Westfield High School

Members of the Westfield Public Schools received a $1,005,000 check to help with updating the high school. The money comes from funding from this fiscal year’s state budget and will go towards repairs school leaders said are much needed. The money will be divided up going towards fixing the tennis courts, as well as upgrading the science labs and making improvements towards school security. Senator John Velis graduated from Westfield High School, he said investing in all three of these is critical, “This school, very candidly speaking, as we all know needs a little bit of work and being able to do my small part with my teammates here brings me a lot of joy.” The additional $5,000 is going towards the school’s Community Closet which offers clothes, food and personal care items to students and families. They’re looking to use that to make it more student friendly and to potentially invest in a washer and dryer. https://www.wwlp.com/news/1m-in-funding-for-westfield-high-school/

The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) launched on October 1. New and returning students who plan to attend college between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, should complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible. Massachusetts resources, including links to regional organizations and events that can help students and families complete the form, are posted at https://www.doe.mass.edu/financialaid/ and will be updated continuously. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education has helpful tips, such as “Seven Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA Form,” “Eight Steps to Completing the FAFSA Form,” and “15 Myths We’re Busting About the FAFSA Process.”

FIELD HOCKEY Westfield 8, Turners Falls 0 Shea Hurley got the scoring started for Westfield, taking a long pass from Norah Bargatti and finding the right angle from the edge of the circle to take a shot. The ball struck a Turners foot near the goal line and deflected into the net. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-field-hockey-team-shuts-out-turners-8-0-more.html

Westfield 6, Smith Academy 0 Gabi Ritter led Westfield with three goals. Meghan Bowen, Shea Hurley, and Norah Bargatti each had one. Bowen also finished with three assists. Bargatti had two and Lilly Taglieri had one. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-field-hockey-posts-ninth-shutout-of-season.html

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

Hello Bombers! Here is the link to the latest edition of the Bomber Bulletin. https://5il.co/1j217

FIELD HOCKEY Westfield 10, Mahar 0 After a scoreless 11 minutes to open the game, Westfield scored four first-quarter goals and tallied two goals over each of the final three quarters in a road shutout Thursday. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-shut-out-mahar-10-0-and-more.html

Westfield def. East Longmeadow, 25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23. Westfield improved to 8-5 (1-3 Eastern) with a four-set victory on the road. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-girls-volleyball-team-defeats-east-longmeadow-spartans-more.html

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Westfield def. Agawam, 26-24, 12-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13. Westfield won a five-set thriller on the road in Agawam. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/westfield-girls-volleyball-team-escapes-agawam-with-five-set-thriller-more.html

MassHire is seeking businesses in the Westfield area to accept students from Westfield High School as interns. Imanol Cruz, MassHire business services representative said the students, who are mostly juniors and seniors, will be screened, trained and paid by MassHire, and are available to work after school for up to 12½ hours a week. “We are really focused on screening youth to make sure they are 100% ready to get into an experience,” Cruz said, adding if the students aren’t ready, MassHire will still take them into the program and offer them more training. “If the experience isn’t good for the business, it isn’t good for the youth,” he said. Area businesses that are interested in learning more about this program may contact Imanol Cruz directly at icruz@masshireholyoke.org. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/masshire-seeks-westfield-businesses-to-participate-in-high-school-internship-program.html

Summer blockbusters at the movie theaters are but a distant memory now but there was a high school girls soccer game well worth the price of admission Thursday. For 80 minutes, Westfield and Ludlow were engrossed in a knock-down, drag-out fight, of sorts, filled with high-flying shots and highlight-reel saves. It all ended with Bombers senior captain Emma Pedro rallying her team with a game-tying goal on a penalty kick with 5:47 remaining in regulation to secure a 1-1 tie. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/emma-pedros-late-pk-rallies-westfield-girls-soccer-for-1-1-tie-against-ludlow.html

FIELD HOCKEY Westfield 3, West Springfield 0 Another day, another Westfield shutout. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-shut-out-an-opponent-for-seventh-time-this-season.html

Things looked bleak early on for the home squad Wednesday evening at home. Westfield trailed Ludlow 7-1 in the opening set of a high school girls volleyball match. The Bombers regrouped to win the set by three points and took the next two by the identical score with a seven-point margin-of-victory to sweep the Lions, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/lauren-carnes-westfield-girls-volleyball-bumps-ludlow-3-0.html

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Westfield def. Chicopee Comp, 25-23, 26-24, 25-14 https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-bombers-sweep-chicopee-comp-colts-more.html

Eerily similar to their season-opening game against Amherst, the Westfield High School football team found itself on the wrong side in time of possession early on against an opponent. But much like in that first game, Westfield found its footing and experienced another offensive outburst as the game wore on. The Bombers scored six touchdowns over the final three quarters to chase the Pittsfield Generals, 40-6, Friday night in the Whip City. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/westfield-football-wears-down-pittsfield-40-6.html

The season is just underway for the Westfield High School girls soccer team but it’s already a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the 2-1 Bombers. Westfield opened the season on a bit of a sour note, falling to Minnechaug 3-0, before enjoying a 6-0 shutout win against Pittsfield. The latest turn involved finishing on the winning side of a nail-biter. Westfield freshman Hannah Callini tallied the game’s only goal against East Longmeadow on Friday with 17:48 remaining in the second half, and the Bombers held off the Spartans for a thrilling 1-0 win. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/westfield-girls-soccers-hannah-callinis-lone-goal-sinks-east-longmeadow-1-0.html

The Westfield High School football home opener against Northampton Friday night (Sept. 16) has been postponed due to a Covid-related issue regarding the Blue Devils, team officials announced Thursday evening. Westfield opened the season with a 42-15 road win over Amherst last Friday evening. The Bombers are now next scheduled to host Pittsfield on Fri., Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2022/09/westfield-northampton-football-game-postponed-due-to-blue-devils-covid-related-issue.html

Westfield field hockey turns back Turners Falls, 4-0 Westfield 27, Everyone Else 0 No that’s not a lopsided score from the latest Westfield Bombers football game but rather the combined score of the Westfield High School field hockey team’s first four games, all shutouts. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/westfield-field-hockey-turns-back-turners-falls-4-0.html

Brian Macintosh helps Bombers golf team best Southwick Rams, 164-182. GOLF Westfield 164, Southwick 182 Westfield’s No. 1 golfer Brian Macintosh finished as the medalist to lead the Bombers past the Southwick Rams, 164-182, in a high school golf match Tuesday at Edgewood Golf Course. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/09/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-brian-macintosh-helps-bombers-golf-team-best-southwick-rams-164-182-more.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.