West Bridgewater Public Schools Mourns Passing of Beloved Educator - The following information was sent via email to all West Bridgewater Families and Staff.
Dear West Bridgewater Public Schools Community,
It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of a beloved member of our school community. Justin Finley, a dedicated and longtime educator in our district, has passed away.
Justin began his career in West Bridgewater in 2001 and spent more than two decades inspiring students as an outstanding art teacher. His passion for teaching and creativity left a lasting impact on countless students, many of whom credit him for nurturing their artistic talents. In addition to his role in the classroom, Justin was a dedicated junior class advisor for many years, providing guidance and support to students as they navigated their high school journeys. He was not only a valued colleague but also a true friend to many within our school community.
Although Justin had been on leave since March 2024, he remained a cherished part of our district, and his loss is deeply felt by all who knew him. We recognize that this news is difficult for many in our community, and we encourage anyone in need of support to seek help. Counselors and support staff will be available in the coming days to assist students and staff as we navigate this heartbreaking loss together. Grief affects everyone differently, and we want to ensure that resources are available for those who need them.
If your child is experiencing distress or needs to talk to someone about this tragic loss, please let us know by calling the Middle/Senior High School at 508-894-1220. Additional resources for students and families relating to grief and loss can be found here courtesy of the CDC, and here courtesy of the National Education Association.
Our thoughts are with Justin’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those who were impacted by his dedication, kindness, and unwavering support for his students.
Sincerely,
Mark Bodwell
Superintendent of Schools
Check out the February District Newsletter for WB https://secure.smore.com/n/g6c1e
Mikey Comes to WB MSHS - Thank you to Mikey and her handler for coming to talk to students during Powerblock at the MSHS on Friday. Mikey is a service and comfort dog from BSU. The students got to hear the presentation from the officer and then the students got to enjoy time with Mikey. Great day!
MARC Trainings - We have been fortunate to have MARC trainers come to the Howard School and MSHS recently to discuss issues related to bullying prevention. MARC is a longstanding program out of Bridgewater State University.
School Resource Officer Day - Thank you to W SRO Chris Packard for all you do for the West Bridgewater Schools. Our students, staff, families, and community are so fortunate to have you in our district!
February 6th - REGULAR FULL DAY OF SCHOOL in West Bridgewater. We have canceled all afterschool activities at all schools. An email was sent this morning to all families, students and staff detailing this information. Please disregard any false information that may be posted on social media.
SAVE THE DATE - Thursday, May 8th at 5:30 Academic, Technology and Fine Arts Showcase at the Middle/Senior High School featuring student and staff exhibits from all 4 schools. It is always a wonderful event and we hope to see you there!
WB Elementary School Project Information - Here is the link to the Elementary School Building Project https://wbesbuildingproject.com/. This link can be found on the district website. On January 14th we held a community forum to provide updated information. Here is the link to the video of the presentation and an FAQ that was created from questions asked that night. https://wbesbuildingproject.com/community-forums/ We are tentatively planning another community meeting on April 1st and more information will be provided. If you have any questions you can reach out to Superintendent Mark Bodwell at mbodwelll@wbridgewater.com or this email address WBES@pmaconsultants.com
WB District Newsletter - Here is the January district newsletter Wildcat Pride https://secure.smore.com/n/4ru16j There is a lot of information included such as information on the elementary school building project with links to the recent community informational meeting and a link to the video. Also information about the results of the Climate and Culture Survey, FY26 Budget dates, lots of pictures of our students in action, and other information about what is going on in the district.
Reminder - WB Elementary School Building Project Community Forum on January 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the MSHS in the auditorium. Check out the flyer for more information. Come and learn about what has been done so far for the building project.
West Bridgewater SEPAC Information
Superintendent Coffee Hour - The next meeting with Mr. Bodwell will be on Friday, January 10th at 9:15 am at the Spring Street School. Please check in at the main office. There is also a virtual option https://meet.google.com/mrm-jtcm-faj
ELEMENTARY WINTER ENRICHMENT
Check out our new classes in Winter Enrichment! We have new classes such as Sports Showdown and Winter Watercolors, plus favorites such as Model Magic, LegoMania, and Sew Fabulous! Classes begin the week of January 13. Register at
https://churchillenrichment.com/
West Bridgewater Elementary School Building Project Community Meeting Project Update - January 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the MSHS in the auditorium. Check out the flyer for more information.
West Bridgewater District December Newsletter Wildcat PRIDE https://secure.smore.com/n/kvtuew
Great job WB student Matt Navin! https://www.enterprisenews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2024/12/19/brockton-ma-christmas-holidays-socks-homeless-teen-matt-navin/77061482007/ Matt recently dropped off over 3,000 pairs of socks to Brockton City Hall to give to people in need around the Brockton area. Well Done!
Reminder - If you want to check out the Elementary School Building Project website here is the link https://wbesbuildingproject.com/
Superintendent Coffee Hour - The next meeting with Mr. Bodwell will be on Friday, January 10th at 9:15 am at the Spring Street School. A Google Meet link will be sent out the week of the meeting as will some agenda topics.
A message from the WB Athletic Boosters- The December Booster's meeting was rescheduled because of weather complications last week (power outages). Our new meeting date and time is tonight! Join us if you can!
SAVE THE DATE Elementary School Building Project Community Forum - Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00pm at the MSHS in the Auditorium. There will be a presentation providing members of the community with updates and information related to the building project. There will also be opportunities for people to ask questions. More information will be sent out before the meeting. Here is the project website https://wbesbuildingproject.com/