Farm To School
Watertown Farm to School Team Values Statement:
Watertown Farm to School (F2S) is a robust collaboration between our classrooms, our cafeterias and our community that educates, engages and empowers students and families to positively interact with food and the environment.
The weekend of October 20, 2019 six WPS educators and administrators attended the MA Farm to School retreat at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield MA. Watertown is one of 7 school districts from Massachusetts to receive the 2019-2020 Farm to School grant. We will receive year-long coaching on the implementation of Farm to School goals, focused on: Classroom, Community, and Cafeteria. This includes: Procurement of local foods, education - student engagement, and hands-on school gardens. Together our team composed:
at the Farm to School Institute October 2019:
Our Farm to School Team (L-R): Brandon Rabbitt (School Nutrition Director), Elizabeth Kaplan (K-7 Math/Science Coordinator), Kelly Graves (Grade 4 Teacher-Hosmer), Haynes Altobello (K teacher-Lowell), Judy Fallows (Elementary Garden Coordinator), and Stephanie Venizelos (Parent and Watertown's Community Wellness Program Manager)
WPS Farm to School Team in 2022 included 6 teachers - one at each school also known as Garden Teacher Leaders - Eileen Doherty (Hosmer grade 4), Haynes Altobello (Lowell K teacher), Evan Nabel (WHS), Jim Duffy (WMS), Zane Walsh (Cunniff teacher), Judy Fallows (Garden Coordinator) and Elizabeth Kaplan (K-7 Math/Science Coordinator)
Our 2024 Farm to School Team includes our 6 Garden Teacher Leaders as well as Elizabeth Kaplan, still our team leader, and WPS Nutrition Director Brandon Rabbit and Stephanie Venizelos (Watertown's Community Wellness Program Manager)