Westall Elementary School

276 Maple Street

Fall River, MA 02720

Principal Rich Leeman

Introducing Principal Rich Leeman

Mr. Leeman is the Principal of the Westall Elementary School. Mr. Leeman began his educational career in Fall River. He was hired as a teacher in 2010. In 2013, he became an Assistant Principal at the Carlton Viveiros Elementary School. Most recently, Mr. Leeman has worked as a school principal in New Bedford and in West Bridgewater. He is excited to return to Fall River Public Schools and to lead Westall Elementary School.

School Phone Number:

508-675-8570

School Fax Number:

508-675-8577

Direct Line to the Nurse's Office:

508-675-8575

School Hours:

8:50 A.M. - 3:22 P.M.

School Spirit Colors:

Shirts:

White

Grey

Royal Blue

Iron-on logos or shirts with the school logo already on them can be purchased at J&B Hockey located at 162 President Avenue.

Bottoms:

Black

Navy Blue

Khaki

Pants can be purchased at the store of your choice.

Mission:

Westall Elementary School strives to provide our students with a safe, inclusive learning environment that provides a well-rounded educational experience. We aim to appropriately challenge students to intrinsically develop self-motivation for academic and social growth. Through high expectations, dedicated instruction and social-emotional support, staff will prepare students to be successful citizens in a global economy.

Vision:

At Westall Elementary, we are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment where every student thrives as a compassionate, lifelong learner. Our focus is on fostering collaboration and developing 21st-century skills to equip students to be effective problem solvers, communicators, and high achievers. We celebrate kindness and well-rounded growth, with dedicated, passionate teachers who uphold high standards and support each student in reaching their fullest potential.

Update on before-school care:

To begin the school year, there will not be before care at Westall. If you are interested in before care, please email school clerk, Ms. Pam Gomes (pgomes@fallriverschools.org). If there is enough enrollment to support the program and staff to run the program, we will do our best to accommodate the requests later in the school year.

Welcome Message from Principal Leeman

Hello Westall Elementary School Community,

I am Rich Leeman, and it is with great excitement and pride that I introduce myself as the principal leading the reopening of Westall Elementary. My journey in education has been deeply rooted in Massachusetts, where I reside in Swansea with my wife Amanda, a dedicated special education teacher in Taunton, and our two wonderful daughters, Mia and Gracie. Coming from a family immersed in education, with four older sisters also in the field, I have always felt a strong passion for fostering learning environments.

Professionally, I am an alum of the University of Rhode Island, beginning my career at B.M.C. Durfee High School before serving as a vice principal at Carlton M. Viveiros Elementary School for three years. I then spent five years as a principal in New Bedford and another three in West Bridgewater. These experiences have shaped my educational philosophy and prepared me to lead Westall Elementary with a commitment to excellence and community.

Outside of education, I enjoy watching sports, spending time with my family and friends, and seeking out warm weather for vacations. As we embark on this new chapter together, I am eager to collaborate with you, the Westall community, to ensure that our school provides a nurturing and inspiring environment for every child. Your input is invaluable, and we are dedicated to working diligently to serve the needs of your children and our community.

I look forward to meeting each of you and working together to make Westall Elementary a place where every student thrives.

Warm regards,

Rich Leeman

Welcome Message from Vice Principal Medina

Hello Westall Elementary School Community,

My name is Justine Medina and I am excited to be your new vice principal. I would like to start off by saying that I know change can be difficult, however, I assure you with an open mind and positive attitude this change will be an amazing educational experience.

I was born and raised in New Bedford and reside there with my daughter Karlee. I also have an adult son who lives in Rhode Island. I started my teaching career in Bronx, NY where I taught second grade for two years. In 2007, I transitioned back to my hometown where I taught a range of grades and became the assistant principal of the elementary school I attended. In 2017, I was asked to become the principal of a school that had been struggling. Most recently I taught English as a Second Language and I've been consulting with a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting schools in the area of cultural competency.

I care deeply about providing students with a high-quality, enjoyable, learning experience. I believe school should be both challenging and fun so that students want to be there! "It truly does take a village," therefore, Westall families, you are going to be treated as partners in your child's educational journey. I look forward to meeting all of you soon.

Kind regards,

Justine Medina