Westfield Middle School’s school store received a donation of handmade jewelry and painted bags, created over the summer by art classes at the Westfield Senior Center.
Assistant Principal Karoline Kells said that WMS students earn “minga points” for positive actions and can redeem them in the school store. “Thanks to this donation, students will now be able to use their points to ‘purchase’ these unique handmade pieces for themselves or as gifts for loved ones,” Kells said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/art4good-donates-handcrafted-jewelry-and-bags-to-westfield-middle-school-store.html
Assistant Principal Karoline Kells said that WMS students earn “minga points” for positive actions and can redeem them in the school store. “Thanks to this donation, students will now be able to use their points to ‘purchase’ these unique handmade pieces for themselves or as gifts for loved ones,” Kells said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/art4good-donates-handcrafted-jewelry-and-bags-to-westfield-middle-school-store.html
📺 Did you miss this week’s “Superintendent’s Spotlight”?
We were live from Studio 120 at Westfield Technical Academy for this week’s show!
We talked with staff and students from Westfield Intermediate School about the start of the new school year and the importance of acts of kindness throughout our school community. 💙
Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy’s Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Apple Dumpling Day with a delicious recipe featuring apples grown by WTA’s own Horticulture Department! 🍎🥟
Thanks for watching and for helping us celebrate the great things happening across Westfield Public Schools!
👇 Click the link below to watch this week’s episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5KZWFehi-A
We were live from Studio 120 at Westfield Technical Academy for this week’s show!
We talked with staff and students from Westfield Intermediate School about the start of the new school year and the importance of acts of kindness throughout our school community. 💙
Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy’s Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Apple Dumpling Day with a delicious recipe featuring apples grown by WTA’s own Horticulture Department! 🍎🥟
Thanks for watching and for helping us celebrate the great things happening across Westfield Public Schools!
👇 Click the link below to watch this week’s episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5KZWFehi-A
It’s a big year for the Bombers.
With 22 seniors and a new turf stadium, Westfield has all the ingredients to rebound after back-to-back 4-6 seasons. The Bombers got off to a promising start in their new stadium debut Friday, when they cruised to a 55-12 win over Fitchburg.
Westfield’s speed on the outside will certainly be worth the price of admission this fall. Junior QB Aiden Purdy, who went for 325 yards and five TDs in the win over Fitchburg, found receivers David Berdecia and Cole Russell early and often, while tailback Adrian Colon also ran for more than 100 yards and two scores.
https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2026/09/week-1-winners-5-western-mass-football-teams-that-made-a-statement.html
With 22 seniors and a new turf stadium, Westfield has all the ingredients to rebound after back-to-back 4-6 seasons. The Bombers got off to a promising start in their new stadium debut Friday, when they cruised to a 55-12 win over Fitchburg.
Westfield’s speed on the outside will certainly be worth the price of admission this fall. Junior QB Aiden Purdy, who went for 325 yards and five TDs in the win over Fitchburg, found receivers David Berdecia and Cole Russell early and often, while tailback Adrian Colon also ran for more than 100 yards and two scores.
https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2026/09/week-1-winners-5-western-mass-football-teams-that-made-a-statement.html
📺 **Did you miss last week’s brand-new episode of *Superintendent’s Spotlight*?**
In this episode, we sat down with members of our Curriculum and Instruction Team to learn more about **Building Thinking Classrooms** and our annual **Curriculum Summit**, held each August to help prepare our educators for the year ahead.
We also welcomed staff and students from **Westfield Technical Academy’s Culinary Arts Department**, who helped us celebrate **National Hot Dog Day — California style!** 🌭
Thank you to all of our guests for joining us, and thank you for watching!
▶️ **Watch the full episode here:**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfVY-sqb4A4
In this episode, we sat down with members of our Curriculum and Instruction Team to learn more about **Building Thinking Classrooms** and our annual **Curriculum Summit**, held each August to help prepare our educators for the year ahead.
We also welcomed staff and students from **Westfield Technical Academy’s Culinary Arts Department**, who helped us celebrate **National Hot Dog Day — California style!** 🌭
Thank you to all of our guests for joining us, and thank you for watching!
▶️ **Watch the full episode here:**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfVY-sqb4A4
James Laverty has just started his fourth year as a school safety attendant at Highland Elementary School through a Veterans Services program.
Director of Veterans Services Julie Barnes said the volunteer program started four years ago in elementary schools that didn’t have school resource officers from the Police Department. Currently, Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy each have an SRO assigned, and Westfield Middle School and Westfield Intermediate School share an SRO.
At the time, Barnes met with state Sen. John Velis and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski to discuss implementing the veterans’ volunteer program. In return for their volunteer work, veterans who work 100 hours in the schools can get a $1,500 tax abatement.
Director of Operations and Safety Christopher Rogers provides onboarding for all volunteers, who are all CORI-checked and fingerprinted. According to Rogers, the veteran's program is designed to identify and deter potential problems and foster a sense of security by having an extra level of protection in the schools.
Interested veteran volunteers should contact Barnes at 413-572-6247. Program guidelines and a volunteer application are also available on the city website under Veterans Services. Barnes said veterans must have served on active duty to qualify for the abatement program.
Heidi Cote, coordinator of Volunteers in Public Schools, said there are many volunteer opportunities in the schools throughout the year for the public at large, including at special events, where extra hands are always needed.
Cote said there is currently a big need for cafeteria support at both Highland Elementary and Westfield River Elementary. She said there are three lunches a day with recess between them, and volunteers who can come in for an hour or two are most welcome. “Consistency is best,” Cote said. Email heidi.cote@schoolsofwestfield.org to sign up. Anyone with questions should call Cote at 413-572-6463, ext. 61417.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/veterans-who-volunteer-in-the-schools-receive-tax-abatement.html
Director of Veterans Services Julie Barnes said the volunteer program started four years ago in elementary schools that didn’t have school resource officers from the Police Department. Currently, Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy each have an SRO assigned, and Westfield Middle School and Westfield Intermediate School share an SRO.
At the time, Barnes met with state Sen. John Velis and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski to discuss implementing the veterans’ volunteer program. In return for their volunteer work, veterans who work 100 hours in the schools can get a $1,500 tax abatement.
Director of Operations and Safety Christopher Rogers provides onboarding for all volunteers, who are all CORI-checked and fingerprinted. According to Rogers, the veteran's program is designed to identify and deter potential problems and foster a sense of security by having an extra level of protection in the schools.
Interested veteran volunteers should contact Barnes at 413-572-6247. Program guidelines and a volunteer application are also available on the city website under Veterans Services. Barnes said veterans must have served on active duty to qualify for the abatement program.
Heidi Cote, coordinator of Volunteers in Public Schools, said there are many volunteer opportunities in the schools throughout the year for the public at large, including at special events, where extra hands are always needed.
Cote said there is currently a big need for cafeteria support at both Highland Elementary and Westfield River Elementary. She said there are three lunches a day with recess between them, and volunteers who can come in for an hour or two are most welcome. “Consistency is best,” Cote said. Email heidi.cote@schoolsofwestfield.org to sign up. Anyone with questions should call Cote at 413-572-6463, ext. 61417.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/veterans-who-volunteer-in-the-schools-receive-tax-abatement.html
Please click below for the latest newsletter from Southampton Road Elementary School. Thank you. https://app.smore.com/n/04sah3
On Sept. 8, Chef Eric Rogers, Westfield Technical Academy culinary department head, visited the transition services program at its new home at 390 Southampton Road to discuss the commercial kitchen with students and staff.
Special education teacher Carolyn Busiere said there are 24 young men and women in the program this year, and 390 Southampton Road is a great new location. “It’s quite the upgrade,” she said.
The transition program is part of the Westfield Public Schools. It gives students ages 18 to 21 who are still entitled to services the support and opportunity to achieve their goals by offering continuing education opportunities, assistance with employment and workplace readiness, and community-based opportunities and support.
390 Southampton Road is also on the bus route, and several participants said they took the bus to get there. Outside, one student was waiting for a bus to Westfield State University, where he is taking classes.
“Today, Chef Rogers from WTA has been nice enough to train our clients and staff on individual appliances,” Busiere said on Tuesday.
She said many of the students in the program are interested in cooking and have taken culinary courses in high school. Several also work or have worked in kitchens at Shaker Farms, Noble Hospital and Westfield State, and two are in the culinary program at Holyoke Community College and are ServSafe certified.
Besides the commercial kitchen, new touchscreen displays for visual learners are being installed. There is an on-site apartment for mastering life skills and budgeting. There is also a community room, a meeting room, a technology room for studying and a recreation room in development.
“We’ll be gardening; we have a large backyard,” Busiere said.
Another great new addition is a van. “We got them a van so they can go out and visit in the community. We worked with Westfield Technical Academy to work that out; it’s one of theirs that wasn’t being used. They saw the importance of the transition program and made it happen. We’re very grateful to them,” Jendrysik said.
“It’s a great facility. The kids are excited. They’re going to have a recreation room. There are so many different opportunities,” Jendrysik said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/wta-chef-tours-390-southampton-road-commercial-kitchen.html
Special education teacher Carolyn Busiere said there are 24 young men and women in the program this year, and 390 Southampton Road is a great new location. “It’s quite the upgrade,” she said.
The transition program is part of the Westfield Public Schools. It gives students ages 18 to 21 who are still entitled to services the support and opportunity to achieve their goals by offering continuing education opportunities, assistance with employment and workplace readiness, and community-based opportunities and support.
390 Southampton Road is also on the bus route, and several participants said they took the bus to get there. Outside, one student was waiting for a bus to Westfield State University, where he is taking classes.
“Today, Chef Rogers from WTA has been nice enough to train our clients and staff on individual appliances,” Busiere said on Tuesday.
She said many of the students in the program are interested in cooking and have taken culinary courses in high school. Several also work or have worked in kitchens at Shaker Farms, Noble Hospital and Westfield State, and two are in the culinary program at Holyoke Community College and are ServSafe certified.
Besides the commercial kitchen, new touchscreen displays for visual learners are being installed. There is an on-site apartment for mastering life skills and budgeting. There is also a community room, a meeting room, a technology room for studying and a recreation room in development.
“We’ll be gardening; we have a large backyard,” Busiere said.
Another great new addition is a van. “We got them a van so they can go out and visit in the community. We worked with Westfield Technical Academy to work that out; it’s one of theirs that wasn’t being used. They saw the importance of the transition program and made it happen. We’re very grateful to them,” Jendrysik said.
“It’s a great facility. The kids are excited. They’re going to have a recreation room. There are so many different opportunities,” Jendrysik said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/wta-chef-tours-390-southampton-road-commercial-kitchen.html
The Westfield Technical Academy topped Mohawk Trail 168-180 behind freshman Jakob Elmer who fired a 2- over 38, tying Mohawk’s Connor Bergeron for medalist honores. Fellow freshman Tyler LaCasse, who tallied a 4-over 40, also helped lead the way for the Tigers.
Elmer played the final seven holes one under to card his 38, a team best so far on the year, while LaCasse’s 40 tied the previous team best on the season.
Josh Elmer and Chris Pederson each carded 45s to round out WTA’s top scorers.
Westfield golf defeats Northampton
Medalis Nathan Jarvis shot an even par score of 35 to lead Westfield to its first win of the season, 156-164.
Treygan Lemanski (39), Danny Romanelli (40) and Jonas Miller rounded out the top scorers for Westfield.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/wta-westfield-high-golf-squads-earn-victories.html
Elmer played the final seven holes one under to card his 38, a team best so far on the year, while LaCasse’s 40 tied the previous team best on the season.
Josh Elmer and Chris Pederson each carded 45s to round out WTA’s top scorers.
Westfield golf defeats Northampton
Medalis Nathan Jarvis shot an even par score of 35 to lead Westfield to its first win of the season, 156-164.
Treygan Lemanski (39), Danny Romanelli (40) and Jonas Miller rounded out the top scorers for Westfield.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/wta-westfield-high-golf-squads-earn-victories.html
Please click below for the latest newsletter from Munger Hill Elementary School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/g5wdu
Student-athletes from various sports who will play on the new athletic complex when it opens got a first look and feel on Sept. 2. Teams will start to practice on the field next week. The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the stadium is scheduled for Oct. 2, a delay of a few weeks due to the late arrival of some materials.
Chief Procurement Officer Tammy Tefft, who oversaw the project for the city, spoke to the athletes before they walked on the field for the first time. “Welcome to the new athletic complex. This is your field,” she said, introducing Mayor Michael McCabe and Westfield G&E General Manager Thomas Flaherty, who she said continue to put the project forward.
Tefft said the stadium is not complete. “We just added a ticket booth, storage shed and sod, and we’re a little behind schedule.” She said while the stadium remains closed to the public, there will be opportunities for the teams to practice on the field beginning next week, but all other areas are still restricted. Rules for the field include no dragging things, no vehicles and no animals or pets.
After the visit, Tefft said the delay is mostly due to the late arrival of the masonry for the concession building which houses the bathrooms, which is being built by General Contracting Solutions. “The arrival of the masonry block was delayed, through no fault of theirs. That is the active construction on the site. A lot of the inability to feel comfortable opening is the lack of actual bathrooms on the site,” Tefft said. She said the contractor has been working double time to get it finished, weekends and nights.
Tefft said the overall project of the three fields, including the two fields at Boardman, one artificial and one natural grass, has gone well. “The project on the whole has gone very smoothly. The contractor Mountain View Landscapes has done a phenomenal job with the three fields. Boardman is up and running, and soccer and field hockey are practicing on it since Aug. 24,” she said.
Tefft said Mountain View added a second set of bleachers to the complex. “All of that they rolled with us and continued to move the project forward. If the masonry had been able to arrive on time, the concession stand and bathrooms would have been able to open on time,” she said.
As for the late additions of the ticket booth and storage shed, which weren’t in the original plans, Tefft said, “We were under budget, and so we found some additional things to enhance the whole complex for the students and the fans, that we weren’t sure we could afford in the beginning. The athletic director was very keen on some of those changes.” She said the whole project is still under the appropriation.
“We are still continuing to work to have everything checklisted and done. We’re excited to see the kids being able to practice on Tuesday,” Tefft said. “A couple of weeks to have this complex where it should be is to me phenomenal.”
Through a partnership with Westfield Gas & Electric/Whip City Fiber, the City of Westfield and Westfield Public Schools, the new facilities include a lighted track, a stadium with an all-sport turf field and refurbished girls athletic and Boardman fields at Westfield High School. Funding is being provided from the Whip City Fiber division of WG&E, which pledged to give $1 million annually, for a total of $11 million, in addition to its annual payment in lieu of taxes to the city.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/student-athletes-get-first-look-at-stadium-field.html
Chief Procurement Officer Tammy Tefft, who oversaw the project for the city, spoke to the athletes before they walked on the field for the first time. “Welcome to the new athletic complex. This is your field,” she said, introducing Mayor Michael McCabe and Westfield G&E General Manager Thomas Flaherty, who she said continue to put the project forward.
Tefft said the stadium is not complete. “We just added a ticket booth, storage shed and sod, and we’re a little behind schedule.” She said while the stadium remains closed to the public, there will be opportunities for the teams to practice on the field beginning next week, but all other areas are still restricted. Rules for the field include no dragging things, no vehicles and no animals or pets.
After the visit, Tefft said the delay is mostly due to the late arrival of the masonry for the concession building which houses the bathrooms, which is being built by General Contracting Solutions. “The arrival of the masonry block was delayed, through no fault of theirs. That is the active construction on the site. A lot of the inability to feel comfortable opening is the lack of actual bathrooms on the site,” Tefft said. She said the contractor has been working double time to get it finished, weekends and nights.
Tefft said the overall project of the three fields, including the two fields at Boardman, one artificial and one natural grass, has gone well. “The project on the whole has gone very smoothly. The contractor Mountain View Landscapes has done a phenomenal job with the three fields. Boardman is up and running, and soccer and field hockey are practicing on it since Aug. 24,” she said.
Tefft said Mountain View added a second set of bleachers to the complex. “All of that they rolled with us and continued to move the project forward. If the masonry had been able to arrive on time, the concession stand and bathrooms would have been able to open on time,” she said.
As for the late additions of the ticket booth and storage shed, which weren’t in the original plans, Tefft said, “We were under budget, and so we found some additional things to enhance the whole complex for the students and the fans, that we weren’t sure we could afford in the beginning. The athletic director was very keen on some of those changes.” She said the whole project is still under the appropriation.
“We are still continuing to work to have everything checklisted and done. We’re excited to see the kids being able to practice on Tuesday,” Tefft said. “A couple of weeks to have this complex where it should be is to me phenomenal.”
Through a partnership with Westfield Gas & Electric/Whip City Fiber, the City of Westfield and Westfield Public Schools, the new facilities include a lighted track, a stadium with an all-sport turf field and refurbished girls athletic and Boardman fields at Westfield High School. Funding is being provided from the Whip City Fiber division of WG&E, which pledged to give $1 million annually, for a total of $11 million, in addition to its annual payment in lieu of taxes to the city.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/student-athletes-get-first-look-at-stadium-field.html
Please click here for the latest newsletter from Westfield Technical Academy. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/e5p8z
Click here to view the September newsletter from Westfield Middle School: https://app.smore.com/n/h36w4
Please click below for the latest newsletter from Westfield Intermediate School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/b0vj9r
Westfield Technical Academy opened its golf season with a 172-191 victory over Pioneer Valley Regional High School in a Bi-County East Division 3 match at Shaker Farms Country Club Monday afternoon.
Chris Pedersen paced the Tigers with a 39 over nine holes on the par-37 course, claiming medalist honors. WTA swept the top three individual positions as Tyler LaCasse carded a 42 for second place and Josh Elmer finished third with a 43.
Jakob Elmer shot a 48 and Jacob Wilson finished with a 49 to round out Westfield Tech’s top scorers. Josh McDonald added a 52, Zach Morgado shot a 53 and Jameson Cotto carded a 55 for the Tigers.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/westfield-tech-golf-opens-season-with-victory-over-pioneer-valley.html
Chris Pedersen paced the Tigers with a 39 over nine holes on the par-37 course, claiming medalist honors. WTA swept the top three individual positions as Tyler LaCasse carded a 42 for second place and Josh Elmer finished third with a 43.
Jakob Elmer shot a 48 and Jacob Wilson finished with a 49 to round out Westfield Tech’s top scorers. Josh McDonald added a 52, Zach Morgado shot a 53 and Jameson Cotto carded a 55 for the Tigers.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/westfield-tech-golf-opens-season-with-victory-over-pioneer-valley.html
Westfield EATS, Westfield Public Schools Food Services, has announced a new partnership with My School Menus that offers interactive online menus to make it easier for families, students and staff to see what’s being served each day.
“My School Menus is a program that we’ve teamed up with to help us get all of the menus and pertinent information out to parents,” said Food Services Director Rachel Kania. She said parents can now scroll through the daily menu items and see pictures of the food, nutritional facts and ingredients, which is especially important for families of children with allergies, she added.
“Now we can have all of that information right at the fingertips of parents, who can go online and see all of the options available every day,” she said.
Kania said Westfield EATS gets its food from local farms and partnerships. For example, ground beef comes from North Elm Butcher Block, which grinds it fresh that day. Lettuce and produce come from local farms, and fruit from Mountain Orchard Farms in Granville.
Previously, Kania had to keep track of all the recipes, ingredients and nutritional information by hand on an Excel spreadsheet. She said her staff spent the summer transferring the information to My School Menus.
“To be honest with you, it was a pretty big undertaking. We had to enter every ingredient for every recipe we have here. It took us two months to enter over the summer,” she said. “Now parents can see what we can see, make their own decisions and navigate the menu safely.”
On the menu site, there is a drop-down list for allergies. For example, if an egg allergy is indicated on that list, any items containing egg will be crossed off the menu.
Kania said some medical conditions also require nutritional information. For a child with diabetes, parents can now see a carbohydrate count, so they know how much insulin is needed for their child. “This helps everybody, from nurses to parents to us; it’s a great program,” she said.
Kania said parents can either navigate menus on their own with their children or utilize a menu from a registered dietitian. Food Services has a dietitian on staff who has been with the department for 25 years. The dietitian may be reached at 413-572-6493 or by visiting the Food Services office in Suite B10 in City Hall at 59 Court St.
The new online menus for Westfield EATS may be accessed at: menus.healthepro.com/organizations/3724
“It’s really a wealth of information at the parents’ fingertips, which we’re so excited about,” Kania said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/westfield-food-services-offers-new-interactive-menus-for-parents-to-safeguard-kids-choices.html
“My School Menus is a program that we’ve teamed up with to help us get all of the menus and pertinent information out to parents,” said Food Services Director Rachel Kania. She said parents can now scroll through the daily menu items and see pictures of the food, nutritional facts and ingredients, which is especially important for families of children with allergies, she added.
“Now we can have all of that information right at the fingertips of parents, who can go online and see all of the options available every day,” she said.
Kania said Westfield EATS gets its food from local farms and partnerships. For example, ground beef comes from North Elm Butcher Block, which grinds it fresh that day. Lettuce and produce come from local farms, and fruit from Mountain Orchard Farms in Granville.
Previously, Kania had to keep track of all the recipes, ingredients and nutritional information by hand on an Excel spreadsheet. She said her staff spent the summer transferring the information to My School Menus.
“To be honest with you, it was a pretty big undertaking. We had to enter every ingredient for every recipe we have here. It took us two months to enter over the summer,” she said. “Now parents can see what we can see, make their own decisions and navigate the menu safely.”
On the menu site, there is a drop-down list for allergies. For example, if an egg allergy is indicated on that list, any items containing egg will be crossed off the menu.
Kania said some medical conditions also require nutritional information. For a child with diabetes, parents can now see a carbohydrate count, so they know how much insulin is needed for their child. “This helps everybody, from nurses to parents to us; it’s a great program,” she said.
Kania said parents can either navigate menus on their own with their children or utilize a menu from a registered dietitian. Food Services has a dietitian on staff who has been with the department for 25 years. The dietitian may be reached at 413-572-6493 or by visiting the Food Services office in Suite B10 in City Hall at 59 Court St.
The new online menus for Westfield EATS may be accessed at: menus.healthepro.com/organizations/3724
“It’s really a wealth of information at the parents’ fingertips, which we’re so excited about,” Kania said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/westfield-food-services-offers-new-interactive-menus-for-parents-to-safeguard-kids-choices.html
Please click below for the latest newsletter from Westfield High School. Thank you!
It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks at Westfield Intermediate School!
Thank you to all of the incoming Grade 5 students and families who joined us for our building tours. It was wonderful to begin making connections and welcoming our newest Polar Bears to WIS!
Earlier this month, some of our incoming fifth graders also participated in Transition Camp, giving students a chance to meet new friends, get comfortable in the building, and learn more about life at WIS.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back on Monday, August 31! Here’s to a great year ahead!
Thank you to all of the incoming Grade 5 students and families who joined us for our building tours. It was wonderful to begin making connections and welcoming our newest Polar Bears to WIS!
Earlier this month, some of our incoming fifth graders also participated in Transition Camp, giving students a chance to meet new friends, get comfortable in the building, and learn more about life at WIS.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back on Monday, August 31! Here’s to a great year ahead!
Please click here for the latest newsletter from Westfield River Elementary School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/dq8uc
District teachers will take their turn at summer enrichment during a three-day curriculum summit at Westfield Intermediate School from Aug. 17-19.
Topics at this year’s summit will include the role of lead teachers, building student discourse and whether and how to use approved artificial intelligence tools in the classroom.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/westfield-teachers-take-a-turn-at-summer-enrichment.html
Topics at this year’s summit will include the role of lead teachers, building student discourse and whether and how to use approved artificial intelligence tools in the classroom.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/westfield-teachers-take-a-turn-at-summer-enrichment.html
Students entering seventh grade at the Westfield Middle School had the opportunity to participate in a two-day transition program on Aug. 11 and 12.
Called “Wolf Pack Prep” in honor of the school’s wolf mascot, the immersive experience was designed to make students feel better about coming to a new school, said organizer and reading specialist Jacqueline Osowski.
Osowski said students had the opportunity to meet some of the staff, explore the classes and become familiar with the new school. She said they enjoyed fun, laid-back activities while incorporating what they could expect when they come to WMS. They were given snacks every morning and walked down to the Boys & Girls Club to pick up lunch. They also received Wolf Pack T-shirts on Tuesday and were encouraged to wear them the next day.
On Wednesday, the activities included a scavenger hunt, individual vision boards and students expressing themselves through chalk art on the bus loop sidewalks.
Both the teachers and the students enjoyed the experience.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/wolf-pack-prep-helps-students-transition-to-westfield-middle-school.html
Called “Wolf Pack Prep” in honor of the school’s wolf mascot, the immersive experience was designed to make students feel better about coming to a new school, said organizer and reading specialist Jacqueline Osowski.
Osowski said students had the opportunity to meet some of the staff, explore the classes and become familiar with the new school. She said they enjoyed fun, laid-back activities while incorporating what they could expect when they come to WMS. They were given snacks every morning and walked down to the Boys & Girls Club to pick up lunch. They also received Wolf Pack T-shirts on Tuesday and were encouraged to wear them the next day.
On Wednesday, the activities included a scavenger hunt, individual vision boards and students expressing themselves through chalk art on the bus loop sidewalks.
Both the teachers and the students enjoyed the experience.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/wolf-pack-prep-helps-students-transition-to-westfield-middle-school.html