Westfield Public Schools

October is National Principals Month, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing principals who lead our schools. Their dedication, passion, and commitment shape the educational experiences of our students and foster positive school cultures. Every day, our principals inspire teachers, staff, and students to strive for their best. They navigate challenges with grace and create environments where every student can thrive. This month, join us in recognizing and thanking these remarkable leaders. To our wonderful principals, thank you for all that you do. Your leadership and tireless efforts make a profound difference. Let’s all take a moment to #ThankAPrincipal and show our appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our schools and communities.

Students are “all in” the new criminal justice vocational program at Westfield High School. Asked what she likes best about it, senior Kamaria Eddington said, “It’s all hands-on — how we’re all so ‘in it.’” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/10/criminal-justice-students-all-in-for-westfield-high-career-education-program.html

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 October 15-18 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.

The Westfield Technical Academy Construction Technology Advisory Board met with department instructors on Sept. 24 to review applications for paid off-campus construction projects, and begin the selection of projects for the 2024-25 school year. The main direction for the department is the next Westfield Technical Academy Foundation student build, to follow up the house at 64 Mill St. that was completed and sold earlier this year, according to construction technology chair and head instructor Matthew Gomes. He said they are actively seeking a new opportunity to build a house with the students. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-tech-seeks-land-for-next-student-built-house-ideas-for-other-projects.html

Rain in the forecast may have stopped some people from attending the Big E on Sept. 26, as the fair only managed 48,078 admissions, far short of the pleasant-weather standard. But on Salute to Westfield Day, it couldn’t keep several city residents from making the short trip to the West Springfield fairground to see their exposition favorites, like the Avenue of States. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-residents-enjoy-food-business-sightseeing-on-citys-day-at-big-e.html

Pickleball has grown in popularity across the country, including in western Massachusetts. Now, there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “I got into it in the middle of summer, and it’s kind of a new thing for me,” said Lia O’Brien, freshman at there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. O’Brien has been getting the hang of pickleball. In fact, during the summer, she heard about a new pickleball league just for high schoolers in her community. Now, about a month into the school year, she is the first player to ever serve in the Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “It’s really fun having a connection through a new sport and it’s fun to see how other people play and the competition’s fun, too,” O’Brien added. Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Technical Academy, told Western Mass News he jumped at the opportunity for his students to participate in the pilot program. “I talked to some of the kids at school during class, and they’re like. ‘Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll do it’ so we had a lot of interest and the kids really took off with it,” Dulude noted. They took off indeed. As of this moment, there are 20 kids on the team and there are three other schools involved: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, South Hadley High School, and Springfield International Charter. The games take place on the 14 pickleball courts located behind Westfield Tech, including eight new ones recently put in the town. Westfield Technical Academy Coach Ron Nadeau told Western Mass News that the main goals are to eventually make pickleball a varsity sport across the Bay state and get kids into a sport that has grown in popularity. “I’m very impressed, actually. Getting an opportunity to see other teams and how well they play or don’t play, and I think our team is doing very well. We’re off to a 2-0 record so far, so we’re hoping that we can continue success and impress our community,” Nadeau explained. The league will have games on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of October. The hope is to make a pickleball an MIAA varsity sport in the next one to three years. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/09/26/high-school-pickleball-league-make-debut-western-mass/

If you missed this yesterday's new episode of "Superintendent Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we talked with our Human Resources staff about their careers and their work in our district. We were also joined by staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program to help us recognize 'National Pancake Day'. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4CwDD1iASk

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we talked with school nurse Liz Flaherty and Athletic Director Greg Vouros about concussions since National Concussion Awareness Day is on Friday, September 20. In this episode, we learn about symptoms, long term effects, concussion protocols in our athletic programs, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BGXHNp4zB8

The Westfield Intermediate School had its first school-wide assembly on Sept. 13, as a culmination of “One Book, One School” reading of “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig, and to kick off “Start with Hello,” another school-wide initiative. Both the book and “Start with Hello” are intended to help students in the school to be inclusive as they get to know each other, said WIS Principal Gregory Miller and Vice Principal Rena Piper. WIS has 730 students in fifth and sixth grade, its biggest enrollment yet, with 50 more students than last year. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-schools-mission-this-year-is-to-say-hello-to-kindness-inclusion.html

If you were unable to watch or listen to this morning's edition of "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff from Westfield Middle School about instruction and our instructional priority for this school year. The staff and students in Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate 'National Chocolate Milkshake Day'. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR6sC8iDuRI

Student-athletes at Westfield Technical Academy will be among the first to compete in what may end up as Massachusetts’ next high school varsity sport. Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Tech, told the city Parks and Recreation Committee on Monday that the Tigers are among four high school sports programs in Western Massachusetts participating in a pickleball pilot program for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-tech-is-one-of-4-w-mass-schools-piloting-pickleball-for-miaa.html

Click here for the latest Newsletter from the Franklin Ave/Abner Gibbs Replacement School Project: https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--September-2024-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=8RGxSkE_mGA

School administrators and a handful of varsity tennis players were the first to walk the tennis courts at Westfield High School on Friday morning, Sept. 6, after the students cut the ribbon on the new facility. The courts were designed by SLR International Corp. and built by Mountain View Landscapes in Chicopee, which specializes in sports facility construction. Present at the ribbon cutting were architect Kevin Fuselier of SLR, and Sean Corrigan from Mountain View. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/growing-tennis-teams-at-westfield-high-school-cut-ribbon-on-1m-new-courts.html

The Fort Meadow Parent Teacher Organization hosted an ice cream social for new and returning students and their older and younger siblings on Tuesday, the day before classes began. The afternoon event in the playground of the school at 35 White St., Westfield, capped a day of morning and afternoon orientation sessions. Principal Jonathan Scagel said the two sessions were great. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/students-siblings-welcome-westfield-preschool-start-with-ice-cream-social.html

If you missed the season premiere of Superintendent's Spotlight this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we chatted with Principal Charles Jendrysik about some of the capital projects at Westfield High School over the last year, free SAT prep classes, and more. We also celebrated National Cheese Pizza Day with staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program. Superintendent's Spotlight airs weekly on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, wstfieldtv.org, and WCPC TV Channel 15. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxK14ZjIGw

A Westfield High School student has been putting together care bags for both western Massachusetts troops and veterans for the last few years and, for her senior year, she’s at it again and is adding a little extra effort. “Getting to hear each and every one of their stories, the ones that have kids that they’re leaving at home, and I just wanted to make that somewhat easier for them,” said Westfield High Senior Jillian Battles. Since eighth grade, Battles has been determined to give Massachusetts veterans and soldiers deployed overseas care bags to make sure they are well taken care of. For each of the last three years, she has put together 800 of those for the same groups in western Massachusetts as part of her ‘Bags for Bravery’ project. Now, in her senior year, she’s picking up where she left off. “They’re not really appreciated as much as they should be and so, me as one person just being able to do what I do and then get my school involved, get the community involved and bring all this to light, and to be able to give them the recognition they deserve is truly what matters the most,” Battles noted. Battles told Western Mass News that there are several items needed for these bags, including throw blankets, warm socks, hand sanitizer, macaroni and cheese cups, and granola bars. While not many donations have been collected this early in the school year, Battles is increasing her effort this weekend with ‘Picklefor Patriots,’ a pickleball tournament that will give her a head start in collecting money to buy items that would fill the bags. “Even if they’re not playing, anybody can stop by and bring a donation off of my wish list and they get a free raffle ticket. It’s a good cause and I’m really hoping that will get people out.” Coming from a military family herself, Battles has shown her will to be there for those who are serving or have served in our armed forces and she said the battle will continue, especially when she attends college next year. “Western New England (University) already expressed their support, so I’m super excited for that. I know eventually I’d like to be a doctor, so med school might get a little tricky, but I have no plans on stopping any time soon,” Battles explained. ‘Pickle for Patriots’ will be Saturday at the Westfield Municipal Pickleball Courts. As for donations overall, Battles said they will be accepted until October 31. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/09/05/westfield-student-holding-pickleball-tournament-help-support-care-packages/

If you missed last week's Rock on Westfield with host Harry Rock, click on the link below. Guests Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Dargie talk with Harry about the 2024-2025 school year and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLyi7YDDK20

Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. Have a great long weekend! Thank you.

Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center will once again begin classes on Sept. 4 for the morning and afternoon sessions of its integrated preschool programs at its longtime home at 35 White St., Westfield. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/08/fort-meadow-to-welcome-westfield-preschoolers-with-orientation-ice-cream.html

Westfield Public Schools is offering Free SAT Prep Courses this fall. Sessions will be held this September at both WHS and WTA. See image for more details.