Superintendent Hopes to Provide a Safe, Familiar Place for Watertown's Students

Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said Watertown’s Schools will return to business as usual on Monday, or as much as possible following the traumatic week that started with the Boston Marathon Bombing and ended with the capture of the second bombing suspect right in town.

Students react well to being in a familiar situation after such tragic events, Fitzgerald said.

“We are planning for a normal day,” Fitzgerald said. “Children like structure and if we provide structure and a safe place to be students will have a great day.”

Those students who need help dealing with the aftermath of the chaos in and around Watertown will have plenty of people to whom they can turn.

Watertown officials have received offers of help from councelors, social workers and psychologists from many school districts and private parties, but Fitzgerald said for now, at least, they will rely on those who work in the district.

“We are fortunate to have a good councilors working in the schools,” Fitzgerald said. “We want students to be with people they who are familiar to them.”

The schools are also offering assistance to parents who want to talk to a social worker, Fitzgerald said. (Click here for more information).

The week will not be completely a typical one, however.

The schools will have two district-wide spirit days this week. Students will wear red and black – Watertown’s colors – for the first one on Tuesday, to pay tribute to the Watertown Police and Fire departments and other first responders.

"We at the Watertown Schools are so grateful to the Watertown Police, Firefighters and first responders," Fitzgerald said. 

On Friday, the colors will be yellow and blue, Fitzgerald said, to look forward to next year’s Boston Marathon.