West Bridgewater Wildcat PRIDE

Hello WB Students, Staff, and Families,

On behalf of the staff of the West Bridgewater School District, we would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season. We are truly grateful for our students, staff, and families, and we thank you for your continued support of our programs and our schools.

We hope you enjoy the information shared in this district newsletter, and we wish you a restful and joyful holiday season.

Warm regards,

Mark Bodwell
Superintendent

The West Bridgewater Police Department, West Bridgewater Fire Department, West Bridgewater Public Schools, and the West Bridgewater PTO are partnering up for our annual toy drive to gather toys and gift cards for local West Bridgewater families in need. (Ages of the children range from 5 to 17.) Last year, we assisted approximately 60 West Bridgewater children and families!

Please drop off items by Monday, December 22nd. Thank you to those who have already donated.

If you would like to donate, please drop a new unwrapped toy or gift card to the police or fire station lobby. Or if you have a school aged child, please have them bring the item to their school. There will be collection bins at each location.

Any questions, please contact Sgt. Pope at tpope@police.westbridgewater.gov or 508-586-2525 ext 5119.

SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY, January 31st at 10 AM: Special Town Meeting at the MSHS for the Elementary School Building Project. Child care will be available.

Come and tour the elementary schools on Thursday, January 15th from 5pm - 7pm, below is the schedule for the evening. We will have school and building project team available at each school to give you a tour and to answer any questions you may have. There will be tours at the times listed below and travel time to get to another school so you have the opportunity to see all 3 elementary schools.

5:00 - 5:30 PM Tour 1

10 minute travel time

5:40 - 6:10 PM Tour 2

10 minute travel time

6:20 - 6:40 PM Tour 3

Although we are not eliminating the Spring Street School we want to give people the opportunity to see the much improved educational setting for our PreK going into the Kindergarten wing

The Rose L MacDonald School and Howard School tours will focus on educational spaces that are outdated, and overcrowded as well as looking at the current conditions and limitations in the buidlings.

We hope to see you there!

We are excited to share 4 short (approximately 2 minutes each) videos to give the community more information on the elementary school building project. You can find the videos on the district website as well as on the building project website. Please take a look at this informative videos

The next Superintendent Coffee Hour will be on Friday, January 16th at 9:15 am at the Spring Street School. All are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. We will discuss what is going on in the district as well as provide the opportunity for the guests to ask questions. People can attend in person and there will also be a virtual link to join via a Google Meet. These meetings will be held once a month through the end of the year.

The West Bridgewater Public Schools Administration is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment for all students, staff, and families. To help guide this work, the Superintendent and building principals conducted a comprehensive review of district climate and culture through a series of surveys distributed to students in grades 4–12, staff members, and district families. We are grateful to the many individuals who took the time to respond and share their perspectives.

The survey was open for approximately one month (October 17, 2025 - November 16, 2025), during which multiple outreach efforts were made to encourage participation. These included emails to district distribution lists, newsletter postings, social media reminders, and announcements shared at School Committee meetings and District Coffee Hours. All responses were anonymous unless the respondent voluntarily provided contact information.

The collected data will be carefully examined by the Administration Team and presented to the West Bridgewater School Committee. Key findings will also be highlighted in the District Newsletter to ensure transparency and ongoing community engagement. The Executive Summary that follows highlights the district’s identified areas of strength and areas for improvement based on this year’s survey results. Through continued analysis and collaboration, we aim to use this information to guide meaningful progress and strengthen the educational experience for all members of the West Bridgewater school community. Building principals will also be reviewing building-specific data and will be analyzing the data and information specific to their building.

This year’s survey included three major components:

Part 1: Climate and Culture

Part 2: Bullying Intervention and Prevention Plan

Part 3: Annual Institutional Self-Evaluation of Educational Programs

Do you have questions about the project? Do you want more information? Do you want answers to burning questions that you are having?

Starting in late October and continuing through the Town Meeting vote (end of January), Superintendent Bodwell will be hosting a 30-minute weekly drop-in session every Thursday at 8am to discuss any questions or concerns related to the Elementary School Building Project.

These sessions are open to parents and community members who would like to learn more or share feedback. You’re welcome to join in person or via Google Meet using the recurring link below:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/izo-istp-gvp Please feel free to share this information with others who may be interested.

If you are looking for any of the past district newsletters from February 2022 to the present please click on the link below. We want to make sure you have access to all of them. If there is something you are looking for and cannot find just contact Superintendent Bodwell

This policy outlines the Competency Determination (CD) requirements for graduation from West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School, following updated Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regulations. In accordance with the elimination of MCAS as a graduation requirement, students will demonstrate mastery of academic standards through successful completion of certified coursework. Approved by the West Bridgewater School Committee: December 8, 2025. The entire policy is located on the District front page under "About Us". https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org/

Holiday Greetings from the Wildcat Cafe!

Food Assistance/Resources

We wish to remind families that support is available for anyone experiencing food insecurity and we encourage families to take advantage of local programs and school resources that provide nutritious meals and food assistance throughout the year.

FREE School Meals- All students in the West Bridgewater School District have access to free breakfast and lunch each school day through Massachusetts’ Universal School Meals Program. These meals help ensure that all students are ready to learn. Click on WB Food Services to find lunch and breakfast menus.

Families seeking additional support can connect with the following other programs that provide groceries, meals, and nutritional assistance. The following is a list of resources:

West Bridgewater Food Pantry. 457 Rear, South Main Street, Unit #1. Offers curbside pick-up on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. You must be a West Bridgewater resident. Register at wbfoodpantry.com or call (508)510-5274.

Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline- Call or text 1-800-645-8333. This multilingual hotline is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Project Bread staff can connect families to nearby food pantries, school meal programs, and SNAP application support. Project Bread FoodSource Hotline.

The Greater Boston Food Bank- Visit http://www.gbfb.org and hit the “Request Help with SNAP” button to fill out an application for assistance, or use it to search for local food assistance by ZIP code.

Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)- This program helps SNAP clients buy more fruits and vegetables for their household. Learn more at http://mass.gov/hip

Cafeteria Position available!

We have an opening for a part-time (12-15 hours/week) cafeteria helper at the MSHS. Food service experience is helpful but not necessary. Please call Ann Marie Grinder, Food Service Director, at (508)894-1220 or email agrinder@wbridgewater.com for more information.

Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Break!

Dear Wildcat Families,

Hold the alarm clocks! As the school year hits the pause button for the holidays, we're sending you a HUGE wish for a break filled with hot cocoa, cozy PJs, and maximum relaxation!

We know this is your time to recharge and celebrate, but we also know how sneaky that "winter slide" can be (it's like the summer slide, but colder!). To make the return to school as smooth as a fresh sheet of ice, we're encouraging you to sprinkle a little bit of fun learning fairy dust into your family time. Think of these not as homework, but as super-powered, everyday adventures!

Snuggle Up with a Story

Focus on shared moments, silly voices, and belly laughs!

• Hot Cocoa & Chapter Night: Declare a Family Read-Aloud Night! Grab the cookies, whip up some cocoa, and take turns reading a book or chapter. The rule? The silliest voice wins!

• Wildcat Readers: Share your literacy skills and how we use them in real life!

• Become a Kitchen Chemist by reading cookbooks and recipes while baking.

• Read labels and signs while on a Holiday Treasure Hunt (aka shopping).

• Belt out the lyrics to your favorite holiday songs (reading practice!).

• Solve the mystery of the New Toy Manual by reading instructions.

• Give the Gift of Words:

• Help your child be a communication superstar by writing and decorating holiday cards, thank-you notes, or letters. It's secret training for awesome spelling and penmanship!

• Start a Book Countdown! Wrap up 12–25 books (library loans count!), and open one each evening for a special holiday ritual.

• Be a Story Detective: Don't just close the book—talk about it! Ask questions that make them think:

• "Why did that character choose the weird shoe over the shiny one?"

• "If you were the author, what wild, unexpected ending would you write?"

• "Which traditions in this book are similar to our family's (and which are totally bonkers)?"

Fun with Numbers: Math is a Holiday Game!

Math is hiding in plain sight. Let’s turn those concepts into super-fun, real-world challenges.

• Kitchen Math Magicians: Baking and cooking are math playgrounds!

• Fraction Fighters: Have them measure ingredients and settle the age-old debate: "Is a half-cup of sugar more than a quarter-cup?"

• Time & Counting Ninjas: Set a timer for mixing or baking. Count out spoons and divide treats into perfectly equal portions.

• Recipe Remixers: Challenge them to double a recipe—the ultimate multiplication test!

• Budgeting Bosses:

• Give your child a small, imaginary (or real!) budget for a gift. They'll become an instant Price Tracker and Total Calculator.

• Play Mental Math Mania by estimating the cost of items in your cart or figuring out the change you'll get back.

• Board Game Boosters: Family game night is a secret math workout!

• Games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, or card games sneak in addition, subtraction, money moves, and cunning strategy.

• Even simple dice games are fantastic for counting and number recognition.

• Geometry Geniuses:

• Wrapping Wildcats: Challenge them to estimate how much paper is needed for a tricky box. Discuss the shapes, corners (vertices), and edges!

• Decoration Detectives: Estimate how many lights you'll need for the porch, or count the total ornaments on the tree.

The most important part of the break is rest and connection! Children run best on cuddles and consistency.

• While a little flexibility is fun, try to keep mealtimes and bedtimes somewhat consistent. A routine makes kids feel safe and helps keep the holiday stress monster away.

• Make sure to schedule 15–30 minutes of quiet, unstructured time every day—perfect for reading, drawing, or just staring out the window and recharging their little batteries.

• Visit a cool local museum, attend a library event, or simply explore a neighborhood park to encourage them to ask questions and learn about the world!

We can't wait to see our amazing students come back refreshed, excited, and ready to take on the New Year!

With the Warmest Holiday Wishes,

Debbie Llanes

January 2026

This notice is provided in compliance with State and Federal regulations for conducting Child Find activities in order to identify students who may be in need of an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services.

It is the responsibility of the West Bridgewater Schools to identify any child who resides in West Bridgewater and may have a disability. This includes students who are homeschooled.

West Bridgewater Public Schools is also responsible for the evaluation of those students to determine if they are eligible for special education or related services under Federal law, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or, Massachusetts State Law, 603 CMR 28 (Massachusetts Special Education Regulations).

West Bridgewater Public Schools is also committed to identifying children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services for three and four year olds with disabilities. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s development and would like to have him/her screened, please call Kathy Marble at 508-894-1236 to set up an appointment.

If you suspect that your child may need an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services, you may request an evaluation, at no cost, through the West Bridgewater Public Schools. Please contact the principal at your child’s school for information about referring your child for an evaluation. Contact information for each school is listed below:

Keitha Goulet: Spring Street School and Rose L. McDonald: kgoulet@wbridgewater.com

Mary Giuffre: Howard School: mgiuffre@wbridgewater.com

Christine Page: West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School: cpage@wbridgewater.com

If you have any questions or require any additional assistance, please contact Kathy Marble at the following: kmarble@wbridgewater.com or 508-894-1236

To access Hudl Livestream, Schedules, Go Fan Tickets, Sports Registration, Boosters or Gridiron information use the QR Code located below. Or go to the WB Athletics Website at the following link;

https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org/o/athletics

WB Athletics Apparel Store:

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Massachusetts - Sideline Store.

Congratulations to our Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Boys and Girls Soccer, and Volleyball teams for qualifying for the state tournament this year. Their success on the field reflects both their skill and their commitment to representing our school community with pride.

Congratulations to our SCC All-Stars, Honorable Mentions, and Sportsmanship Award winners. Alex Kelley and Ty Holmes were named SCC Gold Division MVPs. The following student-athletes were named SCC All-Stars: Alex Kelley, Brendan Marinelli, Drew Spadea, Ty Holmes, Gage Turner, Thomas Polidori, Armani Baptista Pereira, Ryan Nunes, Emma Pope, Haylee Krakowski, Brianna LaGrange, Reese O’Keefe, Kerri Gomes, Sophia Hulme, Aiden Delehoy, and Arianna Lone.

SCC Honorable Mentions include: Cole LeCornec, Sean Hancock, Sarah Diedrichsen, Allie Edgerly, Chloe Gauthier, Saniyah Docanto, Kyle Craven, Matt Walsh, Vange Hilchey, and Jasmine Paulsen.

The following student-athletes were awarded SCC Sportsmanship Awards: Cam Frates, Alexis Perez, Jacob Smith, Stacy Murphy, Kate Austrino, Keira Cogavin, and Aiden Mussari. Great job to all of our student-athletes for representing WB in such a positive manner.

In addition, our Unified Bocce Jamboree hosted several schools in the MSHS gym, creating a great opportunity for competition and inclusion. Seven student-athletes also attended the Sportsmanship Summit at Gillette Stadium, and our WB and EB Cheer and Football seniors shared a special breakfast before the Thanksgiving game, highlighting the strong tradition of sportsmanship between our schools. Great job to all of our student-athletes for representing WB with pride.

Week in Review

The winter season kicked off in exciting fashion as both our Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball teams opened the year strong, each winning their first two games of the season. The WEB Boys Hockey team also made an impressive statement to start the winter, earning a dominant shutout victory against Cohasset/Hull. On the track, both the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams competed hard in closely contested meets against Fairhaven, coming up just short but showing great effort, determination, and promise as the season got underway. The WEB Girls Ice Hockey team battled hard but came up short in a loss against the Barnstable/Upper Cape/Cape Cod Tech co-op. Despite the result, the team showed strong effort and determination throughout the game. Overall, it has been a strong and encouraging start for our WB athletes, and we look forward to continued growth, teamwork, and success throughout the winter season. Great job kicking things off on a high note!

Email: mbodwell@wbridgewater.com
Website: www.wbridgewaterschools.org
Location: 2 Spring Street, West Bridgewater, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 894-1230
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wbridgewaterschools