As there is a growing need for counselors in the state, Westfield Public Schools works in partnership with River Valley Counseling and Rick’s Place to provide additional emotional support for students.
The River Valley Counseling provides four to five clinicians that will come into the school buildings for entire days. This meets the need of about 52 referrals that came in this month so far.
Currently, there are about 36 counselors that focus on social and emotional learning, plus academics and careers. With River Valley Counseling’s partnership with the school district, adjustment counselors are allotted more time to work with more students in small groups, enter classrooms, and do social-emotional learning with a whole class.
As a result of the pandemic, students’ mental health has become more evident in a school setting. “If a student isn’t in a good place mentally then it is a barrier to learning. They really may have something else going on and can’t focus on instruction,” said Westfield Public Schools superintendent, Stefan Czaporowski. “We need to really help them to be prepared and successful in a school environment.”
For adolescents and families that may have lost a loved one due to the pandemic or another cause, Rick’s Place helps with their grief. “The counseling students receive can continue through school vacations and through the summer to carry the progress forward,” adds the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Susan Dargie. However, counseling often takes years to have its desired effect.
River Valley Counseling continuation through summer and vacations would be at the request of parents. Students can also be seen in the clinic. Typically, a student who is referred to River Valley Counseling is already seeing an adjustment counselor, which brings additional support. Sometimes family counseling can also be a result.
“Vast majority of our students are having their needs addressed, but I always think we could do better. Counselor-to-student ratio is a strength of ours,” expressed Czaporowski.
“When we think about educating students, we are educating the whole student and we can’t separate out a child’s brain from their emotions and from their social skills and needs,” said Dargie. “So, we have to look at the big picture.”
For the school to completely replenish from the pandemic, it can take five to 10 years, according to Cazaporowksi, but is certain the vast majority of students will be ok.
A future BRYT program may also be another future development for Westfield Public Schools. This will allow more support for students that may be coming out of hospitalization. “Meeting the need that is needed at that time,” said Dargie.
“We often have students who are really struggling to maintain in the classroom, they really can’t be in that general setting,” explained Dargie. “A program like this would be another space where there is an educator there, but there is also a clinician” (hospitalized for their own safety). With these services, the school district has hopes the mental and academic needs of students will be met.
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/westfield-public-schools-therapy-service-partnerships-help-adjustment-counselors-work-with-more-students/
Free Family Fright Night at Westfield State University!
October 26th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Costumes encouraged!
What’s more synonymous with Halloween than a festively carved pumpkin, all aglow with candlelight?
Hundreds of kids and their families will get the chance to test those creative skills at this year’s PumpkinFest, slated for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, rain or shine, on the athletic fields behind Amelia Park off South Broad Street in Westfield. Now in its sixth year, the event is organized by Westfield on Weekends, and according to Co-President Bob Plasse, more than 100 people volunteer their time to make this event happen.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/westfield-pumpkinfest-promises-fun-for-whole-community-next-weekend.html
The United States Attorney’s Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Tuesday, September 20th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in-person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. Theye will be covering the following topics:
Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint
Cyberbullying
Sexting
Gaming
Victim Support
Protecting Against Online Predation
The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer.
Be a part of our Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA). Please click on the link below for more information. https://sites.google.com/schoolsofwestfield.org/we2ba/home. If you are interested in partnering with one of our teachers for an Adopt a Classroom opportunity, please scan the QR code.
Westfield Public Schools is thrilled to announce our new app for mobile phones! Stay up to date with access to real-time sports scores, the daily cafeteria menu, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9OKq6xGPe0
You can download the app for free on both Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Download for Android: https://bit.ly/3f8hysa
Download for iPhone: https://apple.co/3qO1Nc1
Only 16 days left until school starts on Tuesday, August 30, for all students in grades 1-12. Pre-K and Kindergarten students will start school on Tuesday, September 6.
Save the Dates!
Summer Reading Fun with Mrs. Cieplik and Mrs. Piper! See the attached flier for details!
Cub Scouts Information Session
May 16, 2022
6 - 7 PM
More information on the flyer.
Westfield Public School Registration is now OPEN!
Sue and Ralph Figy and Eileen Jachym, volunteers helping with the Pfizer and Janssen J&J COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Aug. 26 at Westfield High School will be at the doors of the high school from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. greeting everyone who comes for a shot, and handing them a $10 gift card. The free clinic is open to students, staff and community members ages 12 and up.
Sue Figy said the gift cards are thanks to the generosity of Westfield Gas & Electric and Firtion Adams Funeral Home, along with many, many people in the community that have sent in gift cards, the vast majority of which are from businesses in town, but some as far afield as McCray’s Farm in South Hadley.
This will be the second clinic at Westfield High School. Seventy-five people received vaccinations at the first clinic, and this one has the capacity to serve 140 people. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be taken as slots are available.
Registration for the Aug. 26 vaccination clinic is simple to complete using a cell phone, tablet or computer, and going to https://curative.com/sites/28991 . The link is also available at www.schoolsofwestfield.org under COVID-19 Testing and Health Services.
Parents/guardians are able to give fully-compliant consent for their minor to be vaccinated through the digital sign-up process. Although a health insurance card is requested at sign up, health insurance is not required to participate in the free clinic.
The second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at Westfield High School from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.
https://curative.com/sites/28991?fbclid=IwAR3pSlS2UkFczbpM0EMR6ps5Xh7bV6eqfgw--zmTmmXJasUVUVW0cHRwuYo
Westfield Public Schools' fourth annual Curriculum Summit kicked off on August 3! The Summit is led by Linda Jordan from the International Center for Leadership in Education and the Westfield Curriculum Department with over 60 Westfield educators. The Summit will take place over five days and focuses on rigorous curriculum design.
Grab & Go Lunches
Due to the continued heat advisory, Westfield Schools will dismiss early tomorrow (6/8/21). High schools @ 11am, Grades 5 - 8 @ 11:30am , Elementary @ 12:15pm. There will be no preschool.
Due to the heat advisory tomorrow, Westfield Public Schools will have an Early Release Day, Monday, June 7, 2021 for all students. High school students will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m., Middle and Intermediate students at 11:30 a.m., and Elementary students at 12:15 p.m. There will be no school for students at Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center.
KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND SECURE ONLINE: A PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, THE HAMPDEN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, AND THE WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Scan the QR Code to register JOIN US FOR THIS VIRTUAL PRESENTATION:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021
6:30PM-8:00PM
(Login begins at 6:15PM)
This presentation is for ADULTS ONLY. Content is inappropriate for children.
REMINDER FOR FIELD DAY 6/4/21 Please make sure all students are prepared for field day with the following: 1. Wear sneakers 2. Must bring a water bottle (there will not be water jugs for refilling water bottles this year) 3. Put on sunscreen and bug spray before coming to school, and wear a hat 4. Bring a towel to sit on for picnic lunch
Fourth Grade SRS Students and Families are invited to our Fourth Grade Celebration on Friday June 11th @ 6:00pm. See flyer for details!
ANTICIPATED OPENINGS FOR 21/22 SCHOOL YEAR FOR SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT COUNSELOR - ELEMENTARY LEVEL
https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3540394&fbclid=IwAR0h0P8FdH6_CdUouofLMLomAGWshY-7nbjXyPRVvS0U8CB1fLuUZsQ6IYY
The last day of school for the 2020-2021 school year is June 16. It will also be an early release day. Thank you!
