Harvest traditions are a part of every community, and Westfield is no different.
This Saturday, families will attend Westfield on Weekends’ 10th annual PumpkinFest at Westfield Middle School Athletic Fields, behind Amelia Park, off South Broad Street, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is free admission with live performances, games, activities, costumed characters, strolling performers, craft/local vendors, food trucks, pumpkin carving/decorating, trunk or treat and much more.
This year, WOW has a new layout featuring themed villages for families to enjoy: Westfield G&E and Whip City Fiber’s “Autumn Arcade”, Home Depot’s “Homer’s Harvest Workshop,” “Make Some Magic” with TruNorth Bank, KidzBiz Village where young entrepreneurs ages 7-17 showcase their own businesses, products, crafts and services.
There will also be the Peaceful Low-Sensory Pumpkin Grove, a place where folks who want to take a break from the activities can find a calm, quiet space to enjoy the festival at their own pace.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/10/wows-pumpkinfest-returns-with-updated-layout.html
This Saturday, families will attend Westfield on Weekends’ 10th annual PumpkinFest at Westfield Middle School Athletic Fields, behind Amelia Park, off South Broad Street, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is free admission with live performances, games, activities, costumed characters, strolling performers, craft/local vendors, food trucks, pumpkin carving/decorating, trunk or treat and much more.
This year, WOW has a new layout featuring themed villages for families to enjoy: Westfield G&E and Whip City Fiber’s “Autumn Arcade”, Home Depot’s “Homer’s Harvest Workshop,” “Make Some Magic” with TruNorth Bank, KidzBiz Village where young entrepreneurs ages 7-17 showcase their own businesses, products, crafts and services.
There will also be the Peaceful Low-Sensory Pumpkin Grove, a place where folks who want to take a break from the activities can find a calm, quiet space to enjoy the festival at their own pace.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/10/wows-pumpkinfest-returns-with-updated-layout.html
Westfield Middle School students in Jennifer Johnson-Corwin’s eighth grade history class visited the school library this week where librarian Sarah Scott taught them about the history of Veterans Day and how to write a letter.
“Students worked very hard to create thoughtful and gracious cards and letters for local veterans. These will go to Senator Velis’ staff for distribution in our community. It is amazing to read our students’ reflections, patriotism, and kind words,” said Principal Jesse McMillan.
Scott said this is the school’s fourth year doing the “Thank-a-Veteran” project, and she will be seeing other classes throughout the month leading up to Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
She said some of the students like to make cards and decorate them with artwork, and others prefer sheets of paper for letters. The students also have a choice whether to write to a veteran they know or to a veteran in the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/10/westfield-students-thank-veterans-with-heartfelt-letters-and-cards.html
“Students worked very hard to create thoughtful and gracious cards and letters for local veterans. These will go to Senator Velis’ staff for distribution in our community. It is amazing to read our students’ reflections, patriotism, and kind words,” said Principal Jesse McMillan.
Scott said this is the school’s fourth year doing the “Thank-a-Veteran” project, and she will be seeing other classes throughout the month leading up to Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
She said some of the students like to make cards and decorate them with artwork, and others prefer sheets of paper for letters. The students also have a choice whether to write to a veteran they know or to a veteran in the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/10/westfield-students-thank-veterans-with-heartfelt-letters-and-cards.html
Congratulations to our very own Ms. Mendez, 7th grade social studies teacher, for running a full marathon of 26.2 miles this past weekend! Her determination, perseverance, and commitment are an incredible example of what it means to set a goal and push yourself to achieve it. We’re proud to celebrate this amazing accomplishment with our WMS community!
Students in Mrs. Britt’s Social Studies class teamed up with Mrs. Scott in the library to explore “The Social Media Trap,” an article from Scholastic Junior magazine. Students engaged in thoughtful discussions about teen social media use, algorithms, mental health, and lawsuits involving major technology companies. It was great to see students so engaged and interested in a topic that directly impacts their everyday lives! These are important conversations that encourage critical thinking and responsible digital citizenship.
🌿 The final piece of our parking lot project is complete! All of the plants have been installed in the bioretention basin, adding a beautiful finishing touch to this major improvement at WMS.
We’re excited to see this space come together and appreciate the work that went into making it both functional and beautiful. The new landscaping really brings it all together!
Next time you’re here at WMS, be sure to take a moment to admire it! 🌱
At Westfield Middle School, we use PowerSchool to communicate student academic progress. In an effort to reduce paper waste and provide families with convenient access to academic information, we do not send home paper-based progress reports or report cards. Instead, all grades are available electronically through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
For the 2026–2027 school year, midterm dates are October 16, January 15, and April 30, while end-of-trimester grades are available on December 4, March 19, and the last day of school.
Midterm grades will reflect your child's academic progress at the halfway point of each trimester and are not finalized until the end of the trimester. If you have any questions regarding your child's grades at the midterm close, please contact your child's teacher.
If you need assistance accessing PowerSchool, please contact Alexis Lemelin at a.lemelin@schoolsofwestfield.org.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child's academic success.
Sincerely,
Principal McMillan
Jennifer Johnson-Corwin's Social Studies classes visited the library yesterday where Mrs. Scott taught them about the history of Veterans' Day and how to write a letter of correspondence. Students worked very hard to create thoughtful and gracious cards and letters for local veterans. These will be given to Senator Velis' staff to be distributed in our community. It is amazing to read our students' reflections, patriotism, and kind words!
We’d love to see you at our October PTO Meeting this Monday, October 5th at 6:00 PM! All PTO meetings are virtual, so you can join right from home! Google Meet: Meet - ihr-cnha-vyd
Log in to see what’s happening at WMS, share your ideas, and help us plan a great year for our students! We hope to see you there!
Please click below for the latest newsletter from Westfield Public Schools. Thank you! https://app.smore.com/n/yd186
WMS FAMILIES — WE ARE SO CLOSE TO OUR GOAL WITH OUR MEADOW FARMS FUNDRAISER! We’re so close that we’re going to squeak out a few more days! ❤️🖤
📌 ALL PAPER ORDERS with cash/check are due WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 at 9:00 AM. Please turn them in ASAP!
💻 ONLINE ORDERS can be completed through the end of the day Wednesday, September 30.
Every order helps support our WMS students with field trips, field days, student activities, and staff appreciation. We would LOVE your help getting us across the finish line!
👉 Register your student or place an online order:
Meadowfarms.com/register
WMS Group ID: 1227117
📌 ALL PAPER ORDERS with cash/check are due WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 at 9:00 AM. Please turn them in ASAP!
💻 ONLINE ORDERS can be completed through the end of the day Wednesday, September 30.
Every order helps support our WMS students with field trips, field days, student activities, and staff appreciation. We would LOVE your help getting us across the finish line!
👉 Register your student or place an online order:
Meadowfarms.com/register
WMS Group ID: 1227117
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Westfield Middle School Sept. 28-Oct. 1! This event gets kids excited about reading and earns funds for our school. Students will visit with their ELA class or you can shop at our Open House on Wednesday, Sep. 30. You can pay with cash, card, or set up a Scholastic e-Wallet on our Book Fair webpage.
The Wolfpack is off to a strong start! Our overall attendance rate is currently 96.4%—and we’re setting our sights even higher. Attendance Matters. Every Day. -Principal McMillan
Westfield Middle School’s school store received a donation of handmade jewelry and painted bags, created over the summer by art classes at the Westfield Senior Center.
Assistant Principal Karoline Kells said that WMS students earn “minga points” for positive actions and can redeem them in the school store. “Thanks to this donation, students will now be able to use their points to ‘purchase’ these unique handmade pieces for themselves or as gifts for loved ones,” Kells said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/art4good-donates-handcrafted-jewelry-and-bags-to-westfield-middle-school-store.html
Assistant Principal Karoline Kells said that WMS students earn “minga points” for positive actions and can redeem them in the school store. “Thanks to this donation, students will now be able to use their points to ‘purchase’ these unique handmade pieces for themselves or as gifts for loved ones,” Kells said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/art4good-donates-handcrafted-jewelry-and-bags-to-westfield-middle-school-store.html
Please review the new City of Westfield ordinance regarding E-bikes, Scooters, Mopeds, and Skateboards. Thank you!
Our 8th grade English students are diving into Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Tell-Tale Heart" as part of our StudySync English curriculum-and one of our teachers is taking an especially interesting approach to the reading!
Students are using a strategy called “Graffiti Reading.” Instead of simply reading and answering questions afterward, students leave comments, questions, connections, reactions, predictions, and observations as they work their way through the story.
The result is a conversation with the text—and, when students share their annotations, a conversation with one another. It encourages students to slow down, notice details, think critically about an author’s choices, and build meaning together.
It’s a great example of the kind of active, student-centered learning we want to see in our classrooms: students not just reading a story, but thinking deeply about it!
Science is in action at WMS! 🔬⚙️
Our seventh grade students are diving into the first unit of the OpenSciEd curriculum, exploring the science of motion and collisions. Through hands-on investigations, students are testing ideas, collecting evidence, asking questions, and working together to figure out what is happening and why.
Our learning experiences put students in the driver’s seat. Rather than simply being given the answers, students are encouraged to think deeply, make predictions, investigate their ideas, and use evidence to develop their own understanding of scientific concepts.
These pictures capture just a little bit of the curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving happening in our seventh grade classrooms!
James Laverty has just started his fourth year as a school safety attendant at Highland Elementary School through a Veterans Services program.
Director of Veterans Services Julie Barnes said the volunteer program started four years ago in elementary schools that didn’t have school resource officers from the Police Department. Currently, Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy each have an SRO assigned, and Westfield Middle School and Westfield Intermediate School share an SRO.
At the time, Barnes met with state Sen. John Velis and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski to discuss implementing the veterans’ volunteer program. In return for their volunteer work, veterans who work 100 hours in the schools can get a $1,500 tax abatement.
Director of Operations and Safety Christopher Rogers provides onboarding for all volunteers, who are all CORI-checked and fingerprinted. According to Rogers, the veteran's program is designed to identify and deter potential problems and foster a sense of security by having an extra level of protection in the schools.
Interested veteran volunteers should contact Barnes at 413-572-6247. Program guidelines and a volunteer application are also available on the city website under Veterans Services. Barnes said veterans must have served on active duty to qualify for the abatement program.
Heidi Cote, coordinator of Volunteers in Public Schools, said there are many volunteer opportunities in the schools throughout the year for the public at large, including at special events, where extra hands are always needed.
Cote said there is currently a big need for cafeteria support at both Highland Elementary and Westfield River Elementary. She said there are three lunches a day with recess between them, and volunteers who can come in for an hour or two are most welcome. “Consistency is best,” Cote said. Email heidi.cote@schoolsofwestfield.org to sign up. Anyone with questions should call Cote at 413-572-6463, ext. 61417.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/veterans-who-volunteer-in-the-schools-receive-tax-abatement.html
Director of Veterans Services Julie Barnes said the volunteer program started four years ago in elementary schools that didn’t have school resource officers from the Police Department. Currently, Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy each have an SRO assigned, and Westfield Middle School and Westfield Intermediate School share an SRO.
At the time, Barnes met with state Sen. John Velis and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski to discuss implementing the veterans’ volunteer program. In return for their volunteer work, veterans who work 100 hours in the schools can get a $1,500 tax abatement.
Director of Operations and Safety Christopher Rogers provides onboarding for all volunteers, who are all CORI-checked and fingerprinted. According to Rogers, the veteran's program is designed to identify and deter potential problems and foster a sense of security by having an extra level of protection in the schools.
Interested veteran volunteers should contact Barnes at 413-572-6247. Program guidelines and a volunteer application are also available on the city website under Veterans Services. Barnes said veterans must have served on active duty to qualify for the abatement program.
Heidi Cote, coordinator of Volunteers in Public Schools, said there are many volunteer opportunities in the schools throughout the year for the public at large, including at special events, where extra hands are always needed.
Cote said there is currently a big need for cafeteria support at both Highland Elementary and Westfield River Elementary. She said there are three lunches a day with recess between them, and volunteers who can come in for an hour or two are most welcome. “Consistency is best,” Cote said. Email heidi.cote@schoolsofwestfield.org to sign up. Anyone with questions should call Cote at 413-572-6463, ext. 61417.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/veterans-who-volunteer-in-the-schools-receive-tax-abatement.html
The WMS Band will be hosting a Dine-to-Donate fundraiser at 7B's Bar and Grill on Wednesday September 23 from 5-9:00 PM. 10% of all dine-in and take-out sales will go toward our middle school band program. Funds raised helps with school instrument repair & maintenance costs, band room materials, and concert music costs throughout the year. We hope to see you there!
Enjoy the long weekend!
Click here to view the September newsletter from Westfield Middle School: https://app.smore.com/n/h36w4
