WBMSHS Principal Update to Families

Dear WB Community,

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

Today - Rock Your Socks

Today - Progress Reports Posted to Aspen

12/10/24 - Winter Concert 6:30pm

12/11/24 - Booster's Monthly Meeting - 6:00pm

12/14/24 - Santa's Breakfast at RLM

12/17/24 - SEPAC Meeting - 6:00pm

12/20/24 - Last day of school before Winter Break

The Senior Ball is set for Friday, March 14, 2025. It will be held at LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville. More information to follow.

Next June, students and teachers are heading to Costa Rica for 9 days in paradise. After the last final exam has been submitted and we’ve crossed all of the items off of our to-do list, we will be switching into vacation mode.

We will hop on a plane and jet off to one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Are you up for an adventure? How about a swim at hot springs located at the base of a volcano? Tour the cloud forest from above via zipline and hanging bridges? Of course we will also have a couple of days at the beach!

We have a few spots left. Please see Mrs. Edgar or Ms. K with any questions.

Thank you to the families who responded to the recent questionnaire about bullying. School administrators have spent time reviewing the responses from families, students, and staff. While the majority of respondents feel that WB Schools respond appropriately to allegations of bullying, we've found some areas where we can improve. Below you'll find a slide from our presentation to School Committee identifying our proposed next steps.

One important step is making the reporting of suspected bullying easier for students and families. All school websites now feature an easy-to find, easy to complete "Bullying Reporting Form." You'll also be able to find a button to report bullying included in every school newsletter. I've included it below in this newsletter, and plan to put it at the bottom of every future newsletter.

Proposed Changes/Adjustments to Practice

• MARC Training through Bridgewater State University for School Psychologists, Social Workers and Guidance Counselors to set up a Train the Trainer program

• Using MARC resources to conduct assemblies.

• Scheduled for 1/23 @ RLM, February 4 @ HWD and MSHS - Jan/Feb

• Create easier access to The Student Safety Text Tip Line at the MSHS

• Add a bullying report button to the monthly school newsletters.

• Raising Multicultural Kids programming educates students on the importance of acceptance.

• Investigate an anti-bullying curriculum in Health classes for students in grades 1-6 curriculum. Kindergarten students receive weekly lessons with the Social Worker Intern

• Increase lessons taught in the 7th grade health lessons that address bullying.

• More frequent reminders for students about behavior expectations on buses and possible consequences.

DUE DATE for purchasing any yearbook ads is December 20, 2024. Ads MUST be submitted online!

Full Page: $225

Half Page: $165

Quarter Page: $100

Eighth Page: $60

• Counselors have been meeting individually with Freshmen to go over what a transcript looks like and what to expect the next few years.

• A financial aid night was held last night, December 5, 2024. If you were unable to attend and have questions, please reach out to your student’s counselor.

• Class of 2025 - Scholarship applications are now open open. Keep checking the “Class of 2025 Scholarships” in Google Classroom to stay on top and not miss out on any deadlines.

• As the holiday season and colder months approach, we want to remind families about the importance of consistent school attendance. Every day in class is a valuable opportunity for learning, collaboration, and growth. Missing even a few days can make it challenging for students to keep up with lessons and assignments.

• When students are present and engaged, they build strong habits that lead to academic success and personal responsibility. Let’s work together to make this season healthy, productive, and full of learning!

We are thrilled to announce that Dharalynn Soto has been named a QuestBridge Scholar, matching with the prestigious University of Chicago! Dharalynn has earned a full four-year scholarship and will be pursuing a major in Statistics at one of the nation's leading institutions.

This incredible achievement highlights Dharalynn’s hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. She is among the 2,627 finalists who matched with one of QuestBridge’s 52 college partners this year, standing out in a pool of over 25,500 applicants and 7,288 finalists.

Dharalynn's recognition as a QuestBridge Scholar reflects her commitment to academic success and leadership, demonstrated through her many accomplishments, including her roles as Model UN President, French National Honor Society President, and her tireless efforts to give back to her community.

We are so proud of Dharalynn and cannot wait to see the amazing impact she will make at the University of Chicago and beyond. Congratulations, Dharalynn, on this well-deserved honor!

Congratulations to recipients from The Class of 2025 who earned The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. Alexis Amorello, Ross Arsenault, Amelia Chew, Patrick Clarke, Ryan Corey, Samara David, Logan Doane, Lauren Holland, Isabella Hyde, Zachary Lefferts, Serena MacDonald, Colin Maher, Joshua McDonough, Kate Morrill, Audrey Peterson, Grace Polen, Rachael Schaffert, Dharalynn Soto, Linet Toledano, Lisbet Toledano, Jake Turner, Elijah Vilnaigre, Emily Wales & Sydney Zuendt

Sarah was chosen by the WB staff as she embodies all qualities of the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership mission which is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.

At HOBY, they believe all students have the potential to lead. Their seminars bring students together across different backgrounds, cultures, and communities.They help students discover a newfound sense of awareness, confidence, connection, and purpose.

Hoby Seminars are proven to cultivate personal growth and inspire action. Students leave HOBY with the knowledge and passion needed to make a positive impact on the world around them. Being a part of the HOBY community unlocks a world of opportunities and connections beyond their seminars.

Congratulations Sarah Diedrichsen

Project 351 is a youth-led movement for change powered by a unified team of 8th grade Ambassadors representing Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. Over a year's term, Ambassadors develop the courage, knowledge, and skills to make a positive difference in their hometown and our world. The result is awe-inspiring! Since 2011, 4,891 Ambassadors have positively impacted more than 1.2 million neighbors through Project 351 service.

Kendall Burke was chosen by our educators to represent West Bridgewater . They are inspired by her kindness and compassion as a volunteer, classmate, and friend. They recognize the quiet and thoughtful ways she makes a difference, brings joy to others and stands up for what she believes.

Congratulations Kendall Burke

National Junior Honors Society- Students were inducted into the West Bridgewater Chapter of the National Junior Honors Society on November 12, 2024. Congratulations to our new members! These students demonstrate the five pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. Thank you to the NHS president Bella Hyde and all of the NJHS officers for helping with our ceremony.

Support the MSHS Student Council while getting the chance to win a great basket! Reach out to Mrs. Wilder @ awilder@wbridgewater.com with any questions.

Students in the drama club performed their Fall Musical, Ride The Cyclone, in November. Members of the cast and crew worked hard and were dedicated to their performances. Congratulations to them, along with Mr. Mael and Ms. Romano, the advisors for the musical. The auditorium was packed both nights and the performances were outstanding.

Craft & Crochet Club will have our next meeting on December 5th in Room 105! We will be creating Homemade Greeting Cards and/or Ornaments for the holiday season! All supplies will be provided but feel free to join us and bring your own craft too! No commitment to the club is necessary and all are welcome! We will be meeting until about 2:45, any questions see Ms. Martin!

The Global Citizens Club had a successful fundraiser in the month of October and raised over $250 dollars for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 100% of the money raised will be donated to the BCRF, which this year is the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide and is the highest-rated breast cancer research organization in the country. The Global Citizens would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who donated and also give a special shoutout to Hannah Dragonetti for her generous donation.

Grand March - 6:00pm, high school gymnasium

Prom - 7:00pm-10:00pm, Canoe Club Ballroom West Bridgewater

Ticket Sales

- When: Prom Tickets sales will be ONE WEEK ONLY from January 27th - 31st.

- Where: Tickets will be sold during Powerblock in the high school lobby. All

juniors planning on attending Prom must purchase tickets during this time!

- Tickets: $75 per person (or $150 per couple)

*May be paid for by cash or check made out to West Bridgewater High School.

*Tickets are non refundable.

*Please note that it is not a requirement to have a date for Prom.

- Permission Slips: In order to be dismissed from school early following Grand

March rehearsal on the day of prom and/or bring an outside guest you must have

turned in your permission slip.

Powder Puff was a huge success and a great fundraiser for the Class of 2025 Scholarship fund. Thank you to Mrs. Brogna fro organizing this event and to all the staff and students who helped to make it a fun event for all.

The Howard/MSHS Winter Concert will be on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 starting at 6:30PM. The Howard Band will be performing first followed by the MSHS Band. The evening will conclude with a performance by the MSHS Chorus. Students would love to see faces in the crowd so please attend if you can.

Students in English 11 class just completed a project where they were asked to manage a weekly budget based on their randomly assigned job and family and current prices on various goods and services. The goal of this assignment was to help students understand the struggle to obtain the American Dream that Gatsby (in The Great Gatsby) goes through as a result of not being born into a rich family.

Yesterday, students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA. At the lab, students met graduate students and attended lectures given by research scientists. They learned about plasma, the fourth state of matter, and its fascinating properties. Plasma, a superheated gas that makes up 99% of the universe (including the sun), can be magnetically influenced and generates light in various colors depending on the element involved. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and stars. It involves abundant light elements smashing together to form heavier elements and releasing prodigious amounts of carbon-free energy in the process. The problem is that right now it takes more energy to create the reaction than you can get out of it. Scientists goal is to demonstrate net energy in 7 years and within 30 years they hope to see plasma fusion reactors replacing nuclear power. The visit also included a tour of labs with ongoing experiments, including a working particle accelerator. Students gained insight into the cutting-edge science driving fusion energy forward. It was an inspiring glimpse into how today's research could shape tomorrow's clean energy solutions!

Students in the Honors United States History classes visited the Museum of Fine arts on Wednesday December 4th taking in artifacts in the Americas Wing. These primary sources coincide with lessons on the founders and their ideas pertaining to our republic. Students also learned about the amazing artists who captured these people then, and for posterity. On display is SilverSmith and Patriot Paul Revere along with one of his masterpieces, the Liberty Bowl. Students also had the opportunity to view and learn about other art during our field trip. Be sure to ask your kid about their trip to the MFA.

The 7th grade students are beginning the process of working on their National History Day (NHD) projects. All students have selected their groups, topics and the way in which they wish to present their information. We have been discussing the validity of sources and what the difference is between a primary and secondary source. Students are engaging in completing their written portions (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) with Mr. Despier. The students are learning how to put together an annotated bibliography which they have never been exposed to before. Our school NHD competition will be held on January 15th, a 1/2 day from 11:00am-11:45am.

*****Please note that students are going to be staying for about 45 minutes after school and are responsible for their own transportation home.

***** The winning projects will be given the opportunity to compete in the regional competition of NHD sometime in March at Foxborough High School! More information/reminders will be coming home as we near the event!

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, please email Mr. Despier at mdespier@wbridgewater.com Thank you for your continued support.

Students in the Fabrics and Textiles art class celebrated the end of the fall season by making cyanotype nature prints. They collected leaves from outdoors and used UV light exposure combined with UV-reactive chemicals on fabric to create negatives of their leaves for a unique outdoor project!

A team of video production students represented WB as they competed in the Fall Frenzy Broadcast Journalism competition which was held at Emerson College in Boston. A prompt was revealed at the start of the event and the students had to brainstorm, shoot interviews, edit, and write a news story in five hours! While we don’t have the results yet, Mr. Cray is proud of how the team came together and finished a solid story on the South Station expansion. Congrats to Rachael Schaffert, Dharalynn Soto, Zach Lefferts, and Sean Petras for competing!

Students made cards for veterans in Spanish I and Ms. Kotsovolos dropped them off at Brockton Veterans Services! They were so appreciative.

When we think about the people who are most important to us, what comes to mind? Is it the gift they gave us during the holidays last year or for our birthday? Can you even remember what your loved one gave you for either event? Recalling probably isn’t that easy and the gift probably not that memorable. However, when we think about how the people who are most important to us make us feel the experience is so different. It is a much richer and deeper experience and way more meaningful than any material gift. So, what feelings come to mind when you think of those closest to you? Are they feelings of joy, comfort, safety, love, excitement, happiness, stability, fun, pride etc?

During this holiday season maybe the most important gift you can give the ones you care about most could be to let them know how much you appreciate and value them because of the way they make you feel.

Don’t be fooled by your teenager’s aloofness or desire to spend more time alone; they want to hear how much they are loved and how much you value the way they make you feel as much as you do. In fact it may be one of the most important things you can do for your child.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

The WBMSHS Athletic Department is proud to celebrate the achievements of our teams during their successful Fall Seasons!

• Cross Country: Both the Girls and Boys Cross Country teams competed at the MIAA Division 3 Meet on Saturday in Wrentham. The Boys team placed 19th overall out of more than 30 teams. Emma Pope represented the Girls team with an outstanding performance, finishing 19th overall out of over 150 runners and qualifying for the MIAA Meet of Champions. At the meet Emma finished 67th overall out of almost 200 girls. Congrats Emma!

• Field Hockey: The Girls Field Hockey team made it to the round of 16 before falling to Frontier Regional, 5-0.

• Girls Soccer: The Girls Soccer team had a strong season, reaching the round of 16 before being defeated by South Hadley, 4-1.

• Volleyball: The Girls Volleyball team advanced to the Elite Eight, where they faced a tough loss to Millbury, 3-0.

• Football: The Football team fought hard in the round of 16 but fell to Cohasset, 21-7.

• Cheer: The WB Cheer team competed in their regional tournament and delivered an incredible performance, even though they did not advance.

• Boys Soccer: The Boys Soccer team also had an impressive season, and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish next year.

• Golf: Congratulations to our golf team on a fantastic season, highlighted by Aiden Delehoy’s participation in the MIAA D3 Golf Central Tournament!

Great job to all of our Fall athletes! We are incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication. Best of luck to our seniors!

Thank you to our WB student-athletes that attended the MIAA Sportsmanship Summit at Gillette Stadium! Your dedication to becoming courageous leaders and champions of sportsmanship makes our community stronger! We are WB!

Thank you to the WB student-athletes who attended "Champagne Talks," an event hosted by the South Coast Conference. Motivational speakers Quinton Champagne and his father, Mark, shared powerful messages on overcoming adversity, showing kindness, and the importance of teamwork. Quinton spoke about his journey as a student and how athletics helped him navigate and overcome challenges.

Thank you to our Fall Season Captains who took the time to read children’s books to our elementary school students this fall. It was so great to have our student athletes connect with our younger wildcats!