A friendly reminder! Please join us Thursday in the WMS auditorium for a special presentation with Terrence Talley. Families and students will experience his inspiring message focused on hope, kindness, and making a positive impact.
Please click on the following link to reserve a ticket for THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND AT 6 P.M. in the WMS AUDITORIUM: https://forms.gle/csuHzjjHQcKyZq338
This event is open to all WPS families! We hope to see you there!
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
Thank you to the Westfield High School students and Career Center staff for visiting with our 8th graders to share pathway options and real-life experiences! Their time, insight, and encouragement helped our students start thinking about the many opportunities ahead.
A reminder that Westfield Public Schools are closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday. Thank you.
Big smiles, comfy seats, and great conversations 🍽️✨ Our students are loving the new cafeteria furniture, making lunchtime even better!
Regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students come to school each day they learn new skills, stay connected with teachers and classmates, and access the supports they need to thrive. Chronic absenteeism can make it hard to catch up — but every day missed is also an opportunity to improve. Let’s work together — families, teachers, and neighbors — to make sure every student can be present, safe, and ready to learn. #AchievingExcellenceTogether
Yesterday on "Superintendent's Spotlight", we recognized National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day with guests Captain Eric Hall and School Resource Officers (SRO) Jim Summers, Bryan Turgeon, and Mike Csekovsky. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program also helped us celebrate the day with a homemade breakfast treat. Thank you to our School Resource Officers for all the support that they provide to our staff, students, and families. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tMtzPnGnU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tMtzPnGnU
Mark your calendars! We're excited to announce that motivational speaker Terrence Talley will be visiting our school this month! Terrence is a dynamic speaker delivering powerful messages of hope, resilience, and encouragement to students and communities.
We invite you to join us for a special evening presentation in the auditorium where you can experience Terrence's inspiring message alongside your children. His mission is simple but powerful: to give every student hope and empower them to give hope to others. As Terrence says, "What happens to a student today will affect your community tomorrow."
This is an event you won't want to miss!
Please click on the following link to reserve a ticket for THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND AT 6 P.M. in the WMS AUDITORIUM: https://forms.gle/csuHzjjHQcKyZq338
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
We invite you to join us for a special evening presentation in the auditorium where you can experience Terrence's inspiring message alongside your children. His mission is simple but powerful: to give every student hope and empower them to give hope to others. As Terrence says, "What happens to a student today will affect your community tomorrow."
This is an event you won't want to miss!
Please click on the following link to reserve a ticket for THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND AT 6 P.M. in the WMS AUDITORIUM: https://forms.gle/csuHzjjHQcKyZq338
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
Due to the current weather conditions, Westfield Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delay schedule today, Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Please drive safely. Thank you.
SEPAC
Join us for the virtual PTO meeting tonight! No experience necessary. We're looking for interested families to help support our school and students.
Monday, January 5 · 6:00 – 6:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ihr-cnha-vyd
Monday, January 5 · 6:00 – 6:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ihr-cnha-vyd
🌟 Show up. Learn. Grow. Repeat. Every day in school = one step closer to your goals! #EveryDayCounts
A reminder that today, December 23, is an early release day for students.
• High Schools: 11:00 a.m. dismissal
• Middle & Intermediate Schools: 11:30 a.m. dismissal
• Elementary Schools: 12:15 p.m. dismissal
Thank you!
• High Schools: 11:00 a.m. dismissal
• Middle & Intermediate Schools: 11:30 a.m. dismissal
• Elementary Schools: 12:15 p.m. dismissal
Thank you!
Please click here for the District's Second Quarterly newsletter for the 2025-2026 School year. Thank you!
https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/2025-2026/quarter-2/23361217
https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/2025-2026/quarter-2/23361217
🌟 Show up. Learn. Grow. Repeat. Every day in school = one step closer to your goals! #EveryDayCounts
🎶 What an unforgettable month of music!
Our holiday concert season was a tremendous success, thanks to the incredible talent, hard work, and heart of our students, and the extraordinary dedication of our music instructors.
Our chorus has grown exponentially, filling the stage with beautiful harmonies and contagious energy.
Our band program has become so large, we now separate groups by grade level, a true testament to our students’ passion for music and the strength of our program.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Mr. Emken, our outstanding band instructor, and Mrs. Cipoletta, our inspiring chorus instructor, leading the way. Their commitment goes far beyond the school day. This month alone, they brought music into the community, including the beautiful performance at the Greek Orthodox Church earlier this week with our concert band.
A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Emken, Mrs. Cipoletta, and each and every one of our talented students. Your dedication, teamwork, and artistry made this holiday season unforgettable.🎄🎵
The Principal's Council is excited to announce a spirit week beginning next Monday and leading up to break!
This is a friendly reminder that our "Community Coffee Hour" is TOMORROW, Wednesday, December 10th from 8:15-10 in the WMS cafeteria. There will be raffles that include gift cards, as well as WG&E bill credits! Refreshments and coffee will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Dear WMS Families,
Happy December! Trimester 1 ended on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. Students' grades and teachers' comments are now finalized and ready to view in PowerSchool. In an effort to reduce waste, we will not be sending home paper-based copies of report cards. Please log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal to view your child's final grades for Trimester 1. To view teachers' comments, please click on the grade for each course and their comment will appear on the screen.
Please click on the following link for directions regarding the PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://sites.google.com/schoolsofwestfield.org/powerschool-parentguardian-inf/home%20%20
If you need additional assistance, please email Alexis Lemelin at a.lemelin@schoolsofwestfield.org.
Additionally, IEP progress notes will be sent to you electronically via email from special education liaisons.
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
Happy December! Trimester 1 ended on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. Students' grades and teachers' comments are now finalized and ready to view in PowerSchool. In an effort to reduce waste, we will not be sending home paper-based copies of report cards. Please log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal to view your child's final grades for Trimester 1. To view teachers' comments, please click on the grade for each course and their comment will appear on the screen.
Please click on the following link for directions regarding the PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://sites.google.com/schoolsofwestfield.org/powerschool-parentguardian-inf/home%20%20
If you need additional assistance, please email Alexis Lemelin at a.lemelin@schoolsofwestfield.org.
Additionally, IEP progress notes will be sent to you electronically via email from special education liaisons.
Thank you,
Principal McMillan
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Language Acquisition will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Westfield Public School District’s English learner education program the week of Dec. 1.
The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, said there are currently 409 English learners in the school district, 27 of whom opt out of ESL instruction, and 119 former EL students, who no longer require ESL instruction. Shea said these students are monitored for four years to ensure they’re succeeding academically.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed and will contribute to the monitoring report.
The district will also be doing a full day of interviews with classroom teachers at all levels, English as a second language teachers, administrators and a parent focus group.
Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review chairperson, at (781) 338-3584 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. “They do these every six years - it’s very in-depth,” Shea said.
Through the survey and the focus group, Shea said she hopes to learn if there are things that families are looking for that they are not doing. “It’s a learning experience for us. We always feel there are ways to improve,” she said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/dese-to-conduct-review-of-westfields-english-learner-education-program-this-week.html
The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, said there are currently 409 English learners in the school district, 27 of whom opt out of ESL instruction, and 119 former EL students, who no longer require ESL instruction. Shea said these students are monitored for four years to ensure they’re succeeding academically.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed and will contribute to the monitoring report.
The district will also be doing a full day of interviews with classroom teachers at all levels, English as a second language teachers, administrators and a parent focus group.
Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review chairperson, at (781) 338-3584 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. “They do these every six years - it’s very in-depth,” Shea said.
Through the survey and the focus group, Shea said she hopes to learn if there are things that families are looking for that they are not doing. “It’s a learning experience for us. We always feel there are ways to improve,” she said.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/12/dese-to-conduct-review-of-westfields-english-learner-education-program-this-week.html