Former Westford Principal Becomes Superintendent on South Shore

Former Blanchard School principal Jessica Huizenga has been named as interim principal of the Freetown-Lakeville School District.

  The Herald News of Fall River reports former Blanchard School principal Jessica Huizenga has been named as the interim superintendent in the Freetown-Lakeville School District just north of Fall River and New Bedford. Huizenga's appointment came after what Freetown-Lakeville School Committee chairman described in the Herald report as "a great deal of dialogue" over who should replace outgoing superintendent John McCarthy. McCarthy recently accepted a job in the nearby Scituate School District and will resign from Freetown-Lakeville on June 30. Huizenga began her career in education as a history teacher in Texas and Plymouth before serving as an assistant principal in Randolph, a principal in Holliston and the principal at Blanchard from …

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LETTER: "Let's Give Hunger A Scare"

To submit your own Letter to the Editor, please e-mail us at westford@patch.com.

This Halloween Blanchard Middle School students will hit the streets of Westford for a Trick-or-Treat Canned Food Drive, titled “Let’s Give Hunger A Scare”, which is being sponsored by the Blanchard Student Council. On Halloween night, during the evening of Trick or Treating hours, students will go door-to-door throughout Westford collecting non-perishable food items for the Westford Food Pantry. If you are planning to offer candy to Trick or Treaters and/or turn your outside lights on during these hours, students will likely stop by your house to ask for donations. If you do not wish to donate, we apologize in advance for the inconvenience. If you choose to donate, students will gladly accept any non-perishable food items. Below is a list…

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Blanchard Students Win Gold in Acting Competition

Blanchard's Theatre Arts group won for its performance of the play "Tracks."

The Blanchard Middle School Theatre Arts group recently won a gold medal at the Massachusetts Educational Drama Guild's Middle School Drama Festival for its rendition of the play "Tracks." Several Blanchard students also won individual awards: The group will be performing "Tracks" -- as well as three other plays -- in an "Evening of Theater" June 10-11 at Blanchard. Two performances will be held 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $5 for students/seniors and $10 for adults.

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Whiz Kids

Blanchard Students Donate to Westford Food Pantry

The school collected more than 300 pounds of food.

Blanchard Middle School students just keep giving back. After collecting hundreds of household items for the Lowell Wish Project earlier this month, students donated more than 300 pounds of food to the Westford food pantry. Check out pictures of their work above. Their efforts won them our weekly "Whiz Kids" award. Whiz Kid's Name: Blanchard Middle School students Whiz Kid's Age: Middle Schoolers Whiz Kid's School: Blanchard Middle School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Collecting hundreds of pounds of food for the Westford food pantry. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?): Their willingness to give back Submit your Whiz Kid nominations to jason.claffey@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

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Whiz Kids

Blanchard Middle School Student Council

Council members on Saturday collected a bunch of truckloads worth of household items for charity.

Congratulations to the Blanchard Middle School Student Council! On Saturday, members collected several truckloads worth of used household items for the Lowell Wish Project, which donates to Merrimack Valley social service organizations. The students were overseen by advisor Liz Benstead. Students collect items for charity throughout the year, she said. Whiz Kid's Name: The Blanchard Middle School Student Council Whiz Kid's Age: Middle Schoolers Whiz Kid's School: Blanchard Middle School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Collecting hundreds of household items for charity. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?): Their willingness to give back Submit your Whiz Kid nominations to jason.claffey@patch.com. Be sure to include all …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 7

Should Whole Foods move to town?

Before you head out and start your Thursday, here are five things you should know: 1. SUN, SUN, SUN! Weather-wise, today will be the best day of the week. It will be clear with temperatures approaching 60 degrees. 2. SHOULD WHOLE FOODS COME TO WESTFORD? Lots of residents have said they want to see one set up shop in town. Are you one of them? 3. HELP OUT BLANCHARD STUDENTS. A bunch of students are collecting gently used household items Saturday at Blanchard Middle School. Do you have any items you can donate? 4. DID YOU KNOW? The closest Whole Foods locations to Westford are about 20 minutes away in Andover and Bedford, respectively. 5. THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On this day in 1948, the World Health Organization was founded.

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Vetere to Remain Blanchard Principal

Superintendent Bill Olsen decided to stick with Rose Vetere over two candidates who interviewed for the job.

After a months-long search for a new Blanchard Middle School principal, the superintendent on Monday announced he'll stick with the interim one. Rose Vetere, who took over on an interim basis last year, will continue to serve as the principal of Blanchard through at least next year, according to Superintendent Bill Olsen. A search committee had named two finalists for the position, but Olsen decided to stick with Vetere, who previously served in the Abbot Elementary School. "Neither candidate represents a match with the Blanchard community (students, staff and parents) that I am looking for," Olsen wrote in a letter to parents Monday. "I am very pleased that (Rose) has agreed to continue in this role. Rose has done an excellent job as the …

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Meet Blanchard Middle School Principal Finalists Tonight

A meet-and-greet will be held at the school at 7 p.m.

From Westford Public Schools: The public is invited to meet the finalists for the principal position at Blanchard Middle School tonight at 7 p.m. The event will be held in the Blanchard Middle School auditorium. The candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions presented by the audience.

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 25

Hero police officers, snow's on the way, lecture on eating disorders postponed.

Before you head out and start your Tuesday, here are five things you should know. 1. The good news? It won't be as cold as Monday. Temperatures will be about 30 degrees during the day and about 20 degrees at night. 2. The bad news? It's supposed snow tonight and tomorrow. We could get two inches of snow tonight and a few more inches Wednesday. 3. Back to good news: Westford police Officers Geoffrey Pavao and Corey Peladeau were heroes yesterday. They found a missing elderly man from Nashua, N.H. who was sprawled out on the driveway of a random Westford home early Monday morning. The officers stabilized the man as an ambulance arrived. The man survived the incident and is recovering at a Boston hospital. 4. A lecture on eating disorders …

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