School Committee approves out‑of‑state field trips to Canopy Lake Park in Salem, N.H.
Summary
The Watertown School Committee unanimously approved two long‑standing out‑of‑state field trips for middle school students to Canopy Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire; committee members asked about educational value during discussion.
The Watertown School Committee voted unanimously May 19 to approve two long‑standing out‑of‑state field trips to Canopy Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire: a middle‑school eighth‑grade field trip (for students not attending the Washington, D.C., trip) during Watertown Week and a sixth‑grade field trip.
School leaders described the outings as traditional, long‑running activities that resumed after being suspended once for COVID. Committee member Rachel Kaye asked about the educational value; a presenter replied the trips build relationships, supervised interactions with a wider public and long‑standing school traditions that connect students across year cohorts.
Vote and procedure: A motion to approve was made, seconded and passed on a roll call: Lisa Capocha (yes), Rachel Kaye (yes), Jessica Middlebrook (yes), Mark Sedaris (yes), Sandra Foley (yes) and Amy Donahue (yes). The meeting record shows no abstentions. The trips were approved as presented.
Ending: The administration will proceed with planning the trips under existing field‑trip procedures; additional details (dates, chaperone ratios, transportation and parent consent forms) were not specified during the meeting.
