Westwood's New School to be Named "Pine Hill Elementary"

Town Clerk Dottie Powers and Westwood Public Schools Superintendent Emily Parks announced on the afternoon of Friday, March 24 2023, that pursuant to student vote, the name of the new elementary school that will consolidate Westwood's Hanlon and Deerfield schools will be "Pine Hill Elementary."

After nearly 200 community submissions for ideas for naming the school, Westwood School Committee narrowed the choices down to Pine Oak and Pine Hill. 

Town Clerk Powers oversaw the election that brought together staff from Town Hall along with fifth grade students who both contributed to working the polls. Westwood Media Center documented the process with Westwood High School video students. 

The vote count resulted in 266 votes for Pine Hill Elementary  and 127 votes for Pine Oak Elementary. Therefore, the new school will be named Pine Hill Elementary.

At a recent School Committee meeting, “Pine Hill” was described as an original name of the Hanlon School, also chosen by its school children, many years ago. The new, consolidated elementary school that will stand on the Hanlon site will reclaim a piece of town history, especially relevant to that same site. The new Pine Hill Elementary School will overlook conservation land and pine trees, tucked in a hill.

View the announcement here:

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