Celebrating 250 years of American music.
Join us for the 73rd Annual Pops Concert at Westfield High School
March 13 & 14, 7:00 PM
$10 General Admission
$5 For Students
Tickets at the door or westfieldhighschoolband.com
A jubilant atmosphere glided through Hangar 2 of Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport on Thursday as Galen Wilson was honored for his immense role in growing the local aviation community.
A little over 10 years after jumpstarting the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at Westfield Technical Academy, Wilson was chosen as the Bradley district’s Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year by the Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team for his “technical expertise” and “lasting impact on students, schools and the aviation community itself.” He was chosen for the award by the Board of Directors of the General Aviation Program.
“I’m truly honored,” Wilson said in an interview with The Westfield News following the March 5 ceremony. “When I think of the award, it’s got my name on it, but it applies to everybody. It applies to the Westfield Technical Academy, it applies to the administration, the students [and] people that support it.”
Because the WTA program emulates a two-year college program, Wilson said that when students graduate, they can bring up to 69 college credits to some universities. He also shared that students can go directly into the industry as a licensed FAA technician to work in airplanes immediately after graduating from the program.
Many were in attendance to celebrate Wilson’s achievement, including Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Mayor Michael McCabe, state Rep. Kelly Pease, a representative from state Sen. John Velis’ office and Wilson’s students and family. All of the elected officials presented some kind of certificate to Wilson.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Czaporowski highlighted Wilson’s innate teaching ability, which was evident right after he was interviewed for the instructor position decades ago. Czaporowski said immediately after meeting Wilson, the interview team wanted to give him the job right on the spot.
“Sometimes you’re just born to teach,” Czaporowski said. “We couldn’t be any more proud to have Galen. It has been, and I hope continues to be, a pleasure to work with you as we move forward.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/wilson-awarded-district-aviation-maintenance-technician-of-the-year.html
On Feb. 26, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Director of Assessment Christine Shea and Curriculum Director Susan Dargie gathered flower bouquets and balloons for a surprise delivery to the six Westfield teachers who were honored with the Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.
This year’s honorees included five veteran educators who have collectively impacted thousands of students, alongside one teacher new to the profession who is already making a meaningful difference.
In the nominations from their school principals, this year’s Grinspoon teachers were described as going above and beyond for their students and their school communities as a whole.
“So many of our staff members go above and beyond every day for our students, and it is both a pleasure and a privilege to honor six educators each year with the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards. I am also deeply grateful to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for continuing to make this meaningful opportunity available to our district,” said Czaporowski after the visits.
All of the Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching honorees will be celebrated at a banquet held at the Log Cabin in their honor on May 12. They will also receive $250 scholarships, tuition incentives for graduate courses, YMCA memberships and other gifts and benefits.
The Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards program is made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, and supported by area colleges and universities, YMCAs of Pioneer Valley, the Springfield Jewish Community Center, Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, and Meyers Brothers Kalicka.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/six-westfield-teachers-honored-with-excellence-in-teaching-awards.html
In honor of the 250th anniversary, Kennedy first chose the concert band sheet music entitled “An American Spectacular,” which begins with “God Save the Queen” — the music underlying “My Country Tis of Thee,” and includes other recognizable tunes, ending with “America the Beautiful.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/03/whs-annual-pops-concert-to-mix-patriotic-songs-with-american-music-royalty.html
Parents, guardians, students, and staff are encouraged to review the proposed requirements and provide feedback through the statewide survey. Input from our community is important and will help inform future decisions.
The survey will remain open through June 30, 2026.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8612728/Statewide-Graduation-Council-Interim-Report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ6Oa6O9Gos
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 emergency operations 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 March 9-12 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 or c.rogers@schoolsofwestfield.org. Thank you!
Rachel’s Challenge tells the powerful true story of Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine High School tragedy in April 1999. “Through emotional storytelling and Rachel’s own words, our community is inspired to reflect on their personal influence, the power of compassion and the importance of treating others with respect,” McMillan said.
During the day, the group will give two assemblies, one for seventh graders and one for eighth graders. The assemblies will be followed by a unique workshop for up to 100 students and 10 teachers, which McMillan called a mini-training to come up with ideas on how to keep the momentum going. “I want to make sure we can continue that work each day,” he said.
“Their primary message is to find simple ways to spread kindness — that’s what their daughter did as well during her time at Columbine,” McMillan said.
In the evening, there will be a free presentation for the community at large from 6-7 p.m. Pizza will be served beforehand in the cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. People are asked to preregister for a free ticket through the link on the Westfield Middle School website at https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/o/wms to let them know who’s coming.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/rachels-challenge-is-coming-to-westfield-middle-school-on-march-3.html
“Our newest articulation agreement with Westfield State University for students studying Criminal Justice and Public Safety at Westfield High School is truly exciting. Eighteen credits represent more than a semester of college coursework, giving our students a tremendous academic and financial advantage,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
WHS Criminal Justice teacher Kara LaValley said the students will receive the WSU credits if they stay in the pathway all four years. She said moving forward, WSU will also offer Intro to Psychology at WHS in the fall of junior year and Intro to Sociology in the fall of senior year. “This is in addition to the classes that they are already taking during the spring semester of junior and senior year.”
Students in the pathway will receive three credits each for Intro to Criminal Justice and Intro to Corrections, taught by LaValley in their freshman and sophomore years; Intro to Psychology and American Judicial Systems as juniors, taught by WSU professors, and Intro to Sociology and Criminal Investigation/Homicide as seniors, also taught by WSU professors, for a total of 18 credits.
Currently, there are 70 students enrolled in the criminal justice program at WHS, more than half of them freshmen. Last year was LaValley’s first graduating class, and this year, four students will complete all four years.
LaValley said students studying criminal justice may pursue several career tracks, including local and state police, criminology, crime data and FBI. Other tracks include crime lab work, which is more science-based and mental health. Her own master’s is in forensic psychology.
Her students are interested in entering law school, policing, or SWAT; she has students in the Westfield Police Cadets right now, and some who are more interested in the mental health side of the profession. “I told them the whole corrections system has so many different avenues if you go through the Academy — truancy officer, parks, marine units — so many.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/whs-signs-articulation-agreement-with-westfield-state-for-criminal-justice-classes.html
Paquette received his bachelor’s in history from Fitchburg State College, his master’s in education from Our Lady of the Elms and his master’s in school administration from Westfield State University.
Before joining WTA, Paquette served as an assistant principal at Westfield High School for six years and as an assistant principal in Palmer for one year. Before entering administration, he spent thirteen years as a social studies teacher at Chicopee Comprehensive. He has also served as a head tennis coach and assistant football coach.
Czaporowski said the appointment follows an intensive and comprehensive search process led by a dedicated 12-member interview committee. The committee included representation from WTA staff, students, parents/guardians, district office administrators, and a School Committee member who devoted many hours to reviewing applications, selecting semifinalists, and conducting formal interviews with four candidates.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to all who served on the committee for their time, professionalism, and commitment to the future of WTA,” Czaporowski said.
“Paquette is a familiar and respected leader at Westfield Technical Academy, having served as assistant principal since August 2023. His deep roots in Westfield Public Schools and extensive administrative background made him the clear choice for this role,” Czaporowski said.
“We are confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen WTA as ‘the place to be’ and advance excellence for both students and staff.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/02/new-principal-chosen-for-westfield-technical-academy.html