WACKY WEDNESDAY!
Tomorrow will be Beanie Day at WMS !
Wear your favorite wool cap for the day.
The Westfield Public Schools is seeking input to assist in evaluating the competencies and qualifications to be used in selecting, developing, and evaluating a new principal for Westfield Middle School. Your input will be a critical component of the district’s deliberation.
It is the district’s intent to seek the best balance between work experiences, education and preparation, personal qualities, role expectations of the principal, and the ability to respond to the community’s educational needs.
WMS Principal Questionnaire, https://bit.ly/3E3yQBe
All input is anonymous and confidential and is for the sole use of the district. Input will be accepted until November 21, 2022.
Tune in this Thursday, November 17, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Education, and our Director of Assessment and Accountability about our Multi-Tiered system of Support. Thanks for watching!
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we recognized Sesame Street Day. We also talked about the results from our Youth Risk Behavior Surveys administered to students in grades 8, 10, and 12 last spring. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qODyYic7Urg
Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, for the observance of Veterans Day. Thank you.
Tune in this Thursday, November 10, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction and our Substance Abuse Counselors about the results of our youth risk survey that administered last spring. Thanks for watching!
New this Thursday!!
Before School Program
With Mr Mancini
Tuesday & Thursday
7:30 - 8:20
GYM time from 7:30 - 8:10
Breakfast 8:10 - 8:20
Open to first 20 students to arrive
Line up on the airwalk sidewalk to enter the building.
Get ready for your school day by getting some energy out , have fun with friends and eat a quiet breakfast before going to class.
Students must wear sneakers and dress for outside play if the weather is dry.
A reminder that there is no school for students on Tuesday, November 8. Thank you!
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked about special education programming in the district with our special education leadership team. We also had a little fun with National Cliche Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMQb5MWMoaw
Tune in this Thursday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with our Director of Special Education and Special Education Supervisors about programming in our district. Thanks for watching!
Want to know more about social emotional learning? Join us on Thursday , Nov 10th at our SEPAC meeting.
The Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) marked its sixth anniversary during a morning meeting at the Westfield Gas & Electric Operations Center on Thursday.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the organization, which provides opportunities for the business community and the schools to collaborate, survived COVID-19 and remote meetings, and is still thriving.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/westfield-school-business-alliance-still-thriving-as-it-marks-6th-anniversary.html
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff members from the Westfield YMCA about their programming and their collaboration with Westfield, MA Public Schools. We also recognized National Civics Day. Thanks for watching #NationalCivicsDay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru7n9ccxzuo
📣Calling all Teachers, Staff, and PTOs of the Westfield Public School District:
Our 2022/23 Grant Application is posted on our website, and officially OPEN for submission!! We are so excited to be back from the COVID shutdown and are thrilled that we are able to offer this program once again.🍎✏️🎓📚
Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded to fund dynamic classroom and curriculum projects. Grants will be considered in all disciplines including the arts, sciences, reading and writing, physical education and social competency.
The link to the Grant Application is below. Should you have any questions, we are here to help! Contact us via e-mail at: westfield.foundation2013@gmail.com
We are looking forward to receiving your awesome and unique ideas for our students!
https://www.westfieldfoundation.org/grant-application
Tune in this Thursday, October 27, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we are talking with Andrea Allard about the Westfield YMCA. Thanks for watching!
As part of our ongoing efforts to increase communication with our school community, the district is publishing a quarterly newsletter that will contain updates, important dates, and other information. Please click on the images to view our first newsletter of the school year. Thank you.
Westfield Middle School science teacher Patrick Dufraine brought students from his computer science and robotics classes to visit Westfield Gas & Electric on Oct. 18 for STEM week.
The students got a tour of the operations center, learned about gas and electric safety, mechanics and robotics in the field, computer programming at the utilities and what it’s like to be a dispatcher. Students also heard from a career panel about each of the various jobs at the municipal utility, hosted by John Leary, WG&E director of internet technology. #STEMWeek
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/10/westfield-middle-school-computer-science-students-visit-utility-hub-for-stem-week.html
For the second straight year, Westfield Gas and Electric and Whip City Fiber welcomed middle school computer science students for a day at the operations center for STEM Week.
Students visited the center Wednesday for a day filled with different events, and even more students are set to go Thursday.
At a time when computer science affects so many things about how we work and live, these students are learning to become creators of the technology around them.
Activities included workshops demonstrating the many ways that coding and technology are part of everyday operations.
https://www.westernmassnews.com/2022/10/19/town-by-town-students-stem-mental-health-check-in-tilton-library-donations/
WPS is Hiring!
Be a part of Westfield Public Schools! We are hiring multiple positions across the district including substitute teachers, substitute nurses, classroom and 1:1 paraprofessionals, and many more opportunities that can be found on our district website at https://www.schoolspring.com/jobs/?employer=11953
As there is a growing need for counselors in the state, Westfield Public Schools works in partnership with River Valley Counseling and Rick’s Place to provide additional emotional support for students.
The River Valley Counseling provides four to five clinicians that will come into the school buildings for entire days. This meets the need of about 52 referrals that came in this month so far.
Currently, there are about 36 counselors that focus on social and emotional learning, plus academics and careers. With River Valley Counseling’s partnership with the school district, adjustment counselors are allotted more time to work with more students in small groups, enter classrooms, and do social-emotional learning with a whole class.
As a result of the pandemic, students’ mental health has become more evident in a school setting. “If a student isn’t in a good place mentally then it is a barrier to learning. They really may have something else going on and can’t focus on instruction,” said Westfield Public Schools superintendent, Stefan Czaporowski. “We need to really help them to be prepared and successful in a school environment.”
For adolescents and families that may have lost a loved one due to the pandemic or another cause, Rick’s Place helps with their grief. “The counseling students receive can continue through school vacations and through the summer to carry the progress forward,” adds the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Susan Dargie. However, counseling often takes years to have its desired effect.
River Valley Counseling continuation through summer and vacations would be at the request of parents. Students can also be seen in the clinic. Typically, a student who is referred to River Valley Counseling is already seeing an adjustment counselor, which brings additional support. Sometimes family counseling can also be a result.
“Vast majority of our students are having their needs addressed, but I always think we could do better. Counselor-to-student ratio is a strength of ours,” expressed Czaporowski.
“When we think about educating students, we are educating the whole student and we can’t separate out a child’s brain from their emotions and from their social skills and needs,” said Dargie. “So, we have to look at the big picture.”
For the school to completely replenish from the pandemic, it can take five to 10 years, according to Cazaporowksi, but is certain the vast majority of students will be ok.
A future BRYT program may also be another future development for Westfield Public Schools. This will allow more support for students that may be coming out of hospitalization. “Meeting the need that is needed at that time,” said Dargie.
“We often have students who are really struggling to maintain in the classroom, they really can’t be in that general setting,” explained Dargie. “A program like this would be another space where there is an educator there, but there is also a clinician” (hospitalized for their own safety). With these services, the school district has hopes the mental and academic needs of students will be met.
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/westfield-public-schools-therapy-service-partnerships-help-adjustment-counselors-work-with-more-students/