Westfield Public Schools

Click on the image below for the latest newsletter from Westfield Intermediate School!

Southampton Road Elementary first graders in Laura Fisher’s class became reporters for a newspaper project, “Extra, Extra, Read all about it,” to publicize what the students love about their school. Students learned about what a reporter is and how to write a short article. They learned that a reporter might focus on important information, fun facts and stories about things going on in their community. “This writing activity is an opinion piece and is taught in connection with strands in our writing, literacy and social studies curriculum for first grade,” said their teacher, Laura Fisher. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/southampton-road-first-graders-become-reporters-for-newspaper-project.html

Click on the image below to view that latest newsletter from the WPS Health Services Department. Thank you!

This week, "Superintendent's Spotlight" stopped by Hangar 2 to talk with staff and students in our Aviation Program as representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration delivered our new Power Plant certificate. Our students will now be certified to work on all aspects of aircraft, including the engine. Westfield Public Schools is only one of three high schools in the country with this certification. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqe8axxy1OU

Teens testified to the value of programs that expose Westfield High School students to college courses and college life on Wednesday, just before a press conference where state officials announced their commitment to “early college” programs. State Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega and acting Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Russell Johnston sat down with Mayor Michael McCabe, School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and a panel of students participating in the program known as Westfield Promise. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/teens-tout-westfield-state-university-partnership-as-model-for-opportunity.html

Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and local education officials held a round table discussion with students to find out how the state’s higher education system is enhancing students’ academic experience. Students at Westfield High School said the program called Westfield Promise has broadened their knowledge. This program allows students to earn up to 18 college credits in high school while also giving them a sneak peek at college life. At this meeting students and education officials were able to discuss how higher education courses have helped students and discuss ways to improve it. Some of those ways include increasing exposure and access to higher education for K-12 students improving equity in financial aid and enhancing support for historically underserved and underrepresented students. “It’s key all of these students are engaged in early college programming. You can see these students are on a track to being served well and this program works,” said Patrick Tutwiler, the secretary of education. Senator John Velis, a former Westfield high school student said programs like this are essential for the growth and development of the students. “Kids in many instances don’t find out what they want to do until it is too late. One of the reasons I am convinced that is the case is because they are not exposed to that information so what these classes do is figure out earlier if you like something or if you don’t,” said Velis. https://www.wwlp.com/news/education-officials-discuss-higher-education-system/

This morning on WCPC Channel 15 and WSKB 89.5 FM, the Westfield High School Show Choir was featured on "On the Mark". Host Mark Auerbach spoke with the students about their musical and career interests and more. The students also previewed some of the music from their upcoming show on Thursday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Westfield High School. Tickets for the Fallfest can be purchased at Degray's Service or by calling Westfield High School at 413-572-6463. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM4xY42LFCM

Westfield on Weekends’ PumpkinFest will return from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 19 on the athletic fields behind Amelia Park off South Broad Street. “A goal of any community event that brings people together is just that, bringing people together to interact in a world which is so online, so divisive sometimes,” said WOW President Bob Plasse. “It is so important for us to offer opportunities for us to play together and actually to work on a project and collaborate together.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/pumpkinfest-set-to-return-with-madison-curbelo-performance-food-trucks.html

Christopher Rogers, director of operations and safety for the Westfield School Department, recently announced that all schools will conduct lockdown drills during the week of Oct. 15-18 in order to update the school district’s comprehensive safety plan in conjunction with the Westfield Police, Fire and Health departments. “A team of Westfield administrators and other staff members representing every level from elementary to high school has been working collaboratively with the Westfield Police and Fire departments to make sure our students, staff, and families have a current, research-based, and educationally sound emergency operations plan,” Rogers said. A lot of work goes into emergency preparedness for the schools, he said, particularly teamwork. The schools have a District Safety Team that includes Police, Fire, public safety dispatch and Health Department personnel along with school administrators and nurses and meets monthly. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/westfield-schools-to-practice-lockdowns-with-public-safety-depts-next-week.html

Click on the link below for the latest edition of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we talked about the new IEP and more with our Special Education Leadership Team. We also celebrated National Angel Food Cake Day with staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np4jTwSqU8k

Click on the image below for more information about the 16th Annual Westfield Scout Expo being held on Saturday, November 9. Thank you!

If you missed this morning's episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Information Technology Department about careers in the field, cybersecurity, and AI (artificial intelligence) on National Techies Day. These students really know their stuff! Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3VHeuLg4fg

October is National Principals Month, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing principals who lead our schools. Their dedication, passion, and commitment shape the educational experiences of our students and foster positive school cultures. Every day, our principals inspire teachers, staff, and students to strive for their best. They navigate challenges with grace and create environments where every student can thrive. This month, join us in recognizing and thanking these remarkable leaders. To our wonderful principals, thank you for all that you do. Your leadership and tireless efforts make a profound difference. Let’s all take a moment to #ThankAPrincipal and show our appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our schools and communities.

Students are “all in” the new criminal justice vocational program at Westfield High School. Asked what she likes best about it, senior Kamaria Eddington said, “It’s all hands-on — how we’re all so ‘in it.’” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/criminal-justice-students-all-in-for-westfield-high-career-education-program.html

Westfield Public Schools continues to update our school district’s comprehensive safety plan in conjunction with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments. A team of Westfield Administrators and other staff members representing every level from elementary to high school, has been working collaboratively with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments to make sure our students, staff, and families have a current, research-based, and educationally sound emergency operations plan. As part of our continued work with Westfield Police Department and our ongoing training for students and staff, our city departments working together will conduct lockdown drills in our schools the week of October 15-18 utilizing the enhanced lockdown procedures known as A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate). If you have any questions regarding our drills, please contact Mr. Christopher Rogers, Director of Operations and Safety for the Westfield Public Schools at 413-572-6495.

The Westfield Technical Academy Construction Technology Advisory Board met with department instructors on Sept. 24 to review applications for paid off-campus construction projects, and begin the selection of projects for the 2024-25 school year. The main direction for the department is the next Westfield Technical Academy Foundation student build, to follow up the house at 64 Mill St. that was completed and sold earlier this year, according to construction technology chair and head instructor Matthew Gomes. He said they are actively seeking a new opportunity to build a house with the students. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-tech-seeks-land-for-next-student-built-house-ideas-for-other-projects.html

Rain in the forecast may have stopped some people from attending the Big E on Sept. 26, as the fair only managed 48,078 admissions, far short of the pleasant-weather standard. But on Salute to Westfield Day, it couldn’t keep several city residents from making the short trip to the West Springfield fairground to see their exposition favorites, like the Avenue of States. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-residents-enjoy-food-business-sightseeing-on-citys-day-at-big-e.html

Pickleball has grown in popularity across the country, including in western Massachusetts. Now, there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “I got into it in the middle of summer, and it’s kind of a new thing for me,” said Lia O’Brien, freshman at there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. O’Brien has been getting the hang of pickleball. In fact, during the summer, she heard about a new pickleball league just for high schoolers in her community. Now, about a month into the school year, she is the first player to ever serve in the Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “It’s really fun having a connection through a new sport and it’s fun to see how other people play and the competition’s fun, too,” O’Brien added. Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Technical Academy, told Western Mass News he jumped at the opportunity for his students to participate in the pilot program. “I talked to some of the kids at school during class, and they’re like. ‘Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll do it’ so we had a lot of interest and the kids really took off with it,” Dulude noted. They took off indeed. As of this moment, there are 20 kids on the team and there are three other schools involved: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, South Hadley High School, and Springfield International Charter. The games take place on the 14 pickleball courts located behind Westfield Tech, including eight new ones recently put in the town. Westfield Technical Academy Coach Ron Nadeau told Western Mass News that the main goals are to eventually make pickleball a varsity sport across the Bay state and get kids into a sport that has grown in popularity. “I’m very impressed, actually. Getting an opportunity to see other teams and how well they play or don’t play, and I think our team is doing very well. We’re off to a 2-0 record so far, so we’re hoping that we can continue success and impress our community,” Nadeau explained. The league will have games on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of October. The hope is to make a pickleball an MIAA varsity sport in the next one to three years. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/09/26/high-school-pickleball-league-make-debut-western-mass/

If you missed this yesterday's new episode of "Superintendent Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we talked with our Human Resources staff about their careers and their work in our district. We were also joined by staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program to help us recognize 'National Pancake Day'. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4CwDD1iASk

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we talked with school nurse Liz Flaherty and Athletic Director Greg Vouros about concussions since National Concussion Awareness Day is on Friday, September 20. In this episode, we learn about symptoms, long term effects, concussion protocols in our athletic programs, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BGXHNp4zB8