An amendment to the fiscal 2023 state budget filed by state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, earmarking $1 million for Westfield High School improvements and upgrades, will be used for science labs, tennis courts and security.
According to Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, upgrading the science labs in the high school will be the first priority of the funds. In recent years, the school had repaired the water, drains and electricity in the labs, but this earmark will allow it to purchase new equipment, new lab tables and chairs and replace the exhaust hoods. He said Science and Technology Supervisor Lauren Cadigan currently has the work out to bid.
The district will also use the funding to replace the remaining original exterior doors on the school and to enhance the security at the front entrance.
Also, $50,000 of the funding will be used to recondition the exterior tennis courts.
“We are very appreciative of Sen. Velis’ efforts on behalf of Westfield High School,” Czaporowski said. “This funding really could not have come at a better time. With it, we will be able to address some top priorities including updating our science classrooms. We would like to thank Senator Velis for his continued support of the Westfield public schools.”
“Every student should have the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment conducive to their education and personal development. With the amendment that I filed in the FY23 budget, Westfield High School will be able to make much-needed improvements to the high school building and grounds,” Velis said.
“I am beyond appreciative of Sen. Velis’ continued support of Westfield High School,” said WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik. “His efforts and regular presence in our school help to make WHS a special place. This funding will help to ensure student safety, as well as enhance the educational learning environment and athletic programs for Westfield High School.”
An additional $5,000 earmark was also adopted for the WHS Student Community Closet. The Community Closet provides clothing and outerwear for whoever needs it, no questions asked.
Both earmarks were included in the state budget that passed both houses of the Legislature on July 18. Gov. Charlie Baker has until Thursday to make line-item vetoes to the budget, though legislators could override his vetoes.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/07/sen-velis-1m-earmark-to-update-westfield-high-school-science-labs-tennis-courts-security.html
Westfield Public School’s Curriculum Director Susan Dargie is excited about the optional curriculum summit for teachers in the district scheduled for Aug. 22-24 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Westfield High School.
“This is our fifth annual curriculum summit, and 120 teachers have signed up, including new teachers before new teacher orientation; that is twice as many as last year,” Dargie said.
Dargie said the main event featured at the summit will be a preview of the new English-language arts curriculum that the district is implementing in kindergarten through 12th grade. She said there will be regular training on the new curriculum throughout the year, but this will be a first look.
Among other options being offered at the summit, for kindergarten to seventh grade, is a section on integrating civics instruction into classroom principles, morning meetings, problem solving, classroom rules, and interdisciplinary connections, taught by consultant Kelley Brown.
District teachers Lindsey Ayers and Lauren Figy Cadigan will lead a section on Project Lead the Way, offering support to teachers trained in the program, and also a short session for kindergarten to fourth grade teachers to see the future of science instruction in the district.
There will also be grade-level sessions on Into Reading; grade-specific training in StudySync, and an iReady math specialist will provide personalized instructions and diagnostic assessment.
Dargie said some teachers will do two days English-language arts training at the summit, and on the third day, on their own or with colleagues, get a jump start on unit planning using curriculum maps, which she said are also very helpful for new teachers. Linda Jordan, of the International Center for Leadership in Education who has been working with the district on curriculum mapping, will also offer support.
Dargie said the curriculum summit is optional; but teachers do get paid their contract rate. She said the district offers a lot of opportunities for training over the summer.
There is also professional development offered to teachers on the first few days of school. The first day of school for new teachers is Aug. 26. Professional development for all teachers is offered on Aug. 27 and 29.
The first day of school for first through 12th grades is Aug. 30, and the first day of school for preschool and kindergarten is on Sept. 6.
“It’s pretty exciting that 120 people are willing to give up three days before school starts to participate in this training,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/07/twice-as-many-teachers-have-already-signed-up-for-westfield-curriculum-summit.html
The Westfield Extended School Year Summer Program, located in the Westfield Middle School, will be dismissing students at an earlier time of 11:00am this Wednesday and Thursday due to expected excessive heat and humidity. Students will receive their bagged lunch and transportation will be coordinated for the earlier release. The Fort Meadow and Transition programs will be dismissed at their regular times. Please contact Jon Scagel, Summer School Coordinator, with any questions. jonathan.scagel@schoolsofwestfield.org.
Need Support Now?
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
Manufacturing technology head instructor Ron Nadeau and Career Technical Education Director Peter Taloumis met in the manufacturing shop at Westfield Technical Academy on July 12 for the arrival of new equipment purchased with a Skills Capital Grant of $246,306 that was awarded in the spring.
The purchases will incorporate computer numerical control (CNC) technology into all the milling machines on the underclassmen (grades 9-10) side, and advanced CNC technology in all of the milling machines on the upperclassmen side, upgrading them from EMX controls to new PhotoTrac KMX controls. Also purchased were three new bandsaws, a VMC2 CNC milling machine, and new TouchView 4K interactive displays for the computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory, among other items.
Students in manufacturing tech begin training halfway through their freshman year. They are introduced to the equipment in their sophomore year, and by halfway through their junior year they learn the CNC, and how to fully set up CNC machines.
“We can do [the work] manually or controlled by a computer,” Nadeau said. He said businesses with a tool room application still do things more manually, and CNC is used more for mass production.
The goals of the shop are directed by the advisory committee made up of industry professionals, according to Nadeau.
“That is the beauty of this style of teaching,” he said.
Taloumis said the juniors and seniors in the program are 100% employed, and at their jobs use both manual and CNC technology.
Also purchased were new interactive 4K TouchView displays for the CAD laboratory. Two years ago, the school upgraded the computers in the lab through a Perkins grant of $250,000. Nadeau said the CAD lab uses standalone equipment, because the software is too technically demanding to run on the Chromebook computers that students use in their other classes.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/07/state-grant-nets-250k-in-equipment-for-westfield-technical-academy-manufacturing-shop.html
Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Westfield Public Schools!
The Westfield Foundation for Education is back.
The nonprofit, which came close to closing down during the COVID-19 pandemic, has a new director, new board, and a Pocketbook Bingo fundraiser planned for this October.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/06/westfield-foundation-for-education-returns-with-new-board-and-fall-fundraising.html
The Westfield High School softball team won several games this season with a thunderous offensive attack. On Saturday, the Bombers won the championship title with a high-voltage battery.
Westfield freshman pitcher Shea Hurley scattered five hits and two walks, while striking out five batters, and junior catcher Kenzie Raymond went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and two RBIs as the fourth-seeded Bombers defeated No. 2 Tewksbury 3-1 in the Division 2 softball state finals Saturday at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Sortino Field. Congratulations!
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/06/westfields-1-2-punch-leads-no-4-bombers-to-d2-softball-state-championship-title-over-no-tewksbury-3-1.html
The Astronomy Club at Westfield Middle School, founded by eighth grader Katelynn Goulette, received a boost this week from the Westfield Gas & Electric and Whip City Fiber in the form of a $500 donation to purchase a telescope for the school library.
The telescope, a modified telescope that is hard to break, will be available for student checkout from the library.
WG&E General Manager Thomas Flaherty said this has been a huge year for them in working with the schools. WG&E also provided judges for the Westfield High School Science Fair and previously donated a 3D printer to the Westfield Middle School.
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week, Superintendent Czaporowski and WTA Assistant Principal Kevin Daley had the pleasure of interviewing State Senator John Velis. Thanks for listening and watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdJnRBu-yAo
During the week of June 6, elementary schools in Westfield participated in Career Week, when parents and community volunteers visited classrooms to talk to the students about the work they do, and the different careers that could be available to them.
On the morning of June 8 at Franklin Avenue Elementary School, students heard from a nurse, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, and Senator John Velis.
Retired nurse Betty Esposito, who also mentors a kindergarten student in the school, spoke to the kindergarten classes about how to become a nurse.
Esposito started by saying she wanted to see their smiles. She described herself as a grandmother of four, the youngest of whom is five years old.
“We’re going to talk about what I did for 50 years,” she said, putting on a nurse’s cap that she received when she graduated, and showing them her stethoscope. She said both men and women become nurses, and asked the students if any of them have family members who are nurses. Half a dozen children raised their hands, and talked about their mothers, aunts and grandparents who are nurses.
Esposito said as a nurse she worked both in a hospital and also as a visiting nurse.
“I really enjoyed that,” she said. “I got to meet families, the dog in the house and the cat in the house.”
She then read the book, “My Mommy is a Nurse,” that was written by four nurses. Afterwards, she donated the book to the classroom.
Tune in Thursday morning, June 16, to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC Channel 15, or westfieldtv.org from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. for the season finale of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will be talking with State Senator John Velis about all things Westfield. Join us if you can! Thanks for listening and watching!
The Westfield and Greater New Bedford boys' volleyball teams met in the Division 2 state semifinals, but it appeared that the Bombers were operating at a whole other level.
No. 3 Westfield racked up its 21st sweep of the season, storming past No. 2 Greater New Bedford in three straight sets Monday night, 25-16, 25-14, 25-23, at North High School in Worcester. The Bombers advance to the finals where they will meet top-seeded North Quincy. The game will be played Wednesday at Worcester North at 6:30 p.m. Go Bombers!
All WPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022, for the Juneteenth Holiday. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, June 21. Thank you.
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked all about Franklin Avenue Elementary School and community partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club and Westfield State University's Education Department. Thanks for listening and watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd2ZB3iRdaI
Tune in Thursday morning, June 9, to WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC Channel 15, or westfieldtv.org from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. for "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we will be talking all about Franklin Avenue Elementary School with Principal Chris Tolpa. Join us if you can! Thanks for listening and watching!
Gregory Miller, a lifelong resident and longtime educator in Westfield, has been named the new principal of the Westfield Intermediate School. He will replace current principal Katherine Bourque, who will move to the central office to become the new director of human resources beginning July 1.
“After reviewing the feedback from stakeholders, including students, staff, parents, and community members, Mr. Miller was the overwhelming choice to be the next principal at Westfield Intermediate School. Mr. Miller knows the school, students, and the district and we are fortunate that he is willing to step into his new role,” said School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
No. 13 Westfield rallies for walk-off win over No. 20 Nauset in Division 2 baseball Round of 32 state tournament game, 5-4
Late in Monday’s Division 2 baseball Round of 32 state tournament game, it looked as if Nauset starting pitcher Max Dio was about to slam the door shut on Westfield High School in more ways than one.
Dio launched a grand slam over the left field fence at Bullens Field in the fourth inning and then attempted to finish what he started on the mound ... until Westfield mounted a comeback. The 13th seeded Bombers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a 5-4 walkoff win over No. 20 Nauset.
Westfield would not come up empty-handed again, staging its pulse-pounding finish. The Bombers advanced to the “Sweet 16″ and will now travel to No. 4 North Attleboro for the next round.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/06/no-13-westfield-rallies-for-walk-off-win-over-no-20-nauset-in-division-2-baseball-round-of-32-state-tournament-game-5-4.html
Join us tonight from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Westfield Intermediate School for a meet and greet with the two finalists to be the next Principal of WIS. We hope to see you there!
Westfield Technical Academy hosted its 2022 National Technical Honor Society Ceremony on May 25 at the school. Principal Joseph Langone was the speaker.
Certified math teacher Susan Markowski, NTHS adviser at the school, led the candlelight ceremony with assistance from students Delaney Kukucka, Taylor Parker, Alla Petrovych, Katelynn Pellegrini, Allison Guarente, Alexina Lansing and Joshua Sturmer.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/05/westfield-technical-academy-announces-national-technical-honor-society-inductees.html
