Once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil. This motto may be preached by all students, staff and alumni at WHS, but no one embodies this saying quite as much as WHS Student Resource Officer Nick Calello.

A 2012 graduate of WHS, Calello has made it his duty to give back to the school, serving as the SRO for the last four years. An SRO is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the school community, facilitating communication between the school and police department and fostering positive relationships between students and law enforcement — a “community connection,” in the words of Calello.

However, as the 2024-2025 academic year comes to a close, so does the end of Calello’s tenure at WHS. In July, Calello will return to duty as a police officer on patrol, a decision which he explained will give him more time to spend with his family.

Though his time as an SRO is ending, Calello’s impact will remain.

Assistant Principal Brett Curtis conveyed his appreciation for Calello from both an administrative and personal perspective. Not only is Calello extremely helpful in handling matters of school and student security, he said, “[Calello] is just a really good person…to him, it’s the kids that matter and he really takes that part of his job seriously.”

Westfield School Safety and Security Specialist Frank Padovano echoed Curtis’s statement. “Nick is dedicated,” he said. “He cares about the kids, he knows everything about them and he gives 100 percent effort into keeping kids safe.”

Besides keeping WHS physically safe, Calello has also created safe places inside the building where all students can feel welcome. Walk down the main hallway during any time of the day, and you will undoubtedly see at least one student — often more — spending down time with him in his office. Its walls, adorned with high-scoring tests of students, football candids and medals, photos of memes, as well as inside jokes with students, are only a visual representation of his connection with the school.

When not busy working, Calello’s office is a place where students can recharge and have a fun time. Senior Jack Martin, a frequent visitor of the office, joked, “He’s given me a safe haven for tomfoolery and other shenanigans.”

Calello also volunteers as a coach for Police Athletic League Football and WHS Girls Flag Football, and it was during their PAL days that many students, including Martin, got to know Calello.

Senior Priscilla Dayon reiterated a similar appreciation for Calello. Not only is Dayon a member of the flag football team, her father is also a police officer. “I’ve known [Calello] for a while, so coming into high school, it made me comfortable to know that I had him here to go to, in case I had any questions or anything to worry about.”

This impact is noticeable for everyone, an idea reiterated by Curtis. “It’s pretty clear to anybody who sees him around over the course of the day, whether it’s in his office or walking around the halls, how impactful the connections he makes with the individual kids are, in terms of mentorship, teaching them how to be leaders,” he said. “He gets down to their level and treats them like human beings.”

To Calello, some of the most important parts of the job are “just getting to know the kids and letting them know that cops aren’t their enemy, they’re a resource and they’re there for [them],” he said. Additionally, he said, one of the greatest rewards of the job is seeing the students’ growth and their development into young adults.

Art Teacher Leah Jarvis, who taught Calello during his time as a student, commended Calello for being a good student and hard worker by noting that he was “a quiet kid who always did his work, and never caused any issues in class.”

Calello was also an offensive lineman for the WHS football team. Athletic Director Jim DeSarno, who was the coach at the time Calello played, said “I have a special place in my heart for him, so I’m upset that he’s not going to be here anymore.” 

DeSarno is grateful to have been able to develop a close relationship with Calello and watch him grow, both professionally and personally, from the time he was one of his players to becoming an SRO. 

Calello’s legacy is incomparable. Desarno and Curtis both expressed that apart from it being tough to see him go and lose the opportunity to talk to him everyday, Calello is leaving big shoes to fill. Desarno added, “It will be hard for us to find someone who can make the impact that he’s had.” 

Whether you know Calello just as the face that greets you while scanning into school in the mornings or on a more personal level, Calello will be missed greatly in the WHS community.

As he prepares to leave, Calello’s message for the student body is to “always be true to yourself and always do the best you can.”

Calello may not be spending any more time in the halls of WHS, but he is not done giving back to the community.