Westfield Public Schools

An inspirational School Committee meeting on Jan. 9 began with the third and fourth grade chorus of Highland Elementary School, led by music teacher Emily Baker, singing “Red Bird” by Theresa Jenkins and “The Dream Keeper” by Rollo Dilworth, based on poetry by Langston Hughes. In her introduction, Highland Principal Jill Phelan said the chorus has 66 members this year, the largest ever for the school. She said one-third of the members were represented at the meeting. https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/01/westfield-students-inspire-board-with-choral-performance-veterans-tribute.html

The Department of Mental Health has launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text at 833-773-2445. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The help line can help individuals and families navigate the behavioral health system and access treatment, including mobile crisis services. Please click on the link below for more information. https://www.masshelpline.com/

Join us on Thursday, January 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week we will be talking with Principal Mary Cieplik all about Southampton Road Elementary School. Thanks for watching!

Reminder: Westfield Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 16 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Thank you.

The 24th annual High School Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 9 in the Westfield High School gymnasium is a day to celebrate the science and engineering cycles and hard work of students at both WHS and Westfield Technical Academy. Judges are being sought to score projects and engage with high school students as they share the results of their work. Judging takes place from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 9, beginning with registration and orientation. Lunch will be provided by WHS culinary students at the end of the fair. https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/01/westfield-seeks-volunteers-to-judge-projects-at-high-school-science-fair-feb-9.html

The United States Attorney’s Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Wednesday, January 18th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in-person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. We will be covering the following topics: Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint Cyberbullying Sexting Gaming Victim Support Protecting Against Online Predation Who should attend: Parents, guardians, local police departments, school administrators, youth program leaders and anyone who would like to learn how to keep children safe from online dangers. The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer and is also included here: REGISTRATION DETAILS Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser)) Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec3d8ccd61ccdd26ee39d8c6ffd5c57aa Password: PSC1 Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact Karen Legace @ USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week we talked with MIAA Coach of the year Tyler Wingate, New Westfield High School Assistant Principals Dr. Tonia Bonner and Mr. Andrew Joseph, as well as staff and students from the WHS Preschool Program. In our last segment, a very talented Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts student demonstrated how to make homemade whipped cream in recognition of National Whipped Cream Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDP778HeVUU

Join us this morning from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week we will be talking with Principal Chuck Jendrysik about Westfield High School. Thanks for watching!

Countdown to Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 School Year: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Drop in between 6 - 7:30 p.m. Westfield Middle School 30 West Silver Street (snow date: February 15, 2023)

Please note that our regularly scheduled School Committee Meeting on January 3, 2023, has been postponed until Monday, January 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you.

Just before school broke for the holidays, Westfield Virtual School students enjoyed an in-person school-wide gathering at the school’s offices on the fourth floor of the Westwood Building on North Elm Street in Westfield. Students from all grade levels and their families were welcomed to participate and create gingerbread houses, said school secretary Nicole Argiro. While learning time on a normal school day is done remotely, students at Westfield Virtual School have social opportunities with their peers multiple times every month, Argiro said. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/westfield-virtual-school-started-holiday-season-with-in-person-gathering.html

The children in the Children’s Corner Laboratory Preschool in Westfield High School decorated cookies and gingerbread houses and had a surprise visitor, all before the holiday break. Classroom teacher Torrie Hodovanec said she collaborated with the high school culinary teacher Ekaterina Nesmelova and her students in the classroom next door who prepared cookie dough for the children to cut out into shapes. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/holiday-festivities-wrap-up-2022-for-the-childrens-corner-preschool-at-whs.html

If you missed last week's Westfield High School Holiday Chorus show, click on the link below. The students sounded amazing! thanks for watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffuh39wADVQ

The month of December at Abner Gibbs Elementary school was filled with music and special activities, said Abner Gibbs Principal Erika Masciadrelli. The holiday concert featured the fourth grade band led by Gina Clark, and fourth grade chorus led by chorus teacher Makenzie Carvalho. Students in each grade level learned songs in their music classes that they also performed in the concert. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/abner-gibbs-students-lead-up-to-the-holiday-break-with-concerts-rewards.html

This time of year, everyone is always talking about the weather: record temperatures, the chance of snow, and the extra layers needed to stay warm. Folks even keep statistics about the weather. Jacob Kapinos’ students in the Statistics and Probability class at Westfield High School designed a random sample of 50 dates during the winter months (Dec. 1 to Feb. 28) from 1975 to 2021. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/westfield-high-school-statistics-students-study-winter-temps-make-hats.html

The Westfield Planning Board approved three special permits and site plans at its meeting on Dec. 20, clearing the way for the new school on Franklin Street. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/westfield-planning-board-approves-new-school-cell-antennas-contractors-shops.html

The Southampton Road Elementary School K-Kids spent their Friday morning before-school meeting time on Dec. 16 decorating holiday-themed placemats that they delivered to the Westfield Senior Center this week. The 15 fourth graders in the K-Kids club, a youth affiliate of Kiwanis, meet on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. to plan community service projects for the year. Club advisor Joanne Hewins said the student-led club elects officers and runs its own meetings. Officers this year are President Brady Panis; Vice President Jonny Yvon, Treasurer Robert Strange-Skribiski and Secretary Brynn Whalen. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/elementary-school-k-kids-bring-holiday-cheer-to-westfield-senior-center.html

Allison McMordie, the City Engineer in Westfield, has visited Mrs. Lewis’ second graders at Abner Gibbs Elementary on several occasions so far this school year as part of our Adopt a Classroom program at Westfield Public Schools! Allison taught students about the engineering process of our own famous Green Bridge and challenged students to build their own bridge with specific constraints. Their models had to stand up to wind, rain, and support a a certain amount of weight. Allison plans to return to Mrs. Lewis’ classroom in the spring when they begin learning about erosion.

Please click on the images below to read the second District Quarterly Newsletter of this school year. Happy Holidays from all of us in the Westfield Public Schools!

The Westfield Public Schools saw the Food Pantry's request for help and quickly created a "festive dress down day" to raise some money. All the schools and administration combined raised $1,089 for the pantry and had some fun while doing it. Here are a few pictures from the Intermediate school.