Hello WB Students, Staff, and Families,

We hope you're doing well and are excited to share the latest updates from our school district. If you haven't had a chance to check out the principals' newsletters, you can find links to them in this newsletter. We've wrapped up the first quarter of the school year, and it's inspiring to see all the great things happening in our schools.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to provide our students with the best education possible. We're also incredibly fortunate to have wonderful students in the district. And finally, a big thank you to our parents, guardians, and families for your support. Together, we hope to continue demonstrating Wildcat PRIDE.

Mark Bodwell

Superintendent

Our School Building Committee (SBC) is continuing to meet twice a month. This is an active, well represented group with a mix of educators, town employees and members of the community. We are working with our Owners Project Manager (OPM) which is PMA and designer HMFH Architects.

We have worked with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to have 4 enrollment options. The number of students was decided through a collaborative process with the MSBA enrollment team. The numbers below for options #2 and #4 do not include our Preschool numbers which are estimated at around 75 students.

1. Enrollment for Grades 1-3 at Rose L MacDonald School - 455 students

2. Enrollment for Grades K-4 (consolidation with the RLM, SSS and Howard Grade 4) - 750 students

3. Enrollment for Grades 1-6 (consolidation with RLM and Howard) - 930 students

4. Enrollment for K-6 (consolidation of SSS, RLM and Howard) - 1,075 students

The Educational Plan is being drafted and will be the basis for what we need in our new building to support the educational needs of our students and staff in the future.

We have created a new website for the project, check it out (link is below)! Included on the website is information about the project, FAQs and presentations from each of the SBC meetings. If you want the most recent presentation it was on 11-12-24.

Here are some upcoming next steps:

• December 20th - Submit Preliminary Design Program (PDP) to MSBA

• January 2025 – April 2025 (4 months) - Preferred Schematic Report (PSR)

• May 2025 – October 2025 (6 months) - Schematic Design (SD)

• Community Forums - TBD

• Town Ballot Measure Vote - TBD (est. Winter 2025/2026)

It is our goal to keep you and the community updated as much as possible as we go through this process. As always if you have any questions please reach out mbodwell@wbridgewater.com .

We did send the survey out via email over a week ago and it will close on November 15th but we wanted to provide you one last opportunity to reply if you have not.

Parents and Guardians we are looking for your feedback and input by completing this Climate and Culture Survey. This survey is designed to help us understand your views and experiences with the climate and culture in our schools and in our school district. We’re committed to creating a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment for all students, staff and families, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us meet that goal. Thank you!

Massachusetts defines chronically absent as missing at least 10 percent of days enrolled (for instance, 18 days absent if enrolled for a typical school year of 180 days), regardless of the reason for the absence. Being chronically absent can have a significant impact on a student's academic progress and their ability to access the variety of academic and non-academic supports that schools provide.

Families we need your help. We know that students get sick and have days that they are not able to attend school (funerals, college visits etc) but if students are just not feeling great please work to encourage them to attend school. Every day a student misses is a day missed of learning and for social and emotional development. They are also breaking the school routine which sometimes can create negative habits. If you have questions or concerns or need assistance please reach out to the building administrator, main office or a trusted staff member. We want to make sure we are partnering with you to help you in whatever way possible.

We have seen an improvement in overall attendance in West Bridgewater over the past few years. We know how important it is for all students to be in school as often as possible. Thank you parents/Guardians for working with the schools.

On Tuesday, October 29th the Multilingual Department hosted their 3rd annual Fall Family dinner, and it was a great success! Families enjoyed a delicious “Harvesty” breakfast for dinner, served by our Food Service Department, and there were activities, crafts, raffles, a pumpkin patch and even baby animals! We are thankful to all community businesses and partners, who were so generous in donating their time to make it a great night!” Great job by all!

Check out the website below for more information

Day in Residence—As Superintendent, I had a wonderful day at the Howard School yesterday. I visited classrooms, sat in on common planning time, talked with staff and students, interacted with the main office and counselors, and observed arrival, dismissal, and lunch. The Howard School staff does an amazing job and has wonderful students, and I really enjoyed my day! I am looking forward to spending the day at the MSHS next week and then in December spending the entire day at the Rose L MacDonald School and the Spring Street School.

ML students in Mrs. Olsen's 5th Grade classroom demonstrate Reading and Oral Language development, during a Reader's Theater routine that is connected to the core curriculum, Wit and Wisdom novel, Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.

3rd Grade ML students in Mrs. Robert's class had fun focusing on vocabulary and descriptive language forms as they created their " Three Sisters" project, which connects to the current Social Studies theme of study.

Thank you to Mr. LeMarier and the members of the MSHS band who participated in the Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade that was in Bridgewater this year.

The Unified Bocce team hosted their end of season jamboree welcoming students from Foxboro, Medfield, and Canton for tournament style play. They had a great turn out and the Wildcats won almost all of their matches. Adri Guardione, Sal Guardione, Christian O’Connor, and Jacob Kenney rocked the competition with some great leadership and defensive strategy and Ian Myaskovsky, Zach Folger, and Joey Gervasio had some of the best tosses of the day racking up points for the Wildcats. It was a successful event and the team celebrated with a pizza party!

Unified Basketball will be starting this winter and registration is now open for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders!

New additions to the Rose L MacDonald School and Howard School! We are so excited to have a book vending machine thanks to WBPTO!! Stay tuned to see how our wildcats will earn a token to choose their book!!!

November's school schedule includes 3 early release days to facilitate Parent-Teacher Conferences. To accommodate parents schedules, we offer the opportunity for your child to remain at school after dismissal as part of our Surround Care program at the Spring Street School for Kindergarten, at the Rose L. MacDonald School for grades 1-3, and at the Howard School for grades 4-6. The fee is $9/hr. Students must bring their own lunch or pre-order a bagged lunch from the cafeteria (order on the registration form).

You may pick up your child at any time before the closing time of 6 pm. A snack/drink will be provided later in the day as well.

Registration is required to attend the half day program. To be sure there is adequate staff available, we ask that you complete the registration below no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 19th. We will not be able to accommodate late registrations after this date.

The early release days are:

• Friday, November 22nd
• Monday, November 25th
• Tuesday, November 26th

There will be no Surround Care on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 27th (morning Surround Care will still take place)

Surround Care Registration Page

The WBMSHS Athletic Department would like to recognize our teams on their successful Fall Seasons! The Girls and Boys Cross Country teams competed in the MIAA Division 3 Meet on Saturday in Wrentham. The Boys team finished 19th overall out of over 30 teams. Emma Pope represented the girls team and finished 19th overall out of over 150 runners and she qualified for next week’s MIAA Meet of Champions. The Girls Field Hockey team lost in the round of 16 to Frontier Regional 5-0. The Girls Soccer team lost in the round of 16 to South Hadley 4-1. The Girls Volleyball team lost in the Elite Eight to Millbury 3-0. The Football team lost to Cohasset 21-7 in the round of 16. Our WB cheer team competed in their regional tournament, while they did not advance, they delivered an incredible performance! The Boys Soccer team also had a strong season, and we look forward to seeing what they’ll achieve next year. Additionally, congratulations to our golf team on a fantastic season with Aiden Delehoy competing in the MIAA D3 Golf Central Tournament! Great job to all of our Fall Athletes and we wish all our seniors the best of luck!!

This is a reminder that our winter sports season begins on Monday, December 2nd. If you have not signed up please do so as soon as possible. The registration for winter sports will close on Wednesday, 11/27 at 9:00AM. It will reopen after the first day of tryouts and close at the completion of the second day of tryouts.

Big congratulations to Kylie Fuller on her commitment to play soccer at Merrimack College! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off. Can't wait to see all you accomplish at the next level!

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.

Stay tuned for more game information for the winter sports season! You can find schedules on Arbiter Live!

https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=25160

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 menus. Locally grown fruits and veggies are still being served each week. We made Mummy-Dogs for Halloween and this week we served Thanksgiving-themed lunch in every school that the students really enjoyed!

The holidays can be a stressful time for families struggling to make ends meet.

Food Assistance- Project Bread Food Source Hotline , West Bridgewater Food Pantry.

Food Allergies and Diet Modifications- If your student has a food allergy or needs a diet modification, WB's School Nutrition Department will accommodate them with a Medical Statement from a licensed healthcare provider. Please contact the school nurse for more information on the required documentation.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY!

We are still looking for Cafeteria substitutes, Cafeteria monitors and an individual to help the Wildcat Cafe with social media.

Interested individuals should contact Ann Marie Grinder, Food Service Director at agrinder@wbridgewater.com or (508)894-1220 ext 1320

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 and Howard and the MSHS offer 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.

Dirty Thumbs has had an incredible fall season volunteering at Vineyard Farm. This experience has been about much more than hands-on farm tasks—it’s been about connection!

We’ve taken full advantage of a beautiful New England autumn, embracing our walks through the changing landscape. These walks are a time to connect with nature, chat with friends, and get to know the high school community service volunteers who’ve joined us each week. It seems sometimes our younger kids are just as excited to see these mentors as they are the animals!

The animals have taught us plenty, too. They bring out our calm, encouraging us to slow down, listen, and look beyond our own needs to understand theirs. Each farm animal has a unique personality, and it’s been fun discovering just how much they make us laugh—and remind us of ourselves.

Between seasonal tasks popping up each week and the consistent jobs of egg collecting and animal care, there’s always an engaging and hands-on task to connect us with the dirt, the farm, and working with one another. We are wrapping up our last visits before taking a winter break, and are grateful for the hard work, the fun—and for our high school students who make each farm day even more rewarding! Thank you Ms. Winter for coordinating this program!

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of West Bridgewater Public Schools during the week of December 16, 2024. Please see attached for further information https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org/page/integrated-monitoring-review

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s high school trip will be to Costa Rica! Students can look forward to an incredible educational adventure filled with horseback riding, wildlife cruises, ziplining, and so much more.

Mrs. Edgar and Ms. Kotsovolos are super excited to start preparing for this amazing experience! We have already received some sign-ups, but there’s still time for any students in grades 10-12 who are interested. Please reach out for more information!

Get ready for an unforgettable journey!!!!!

Tickets for WB Drama Club’s first production of the year, Ride the Cyclone, are now on sale! This popular musical delivers great laughs and a thought provoking message about what makes for a life well lived. Performances will take Friday 11/22 and Saturday 11/23 in the WB Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/wb-drama-club-presents-ride-the-cyclone-tickets-189617

This show is recommended for ages 12+ and will use strobe lighting and theatrical haze. The cast and crew have been so hard at work and are so excited to share this piece with the community. Grab your tickets now as both performances will sell out. Enjoy the ride!

Thank you to the 3 M Corporation for their very generous donation to the West Bridgewater Schools with a variety of school supplies. The supplies will be distributed to each of the schools. We greatly appreciate your generosity!

Thank you to Spring Street School secretary Mrs. Ellis for taking time out of her day to read to a classroom of Kindergarten students (in her office area!) Great job and the students really had a wonderful time!

Mr. Bodwell has continued the practice of having lunch with all of the Kindergarten students. He has 4-6 students from each of the K classroom for lunch in his office. It is certainly a fun time!

Superintendent Coffee Hours for November - There will be an evening and morning option to join Mr. Bodwell for this month's Coffee Hour meetings. Friday, November 22nd at 9:15 am and Monday, November 25th at 5:00 pm. The same topics will be discussed at both meetings but hopefully, the times will allow for more participation. In-person is encouraged but there will also be a Google Meet option. A few days before the meetings an email will be sent to all families with a tentative agenda and sign-in information.

Check out the flyer for November SEPAC information below.

Check out the newsletters for each of the 4 schools in WB! Lots of great information

November 4, 2024

The objective of the Policy Subcommittee is to regularly review the policies of the West Bridgewater School Committee to determine if they are current, consider the interests of stakeholders, and are in line with guidance from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. At the most recent school committee meeting on November 4, 2024, the following policies were reviewed and revised as indicated:

• BBBA/BBBB - School Committee Member Qualifications/Oath Of Office

• BBBC - School Committee Member Resignation

• BBBE - Unexpired Term Fulfillment

• BCA - School Committee Member Ethics

• BDA - School Committee Organizational Meeting

• BDB - School Committee Officers (Formerly BDC)

• BDD - School Committee-Superintendent Relationship

• BEE - Special Procedures For Conducting Hearings

• BG - School Committee Policy Development

• BGB - Policy Adoption

• BGC - Policy Revision And Review

• BGE - Policy Dissemination

• BGF - Suspension Of Policies

Additionally, the following policies were opened and are scheduled for review at the next school committee meeting on December 2, 2024:

• CBA- Qualifications and Selection Process of the Superintendent

• CBB- Selection of Administration

• CBC- Roles and Responsibilities of the Superintendent

• KA - School/Community Relations Goals

• KBA - School-Parent/Guardian Relations Goals

• KBBA - Non-Custodial Parents' Rights

• KBE - Relations With Parent/Booster Organizations

• KDD - News Media Relations / News Releases

• KE - Public Complaints

• KLG - Relations With Police Authorities

• KLJ - Relations With Planning Authorities

• KLK - Relations With Local Governmental Authorities

For any questions or to provide feedback, please contact the policy subcommittee at kmilton@wbridgewater.com and rdragonetti@wbridgewater.com. A complete listing of policies can be found in the WB Policy Index at https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org under the School Committee tab.

The Apparel Store is open. I am working on sharing some of the promo codes that were sent in the email below. Feel free to share!

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

We are always looking for qualified persons to fill substitute teaching positions. If you are interested, please visit https://www.wbridgewaterschools.org/page/substitute-teaching for more information or contact one of the building principals for more information.

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