Westfield Public Schools

If you missed 'Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, we talked with Bo Sullivan and Kellie Brown about Spring Break and Summer Programming for children at the Club, and more. We also took time to recognize our 3rd US President on National Thomas Jefferson Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCiuGx275FY

On Tuesday, April 11, Westfield High School Drama Club director Madison Curbelo was busy getting the cast of “Shrek: The Musical!” together for a dress rehearsal. The cast of 30 were getting into costume and makeup before the arrival of the pit band. Curbelo, a WHS alum weeks away from graduating from the Berklee School of Music, said this will be the first full-length musical that she’s directing. There are 10 full-length songs in the play. https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/04/whs-drama-club-all-warmed-up-for-shrek-the-musical-april-14-16.html

Tune in on Thursday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for a brand-new episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will broadcast live on location at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield with Bo Sullivan and Kellie Brown. We will also spend a little time learning about our 3rd President of the United States. Thanks for watching!

If you missed this week's episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. Abner Gibbs Kindergarten Teacher Kelley Maher talks about our Kindergarten Home Visiting Program and the students in Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts program introduce us to Fried Twinkies on National Twinkies Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ddUKcDC90

During the Westfield School Committee meeting on April 3, Franklin Avenue Elementary School fourth grade teachers Annalise Eak and Jean Brown and their students talked about “zones of regulation,” a social-emotional learning system based on colors that the school has incorporated this year. Eak said the zones are a self-regulation strategy that separates everything students can feel into four colors. She said the strategy is from a professional development training on how to identify emotions, which is the hardest part for students to do, and what to do with those feelings. She said Franklin Avenue has been using the tools successfully with all types of learning for all of the students in the school. https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/04/elementary-students-teach-school-committee-reps-how-to-get-back-in-the-zone.html

On April 4th each year, National School Librarian Day recognizes the professionals who keep the school library in working order. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized. They are also dedicated to helping our children find the resources they need to keep learning. School librarians are the people who create an environment where students can learn every day of the year. Their work is an impressive accomplishment. The school librarians provide guidance and expose our youth not only to texts, print media, and literature but to digital resources and technology, too. These resources also connect them to libraries around the world. A school librarian’s ability to manage scores of media and a school full of students with numerous projects and schedules astounds us. Happy National School Librarian Day!

Tune in on Thursday, April 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for a brand-new episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will talk with Westfield Public Schools staff about our Kindergarten Home Visit Program. We will also celebrate National Twinkies Day with help from Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students. Thanks for watching!

If you missed Saturday's "Big Spring Sing", click on the link below. Thank you to WCPC's Ken Stomski for recording and editing the video for the show. The students sounded phenomenal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnoYX-Znf4

Join us at Westfield High School today at 2:00 p.m. for the Annual Big Spring Sing. Chorus students from Elementary School through High School will be performing for our listening pleasure. Thank you for supporting our students!

Westfield police officers took time out during the day on March 29 to read to first graders in all six elementary schools in the city about their work keeping people safe. Police Lt. Eric Hall, who runs the community services unit, reached out to the School Department several months ago about having the officers come in. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/03/police-officers-read-about-safety-to-first-graders-at-westfield-schools.html

If you missed the latest episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, we talked with WPS Community Outreach Coordinator Lesley Lambert about upcoming events, including the WPS Student Art Display at the Westfield Athenaeum in April, Credit for Life on April 14, and the return of Into the Arts on April 28 and 29. The WTA Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Turkey Neck Soup Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJJ85eJJI74

Tune in on Thursday, March 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for a brand-new episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will talk with Westfield Public School's Community Outreach Coordinator, Lesley Lambert, about upcoming events including Into the Arts and Credit for Life. We will also talk about our Volunteers in Public Schools Program. Thanks for watching!

Jay Mankita and Susan McGinn of Playful Engineers spent two weeks this month at Franklin Avenue Elementary School, showing second and third graders how to build simple machines from household items. “We were fortunate to get a STARS grant from the Mass. Cultural Council to bring Jay to Franklin,” said Franklin Avenue Principal Chris Tolpa. This is the school’s second grant with Playful Engineers. The first was two years ago during the COVID-19 shutdown. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/03/ex-entertainer-teaches-westfield-elementary-pupils-to-be-playful-engineers.html

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, we talked with staff from Franklin Avenue Elementary School and Westfield State University about STEM activities with students at Franklin Avenue Elementary. We also had some fun with World Math Day! Thanks for watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCAdvgFrlcw

Westfield High School Principal Charles Jendrysik told the School Committee on Monday night that he was excited to be there to talk about the school’s transition services for 18- to 22-year-olds, located in the Central Baptist Church at 115 Elm St., one of the three buildings he supervises along with the main campus and Pathways alternative program. “We also have some students here today who will talk about their experiences,” Jendrysik said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/03/young-adults-in-westfield-transition-program-speak-about-learning-life-skills.html

Tune in on Thursday, March 23 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for a brand-new episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will talk with Principal Chris Tolpa all about Franklin Avenue Elementary School. We will also recognize World Math Day. Thanks for watching!

While a Pope Francis student from Russell won the grand prize award at the Region IV Science Fair at Western New England University on March 10, Westfield High School students also fared very well, with one first place award, one second place, and six third place winners. Milana Camilleri, a junior at Westfield High School, won a first-place award in biology. Congratulations! https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/03/russell-westfield-students-win-awards-at-regional-science-fair-qualify-to-advance.html

The Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) hosted it's fourth annual Career Expo and Job Fair Thursday morning at Westfield State University. Students from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, and St. Mary's High School were able to meet and interact with staff from over 70 businesses about careers, career opportunities, and part time employment. After the event, students were treated to lunch at WSU's Dining Commons. Thank you to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and MassHire Holyoke for helping our district plan this wonderful event, to Westfield State University for hosting us and providing lunch for our students, to all the business that participated, and to Westfield Gas and Electric for their assistance with transportation costs. #AchievingExcellenceTogether

Westfield is now under a Winter Storm Warning and power outages are being reported in the city. As a result of this updated information, Westfield Public Schools will be closed today. Please stay safe. Thank you.

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, we interviewed Westfield High School Chorus Instructor Korey Bruno and members of the WHS Show Choir. The students performed for us as well and they were fantastic! Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students also helped us celebrate National Meatball Day with some homemade meatballs in sauce that were outstanding. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRdbK9GD_qI