Westfield High School

Due to continued icy conditions, Westfield Public Schools will have a two-hour delayed start today. Be safe!

There are many things you can do for income, those are jobs. But to do something meaningful, that you have a passion for, that’s a career, and if you’re looking for something like that then your local school district might have a position for you. Stefan Czaporowski, the Superintendent of Westfield Public Schools, joins Patrick Berry to talk about the many career opportunities you can find in our schools. https://www.wwlp.com/massappeal/find-a-career-with-meaning-in-your-local-school-district/?fbclid=IwAR0gY8TE9BVDtOxqetT4sKtUt4cWEGsBaf4j5GvA1cfYAogljsi55aJ5r0s

The inaugural ceremony for elected officials will take place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in the Westfield High School auditorium, 177 Montgomery Road. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/city-officials-to-be-sworn-in-tuesday-at-ceremony-in-westfield-high-school.html

If you missed the Holiday Concert by the Westfield High School Chorus last Wednesday, please click on the link below. Happy Holidays! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WizZaQmUCKI

Our Holiday Recess will start on Monday, December 25. Schools will reopen on Tuesday, January 2. Happy Holidays from all of us at the Westfield Public Schools!

Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.

Westfield High School Instrumental Music Director Patrick Kennedy recently announced all are welcome to the annual Winter Band Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the auditorium at the high school, at 177 Montgomery Road, Westfield. The concert will feature the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and the Westfield High School Band. The Concert Band will perform the traditional “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney, and “A Festive Holiday Celebration,” a nod to several seasonal celebrations. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/westfield-high-school-bands-ensembles-will-play-winter-concert-thursday.html

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week we spoke with Principal Jendrysik and other Westfield High School staff members about the WHS Career Center, the WHS DLP Program, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxIYTZ_mOYg

uAspire will offer a FAFSA webinar for students three times: 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3; 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30; and 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. Registration is open online. In addition, FAQs are available in English and Spanish, and more resources are posted on uAspire.org/resources, uaspire.org/Checklist, and uaspire.org/FSAID. Click on the link below to register. Thank you. https://uaspire.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5YaoPfhT92PLRAZ429SCg?utm_source=DA-Commissioner%27s+Weekly+Update&utm_campaign=64f2f12cea-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_12_04_11_41&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-64f2f12cea-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D#/registration

Westfield High school counselor Patricia Healy, who is now in charge of the school’s Career Center, said she has an open door policy for students. “Kids just walk in, that’s the purpose of it.” She said when she’s not available, her email address is displayed on her door. “A student walks in the door and says I want to work - I need a job. That’s the start of it,” Healy said. She will give the students information on available jobs in the community, businesses like Dunkin’, McDonald’s, T.J. Maxx, and Cracker Barrell in Westfield, but that is only the start. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/westfield-hs-career-center-has-an-open-door-for-students.html

School principals and business leaders brainstormed about how they can help students prepare for careers at the Nov. 28 meeting of the Westfield Education to Business Alliance. Area businesses have been working with teachers to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities and share information about career opportunities in their fields through the Adopt a Classroom program. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/11/westfield-school-business-leaders-brainstorm-on-how-to-link-students-to-careers.html

Holi-daze Presented by Mad Science of Western New England and sponsored by Westfield Public Schools Date: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm Where: Munger Hill Elementary School 33 Mallard Ln. Westfield, MA 01085 Please email Sarah Kotarski at s.kotarski@schoolsofwestfield.org to register

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce’s Share the Warmth Coat Drive to benefit the children in Westfield public schools from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 will continue through Dec. 15. In the spirit of giving, the Chamber is asking for new or gently used winter coats of all sizes. Hats, snow pants, boots, gloves, mittens and scarves are also welcome, along with donations of new socks and new undergarments. Drop-off locations, all of which are in Westfield, include the Chamber office at 16 N. Elm St.; the Westfield schools office at 94 N. Elm St., Suite 101; Amelia Park Arena, 21 S. Broad St.; Shortstop Bar & Grill, 99 Springfield Rd.; Anytime Fitness, 415 E. Main St.; Results in Wellness, 93 Springfield Rd., Suite B; Richard’s Jewelers, 146 E. Main St.; Cannabis Connection, 40 Westfield Industrial Park Rd.; Betts Plumbing & Heating Supply, 14 Coleman Ave.; Westfield Bank, 300 Southampton Rd.; Rehab Resolutions, 1111 Elm St.; and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport’s terminal building at 110 Airport Rd. School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said he is thankful that the Chamber’s new director Amanda Waterfield and Chamber members are still supporting the coat drive. “I love that the Chamber wants to continue doing this with us, and how the community comes together to support our students. This is the seventh year we’ve been doing this, and we never end up with leftover clothing,” Czaporowski said. The coats and other winter clothing go to whatever school has pupils who need them. He said a lot of the clothing goes to the elementary kids, and adult sizes go to the clothing closets at both high schools. Czaporowski said the schools added snow pants to their wish list this year, because it is one of the items that students often don’t have. “I used to love making igloos. When I would go sit in my igloo, I loved having snow pants,” he said. Czaporowski said schools are seeing the effects of price inflation on some families’ ability to purchase warm clothes for their students. He said the schools will accept both new and gently used clothing, because sometimes kids grow out of their clothes so quickly they do not show a lot of wear. The schools are asking that any undergarments and socks that are donated be new. The clothing is also offered to new families that come to Westfield, some from milder climates. Czaporowski said when a new student comes in, the topic of adequate winter clothing is worked into the conversation. “It’s also good for our recent immigrants to Westfield,” he said. The final collection will take place at the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Holiday Breakfast, 7-9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at East Mountain Country Club, 1458 E. Mountain Rd. Czaporowski said the Westfield High School Chorus will perform holiday tunes at the breakfast. For more information or to sign up for the breakfast, visit www.westfieldbiz.org or call 413-568-1618. https://www.thereminder.com/Localnews/westfield/westfield-schools-coat-drive-continues-through-mid/

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we spoke with Devin Streeter from the Gandara Center about all the programs and services available to Westfield students and families. Their Family Resource Center is located on 16 George Street in Westfield, and they can also be reached at 413-417-2020 if you would like to learn more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1dlbJ4BaVM

Come to our Cabaret!!! The Westfield High School Drama Club presents ONCE UPON A CABARET November 16 and 17 at 6 pm

Please join us for our financial aid night, this Wednesday at 6 pm. See the attached flyer for more information.

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with Westfield Technical Academy's School Resource Office Bryan Turgeon about school safety, threat assessments, and our most recent safety drills. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazZZHC4gIY

The Westfield High School School Counseling Department is hosting a College Financial Aid Night on Wednesday, November 15 at 6pm. Troy Davis, Financial Aid Director at Springfield College will provide us with an overview of the financial aid process, including changes to the FAFSA form. Students and families are invited to attend. You do not want to miss this!

In three years, the Westfield High School chapter of Letters for Rose has grown to the second biggest in the nation, and the biggest in Massachusetts. The nationwide club was founded in 2020 by two high school students in Montclair, New Jersey, who couldn’t continue their volunteer visits to area nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and became concerned about the seniors starting to feel isolated. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/card-writing-club-at-westfield-high-school-grows-to-nations-2nd-largest.html

Westfield High School juniors taking statistics and biomedical classes came to Southampton Road preschool on Oct. 19 to demonstrate scientific experiments with three- and four-year-olds for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Week. Stations were set up in the school’s STEM room at the school, where the preschoolers rotated from one activity to another in small groups, with the district’s curriculum team overseeing the activities. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfield-high-school-students-teach-science-to-preschoolers-for-stem-week.html