popular annual event has something for everyone and is appropriate for children and adults of all ages.

Free parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

School Site Council

Thursday, February 16, 2023 6:00 – 7:00PM

Zoom link below

Description:https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/9052256560?pwd=RFQ3VHMvWU5uM3BLRlcxLzEzVndXUT09

Winter Vacation Week

February 20th-24th

No School

Holiday: Ramadan (Islam)

March 22 - April 21 - 2023

Holiday: Ash Wednesday Lent (Christian)

Wednesday, February 22

MCAS Infrastructure Trial (Time TBD)

Thursday, March 9, 2023

*************************************************************************************************

MCAS Dates for grades 3,4 & 5

ELA

Wednesday, April 4th

Friday, April 6th

Math

Tuesday, May 16th

Thursday, May 18th

Science

Only Grade 5 takes Science

Wednesday, May 24th

Thursday, May 25th

Announcement: Parents’ Recreational Softball League, Season 2!

We are currently in the process of organizing season 2 of the Watertown, MA Parents Softball League.

Season 1 was super fun, and we are expecting season 2 to be even better! For those who didn’t play last

year, the Watertown, MA Parents Softball League is a recreational softball league for parents of kids in

the Watertown schools. It is very relaxed and social and open to players of all skill levels. If we get

enough players signed up, teams will be school-based to give parents a fun opportunity to socialize and

build community with other parents at their kid’s school.

If you might be interested in participating, please fill out the Google Doc below.

For additional information please contact Jesse Fenichel at jfenichel@gmail.com

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesAmo1U2Kdqa6IgU6OL4D4S3bKih_Le9lXo2IsWM2pcHJfd

g/viewform?usp=sf_link

We live in New England, and whether we love them or hate them, snow days may be just around the corner. As such, please review the information contained in this section regarding school closure protocols. State law requires 180 days of instruction and also requires that any school closures (“snow days”) be made up before June 30. In the case of inclement weather or school closure for emergency reasons, information about school closures will be:

-Posted on the District’s website (www.watertown.k12.ma.us), the WPS Facebook page (@watertownpublicschools) and the WPS Twitter feed (@watertownschool)
-Emailed to parents and staff from the Superintendent’s office via the District’s messaging service
-Broadcast to the following stations

• WCVB Television (Channel 5)
• WHDH Television (Channel 7)
• NBC Boston (Channel 10 and NECN)
• WFXT Television (Channel 25)
• WBZ Television (Channel 4)
• WBZ Radio (AM 1030)

Some television stations provide a free text alert service notifying of closures and delays (e.g., www.fox25boston.com/weather/closing-login). We will post on the above locations as soon as the decision is made.

More detailed information can be found at this link.