Westfield Public Schools

For 56 years, the Westfield Middle School has observed Memorial Day with an assembly inviting area veterans to be recognized for their service, and this year’s assembly on May 20 was part of the grand tradition. Local veterans, many from American Legion Post 124 in Westfield and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872 in Southwick gathered in the library, where they were teamed up with students to be escorted into the auditorium. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/westfield-middle-school-continues-56-year-memorial-day-assembly-tradition.html

Now in its 10th year as an organization, Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts is capping off another year of its programming on June 8, with its annual 5K Girls on the Run celebration, this time at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Girls on the Run Western Mass. is proudly celebrating its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of empowerment, growth and positive impact in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin counties. Since its establishment in 2015, the program has flourished, touching the lives of over 12,650 girls in over 85 schools and community sites. Among those sites are Westfield River and Munger Hill elementary schools in Westfield and Powder Mill School in Southwick, according to the organization’s website. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/girls-on-the-run-set-to-celebrate-10-years-of-building-confidence-and-making-memories.html

Last year, in conjunction with Advance Manufacturing and the Amanti family, students in manufacturing technology at Westfield Technical Academy were given the opportunity to create parts for the American Bobsled Team. The parts were programmed, set up and manufactured by students using stock donated by Advance Manufacturing. Ron Nadeau, lead instructor of manufacturing technology, said the project was time sensitive. “Upon completion, all of the parts were inspected and presented back to Advance Mfg., where they were used in a bunch of sleds.” The result was that team member Kaysha Love won a world championship on a monobob using parts created by Westfield Technical Academy students. Recently, Nadeau was at Advance Manufacturing when the team came to the company, and an award was presented to them that was shared with the students. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/wta-manufacturing-students-make-parts-for-world-championship-american-bobsled-team.html

No Cost Treatment for Marijuana, Alcohol and other Drug Problems: MASS General Brigham is doing this research to assess a new type of intervention that combines group and individual therapy to improve substance use and related outcomes in youth and young adults. Click on the link below for more information. Thank you! https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/youthrecoveryprogram

The Westfield High School Drama Club presents “All Shook Up,” a new musical screenplay by Joe DiPietro, inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley on Thursday and Friday, May 8 and 9. Tickets, which are sold at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. The play is directed by Owen Snyder and choreographed by Hannah Bruno. Music directors are Korey Bruno and Patrick Kennedy, and costumes are by Gwen Newton. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-drama-club-presents-all-shook-up-on-may-8-and-9-featuring-the-songs-of-elvis-presley.html

Westfield Career Services Counselor Patricia Healy was recognized this week as the Western Massachusetts recipient of the General Colin L. Powell Service Award. The award is presented to one high school counselor from each of the eastern and western half of the state that best supports young adults in making their individual educational and career choices in high school and upon graduation. “I could not think of a more deserving person for this award,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski in making the announcement. Healy was nominated by Tech. Sgt. Brian Whitman of the Air National Guard 104 and AT2 Micaela Veronese of the U.S. Navy, and was told this is the first time a counselor has ever been nominated by two different recruiters in the same year. Healy is also invited to be recognized at the Enlistee Recognition Ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 10 at Gillette Stadium, which she said she will gladly attend. She said the majority of the ceremony is to honor and acknowledge students who are among the one percent of their peers to enlist. “I feel very blessed, very lucky,” she said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-career-services-counselor-one-of-two-recognized-for-state-service-award.html

Wednesday, Second Grade students at Westfield River Elementary put their STEM skills to the test! As part of a Project Lead the Way module, students tackled a real-world challenge: preventing erosion during a flash flood. Working in teams, they designed and tested solutions using land models, simulating flash floods and measuring erosion. From vegetation to retaining walls and diversion pipes, students applied creative engineering strategies while building their collaboration and communication skills. A special thank you to the professionals from J.L. Raymaakers & Sons, Inc. who joined us today to provide feedback and help students connect classroom learning to real-world problem solving! In addition, Sam Horton and DJ Hunter, Communication majors from Westfield State University, captured the event as part of their final project. 🎥 They interviewed students and teachers about their experience with PLTW and documented the hands-on excitement as designs were put to the test. We can’t wait to see the final project they create! 🎬

On May 1, Westfield High School celebrated College and Career Reveal Day, where seniors are asked to come in wearing t-shirts or other outward indications of their plans beyond graduation. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-students-celebrate-their-college-and-career-futures.html

Highland Elementary School had a special visitor today! Author Jamie L. B. Deenihan stopped by to present to our 2nd graders, sharing her journey as a writer and bringing her stories to life with energy and inspiration. Our young readers were all smiles—thank you, Jamie, for sparking the joy of storytelling!

Professor Pricklethorn (portrayed by accomplished Arborist Paul Sellars) visited Highland Elementary School on April 30! As part of a special tour organized by the State’s Urban and Community Forestry Department, Professor Pricklethorn brought an engaging, interactive presentation that taught students all about the importance of trees—and had a lot of fun doing it!

School Principal’s Day, celebrated on May 1st every year, is a time to recognize and appreciate the dedicated leaders who guide our schools. Principals play a crucial role in shaping the educational experience, fostering a positive learning environment, and supporting teachers, students and families. Thank you to all our building Principals for all that they do each and every day for our schools.

Horticulture technology at Westfield Technical Academy is getting ready for its popular Annual Spring Plant Sale on Tuesday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Friday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If any plants are left over — they are often sold out — the sale will be open on Saturday, May 10, from 9 to 11 a.m. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/annual-spring-plant-sale-at-westfield-technical-academy-begins-may-6.html

The United States Attorney’s Office will be hosting a virtual internet safety presentation for all adults who wish to keep children safe online. Assistant United States Attorney Luke Goldworm and Victim Witness Specialist Lauryn Mackey will be joined by Special Agent Andrew Kelleher from Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation and Digital Forensics Unit to present a Webex Webinar: Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. A Q & A session will follow the presentation. The presentation will bring awareness to how predators are sexually exploiting children online and how to keep them safe. Advanced registration is required. You may register for the webinar at the link below: https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r4617269953953d7a4aaa839f6c3e110b

Munger Hill’s first grade students are learning about plants with WTA students in the Horticulture program, fostering real world connections, deeper understanding, and motivation - the hallmarks of relevant learning. Jennifer Kubic, Rebeccca Conroy, and Sandy O’Connor, Grade 1 teachers at Munger Hill, and Vicky-Lynn Toro, Horticulture teacher at the Tech Academy, have brought their students together twice before. During the first and second years of the collaboration, Ms. Toro and her students visited to help plant flowers in the beds in front of Munger Hill. In the second year, a visit to WTA was planned, but due to unforeseen circumstances, that trip did not happen. This year, everything about the collaboration was coming up roses! The first-grade students were able to visit WTA, where they toured the greenhouses and shop areas. The students also had the opportunity to see the hydroponic greenhouse, where vegetables are grown without soil! Every first grade student was able to plant both an herb and a flower—one to take home and one to leave at WTA! Ms. Toro and her students will return to MH in May to help plant the flowers that stayed behind. These will be added to the front flower beds of the school. Students had the opportunity to think about whether they may want to have a career related to horticulture, and the trip was the perfect kick off for the Grade 1 Life Science Unit focusing on Plant Traits and Survival. As an added bonus, Mrs. Kubic ran into a former student she had at Fort Meadow, and he is thriving in the Horticulture program!

No EBT Card Access April 26-27: The state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is changing Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) vendors. As part of the transition, families will not be able to use their food benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP) or withdraw cash benefits (Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children, TAFDC; or Emergency Aid to the Elderly Disabled and Children, EAEDC) from 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 through mid-day on Sunday, April 27. No food purchases can be made during this time.

Spring Vacation starts on Monday, April 21, 2025, and ends on April 25, 2025. School resumes on Monday, April 28, 2025. Have a safe and enjoyable break!

Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Monday, April 21, in observance of Patriots Day. Thank you.

If you missed Thursday's NEW "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff from Southampton Road Elementary School and Smith College about their STEM/STEAM partnership with fourth grade students. Students and staff from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also helped us to celebrate 'National Crawfish Day' with some delicious Crawfish Etouffee. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au90BU7GckA

At the School Committee meeting on April 7, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and Human Services Director Michael Morris introduced Dr. Gregory Rosenthal as the search committee’s pick to be the new administrator of special services and student support services. Rosenthal will replace Debra Ecker, who is retiring after serving five years at the top special education post and previously as a supervisor. Rosenthal is the current director of special education and student services for the Douglas Public Schools. Before to that role, he had a similar one with the Northbridge Public Schools. He has also worked as a special education teacher and administrator in public schools and out-of-district private special education schools. He has led professional development on topics such as differentiated instruction, student engagement, and co-teaching, said Morris. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/04/dr-gregory-rosenthal-hired-as-new-administrator-of-special-services-in-westfield.html

Water Filter Showcase at Westfield Intermediate School May 30th, 2025, 8:15-10:00: 5th grade students have engineered water filters after learning about Earth’s Water and Interconnected Systems in Project Lead the Way. Sign up to give feedback to students at this event. See the flyer for more information. Thank you!