Last night, our annual General Advisory Committee Meeting and Dinner took place in the WTA Cafeteria. Especially after the past three years of gathering restrictions due to COVID, it was wonderful to gather with the members of our Program Advisory Committees, local officials, faculty members, and administration and share a spectacular meal prepared and served by our Culinary Arts Program. We are delighted that Jeff Amanti was reelected to another two year term as General Advisory Chairperson, and, as always, we are especially grateful to the members of our General Advisory Committee, Mayor McCabe, the members of the School Committee, the members of the City Council, and our local business and industry partners for their continued generous support of WTA. Truly, we couldn't be successful without you!
With the weather turning cold and stormy this week, School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski is getting ready for another season of deciding when to call a snow day.
It is not a call that he makes by himself, however.
“We look at the weather forecast, which is a pretty good guide, although not always 100% accurate,” he said. “We check with the Maintenance Department, the Westfield Police Department, [school Transportation Director] Pam Kortarski, who checks with the bus company, and area superintendents,” Czaporowski said. ”We try to make the call as early as possible to not inconvenience families.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/many-factors-influence-snow-day-call-westfield-school-superintendent-says.html
Tune in this Thursday, November 17, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Education, and our Director of Assessment and Accountability about our Multi-Tiered system of Support. Thanks for watching!
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we recognized Sesame Street Day. We also talked about the results from our Youth Risk Behavior Surveys administered to students in grades 8, 10, and 12 last spring. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qODyYic7Urg
If you were unable to tune in this morning, you can watch today's broadcast of "Tiger Talk Live", which features retired Chief Master Sergeant Galen Wilson (USAF), Aviation Maintenance Technology Department Chair, at the following link. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVAfI1nD_Gc&list=PLnSwTu8SRtqIA3xtNAnD_rQFSd8aXozvH&index=1
A very happy Veterans Day to all of the active duty and retired members of our United states Armed Forces! Please accept our sincerest gratitude for everything you have done and continue to do to defend and protect our nation and safeguard the freedom we all hold so dear.
Please plan to join us on Tuesday, December 13 for this timely and important event, which is free and open to the general public.
Don’t forget to tune into WSKB 89.5 FM tomorrow morning from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. to join Mr. Langone, Mr. Daley, and Mrs. Groom for “Tiger Talk Live: The Carol, Kev, and Joe Show”, which features all things WTA, from our academic and technical programs to extracurricular activities and athletics. And remember, You’re in the flow with Carol, Kev, and Joe!”
Yesterday, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Linda Jordan, Senior Learning Consultant with International Center for Leadership in Education, who provided a full day workshop on the Brain Science of Wellness for our annual November Professional Development Day.
The past 2+ years of living through a global pandemic has had an impact on all of us, and yet, as Dr. Jordan points out, through its many challenges, there have emerged new opportunities for learning and growing. Dr. Jordan helped us to grow in our understanding of how we can use neuroscience research on trauma, stress, and well-being to help us identify and inform our responses, intentionally and intelligently as we assist our students in shaping their worlds for the better and offer them hope for their future.
Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, for the observance of Veterans Day. Thank you.
Tune in this Thursday, November 10, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction and our Substance Abuse Counselors about the results of our youth risk survey that administered last spring. Thanks for watching!
Last night, we hosted our annual Westfield Technical Academy Open House to a capacity crowd. We were delighted to welcome so many prospective applicants and current student and their families as well as a large number of alumni, particularly from the first "COVID" graduating Class of 2022. The School Store did a brisk business, and were even treated to a visit by State Senator John Velis and School Committee Member Kathleen Hillman. We want to express our sincerest gratitude to the entire greater Westfield Community for your ongoing support of the mission and work of WTA!
A reminder that there is no school for students on Tuesday, November 8. Thank you!
If you were unable to tune in this morning, you can watch today's broadcast of "Tiger Talk Live", which features School Adjustment Counselor Michael Quinn, at the following link. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCrREhkEcCs&t=459s
Due to technical difficulty, we were unable to upload the recording of our October 27 broadcast, which featured Junior Lindsay Deland and Mr. Steve Forni, both from our Graphic Arts/Design and Visual Communications/Media and Broadcasting Program (betcha can't say that ten times fast!). However, we've worked out the kinks and are happy to make it available to you now. Better late than never, right? Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iof7a0ZBgrI&t=19s
This afternoon, WFD Deputy Chief Seth Ellis and his crew provided the first in a series presentations about the EMT Career Pathway to our freshmen in Allied Health Exploratory. In addition to participating in some classroom explorations, the students had the opportunity to explore the WFD Ambulance and manipulate some of the equipment. A very special thank you to Deputy Chief Ellis and the entire WFD for their generosity with their time and expertise on behalf of our students!
Today, Assistant Principal Bruce Hastings, Guidance Counselors Carol Groom and Casey Keefe, and School Adjustment Counselor Kristine Hupfer, spent the day at MGM Springfield where they participated in a School Culture Leadership Conference sponsored by the Jostens Corporation. The featured presenters were educators Dr. Phil Campbell and Steve Bollar. Pictured with our WTA Team is "Stand Tall Steve" Bollar himself!
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked about special education programming in the district with our special education leadership team. We also had a little fun with National Cliche Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMQb5MWMoaw
Just a quick reminder that there will be no school for students next Tuesday, November 8, which is election day. Please remember to get out there and exercise your Constitutional right to vote!
Additionally, schools will be closed next Friday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Please be sure to thank any active duty and/or retired member of our armed forces you know for all they have done and continue to do to safeguard the freedoms which we all hold dear.
Tune in this Thursday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Special Education and Special Education Supervisors about programming in our district. Thanks for watching!
