Challenger Eyes Ward 3 School Committee Seat

Jessica Bessell will face incumbent Chris O'Neil, who is seeking a second term.

Ward 3 School Committee representative Chris O'Neil will have at least one challenger in his attempt to win a second term. Mayhew Road resident Jessica Bessell pulled papers Tuesday, and she told Attleboro Patch she was "100 percent committed" to running. Bessell is a mother of two young boys, including one who is in kindergarten at Willett Elementary School. The other child will attend kindergarten at Willett next year. "I have a personal interest in the school committee, my children," wrote Bessell in an email to Patch. "I have formed great relationships with parents, teachers and, most of all, the children through volunteering, PTO and being involved in the community. With this background, I want to run for the Ward 3 seat to represent …

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Jessica Bessell

5:52 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Thank you Jerry, I plan on running for the seat.   more ›

Mom's the Word in the 'Boro

Welcome to the PTO!

An annual holiday shop breaks in this new PTO mom.

As most of you know, I am a "new" mom this year—to the PTO that is! My son Jacob is a kindergarten student at Willett Elementary in Attleboro. Being new to the school, I was eager to become part of the PTO and be that active parent I yearned to be. I have made every PTO meeting so far and and began volunteering for different events. One of my first major tasks was being asked to co-chair the Holiday Shop, which took place this past Friday. I accepted this challenge with anticipation of being involved in an event that was part of my son's school. So maybe I didn't know what I was getting myself into from all that is involved in planning a school event. There is so much behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into it and so many steps you need to …

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Jessica Bessell

5:53 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012

Thank you Laurie, it was a great event!   more ›

Principal Zinni Leaving Willett for Thacher

Catherine Zinni will be replaced by Kate Campbell.

Willett Elementary School parents received a phone message Friday afternoon with a familiar theme from the 2011-12 school year. Principal Catherine Zinni is leaving, but unlike the others school chiefs who are departing, she will remain in the district. Zinni will become the principal at Thacher Elementary School. Willett's new principal will be Kate Campbell, who Zinni described in the message as having "years of experience in Attleboro schools." Zinni has been the principal at Willett since 2008. "As a PTO president, I'm sure she will do amazing work there, but she will be greatly missed," wrote Willett PTO President Laurie Brasil in an email to Attleboro-Seekonk Patch. "She has been welcoming to new ideas, which has made for a fresh and…

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Band Featuring Attleboro Music Teacher to Infuse the Groove in Foxboro

The band that rocked the Attleboro School District in January will be performing at Showcase Live on October 29!

The Rhythm Room, a high-energy band founded by Rick Morin of North Attleboro and featuring an Attleboro music teacher, will be on stage at Showcase Live in Foxboro Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Band member, Alan Clavette, one of Morin's former students and current music teacher at Studley and Willett Elementary Schools is psyched about the family-friendly concert, which will include all new and original choreography and music. "It is so impressive to see my fellow band members, many of whom started as my students when they were eight or nine years old working so hard" Morin said about Clavette and the other seven members of the band. Teaching Through Music Teaching music is theme for the The Rhythm Room, a band that interweaves the energy …

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Emotions Run High Over Attleboro Sex Offender Ban [VIDEO]

A proposed Child Safety ordinance caused a heated debate during an Attleboro City Council public hearing.

One by one, residents took to the podium during a public hearing at an Attleboro City Council meeting Tuesday to speak both for and against a proposed ordinance that would ban Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders from entering city-owned buildings and property. Candace and Keith Shepard of Attleboro, who have two children, attended the public hearing to speak in favor of the proposed ordinance. "As a parent, there is nothing more important than my children and their safety and well being," Catherine Shepard told Attleboro city councilors." I know this isn't going to eliminate the problem of sex offenders in our city, but I think it's the step in the right direction." Shepard told the council that the ordinance would give the Attleboro Police …

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Gretchen Robinson

2:22 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

child sexual abuse is such a hot-button issue that we in the public often don't know how to talk about it. Every time there's an article in the paper about sexual abuse of children strong emotions get evoked. Just in the last year there have been horrifying stories locally and nationally. And that means public discussions need to be well planned and prepared for in advance because emotions can be…   more ›

State Says Attleboro Schools Broke Education Law

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the Attleboro School Dept. did not comply with special education laws.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has completed its investigation of a complaint lodged by Jen Crowder for lack of speech and language and occupational services for her son, Austin, and has found the Willett Elementary School in violation of special education laws. Both the district and Crowder have attorneys to deal with the matter. “Those attorneys are working together to resolve this,” Superintendent of Schools Pia Durkin said. According to Massachusetts law (603 CMR 28.03 c), the school had 45 days to develop a new Individualized Education Program (IEP) following an evaluation of Austin last December. The district did not develop a new IEP until July. Additionally, the report says the district did not complete…

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John

8:33 pm on Sunday, October 2, 2011

Well said Deb, I agree with everything you have said. I watched the school committee meeting today and it was pretty sad to see what they did to this women. Open forum is not a time to engage the person who is speaking (per the chairman's directions lol), but I guess those rules don't apply to the Superintendent, her Director of Special Education or the chairman himself. I agree with you that …   more ›

Mom's the Word in the 'Boro

Deciding Between the Path that Leads to Public or Charter School

Hope to choose the right path.

The summer has dwindled and the kids are back to school. This is the first year both of my boys will be in preschool at Little Blessings together and it is bittersweet for me. I now realize I will never have the two of them home together again and now they have become preschoolers. I will get some mommy and me time with one of them every morning, which I will have to be thankful for. The separation will be good for them. While I'm looking forward to another great year at Little Blessings, I must say, I am already preparing for kindergarten. Decisions have to be made by January and so my husband and I have to decide where our son will be going for kindergarten. With the economy the way it is and being a stay-at-home mom it is important that…

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Jessica Bessell

10:31 am on Thursday, September 22, 2011

Yay, I found a charter school mom! Thank you LV for the information on your experience so far! I hear your concerns on AHS and keeping your child consistent with one school. Please keep in touch and let me know how he does throughout the year.   more ›

10 Ways for Attleboro Parents to Get Involved at School

Here's a number of ways to participate in your child's education.

How parents and families can get involved in their child's elementry school: Information provided by Principal Catherine Zinni of Thomas E. Willett Elementary School.   How parents and families can get involved in their child's middle school: Information provided by Principal Karen Saltzman at Cyril K. Brennan Middle School  

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Back to School

What you need to know about Willett Elementary School

Here's a look at everything you need to know about Willett!

Here's what you need to know about Willett Elementary School: Principal: Catherine Zinni  Willett Elementary Address: 32 Watson Avenue Attleboro, MA 02703 (508) 222-0360 8:50 am - 3:30 pm AM/PM Kindergarten 8:50 am - 11:30 am 12:50 pm - 3:30 pm Early Release 12:30 Website:www.wes.attleboroschools.com PTO: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willett-Elementary-School-PTO/127084212102 A01 FIRST STOP 7:45 BILTMORE AT DOUGLAS; Karen @ Davis LINDSEY AT GERRI; LINDSEY AT SARGENT CIRCLE; LINDSEY AT CEDAR CREEK; LINDSEY @ Roadway A # 2, CLAIRE AT KENNEDY; CLAIRE AT ORLANDO; CLAIRE AT BAMBERRY;  LINDSEY AT JACAP;845 LINDSEY ST; 680 LINDSEY STREET; 630 LINDSEY STREET;68 VEERY RD; -BANK @ VEERY; 81 TANAGER RD; Payson @ Ashton Rd A01 DISMISSAL TIME: 330 …

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Attleboro Whiz Kid: Sophie Weiland

Young and talented Sophie Weiland heads to Grade 4 on a high note.

Always full of joy and smiling on stage, Sophie Weiland delights in performing Acro, Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Musical Theatre. As a growing and artistic dancer, dancing with New England Dance Academy, Sophie commits her time to focus completely on dance. Even when performing her routines on the historical Providence Performing Arts Center stage, Sophie is comfortable and relishes every minute of it. This past spring, Sophie and her friend Julia displayed their Acro and Jazz talents when they choreographed and performed a routine to Chris Brown’s Yeah x3 in Willett’s Got Talent. During the school year, Sophie takes part in CCD and contributes her own recess time to assist her former teachers. “When Sophie was in my second grade class, she …

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