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T HE G REEN W AVE G AZET TE
F ALL 2016
WWW.GREENWAVEGAZETTE.ORG
School Resource Officers Are Here to Help
Jenny
Worden
(Page 2)
Allison Dennehy ‘18
Associate Editor
Abington has followed in the footsteps of all other surrounding towns
by obtaining a state grant to have
two police officers present in the
school system for the next three
years. Michelle Bettencourt and
Shannon Reeves, both Abington
High Alumna (Class of 2006), are
our school resource officers. They
have actually known each other since
they were five-years-old, when they
were known as Michelle Franey and
Shannon Bray.
Officer Bettencourt graduated from
American International College in
Springfield. Her uncle, Richard
Franey, was the police chief in
Abington until he retired in 2004,
and she aspired to be like him ever
since he spoke at her school about his
job when she was younger.
Officer Reeves graduated from
Suffolk University and has always
loved the idea and image behind
being a police officer.
In the schools, the officers’ main
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :
Mr. Di Rado
(Page 3)
Fall Plays
(Page 5)
Election
(Page 6)
Abington School Resource Officers Shannon Reeves and Michelle Bettencourt
priority is ensuring that all students
and faculty are safe. However, they
are also here to build positive relationships with the youth in Abington. “The media has definitely taken
a negative approach on police, and
we want to prevent that because we
are here to help everybody. Our job
is to help,” said Reeves.
said Bettencourt. The officers hope to
prevent making arrests and pressing
charges, and instead want to work
closely with students and parents to
find better solutions for problems like
bullying.
Reeves and Bettencourt work in all of
the public schools in Abington, and
their relationship with students varies.
The officers are here to build rapport According to the officers, the younger
with students. They hope to “work
with the school and come up with
Continued on Page 2
different solutions to solve issues,”
Cuba
(Page 8)
Mike
Hazen
(Page 9)
Acadia
(Page 15)
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