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Congratulations New Retirees
Congratulations New Retirees
Jacqui Becker–Olans, Stanley Elementary, Speech
Lillian Benson, School Psychologist, High School
Andrew Bernard, Waltham High School, Conflict Resolution
Ann Consoletti, Kennedy Middle School, ESL
Kathleen Ferro, Cafe, High School
Sandra Snow, Plympton Elementary, SPED
Sally Spagnuolo, SPED Para., Plympton Elementary
Lynn Summerill, Assistant Director SPED, High School
Mary Jo Vasquezi, Career & Tech Education, Secretary
Elizabeth “Betsy” Clark
Kennedy and Central, Family and Consumer Science
Joan Connolly
Title 1, South
Loretta Downey
Kennedy Junior High, Physical Education
Sally-Hilda Erickson
Kennedy Middle. Science
Mary Fobert
Waltham High School, House Office Secretary
Ann Kefalas
High School, English
Dr. Kongsuk Mantakara
Assistant to the Superintendent, Waltham Public Schools
James Papachristos
South Middle School, Science, former President of WEA
Graduates in the News
Julia Kern WHS 2015
Julia Kern WHS 2015
Waltham native Julia Kern (WHS ‘15) headed to Beijing with the U.S. Olympic Team to compete in cross country skiing. The daughter of German immigrants, the 24-year old is grateful to the Waltham coaches and teachers who helped make her dream come true.
From Waltham Channel
“I made the U.S. Team one month before graduating Waltham High School,” Julia said.
Retired WHS housemaster Rosemary Neville (second from left) helped her balance the demands of school and those of an emerging elite XC racer.
“Mrs. Neville helped me tremendously by working with my teachers to allow me to miss school for international ski races and training camps, while staying on top of my work,” she said.
“The community support was there all the way from the principal and mayor,” said mom Dorothee.
Daniel Hart WHS 1994
Daniel Hart WHS 1994
Waltham Police Department’s Behind the Badge focused on Dan Hart and the Drone Unit in a 6-minute interview originally posted around Thanksgiving.
Daniel’s parents are our colleagues Pat (Copy Center) and Liz (Food Services).
Colleagues in the News
Agusta Agustsson
Agusta Agustsson
Congratulations to retired Art teacher, Agusta Agustsson, whose quilt was exhibited in the MFA at their recent exhibition , Fabric of the Nation; American Quilt Stories.
Joe Salvo
Joe Salvo
Joe recently had a book published, (available through amazon) explaining what he went through after major surgery for the removal of a brain tumor.
Joe is also a graduate of Waltham High School, Class of 1970, After teaching in Waltham for 33 years, Joe has been happily retired since 2010.
Students We Remember and What They Are Doing Now
Matt Lampasona WHS 1990
Matt Lampasona WHS 1990
There are various reasons why teachers remember former students with fondness and respect. These reasons range from academic achievers to outstanding personal attributes.
One of those students who will always evoke respect is Matt Lampasona. Matt has always exhibited his concern for others.
Matt attended Fitzgerald Elementary School and Central Middle School, graduating from Waltham High School in 1990. He continued his education graduating from Suffolk University in 1995. In 2006 Matt received a master's degree in Business Management from Emmanuel College. He didn't stop there earning a degree in Mental Health Counseling from The University of Massachusetts in 2014.
Currently Matt is a general contractor in addition to working 34 hours a week as a Residential Counselor in Belmont.
Matt continues to make his mark as an outstanding product of Waltham Public Schools.
Submitted by Ellen MacDonald
City of Waltham Open Enrollment
City of Waltham Open Enrollment
The City of Waltham Open Enrollment period is held the first two weeks of May. Monthly premium rate changes are effective in June for coverage starting July 1st.
Our Health Insurance Plans and Monthly Premium Rates are available on the City of Waltham website under Human Resources Department/Insurance
https://www.city.waltham.ma.us/human-resources-department/pages/insurance-0
Main Line: 781-314-3270 email - Benefits@city.waltham.ma.us
You may want to update the information under Social Security. Retirees located outside of Waltham are often referred to the Social Security Office Locator to find their local office. Many retirees are Medicare primary and may find it helpful to have the site and phone number listed as well. www.ssa.gov
Search Social Security Office Locator 1-800-772-1213
Social Security, Waltham Office 135 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA 02452 1-877-457-1737
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To ask Medicare specific questions please contact Medicare directly at:
www.medicare.gov 1-800-633-4227
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A great resource we have at the City of Waltham Council on Aging is the SHINE program. SHINE counselors are available to help with Medicare and health care insurance options. To schedule appointments in Waltham 1- 781-314-3499
or SHINE Counselors Massachusetts shinema.org
shine@state.ma.us 1-800-243-4636
Contact Catrina Rueckwald in the Treasurer’s/Payroll Department if you have any questions or would like additional information to help keep our retirees current on our information.
Direct: 781-314-3268 Benefits/Health Insurance: 781-314-3270
Waltham High School-- The Present
Waltham High School-- The Present
Medical Health Assisting Program
Career and Technical Education
Recently one of our members had the opportunity to meet a few current Waltham High students who are a part of a Nursing Program begun this year at the high school.
Such a program existed years ago and was discontinued for a variety of reasons. Recently, maybe in part, because of COVID a new program was instituted. While a patient for a few weeks in a local nursing/rehab facility this colleague was introduced to these students. Their program attracted attention because patients seeing a young, pleasant smiling face on a regular basis is uplifting for them.
The students get an opportunity to see some of the daily activities that they will be involved in if they follow their career path to fruition. Under the guidance of their instructor, Mrs. Fournier, they are getting a good opportunity to realize how important their demeanor, as well as their knowledge is to the residents.
Further, technology is a challenging addition to the health care curriculum. The Occupational Education Program utilizes the most updated technology. Our schools need these programs to prepare our students for their career.
And if COVID has taught us nothing else it has made us all aware of the need for additional well-trained nurses.
A word from Amy (Ferolito) Gullotti , BSN, RN, (Class of ’87) now an Intensive Care Nurse at Emerson Hospital. “The Health Careers Program was one of my most enjoyable memories of Waltham High School. The class, led by Ms. Andrews gave me a true taste of what a career in nursing or any health care field would be like. We discussed human anatomy and physiology, learned basic skills such as first aid, medical terminology and more advanced skills such as CPR, taking blood pressure and vital signs. In year two we were able to apply those skills in various nursing homes and health facilities in Waltham. This program, I believe, helped me decide at an early age what I wanted to study in college. I felt better prepared than others in my first year of nursing school and have been enjoying my career as a critical care nurse ever since.”
Thank you to Judy Ferolito and her daughter, Amy (Ferolito) Gullotti for sharing their experience with us.
Waltham High School-- The Future
Waltham High School-- The Future
Click on the link for the recent Waltham Historical Society’s Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Weaving Stories of History and Diversity into the New Waltham High School.
The MTRS recently announced their website's new MTRS News section, is now accessible on their homepage. It allows quicker publishing of important updates.
They will continue to mail smaller and more efficient critical news mailings to members who do not have an email address.
As always, “Would you like to join our newsletter committee? We meet about 3-4 times a year.”
We Need You!
We Need You!
A new initiative of Retirees’ Corner is to reach out to recent and not-so-recent retirees to see if they might be willing to share a profile that we can add to subsequent newsletters. If you want to be part of this, below is a sample of the kind of information you could forward to us at retireescorner@gmail.com.
NAME
SUBJECT/SCHOOL
YEARS OF SERVICE
What did you enjoy most about your time in the WPS?
Who helped you the most in your career and why? (We may contact you to provide a longer article on your mentor.)
What are your plans for retirement or what has been most rewarding or unexpected about retirement?
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