Grade Level News
School Newsletter
atertown High School Profile 2013-2014
School Code: 070-882
Mission Statement:
The mission of Watertown High School is to prepare its students to succeed in the 21st century by providing
educational programs that fulfill the rights and needs of all students. We are committed to fostering the skills,
attitudes, and habits essential for life-long learners in a technological, multicultural, and global society.
Consequently, through the interaction of the students, staff, administration, family and community, students are
encouraged, challenged, and expected to achieve their highest potential in order to become responsible citizens
and productive members of society.
District Officials
Superintendent:
Principal’s Message
Dr. Thomas Y. McDowell
Dir. of Student Services: Mrs. Donnah Rochester
Dir. of Curriculum:
Ms. Janet Parlato
School Officials
Principal:
Dr. Bridget Carnemolla
Assistant Principal:
Mrs. Jill Browne
Assistant Principal:
Mr. Daniel Tartarelli
School Counselors
Department Head:
Ms. Jenna Larkin
School Counselor:
Mrs. Megan Chunis
School Counselor:
Mrs. Jessica Fagan
School Counselor:
Mr. Eric Frenette
School Counselor:
Ms. Christine Halloran
Department Secretary:
Mrs. Sue Bohan
Athletic Department
Director:
Watertown High School is an academically rigorous, NEASC accredited,
public secondary high school in Litchfield County, Connecticut. With
just over 900 students in the building, we are extremely proud of the
opportunities that are students are afforded and the accomplishments
which they earn on a daily basis. Students are encouraged to
D.R.E.A.M. at Watertown High School: demonstrate determination,
respect themselves and others, expect excellence, accept
responsibility, and make good choices. The end goal, for all students, is
to pursue a post-secondary plan that fits the future they have
envisioned.
In order to facilitate the D.R.E.A.M. mentality, our students can design
their academic program with 14 different Advanced Placement level
and 27 honors level courses. Beyond the 14 Advanced Placement level
courses, students also have the opportunity to propose Independent
Study programs, with the intent of taking the Advanced Placement
examination in that subject area. Of the two graduates from the Class
of 2013 who did so, under the supervision of certified Advanced
Placement instructors, both of them achieved scores of 3 or higher.
Finally, students are given the opportunity to earn college level credit
during their time at Watertown High School, through early college
experience programs sponsored by both the University of Connecticut
and local community colleges. The advantages of earning college and
honors level credit in high school are endless and our students are
pursuing these opportunities as they arise.
Beyond the world of academia, Watertown High School has nine Varsity
level athletic teams, eight Junior Varsity and Freshman teams, and a
variety of extracurricular clubs and activities to ensure that our
graduates are well rounded and dedicated to all aspects of their lives.
We recognize the competitiveness in college admissions and, with that
understanding; we know that we have students with the utmost
potential for success. Thank you in advance for considering the
admission of Watertown High School graduates.
Mr. Roberto Medic
Dr. Bridget Heston-Carnemolla, Ed.D.
Principal, Watertown High School
324 French Street
Watertown, CT 06795
Phone: (860) 945-4810
Fax: (860) 945-2797
http://www.watertownps.org/subsite/whs
Grade Level News
Our Community
Watertown is a diverse community
of approximately 22,000
individuals and 8,000 households.
The town serves as a suburb of
Waterbury, an adjacent city of
over 100,000. The town supports
a primary school (K-2), two
elementary schools (3-5), a middle
school (6-8), and the high school
(9-12).
Our School
Watertown High School is a
comprehensive four-year high
school that currently serves 919
students.
GPA
Watertown High School provides a weighted GPA, based on final grades in all
subjects, with the exception of pass/fail courses, physical education, learning skills
courses, and musical performance courses. The point values are based on the
course level and final grade received.
Class Rank
Watertown High School only reports exact class rank directly to colleges,
universities, and scholarship applications. A student’s class rank is computed to
determine the relationship of his/her academic achievement to that of the rest of
the class. The highest ranking student in a class is placed number 1 and the second
highest ranking student is placed number 2. This process continues until the last
student in the class is ranked. In determining class rank, courses are weighted
according to level of difficulty. In calculating class rank, each final grade for a
course has points added to the grade:
Our Accreditation
Watertown High School was
initially accredited by the New
England Association of Schools and
Colleges in 1956 and was most
recently reaccredited in 2005.
The visiting NEASC committee
reported that “the climate of
Watertown High School is positive,
respectful and supportive.”
Our Faculty
Watertown High School’s 85
outstanding educational
professionals carry an average of
over 12 years teaching experience
in Connecticut. Over 70% of our
educators possess a Master’s
degree or higher. The visiting
NEASC committee specifically
commended our faculty for their
“dedication and resourcefulness.”
Our Curriculum
Watertown High School offers an
extensive curricular and cocurricular program including
academic, fine, and applied arts,
service, and special education
opportunities in order to promote
a wide range of student interests
and abilities. Students may take a
maximum of seven classes per
semester and must graduate with
a minimum of 23 credits: a single
year-long class yields one credit, a
semester-long class yields 0.5
credits.
Page 3 of 4
Level
Weight
Advanced Placement
20 points
Honors
15 points
College Preparatory
10 points
Fundamental Studies
5 points
Grading System
A passing grade at Watertown High School is a 70 or above. High honor roll
students achieve an average of at least 90 with no grade below an 85. Honor roll
students have an average of at least an 85 with no grade below a 75.
Graduation Requirements
Credits
Subject Area
4.0
English
3.0
Math
3.0
Social Studies (to include 2.0 of U.S. History)
0.5
Civics
2.0
Science (to include 1.0 of Biology)
1.0
Vocational, Business, or Fine Arts
1.0
Physical Education
0.5
Health
0.5
Computers
7.5
Electives
23
Total Credits
All students must meet performance standards in Reading Across Disciplines,
Writing Across Disciplines, Math, Science, and Technology. Standards can be met
through performance on CAPT tests or alternate assessment measures. Students
must also perform 20 hours of community service.
Our Students
Total Enrollment: 911
Grade
Female
Male
Total Per Class
9
117
117
234
10
117
126
243
11
99
102
201
12
124
109
233
206 members of our graduating class took the SAT. Their mean scores were:
Test Takers
Critical Reading
Mathematics
Writing
206
481
480
502
56 members of our graduating class took the ACT. Their mean scores were:
Test Takers
56
Writing
Mathematics
Reading
Science
Composite
22.4
21.3
22.5
22.4
22.3
97 students took 394 Advanced Placement examinations in 18 subject areas.
Advanced Placement Examinations
Honors Level Courses
Biology
Calculus AB
Advanced Photography
Advanced Drawing
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Advanced Painting
Advanced Ceramics
Computer Science A
English Language & Composition
Advanced Sculpture
English I
English Lit. & Composition
Environmental Science
English II
American Literature
French Language
Music Theory
Geometry
Algebra II
Physics B
Physics C: Electricity
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Physics C: Mechanics
Psychology
Integrated Science
Integrated Biology
Statistics
Studio Art 2D & Drawing
Biology
Chemistry
U.S. Govt. & Politics
U.S. History
Global Issues
Making of a Nation
Economics
French II, III, IV, V
Outstanding Accomplishments 2012-2013
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Spanish II, III, IV, V
Recognition for one of our Class of 2013 graduates as a National Merit semifinalist.
The C.A.R.E. community service organization was a finalist for the Cablevision “Charity Champion” competition, earning a $1,000
prize for the Waterbury chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
“Indian Info,” the Watertown High School newspaper, won second place in the 2012-2013 National Scholastic Press Association
Competition for "Best School Newsletter."
The WHS Theater productions (Fiddler on the Roof and Peter Pan) received 22 nominations for the 10th Annual 2013 Halo Awards.
These awards are sponsored by the Seven Angels Theater and simulate the Golden Globes for high school theater.
A student in our music program was selected to perform with the mixed choir in the 2013 NAfME All-Eastern Honors Ensemble
during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education in Hartford, Connecticut in April of 2013.
Four of our students in art classes received the distinction of “Honorable Mention” at the Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards
which took place in January 2013.
57 Watertown High School students were recognized by the State of Connecticut as “CAPT Scholars.” Six of these students also
achieved “Advanced CAPT Scholar” awards.
Members of the Class of 2013 were Accepted to the
Following Colleges, Universities, and Technical Programs:
Albany College of Pharmacy
Albertus Magnus College
American University
Arcadia University
Arizona State University
Assumption College
Bay Path College
Becker College
Bentley University
Binghamton University (Bloomsburg)
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Bryant University
Campbell University
Case Western Reserve Univ.
Castleton State College
Cazenovia College
Central CT State University
Champlain College
College of Charleston
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Colby-Sawyer College
Colorado State University
Concordia College (Bronxville)
Daniel Webster College
Devry University
Drew University
Drexel University
Duquesne University
East Carolina University
Eastern CT State University
Elmira College
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Endicott College
Fairfield University
Fairmont State University
Fisher College
Florida State University
Fordham University
Franklin Pierce University
Gateway Community College
George Washington Univ.
Gordon College
Hampshire College
Hartwick College
Hawaii Pacific University
Hofstra University
Iona College
Ithaca College
Johnson & Wales University
Keene State College
King's College
La Salle University
Lasell College
Lesley University
Lincoln Technical Institute
Long Island University
Lyndon State College
Manhattan College
Marist College
Marymount Manhattan College
University at Buffalo
Marymount University
University of Bridgeport
Marywood University
University of Connecticut
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
University of Delaware
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
University of Evansville
Mass. College of Pharm. Health Sciences
University of Hartford
Mercer University
University of Maine
Merrimack College
University of Mary Washington
Michigan State University
University of Maryland
Moravian College
University of Massachusetts
Mount Ida College
University of Miami
Mount Saint Mary College
University of New England
College of Mount Saint Vincent
University of New Haven
Naugatuck Valley Community College
University of Notre Dame
New England College
University of Pennsylvania
New York University
University of Rhode Island
Newbury College
University of Scranton
Nichols College
University of St. Joseph
Northeastern University
University of South Carolina
Northwestern CT Community College
Utica College
Norwich University
University of Vermont
Nova Southeastern University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Pace University
Wake Forest University
Pennsylvania State University
Wentworth Institute of Tech
Post University
Western CT State University
Pratt Institute
Western New England University
Providence College
Westfield State University
Purchase College
Wheaton College
State University of New York
Wheelock College
Quinnipiac University
The College of Wooster
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rider University
Worcester State University
Rivier University
York College of Pennsylvania
Roanoke College
Roger Williams University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers
The State University of New Jersey at New Brunswick
Sacred Heart University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Louis University
Saint Michael's College
The College of Saint Rose
Salve Regina University
Seton Hall University
Siena College
Simmons College
Southern CT State University
Southern New Hampshire University
Springfield College
St. John's University
St. Lawrence University
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at New Paltz
Stetson University
Stonehill College
Stony Brook University
Suffolk University
Sullivan County Community College
SUNY College at Brockport
Sweet Briar College
Temple University
Trinity College