1

Dr V's Update - Almost the First Day of School

Central Office

August 28, 2022

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Dear Watertown Public Schools Students and Families,

 Welcome Back

As we count down to the first day of school we are ‘T minus 4 days away’! This past week has been filled with the hustle and bustle of open buildings welcoming families and students for orientation and building visits. This coming week, more ‘meet the teacher’ and professional development days for faculty are scheduled to kick off the year! At this point, all families should be receiving communication directly from their building administrators with school specific information regarding upcoming events and other important information. If you are not receiving any information, please contact daltonmi@watertownps.org and someone will assist you.

 Focusing on Attendance and Consistently Keeping our Students in School

I encourage all faculty and families this year to focus on building innovative practices to encourage strong attendance and highlight the importance of in person Learning. We know that it all begins by building relationships on the first day of school and it takes two. Research and experience tells us that students who are in school and attend well, have a better chance at connecting to their teachers and peers; finding relevance in school; and ultimately succeeding far better than those who don’t. The WPS will be focused on building relationships and we welcome our families to join in building partnerships together with us this year as we focus on accelerating forward!

 Student Handbooks - Building Consistency Across the District

This summer, administrative teams worked carefully to update student handbooks. Handbooks are helpful tools to educators, students, and families. They outline important policies, basic guidelines/rules, and can answer a number of frequently asked questions. In addition, all parents/guardians are required to acknowledge they have read the handbook and discussed its contents with their child in Powerschool via an electronic sign off. This sign off has been updated and will be monitored by Central Office to ensure everyone has completed their part in acknowledging our updated handbooks.  Our handbooks are modeled after the State approved CT Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Handbook template. 

  1. 22-23 JTPS Handbook

  2. 22-23 Judson Handbook

  3. 22-23 Polk Handbook

  4. 22-23 Swift Handbook

  5. 22-23 WHS Handbook

 The First Day of School

We cannot wait to welcome back all of our students! Please note:

  • Thursday, September 1, 2022 is the first day of school for all students in K-9 (Pre-K schedules come directly from the program). 

  • On Friday, September 2, 2022 all students in all grades will attend school.

  • Both days are early dismissal days. Please click here for 2022-2023 School and Inclement Weather Hours.

 Meet the Teacher Reminders

Polk and Judson:  Tuesday, August 30th from 2:00-3:00 PM to meet your classroom teacher

JTPS Popsicles on the Playground:

  • 1-1:25 PM:     Mrs. Cincogrono, Ms. Stevens, Mrs. Perrelli, Ms. Kaczmarczyk

  • 1:45-2:10 PM:     Ms. Kulmann, Mrs. Stentiford,  Mrs. Richo

  • 2:30-2:55 PM:     Mrs. Warycha, Mrs. Lambo, Mrs. Hurlburt, Mrs. DeSantis 

Bus Routes and the First View Bus App 

All bus routes are now available on our main district website 2022-2023 Bus Routes.

  • We strongly encourage ALL students to ride the bus this year. Riding buses helps with the flow of arrival and dismissal at all of our schools.

  • The first few days of school transportation are always a little slower than usual as our youngest students ride the buses for the first time and our drivers navigate updated routes. We thank you for your patience in advance. 

  • After the first full week of school is complete, we will utilize the First View parent bus app again this year. We wait until the first week is complete so if there are any adjustments to routes, etc. they are ironed out before the app goes live. More information regarding the First View App will arrive next week.

 Covid Updates

The goal is to maximize in-person learning to the extent possible for all students in a safe manner. With minimal changes to Covid related protocols, Watertown Public Schools will follow similar protocols to those at the end of school last year. Major takeaways from the August 2022 guidelines are as follows:

Mitigating Strategies

  • Employees and students should stay home if they feel ill.

  • Vaccination continues to be encouraged and is readily available to all employees and students by local providers.

  • Mask wearing continues to be optional.

  • Schools will continue to provide hand sanitizing stations and promote good hand hygiene practices.

  • Social distancing will be encouraged but remains optional.

  • Schools have test kits available and families are encouraged to test if they suspect Covid.

  • Covid positive individuals should isolate for 5 days and may return on day 6 with a mask from days 6-10 OR test negative 48 hours apart after day 5 and return without a mask sooner. Please contact your school nurse if you are Covid positive or do not feel well.

For a full review of our district’s updated Covid protocols based on the CDC (updated 8/11/2022) and CSDE (updated on 8/2/2022) updates please click below.

 Other Important Information Just a Click Away

 2022-2023 School Calendar

2022-2023 School and Inclement Weather Hours

2022-2023 Bus Routes

2022-2023 Covid Protocols (Updated August 25, 2022)

2022-2023 Information on Athletics

2022-2023 Health Assessment Forms (K-12) | PreK

2022-2023 Change a Bus Route Request Form

2022-2023 Change of Residence 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. V

 Important Date and Happenings

August 29 - Faculty Return to District for PD

August 29 - Regular Board of Education Meeting, 7PM

August 30 - Town Council Public Hearing regarding BOE Capital Improvement bond, 7:30PM

August 31 - Faculty Return to District for PD

September 1 - First day of school for students in K-9 / Half day only, teachers in PD in PM

September 2 - School for students in all grades / Half day only, teachers in PD in PM

September 5 - Labor Day, No School for Faculty and Students

 Events Around Town