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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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Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

Greetings,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the families who were able to attend the DIB Council last night. It was a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to critical thinking and to listen to how our curriculum instruction affects our students. The case study we discussed was incredibly insightful, and it was inspiring to hear the personal stories of those present as former students and parents. This conversation was an excellent beginning to what I hope will be many more discussions in the future. Learning about history from the perspectives of those who lived through it is essential to gaining a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

We received feedback from a number of parents, but it is likely that we did not hear from everyone who would have liked to contribute. Furthermore, we were not able to explain all the changes we made to our unit of study prior to launching the first lesson. One of the most significant adaptations was that we spent a week exposing the students to the rich culture and history of Black Africans. Through this exploration, we wanted to demonstrate the depth and complexity of the Black experience, which predates colonization in America by many centuries.

As educators, we wanted to create a new entry point that celebrates African culture, while also acknowledging the truth of enslavement. Through this unit, we focus on the strength, resilience, and community-centricity of African people. We emphasize the deep sense of family and the inspirational rebellion and achievement that has come out of the African diaspora. By doing so, we hope to create a more comprehensive understanding of African history and culture.

This new launching point was made possible by the bravery of a student, the thoughtfulness of a teacher, our curriculum coordinator, and the DEI Director. After last night's discussion, I am confident that we are now in a better position to do even more meaningful work in the future.

Lowell appreciated the opportunity to host last nights DIB meeting.

Stacy

Just a friendly reminder that we will have our January ABC Meeting on Monday, January 30, from 530-630. The zoom link is below.

Have a great weekend,

Kimberlee Henry

Topic: Anti-Bias Coalition
Time: Jan 30, 2023 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/84933897564?pwd=WnAxMDEyUXVwcytqWC96WkNwK1M1dz09

Scenes from the first day of the Lunar New Year 2023, the Year of the Rabbit. People around the world ushered in the new year with displays of fireworks, family get-togethers, temple visits, and street festivals. Collected below are images from several countries where revelers welcomed the Year of the Rabbit.

Alan Taylor, Photos from the Atlantic

Hola familias,

Happy New Year 2023! We hope you are all doing well and staying healthy!

We are starting the year with the culmination of projects from Unit 1 across all grades and we are starting Unit 2. In kindergarten, we are starting Unit 2 "My Body and My Clothes"; in first grade, students finished a book about the Lowell School. In second grade, we finished Unit 1 about "My School" and we are starting Unit 2, "My Home Life." In third grade students finished presenting their projects "All About Me" from Unit 1 and we are starting a mini unit about the alphabet. In fourth and fifth grade, we wrapped up Unit 1 with interviews students practiced in the classroom.

We look forward to continue learning and practicing Spanish with your child(ren)!

Saludos,

Señora Quesada & Señora Mitchell

In the month of January, the K-5 P.E. Classes were very busy being physically active.

The K-2 Classes exercised to the Snowman/Penquin and superhero videos, and played the Superman and Batman/Robin games working on fine motor skills. In addition, they played the Circle Dodge Roll game working on dodging and rolling skills.

The 3-5 P.E. classes played the Pirates of Caribbean, Battleship and Block'em games. The students worked within their teams cooperating, showing encouragement, listening and showing patience. In addition, they practiced throwing, catching and blocking balls, as well as developing offensive and defensive strategies.

Sincerely,

Ms. Donahue eileen.donahue@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms. Loguidice tina.loguidice@watertown.k12.ma.us

On Friday, February 3rd, you will receive your child's semester 1 report card and, for students in grades 1-5, their updated i-Ready diagnostic assessment results. These reports will be sent home with students via backpack and will provide you with information about your child's progress. It is important to note that the information from the teacher is a synthesis of many pieces of information, while the information from i-Ready is a snapshot in time. To help you better understand these reports, a list of frequently asked questions regarding Standards-Based Report Cards and i-Ready assessment reports has been provided. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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.

Anti-Bias Coalition
Monday, January 30, 2023 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/84933897564?pwd=WnAxMDEyUXVwcytqWC96WkNwK1M1dz09

SEPAC: General Open Meeting (In Person/Hybrid)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023 6:30 – 8:00PM

Zoom link below

:https://www.google.com/url?q=https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/85802586909&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1661957321651017&usg=AOvVaw0tOwqzf2eMjqVASFkFJyl7

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

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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

Registration for Waltham/Watertown Youth Lacrosse is open! We are looking for new and experienced boys and girls from grades K-8 to join our Lacrosse community. The Waltham and Watertown Youth Lacrosse organizations merged a few years back and we are looking to continue to grow this sport we love so much and know your kids will too.

The boys are a part of Mass Youth Lacrosse (MYL) which represents most towns in Massachusetts while the girls play in the Founders Girls Lacrosse League. Practices are at Waltham High one-to-two weekday nights (and/or Saturday mornings) depending on age group. Home games are played on Sundays at Waltham High School. Practices, weather permitting, will begin in March with games scheduled to begin in early April. If there are any questions please feel free to reach out to John O'Brien (jobrien32@hotmail.com).

The registration link is here: https://waltham.demosphere-secure.com/_registration

And be sure to follow Waltham Youth Lacrosse on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Waltham-Youth-Lacrosse-103060247927982

Thank you!

Waltham Youth Lacrosse

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