Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski has announced the appointment of Daniel Paquette as the new principal of Westfield Technical Academy, replacing Bruce Hastings, who will be retiring at the end of the school year. Paquette has served as assistant principal at the school for the past two-and-a-half years. He will begin his new role on July 1.
Paquette received his bachelor’s in history from Fitchburg State College, his master’s in education from Our Lady of the Elms and his master’s in school administration from Westfield State University.
Before joining WTA, Paquette served as an assistant principal at Westfield High School for six years and as an assistant principal in Palmer for one year. Before entering administration, he spent thirteen years as a social studies teacher at Chicopee Comprehensive. He has also served as a head tennis coach and assistant football coach.
Czaporowski said the appointment follows an intensive and comprehensive search process led by a dedicated 12-member interview committee. The committee included representation from WTA staff, students, parents/guardians, district office administrators, and a School Committee member who devoted many hours to reviewing applications, selecting semifinalists, and conducting formal interviews with four candidates.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to all who served on the committee for their time, professionalism, and commitment to the future of WTA,” Czaporowski said.
“Paquette is a familiar and respected leader at Westfield Technical Academy, having served as assistant principal since August 2023. His deep roots in Westfield Public Schools and extensive administrative background made him the clear choice for this role,” Czaporowski said.
“We are confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen WTA as ‘the place to be’ and advance excellence for both students and staff.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/new-principal-chosen-for-westfield-technical-academy.html
Paquette received his bachelor’s in history from Fitchburg State College, his master’s in education from Our Lady of the Elms and his master’s in school administration from Westfield State University.
Before joining WTA, Paquette served as an assistant principal at Westfield High School for six years and as an assistant principal in Palmer for one year. Before entering administration, he spent thirteen years as a social studies teacher at Chicopee Comprehensive. He has also served as a head tennis coach and assistant football coach.
Czaporowski said the appointment follows an intensive and comprehensive search process led by a dedicated 12-member interview committee. The committee included representation from WTA staff, students, parents/guardians, district office administrators, and a School Committee member who devoted many hours to reviewing applications, selecting semifinalists, and conducting formal interviews with four candidates.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to all who served on the committee for their time, professionalism, and commitment to the future of WTA,” Czaporowski said.
“Paquette is a familiar and respected leader at Westfield Technical Academy, having served as assistant principal since August 2023. His deep roots in Westfield Public Schools and extensive administrative background made him the clear choice for this role,” Czaporowski said.
“We are confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen WTA as ‘the place to be’ and advance excellence for both students and staff.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/new-principal-chosen-for-westfield-technical-academy.html
Recently, students in Culinary Arts I at Westfield High School completed their annual food truck unit. “It’s one of their favorite projects,” said Ekaterina Rosario, hospitality and culinary arts teacher at the school. She said she introduces the project towards the end of the semester, for which the students create their own signature dish and food truck concept.
The students create teams and come up with the name of the food truck, the concept, logo and truck design. They also make a whole recipe book of six dishes featuring a signature dish, along with a menu with descriptions and prices. They also make up a grocery list, and Rosario does the shopping. “I literally give them free rein, as long as we can afford it,” she said.
The students then execute the signature dish in class in three days, two days for prep and one day for cooking. This year’s offerings included triple berry cheesecake, seven-layer burrito, several versions of mac and cheese, Oreo cinnamon buns, strawberry cupcakes, juicy burgers, a steak and cheese sandwich, orange chicken with rice, and a chicken burrito bowl, among others.
Culinary Arts I is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Anyone can sign up for the class, which is an elective credit at WHS, and very hands-on, she said. Upon successful completion of the course, students may advance to Culinary Arts 2 and Hospitality.
In Culinary Arts 2, students build the skills necessary to pursue careers in the food service and hospitality industries through a wide range of food preparation methods in the classroom, lab setting and real-world experiences. Additional areas of focus include etiquette, hospitality practices, banquet planning, facility operations, presentation skills and catering.
Hospitality introduces students to the structure and scope of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Students examine key components of tourism such as transportation, accommodations, food and beverage service and attractions. The course also explores a variety of career pathways in hospitality while helping students build essential industry knowledge and skills needed for success.
The long-term goal is to create a Chapter 74 program in hospitality. Rosario has been working towards that goal since she first started at WHS, making plans to upgrade the kitchen classroom at the school. She said last year, significant improvements were made to modernize and enhance the kitchen space.
Improvements included removing all of the upper kitchen cabinets to create a more open and functional layout, completely gutting on corner kitchen area, installing wire shelving to improve organization for food ingredients and kitchen equipment, adding a new three-bay sink and stainless steel worktable, and upgrading to larger, industrial-sized refrigerators.
Upcoming renovations and upgrades include removing and gutting the remaining wooden kitchen cabinets and replacing them with stainless steel workstations, upgrading additional kitchen equipment to industrial-grade standards, including ovens, worktables, mixers, wire shelving and handheld equipment.
Also included in the plans is enhancement of the WHS café area across the hall by completing the barista counter currently being built by the WTA Carpentry and Cabinetry Shop, updating the bakery display case, installing commercial coffee machines and refreshing tables and chairs in the space.
Each renovation and upgrade demonstrates the school’s collective dedication to equipping students with practical, hands-on skills aligned with industry standards.
Rosario also offered her appreciation for the support the program has received, both from the school district and the community.
“A heartfelt thank you to the Westfield Women’s Club and our community for their generous donation of much-needed kitchen equipment and utensils. Their support has made a meaningful difference,” she said.
“Thank you to our dedicated custodial and maintenance staff for their hard work and commitment throughout the renovation process. I am also deeply grateful to our administration, especially Principal Charles Jendrysik at WHS and Pete Taloumis at WTA, for their continued support and leadership,” Rosario added.
“Finally, thank you to our superintendent and school committee for believing in and supporting the vision of growing the hospitality program into a fully developed vocational pathway here at WHS. I am incredibly proud of how far we have come and excited for what lies ahead. The future of the hospitality program at WHS is bright,” Rosario said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/whs-culinary-arts-and-hospitality-program-is-on-a-roll.html
The students create teams and come up with the name of the food truck, the concept, logo and truck design. They also make a whole recipe book of six dishes featuring a signature dish, along with a menu with descriptions and prices. They also make up a grocery list, and Rosario does the shopping. “I literally give them free rein, as long as we can afford it,” she said.
The students then execute the signature dish in class in three days, two days for prep and one day for cooking. This year’s offerings included triple berry cheesecake, seven-layer burrito, several versions of mac and cheese, Oreo cinnamon buns, strawberry cupcakes, juicy burgers, a steak and cheese sandwich, orange chicken with rice, and a chicken burrito bowl, among others.
Culinary Arts I is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Anyone can sign up for the class, which is an elective credit at WHS, and very hands-on, she said. Upon successful completion of the course, students may advance to Culinary Arts 2 and Hospitality.
In Culinary Arts 2, students build the skills necessary to pursue careers in the food service and hospitality industries through a wide range of food preparation methods in the classroom, lab setting and real-world experiences. Additional areas of focus include etiquette, hospitality practices, banquet planning, facility operations, presentation skills and catering.
Hospitality introduces students to the structure and scope of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Students examine key components of tourism such as transportation, accommodations, food and beverage service and attractions. The course also explores a variety of career pathways in hospitality while helping students build essential industry knowledge and skills needed for success.
The long-term goal is to create a Chapter 74 program in hospitality. Rosario has been working towards that goal since she first started at WHS, making plans to upgrade the kitchen classroom at the school. She said last year, significant improvements were made to modernize and enhance the kitchen space.
Improvements included removing all of the upper kitchen cabinets to create a more open and functional layout, completely gutting on corner kitchen area, installing wire shelving to improve organization for food ingredients and kitchen equipment, adding a new three-bay sink and stainless steel worktable, and upgrading to larger, industrial-sized refrigerators.
Upcoming renovations and upgrades include removing and gutting the remaining wooden kitchen cabinets and replacing them with stainless steel workstations, upgrading additional kitchen equipment to industrial-grade standards, including ovens, worktables, mixers, wire shelving and handheld equipment.
Also included in the plans is enhancement of the WHS café area across the hall by completing the barista counter currently being built by the WTA Carpentry and Cabinetry Shop, updating the bakery display case, installing commercial coffee machines and refreshing tables and chairs in the space.
Each renovation and upgrade demonstrates the school’s collective dedication to equipping students with practical, hands-on skills aligned with industry standards.
Rosario also offered her appreciation for the support the program has received, both from the school district and the community.
“A heartfelt thank you to the Westfield Women’s Club and our community for their generous donation of much-needed kitchen equipment and utensils. Their support has made a meaningful difference,” she said.
“Thank you to our dedicated custodial and maintenance staff for their hard work and commitment throughout the renovation process. I am also deeply grateful to our administration, especially Principal Charles Jendrysik at WHS and Pete Taloumis at WTA, for their continued support and leadership,” Rosario added.
“Finally, thank you to our superintendent and school committee for believing in and supporting the vision of growing the hospitality program into a fully developed vocational pathway here at WHS. I am incredibly proud of how far we have come and excited for what lies ahead. The future of the hospitality program at WHS is bright,” Rosario said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/whs-culinary-arts-and-hospitality-program-is-on-a-roll.html
Westfield Technical Academy celebrated its 19th Annual Pinning Ceremony on Feb. 13, which honors Allied Health students who have successfully passed their Certified Nursing Assistants certification. The ceremony, filled with tradition, recognizes the compassion and dedication the students have demonstrated on their pathway to care for people at their most vulnerable.
This year, the five students who completed the training, Karley Bullock, Alexandra Durfey, Yarianna Merced, Emilia Rohan and Laura Talbot have a wide range of goals in the healthcare field.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/westfield-tech-honors-cna-graduates-in-pinning-ceremony.html
This year, the five students who completed the training, Karley Bullock, Alexandra Durfey, Yarianna Merced, Emilia Rohan and Laura Talbot have a wide range of goals in the healthcare field.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/westfield-tech-honors-cna-graduates-in-pinning-ceremony.html
Reminder: There will be no school for students from February 16–February 20 due to Winter Vacation. Have a wonderful break and stay safe!
Click on the link below to view the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" featuring students from the Westfield High School/Westfield Technical Academy Hockey Team. We also took time to recognize National Paczki Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoZtkh_KjZQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoZtkh_KjZQ
Southampton Road Elementary School held its second STEAM night (science, technology, engineering, art and math) night for third and fourth graders and their siblings, in partnership with students and staff from the Jandon Center for Community Engagement at Smith College.
SRS STEM teacher Jessica Hanson said the school has been partnering for the last two years with the Jandon Center’s education initiative, which they connected with through a parent, Nancy Ziegler, who works there. Besides the STEAM night, they’ve benefitted from the Center’s Robotics Outreach Initiative, which organizes teams of Smith students to create robotics workshops and classes.
The Robotics team brought their robots to STEAM night, giving all of the students who attended the opportunity to participate in a diner dash, in which the robots pushed “food” items from one restaurant to another.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/southampton-road-students-have-hands-on-fun-at-steam-night-run-with-the-jandon-center.html
SRS STEM teacher Jessica Hanson said the school has been partnering for the last two years with the Jandon Center’s education initiative, which they connected with through a parent, Nancy Ziegler, who works there. Besides the STEAM night, they’ve benefitted from the Center’s Robotics Outreach Initiative, which organizes teams of Smith students to create robotics workshops and classes.
The Robotics team brought their robots to STEAM night, giving all of the students who attended the opportunity to participate in a diner dash, in which the robots pushed “food” items from one restaurant to another.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/southampton-road-students-have-hands-on-fun-at-steam-night-run-with-the-jandon-center.html
Westfield Public Schools and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce are thrilled to announce that the Annual Career Expo & Job Fair will be held on April 1, 2026, at Westfield State University, and we hope you will attend!
Businesses will have the opportunity to engage with students in conversations about your career and industry and recruit students for internships and jobs.
Eleventh-grade students from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, St. Mary’s High School, and White Oak School will be in attendance.
Please click on the flyer below for more information and to register. Thank you!
Businesses will have the opportunity to engage with students in conversations about your career and industry and recruit students for internships and jobs.
Eleventh-grade students from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, St. Mary’s High School, and White Oak School will be in attendance.
Please click on the flyer below for more information and to register. Thank you!
“Being present every day is the first step toward achievement.” #AchievingExcellenceTogether
This week on "Superintendent's Spotlight", the Westfield High School Show Choir stopped by the studio to give us a preview of their upcoming Disney inspired Cabaret Show that will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Westfield High School. Tickets are only $10.00. Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Homemade Soup Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYrrHkCOF_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYrrHkCOF_M
We are pleased to announce that Westfield Public Schools will offer tuition-free preschool for Westfield residents for the 2026-2027 school year. If your child will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2026 and you are interested in having your child attend WPS preschool, please complete this interest form. If you have more than one child eligible for preschool, please complete a separate form for each child.
All 3 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday for 2.5 hours, either in the morning or afternoon. The morning program will run from 9:15 am to 11:45 am and the afternoon program will run from 12:45 pm to 3:15 pm.
All 4 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday from 9:15 am to 3:15 pm each day.
This form will remain open through Friday, March 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Families will be notified on or before Thursday, April 2, 2026 if their child has been selected.
Please contact Jonathan Scagel, Preschool Program Supervisor, at (jonathan.scagel@schoolsofwestfield.org) with any questions.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XmEKoihDwnMvWVCE3mxwJUkcHZNwrvGU-Us8IP2kQIU/edit?usp=sharing
All 3 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday for 2.5 hours, either in the morning or afternoon. The morning program will run from 9:15 am to 11:45 am and the afternoon program will run from 12:45 pm to 3:15 pm.
All 4 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday from 9:15 am to 3:15 pm each day.
This form will remain open through Friday, March 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Families will be notified on or before Thursday, April 2, 2026 if their child has been selected.
Please contact Jonathan Scagel, Preschool Program Supervisor, at (jonathan.scagel@schoolsofwestfield.org) with any questions.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XmEKoihDwnMvWVCE3mxwJUkcHZNwrvGU-Us8IP2kQIU/edit?usp=sharing
Please click the link below for the latest newsletter from Westfield Intermediate School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/4t6w2-wis-family-newsletter#b4y2436604
Please click here for the latest newsletter from Westfield River Elementary School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/qym82w
National School Counseling Week 2026 (Feb. 2-6), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Take a moment to thank your school counselor(s). #AchievingExcellenceTogether
A reminder that all Elementary School Students will be released at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Thank you.
Three hundred students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy presented their science and engineering projects in the WHS auditorium to over 100 judges, scientists, industry professionals, and educators with backgrounds in science and engineering at the 25th annual High School Science and Engineering Fair on Jan. 29.
“It was an incredible day. It’s always rewarding to see our students so engaged in their work and excited about presenting it to the judges. Our Science Fair is truly a community effort, and as a school community, we have so much to be proud of. Our students and the students who joined us from WTA really produced some impressive projects,” said WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik.
During the four hours of judging that morning, which was covered live by Westfield Community Television, coordinator and science teacher Christina Smith said the science standards in the Westfield high schools allow students to progress all the way to the International Fair.
Winners who will be moving on to the regional fair were announced with balloons at a public viewing that evening and the next day during school.
WHS science teachers Jakob Wyman and Renee Sweeney said 15 projects from WHS and two from WTA were selected by the judges to move on to the regional fair, with five projects selected as alternates. Sweeney said Westfield has 15 slots altogether at the regional fair.
The project that was scored the highest by the judges went to WHS junior Giovanni Santaniello with his project on “Mycoremediation — utilizing pleurotus ostreatus var. Columbinus (oyster mushrooms) to degrade plastic.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/01/student-scientists-share-findings-at-25th-high-school-science-engineering-fair.html
“It was an incredible day. It’s always rewarding to see our students so engaged in their work and excited about presenting it to the judges. Our Science Fair is truly a community effort, and as a school community, we have so much to be proud of. Our students and the students who joined us from WTA really produced some impressive projects,” said WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik.
During the four hours of judging that morning, which was covered live by Westfield Community Television, coordinator and science teacher Christina Smith said the science standards in the Westfield high schools allow students to progress all the way to the International Fair.
Winners who will be moving on to the regional fair were announced with balloons at a public viewing that evening and the next day during school.
WHS science teachers Jakob Wyman and Renee Sweeney said 15 projects from WHS and two from WTA were selected by the judges to move on to the regional fair, with five projects selected as alternates. Sweeney said Westfield has 15 slots altogether at the regional fair.
The project that was scored the highest by the judges went to WHS junior Giovanni Santaniello with his project on “Mycoremediation — utilizing pleurotus ostreatus var. Columbinus (oyster mushrooms) to degrade plastic.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/01/student-scientists-share-findings-at-25th-high-school-science-engineering-fair.html
Stop by Tiger's Pride Restaurant at Westfield Technical Academy this Friday, January 30, 2026, between 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. for a terrific lunch prepared by our talented students. Please call 413-564-3123 for more information. Thank you!
Principal Jesse McMillan said during a visit last week to Westfield Middle School, motivational speaker Terrence Lee Talley’s message of hope and resilience was well received.
Talley, who is from Minnesota, spent the day in Westfield on Jan. 22 giving four presentations, one to seventh-grade students in the auditorium and one to eighth-grade students, leading a staff meeting at the end of the day and an evening event for families at 6 p.m.
One of the topics Talley touched upon was mental health concerns in middle school and navigating teasing and bullying. McMillan said the school has a social-emotional curriculum that Talley’s message reinforced. “We needed to provide a unified message of hope, resiliency, and supporting one another — even people you don’t know.”
The overall theme of the assembly was don’t give up reaching out to others, no matter what life situations they’re going through, and encourage people to keep going, not only the people you know, but the ones you don’t know, he said. “Sitting in an auditorium with 350 kids — 700 in the school — can guarantee you that someone is weathering a storm. Be mindful of that in daily interactions. You don’t know what people are going through inside and outside of school.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/01/you-could-hear-a-pin-drop-said-wms-principal-about-recent-assemblies.html
Talley, who is from Minnesota, spent the day in Westfield on Jan. 22 giving four presentations, one to seventh-grade students in the auditorium and one to eighth-grade students, leading a staff meeting at the end of the day and an evening event for families at 6 p.m.
One of the topics Talley touched upon was mental health concerns in middle school and navigating teasing and bullying. McMillan said the school has a social-emotional curriculum that Talley’s message reinforced. “We needed to provide a unified message of hope, resiliency, and supporting one another — even people you don’t know.”
The overall theme of the assembly was don’t give up reaching out to others, no matter what life situations they’re going through, and encourage people to keep going, not only the people you know, but the ones you don’t know, he said. “Sitting in an auditorium with 350 kids — 700 in the school — can guarantee you that someone is weathering a storm. Be mindful of that in daily interactions. You don’t know what people are going through inside and outside of school.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/01/you-could-hear-a-pin-drop-said-wms-principal-about-recent-assemblies.html
Westfield baseball standout Joshua Wagner has found a new home to continue his academic and athletic career.
Wagner announced on X (formerly Twitter) last week that he has committed to play Division I baseball for Merrimack College upon graduation. This has been a moment in the making for Wagner. So for his vision to finally become a reality is a dream come true.
This spring will mark Wagner’s fourth and final season with the Bombers. And during his memorable tenure, Wagner has accumulated 136 strikeouts and has allowed 46 earned runs in 121 combined innings pitched thus far. On the offensive side, meanwhile, the senior has recorded 31 combined hits and 21 RBIs in 115 plate appearances thus far.
But aside from those impressive figures, Wagner has also been a vocal leader who helped guide Westfield to the D-II state semifinals against Plymouth North in 2024. That said, it’s no wonder that Wagner has been named a Super 7 and First-Team All-Western Mass. selection for two consecutive years.
https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2026/01/westfields-joshua-wagner-commits-to-play-d-i-baseball-at-merrimack.html
Wagner announced on X (formerly Twitter) last week that he has committed to play Division I baseball for Merrimack College upon graduation. This has been a moment in the making for Wagner. So for his vision to finally become a reality is a dream come true.
This spring will mark Wagner’s fourth and final season with the Bombers. And during his memorable tenure, Wagner has accumulated 136 strikeouts and has allowed 46 earned runs in 121 combined innings pitched thus far. On the offensive side, meanwhile, the senior has recorded 31 combined hits and 21 RBIs in 115 plate appearances thus far.
But aside from those impressive figures, Wagner has also been a vocal leader who helped guide Westfield to the D-II state semifinals against Plymouth North in 2024. That said, it’s no wonder that Wagner has been named a Super 7 and First-Team All-Western Mass. selection for two consecutive years.
https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2026/01/westfields-joshua-wagner-commits-to-play-d-i-baseball-at-merrimack.html
Click on the link below for the latest episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we talked with staff and students from Munger Hill Elementary School about PLTW - Project Lead The Way, Building Thinking Classroom, and Student Discourse. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program stopped by to help us celebrate National Blonde Brownie Day too. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuD5C0CtzY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuD5C0CtzY
Join us for lunch today and tomorrow at Tiger's Pride Restaurant at Westfield Technical Academy from 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Please call 413-564-3123 for more information. Thank you for supporting our students.
