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June 21st Update
Best Wishes to the Class of 2016!
We'll miss you.
Classes of 2017, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22: We'll See You in September!
Now roll out those lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer!
Waltham Independence Day Festivities
The Daily News Tribune, June 30, 2009
The Waltham Celebration Committee and Mayor Jeannette A.
McCarthy announce that they will be hosting two events for this year's
Fourth of July Celebration. There will be a family event featuring free
children's rides, pony rides, animal shows, music, food, drinks, and
much more Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Prospect Hill Park,
314 Totten Pond Road. That evening at Leary Field, off Bacon Street, the
Reminisants will be performing at 5:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at
9:30 p.m. For additional information, call 781-314-3100.

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Wednesday, September 2nd: First Day of
New School Year
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Friday, Sept. 4th: No School
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Mon. Sept. 7th: No School - Labor Day
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Monday, September 21st: FitzGerald
School Council meeting
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Thursday, September 24th: FitzGerald
Open House
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Tuesday, September 29th: FitzGerald
PTO meeting
Waltham Public 2009 - 2010 School
Year Calendar
2009 Historic Waltham Essay Contest
The National Archives and Records Administration is conducting their third
annual essay contest "Waltham's History - The Nation's History". Students
entering grades 4-8 and who live in Waltham are eligible to participate.
Visit
Historic Waltham for
2009 Essay Contest details and
memories from the 2008 contest.
Second Grade Multi Dimensional Project online
During the month of February, Mrs. Ebert's second graders learned about
many influential Americans. In the library they learned how to
research with Ms. Finnerty. Back in the classroom, Ms. Kersey
helped them to put the results of their research into sentences.
Then Ms. Crimlisk introduced the KidPix program to the children and they
brought their stories to life in this amazing audio slideshow.
Click here to view the presentation.

FitzGerald students join the storm tracker team
by Jeff Gilbride, The Daily News Tribune, April 15,
2009
Lisa Cassidy Photo
Students at
Fitzgerald Elementary
yesterday endured blizzards, hurricanes and tornadoes, but at the end of
the day were no more the worse for wear. Through the wizardry of
computers, television meteorologist Harvey Leonard treated fourth- and
fifth-graders to the fickleness of New England weather.
The visit fit in with the school's
curriculum. Most fourth- and fifth- graders have already started or are
just beginning a unit on weather.
With the help of computer imagery he uses as part of his regular
forecasts, Leonard taught students about the science behind weather
patterns, such as the formation of tornadoes and hurricanes.
more...
FitzGerald in the News Archives:
Dr
Seuss / Read Across America Day at FitzGerald School
On March 3rd, FitzGerald School celebrated Dr. Seuss / Read
Across America Day with Kathleen Finnerty, FitzGerald School Librarian!
WCAC TV was on hand to cover the festivities.
Click here for a four minute WCAC TV video posted on
YouTube. Here are some more links on Dr. Seuss Day:
Campbell's
Labels for Education
Collecting and redeeming labels couldn't be easier! Just
Clip and save
Campbell's Labels for Education labels from participating
products. Bring the labels to school, and FitzGerald School will
redeem them for free educational equipment.
Click here to visit our Free Money page
to learn more about Campbell's Labels for Education as well as programs from Target
(Take Charge of Education), Tyson Project A+ and General
Mills (Box Tops for Education) to easily help FitzGerald School.

Click
here for the text of Mrs. Shull's December 2008 FitzGerald School Improvement Plan presentation
to the Waltham School Committee . |
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Peter Azar looks back on year one at
helm of Waltham schools
The Daily News Tribune, July 2, 2009
Following a challenging first year as
head of Waltham public schools, Superintendent Peter Azar
reflected on the challenges and changes he's experienced over the last
11 months. Azar also said he hopes to address several areas of
concern during the 2009-10 school year, including reorganizing the
structure of his administration, redistricting, and the school budget.
more...
Waltham school officials, mayor
consider redistricting
The Daily News Tribune, June 28, 2009
With a growing family population in the
city, parents and school officials are looking closely at how
redistricting could effect classroom sizes.
Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has requested
the issue of redistricting be placed on the School Committee's agenda
this September and many hope to have new district lines drawn and in
effect by the following school year.
more...
5 to run for 3 Waltham School Committee seats
The Daily News Tribune, June 26, 2009
Two incumbents and three challengers
are vying for three open seats on the School Committee for the term
beginning Jan. 3. Incumbents Susanne McIvor and Robert Cincotta
will vie against Susan Burstein, a Waltham native and chief budget
officer for the city of Newton David Matayabas, a father of a
Fitzgerald Elementary School student and a Cub Scout leader, and Lisa
Limonciello, a mother of two and co-president of the Whittemore
Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization. Incumbent Michael
O'Halloran pulled nomination papers, but yesterday said he's out of
the race.
more...
School tours help calm students nerves
The Daily News Tribune, June 26, 2009
Fifth-graders from across the district
poured into McDevitt and Kennedy middle schools yesterday for their
first glimpse of sixth grade "Come on in," said outgoing
Assistant Principal Debra Gately, who held open the front door at
McDevitt as students filed in from school buses. "Welcome to
McDevitt."
more...
Stanley: How the school budget was restored
Boston
Globe, June 23, 2009
Two weeks ago I used this space to try
to clear up some of the confusion over how money for the school
department could be restored to the budget. I had no idea that it
would spark such activism that resulted in my opportunity to move on
Monday night for unanimous restoration of the School Department’s
budget. I think congratulations are in order for the parents, teachers
and School Committee members who mobilized to bring about the
successful results.
more...
Dedham Middle School gets a new principal
The Daily News Transcript, June 25, 2009
After 16 years as a teacher and
educator in Waltham, Debra Gately says leaving her hometown to become
the new principal of Dedham Middle School is "somewhat a leap of
faith." Gately, who has been the shared assistant principal of
Waltham's two middle schools for the past two years, officially
assumes her post July 1, but will actually start work in Dedham July
6. For her first two weeks she will work full-time during the day, and
put in four additional hours, from 3 to 7 p.m., in Waltham.
more...
City Council approves $198. 2m budget
The Daily News Tribune, June 23, 2009
The City Council last night approved a
$198.2 million budget that included a restoration of some $3.4 million
for schools. The council's vote to restore the $3.4 million for
schools cannot be vetoed by Mayor Jeannette McCarthy. Some
councilors said the only reason they were voting for the overall
budget was because they wanted to see the money restored to the
schools.
More...
Related Story:
City Council passes $198m budget, restores $3.4m
to School Department
Boston
Globe, June 23, 2009
School Committee asks council to
restore budget
The Daily News Tribune, June 18, 2009
The School Committee last night called
upon the City Council to restore funding to the district's budget for
the next fiscal year to save faculty and staff whose jobs are on the
chopping block. Members voted to ask the council to restore
roughly $3.4 million to the district's budget.
Related Story:
School Committee votes to restore $3.4 million
to budget
Boston Globe, June 18,
2009
Waltham schools launch new web site
The Daily News Tribune, June 22, 2009
School officials say the new Waltham
public schools Web site will unify the district online.
Officially launched last Monday, the new site easily allows parents to
browse school calendars, provides access for 50 school officials to
manage content and has a shorter address -
www.walthampublicschools.org.
Plans are now in place to train administrators and
directors on how to use the site in July and August with hopes of
having it in full use by the coming school year.
more...
Waltham schools honor retirees
The Daily News Tribune, June 12, 2009
Each year, school officials honor those
retiring in a special ceremony that brings together old and new
teachers and faculty members. Yesterday was no different, with
one director, one house-master, one guidance counselor and three
teachers marking the end of their careers in Waltham.
more...




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