West Bridgewater Students, Staff and Families,

We hope you are all enjoying the February break. It is great if you are able to take some time for yourself during this time away from school. We know how busy the lives of everyone tend to be so take some time to do something for yourself. We are looking forward to seeing our students and staff when they return to school next week!

The World Language Department in conjunction with the Global Citizens Club, Model UN, and World Language Honor Societies are happy to announce that The World Culture Night is returning to WBMSHS this year. On Thursday, March 16th beginning at 5:30 pm, we will host this incredible community event filled with lots of food, music and entertainment. Students and families from the community will set up tables in our cafeteria, each representing a different country of their choosing. On each table, students or families will create a dish to serve as the community eats around the world! During this event, there will be several cultural workshops to participate in as well, such as African drumming, Chinese lettering, and Zumba to Brazilian music. If you and your family are interested in representing your culture with a table, we would love to have you! Please reach out to Sarah Oliveira at soliveira@wbridgewater.com . Cost of attendance is $5 per person with a $25 family cap. Come help us celebrate all of the great culture and heritage that our community has to offer!

This year’s first multilingual family night was held at the West Bridgewater Public Library on February 15th. The West Bridgewater ESL teachers along with coordinator, Mary Pistorino, collaborated with the West Bridgewater Public Library to create a space for our multilingual families to connect, eat and play! Stay tuned for more family nights.

Thank you to Officer Pope for all you do for all of our students, staff and families! We appreciate you!

Congratulations to our West Bridgewater students from The Middle/Senior High and Howard schools who were recognized at the school committee meeting for winning the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriot Pen Essay contest. The theme this year is, "My Pledge To Our Veterans".

• Tristan Hambly took 1st place earning a $300.00 scholarship

• McKenzie Craig took 2nd place earning a $200.00 scholarship

• Jennifer Lamlein took 3rd place earning $100.00 scholarship.

A huge thank you to their social studies teachers encouraging them through the process.

Congratulations to Emma Maher who is West Bridgewater Middle/Senior High School 8th Grade representative for Project 351. Emma was recognized at the school committee meeting.

Project 351 is a non-profit organization that builds student-led service across Massachusetts. One 8th-grade student from every town in Massachusetts is chosen to be an ambassador because we exemplify project 351's core values. The core values are kindness, compassion, gratitude, and humility. Project 351 is all about helping others who may be struggling and proving that young people have unlimited potential. This spring every ambassador will be hosting a clothing drive in their city. We will be partnering with cradles to crayons and helping them with their mission, which is to provide every child with the essentials.

Inclusion Matters' next webinar will be on Tuesday, March 14 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. Tiffany Goffer-Fitz of As I Am Learning will join us for Sexuality 101: How to Talk to Kids and Teens with Disabilities about Their Bodies, Healthy Relationships, and Safe Sex.

Tiffany will talk with parents, guardians, and caregivers about what they need to know to get the conversations started. Come learn how to start--and continue--conversations we need to have with our kids and teens about privacy, healthy bodies, healthy relationships, and sex.

Join via Zoom at https://bridgew.zoom.us/j/96663514586

More information is available on our event page at https://fb.me/e/4aNjKHnB2

Check out the District Report Card which is created by DESE https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org/page/dese-district-report-card

Update - The West Bridgewater School Committee approved the submission of the Howard School Statement of Interest at their last meeting. The SOI will be presented to the Board of Selectman in March. The submittal period is open until late April.

In the previous newsletters, we announced that West Bridgewater was selected for the MSBA Eligibility Period. The school district and the town will be following the MSBA process and work to review our district's greatest needs and look at all possible educational options for school consolidations. We are looking forward to our partnership with the MSBA and to working collaboratively to do what is best for our students, staff, and community.

As a district, we are committed to an open and transparent process and will continue to update all stakeholders through emails, newsletters, and scheduled meetings such as School Committee meetings, Superintendent Coffee Hours as well as scheduled informational meetings.

We currently have openings in our Preschool program. Children must be 3 years of age to enroll:

• Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-11:30 am
• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday 12:10-2:40

Please contact Mrs. Ellis at Spring Street School for more information!

mellis@wbridgewater.com or 508-894-1233

School Choice applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 school year. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Kim LaCroix at 508-894-1230 or klacroix@wbridgewater.com Click on the link below for more information and the application. All Applications must be electronically submitted by 12:00 noon on February 28, 2023

PCC is a program that is held over the summer at Stonehill College. Please click below to read information about this great opportunity for students. If you have any questions please contact the MSHS Guidance Office.

The next meeting is on Friday, March 17th at 9:15 am. The location is TBA (most likely Rose L MacDonald or Spring Street School). We hope to see you there!

Join us at our next meeting at the RLM on March1st at 7pm

Butter-braids fundraiser packets will go home with students on 2/27 and run until 3/13. The delivery date is set for 3/30 so orders will arrive prior to Easter. More info to come!

*Comfys will be arriving soon. once we have a set date we will post about pickups. Logo store purchases should arrive this week ( those were shipped directly to buyer. )

Book fair dates:

Spring Street 3/27

Howard 3/29

RLM 3/30

Students shop!! eWallet is highly encouraged we’d like to go as cashless as we can Parents/Guardians can come in and help students shop during their classrooms scheduled time Please check with the office to make sure that you have a CORI on file

The link for eWallet will be available next week

Our schools are participating in the Scholastic All for Books program. This is a ONE DAY EVENT and will be held on March 22nd (Wednesday) The proceeds will be divided between our reading programs, birthday books and Mrs. Enos' 'Welcome to WB' baby book bag program. The PTO & Book Fair Committee are asking that each child make a minimum $1 donation on this day. We kindly request no bags of spare change. The class in each grade that raises the most money will receive either: a prize, special event, or extra recess as decided by the teachers and principal.

If using Venmo please send on the 22nd to @wbpto and comment All for Books

Check out the information on WBYAA Softball and U8 Spring Soccer registration

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION - Please scan your shopping receipts! Every little bit helps our school! The program transitioned to a new digital format. You can now scan your shopping receipts from any store (like Market Basket, Trucchi’s, Target, Walmart, CVS, etc.) to earn money for our school. Download the app today or send your receipts to school. We are happy to scan them for you!

Check out the latest newsletters from each of the schools in the district. Every 2 weeks they are also sending out newsletters. These are filled with great information!!

If you are interested or know someone interested in being a substitute teacher please click on the link below. If you are not sure and have any questions please feel free to reach out to the building principal and ask them any questions you may have about the position.

Mark Bodwell, Superintendent of Schools

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
Twitter: @WBPSwildcats