February is National Career Technical Education Month. Celebrate with us here at WTA, where we put education to work!
Hello WTA Family!
We begin the month of February here at the Academy on the heels of our annual Joint School Committee/General Advisory Committee Meeting, which was held on January 17. As part of that meeting, our Mayor and the members of the Westfield School Committee had the opportunity to tour our technical programs; interact with our staff, students, and community and business partners; and experience first-hand our technical programs’ many successes and accomplishments. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Michael McCabe, Mrs. Kathleen Hillman, Mrs. Diane Mayhew, Ms. Heather Sullivan, Mr. Timothy O’Connor, Mr. Bo Sullivan, Mr. Michael Tirrell, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, and General Advisory Committee Chair Jeff Amanti for their on-going and steadfast commitment to the mission and work of WTA. I also want to recognize City Councilors James Adams, Brent Bean, Michael Burns, Ralph Figy, and William Onyski for their presence and support. In a word, we simply couldn’t do it without your support. Thank you!
Among other things, February brings with it the celebration of National Career Technical Education Week, which will take place from February 13 to 17. As part of our observance here at the Academy, we will begin the week with our annual National Technical Honors Society on Tuesday, February 14, at 12:45 in the auditorium. We will also resume our tradition of “Adopt a School” on Thursday, February 15, when a cohort of our students, accompanied by their CTE Teachers, will head to Abner Gibbs to do live demonstrations and to read to all grade levels. We thank Principal Erika Masciadrelli for hosting us, and we are looking forward to spending the morning as part of the Abner Gibbs Community of Learners!
As a reminder, all Westfield Public Schools will be closed from Monday, February 20, through Friday, February 24, for Winter Vacation.
Happy Valentine’s Day, and, as always, please know how grateful I am for all that you do on behalf of WTA!
Regards,
Joe Langone
The First Veteran Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Westfield Veterans Services took place Wednesday at Westfield Technical Academy. The goal is to show our military vets some much needed admiration for their service.
Moving forward, lunch will take place on the first Wednesday of every month until May and will have dining space for up to 60 vets. On behalf of the Veterans Council, we want to thank Elm Electrical for sponsoring the lunch, Westfield Technical Academy Tigers Pride Restaurant for making a great meal, and Westfield High School Band providing some spectacular entertainment! Veterans that would like to sign up for the March luncheon, please call 413-572-6247.
Don’t forget to tune into WSKB 89.5 FM this Thursday and every Thursday 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!”
The Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) is currently seeking area businesses and employers to sign up for the Career Expo and Job Fair sponsored by Westfield Public Schools, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, MassHire and Westfield State University.
The fair will be attended by more than 500 juniors and seniors from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy and St. Mary’s High School, 8-11:30 a.m. on March 16 at the university’s Woodward Center.
Westfield Gas & Electric is providing transportation for the students, who will have lunch in the university dining commons.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/02/westfield-high-schools-chamber-seeking-businesses-to-sign-up-for-march-career-fair.html
Please consider attending our Westfield Public Schools English Learners Parent Advisory Committee!
ATTENTION ALL AREA EMPLOYERS
Sign up for our annual Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) Career Expo and Job Fair sponsored by Westfield Public Schools, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, Mass Hire, and Westfield State University. Engage in conversations with our students about careers and industries and recruit local students for internships and job opportunities. This is a FREE event that will be attended by over 500 local high school students. Scan the QR code or click on the link below to be a part of this yearly event and meet employees of the future. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 10. Thank you for your support!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd82tz-vb-5UK9rRUPvmmz3fTMkEPWZAYABB0JtEea0d55Vew/viewform
This past Thursday, January 26, Mr. Taloumis accompanied Culinary Arts Students Ava Cree, Hayden Martial, and Aidan Fanska to the Natick, MA National Guard Barracks where they participated in the MRE Challenge, sponsored by the National Guard and SkillsUSA. During the challenge, the contestants demonstrate their culinary and sanitation knowledge as well as their ability to utilize and be creative with military-issue MREs. The contestants also prepared servings of each of the following courses, with one plate for display, and one for tasting and judging: appetizer, entrée , dessert , 12oz beverage (hot or cold). The competitors were judged on the following criteria: proper use of commercial tools, utensils, and equipment; "mise-en-place" skills; menu planning and preparation; proper portioning, plating and garnishing of finished products; teamwork; safety and sanitation.
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked with New Westfield Middle School Principal Jesse McMillan and Lauren Paret, the new Dean of Students., all about the middle school. In our last segment, we were joined by Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students who helped us celebrate National Peanut Brittle Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHjGueTSCck
In case you were unable to tune in this morning, follow the link below to today's action-packed episode of "Tiger Talk Live". Mr. Langone, Mr. Daley, and Mrs. Groom were joined by our athletic coordinator, Karen Gomez, Student Athletes Xavier Barros, Brady LePage, Sophia Paredes, Jake Balser, Andrew Galczynski, Mike Wescott, Sam Slattery, Sara Shoemaker, Olivia Pease, Kailyn Hawley, and Kristin Nutting, and Big Al Rogers and Vince Escarpita for a WTA Sports Extravaganza!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPvCJE10zeU&list=PLnSwTu8SRtqIA3xtNAnD_rQFSd8aXozvH&index=1
It wasn’t an ESPN Classic but it was darn near close.
Westfield basketball was on full display Tuesday night when the St. Mary’s Saints traveled across the Whip City to take on the Westfield Technical Tigers in what ended up being one of the best high school boys' basketball games between the two teams in nearly a decade.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/01/westfield-technical-academy-boys-basketball-rallies-past-st-marys-to-win-classic-ot-thriller-75-72.html
Don’t forget to tune into WSKB 89.5 FM this Thursday and every Thursday 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. This week, we will have an all WTA Sports Extravaganza, featuring our athletic coordinator, Karen Gomez, a bevy of WTA Student Athletes, and Big Al Rogers and Vince Escarpita, who will round out the proceedings with their take on the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in our weekly Sports Corner. And remember, You’re in the flow with Carol, Kev, and Joe!”
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
In case you were unable to tune in this morning, follow the link below to today's action-packed episode of "Tiger Talk Live". Mr. Langone, Mr. Daley, and Mrs. Groom were joined by Senior Grace Burris from our Culinary Arts Department and the newest addition to our faculty, Mrs. Jeanine DeLand. And, of as always, Big Al Rogers rounded out the proceedings with our sports corner segment!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hCFH_AArmM&list=PLnSwTu8SRtqIA3xtNAnD_rQFSd8aXozvH&index=1
I'd like to share a wonderful email I received this afternoon from Casey Berube, Deputy DPW Superintendent, who wrote on behalf of our Horticulture Technology Department:
"Good afternoon, please be aware that after a hit and run accident damaged the wall at the Prospect Hill Rotary, Professor Nate Sperry and his team of students did a great job in making repairs earlier this week, and the City of Westfield Department of Public Works would like to extend our sincerest thanks. Involved in the project were the following students: Kevin Beckett, Zachary Gaudet, Liam Pease, Teresa Pieciak, Clayton Therrien, Logan Siska, Brady Corliss
Tyler Crepeau, Logan Keating, and Jacob Renaud. We've partnered with the Horticulture staff and students on countless projects now and they're always great to work with, and a huge asset to the city."
Way to go, Horticulture Technology. You make us SO proud!
Take a look at our WTA Newsletter for January and February!
Last night, we were pleased to host our annual joint Westfield School Committee and WTA General Advisory Committee Meeting, which was also our first in-person meeting since the original COVID Closure in the late winter of 2019. Following a brief presentation by our principal Mr. Langone and remarks from General Advisory Committee Chair Jeff Amanti, School Committee Members, Central Office Administrators, City Councilors, and WTA Administration toured our 12 Technical Programs and listened to presentations which outlined current enrollments, accomplishments, and needs. We wish to express our sincerest thanks to Mayor McCabe, our School Committee Members and City Councilors, our superintendent, our Central Office Administrators, our General Advisory Chair, and all of our Program Advisory Chairs and Members for their continual and generous support of our mission and students. We truly couldn't do what we do on behalf of our kids each day without you!
Don’t forget to tune into WSKB 89.5 FM tomorrow morning and every Thursday 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!”
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