Westfield Middle School

Once a month, a group of dog owners bring their pets to Westfield Middle School. They’re not ordinary dogs, but specially trained therapy dogs. These exceptional four-legged visitors spend about two hours every third Friday with seventh and eighth graders. They’ve been trained to work as therapy dogs by volunteers from the local chapter of the Love on a Leash program. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/lab-partners-dog-visits-make-tough-days-better-for-westfield-middle-schoolers.html

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.

WMS Families, The holidays are the season of giving; giving love and giving thanks. The holidays are also about showing appreciation and helping those in need. It only takes a moment to look into a child’s eyes and see the joy the season brings. This holiday season, the Westfield Police Cadet Program will be making those wishes come true for our children in need.  The 9th annual toy drive this year will be on December 2nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and December 3rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at various locations around Westfield such as Walmart, 5 Below, Dollar General, and PlayNow. Schools will be working with the Cadet program to then provide the gifts to families in need. If you are able to contribute, we appreciate your support! If your family is in need this holiday season, we are here to support you! Please click on the following link to provide some additional information that will be sent directly to Principal McMillan and will be kept confidential: https://forms.gle/cad5nmyXKigQYByJ7 Thank you and Happy Holidays! -Mr.McMillan

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/

We are excited for our next monthly spirit week! Students and staff are encouraged to show their school spirit! We will end the week with a pep rally and, this month, Westfield State University's cheerleading team and dance company will be visiting for a featured presentation.

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

Please click here to view November's "The Howler" from Westfield Middle School! https://www.smore.com/hbm6j

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

Join the next SEPAC meeting!

Please see the attached information for WTA Open House!

Students, please read the message below about MCAS results!

Dear WMS Families, Your student will be bringing home their 22-23 MCAS parent/guardian score report today. Please be sure to ask your student for this report and contact us if you have any questions. Have a great weekend! Thank you, Principal McMillan

Principal McMillan is excited to announce our first spirit week of the 23-24 school year. Please encourage your student to participate! We will end the week with an all-school assembly/pep rally, which will occur on the last Friday of every month. Please follow the Westfield Middle School Facebook page and stay tuned to see pictures: https://www.facebook.com/westfieldmiddleschool/

As part of its continuing work with the Westfield Police Department and ongoing training for students and staff, the Westfield School Department will conduct lockdown drills the week of Oct. 23-27, using the enhanced procedures of what is called ALICE, which stands for “alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate.” Christopher Rogers, director of operations and safety, said Westfield has been using the ALICE protocol since 2014-15. “It’s research-based, and it provides our staff and at the upper grades our students the ability to make decisions in real time based on the information they have that is critical to their safety,” he said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfields-public-schools-will-conduct-lockdown-drills-later-this-month.html

Dear WMS Community, Mr. McMillan is seeking student representatives from both 7th and 8th grade to join the Principal's Advisory Council! Please see below for more information. Please encourage your student to join by emailing Mr. McMillan their interest.

Please click here to view October's "Howler" newsletter from Westfield Middle School: https://www.smore.com/tpyhx

Click here for the latest Westfield Public Schools District Newsletter: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1997/WPS/3618809/WPS_NEWSLETTER_2023-Q1.pdf