Westfield Public Schools

All this week Highland Elementary School has been celebrating Read Across America with unique spirit days. Thursday staff and students dressed like their favorite book characters. It was so much fun to see all of the amazing costumes! Our halls were filled with Harry Potter, Willy Wonka, Fancy Nancy, mice who love cookies, Pete the Cat, Ms. Frizzle, and even the girls from the Babysitter's Club! #AchievingExcellenceTogether

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

If you missed this morning's "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we had the Westfield Intermediate School Choir on the show. The students sang two songs for us and were also able to help us celebrate National Flapjack Day, with assistance from Westfield Technical Academy staff and students from the Culinary Arts Department. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMyPgAFv0tw

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.

The city’s longest-running annual music event returns Friday as the Westfield High School Band presents its 71st pops concert, “Night & Day: Music from Stage and Screen.” Evening performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, in the high school gymnasium at 177 Montgomery Road, Westfield. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-high-school-readies-for-night-day-pops-concerts-friday-saturday.html

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/

A voice from Westfield will be heard on national television this Monday, as Westfield High School graduate Madison Curbelo returns to “The Voice.” “I am so proud to represent Western Massachusetts on a stage like this and so happy to have you all supporting me along the way,” she said on Facebook. Her audition will air on Springfield’s NBC station, WWLP, Channel 22, at 8 p.m. Monday, March 4. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-singer-returns-to-airwaves-in-mondays-episode-of-the-voice-on-nbc.html

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.

A reminder that there is no school for students on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Thank you!

Students from Paper Mill, Munger Hill and Fort Meadow participated in a community project, organized by Mona Rastegar, over their winter break. On February 20th, students were invited to meet in the Childrens' Room at the West Springfield Library between 9:00am-11:00am. Students colored cancer ribbons that will be displayed at Cancer House of Hope. #AchievingExcellenceTogether

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, three teams of Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students helped us recognize National Chili Day with an authentic Chili Cookoff. All the students did a wonderful job in all categories. Much appreciation to the students, Chef Eric Rogers, the Culinary Arts staff, and the judges for making this show possible. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy19QsAQaac

Click here for the latest newsletter and pictures from the Franklin Ave/Abner Gibbs Replacement School Project: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Construction-on-the-new-Elementary-School-continues--February-2024-Newsletter.html?soid=1127583543316&aid=Xp4s0TEfBtI

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.

Five seniors in the Westfield Technical Academy allied health class of 2024 were honored at a pinning ceremony in the school auditorium on Feb. 16. Each student successfully completed the Nurse Aide Training Program at WTA and passed the state written and practicum exams in June 2023 to become certified nurse assistants. In a traditional ceremony, students Makayla Brazee, Marissa Crepeau, Cheyenne Lamontagne, Emerson Trzepacz and Alexandra Valentine received pins as a symbol of joining the nursing profession. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-tech-honors-nursing-students-at-traditional-pinning-ceremony.html

Schools will be closed starting Monday, February 19, 2024 - Friday, February 23, 2024, for our Winter Recess. Have a happy and safe winter break!

Gov. Maura Healey, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and Early Education Commissioner Amy Kershaw visited Roots Learning Center on Feb. 15 to celebrate changes to how the state reimburses preschools and daycare centers. Meeting with the governor and her team were Westfield state Sen. John Velis, Mayor Michael McCabe, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and childcare providers from throughout the region. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/state-officials-promote-child-care-pre-k-efforts-in-visit-to-westfield.html

Five teachers with decades of experience and one teacher new to the profession were surprised in their classrooms on Monday by Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and members of his central office team with this year’s Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. “Surprising our deserving staff members with the Pioneer Valley Teaching Excellence Awards is truly one of the highlights of our school year. Recognizing staff for their outstanding work with our students and contributions to the school community is something that I look forward to,” Czaporowski said. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-schools-celebrate-6-recipients-of-excellence-in-teaching-awards.html

Due to the significant snowstorm being forecast for tomorrow, February 13, Westfield Public Schools and offices will be closed. Thank you.

If you missed this morning's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. This week, we talked with Franklin Avenue Elementary School Principal Chris Tolpa about some of the great things happening there. We also took some time to recognize International Paczki Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3UzHCTNCkM&fbclid=IwAR3c1VEGwr2CvN0brBLgELrCVWH3T6g4FyJG0Fbw-03gEafFNomdGMvrivk

At the Feb. 1 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski shared results from a recent survey of students on their perception of the climate in their schools. He said the survey results will continue to be studied in focus groups in each of the schools. Czaporowski said administrators received a strong sampling for the surveys, with 1,300 students in kindergarten through grade 4 answering the questions; and an even higher number, 2,020 students, responding in grades 5-12. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/02/westfield-school-administrators-focus-groups-to-analyze-student-survey-results.html