Family and friends from Westfield High School’s transition program came out to Shaker Farms Country Club on June 9 for a meal to celebrate three young adults during the 2025 “Bridge to Adulthood.” The ceremony recognizes the young adults who have turned 22 in 2025 and are leaving the Westfield Public School system.
Carolyn Busiere, lead teacher, said the three honorees, Julia Bardakova, Javian Headley and Logan Sanford, have been on a journey in the school system and entered the transition program to further work on life skills, community investment, self-advocacy, work training and college: turning challenges into strengths, interests and vision while developing true character. “You have displayed hard work, determination and resilience,” she told them.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/three-young-adults-are-honored-at-bridge-to-adulthood-ceremony.html
Westfield Technical Academy Valedictorian Micah Reimann is ready to go to work at Bern Optics on Southampton Road in Westfield. After completing cooperative education at Bern, he will start full-time as a computer numerical control machinist after a short break.
“I find it very rewarding,” Reimann said. He will begin on setups, operation and programming on milling machines. The company makes glass lenses and prisms and other specialty pieces.
“For the time being, I plan to work full-time for a year. After that, I am considering going to school for mechanical engineering.” Because he attended Westfield Technical Academy’s manufacturing program, Reimann said he will get some “really nice” credit benefits going to Springfield Technical Community College, and be able to skip past the introductory courses.
“If I go there, I would be able to get my associate’s, then I could pick my four-year school to get my bachelor’s,” he said.
About Westfield Technical Academy, Reimann said, “I loved it - it was great. I vastly appreciate going to a technical school. I recommend it to anyone ever planning to go to high school ever. There are no downsides. I have skills I never would have acquired any other way. I recommend it highly.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/wta-valedictorian-micah-reimann-says-hes-ready-for-the-challenge.html
Dealing with delays and dodging raindrops, Westfield High School’s Class of 2025 still got their moment in the sun, celebrating their graduation day at Bullens Field on Friday, June 6..
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/westfield-high-class-of-2025-braves-the-storm-to-celebrate-graduation.html
Westfield Technical Academy celebrated the many achievements of its Class of 2025 at its graduation ceremony, which took place at Bullens Field on Thursday, June 5.
The graduating class included 134 students, including its valedictorian, Micah Reimann.
https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2025/06/wta-celebrates-graduating-class-of-2025.html
The decision has been made to hold our graduation ceremony outside this evening. With the forecast calling for the worst of the weather to end around 7:00 pm, we will be delaying the start of graduation to 7:30 pm.
Graduates should arrive at Bullens Field ahead of time and be by the scoreboard by 7:00 pm.
Handicap and limited mobility parking has previously been communicated, and will be recommunicated in a separate email. If you have not reserved parking in these areas we suggest that you come early and find close on street parking that meets your needs.
Click here for a link to the live stream of the ceremony.
Please come with umbrellas, towels, and rain gear in case of showers and wet conditions.
Click on the link below for yesterday's brand new "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we spoke with YMCA of Greater Westfield CEO Andrea Allard about their summer programming. Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students also helped us to celebrate National Veggie Burger Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ_aJ895f3A
Westfield High School Valedictorian Justin Romanelli was putting the finishing touches on his speech the day before graduation and practicing getting it ready. Asked what he wrote about, he said, “Primarily, the idea of what is permanent versus what is temporary, how it’s important to recognize which one is which, and how they impact [our lives].”
Romanelli will be studying computer science and technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in the fall. He said he plans to study coding but isn’t sure exactly where it will lead, although his best guess is software development.
The race for valedictorian was very tight this year, with Brandon Guyott, the school’s salutatorian, a close second. Romanelli and Guyott are co-founders of the Coding Club at WHS and in the Robotics Club together.
The duo also collaborated for the second year on their science fair project, “Optimizing an After-Market Prototype That Operates a Window Remotely,” which earned second place at regionals, and an honorable mention in the state science fair.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/westfield-high-school-valedictorian-justin-romanelli.html
For High School Band Director Patrick Kennedy, the recent trip to Washington, D.C., for the Music in the Parks Festival was more than just about winning awards.
The combined band, which included 10 musicians from Westfield Technical Academy along with Westfield High School members, won plenty, with each group receiving a first-place award. They earned best overall band in the festival, first place in band, jazz band and marching band in their division for schools with enrollment over 1,000 students, and best jazz soloist, Ceileigh Thomson.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/for-westfields-hs-band-director-festivals-about-more-than-winning-awards.html
Sixth graders at Westfield Intermediate School got a special treat at the end of one school assignment, when Jeff Boisseau, owner of 7Bs Bar & Grill brought his brand new food truck to the school on June 2 for a lunch outside, after a unit on food trucks.
Students studied the business and made models of what their ideal food trucks would be. The project was the idea of STEM teacher Catarina Marafuga and math interventionist Matthew Wroth, who called up Boisseau and asked if he’d be interested in participating.
Boisseau said he was happy to do it as a local business supporting the schools. He said he himself went to Southampton Road Elementary School.
Wroth said before lunch, Boisseau participated in an assembly with the students, and answered their questions about the business. The students were prepped, because they had completed a project of their own, designing their own ideal food truck and menu.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/06/sixth-graders-end-unit-with-food-truck-treat.html
City officials, veterans, members of the community, and the Westfield High School Band gathered on Monday, May 26, to observe Memorial Day and honor those who died in service to the nation in the armed forces.
A parade preceded a ceremony at the Parker Memorial Park.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/westfield-observes-memorial-day.html
Eight Westfield High School students have been nominated for The Bronze Tablet, awarded annually at the Senior Assembly to the member of the graduating class who has done the most for the welfare, good name, and progress of the school. The student’s name is permanently engraved on a bronze tablet and added to the plaque, which stands prominently in the main entrance to the school near the auditorium.
The winner is determined each year by a vote of the senior class from the list of students nominated by the faculty.
All eight of this year’s nominees said they were honored to have been nominated by their teachers and the staff for the award.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/westfield-high-school-announces-bronze-tablet-nominees-for-the-class-of-2025.html
The Westfield High School Show Choir returned from its second year attending the Music in the Parks festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with another set of awards.
“The choir had a fantastic time during competition in Hershey, [Pennsylvania]. We competed in four categories: Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Choir, and Show Choir. We won Superior first place in three categories and one Superior second place,” said Director of Choral Activities Korey Bruno.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-show-choir-excels-at-music-in-the-parks-festival.html
For 56 years, the Westfield Middle School has observed Memorial Day with an assembly inviting area veterans to be recognized for their service, and this year’s assembly on May 20 was part of the grand tradition. Local veterans, many from American Legion Post 124 in Westfield and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872 in Southwick gathered in the library, where they were teamed up with students to be escorted into the auditorium.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/westfield-middle-school-continues-56-year-memorial-day-assembly-tradition.html
Now in its 10th year as an organization, Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts is capping off another year of its programming on June 8, with its annual 5K Girls on the Run celebration, this time at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Girls on the Run Western Mass. is proudly celebrating its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of empowerment, growth and positive impact in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin counties. Since its establishment in 2015, the program has flourished, touching the lives of over 12,650 girls in over 85 schools and community sites. Among those sites are Westfield River and Munger Hill elementary schools in Westfield and Powder Mill School in Southwick, according to the organization’s website.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/girls-on-the-run-set-to-celebrate-10-years-of-building-confidence-and-making-memories.html
Last year, in conjunction with Advance Manufacturing and the Amanti family, students in manufacturing technology at Westfield Technical Academy were given the opportunity to create parts for the American Bobsled Team. The parts were programmed, set up and manufactured by students using stock donated by Advance Manufacturing.
Ron Nadeau, lead instructor of manufacturing technology, said the project was time sensitive. “Upon completion, all of the parts were inspected and presented back to Advance Mfg., where they were used in a bunch of sleds.”
The result was that team member Kaysha Love won a world championship on a monobob using parts created by Westfield Technical Academy students. Recently, Nadeau was at Advance Manufacturing when the team came to the company, and an award was presented to them that was shared with the students.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/wta-manufacturing-students-make-parts-for-world-championship-american-bobsled-team.html
No Cost Treatment for Marijuana, Alcohol and other Drug Problems:
MASS General Brigham is doing this research to assess a new type of intervention that combines group and individual therapy to improve substance use and related outcomes in youth and young adults. Click on the link below for more information. Thank you!
https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/youthrecoveryprogram
The Westfield High School Drama Club presents “All Shook Up,” a new musical screenplay by Joe DiPietro, inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley on Thursday and Friday, May 8 and 9. Tickets, which are sold at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m.
The play is directed by Owen Snyder and choreographed by Hannah Bruno. Music directors are Korey Bruno and Patrick Kennedy, and costumes are by Gwen Newton.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-drama-club-presents-all-shook-up-on-may-8-and-9-featuring-the-songs-of-elvis-presley.html
Westfield Career Services Counselor Patricia Healy was recognized this week as the Western Massachusetts recipient of the General Colin L. Powell Service Award. The award is presented to one high school counselor from each of the eastern and western half of the state that best supports young adults in making their individual educational and career choices in high school and upon graduation.
“I could not think of a more deserving person for this award,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski in making the announcement.
Healy was nominated by Tech. Sgt. Brian Whitman of the Air National Guard 104 and AT2 Micaela Veronese of the U.S. Navy, and was told this is the first time a counselor has ever been nominated by two different recruiters in the same year.
Healy is also invited to be recognized at the Enlistee Recognition Ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 10 at Gillette Stadium, which she said she will gladly attend. She said the majority of the ceremony is to honor and acknowledge students who are among the one percent of their peers to enlist. “I feel very blessed, very lucky,” she said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-career-services-counselor-one-of-two-recognized-for-state-service-award.html
Wednesday, Second Grade students at Westfield River Elementary put their STEM skills to the test! As part of a Project Lead the Way module, students tackled a real-world challenge: preventing erosion during a flash flood. Working in teams, they designed and tested solutions using land models, simulating flash floods and measuring erosion.
From vegetation to retaining walls and diversion pipes, students applied creative engineering strategies while building their collaboration and communication skills.
A special thank you to the professionals from J.L. Raymaakers & Sons, Inc. who joined us today to provide feedback and help students connect classroom learning to real-world problem solving!
In addition, Sam Horton and DJ Hunter, Communication majors from Westfield State University, captured the event as part of their final project. 🎥 They interviewed students and teachers about their experience with PLTW and documented the hands-on excitement as designs were put to the test. We can’t wait to see the final project they create! 🎬
On May 1, Westfield High School celebrated College and Career Reveal Day, where seniors are asked to come in wearing t-shirts or other outward indications of their plans beyond graduation.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/05/whs-students-celebrate-their-college-and-career-futures.html