The School Committee took time at the start of the meeting on Dec. 15 to say goodbye to two longtime members, Timothy O’Connor and Heather Sullivan, who have served 17 and 16 years, respectively, with some years off in between.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/school-committee-thanks-tim-oconnor-and-heather-sullivan-for-their-service.html
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/school-committee-thanks-tim-oconnor-and-heather-sullivan-for-their-service.html
The arrival of a brand new Volvo ECR 25 Electric Excavator, with a value of $80,000 to $100,000, at the Westfield Technical Academy Horticulture Department on Dec. 15, created quite a stir. The donation was made possible by J.L. Raymaakers & Sons, Tyler Equipment Corporation and Volvo.
Tony Brignoli, sales manager at Tyler Equipment in East Longmeadow, said the machine is three tons — 6,000 pounds, the weight of a rhinoceros, and the value of 42,000 gallons of diesel fuel, or 12,000 Red Sox tickets. “The education value is priceless. It is fully electric. Tyler Equipment is here to support the school,” he said.
Nathan Sperry, horticulture department head, said they can use the electric excavator indoors in the winter for training, because it has no emissions, and on job sites in the community. “Currently, students train on a simulator. Now, they can get on the real machine after lessons,” he said, adding that the battery has four hours of run time.
“It’s a big day for WTA. I still don’t know the story of how this happened,” Sperry, who’s been teaching for 18 years, said in his remarks to the shop supporters. He said when he first started at WTA, there were only two pieces of equipment, and now, through the support of the administration and the community, everything has changed. “What a blessing it’s been,” he said.
John Raymaakers, a member of the program’s advisory board, answered the question of how the donation happened. He said the school is building a home from the ground up, with 100% of proceeds going back to the school, and horticulture is participating in the outdoor work, which requires an excavator.
Raymaakers said he called Tyler Equipment and asked if there was any way to get Volvo to give an excavator, maybe a used one. “This one is brand new. They donated the entire machine to the school. My jaw dropped,” he said.
Raymaakers said as a former student, along with his parents before him, he knows everyone has to learn at some point. “I can’t thank the Tyler family enough. We are going to use this in the spring to put in the water and sewer line at the house build. My brother and I will be there to help.”
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski praised Sperry for his work with the horticulture department and the great work the students have been doing in the community. “School-business partnerships play a critical role in making that possible,” he said, listing several outstanding partners who exemplify collaboration, including Elm Electrical and Westfield Gas & Electric. He said J.L. Raymaakers & Sons has “consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to student learning by connecting classroom instruction with real-world applications.”
“Because of partnerships like these, our students engage in meaningful, hands-on experiences that deepen learning, spark curiosity and open doors. These collaborations strengthen our schools, our workforce and our entire community,” Czaporowski said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/brand-new-volvo-ecr-25-electric-excavator-donated-to-westfield-technical-academy.html
Tony Brignoli, sales manager at Tyler Equipment in East Longmeadow, said the machine is three tons — 6,000 pounds, the weight of a rhinoceros, and the value of 42,000 gallons of diesel fuel, or 12,000 Red Sox tickets. “The education value is priceless. It is fully electric. Tyler Equipment is here to support the school,” he said.
Nathan Sperry, horticulture department head, said they can use the electric excavator indoors in the winter for training, because it has no emissions, and on job sites in the community. “Currently, students train on a simulator. Now, they can get on the real machine after lessons,” he said, adding that the battery has four hours of run time.
“It’s a big day for WTA. I still don’t know the story of how this happened,” Sperry, who’s been teaching for 18 years, said in his remarks to the shop supporters. He said when he first started at WTA, there were only two pieces of equipment, and now, through the support of the administration and the community, everything has changed. “What a blessing it’s been,” he said.
John Raymaakers, a member of the program’s advisory board, answered the question of how the donation happened. He said the school is building a home from the ground up, with 100% of proceeds going back to the school, and horticulture is participating in the outdoor work, which requires an excavator.
Raymaakers said he called Tyler Equipment and asked if there was any way to get Volvo to give an excavator, maybe a used one. “This one is brand new. They donated the entire machine to the school. My jaw dropped,” he said.
Raymaakers said as a former student, along with his parents before him, he knows everyone has to learn at some point. “I can’t thank the Tyler family enough. We are going to use this in the spring to put in the water and sewer line at the house build. My brother and I will be there to help.”
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski praised Sperry for his work with the horticulture department and the great work the students have been doing in the community. “School-business partnerships play a critical role in making that possible,” he said, listing several outstanding partners who exemplify collaboration, including Elm Electrical and Westfield Gas & Electric. He said J.L. Raymaakers & Sons has “consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to student learning by connecting classroom instruction with real-world applications.”
“Because of partnerships like these, our students engage in meaningful, hands-on experiences that deepen learning, spark curiosity and open doors. These collaborations strengthen our schools, our workforce and our entire community,” Czaporowski said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/brand-new-volvo-ecr-25-electric-excavator-donated-to-westfield-technical-academy.html
Join us for lunch this Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18 at Tiger's Pride Restaurant at Westfield Technical Academy from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more information, please call 413-564-3123. Thank you for supporting our talented students.
Please click here for the District's Second Quarterly newsletter for the 2025-2026 School year. Thank you!
https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/2025-2026/quarter-2/23361217
https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/2025-2026/quarter-2/23361217
🌟 Show up. Learn. Grow. Repeat. Every day in school = one step closer to your goals! #EveryDayCounts
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said this year’s monthly Westfield Education to Business Alliance meetings will focus on different themes and ways that area businesses and organizations can interact in a meaningful way with the schools.
WE2BA is a dynamic partnership between Westfield Public Schools and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce that creates opportunities that support students, empower educators and strengthen Westfield’s business community.
One of the topics at the WE2BA meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 8-9 a.m. in Tiger’s Pride at the Westfield Technical Academy, 33 Smith Ave., will be on how businesses or individuals may “adopt” a classroom.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said in the Adopt-a-Classroom program, businesses or individuals in different professions get involved by sharing their expertise or learning with a classroom of students. “It’s not necessarily financial, we’re looking for your time and talent,” he said.
Professionals who participate in Adopt-a-Classroom do not have to have experience in the classroom, as they will be guided in their lesson plans by one of the content supervisors at Westfield Public Schools: Mary Keane, English Language Arts; Kate Perez, Mathematics; Christina Smith, science and technology; and Lindsey Ayers, K-4 STEM coach.
“We want to encourage any business or someone who works for a business to be involved. Adopt-a-Classroom helps to provide authentic, real-world learning experiences for our students, and our partnerships with businesses help to accomplish that,” Czaporowski said.
Other topics at the meeting on Dec. 16 will be on how to participate as a judge in the upcoming high school science fair and on the Westfield High School student web-design program.
At the next WE2BA meeting on Jan. 28, 8-9 a.m., the focus will be on student internships, job shadowing and cooperative education.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-education-to-business-alliance-to-meet-dec-16-at-tigers-pride.html
WE2BA is a dynamic partnership between Westfield Public Schools and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce that creates opportunities that support students, empower educators and strengthen Westfield’s business community.
One of the topics at the WE2BA meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 8-9 a.m. in Tiger’s Pride at the Westfield Technical Academy, 33 Smith Ave., will be on how businesses or individuals may “adopt” a classroom.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said in the Adopt-a-Classroom program, businesses or individuals in different professions get involved by sharing their expertise or learning with a classroom of students. “It’s not necessarily financial, we’re looking for your time and talent,” he said.
Professionals who participate in Adopt-a-Classroom do not have to have experience in the classroom, as they will be guided in their lesson plans by one of the content supervisors at Westfield Public Schools: Mary Keane, English Language Arts; Kate Perez, Mathematics; Christina Smith, science and technology; and Lindsey Ayers, K-4 STEM coach.
“We want to encourage any business or someone who works for a business to be involved. Adopt-a-Classroom helps to provide authentic, real-world learning experiences for our students, and our partnerships with businesses help to accomplish that,” Czaporowski said.
Other topics at the meeting on Dec. 16 will be on how to participate as a judge in the upcoming high school science fair and on the Westfield High School student web-design program.
At the next WE2BA meeting on Jan. 28, 8-9 a.m., the focus will be on student internships, job shadowing and cooperative education.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-education-to-business-alliance-to-meet-dec-16-at-tigers-pride.html
With his father watching, on Dec. 11, over a thousand students, most wearing black, gathered together with teachers, administrators, city and state officials, and military service members in the Westfield High School gymnasium to honor the memory of U.S. Navy Seal Christopher Chambers, a 2005 graduate, who died defending the United States of America during a miliary operation in January 2024.
To honor Chambers, a plaque detailing his life’s achievements was dedicated during the ceremony that his father, Kevin Chambers, attended.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/fallen-seal-christopher-chambers-is-honored-with-plaque.html
To honor Chambers, a plaque detailing his life’s achievements was dedicated during the ceremony that his father, Kevin Chambers, attended.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/fallen-seal-christopher-chambers-is-honored-with-plaque.html
Click on the link below to watch this morning's episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we talked with Mr. Grimsley and some of his Information Technology students about Apps, their CyberPatriot competition, and more. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwcelJHc_fE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwcelJHc_fE
Everywhere Joules goes she’s greeted with nuzzles, snuggles, and cuddles because that’s the only job the Police Department’s first comfort dog has.
“She puts smiles on people’s faces,” said Police Detective Christopher Coach at Westfield Intermediate School to the sixth-grade classes of Amy Haramut and Ethan Dallas.
And the students were all smiles, oohing and aahing, and petting, and snuggling Joules while she lapped it up with her fat tail wagging away.
Joules was purchased with a generous donation by WG&E/Whip City Fiber.
While the department is familiar with K9s that track, sniff out drugs, and provide a deterrence when its handler needs help, Joules, an English Labrador with an unusual charcoal gray coat, spends her days bringing smiles to children at the city’s schools, interacting with the elderly at various assistant living facilities, providing a calming presence in stressful environments, and help people with anxiety, trauma, loneliness, or illness by providing a gentle, non-judgmental distraction, and to encourage social interaction.
There is a reason why Joules is perfectly suited to the role.
English Labradors are known for their stockier build – even at 15 weeks old it’s evident Joules is going to be huge – a blockier head, and a calm demeanor.
“She is relaxed, very chill,” Coach said as the students gathered around her in each class.
She’s different from other labradors that are bred primarily for hunting and field work; English Labradors are bred as family companions to be relaxed and patient, which Joules clearly was with the students.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/comfort-dog-joules-creates-sparks-of-joy-with-students.html
“She puts smiles on people’s faces,” said Police Detective Christopher Coach at Westfield Intermediate School to the sixth-grade classes of Amy Haramut and Ethan Dallas.
And the students were all smiles, oohing and aahing, and petting, and snuggling Joules while she lapped it up with her fat tail wagging away.
Joules was purchased with a generous donation by WG&E/Whip City Fiber.
While the department is familiar with K9s that track, sniff out drugs, and provide a deterrence when its handler needs help, Joules, an English Labrador with an unusual charcoal gray coat, spends her days bringing smiles to children at the city’s schools, interacting with the elderly at various assistant living facilities, providing a calming presence in stressful environments, and help people with anxiety, trauma, loneliness, or illness by providing a gentle, non-judgmental distraction, and to encourage social interaction.
There is a reason why Joules is perfectly suited to the role.
English Labradors are known for their stockier build – even at 15 weeks old it’s evident Joules is going to be huge – a blockier head, and a calm demeanor.
“She is relaxed, very chill,” Coach said as the students gathered around her in each class.
She’s different from other labradors that are bred primarily for hunting and field work; English Labradors are bred as family companions to be relaxed and patient, which Joules clearly was with the students.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/comfort-dog-joules-creates-sparks-of-joy-with-students.html
Westfield Technical Academy's sophomore and junior Aviation classes recently took a memorable trip to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York. The goal of the visit was to deepen students’ understanding of the early days of flight, with a focus on aviation during the World War I era — also known as the Gilded Age of Aviation.
From the moment they arrived, students were met with incredible hospitality. The Aerodrome staff generously opened up the entire facility, allowing for an up-close look at rare vintage aircraft, historical displays, and hangars full of early aviation treasures.
For many, the highlight was the chance to see authentic WWI-era planes and learn how aviation technology evolved during that period. The experience brought classroom lessons to life in a way that textbooks simply can’t match.
Overall, the trip was both educational and inspiring — a unique opportunity to explore aviation history firsthand.
From the moment they arrived, students were met with incredible hospitality. The Aerodrome staff generously opened up the entire facility, allowing for an up-close look at rare vintage aircraft, historical displays, and hangars full of early aviation treasures.
For many, the highlight was the chance to see authentic WWI-era planes and learn how aviation technology evolved during that period. The experience brought classroom lessons to life in a way that textbooks simply can’t match.
Overall, the trip was both educational and inspiring — a unique opportunity to explore aviation history firsthand.
On Dec. 4, Blessed Buys Thrift Shoppe on 20 Broad St. presented its quarterly donation of $1,200 to the Westfield Public Schools to help students and their families who are in need.
“We have a number of families that either come to the Welcome Center or call us with some kind of need, and these funds will go towards supporting them,” said Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, adding that the money from Blessed Buys will be used to purchase gift cards from grocery stores for families who are food insecure and come to them seeking help.
“It’s amazingly helpful. We couldn’t do it otherwise, because we don’t have a way to purchase gift cards right now. The need is so great, this gives us an additional boost, so we can meet the need when families come in,” Shea said.
The thrift store has given $4,800 to area non-profits and other organizations this past year from proceeds of sales. The store also raises money to support church activities.
Blessed Buys volunteer Cindy Gaylord said they also give away clothes to people in shelters and have been working with the Red Cross to donate kitchen supplies and clothing to people who lost everything in recent fires.
The week before Christmas will begin their 50% off holiday sale, continuing through the end of December, Gaylord said. Open hours are Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/thrift-store-gives-1200-to-schools-to-help-students-and-families-in-need.html
“We have a number of families that either come to the Welcome Center or call us with some kind of need, and these funds will go towards supporting them,” said Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, adding that the money from Blessed Buys will be used to purchase gift cards from grocery stores for families who are food insecure and come to them seeking help.
“It’s amazingly helpful. We couldn’t do it otherwise, because we don’t have a way to purchase gift cards right now. The need is so great, this gives us an additional boost, so we can meet the need when families come in,” Shea said.
The thrift store has given $4,800 to area non-profits and other organizations this past year from proceeds of sales. The store also raises money to support church activities.
Blessed Buys volunteer Cindy Gaylord said they also give away clothes to people in shelters and have been working with the Red Cross to donate kitchen supplies and clothing to people who lost everything in recent fires.
The week before Christmas will begin their 50% off holiday sale, continuing through the end of December, Gaylord said. Open hours are Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/thrift-store-gives-1200-to-schools-to-help-students-and-families-in-need.html
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for students who will be in college during the 2026-27 academic year. Students can visit fafsa.gov to complete the online financial aid application used by the vast majority of U.S. colleges.
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
AVIATION PAINT A PLANE NIGHT!!- Our Aviation Maintenance Technology Program held its FIRST Annual Paint a Plane Night last month. Students and their families picked out their favorite airplane and created masterpieces on canvas! The event was well attended, and much fun was had. Thank you to our Aviation staff, students, and families for making this event a success. #AchievingExcellenceTogether #STEAM
Click on the link below to watch yesterday's brand new "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we spoke with staff and second grade students from Highland Elementary School about their latest PLTW - Project Lead The Way assignment. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program joined the show to help us recognize National Cookie Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYRzg_KDQrQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYRzg_KDQrQ
Before introducing Westfield High School Career Center Counselor Patty Healy to the School Committee on Dec. 1, Principal Charles Jendrysik said the internship program for seniors at the school is thriving.
“We’ve had our internship program going for a number of years now, but this is the third year that it’s run under Patty. We’ve seen it grow, we’ve seen the quality of the programming grow, and the quality of the internships get stronger throughout the years, and we thought it would be exciting for you guys to hear some of the experiences that our students are having in the community,” Jendrysik said.
Healy, who had brought five students with her to speak about their internships, said there are currently 38 students, all seniors, in the program this semester, and the interest continues to expand.
She said the career center has evolved a little bit, and they are getting some great true internships in career fields the students are interested in learning more about before they graduate from high school.
The largest area is the medical field. Healy said she has students in physical therapy, radiology, oncology, skilled nursing and behavioral health. She also has her first student intern in the engineering field at ProAmpac.
The second largest area of interest is education, with students in both the middle school and elementary schools. She also has students at Armbrook Village, the Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Dispatch 911 and Mountainview Landscaping.
Healy said if any business is interested in getting a student intern, they can reach out to the Westfield High School office and let them know the position, the qualifications needed and the time of day. She said the goal is 10 hours minimum, although they do have students who spend more time than that, including one at the ER who stays late outside of internship hours one day a week because he loves it.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-high-school-interns-excited-about-opportunities.html
“We’ve had our internship program going for a number of years now, but this is the third year that it’s run under Patty. We’ve seen it grow, we’ve seen the quality of the programming grow, and the quality of the internships get stronger throughout the years, and we thought it would be exciting for you guys to hear some of the experiences that our students are having in the community,” Jendrysik said.
Healy, who had brought five students with her to speak about their internships, said there are currently 38 students, all seniors, in the program this semester, and the interest continues to expand.
She said the career center has evolved a little bit, and they are getting some great true internships in career fields the students are interested in learning more about before they graduate from high school.
The largest area is the medical field. Healy said she has students in physical therapy, radiology, oncology, skilled nursing and behavioral health. She also has her first student intern in the engineering field at ProAmpac.
The second largest area of interest is education, with students in both the middle school and elementary schools. She also has students at Armbrook Village, the Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Dispatch 911 and Mountainview Landscaping.
Healy said if any business is interested in getting a student intern, they can reach out to the Westfield High School office and let them know the position, the qualifications needed and the time of day. She said the goal is 10 hours minimum, although they do have students who spend more time than that, including one at the ER who stays late outside of internship hours one day a week because he loves it.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-high-school-interns-excited-about-opportunities.html
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Language Acquisition will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Westfield Public School District’s English learner education program the week of Dec. 1.
The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, said there are currently 409 English learners in the school district, 27 of whom opt out of ESL instruction, and 119 former EL students, who no longer require ESL instruction. Shea said these students are monitored for four years to ensure they’re succeeding academically.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed and will contribute to the monitoring report.
The district will also be doing a full day of interviews with classroom teachers at all levels, English as a second language teachers, administrators and a parent focus group.
Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review chairperson, at (781) 338-3584 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. “They do these every six years - it’s very in-depth,” Shea said.
Through the survey and the focus group, Shea said she hopes to learn if there are things that families are looking for that they are not doing. “It’s a learning experience for us. We always feel there are ways to improve,” she said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/dese-to-conduct-review-of-westfields-english-learner-education-program-this-week.html
The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, said there are currently 409 English learners in the school district, 27 of whom opt out of ESL instruction, and 119 former EL students, who no longer require ESL instruction. Shea said these students are monitored for four years to ensure they’re succeeding academically.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed and will contribute to the monitoring report.
The district will also be doing a full day of interviews with classroom teachers at all levels, English as a second language teachers, administrators and a parent focus group.
Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review chairperson, at (781) 338-3584 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. “They do these every six years - it’s very in-depth,” Shea said.
Through the survey and the focus group, Shea said she hopes to learn if there are things that families are looking for that they are not doing. “It’s a learning experience for us. We always feel there are ways to improve,” she said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/dese-to-conduct-review-of-westfields-english-learner-education-program-this-week.html
Due to today’s conditions, all afterschool and evening programs and activities are canceled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Please stay safe and take care.
Please click here for the latest article from Westfield Intermediate School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/n1mp8
The Westfield High School Drama Club will perform William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” on Dec. 4 and 5 at the school. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the play begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for seniors and students and $10 for adults.
“Romeo & Juliet” is directed by Drama Club advisor Owen Snyder, choreographed by Hannah Bruno, with fight choreography by Devon Fillion.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-high-school-to-perform-romeo-juliet-dec-4-5.html
“Romeo & Juliet” is directed by Drama Club advisor Owen Snyder, choreographed by Hannah Bruno, with fight choreography by Devon Fillion.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/westfield-high-school-to-perform-romeo-juliet-dec-4-5.html
Showing up to school does more than earn attendance points — it builds confidence, strengthens relationships, and creates routines that prepare students for life. When students are present, learning happens, friendships grow, and futures open up. Families and community: your support makes the difference. #AchievingExcellenceTogether
