A second conference that our students were invited to this month was the Massachusetts Association of School Committees' annual Day on the Hill! Students spent the day learning about a variety of topics, including how state budgets affect local budgets, funding disparities between rural, suburban, and urban schools, and funding challenges associated with decreased enrollment in districts.

As part of this event, culinary students took the lead in preparing and serving lunch for over 400 guests. This incredible effort was a collaborative showcase of talent, bringing together students from Chef Marston’s program alongside peers from 19 other vocational culinary programs across the state. Many chefs and conference leaders praised our program, noting that its quality and execution rival those of schools with full commercial kitchen facilities.

Capturing the energy and significance of the day, students from Mr. Riley’s Video Production class also attended and were granted exclusive media access. They documented the event in full, with a professionally produced video set, soon to be released!

Students from our National Art Honor Society, along with Mr. Saunders and Ms. Fitzpatrick, visited Gathering Waters Charter School in Keene, New Hampshire, to work with Marcy Schepker. Schepker is a tapestry weaver, soft toy maker, clothing designer, and educator with 50 years of experience! Together, they created a felted tapestry which will be displayed in our pre-K classroom at the new building! Their work is incredibly impressive.

Our Armenian class students designed and installed a project in celebration of Armenian Heritage and History Month. The idea of the project was conceived by Maria Ortiz Karakhanyan, a student in Armenian II. The design depicts a tree that stands strong with deep roots against the maps of Historic Armenia and Modern Day Armenia, while the trunk represents the strength, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of the Armenian nation. Each pomegranate, which is one of the national fruits in Armenia, showcases a cultural element with a caption. The Forget-Me-Not flower is the emblem of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and describes how each student honors his or her heritage, as well as the memories of their ancestors who lived through or were lost during the genocide. They are spread out around the tree, reminding us that survivors had to migrate to different parts of the world, where they built and sustained vibrant communities.

Watertown is a major center of the Armenian diaspora, with an estimated Armenian-American population of 7,000 to 8,000 - making up nearly a quarter of our town’s population and home to the third-largest Armenian community in the United States! We are proud to represent and celebrate our community and heritage through this meaningful project.

Here are all of our events and important dates for April! These are always available at the bottom of each newsletter and on our Save the Dates document.

April break is just a week away! Please remember that break is extended by one day this year, April 20 to 27.

In the next several days, families will be asked to review their student's course requests for next year and sign off on those requests. Please look for a ParentSquare notification from your student's guidance counselor for instructions on accessing these course requests and completing the form.

AP exams begin Monday, May 4! All students enrolled in AP courses will participate in testing. Here are some test-day reminders:

There is the last week for junior students to buy a Junior Cruise ticket! You can find more details on this document and buy a ticket through the ParentSquare form, posted by Ms. Ollero. The sale ends April 17 - no exceptions!

April vacation is a great opportunity to make progress towards your 36-hour community service graduation requirement!

Recent volunteer opportunities have been shared in the morning announcements as well as the Community Service Google Classroom (join code: kevmxwm). Students can also explore additional opportunities through the Watertown Helps Out community volunteer website, with many events beginning in May.

If students need any help in finding an opportunity, they can reach out to our Community Service Coordinator, Mr. DiSciscio (theodore.disciscio@watertown.k12.ma.us).

As a reminder, those who completed 100+ hours and would like to be recognized at Senior Awards Night (May 28) must submit all of their hours by May 1.

Please refer to the service form for full details.

For students and families of the class of 2026 who received information about the Koplik Certificate of Mastery in the fall, the deadline to submit the initial interest form is April 15, 2026. As a reminder, this program is a tuition credit at Massachusetts public colleges and universities for students who have shown academic excellence. Students were also reminded of this through email. More information about this program and the process to apply is available here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Dowd, lead school counselor and Koplik Coordinator, by email (ryan.dowd@watertown.k12.ma.us).

WPS is excited to partner with the Watertown Business Coalition for the 2nd Annual Community STEM Night on Wednesday, April 29, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at WMS!

The evening will include a variety of interactive displays highlighting STEM learning, student programs, career and technical education opportunities, and community partnerships, along with panel discussions covering local industry developments, innovative school-based initiatives, and career awareness in emerging fields.

Plus, check out the Little Local Conversations' recent podcast to hear about the wide range of STEM programs happening in Watertown Public Schools, including hydroponic farming, robotics, culinary arts, and student design projects focused on sustainability. The host speaks with three guests about these initiatives and the upcoming STEM Night!

Please join us at Diversity Night this Thursday, April 16, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at WMS! The night will celebrate the incredible diversity of our schools and town, featuring food, games, crafts, performances, and more!

The deadline to shoutout your favorite senior student at the All Night Party has been extended to April 27!

Shoutouts are $20 each and will be displayed at the party for students to read and enjoy throughout the night. You can pay with a check, payable to "WHS PTSO", with "Senior Shoutout" as the memo line. Checks can be brought to the main office or mailed to the school. You can also pay online with Give Butter and include "Shoutout" in the notes section.

Please email your shoutout message to whs2026senioranp@gmail.com and include the student's name, your name, and your message.

Check out the Concert Band's latest newsletter to see what they have been up to!

The Boys and Girls club is running a 3x3 basketball league this spring, starting next Tuesday, April 14, and ending on May 28. Entry is $10/person and open to all middle and high school students.

Players must create their own teams with 3-4 players, with the team captain registering the team using this form.

The end of the year is very busy for our grade 12 students! All event information, including award ceremonies and senior week activities, can be found here: Senior Events 2026.

Additionally, tickets for the Senior Prom and trip to Kimball Farm are now available to purchase through ParentSquare!

Make sure to add our spring band concert on May 7 at 7:00 PM to your calendars! Admission is free for all. See you there!

Course selection at WHS continues! 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students have been meeting with their teachers to discuss course placements for next year. The Guidance Department has met with students individually to review teacher recommendations and select electives for next year. To help guide these meetings, students have been sent a Google Form to complete in advance.

Students and families will be able to see all course requests in PowerSchool and will have the opportunity to request changes and move through the course appeals process (if necessary). A sign-off form will also be shared for students and families to use to confirm course requests for next year.

The resources below may be useful as students and families discuss courses for next year. Please reach out to your student's guidance counselor or teachers with questions.