Westfield Public Schools

The house on 64 Mill St. that is being built by Westfield Technical Academy juniors and seniors in construction tech, cabinetmaking, electrical wiring, and horticulture is nearing completion, according to lead construction instructor Matthew Gomes, who also designed the house. Groundbreaking began in December 2022 and is projected to be completed by February 2024. “It’s going incredibly well. We got a late start last year, but it’s going really fantastic,” Gomes said this week. He expects the house to be 100 percent ready for sale in February. It will be fully landscaped with plantings. “Most new construction doesn’t have that,” he said. The 2,200 sq. ft. Cape-style house will have four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a main bedroom suite on the first floor, and an open kitchen, living room and dining room.The house also features a mudroom and oversized one-car garage, an outdoor patio living area and walkway, and newly poured concrete sidewalks. Gomes said there are a lot of high end features in the house, thanks to generous donations from the community. “A big driving force of the project is so much has been donated,” he said. Construction Tech junior Avalise Davis was inside the house on Dec. 7 working on finishing a piece of the beech hardwood flooring. “We have to do each piece individually,” she said, making certain of the measurements and angles. After placement, they will be putting in a filling and a finish on the floor. “I love it. It’s engaging. I think it’s a really good trade, good money, good social connections,” Davis said. Outside, juniors in the horticulture shop were completing the patio out of concrete pavers donated by Ondrick Natural Earth in Chicopee. Lead horticulture instructor Nate Sperry said his students started on the project in October, installing the top soil and starting the lawn. “Students got experience understanding when and how to put in a lawn,” Sperry said. The house is a project of the newly formed Westfield Technical Foundation, a non-profit entity set up to benefit the school, enabling WTA to borrow the money to buy the property and build the house from the Polish National Credit Union at zero percent interest. When the home is completed, it will be sold and proceeds will go back into the school’s programs. “It really is in a fantastic area - walking distance to the park, the hospital and the Mill on Crane Pond. There is a lot of lively high-end cultural activity,” Gomes said, adding that he grew up around the corner. He said the school plans to have a public unveiling once the house is completed this winter. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/completion-date-set-for-westfield-tech-student-bui/

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with students and staff about Girls on the Run and more. Students and staff from the Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate National Cupcake Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Ej53EI-sc

Westfield High School Instrumental Music Director Patrick Kennedy recently announced all are welcome to the annual Winter Band Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the auditorium at the high school, at 177 Montgomery Road, Westfield. The concert will feature the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and the Westfield High School Band. The Concert Band will perform the traditional “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney, and “A Festive Holiday Celebration,” a nod to several seasonal celebrations. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/westfield-high-school-bands-ensembles-will-play-winter-concert-thursday.html

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week we spoke with Principal Jendrysik and other Westfield High School staff members about the WHS Career Center, the WHS DLP Program, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxIYTZ_mOYg

uAspire will offer a FAFSA webinar for students three times: 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3; 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30; and 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. Registration is open online. In addition, FAQs are available in English and Spanish, and more resources are posted on uAspire.org/resources, uaspire.org/Checklist, and uaspire.org/FSAID. Click on the link below to register. Thank you. https://uaspire.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5YaoPfhT92PLRAZ429SCg?utm_source=DA-Commissioner%27s+Weekly+Update&utm_campaign=64f2f12cea-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_12_04_11_41&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-64f2f12cea-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D#/registration

If you missed the latest episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight" yesterday, please click on the link below. This week, we talked with Abner Gibbs Elementary School Principal Erika Masciadrelli and School Adjustment Counselor Amy Crowley about the great things happening at Abner Gibbs. Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts students also helped us to celebrate National Mousse Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TJZw1YCZ94

Westfield High school counselor Patricia Healy, who is now in charge of the school’s Career Center, said she has an open door policy for students. “Kids just walk in, that’s the purpose of it.” She said when she’s not available, her email address is displayed on her door. “A student walks in the door and says I want to work - I need a job. That’s the start of it,” Healy said. She will give the students information on available jobs in the community, businesses like Dunkin’, McDonald’s, T.J. Maxx, and Cracker Barrell in Westfield, but that is only the start. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/12/westfield-hs-career-center-has-an-open-door-for-students.html

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

Robin Lasko-Brodeur is in her second year of teaching sixth grade science and math at Westfield Intermediate School, after 10 years of teaching reading and writing in Springfield. She is also the author of the new book, “Puddle Jumpers,” which she describes as “a coming-of-age adventure full of magic, madness, and mystery.” In a description she wrote for online booksellers, Lasko-Brodeur says the book’s main character, 10-year-old Daniel has had his share of misery. His mother is terminally ill, his father is not around, and his caretaker aunt “is a ruthless beast of a woman.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/11/westfield-6th-grade-teacher-publishes-magical-coming-of-age-adventure-novel.html

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/

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

Staff and students at Westfield Technical Academy sent off custodian Mark Poulin in style last month as he retired after 38 years in the schools. At the end of the day on Friday, Oct. 27, they lined the walls and cheered while he rode the halls one last time on a “Zamboni” decorated with balloons and streamers. Poulin worked as a custodian for Westfield schools since 1985. He started at Westfield High School, then worked at Abner Gibbs and Munger Hill elementary schools. He began working at Westfield Technical Academy in 2005. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/11/westfield-technical-academy-staff-students-send-off-retiring-custodian-in-style.html

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

​Seventh and eighth grade students received a virtual visit from Representative Pease as he gave a presentation on Massachusetts state government and provided the students with an opportunity to ask questions. “This was great! Our eighth-grade class just finished a unit on state government,” says WVS history teacher David Castonguay. “Reading about how governments work is one thing, but listening to someone talk about their job and how it is done is more relatable.” "It was great seeing how engaged the students were as we talked about what I do and how our state government functions" says State Representative Kelly Pease About Westfield Virtual School Westfield Virtual School (WVS) is a public school that serves students in grades 6-12 in Westfield, MA. WVS follows the same curriculum and offers the same services as the in-person classrooms in Westfield. Students are provided all materials, including all technology, to work successfully from the comfort of their own home. IEP goals and 504 accommodations are supported, and credit recovery opportunities are provided for high school age students. Westfield Virtual School opens its virtual doors to any student that resides within the city of Westfield, MA and is enrolled in grades 6-12 for the 2023-2024 school year.

In three years, the Westfield High School chapter of Letters for Rose has grown to the second biggest in the nation, and the biggest in Massachusetts. The nationwide club was founded in 2020 by two high school students in Montclair, New Jersey, who couldn’t continue their volunteer visits to area nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and became concerned about the seniors starting to feel isolated. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/card-writing-club-at-westfield-high-school-grows-to-nations-2nd-largest.html

Westfield High School juniors taking statistics and biomedical classes came to Southampton Road preschool on Oct. 19 to demonstrate scientific experiments with three- and four-year-olds for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Week. Stations were set up in the school’s STEM room at the school, where the preschoolers rotated from one activity to another in small groups, with the district’s curriculum team overseeing the activities. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfield-high-school-students-teach-science-to-preschoolers-for-stem-week.html

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this week, please click on the link below. This week, we visited Highland Elementary School for STEM Week. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4-h2sdeSI

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

Three- and four-year-olds at the Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center enjoyed fall crafts at their Fall Fest on Oct. 12. According to Principal Jonathan Scagel, the school year is off to a good start, with close to 170 enrolled and a lot of peers. Fort Meadow, which is tuition-free for all students this year, offers a language based, integrated preschool program for students ranging in age from 3-5 years. Each class has a maximum enrollment of 15 children, with a goal of eight children who are typically developing, called peers, and seven who have diagnosed special learning needs. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/10/westfields-fort-meadow-preschool-launches-busy-season-with-fall-fest.html