Westfield Public Schools will have an early release day on Wednesday, January 25, due to the predicted snowfall in the afternoon.
High Schools will dismiss at 11:00 a.m., Middle, Intermediate, and Virtual Schools at 11:30 a.m., Elementary Schools and Southampton Road Preschool Program at 12:15 p.m. Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center will be closed.
The Westfield YMCA after school care program is also cancelled.
Please drive safely.
The city granted $500,000 it received from the federal government in the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, to fuel assistance and food security programs.
The Greater Westfield Food Pantry will get $200,000 over four years, the city said Monday in a news release. The Food Pantry provides groceries to approximately 1,200 people per month, with 51% of those clients being children and 14% being elderly.
The city also gave Valley Opportunity Council $300,000 to expand home heating assistance programs. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP — funded by the state and federal governments provides up to $1,319 per household to assist with heating costs incurred from November through April.
The Westfield Food Pantry is at 101 Meadow St. For additional information on receiving food assistance, please call 413-572-0802 or visit its website at www.westfieldfoodpantry.org.
For questions related to the Westfield Fuel Assistance Program, residents should call the Valley Opportunity Council Welcome Center at 413-534-2466 or email Jessica at jking@valleyopp.com.
https://www.masslive.com/business/2023/01/westfield-gives-500000-in-arpa-money-to-food-heating-programs.html
A student from Munger Hill Elementary School has been chosen as a winner of the 2022-23 Name a Snowplow Contest! Luke Snowalker, submitted by Mrs. Adams’ 3rd grade class at Munger Hill School, will be assigned to a snowplow in our highway district. MASS DOT is planning to have site visits with the snowplows in the following few weeks. The $100 gift card for school supplies will be given to the classroom during the visit. The plan is to have the named snowplow and individuals from MASS DOT involved in the project come to the schools to reveal the snowplow to the students.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/winners-of-the-name-a-snowplow-contest-2022-23
We are beyond thrilled to share the news that Ms. Adams's third grade class submitted a winning entry to the Mass DOT Name A Snow Plow Contest!
Here is a link to the full announcement. A HUGE congratulations to all our classes who entered and a round of applause for our third grade winner!
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/winners-of-the-name-a-snowplow-contest-2022-23
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is inviting students, parents, education professionals, and community members to participate in a survey that will provide feedback on the MCAS program and help inform improvements. The Department is seeking stakeholders’ input in several areas, including communications and support, data and reporting, and release of test questions. The survey will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27. Please contact mcas@doe.mass.edu with any questions.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7072286/Future-Directions-MCAS-General-Survey
Behavioral Health Network Inc., which merged with the Carson Center eight years ago, has opened a new BHN WellBeing Center with expanded hours, expanded service, and walk-in care in its offices at 77 Mill St. in Westfield.
The BHN WellBeing Center, along with one that opened at 417 Liberty St. in Springfield, are part of a statewide network of Community Behavioral Health Centers, or CBHCs, and are intended to shorten wait times for individuals seeking behavioral health treatment with MassHealth and Health New England insurances.
The hours for walk-in care at both locations are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those seeking care can also call 413-301-WELL (413-301-9355) to be connected to services or visit bhninc.org for more information.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/01/walk-in-behavioral-health-care-clinic-opens-in-westfield.html
Countdown to Kindergarten is coming!
Families of next year’s kindergarten class are encouraged to attend the Countdown to Kindergarten on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Westfield Middle School cafeteria at 30 W. Silver St., Westfield. The event begins at 6 p.m. but families can drop in anytime until 7:30 p.m. The snow date is Feb. 15.
“We’re really trying to get the word out,” said Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/01/westfield-schools-will-make-kindergarten-registration-a-family-fun-event.html
WPS is Hiring!
Be a part of Westfield Public Schools! We are hiring multiple positions across the district including substitute teachers, substitute nurses, classroom and 1:1 paraprofessionals, school custodians, and many more opportunities that can be found on our district website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org.
The Department of Mental Health has launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text at 833-773-2445. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The help line can help individuals and families navigate the behavioral health system and access treatment, including mobile crisis services. Please click on the link below for more information.
https://www.masshelpline.com/
Reminder: Westfield Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 16 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Thank you.
Our Lost and Found overflows with items! Please remind your children to take a look and bring home anything that belongs to them.
Menu change for Thursday, January 5, 2023
Lunch will be Taco Nachos (seasoned beef, cheese, salsa, tortilla chips). This is a change from pulled pork nachos.
We hope to see our Munger families at the Thunderbirds on January 16th! Reminder there is no school that day.
Please note that our regularly scheduled School Committee Meeting on January 3, 2023, has been postponed until Monday, January 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you.
We wish all of our families a happy and healthy holiday break! Enjoy your time off and we'll see you all back on Tuesday, January 3rd!
There will be no school for students starting Monday, December 26, 2022 - Monday, January 2, 2023, for the Holiday Recess. Schools will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Happy Holidays from all of us in the Westfield Public Schools!
Please click on the images below to read the second District Quarterly Newsletter of this school year. Happy Holidays from all of us in the Westfield Public Schools!
The Westfield Public Schools saw the Food Pantry's request for help and quickly created a "festive dress down day" to raise some money. All the schools and administration combined raised $1,089 for the pantry and had some fun while doing it. Here are a few pictures from the Intermediate school.
The December 13 PTO meeting has been cancelled!
The next PTO meeting will be Tuesday, January 10th