WBMSHS Principal Update to Families

Dear WB Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Please take some time to read it and learn about all the great things happening at the MSHS and the community. I hope it can provide you with some important information and give you a glimpse into what we are doing throughout the school year.

As always please feel free to reach out to us at any time with any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend.

Mrs. Page

• 05/03/25
• Scholarship Toll Road - 8:00am-12:00pm
• 05/05/25
• School Committee Meeting
• 05/08/25
• Academic, Technology & Fine Arts Showcase - 5:30pm-6:30pm
• 05/09/25
• Junior Prom Grand March - 6:00pm
• 05/13/25
• Spring Concert - 6:00pm
• Gr. 8 Math MCAS
• 05/14/25
• Gr. 8 Math MCAS
• Booster's Meeting - 6:45pm
• 05/15/25
• Gr. 7 Math MCAS
• 05/16/25
• Gr. 7 Math MCAS
• Senior Car Parade - About 10:30am-10:45ish
• 05/19/25 - Gr. 8 Science MCAS
• 05/20/25
• Gr. 8 Science MCAS
• Gr. 10 Math MCAS
• SEPAC Meeting - 6:00pm
• 05/21/25
• Gr. 10 Math MCAS
• In Control Crash Prevention Field Trip
• 05/29/25 - Gr. 8 Civics MCAS

SENIOR EVENTS

• 05/19/25 - 05/23/25 - Senior Exams

• 05/27/25-05/30/25 - Senior Week

• 05/27/25 - Senior Awards & Scholarship Night
• 5:30pm - Light Refreshments
• 6:00pm - Awards
• 05/28/25 - Senior Reception - 6:30pm-10:00pm
• Fireside Grill - Middleboro
• 05/29/25 - Grad Walk to Elementary Schools - 9:00am
• 05/30/25 - Graduation - 5:00pm - War Memorial Park - Weather Permitting

Congratulations to John Metherall and Emma Pope for being named recipients of the New England League of Middle Schools Scholar-Leader Award! This prestigious honor is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, serve their classmates and school community, and exemplify positive leadership. Recipients are recognized for their integrity, honesty, self-discipline, empathy, and courage.

We are incredibly proud of you both!

Congratulations to the students recognized by our teachers and staff for exemplifying outstanding citizenship and embracing the Wildcat Pride Core Values. We are proud of each one of you and truly grateful to have you as part of our school community. Keep up the good work!

Members of the Girl Scout Troop 62542, Hannah, Julie & Maddie, worked extremely hard over this spring break to install a feminine hygiene product dispenser in the girls’ bathroom by the cafeteria. They also painted inspirational phrases on the doors in hopes to help with building self esteem in young women.

In order for students to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award, they did other things besides painting the bathroom stalls. They also raised money to add a feminine hygiene product dispenser in the cafeteria girls’ bathroom. This cost them about $600 for the machine, and for the products. $600 is a lot of money, but they were able to raise this by selling handmade bracelets. Each bracelet is made of upcycled t-shirts. They worked hours on end to make about 150 bracelets. They sold each bracelet for $3-$5, and raised over $600. They sold these bracelets to family, friends, teachers, and even at cookie booths back in the winter. They still have bracelets available if you’d like to help raise money to restock the machine. If you would like to donate or buy a bracelet, please reach out to Hannah at gstroop62542@gmail.com.

Girl Scout Troop 62542 is working very hard in making their school the best it can be. One of the ways they are doing this is by providing a brand new feminine product dispenser in the girls cafeteria bathroom. While this is great they also want to provide for the rest of the bathrooms as well. This however means they need more products to keep them fully stocked. Any donations of pads, tampons or money to purchase them help. Having pads and tampons provided is crucial to the wellness of students and helps reduce anxiety or embarrassment around the topic of menstruation. This is for their Silver Award project where they find an issue in their community and they research, plan and execute a plan to create a solution. Their goal is to make a difference in their community and help others as much as possible. If you would like to donate, please contact Julia at gstroop@62542@gmail.com.

We are thrilled to announce that Christopher Jones, Arran Hambly, and Tristan Hambly

will be representing our school at the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C.! These outstanding 8th graders earned top honors at both the local and state levels with their project, Tinker v. Des Moines: Setting a Standard in Free Speech. We wish them the best of luck as they head to the nation’s capital to connect with other finalists from across the country, explore historic landmarks, and showcase their impressive work. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Despier for his dedicated coaching and support throughout this journey.

WE'RE BACK!
For the third year in a row, the West Bridgewater Varsity Field Hockey Team is excited to host a 5-day summer field hockey camp!

Open to all incoming players and students entering grades 1–7 in the 2025–2026 school year, this camp is perfect for those new to the sport or looking to sharpen their skills.

📅 Dates: Monday, June 23rd – Friday, June 27th
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🎉 Expect a week packed with fun, games, and field hockey fundamentals!

Spots are limited — registration closes Monday, June 2nd, 2025. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Join West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School’s Yoga Club advisors Julie Diedrichsen and Erin Brogna for a monthly evening of yoga! Community Yoga is open to all and will be held in the WB MSHS gymnasium on the last Tuesday of the month during the school year.

Next class: April 29, 2025 | WBMSHS Gym | 6:30-7:45pm

Investment: $10 cash or venmo Julie @jagaia

Register: Just come!!

FREE FOR STUDENTS

(no young children please)

Our Community Yoga classes will include a variety of yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation with a focus on connecting the mind, body, and breath. You don’t need to be flexible to practice yoga; it’s about learning to use your body wisely and finding balance both physically and mentally! Open to all levels of yoga ability and adaptable to a wide range of movers, our yoga classes help to cultivate mindfulness, body awareness, confidence and connection in a supportive and encouraging environment.

The South Shore Children's Chorus, South Shore Children's Chorus, wanted to share some information with the West Bridgewater community. As they kick off our 2025-2026 summer season, they are eager to share their flyer with West Bridgewater School District students, inviting them to explore the enriching experience of being part of their chorus.

Click the red button below to purchase a yearbook online or see Mrs. DeLorenzo or Mrs. DeSimone to purchase one at school. The deadline to order a yearbook is May 15, 2025. Yearbooks will be distributed through the main office starting on June 2, 2025.

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, thirty-seven students attended the 28th Annual Career Day Conference hosted by the Connecting Activities Partnership—a dynamic and enriching field trip focused on career readiness and professional growth.

Throughout the day, students participated in two interactive workshops: Branding and Networking. In the Branding session, they learned how to present themselves professionally—both in-person and online—while the Networking workshop emphasized the importance of building strong professional relationships and making meaningful connections in the working world.

Students also had the chance to explore a bustling vendor fair, where they engaged directly with employers, training programs, and post-secondary institutions. This hands-on experience offered valuable insight into a wide range of career paths and educational opportunities, allowing students to ask questions, gather resources, and begin planning for life after high school.

The experience empowered students to build confidence, develop essential life skills, and take meaningful steps toward their future goals.

Seniors marked Decision Day with cake and celebration in the senior lounge!
We wish all of our graduating seniors the very best as they take their next steps after high school.

Meanwhile, throughout the month of May, Guidance will be meeting individually with all juniors to help them prepare for senior year. During these meetings, students will begin shaping their post-graduation plans—whether that’s college, trade school, the Armed Services, or entering the workforce. Once a direction is chosen, we’ll support them in navigating the next steps.

As the school year winds down, nearly 90 of our students are gearing up for one of the most challenging academic milestones of high school—AP Exams! Beginning May 5th, students will be putting their knowledge to the test in seven different subjects, demonstrating the hard work, dedication, and critical thinking skills they have developed throughout the year.

AP exams offer more than just a chance to showcase academic growth. A strong performance can translate into college credit, saving students time and money in their future academic journeys. Even beyond the potential for credit, AP courses and exams prepare students for the rigor of college-level coursework, sharpening their ability to analyze complex material, think critically, and manage their time effectively.

We know this is a stressful time, and we encourage our AP students to prioritize self-care in the coming weeks. Here are a few key ways to set themselves up for success:

✅ Stick to a study plan – Reviewing material in small, consistent chunks is more effective than cramming.

✅ Take practice exams – Getting familiar with the test format can help reduce anxiety and improve performance.

✅ Rest and recharge – A well-rested brain performs better, so don’t underestimate the power of sleep!
✅ Eat well and stay hydrated – Fueling the body properly is just as important as studying.
✅ Arrive prepared – Bring necessary materials, including pencils, erasers, a calculator (if applicable), and a confident mindset.

We are incredibly proud of our AP students for taking on this challenge and wish them the best of luck! Parents, teachers, and peers—let’s cheer them on as they tackle these exams with determination and confidence. You’ve got this!

Check out this great lice resource for families created by one of our WB Wildcat moms, Laurene Plourde. Laurene has been in the lice business for many years and is an invaluable source of information!

https://letslearnaboutlice.com/

You can also join the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/LetsLearnAboutLice to get quick answers to your questions from verified lice professionals.

The current rates of teenage vaping are alarming. On average, teens are trying their first vape at about 14 years old with 1 in 20 middle school students and 1 in 10 high school students currently using nicotine products today. In Massachusetts nearly 50% of high school students have tried vaping at least once.

Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor produced by an electronic vaporizer or e-cigarette. E-cigarettes create an aerosol by using a battery to heat up liquid that usually contains nicotine and/or THC, flavorings and other additives. Users inhale this aerosol into their lungs with serious health implications such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression/anxiety/mood disorders, addiction, and a host of other issues related to the exposure to a multitude of heavy metals, toxins and chemicals.

How can I tell if my child is vaping?

Many types of e-cigarettes are manufactured to resemble everyday items that can easily fit in a pocket or the palm of a hand. In addition, they come in fruit and candy flavors (although these flavors are now restricted in MA). For these reasons, it may be hard to tell if your child is vaping—you may not recognize a vaping device or an e-liquid scent.

The best way to know is to educate yourself about the products and to talk with your kids.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has some great information for both adults and youth about vaping. If you have not visited the website GetOutraged.org, I encourage you to do so. It contains valuable information about e-cigarettes, tips on talking with your kids, and other resources. There are also free quit resources to help students who are already addicted to vapes or other tobacco products. Resources include This is Quitting, a free and confidential texting program and My Life My Quit™ a program in which young people can connect with a specially trained youth coach via phone, text, or online. The Department of Public Health also has a website for youth at mass.gov/vaping with facts and information about quitting.

WB Athletics Newsletter:

Our Spring Athletes are in the swing of their seasons and have been doing a great job! We have had some great performances so far and are looking to continue to celebrate our athletes. Check out the link to Arbiter Sports for our Spring Sports teams and any potential date changes due to weather. Make sure to follow our coaches Twitter, as well as @WBMSHSAthletics, for schedule updates and the most recent game highlights. The Wildcat Athletic Apparel store is below. Make sure to check out all of the gear that we have available to personalize and order!

Wildcats Athletic Store:

Check out the West Bridgewater Athletics online apparel store where you are able to personalize and order gear. Check out the link below to create and order your Wildcats Apparel. Let’s Go WB!!

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/massachusetts/westbridgewater/west-bridgewater-high-school

Athletic Events:

WB Mental Health Basketball Game:

Come out on Thursday May 1, 2025 to bring awareness to Mental Health through Basketball. The doors open at 4:00 at the WBMSHS Gym and the event will go from 4:00-6:00. It is five dollars to get in the door. Please wear green to support Mental Health Awareness. There will be 5 on 5 games, a three point shooting contest, Slam Dunk contest, raffles, giveaways, NoSolo merchandise and more. Can’t wait to see you all there!

Youth Leadership Summit:

Some of our Unified athletes attended a Youth Leadership Summit at Special Olympics Headquarters in Marlboro! They learned about leadership, inclusion, and stepping out of their comfort zones — and even made new friends from other towns!

Spring Sports Information:

Spring Sports Schedules:

Arbiter Live Link - https://arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=25160

Check out our sports schedule using the link above.

Unified Cornhole:

Thursday 5/1 (tomorrow!!) is our first unified cornhole home game of the season! We will be playing in the courtyard at the MSHS from 3:15-4:15 against Pembroke and would love to have some fans to cheer our athletes on.

SAVE THE DATE:

1. We have another home game next Thursday (5/8) in the courtyard at 3:15 as well!

2. We will host our end of season jamboree on Thursday, 5/22 in the gym from 3:15-5:00! This is potentially our biggest unified event of the year as we will be hosting up to 10 schools from nearby towns for a tournament and the kids are very excited.

Hope to see you there!

Varsity Baseball:

West Bridgewater lost to Somerset Berkley by a score of 3-6. Charlie Mallett led the Wildcats in the loss with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. Ryan Nunes also added 2 hits.

Junior Varsity Baseball:

The Junior Varsity Baseball team lost to Somerset Berkley in a close game! They played well, just falling short in the end. Great Job Wildcats!

Lacrosse:

WEB Lacrosse beat Middleboro 8-6 to bring their record to 5-4 this season. The Goalie Brayden Bates played well in goal with over 20 saves. Great Job WEB.

Varsity Softball:

The varsity softball team lost to Somerset Berkley in their latest game. They are looking to bounce back with their upcoming games against Seekonk and Bourne. Go Wildcats!

Junior Varsity Softball:

The JV Softball team has been working hard all season and improving their skills! They will play Seekonk and Bourne in their upcoming games. Best of luck!

Boy’s Tennis:

The boys tennis team lost a hard fight, match to a strong Somerset Berkeley squad. Sean Byrnes, Nathan Trott, and Armani Perreira played really well at singles for WB. The Doubles teams of Noah Holland, Ryan Geniuch, Chris Jones and Peter Pappas all won games for the Wildcats.

The Boys tennis team will compete again against Seekonk at home on Thursday.

Girls Tennis:

The Girls Tennis Team lost to Somerset Berkley 0-5 in their latest match. They continue to play hard! Great Job!

Track and Field:

In their last home meet of the season, WB had an epic battle against Case in track and field. The boys lost 37-94.

Jason Gothage, Tyler Thoreson, and Cam Frates swept the 1 mile.

Jason Gothage also took first in the 2 mile with Anthony D’Agastino securing 2nd place.

Dustin Panos leapt to victory in the long jump with a career PR.

The girls track team lost 62-74. Several girls competed outside of their comfort zone to give us a chance to win the meet.

• Chloe Gauthier qualified for the state meet in the 400 Hurdles

• Alyssa Caldeira qualified for the state meet in the 100m

• Other noteworthy performances were Liana Depina with solid performances in the 100 hurdles and 200 meters, the 4x100m team of Kate, Jordyn, Mia, and Alyssa as well as the 4x400m team of Scarlette, Jazmine, Leah, and Kerri.

• Special thanks to the following athletes for putting the team first and giving their all in unfamiliar events: Sarah Burke (2nd in 2 Mile and 800m), Brianna DePalma (3rd in 1 Mile), Charlotte Farrell-Fren (1 Mile and 3rd in 2 Mile)

We want student feedback!

We have launched a new "Happy or Not" customer feedback kiosk to allow students to let us know how we are doing in the Wildcat Cafe. We are looking forward to hearing their opinions and using their feedback to make improvements!

Universal free school meals - Both Breakfast and Lunch are Free! We hope your student dines with us! Click on WB Food Services to find monthly breakfast and lunch menus. Locally grown fruits and veggies are still being served each week.

Food Assistance- Project Bread Food Source Hotline and The West Bridgewater Food Pantry located at 457 Rear, South Main Street in WB, distributes to residents the first and third Wednesday of every month.

Adding money for a la carte items: While meals are free, students must have money on their accounts to buy extra items. Milk is available for students that bring meals from home for $.75 at all schools. The MSHS offers many healthy snacks and bottled water. Cash and checks are accepted and electronic payments can be made through MySchoolBucks. You will need your child's 10-digit SASID# to register for a MySchoolBucks account.

If you want to report any issues to the building administration, please click on the button below. Our number one goal is for all students to feel safe and accepted at school.