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!
Career Expo at Westfield Middle School
May 29th, 2025, 9:00-12:00: Introduce our Middle School students to career paths. Sign up to participate in the Middle School Career Expo. See the flyer for more information. Thank you!
Young adults ages 14-25! Are you in high school or out of school? Are you looking for a job?
Come to our Job Fair to explore paid and volunteer opportunities through one of our many job and career pathways.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
1:00 P M – 4:00 PM
MassHire Springfield Career Center
Dress to Impress Bring your resume
For list employers go to www.masshiresprinfield.org/YouthWorks
For more information contact:
Phylis Gedeon—pgedeon@masshirespringfield.org/413-858-2818
Katherine Perkins—kperkins@masshirespringfield.org/413-858-2831
At the Credit for Life Fair on April 10 at Westfield High School, the students entered the gymnasium in two shifts, with upperclassmen from Westfield High School visiting first, followed by Westfield Technical Academy, Gateway Regional and St. Mary’s High School.
The interactive event of the Western Mass. Credit for Life Committee, co-chaired by Melissa Taylor of Berkshire Bank and Linda Saltus, formerly of MassHousing, teaches students real-world budgeting and money management skills.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/04/students-learn-real-life-costs-at-credit-for-life.html
High school seniors should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, for students who are eligible non-citizens, the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA), by May 1, the priority deadline for state aid. Both can make higher education more affordable. All federal and state student aid and some private sources require completion of the FAFSA. The FAFSA or MASFA are required for students to access MassGrantPlus for four-year colleges and to access no-cost community college through MassEducate.
https://www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/massgrantplus.asp
The School Committee Budget Review Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2025, has been postponed to Monday, April 28, 2025, at Westfield intermediate School at 6:00 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Thank you.
Fourth-grade students and families are invited to Westfield Intermediate School for an information session to begin the transition to 5th grade at WIS. The WIS Information Night is scheduled for Monday, May 12 at 6:00 pm in our auditorium. Please note that this information night does not include tours of the building, but it is a great opportunity to learn more about WIS and meet the administration team.
Click on the link below for a brand new "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, our guests included Patrick Kennedy and members of the Westfield High School Jazz Band. We also took some time to recognize National Sibling Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yuf-ru8PXc
Hear ye, hear ye! Amelia Park Children’s Museum invites you to join our tea party on Friday, May 9th. Come dressed as fairytale royalty or your favorite fantasy character. Adorn yourself with jewels and designs, paint a teapot, and decorate a mask (we provide the supplies). Your reign lasts from 10am to noon, with light refreshments beginning at 11am. Regular admission fees apply. Members of Amelia Park Children's Museum are admitted free of charge.
Amelia Park Children's Museum is located at 29 South Broad Street in Westfield, MA and is open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday. The museum offers hands-on learning for children ages 1-7 in a safe and welcoming environment. Cost of admission is $8 per person. Grandparents and seniors are admitted at a reduced rate of $4. For those who present a valid EBT card, the rate is $2 per person (up to 6 people). Questions? Call us at (413) 572-4014 or email us: fun@ameliaparkmuseum.org. Learn more about the museum at ameliaparkmuseum.org.
