WBMSHS Principal Update to Families

Dear WB Families,

Many of you are already aware of the profound loss our MSHS community experienced this past week, but I wanted to take a moment to remember and honor Mr. Justin Finley in this newsletter.

Mr. Finley was a beloved art teacher for over 20 years and an integral part of our school community. In addition to his role as an educator, he served as the Junior Class advisor, Leo's Club advisor, and Diversity Club advisor. His unwavering dedication to his students and his passion for helping them reach their full artistic potential were evident in everything he did.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Finley was known for his quick wit, creative spirit, and compassionate nature. He found joy in gardening and played a vital role in the development of the MSHS Garden club, a project he cared for deeply.

Mr. Finley was a cherished member of our school family, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time, and we are forever grateful for the lasting impact he made on all of us who had the honor to know and love him.

Warmly,

Mrs. Page

This week, the WB Garden Club focused on plant propagation. We chose to start with pothos plants - a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that Mr. Finley always had hanging around his classroom in crocheted planters he made himself. Although his plants are no longer there, the memory of his love for them remains. In light of his recent passing, we wanted to find a meaningful way to honor him and the lasting impact he made on our school community.

Each member carefully took a small cutting of a pothos plant to root in water and they brought it home with the goal of helping it grow and thrive. Over time, we hope to see new roots form and eventually pot the plants, creating living reminders of Mr. Finley that we can continue to care for and even share with others.

• 3/11/25 - School Building Committee Meeting - 5:30 - Learning Commons
• 3/18/25 - SEPAC Meeting - 6:00pm - Learning Commons
• 3/19/25 - Coffee Hour - 8:00am
• 3/20/25 - World Culture Night - 5:30am
• 3/24/25 - Candidate Night - 5:00pm
• 3/25/25 - Grade 10 ELA MCAS Test
• 3/25/25 - School Building Committee Meeting - 5:30pm
• 3/26/25 - Grade 10 ELA MCAS Test

Parents/guardians, please do not use the library parking lot as a pick-up point for students after school. Using this spot has caused significant traffic congestion. There have been several near accidents in the parking lot, and the situation is becoming more concerning every day.

We kindly ask that, for the safety of everyone, you refrain from using the library parking lot as a pick-up location. Please make alternate arrangements for picking up your student.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our community safe, and we are grateful for your attention to this important matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Drama Club had an amazing performance yesterday that received rave reviews from the judges and (more notably in my opinion) their peers from the other seven schools at our site. We also received the following awards:

• Excellence in acting: Luke Doane
• Excellence in Choreography: Shayla Howard, Braelyn Howard, Taylor Ferreira, Grace Goodwin, and Nashla Kieu
• Excellence in costume design: Lilli Milton and Scarlette Marquez

Every student was so thrilled to represent WB on the festival stage and Gina and I received numerous compliments from METG staff about how courteous, kind, and thoughtful our club was. We couldn't be any prouder and we're glad we could represent the Wildcats!

George Baroud proudly represented WB at the BSU HS Honors Band. Students were nominated by their band directors and were selected through their merits by the BSU Music staff.

Best of luck to the following grade 7 students as they represent West Bridgewater Middle/Senior High School at the regional level of this competition. The competition is being held at Foxborough High School on March 16, 2025. The winners that will represent WB are Lacey Roche, Alexander Kerr, Molly DeChristopher, Amelia Gunnison, Trisha Bagepalli, Regan Bryant, Kendall Conley, Kara Lamlein, Olivia DiRusso and Madison Spillane.

• The West Bridgewater Local Scholarship Application isd officially open! On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Guidance met with seniors to go over the requirements and deadlines. Paper applications were handed out to each student who showed interest. Extra applications are in the Guidance office and may also be found on The Class of 2025 Scholarship Google classroom as well as the school website. The deadline for this application is April 4, 2025.

• Counselors met with students about scheduling for the 2025-2026 school year. Students selected their schedules the week of March 3rd. Students are epected to leave school in June with the schedule for next year. Any schedule changes will take place during the high school final exam week in June.

• The Horatio Alger Association seeks to provide scholarship assistance to qualifying junior students who have demonstrated integrity, determination in overcoming adversity, academic potential, the personal aspiration to make a unique contribution to society, strength of character and financial need. The Association awards 2 Massachusetts students with a $25,000 National Scholarship and 10 students from the state of Massachusetts with $10,000 scholarships. The application deadline is March 1. For additional information, qualifications and application please visit: https://horatioalger.org/scholarships/

Middle school students are holding a fundraiser to defray the cost of the end of year activities. If you are able, you can support by buying some pretty flowers to plant in your yard! The fundraiser will be open until April 17th. Please share the link with friends and family. You can access the form in the button below.

As part of the celebration of Black History Month students in the Global Citizens Club worked to update the display case in the green commons. The display case now highlights artists, authors, actors, athletes and civil rights leaders with images, books and quotes. A big thank you to Theresa DaSilva, Christina Neptune, Chloe Courteau, Amelia Chew, Sophia Ramirez, Davi Lopes, Jaden Soares, and Tanoah Devilme for their hard work and an outstanding display

Ms. Fougere’s Spanish II and III students recently completed two exciting projects that showcased their creativity and language skills.

In Spanish III, students explored Frida Kahlo's iconic style through their "Mi propio autorretrato" project, creating self-portraits inspired by her use of surrealism, cultural symbolism, and personal reflection. They presented their artwork with Spanish descriptions, practicing new vocabulary while sharing the meaning behind their pieces.

Meanwhile, Spanish II students worked on a "Torero o Opositor" project, where they created movie trailers to either promote bullfighting or argue against it. The trailers, filled with facts learned during their unit, were a fun way for students to practice vocabulary and express their stance on this cultural issue.

Both projects allowed students to apply their language skills creatively while diving into rich cultural topics. Bien hecho to everyone for their hard work and creativity!

Students in 8th Grade Civics conducted a Candy Bar Congressional Hearing. Students were the “candy experts” speaking to Congress (faculty members) on their candy to represent America! All students had to research and present why their candy should be the Candy for America! All students wowed the congress with their knowledge but one candy was on top! America’s candy bar was chosen … HERSHEY BAR! Congrats! Honorable mentions: Skittles & M&Ms! Thank you to all faculty members who donated their time to judge students.

Another activity the 8th graders did in civics class was a mini civics research project! We explored a controversial topic, and each block wrote a mock bill together and wrote individual letters to Congress on the question, “Should Zoos Exist?” Rather than advocating for closing zoos altogether, we focused on proposing changes to improve conditions at zoos and how the government should pass laws to address those issues. It was a valuable learning experience that took us beyond typical civic discussions. Since every student had visited a zoo at some point in their lives, we were able to relate to the topic based on our personal experiences, while also conducting research on how zoos operate and how they could be better regulated. One student even received a response back from our state congressman, Stephen Lynch! While he didn’t make any promises, he said he would look into the issue and thanked us for writing to him!

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.

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.