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
“My School Menus is a program that we’ve teamed up with to help us get all of the menus and pertinent information out to parents,” said Food Services Director Rachel Kania. She said parents can now scroll through the daily menu items and see pictures of the food, nutritional facts and ingredients, which is especially important for families of children with allergies, she added.
“Now we can have all of that information right at the fingertips of parents, who can go online and see all of the options available every day,” she said.
Kania said Westfield EATS gets its food from local farms and partnerships. For example, ground beef comes from North Elm Butcher Block, which grinds it fresh that day. Lettuce and produce come from local farms, and fruit from Mountain Orchard Farms in Granville.
Previously, Kania had to keep track of all the recipes, ingredients and nutritional information by hand on an Excel spreadsheet. She said her staff spent the summer transferring the information to My School Menus.
“To be honest with you, it was a pretty big undertaking. We had to enter every ingredient for every recipe we have here. It took us two months to enter over the summer,” she said. “Now parents can see what we can see, make their own decisions and navigate the menu safely.”
On the menu site, there is a drop-down list for allergies. For example, if an egg allergy is indicated on that list, any items containing egg will be crossed off the menu.
Kania said some medical conditions also require nutritional information. For a child with diabetes, parents can now see a carbohydrate count, so they know how much insulin is needed for their child. “This helps everybody, from nurses to parents to us; it’s a great program,” she said.
Kania said parents can either navigate menus on their own with their children or utilize a menu from a registered dietitian. Food Services has a dietitian on staff who has been with the department for 25 years. The dietitian may be reached at 413-572-6493 or by visiting the Food Services office in Suite B10 in City Hall at 59 Court St.
The new online menus for Westfield EATS may be accessed at: menus.healthepro.com/organizations/3724
“It’s really a wealth of information at the parents’ fingertips, which we’re so excited about,” Kania said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/09/westfield-food-services-offers-new-interactive-menus-for-parents-to-safeguard-kids-choices.html
We're excited to invite all families to our upcoming Open House on Wednesday, September 30th from 6-7:30 p.m.!
This is a wonderful opportunity to visit our school and see what makes our community special. Drop in anytime during the scheduled hours – come and go as you please! We encourage you to bring your student along so they can give you a personal tour and show you around the school. It's a great chance to see their classrooms, meet teachers, and experience a typical day through their eyes.
Feel free to join us early or stay a little later for our annual food trucks! We hope to see you there!
-Principal McMillan
Dear Families,
We're excited to share our new arrival and dismissal plan. Thanks to our redesigned parking lot — now with sidewalks, crosswalks, and one-way traffic in key areas — we can move to a simpler process instead of the structured car line we used to need.
Drop-off: You can enter from West Silver Street or Amelia Lot (off South Broad Street).
-From West Silver Street: turn left immediately after entering — you can no longer go straight, as this is now one-way. Drive to the end of the lot, turn right into the one-way lane, and drop off at the crosswalk near the cafeteria. Do not drop off in the main lot. Exit straight back onto West Silver Street.
-From Amelia Lot: enter directly into the one-way lane through the small opening.
Pickup: Park in the main lot, which has two-way traffic and entrances/exits on both West Silver Street and Amelia Lot. We've reserved the entire front row for families — please use this first. Families are also welcome to exit through the one-way lane if they'd prefer.
**Please drive 5 mph** at all times, and families must stay alert and watch all surroundings for pedestrians throughout the lot. The new lot is far more free-flowing, but slow, careful driving keeps everyone safe.
We're also asking families to avoid parking at Amelia Park itself, since that adds an extra traffic pattern to manage.
We'll monitor how the first few days go and adjust as needed — your feedback is welcome. Thank you for your patience as we settle into this new system, and for treating WMS staff and administration with respect.
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
Dear Families,
Please find the 2026–2027 WMS Student & Family Handbook here.
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is about cell phones. WMS has maintained a strict no-phone policy since 2024, and it has been incredibly effective in reducing distractions and supporting a positive learning environment for students and staff.
Please take a moment to review the cell phone policy in the handbook, as well as the attached visual outlining the expectations.
Thank you in advance for your partnership and support in helping us keep students safe, focused, and accountable.
Best,
Principal McMillan
Dear WMS Families,
Please click here view the supply lists for each Team. If you have any questions about this or scheduling, please contact your grade-level assistant principal and counselor.
7th Grade: Karoline Kells (k.kells@schoolsofwestfield.org) and Lindsey Michalik (l.michalik@schoolsofwestfield.org)
8th Grade: Lauren Paret (lauren.paret@schoolsofwestfield.org) and Alison Kelly (a.kelly@schoolsofwestfield.org)
Important Note: Advisory is a NEW Class for all WMS students, which will occur 2x weekly. Middle school advisory is a small-group class for everyone where students meet regularly with a dedicated staff member to focus on social-emotional growth, academic support, and building a strong sense of community and belonging within the school. Topics will also include MyCap (career and academic planning) where students will begin exploring their interests.
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
Topics at this year’s summit will include the role of lead teachers, building student discourse and whether and how to use approved artificial intelligence tools in the classroom.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/westfield-teachers-take-a-turn-at-summer-enrichment.html
Called “Wolf Pack Prep” in honor of the school’s wolf mascot, the immersive experience was designed to make students feel better about coming to a new school, said organizer and reading specialist Jacqueline Osowski.
Osowski said students had the opportunity to meet some of the staff, explore the classes and become familiar with the new school. She said they enjoyed fun, laid-back activities while incorporating what they could expect when they come to WMS. They were given snacks every morning and walked down to the Boys & Girls Club to pick up lunch. They also received Wolf Pack T-shirts on Tuesday and were encouraged to wear them the next day.
On Wednesday, the activities included a scavenger hunt, individual vision boards and students expressing themselves through chalk art on the bus loop sidewalks.
Both the teachers and the students enjoyed the experience.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/08/wolf-pack-prep-helps-students-transition-to-westfield-middle-school.html
Dear WMS Families,
Welcome to the 26-27 school year! Please view the following attachments:
If you haven't done so already, please click here to like and follow us on Facebook! You have the chance to win a gift card once we reach 1.5k followers!
We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, August 31st.
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
We’re proud to be a school where teachers and staff feel happy, valued, and supported - and where teamwork makes a difference every day. Know someone who works at WMS? Ask them what it’s like to be part of our team! We think they’ll tell you there’s something special about being here.
Please share and help us spread the word!
#SpecialEducationTeacher #NowHiring #JoinOurTeam #WMSFamily #ExcellenceHappensHere #EducationJobs #TeacherJobs
Patrick Kennedy, band director for Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy and lead music teacher for Westfield Public Schools, said a total of 160 band students in grades 5-12 signed up for band camp, with about 85 of them attending both weeks.
Directing the band along with Kennedy were Ryan Emken from Westfield Middle School, William Choe from Westfield Intermediate School and Gina Clark from Highland Elementary School.
The fifth graders have had one year of music in school — general music, chorus and band — with one lesson a week, Kennedy said. “It’s a unique model for Westfield. Fortunately, all our teachers are professionals and embraced it. It’s a lot to ask,” he said.
“We’re having a great time. The kids are having a blast. The kids going into fifth grade are learning with the sixth graders, and get to play with high school kids, honing their skills and having a great time together,” said Clark.
Emken praised the entire group of student musicians. “It’s a well-balanced ensemble; the sound is one of the best we’ve had. We’re really happy with that. The fifth graders are doing well and split their time with the large ensemble and with Mr. Choe and Miss Clark — to work on parts they can play,” he said.
Also helping out at band camp were WHS seniors Riley Markt, Alexis McCabe, Sarah Collins, Raeghan McGrath, Julianna Targonski and Gabby Pichardo. They handed out the music, made copies when needed and served as role models.
Kennedy said the student mentors are receiving credit from WHS band parents toward the spring band trip and gave a shout-out to the parents. “It helps; sometimes they have younger brothers and sisters in the band,” he said.
When asked what they like best about band camp, Targonski, who plays clarinet and trumpet, said, “I like helping the kids.”
“I’m looking to step into leadership, and this is a great way to prepare,” said McGrath, an All-State pick for concert band on saxophone last year.
“It’s a step into adulthood — it helps with independence,” said flautist McCabe.
McGrath said she also liked the wide variety of songs selected for the camp. Asked for her favorites, she said she liked “Bone-a-fide,” because it was funky.
McCabe said she liked “Curse of Tutankhamun.”
Kennedy agreed that “Bone-a-fide” is funky and offers a chance for improvisation. “We try to choose music for every kid to be challenged, but not overwhelmed; fundamental concepts that are fun to play and fun for our audience to listen to,” Kennedy said.
Each week of band camp wraps up with a Friday performance for families and friends.
Other music selections for the week included “With Honor” by Pinkzebra, another favorite named by some of the students; “Soda Pop” by the K-Pop Demon Hunters; and “Any Way You Want It” by Journey.
Sitting with Kennedy was percussionist Evelyn Timmerman, who is entering eighth grade. She said this was her fourth year at band camp. When Kennedy mentioned Journey, she started singing the lyrics.
Tenor sax player Liam Corbett, who is entering 10th grade, consulted with Emken. This is Corbett’s third year at band camp. “I find it really fun to get together with kids from Westfield that want to play in the summer, and play fun music,” he said. He named Bruno Mars’s “That’s What I Like” as one of his favorites.
Joining them was percussionist and 10th grader Quinn Humason, who’s been to band camp every year since it began six years ago. This year he is focusing on pitched percussion: xylophone, vibraphone and marimba, and playing marching mallets. He said he is also playing timpani on Soda Pop.
Emken thanked the Westfield Middle School office staff and Principal Jesse McMillan for allowing the camp to continue at the school. He gave special thanks to all the custodians, who he said had been super helpful.
Kennedy said nutritious snacks from Westfield Eats were provided. “Every day, it’s a different breakfast treat,” he said.
Kennedy also thanked Westfield Public Schools for allowing the camp to continue and state Rep. Kelly Pease, who secured state funding for the program.
“I love it,” Kennedy said when asked what the band directors like best about band camp.
“We get the opportunity at Bandtastic to work together, but we don’t always get together with the elementary folks,” said Emken, adding that the best part is being able to collaborate.
“Music is a joyful experience, and you can feel the joy,” said Choe.
-Amy Porter, The Westfield News
