Westfield Public Schools

Nothing gets people into the holiday spirit more than school children singing and playing songs associated with this festive season. Westfield residents have their choice of several dates over the next month to be entertained. The Westfield public schools’ holiday concert schedule begins with the Westfield Middle School’s Band Concert tonight, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The WMS Chorus Concert plays the following week on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/12/westfield-schools-plan-a-packed-schedule-of-holiday-concerts-this-month.html

For anyone who is concerned about a loved one or who wants to learn more about a growing problem and the local resources available to help, Westfield Technical Academy at 33 Smith Ave., Westfield, is hosting a talk on “Preventing Accidental Overdose: Counterfeit Pills and What You Need to Know” on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. This free event facilitated by the Hampden County district attorney’s office will provide education and awareness on easy access to counterfeit pills and other drugs online, and is intended for parents and caregivers, community members and organizations. WTA adjustment and substance abuse counselor Kristine Hupfer said she and Carrie Ann Fiordalice, her counterpart at Westfield High School, have been concerned about how much the drug culture has changed, even in the past few years, and want to help parents and guardians understand the trends. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/info-session-at-westfield-tech-will-focus-on-preventing-accidental-overdoses.html

Tune in this Thursday, December 1, 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 talk with members of the Westfield High School Show Choir. The show will also include live student performances. Thanks for watching!

Please join us for our next SEPAC meeting on Thursday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Tiger's Pride Restaurant at Westfield Technical Academy. Please click on the image for more information. Thank you.

Sarat Ford is making the most of the cooperative education program at Westfield Technical Academy and said the partnership couldn’t be better. Currently, two automotive technology juniors, Hannah Pelletier and Austin Thomas, are participating in the co-op, working every other week at the service center alongside four WTA graduates who are employed there full-time. Sarat Ford Service Manager John Gentile said WTA is always his first call if they need someone. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/co-op-corner-partnership-between-ford-westfield-tech-is-firing-on-all-cylinders.html

Jeffrey Amanti, production manager of Advance Manufacturing, was reelected as General Advisory Board chair at the Westfield Technical Academy annual meeting on Nov. 15. At the meeting, Amanti thanked everyone for their support in being reelected. He spoke to the current job market and the high demand for skilled workers and said there is a tremendous opportunity for students for careers in all trade areas within the community. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/jeffrey-amanti-reelected-to-lead-westfield-technical-academys-advisory-board.html

Franklin Avenue Elementary School celebrated the spirit of giving thanks this week before the school closed for the holiday, said Principal Chris Tolpa. Students in Jennifer Thielen’s third grade class made “turkeygrams” for the staff to express their gratitude for their work, and then walked the halls delivering their messages personally. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/students-at-franklin-ave-school-in-westfield-celebrate-spirit-of-giving-thanks.html

The statewide cross country competition wrapped up this past weekend and two local runners showed their speed. Westfield Technical Academy’s Kaylin Hawley and Westfield High’s Megan Moran finished tops in their respective divisions. Hawley finished runner-up in Division 2 and fourth overall in the Mass Vocational Schools championship at the Wrentham Development Center, finishing with a personal best 21:33. That personal best did not last long, however, as she broke it on Saturday at the All-State Cross Country meet, finishing the race in 21:28. She placed 43rd out of 183 runners. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/cross-country-runners-megan-moran-westfield-kaylin-hawley-westfield-technical-academy-use-quick-feet-to-achieve-notable-feats.html

If you missed last week's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. In this episode, our District Instructional Leadership Team explains our Multi-Tiered System of student Support. We also recognized National Play Monopoly Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Owb4DOsO4Y

The Westfield School Department’s Thanksgiving meal drive went into overdrive this year, with co-chairs Sue and Ralph Figy and Eileen and Jimmy Jachym ordering and delivering turkeys and all the fixings to a record-breaking 230 families this year, 80 more than anticipated. Ralph Figy said the district coordinated with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, which is providing 100 meals for area families. The school volunteers put together 230 meals, so that between them 330 families would receive meals. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/thanksgiving-effort-goes-into-overdrive-to-help-families-in-westfield.html

Share the Warmth Coat drive is ON! From now until Dec. 14th, visit any of our participating members locations to make a donation to benefit Westfield Public School students.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, Westfield State University was the setting where hundreds of student musicians from high schools across Western Massachusetts auditioned for the Senior District Music Festival sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association. One dozen instrumental and vocal students from Westfield High School qualified for the district competition. “These students went above and beyond practicing a prepared solo on their instrument or voice, were required to demonstrate proficiency in scales and sight reading — and in some cases created on-the-spot improvisations as part of their audition,” said Westfield High School Band Director Patrick Kennedy. https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/westfield-high-schools-vocal-and-instrumental-students-make-districts.html

WIS had a team of girls run in the Girls on the Run 5k at Stanley Park today. They braved the cold, wind, and tough conditions to overcome the challenge. Mrs. Haramut coached the team this fall preparing for today. We are very proud of each of them to set a goal and work hard to accomplish it!

A custodian at Westfield Abner Gibbs Elementary School has been vacuuming illustrations into a rug each morning to bring smiles to third-grade students. Hank Kimball has adopted it as a routine, creating flags, trees, sailboats, and even 22News with the vacuum cleaner. 22News visited the school and spoke with Hank and the students about how this all began. The artist behind these uplifting illustrations told 22News why he began creating them. “It started with me just making the lines in the carpet with the vacuum cleaner, somebody said they really liked how it look so clean and stuff,” said Westfield Abner Gibbs Custodian, Hank Kimball. “One day I was doing it and I was like you know what let me just try a little design.” Hank adds, “it affects the children in how excited they are about it and I just thought, oh wow, that’s amazing.” It has been an experience for the students to see his work every morning as they enter the classroom. “They’re walking around the carpet trying to be careful and figure it out, and it’s like this little brain teaser,” said Carolyn Laframboise, Westfield Abner Gibbs Elementary School 3rd grade teacher. “It makes me happy and gets my mind ready in the morning,” expressed Westfield Abner Gibbs Elementary School 3rd grader Jon Baahre. While this rug has been used as a focal point for reading time, the illustrations have now brought an additional meaning to it. Hank’s art will continue to be shared with this class and many others in the future. https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/westfield-elementary-school-custodian-uplifts-students-through-rug-art-creations/

With the weather turning cold and stormy this week, School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski is getting ready for another season of deciding when to call a snow day. It is not a call that he makes by himself, however. “We look at the weather forecast, which is a pretty good guide, although not always 100% accurate,” he said. “We check with the Maintenance Department, the Westfield Police Department, [school Transportation Director] Pam Kortarski, who checks with the bus company, and area superintendents,” Czaporowski said. ”We try to make the call as early as possible to not inconvenience families.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/many-factors-influence-snow-day-call-westfield-school-superintendent-says.html

Tune in this Thursday, November 17, 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 are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Education, and our Director of Assessment and Accountability about our Multi-Tiered system of Support. Thanks for watching!

The newest thrift shop downtown, Blessed Buys, has expanded its offerings and has made the decision to donate a portion of its profits during the holidays to families in need with children at Abner Gibbs and Franklin Avenue elementary schools. Blessed Buys volunteer Cindy Gaylord said that the shop had been exploring how to help charities and causes in Westfield that may not get as much attention as some more prominent ones, like the soup kitchen and food pantry. Instead of donating to a specific charity, they decided on giving directly to families in need. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/congregational-church-thrift-store-will-donate-some-profits-to-school-families.html

One week after being eliminated from the state tournament, the Westfield High School football team sought to finish the season on a positive note. Mission accomplished. Westfield rallied from a 15-0 deficit to defeat West Springfield in a high school football consolation game 24-22 Thursday night at Bullens Field. The Bombers victory cemented their final record of the 2022 season at 7-3. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/westfield-football-rallies-from-15-0-deficit-to-defeat-west-springfield-24-22.html

Stacy Burgess, principal of the Paper Mill Elementary School, said the school has been talking a lot about community this year in a reset to their positive behaviors and interventions and supports (PBIS) program. “We talk about building a community in the school,” Burgess said, and about being a part of the larger community. As a part of the conversation, the school invited first responders and other helpers in the community to bring their vehicles for their first “Touch-a-Truck” event on Nov. 9. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/paper-mill-elementary-school-invites-westfield-first-responders-utilities-to-help-build-community-at-touch-a-truck.html

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we recognized Sesame Street Day. We also talked about the results from our Youth Risk Behavior Surveys administered to students in grades 8, 10, and 12 last spring. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qODyYic7Urg