Horticulture Technology instructor Vicki Toro said the plants for the popular plant sale at Westfield Technical Academy are ready to go. While the rain got the plantings off to a slow start last year, this year they are busting out of the greenhouses.
“I’m amazed at the plants this year,” said Technical Assistant Jennifer Ryan. “Everything is bigger and better this year.”
The Annual Spring Plant Sale runs Tuesday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, May 6 and 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Friday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If any plants are left over, the sale will be open on Saturday, May 9, from 8 to noon.
Featured are beautiful hanging baskets, $22 for most with larger spiral planters available; herb planters for $15, and vegetable and other annuals in 7-inch pots for $7. Toro said there are 10 different types of tomato plants, plus lots of different peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries and lots of flowers.
“Get here early, especially this year,” Toro said. Customers should enter the school by the Greylock Street entrance next to the municipal park, where there is often a line for the sale. Freshmen and seniors in horticulture will run it and help bring plants to cars. Ryan said they can only accept cash and checks for the plants.
Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the horticulture department.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/spring-plant-sale-blooms-at-westfield-technical-academy-from-may-5-9.html
“I’m amazed at the plants this year,” said Technical Assistant Jennifer Ryan. “Everything is bigger and better this year.”
The Annual Spring Plant Sale runs Tuesday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, May 6 and 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Friday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If any plants are left over, the sale will be open on Saturday, May 9, from 8 to noon.
Featured are beautiful hanging baskets, $22 for most with larger spiral planters available; herb planters for $15, and vegetable and other annuals in 7-inch pots for $7. Toro said there are 10 different types of tomato plants, plus lots of different peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries and lots of flowers.
“Get here early, especially this year,” Toro said. Customers should enter the school by the Greylock Street entrance next to the municipal park, where there is often a line for the sale. Freshmen and seniors in horticulture will run it and help bring plants to cars. Ryan said they can only accept cash and checks for the plants.
Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the horticulture department.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/spring-plant-sale-blooms-at-westfield-technical-academy-from-may-5-9.html
Attention Rising 7th Graders: Join us for the Informational Night on Thursday, May 7th at 5 p.m.!
Regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students come to school each day they learn new skills, stay connected with teachers and classmates, and access the supports they need to thrive. Chronic absenteeism can make it hard to catch up — but every day missed is also an opportunity to improve. Let’s work together — families, teachers, and neighbors — to make sure every student can be present, safe, and ready to learn. #EveryDayCounts #AchievingExcellenceTogether
The Westfield High School Drama Club will present “Curtains: School Edition,” a 1959-era whodunit, on April 30 and May 1 and 2 at 7 p.m.
“Curtains: School Edition” is a musical comedy about Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a theater-loving detective who investigates the murder of a profoundly untalented leading lady during the opening night of a new musical in Boston called “Robin Hood a Western Tale.” While quarantining the casting crew, Cioffi works to solve the case, save the show and find love.
The play is directed by Owen Snyder, choreographed by Hannah Bruno, with music directed by Korey Bruno and Patrick Kennedy.
Tickets for “Curtains: School Edition” are $5 for students and $10 for adults, and they are available at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each evening.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/curtains-school-edition-brings-mystery-and-music-to-westfield-high-school-stage.html
“Curtains: School Edition” is a musical comedy about Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a theater-loving detective who investigates the murder of a profoundly untalented leading lady during the opening night of a new musical in Boston called “Robin Hood a Western Tale.” While quarantining the casting crew, Cioffi works to solve the case, save the show and find love.
The play is directed by Owen Snyder, choreographed by Hannah Bruno, with music directed by Korey Bruno and Patrick Kennedy.
Tickets for “Curtains: School Edition” are $5 for students and $10 for adults, and they are available at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each evening.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/curtains-school-edition-brings-mystery-and-music-to-westfield-high-school-stage.html
A reminder that there is no school for students Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24 for Spring Vacation. Have a safe Spring Break!
Last Friday, chorus students from Westfield Middle School sang their hearts out at the Westfield Senior Center's Friday breakfast. This morning, the Westfield High School Jazz Band brought the house down and had people dancing in their seats. Special thanks to Mrs. Cipoletta, Mr. Kennedy, and our students for their outstanding performances. Thank you to the staff at the Senior Center for inviting us to perform. #AchievingExcellenceTogether
Twelve district finalists from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy brought their projects and learning to the Massachusetts High School Science & Engineering Fair on April 9 at the DCU Center in Worcester.
Students attending from WHS included Adedipo Soyele, Alec Piepergerdes, Andy Liu, Giovanni Santaniello, Isabella Chalmers, Kaitlynn Goulette, Paige Mello and Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk. In its first trip to the state fair, WTA was represented by Ximena Pena Guerrero, Zar Iodlovskiy, Mason Matovich and Alexander Bousquet.
WTA science teacher Kristen Styspeck, who was instrumental in involving 100 of her students in science projects this year, accompanied the students and was recognized for her work in the district.
Styspeck was honored at the fair with one of three Student Support Awards, which recognizes educators who help students see themselves as capable scientists and engineers.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/westfield-tech-teacher-honored-at-state-science-fair.html
Students attending from WHS included Adedipo Soyele, Alec Piepergerdes, Andy Liu, Giovanni Santaniello, Isabella Chalmers, Kaitlynn Goulette, Paige Mello and Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk. In its first trip to the state fair, WTA was represented by Ximena Pena Guerrero, Zar Iodlovskiy, Mason Matovich and Alexander Bousquet.
WTA science teacher Kristen Styspeck, who was instrumental in involving 100 of her students in science projects this year, accompanied the students and was recognized for her work in the district.
Styspeck was honored at the fair with one of three Student Support Awards, which recognizes educators who help students see themselves as capable scientists and engineers.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/westfield-tech-teacher-honored-at-state-science-fair.html
This morning, on "Superintendent's Spotlight", we talked with CEO Bo Sullivan about summer programming and the planned expansion of the Teen Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield. Westfield Technical Academy students and staff also stopped by to help us recognize National Eggs Benedict Day. Thanks for watching. #AchievingExcellenceTogether
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi9Vr2F_1qA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi9Vr2F_1qA
The city of Westfield and Westfield High School celebrated the first of its new athletic fields to open with a ribbon cutting at the girls’ softball field on April 13, just before the team played its game against Longmeadow.
At the start of the ceremony, the WHS Show Choir, directed by Korey Bruno, sang the national anthem.
Mayor Michael McCabe welcomed city councilors, including President John Beltrandi, whose granddaughter Delaney Beltrandi (#44) was suited up to play; Ward 1 Councilor Karen Fanion, and Councilors Ralph Figy and Brent Bean, both of whom were instrumental in helping to make the new athletic fields at Westfield High School a reality.
McCabe gave kudos to Director of Purchasing Tammy Tefft. “We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have one special person,” he said, nodding to Tefft, who served as the project coordinator.
He introduced members of the staff and board from Westfield Gas & Electric, which has pledged $1 million in additional funds per year on top of its annual payment in lieu of taxes to the city, for a total of $11 million, in order to make the fields a reality.
WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik said the kids are really excited about it. “How can you not be? There’s an excitement throughout the program.”
“On behalf of Westfield Public Schools, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Tom Flaherty and Westfield Gas and Electric and Whip City Fiber for their generous support and commitment to this project. Your investment in our students goes far beyond infrastructure; it reflects a deep belief in opportunity, pride and community,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski after the ceremony.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/westfield-cuts-ribbon-on-first-of-three-new-athletic-fields-to-open.html
At the start of the ceremony, the WHS Show Choir, directed by Korey Bruno, sang the national anthem.
Mayor Michael McCabe welcomed city councilors, including President John Beltrandi, whose granddaughter Delaney Beltrandi (#44) was suited up to play; Ward 1 Councilor Karen Fanion, and Councilors Ralph Figy and Brent Bean, both of whom were instrumental in helping to make the new athletic fields at Westfield High School a reality.
McCabe gave kudos to Director of Purchasing Tammy Tefft. “We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have one special person,” he said, nodding to Tefft, who served as the project coordinator.
He introduced members of the staff and board from Westfield Gas & Electric, which has pledged $1 million in additional funds per year on top of its annual payment in lieu of taxes to the city, for a total of $11 million, in order to make the fields a reality.
WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik said the kids are really excited about it. “How can you not be? There’s an excitement throughout the program.”
“On behalf of Westfield Public Schools, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Tom Flaherty and Westfield Gas and Electric and Whip City Fiber for their generous support and commitment to this project. Your investment in our students goes far beyond infrastructure; it reflects a deep belief in opportunity, pride and community,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski after the ceremony.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/westfield-cuts-ribbon-on-first-of-three-new-athletic-fields-to-open.html
Friday, April 10, marked the first-ever Westfield Public Schools Applied Learning Student Showcase. Students from grades 2-12 representing all schools in our district presented projects to local professionals and community members.
The event highlighted applied learning across multiple subjects, including STEM, science, computer science, civics, and history. Additionally, students from the Free Web Clinic course provided local businesses with professional consultations and website improvement strategies.
This showcase was made possible through the support of our partners and dedicated staff:
Mestek: Thank you for hosting this event.
The One8 Foundation: We appreciate your sponsorship and support of applied learning.
Local Businesses and Volunteers: Thank you for providing students with professional feedback and serving as an authentic audience.
Westfield Teachers: Thank you for facilitating this work in the classroom and guiding student success.
We are proud of the hard work and professional engagement demonstrated by our students.
The event highlighted applied learning across multiple subjects, including STEM, science, computer science, civics, and history. Additionally, students from the Free Web Clinic course provided local businesses with professional consultations and website improvement strategies.
This showcase was made possible through the support of our partners and dedicated staff:
Mestek: Thank you for hosting this event.
The One8 Foundation: We appreciate your sponsorship and support of applied learning.
Local Businesses and Volunteers: Thank you for providing students with professional feedback and serving as an authentic audience.
Westfield Teachers: Thank you for facilitating this work in the classroom and guiding student success.
We are proud of the hard work and professional engagement demonstrated by our students.
As students from area high schools made their way around the booths at Credit for Life, set up in the Westfield High School gymnasium on April 8, they grappled with how they would manage their future finances as 25-year-olds in their chosen careers.
Kate Perez, WPS math supervisor, served on the organizing committee along with Patricia Healy, WHS counselor, Melissa Taylor of Beacon Bank and Linda Saltus, a retired finance professional. She said Credit for Life is beneficial to the students who go through the whole fair and visit all the booths.
“Students pick a career, get a sheet with monthly income, and fill out needed expenses. The goal is to have money left over at the end of the month and hopefully have some savings. They want to end with a positive number. Even a negative number teaches them something,” Perez said.
Lindsey McLaughlin of Tighe & Bond and Lisa Murray of OMG Building Products, LLC were stationed at the Housing booth. They found the students to be very engaged, friendly and respectful.
“One kid actually asked me, ‘How come rent is more expensive than what my parents pay on mortgage,’” said McLaughlin. Murray said the parents probably bought their house a long time ago.
Credit for Life is sponsored by MassHousing, the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant awarded by the Office of Economic Empowerment’s state treasurer; Beacon Bank, BankESB, Peoples Bank, Westfield Bank, WG&E, Westfield Public Schools and Volunteers in Public Schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/students-consider-future-financing-challenges-at-credit-for-life.html
Kate Perez, WPS math supervisor, served on the organizing committee along with Patricia Healy, WHS counselor, Melissa Taylor of Beacon Bank and Linda Saltus, a retired finance professional. She said Credit for Life is beneficial to the students who go through the whole fair and visit all the booths.
“Students pick a career, get a sheet with monthly income, and fill out needed expenses. The goal is to have money left over at the end of the month and hopefully have some savings. They want to end with a positive number. Even a negative number teaches them something,” Perez said.
Lindsey McLaughlin of Tighe & Bond and Lisa Murray of OMG Building Products, LLC were stationed at the Housing booth. They found the students to be very engaged, friendly and respectful.
“One kid actually asked me, ‘How come rent is more expensive than what my parents pay on mortgage,’” said McLaughlin. Murray said the parents probably bought their house a long time ago.
Credit for Life is sponsored by MassHousing, the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant awarded by the Office of Economic Empowerment’s state treasurer; Beacon Bank, BankESB, Peoples Bank, Westfield Bank, WG&E, Westfield Public Schools and Volunteers in Public Schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/students-consider-future-financing-challenges-at-credit-for-life.html
Click on the link below for the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, Westfield High School students shared their knowledge on the American Civil on Appomattox Day. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy joined us to help us celebrate National Empanada Day. Thanks for watching! #AchievingExcellenceTogether
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjLOEixe6HQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjLOEixe6HQ
Student success starts with showing up! Daily attendance helps build strong habits, lasting friendships, and academic achievement. Let’s work together to make every day count! #AttendanceMatters
Nearly 400 students from Westfield High School, Pathways, Westfield Technical Academy, White Oak School and St. Mary’s High School attended a career fair in Scanlon Hall at Westfield State University on April 1. The event was sponsored by the Westfield Education to Business Alliance.
“We greatly appreciate our continued partnership with the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, which makes this outstanding opportunity possible for our students. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Westfield State University for hosting the event and providing lunch, as well as to Westfield Gas & Electric for generously supporting transportation,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
“A heartfelt thank you to the more than 50 businesses that participate in our annual career fair. Their commitment to engaging with our students and offering meaningful, real-world learning experiences truly makes a lasting impact,” Czaporowski said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/400-students-attend-we2ba-high-school-career-fair-at-westfield-state.html
“We greatly appreciate our continued partnership with the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, which makes this outstanding opportunity possible for our students. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Westfield State University for hosting the event and providing lunch, as well as to Westfield Gas & Electric for generously supporting transportation,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
“A heartfelt thank you to the more than 50 businesses that participate in our annual career fair. Their commitment to engaging with our students and offering meaningful, real-world learning experiences truly makes a lasting impact,” Czaporowski said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/400-students-attend-we2ba-high-school-career-fair-at-westfield-state.html
Creativity takes center stage as “Into the Arts” comes to Westfield High School on Saturday, April 11, to showcase visual arts from students in grades 2 and 4 through high school that will be displayed throughout the hallways and library on the first floor of WHS from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “It’s Bandtastic,” featuring student musicians from grades 4 to 12, will perform at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium during the Into the Arts festival.
For the first time, WHS art students will preview their work on Thursday, April 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. in a free art show open to the public.
“The Art Club will be selling plants, and there will be refreshments in the library. It is called Prelude to the Arts, and we received a grant from the Mass Art Culture [Cultural Council]. Please feel free to stop by to see the art before Into the Arts,” said WHS art teacher Karen Kane.
Band Director Patrick Kennedy said It’s Bandtastic has been a highlight every year since its inception in the Spring of 2016.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/wps-celebrates-the-arts-at-into-the-arts-on-april-11-at-whs.html
For the first time, WHS art students will preview their work on Thursday, April 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. in a free art show open to the public.
“The Art Club will be selling plants, and there will be refreshments in the library. It is called Prelude to the Arts, and we received a grant from the Mass Art Culture [Cultural Council]. Please feel free to stop by to see the art before Into the Arts,” said WHS art teacher Karen Kane.
Band Director Patrick Kennedy said It’s Bandtastic has been a highlight every year since its inception in the Spring of 2016.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/wps-celebrates-the-arts-at-into-the-arts-on-april-11-at-whs.html
Please click here for the latest newsletter from Westfield High School. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/3kf6zv
The Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics have named Jennifer Thielen, a third grade teacher at Westfield River Elementary, a winner of the Civic Star Challenge, a nationwide initiative to inspire millions of acts of civic learning in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Thielen is one of 63 educators nationwide who have received the honor for integrating themes from the Declaration of Independence into their teaching.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/westfield-river-teacher-is-named-a-national-civic-star-challenge-winner.html
Thielen is one of 63 educators nationwide who have received the honor for integrating themes from the Declaration of Independence into their teaching.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/westfield-river-teacher-is-named-a-national-civic-star-challenge-winner.html
This week on "Superintendent's Spotlight", we talked about the YMCA's before and after school programming, upcoming renovations at Camp Shepard, and more. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also stopped by to help celebrate International Waffle Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNHiYIoWSQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNHiYIoWSQk
CHAMBER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Do you know a graduating senior who could use $500 to put toward their education? Have them apply for the Chamber's Annual Scholarship, named in honor of the Chamber's former administrative assistant, Fran Zampini. Fran was a high school science teacher prior to her retirement and her career at the Chamber.
Do you know a graduating senior who could use $500 to put toward their education? Have them apply for the Chamber's Annual Scholarship, named in honor of the Chamber's former administrative assistant, Fran Zampini. Fran was a high school science teacher prior to her retirement and her career at the Chamber.
Several projects featured at the Western Mass Regional Science & Engineering Fair at Western New England University on March are moving on to compete in the state science fair on April 9 at the DCU Center in Worcester.
“Our students did a fantastic job representing our district at the Western Massachusetts Regional Science & Engineering Fair at Western New England University. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication truly shined,” said Westfield Public Schools Science Fair Coordinator Christina Smith.
The students moving on with their projects include Kaitlynn Goulette, who won a first place and the Alnylam Bioscience Excellence Award for her project “Acheta domesticus Consumption Rates as a Function of Varying Electromagnetic Wavelengths.”
Giovanni Santaniello won third place and a MA Life Science Trailblazer Award at the district fair for “Mycoremediation Employing Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus to Degrade Plastics,” which studied the capability of oyster mushrooms to break down plastics.
Also advancing to the state fair with a third place win was Alec Piepergerdes and Andy Liu for “Exposing the Effects of Noise Pollution Through Eisenia Fetida” (European night crawlers). In their project, they observed the earthworms for two weeks, and then introduced loud noises, up to 93 decibels, to see how it would affect them. Some of the discomfort they observed included the worms curling into a ball, surfacing, an absence of moisture and excessive burrowing. Their conclusion was that loud disruptive noises have a negative impact on worms and other wildlife.
Other third place district winners moving on to states include Paige Mello of WHS, with her project “How Plant Spacing Affects Growth Rate” and Adedipo Soyele of WHS with “Designing An Alternative Energy Source That Is Cost Efficient”.
Direct entrants to the state science fair submitted by Westfield Public Schools from WHS are Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk, who scored a third place win in the high school fair with “Smile Say ‘Plastics’: Investigating How Many Microplastics Are Hidden in Cheese”; and Isabella Chalmers, with her project “Analyzing How Different Tinted Glass Bottles Withstand Chemical Migration Against Solarization.”
Direct entrants to the state science fair from Westfield Technical Academy include Alexander Bousquet, Mason Matovich and Zar Iodlovskiy, who took first place among WTA students at the high school fair for “The Bounce Behavior of Batteries: An Analysis of Internal Structure and Charge State.”
Also moving on to state from WTA is Ximena Pena, second place at the high school fair from WTA for “A Study on Sustainable Cup Design as an Alternative to Plastic.”
“Congratulations to our incredible students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy,” said Smith.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/high-school-science-fair-district-finalists-move-on-to-states.html
“Our students did a fantastic job representing our district at the Western Massachusetts Regional Science & Engineering Fair at Western New England University. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication truly shined,” said Westfield Public Schools Science Fair Coordinator Christina Smith.
The students moving on with their projects include Kaitlynn Goulette, who won a first place and the Alnylam Bioscience Excellence Award for her project “Acheta domesticus Consumption Rates as a Function of Varying Electromagnetic Wavelengths.”
Giovanni Santaniello won third place and a MA Life Science Trailblazer Award at the district fair for “Mycoremediation Employing Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus to Degrade Plastics,” which studied the capability of oyster mushrooms to break down plastics.
Also advancing to the state fair with a third place win was Alec Piepergerdes and Andy Liu for “Exposing the Effects of Noise Pollution Through Eisenia Fetida” (European night crawlers). In their project, they observed the earthworms for two weeks, and then introduced loud noises, up to 93 decibels, to see how it would affect them. Some of the discomfort they observed included the worms curling into a ball, surfacing, an absence of moisture and excessive burrowing. Their conclusion was that loud disruptive noises have a negative impact on worms and other wildlife.
Other third place district winners moving on to states include Paige Mello of WHS, with her project “How Plant Spacing Affects Growth Rate” and Adedipo Soyele of WHS with “Designing An Alternative Energy Source That Is Cost Efficient”.
Direct entrants to the state science fair submitted by Westfield Public Schools from WHS are Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk, who scored a third place win in the high school fair with “Smile Say ‘Plastics’: Investigating How Many Microplastics Are Hidden in Cheese”; and Isabella Chalmers, with her project “Analyzing How Different Tinted Glass Bottles Withstand Chemical Migration Against Solarization.”
Direct entrants to the state science fair from Westfield Technical Academy include Alexander Bousquet, Mason Matovich and Zar Iodlovskiy, who took first place among WTA students at the high school fair for “The Bounce Behavior of Batteries: An Analysis of Internal Structure and Charge State.”
Also moving on to state from WTA is Ximena Pena, second place at the high school fair from WTA for “A Study on Sustainable Cup Design as an Alternative to Plastic.”
“Congratulations to our incredible students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy,” said Smith.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/high-school-science-fair-district-finalists-move-on-to-states.html