Watertown Public Schools

Deanne Galdston, Ed.D
Superintendent

About Our District

WPS MISSION:

WPS creates an equitable, challenging, and innovative learning environment where everyone belongs and every student is empowered to shape the world around them.

WPS CORE VALUES:

Equity: We value the unique contributions of each individual student in our diverse school community and are committed to identifying and removing barriers to success while aligning resources with needs.

Excellence: We commit to high expectations by providing appropriate levels of support to develop students' confidence, independence, and resilience.

Community: We foster caring and collaborative relationships within an inclusive environment as the foundation for student engagement, achievement, and well-being.

WPS THEORY OF ACTION:

WHEN we ground all of our practices in equity and

          ● cultivate belonging and social-emotional wellness

          ● challenge all students with rigorous instruction while providing appropriate levels of support

          ● create a learning community that provides authentic, relevant, and engaging   opportunities

          ● utilize all available resources to address student needs

THEN our students will become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and lifelong learners who are resilient, confident, caring, intrinsically motivated leaders empowered to shape the world around them.

WPS VISION:

Learning Together To Build A Better Future

Resolution on Affirmation of Support for Staff, Students, and Community Members of Color

Whereas, People of Color face greater discrimination, structural discipline, lack of social support both in schools and in society at large;

Whereas, children, adolescents and adults in the Black community face higher rates of social and structural violence and racial discrimination,

Whereas, students’ and staff’s well-being is a fundamental concern of the Watertown School Committee and school boards across the country.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Watertown School Committee affirms its immediate support to promote the needs and safety of all staff and students who identify as a person of color,

And Be It Resolved that the School Committee of Watertown, Massachusetts urges state and federal policymakers to support laws and regulations that:

Provide appropriate and necessary safety measures for People of Color during a period of unrest in this nation, and guarantee the rights and safety of all those protesting for their lives.

Hold accountable all public officials, police officers, and all those who serve their community for their responsibility to equitably represent and protect the public, and also hold accountable any individuals and organizations that take racist actions or in any other way do harm to the Black Community and People of Color.

Enhance programming to provide schools with the structure and guidance needed to provide an anti-racist curricula and professional development for all staff to build understanding and awareness of the beautiful history and the challenges of being a person of color, and of the structural and endemic racism in the United States.

The School Committee gives its support to responsible civic actions by students, educators and others who are raising the visibility of this issue and seeking changes in public policy.