Our in person meet-up takes place tomorrow, March 28th from 10:00-11:30 am at the Westfield Boys and Girls Club. The Boys and Girls Club is located at 28 West Silver Street. We hope to see everyone there!
1 day ago, Stacy Burgess
In Massachusetts, students with attendance rates consistently above 95% in pre-kindergarten through grade 3 outperformed students with lower attendance rates during any year between pre-kindergarten and grade 3 on the grade 3 MCAS tests.
2 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
ESDC
Our next in-peron meet up is one week away! We hope you will join us at the Westfield Boys and Girls Club from 10:00-11:30 am. Come for the fun while we play games and exciting activities! As always, we look forward to this event.
6 days ago, Stacy Burgess
Meet Up
Click below for the Quarter 3 Newsletter from Westfield Public Schools. https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/quarter-three-newsletter/598820
6 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
MCAS Testing for Grade 10 is happening on March 26 and 27th. Students at the Virtual School take the test in person at the Virtual School. Please have your student arrive no later than 7:50 am. We are located at 94 North Elm Street, Suite 401
7 days ago, Stacy Burgess
After successfully duplicating the classroom via the internet, the Westfield Virtual School is looking at an online version of another pillar of high school: sports. “It’s essentially playing video games, but you’re doing it competitively,” Principal Stacy Burgess told the Westfield School Committee recently. E-sports, she said, “has really grown throughout the nation.” She said staff at the school, a Westfield public school that serves grades 6-12 via computer, are excited about adding extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities to their offerings, including a student council. She said the school already hosts in-person social events so that the students can get to know each other and make social connections. Additionally, students enrolled at Westfield Virtual School can compete in the usual varsity sports by playing on Westfield High School teams. But getting sweaty isn’t for everyone, Burgess said at the March 4 meeting of the School Committee. “It provides an opportunity for all students — not every student is athletic,” she said of e-sports. “Some students really enjoy playing video games.” E-sports is more than just playing video games, however. Though competitors may be using the same software and controllers that the average teen plugs into his or her Xbox or Playstation for an impromptu gaming session at home, an e-sports program is a real team. “You have a coach. There’s a curriculum you teach,” Burgess said. She added that there are also restrictions: the school wouldn’t sponsor an e-sports team for an inappropriately “violent or dangerous” video game. Like traditional sports at traditional schools, e-sports would allow students to express themselves in a non-academic way within the Westfield Virtual School community, Burgess said. It also allows avid gamers to compete online within a regulated league, rather than against anonymous strangers. Not everything at the virtual school is online. Burgess said once a month, she tries to have an in-person event, sometimes “out in the community” such as an ice skating day at Amelia Park Arena. “They really are the best day of the month when it happens, because the kids are so happy and excited to be together and see their friends in person,” she said. Westfield Virtual School’s enrollment has increased from 64 to 98 since November, Burgess said. As a local public school, enrollment is open to Westfield residents only. She said there are only nine virtual schools in the state, most of them in eastern Massachusetts. School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said there is a bill on Beacon Hill to allow out-of-district students to attend local virtual schools. Families choose the virtual school for a variety of reasons, Burgess said. Some students cannot leave the hospital or home for medical reasons. Some have anxiety or other emotional reasons for not attending class in person. Some have been expelled from in-person school. Some are gifted and talented teens who work better with the project-based learning model of online education. “We really accept all students,” Burgess said. As the enrollment grows, the school staff is growing, from the equivalent of 13 full-time positions to 15 this year. One of the new positions was a staff member to work with students whose first language is not English. Burgess said it takes a special kind of teacher to succeed at virtual instruction. “You have to be ‘better than the average bear,’ because it’s that much more challenging to engage the students” through a screen, she said. When hiring staff, administrators pay special attention to the candidate’s ability to form personal relationships and support a student. The school shares some of its academic staff with Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy. The virtual school staff are based in the Westwood Building on North Elm Street, the same building as the School Department central offices. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/e-sports-teams-being-considered-for-westfield-virt/
7 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
Students in grade 11 from Westfield, MA High School, Westfield Virtual School, Westfield Technical Academy, and St. Mary's High School participated in our 6th Annual Career Fair at Westfield State University this morning. After the event, students were treated to lunch at the Dining Commons on campus. Special thanks to Westfield State University, Westfield Gas + Electric/Whip City Fiber, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and the over 75 businesses in attendance for making this even a success again this year!
15 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
WSU CF 2024
Our next In Person Meet up is taking place on March 27th from 10:00-11:30 at the Westfield Boys and Girls Club. Plan on fun activities that will get your mind going and your body moving! We can't wait for our next meet up
17 days ago, Stacy Burgess
Attendance is the most important factor in student success in school. Attendance is taken each period. A student is marked present when their teacher calls their name and they respond that they are here. The expectation for all students is that they have their cameras on and will actively participate in class. Please remind your student of these expectations. If you have a concern, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.
17 days ago, Stacy Burgess
Tryouts are currently being held for Gator Swim Club's spring and summer season! Gator Swim Club is a nationally-ranked USA Swim Club based right here at Westfield High School. We accept swimmers as young as 6 years old, of varying ability levels. We even offer a discount for Westfield High swimmers looking for somewhere to train when the high school season ends! For more information about the club, visit us at www.westernmassgators.com, or follow us on instagram @westernmassgators. To arrange a tryout, contact Coach Tom Avila at (978) 771-0332 or CoachTAvila@gmail.com
20 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
Gator
Many WPS teachers in grades PK-12 attended the annual Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Spring PD Day at WPI, organized by the Mass Learning Project. Teachers attended sessions that focused on curriculum mapping, collaborating, networking, utilizing artificial intelligence, and helping students solve meaningful problems through authentic skills. Teachers left the day feeling prepared and inspired to continue facilitating applied learning with their students through PLTW.
21 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
PLTW
If you know a student in high school who is nervous about what their future holds, whether they’re interested in college or not, have them attend an upcoming career fair. Susan Dargie, Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Westfield Public Schools, and Stefan Czaporowski, Superintendent of Westfield Schools, are here to talk about the importance of these events. https://www.wwlp.com/massappeal/career-fair-for-high-school-students-offers-options/
24 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
A big THANK YOU to the Westfield Home Depot for their generous donation of seeds and soil for our must recent meet up day. The students had a wonderful time welcoming spring.
24 days ago, Stacy Burgess
Spring
Thank you to all that attended our Westfield Business to Education Alliance (WE2BA) meeting this week at Westfield Technical Academy. This month, we finalized preparations for our annual Career Expo and Job Fair on March 13, Elementary School Career Days in the spring, and Project Based Learning Experiences for students at our Intermediate and Middle Schools in June. Attendees were also treated to an omelet station provided by WTA's Culinary Arts students. We are very grateful for our business partnerships that offer our students authentic learning experiences throughout the school year.
27 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
Feb 27
feb 27 part 2
A reminder that there is no school for students on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Thank you!
27 days ago, Westfield Public Schools
March 5
Calling all Virtual School Juniors and Seniors! We will be particiating in the Career Fair taking place at Westfield State University on March 13th from 10:00-12:00 . Transporatation will be provided. We are asking students to come to the Virtual School no later than 9:15 am where we will board a bus and drive together to Westfield State University. This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to learn about potential careers and employment opportunities that are available to them. We hope to see you there.
28 days ago, Stacy Burgess
WVS Meet Up Day is February 29th from 1:00-2:30. We hope you can join us as we celebrate the Leap Day and the coming of spring with some seed planting and rock painting. We will also have other activities for students to enjoy! We Hope to see you there!
about 1 month ago, Stacy Burgess
Westfield Public Schools continues to update our school district’s comprehensive safety plan in conjunction with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments. A team of Westfield Administrators and other staff members representing every level from elementary to high school, has been working collaboratively with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments to make sure our students, staff, and families have a current, research-based, and educationally sound safety plan. As part of our continued work with Westfield Police Department and our ongoing training for students and staff, our city departments working together will conduct lockdown drills in our schools the week of February 26 - March 1 utilizing the enhanced lockdown procedures known as A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate). If you have any questions regarding our drills please contact Mr. Christopher Rogers, Director of Operations and Safety for the Westfield Public Schools at 413-572-6495.
about 1 month ago, Westfield Public Schools
ALICE
Schools will be closed starting Monday, February 19, 2024 - Friday, February 23, 2024, for our Winter Recess. Have a happy and safe winter break!
about 1 month ago, Westfield Public Schools
Winter Break
Due to the significant snowstorm being forecast for tomorrow, February 13, Westfield Public Schools and offices will be closed. Thank you.
about 2 months ago, Westfield Public Schools