Westfield Public Schools

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, three teams of Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students helped us recognize National Chili Day with an authentic Chili Cookoff. All the students did a wonderful job in all categories. Much appreciation to the students, Chef Eric Rogers, the Culinary Arts staff, and the judges for making this show possible. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy19QsAQaac

Click here for the latest newsletter and pictures from the Franklin Ave/Abner Gibbs Replacement School Project: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--February-2024-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=Xp4s0TEfBtI

Westfield Public Schools continues to update our school district’s comprehensive safety plan in conjunction with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments. A team of Westfield Administrators and other staff members representing every level from elementary to high school, has been working collaboratively with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments to make sure our students, staff, and families have a current, research-based, and educationally sound safety plan. As part of our continued work with Westfield Police Department and our ongoing training for students and staff, our city departments working together will conduct lockdown drills in our schools the week of February 26 - March 1 utilizing the enhanced lockdown procedures known as A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate). If you have any questions regarding our drills please contact Mr. Christopher Rogers, Director of Operations and Safety for the Westfield Public Schools at 413-572-6495.

Five seniors in the Westfield Technical Academy allied health class of 2024 were honored at a pinning ceremony in the school auditorium on Feb. 16. Each student successfully completed the Nurse Aide Training Program at WTA and passed the state written and practicum exams in June 2023 to become certified nurse assistants. In a traditional ceremony, students Makayla Brazee, Marissa Crepeau, Cheyenne Lamontagne, Emerson Trzepacz and Alexandra Valentine received pins as a symbol of joining the nursing profession. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-tech-honors-nursing-students-at-traditional-pinning-ceremony.html

Schools will be closed starting Monday, February 19, 2024 - Friday, February 23, 2024, for our Winter Recess. Have a happy and safe winter break!

Gov. Maura Healey, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and Early Education Commissioner Amy Kershaw visited Roots Learning Center on Feb. 15 to celebrate changes to how the state reimburses preschools and daycare centers. Meeting with the governor and her team were Westfield state Sen. John Velis, Mayor Michael McCabe, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and childcare providers from throughout the region. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/state-officials-promote-child-care-pre-k-efforts-in-visit-to-westfield.html

Five teachers with decades of experience and one teacher new to the profession were surprised in their classrooms on Monday by Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and members of his central office team with this year’s Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. “Surprising our deserving staff members with the Pioneer Valley Teaching Excellence Awards is truly one of the highlights of our school year. Recognizing staff for their outstanding work with our students and contributions to the school community is something that I look forward to,” Czaporowski said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-schools-celebrate-6-recipients-of-excellence-in-teaching-awards.html

Due to the significant snowstorm being forecast for tomorrow, February 13, Westfield Public Schools and offices will be closed. Thank you.

If you missed this morning's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. This week, we talked with Franklin Avenue Elementary School Principal Chris Tolpa about some of the great things happening there. We also took some time to recognize International Paczki Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3UzHCTNCkM&fbclid=IwAR3c1VEGwr2CvN0brBLgELrCVWH3T6g4FyJG0Fbw-03gEafFNomdGMvrivk

At the Feb. 1 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski shared results from a recent survey of students on their perception of the climate in their schools. He said the survey results will continue to be studied in focus groups in each of the schools. Czaporowski said administrators received a strong sampling for the surveys, with 1,300 students in kindergarten through grade 4 answering the questions; and an even higher number, 2,020 students, responding in grades 5-12. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-school-administrators-focus-groups-to-analyze-student-survey-results.html

A Westfield teenager, with the support from a city councilor, is looking to complete his Eagle Scout project. The idea is to place an incinerator in the middle of a park for ceremonies that would honor both the American flag and our veterans. For 16-year-old Eagle Scout Brandon Cekovsky, he has been looking for a way to have folded flags burned safely to honor our veterans. “It was originally an open burn pit, and they (the parks and rec. commission) were concerned about the embers and the smoke,” Cekovsky said. “There’s just so much of a buildup and there was no easy way to dispose of them (the flags) quickly.” So, during the last year, Cekovsky has been working hard to get a flag incinerator in the middle of Parker Memorial Park, which is home to several stones paying tribute to those from the Westfield area who died during some of the most well-known conflicts in history. To avoid disrespect by throwing away a folded flag, there is a tradition of burning it known as the ceremony for the proper disposal of the American flag. “The American flag, as a symbol, is sacred. This project would allow all Westfield veterans organizations to burn a limited number of flags on a regular basis with greater public access,” said Westfield City Councilor Dan Allie. Allie has supported the project for a while and has been impressed with Cekovsky’s determination. While most flags would continue to be disposed of by veterans groups and Boy Scout troops in ceremonies at other city locations and surrounding communities, the idea is to have a small patio and incinerator in Parker Park to give the public a chance to observe the ceremony firsthand. With the project on the agenda at a Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Wednesday night, Allie, who is also the chair of the city properties committee, said there should be no issue with getting the idea passed. “Congress passed this procedure back in 1937 and I see nothing in local or state law that would prohibit them from doing this,” Allie added. No matter the result, the Westfield High School student is proud of his hard work and the support he has received. “My biggest takeaway from this project is keep on pushing, keep on persevering through it,” Cekovsky explained. “I could basically show the scouting community that even when people retaliate against you and they say, ‘no, you can’t do this.’ I just want to show the scouting community, ‘yes, you can.’” If the city’s parks and recreation commission approves the project, the hope is to have the patio and incinerator in place by Memorial Day weekend. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/02/07/westfield-eagle-scout-city-councilor-team-up-bring-flag-incinerator-park/

Westfield High School junior Sydney Drugan was named Sons of Erin colleen at the 41st annual Colleen Contest and Ball on Feb. 2. Members of her court are Grace Hanna, Brie Kelly-Barrett, Katelyn Jones and Riley McDonnell. “It was incredible, I was very surprised. There were so many amazing young ladies,” Drugan said after being named colleen. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/dancer-aspiring-engineer-will-represent-westfield-as-st-patricks-colleen.html

Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Commission, author Renata Bowers has been teaching Franklin Avenue Elementary School’s third grade how to be effective storytellers. She, staff, students, and parents celebrated their progress in an hour-long ceremony before the end of the school day on Feb. 1. In the lesson, Bowers said, students were asked to identify “everyday heroes,” who help them with their problems. Identifying those people helped them “become part of telling more good stories,” she said. They were also asked to identify the good things that can come from a problem. Bowers said this helped them not be scared of their problems but start thinking about solutions. https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/02/childrens-author-works-with-westfield-kids-to-find-their-inner-storyteller.html

The U.S. Education Department (USED) recently announced that data from college-bound students’ Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will not be delivered to colleges until March. While news of this delay is disconcerting, here is some guidance and information for students and families: Students should still complete the FAFSA. If they are experiencing technical errors, they should be patient and keep trying, especially when it comes to reaching Federal Student Aid (FSA) by phone. Students can also contact their prospective colleges and let them know that they are having problems with their submission. Federal Student Aid continues to correct errors. Anyone who has submitted their FAFSA but needs to make corrections will be able to do so once the FAFSA data is processed in March. National college access organizations are urging colleges and universities to extend financial aid and admissions deadlines in light of the delayed data. Colleges that depend on the FAFSA to make aid offers will most likely be delayed in sending offers to students. However, there is widespread understanding that students need these aid offers to make a college decision. To help families with the new FAFSA, which went live on December 30, the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA) is holding several online events, including one on “Navigating the Challenges and Delays of the New FAFSA” for students and families from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21. https://www.mefa.org/events/navigating-the-challenges-and-delays-of-the-new-fafsa?utm_source=DA-Commissioner%27s+Weekly+Update&utm_campaign=deda82ffdf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_05_11_56&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-deda82ffdf-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Westfield’s Public Schools are hosting a “Countdown to Kindergarten” information and registration night in the Westfield Middle School cafeteria, 30 W. Silver St., on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Families of prospective kindergartners may attend anytime between 6 and 7:30 p.m., and may bring the kids. The snow date is Feb. 8. Assessment and Accountability Director Christine Shea said the district’s goal is to get as many kindergartners registered as possible, to help plan for the 2024-25 school year. “That way, we know who’s coming. We can have them come to screenings in May, invite them to play dates in the summer, and be ready to welcome them to school in the fall,” Shea said. There will be information for families, with central registration staff and translators available to answer questions and to register children for kindergarten. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2024, to enter kindergarten in the fall. Shea said families can bring their paperwork with them and learn what else they need. A list of paperwork needed for registration is available at www.schoolsofwestfield.org/page/required-enrollment-documents. Families are encouraged to bring their prospective kindergartner with them. There will be a school bus outside for children to climb onto and explore, and inside will be a family “photo booth,” art kits with crayons and coloring books, raffle prizes and more. Between 6 and 7 p.m. each elementary school will have a table where families can meet their future principals and teachers. Partners such as the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA, will also have representatives on hand, so families can connect and learn more about before- and after-school programs. The evening is also an opportunity to ask questions about transportation, to hear about school lunches and see a sample menu. Shea described the evening as the kickoff for kindergarten registration. She said if families miss it, they may register online, or visit the central office welcome center in the Westwood Building on the first floor of 94 Elm St., Westfield. The Countdown to Kindergarten is sponsored in collaboration with the Westfield Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant and community partners. For more information, call Sarah Kotarski at 413-572-6439 or email s.kotarski@schoolsofwestfield.org. For translation assistance, call Laura Surprise at 413-642-9320 or email l.surprise@schoolsofwestfield.org. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/kindergarten-info-night-planned-on-feb-6-in-westfi/

The mission of the Westfield Public Schools Parent Support Group is to provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to come together and gain information, training and resources. We strive to support strong family units and improve all systems of care for students with special needs through increased communication and collaboration. Please click on the image below for information on our next meeting on February 7 at 6:00 p.m. Thank you.

If you missed Superintendent's Spotlight last Thursday, click on the link below. This week, we had a great show talking about grief and loss with Therese and Betsy from Rick's Place. We learned how this effects students and the supports that Rick's Place offers for youth in our area. Students and staff from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Dark Chocolate Day with some special treats. Thank you for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dRAZv4FcJA

Female pirates, British aristocrats, singing, dancing and laughter will fill the stage at Westfield Middle School for a performance by the Drama Club of “Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates” on Feb. 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. British Captain Jennings (Christina Nguyen) loses her crew when they jump ship, leaving only a handful of prisoners and Fergus (Griffin Kuhn), a sailor who can’t swim, to protect the wealthy passengers from the pirate attack. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/01/sea-shanties-silly-twists-abound-in-westfield-middle-school-musical.html

Westfield Public Schools have announced that tuition-free, full-day preschool will again be offered for Westfield residents for the 2024-25 school year. Full-day preschool programs, which run during the school day from 9:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., will be available at Southampton Road, Highland and Munger Hill elementary schools, and in the new elementary school on Franklin Street when it opens, which is expected to be in January 2025. Before- and after-school programs are also available at the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-free-preschool-lottery-is-open-until-feb-16.html

Construction on the new Elementary School continues! Click here for the January newsletter: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--January-2024-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=dXHWYENgqB8