Franklin Avenue Elementary School

Click below for the latest newsletter on the Franklin Ave/Abner Gibbs Replacement School Project: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--December-2023-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=liwzqD2cYms

School principals and business leaders brainstormed about how they can help students prepare for careers at the Nov. 28 meeting of the Westfield Education to Business Alliance. Area businesses have been working with teachers to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities and share information about career opportunities in their fields through the Adopt a Classroom program. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/11/westfield-school-business-leaders-brainstorm-on-how-to-link-students-to-careers.html

Holi-daze Presented by Mad Science of Western New England and sponsored by Westfield Public Schools Date: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm Where: Munger Hill Elementary School 33 Mallard Ln. Westfield, MA 01085 Please email Sarah Kotarski at s.kotarski@schoolsofwestfield.org to register

The Massachusetts Department of Education (DESE) will be visiting Franklin Avenue this week to speak to teachers and observe classrooms to provide us feedback and support to ensure that all students are receiving the education they deserve. Members of the DESE Team will gather information and data to provide strategies that will help us improve our attendance and academic performance. We are excited for this visit, and we are looking forward to this Team to share their expertise and guidance with us so we can continue to learn and grow as a school.

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce’s Share the Warmth Coat Drive to benefit the children in Westfield public schools from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 will continue through Dec. 15. In the spirit of giving, the Chamber is asking for new or gently used winter coats of all sizes. Hats, snow pants, boots, gloves, mittens and scarves are also welcome, along with donations of new socks and new undergarments. Drop-off locations, all of which are in Westfield, include the Chamber office at 16 N. Elm St.; the Westfield schools office at 94 N. Elm St., Suite 101; Amelia Park Arena, 21 S. Broad St.; Shortstop Bar & Grill, 99 Springfield Rd.; Anytime Fitness, 415 E. Main St.; Results in Wellness, 93 Springfield Rd., Suite B; Richard’s Jewelers, 146 E. Main St.; Cannabis Connection, 40 Westfield Industrial Park Rd.; Betts Plumbing & Heating Supply, 14 Coleman Ave.; Westfield Bank, 300 Southampton Rd.; Rehab Resolutions, 1111 Elm St.; and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport’s terminal building at 110 Airport Rd. School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said he is thankful that the Chamber’s new director Amanda Waterfield and Chamber members are still supporting the coat drive. “I love that the Chamber wants to continue doing this with us, and how the community comes together to support our students. This is the seventh year we’ve been doing this, and we never end up with leftover clothing,” Czaporowski said. The coats and other winter clothing go to whatever school has pupils who need them. He said a lot of the clothing goes to the elementary kids, and adult sizes go to the clothing closets at both high schools. Czaporowski said the schools added snow pants to their wish list this year, because it is one of the items that students often don’t have. “I used to love making igloos. When I would go sit in my igloo, I loved having snow pants,” he said. Czaporowski said schools are seeing the effects of price inflation on some families’ ability to purchase warm clothes for their students. He said the schools will accept both new and gently used clothing, because sometimes kids grow out of their clothes so quickly they do not show a lot of wear. The schools are asking that any undergarments and socks that are donated be new. The clothing is also offered to new families that come to Westfield, some from milder climates. Czaporowski said when a new student comes in, the topic of adequate winter clothing is worked into the conversation. “It’s also good for our recent immigrants to Westfield,” he said. The final collection will take place at the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Holiday Breakfast, 7-9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at East Mountain Country Club, 1458 E. Mountain Rd. Czaporowski said the Westfield High School Chorus will perform holiday tunes at the breakfast. For more information or to sign up for the breakfast, visit www.westfieldbiz.org or call 413-568-1618. https://www.thereminder.com/Localnews/westfield/westfield-schools-coat-drive-continues-through-mid/

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we spoke with Devin Streeter from the Gandara Center about all the programs and services available to Westfield students and families. Their Family Resource Center is located on 16 George Street in Westfield, and they can also be reached at 413-417-2020 if you would like to learn more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1dlbJ4BaVM

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with Westfield Technical Academy's School Resource Office Bryan Turgeon about school safety, threat assessments, and our most recent safety drills. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazZZHC4gIY

As part of its continuing work with the Westfield Police Department and ongoing training for students and staff, the Westfield School Department will conduct lockdown drills the week of Oct. 23-27, using the enhanced procedures of what is called ALICE, which stands for “alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate.” Christopher Rogers, director of operations and safety, said Westfield has been using the ALICE protocol since 2014-15. “It’s research-based, and it provides our staff and at the upper grades our students the ability to make decisions in real time based on the information they have that is critical to their safety,” he said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfields-public-schools-will-conduct-lockdown-drills-later-this-month.html

As always, Franklin Avenue's Open House was a complete success. Students introduced their families to teachers and showed them where they learn each and every day. In our cafeteria, families found great information on community resources such as the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. They opened savings accounts, signed up for PTO, taste-tested our kitchen's goodies, and learned more about sports and activities available to children in Westfield. Families spoke with our specialists, interventionists, adjustment counselors, and nurse to learn more about what is happening in our school. Some families took a "tour" of our new school building, admiring the beauty and functionality of our new space through pictures and floor plans. And of course, so many students were excited to get books at our Scholastic Book Fair. We encourage the attendance of all family members because we love catching up with former students and get excited to meet future Franklin Scholars. What a wonderful evening!

Click here for the latest Westfield Public Schools District Newsletter: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1997/WPS/3618809/WPS_NEWSLETTER_2023-Q1.pdf

Click below to read the latest newsletter on the Franklin Ave/Abner Gibbs Replacement School Project: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--October-2023-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=-82CiLBFwJw

PumpkinFest is back, rain or shine, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, on the athletic fields behind Amelia Park off South Broad Street in Westfield. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfield-on-weekends-pumpkinfest-promises-family-fun-amid-autumn-traditions.html

Good afternoon, If you have already started the process of completing the Back to School Forms, please complete the forms and submit online. If you need assistance in completing the form, please contact the main office at your child's school. Thank you, Westfield Public Schools

A nationwide test of the emergency and wireless alert systems will be conducted Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. ET, when a message will be sent to all cellphones, TVs and radios. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a news release in August that a message that reads, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” will be sent to all phones. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/national-emergency-alert-test-cell-phone-wednesday-text-rcna118468

Second grade students earned a Class HEART prize for their upstanding behavior during the month of September. Students in Ms. Dailey's and Mrs. Fisher's classes chose to have a FORT DAY where they draped desks in blankets and could do their afternoon classwork in the coziness of a fort. Learning was just a bit different on Friday, and students loved it.

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" yesterday, please click on the link below. This week, we met our Special Education Administrators and talked about some of the special education programming in the district. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXJRLwVJTMM

Our next SEPAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 5 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Tiger's Pride Restaurant in Westfield Technical Academy. Please click on "view image" for more information. Thank you!

CALLING ALL LOCAL STUDENT ARTISTS! The City Clerk's Office invites local students K‐12 to enter the Westfield Elections' Coloring Contest. The first of hopefully many coloring contests will be to design your own ‘I Voted’ sticker. Winning artwork will be used in Westfield Election materials, promotions and outreach and exhibited through the City. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2023. A completed entry form must accompany each sticker design. Official details and entry form can be found here: "I Voted" Sticker Design Competition | Westfield, MA - Official Website (cityofwestfield.org) Need a paper copy? Stop by the City Clerk's Office, 59 Court Street, Room 210 between 9AM-5PM. https://www.cityofwestfield.org/895/I-Voted-Sticker-Design-Competition

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked about the registration process while featuring our new "Welcome Center" located at 94 North Elm St. Suite 101. We also talked about the upcoming autumnal equinox. Thanks for watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzckbTm7IvM

Students at Franklin Avenue Elementary School are getting a close-up view of their future elementary school as it is built beam by beam and brick by brick, right next door. The kindergartners and first graders, who are on the side of the building closest to the construction and will spend the most time in the new school, are especially engaged. “It’s perfect for me and my sister,” said kindergartner Daniel Swider, on his first day of school this year. “Wonderful! It has so many advantages of learning in a new environment with new technology. Emma is so excited to start kindergarten today,” said Kimberlee Cartwright, a new kindergarten parent. First grade teacher Wendy Bard said the start of the construction, when workers had to level the ground, was a bit disruptive, but it’s become part of school life. “Last spring, the construction was initially difficult because of the large trucks and the daily vibrations. It was loud and we could not open the windows. It was distracting to both students and teachers. But after a few weeks, Fontaine Brothers set up two trailers that blocked the activity, and that helped,” Bard said. “We have used the construction for teachable moments, such as how a big excavator can balance on a pile of dirt,” she added. New first grade teacher McKenna Mortimer said her students are taking it in stride. She said when they ask about a particular noise from the site, she explains about the different equipment that they could be hearing. “I notice the vibration, but it doesn’t affect my teaching. The students are engaged in learning, so they don’t notice it much,” Mortimer said. Principal Chris Tolpa commented on the rapid progress of the building, which is anticipated to open in December 2024. “Since July 1, every day two loads of steel have come in, and every day two loads of steel have gone up,” she said. Tolpa said the students at Franklin Avenue and Abner Gibbs elementary schools, who will move into the new school, are going to be signing their names on one of the beams to be included in the frame. Tolpa, who also serves on the School Building Committee, said although the structure seems to be going up quickly, work on the interior will take a long time, with wiring, heating and piping to be installed. At a building committee meeting on Sept. 12, Dan Pallotta, owner’s project manager from P3 Project Planning Professionals, said the project is going extremely well for a public construction project. He said the underground plumbing and electric are already in, and workers will be done with the concrete work at the end of the third week of September. In the kitchen area, where they are getting ready to lay concrete, the piping is all installed. Next, they will work on the flat roof portion, where they have been installing duct work on the north end and roof drains. The front facade of the school will have slanted roofs. The committee also voted in favor of the interior color palette for the school that had been selected by a subcommittee, with a lot of natural wood browns, blues and greens, and some maroon or plum accents. The floor in the public entrance area will have a river motif that runs throughout the building, with dark green lattice work around the stage in the gymnasium meant to reflect the Great Bridges in Westfield. A unique color has been chosen for each of the pre-K through grade 4 “neighborhoods,” and panels throughout the school will have complementing accent colors. Pallotta said actual color boards with real samples are available for public view at Purchasing Director Tammy Tefft’s office in City Hall, Room 101. City Hall is at 59 Court St., Westfield. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/westfield-elementary-school-pupils-see-their-futur/