Hi WHS Students and Families,

Welcome to the 2026/2027 school year! I hope you've had a wonderful summer filled with some rest and time with friends and family. It's been a busy summer here at WHS with preparations for our new building taking center stage for most of it.

This newsletter includes information about the beginning of school and transitioning back to Columbia Ave. in our brand new building! Please take some time to sit and review this newsletter with your student, but know that no matter what information your student arrives with, we will catch them up to speed in no time. All students will engage in an orientation on their first day in the new space. This orientation will include tours, pictures, Q&A sessions, tech help, and time with their advisors.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. At the bottom of this newsletter, and all newsletters, are helpful resources to answer your questions and direct you to the right contacts. Also, please make sure to read our WHS Family Guide, as it is the best resource for quick answers to most topics.

We can't wait to greet your students on September 8 and start another great school year!

Go Raiders!

Joel Giacobozzi

Principal

We can't wait to welcome our students into our new building back at 50 Columbia Street! It's been a long three years at Moxley, and we are ready to begin our new chapter, together, at our state-of-the-art facility.

Please join us at our Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on September 2 at 3:00 PM. The building will remain open for public tours until 8:00 PM.

As with any new building, we are doing our best to make operational decisions but will also have to live in the building and adjust as necessary.

Students will be able to view their schedules through PowerSchool prior to the end of the day on August 27 (possibly before). Guidance counselors have reached out to their students about the process and will reach out directly for any specific questions they may have.

Please remember that schedule changes must be made before the first day of school (students must reach out to their counselor by Thursday, September 3) or during the add/drop period, September 17-22, after attending a full cycle of each class.

Students will be able to sign into PowerSchool using their Google credentials. Our district code is GRDF. Counselors will be available for assistance starting Tuesday, September 1.

Students will arrive to school at varying times according to the schedule below:

Our photography company is looking for 2-3 parent/guardians to help out during picture days this year, September 8 and 9, staying for the entire school day (8:30 to 3:05). As a thank you for helping them, volunteers can receive a $50 value underclass (grades 9 to 11) picture package or 50% off a senior portrait package. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Emily Ollero (emily.ollero@watertown.k12.ma.us). Volunteers must submit to the district's CORI process.

Events for the upcoming month will always be shared at the bottom of each newsletter. Please keep in mind these important dates in September and October:

Under the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) School Committee's Personal Electronic Device (PED) Policy, students may not access or use PEDs during the school day. Devices should remain in silent mode from the first bell until the end of the school day while students are in the school building.

To adhere to this policy, WHS will continue the use of the Doorman application. All students will download Doorman, an app that will allow students to keep their phone on them, but restrict the applications on the phone while the student is in school.

The new version of Doorman is more restrictive but still has the ability to unlock in the event of an emergency. Students will tap in to their first class as a way of taking their daily attendance. If a student has open campus during lunch or a study, Doorman will allow the student to unlock to leave campus.

If a student or family chooses not to use the Doorman app, but decides to bring their phone to school, they are required to lock their phone in the main office for the entire school day. If a student does not have a phone, or chooses not to bring it to school, parents/guardians will be required to complete our attestation form confirming this information. This policy is the same as last year.

Please review Doorman's privacy policy and parent information page.

Attendance is the KEY to success at Watertown High School! We urge both families and students to make daily attendance, both in school and in each class, a priority.

We will continue using our automated tardy-slip system this year. Students who arrive late will need their student ID or ID number readily available to receive their tardy slip. Student ID numbers can be found on ParentSquare under your student's information or by using this Google Form. Every student will receive their student ID in October.

Additionally, please review our attendance procedures:

Our Family Guide is a great resource to review general information about our school. It will always be available at the bottom of each newsletter.

If your student is interested in requesting a locker in the new building, please have them complete this locker request form. The form must be completed by the student using their WPS email address. Lockers are first come, first serve. If the form is closed, students will be prompted to add themselves to our waitlist.

Students must use school-issued locks as personal locks are not allowed and will be removed. Students can come to the main office to pick up their lock on the first day of school.

Seniors who would like to register for the in-school SAT on October 15 must complete this registration form (students should be filling out this form themselves) by September 25 and pay the $60 fee by September 30. Students can pay with a check, made out to the City of Watertown, or through an online payment form that will be available in September. Checks can be brought to Ms. Quibaka or to a guidance counselor in the guidance office. 

Students who receive a fee waiver have a reduced registration fee of $8 and may only pay by check. 

Please reach out to Mr. Dowd if you have any questions (ryan.dowd@watertown.k12.ma.us)!

Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has great ideas and plans for this coming school year. If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or staying up-to-date on what's going on, join their ParentSquare group! We would love to have more families join us this year.

If you do not wish for your student to featured in photos shared by WHS, please complete this Google form.

Student MBTA Charlie Cards expire each year. WPS offers both the unlimited pass and pay-as-you-go cards. For information on requesting and receiving a student MBTA Charlie Card, please review our information sheet.

Please review our updated open campus policy for the new building.

WHS fosters a strong sense of community and belonging. On the first day of school, we will be hosting a clubs and activity fair for all students to learn about our extracurriculars and have an opportunity to sign up. Our Clubs & Activities sheet is updated regularly and is also posted on our website.

Class dues are collected every year from every student. Dues are $15 with a $5 late fee collected after the deadline (announced by advisors). Payments can be made with cash, check, or online through ParentSquare. The online payment form will be available in September. These dues go towards all class events, gifts, scholarships, and more. Students who have not paid their yearly dues will, unfortunately, be turned away from class events. If for any reason your family needs assistance with these dues, please connect with your student's class advisor. All information will remain confidential.

Grade 9: Ms. Edwards & Ms. Antonellis

Grade 10: Ms. DePamphilis & Ms. Barker

Grade 11: Ms. Beall & Ms. Davis

Grade 12: Ms. Ollero & Mr. Marston

Graduates of Watertown High School are required to complete 36 hours (total) of community service. Information about community service opportunities will be shared throughout the school year. Students can reach out to Mr. DiSciscio (theodore.disciscio@watertown.k12.ma.us), our Community Service Coordinator, for direct assistance.

The deadline to register for a fall sport has passed. If your student would like to register for a sport, please contact Ryan Murphy, Athletic Director at ryan.murphy@watertown.k12.ma.us.

Fall game schedules have been posted on our website and practice schedules will be posted soon. All athletic information can be found on our athletics page on our website.

All fall sports, except for football as they have a game, will be taking their team photos on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at WHS. Please save this date in your calendar as it is required for all team members to attend! Coaches will share more information about the day with their teams.