Westfield Public Schools

All kids ages 4-12 are welcome to participate in POP Club, a fun, free program that encourages kids to discover the abundance of fresh local produce at the market. Kids exercise their own buying power while exploring the market, trying new fruits and vegetables, learning about where their food comes from, and participating in weekly activities. How POP Club works: Sign up at the POP Tent on any Thursday between June 6th - August 22nd. Each time kids attend the market, they receive $2 in POP Bucks to spend on fruits, vegetables, or seedlings at the market. Kids can choose between spending their POP bucks or saving them for a larger produce item. Kids can participate in weekly activities like planting seeds, learning about pollinators, movement activities, and more. https://www.farmersmarketwestfield.org/pop-club-for-kids/

The weather was beautiful for the Westfield Middle School Arbor Day ceremony on April 26, and the planting of the first of 50 trees on the school’s campus, donated by the Greening the Gateway Cities program. During his remarks at the ceremony before a tulip tree was planted in the front of the school, Principal Jesse McMillan said the project started when he was speaking to School Committee member Kathleen Hillman last fall about ways to enhance the school property. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-middle-school-plants-1st-of-50-trees-on-campus-at-arbor-day-ceremony.html

If you missed yesterday's episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week we talked with Westfield Middle School staff and students about Arbor Day, the Westfield Middle School Band, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8YXR5IKV-A

If it seems like the Westfield High School baseball team had another big game to play, that’s because they did. Westfield beat another quality opponent Thursday, shutting out Pope Francis on the road 7-0. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/josh-wagner-nick-lenfest-help-westfield-silence-pope-francis-7-0.html

Sarat Ford Lincoln in Agawam has donated a brand-new Ford Mustang GT convertible to help students at Westfield Technical Academy learn the automotive industry. “It’s really cool. It’s going to be awesome for us to look at it and work on it. It’s just going to be amazing,” said Junior Nicholas Platt. The 2024 Mustang GT contains lots of new technology that will help these students learn what comes inside a new vehicle. “It has all the new technology that all the new cars coming out now have. Everything is electronic. It’s got modems, it’s remote. They’re awesome,” said Jeff Sarat of Sarat Ford Lincoln. “To have a car that’s this modern with all the computers, sensors, it’s going to open up a huge door for advanced diagnostics for our students,” said Dustin Raney, Head of the Automotive Technology Department. Right now, there is an automotive tech shortage. The partnership between Sarat and the school helps train the next generation of auto workers and get them started in careers as soon as possible. “Our primary goal is to create a student that we can send out into the industry that’s going to succeed well in a beginner’s role, said Raney. “I want to work on cars as a living. I want to possibly own my own shop, but if not, just work for another shop. This is what I want to do. This is why I’m here. I get to work on cars every day and it’s amazing,” said Platt. The car will be on display at the upcoming WTA Motorsports Club car show on May 18th at Chauncey Allen Park in Westfield. https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/sarat-ford-lincoln-donates-2024-mustang-gt-to-westfield-technical-academy/

Members of the community are invited to immerse themselves in the work of talented art students of all ages adorning the walls of Westfield High School at “Into the Arts” Saturday, April 27, and then gather in the gym and enjoy student musicians from elementary to high school perform in “Bandtastic.” Artwork by students in second and fourth grades on up will be on display from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. throughout the school, and at 1 p.m. in the gym, musicians from elementary, intermediate, middle and both high schools will be showcased. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-student-artists-musicians-getting-ready-for-combined-showcase.html

The Westfield High School baseball team found the solution to ending to their first losing streak of the season. His name is Colin Cusack. Westfield senior pitcher Colin Cusack scattered five hits, two walks, and two runs, striking out four over seven innings; and the Bombers played a bit of small ball to defeat rival Pittsfield 5-2 Tuesday at Bullens Field. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/colin-cusack-westfield-turn-back-rival-pittsfield-5-2.html

The USS MASSACHUSETTS is scheduled for commissioning in 2025. As part of this event, the Commissioning Committee invites middle and high school students within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to participate in a essay contest. Twelve winners will be awarded, invited to the commissioning ceremony in Boston, MA, have their essays framed and permanently installed within the submarine and will be invited to the post reception ceremony. Clink on the link below for more information. Follow the rules and guidelines and submit your essay before 15 June 2024. https://www.ussmassachusetts.org/essay

While some students were taking a break from school during April vacation week, others were having fun in school, playing math games with cards and legos, building bridges (literally, with popsicle sticks) and winning raffle prizes at lunchtime during the Math Acceleration Academy and the Newcomers Academy held at Westfield Middle School and Highland Elementary. The academies are run through grants from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for students in third through 10th grades. The programs for third and fourth graders are held at Highland, under the supervision of Westfield Intermediate School Vice Principal Rena Piper. A total of 75 students enrolled in the Math Academy at WMS, and 105 at Highland. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/students-have-fun-in-school-during-spring-break.html

Don’t miss this week’s match as Westfield High School goes up against Rockville High School on the campus of Westfield State University this Saturday at 7pm, only on New England Public Media!

After a process that included a survey of the school community on desired characteristics of a principal and written feedback on meetings with finalists, Westfield Public Schools has announced that Michael Atkins has been offered and accepted the role of principal of Paper Mill Elementary School. He will start on July 1. Atkins is currently principal of Mittineague Elementary School in West Springfield. Prior to this role, he was an assistant principal in West Springfield for seven years and an elementary classroom teacher for 14 years. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-hires-new-principal-for-paper-mill-elementary.html

Aniyah Bailey delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the defending Division 1 state champion Taunton High School softball team to a dramatic 4-3 victory Wednesday, handing Westfield its first loss of the season. It was a game worth remembering though for one Bomber. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley celebrated her 500th career strikeout, striking out 14 Taunton batters. She entered the game needing just 10 Ks to reach that hallowed milestone. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/bombers-pitcher-celebrates-milestone-lauded-for-effort-in-extra-inning-loss.html

If you missed last Thursday's "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. Last week, we talked about our new full day preschool programming. Staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program also helped us to celebrate National Poutine Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAWv8zpSHqM

The Westfield High School baseball team did not take the holiday off to rest on their laurels. Instead, the Bombers kicked off a five-game homestand on Patriots’ Day with their fifth straight win to begin the season. Westfield sophomore Josh Wagner tossed a one-hitter, striking out nine batters in an 11-1, mercy-shortened win over Agawam early Monday afternoon at Bullens Field. The Bombers exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/josh-wagners-one-hitter-westfield-baseballs-10-run-first-inning-culminate-in-teams-fifth-straight-win.html

At an Arbor Day ceremony at the Westfield Middle School on April 26, a tree will be planted to kick off the school’s collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Over 50 trees, one of the largest projects to date of the DCR’s Greening the Gateway Cities program in Westfield, will be planted around the entire perimeter of the school. WMS Principal Jesse McMillan said the goal is to increase curb appeal at the school. The trees that will be planted are a mix of large and small shade trees, urban tolerant, long-lived, and many are native and have ornamental features, with the more decorative trees planted in the front of the school. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/middle-school-to-get-50-trees-in-state-program.html

Aidan Layng of Westfield, a senior in cabinetmaking at Westfield Technical Academy, has been named the school’s Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year. In addition to being in the inaugural group of students in the cabinetmaking program, he serves on the shop’s advisory board, is on co-op at Wright Architectural Millwork in Northampton as a cabinet maker, and is a co-founder in Wright Architectural’s new training program for high school students. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-tech-honored-student-builds-experience-in-trade-college-leadership.html

Four hundred seniors and juniors from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, Southwick Regional School, St. Mary’s High School, Smith Academy, White Oak School, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative and Gateway Regional High School gathered in two sessions on April 3 at the Credit for Life Fair at Westfield High School for an exercise in “real-world” finances from experts in the field. When they entered the gym, students could either choose or were randomly assigned a profession, a likely salary and a credit score, which they had to display on a tag hanging around their necks. “A lot of them are given really terrible credit scores. For the first stop, they can take a quiz to increase their credit scores. They’re also offered a credit card,” Taylor said. At the “Credit” booth, they get advice on how to maintain a good score, including not ever missing a payment. She said the students are surprised that even prospective landlords will look at their credit scores. Students are also tempted by broadcasted announcements from the “Fun, Fun, Fun” booth to go on vacations and purchase other extras. She said at the end, they returned to the Credit booth to see what “trouble-trouble” they got into. “The goal is to give students some education on what it’s like in the real world, and to learn prices, such as for cell phones. It’s not just about buying a car and expenses. At the ‘Part-time Job’ booth, they go on an actual interview for the job,” Taylor said. Westfield High School senior Milana Camilleri said she was supposed to be 25 years old and a medical resident, with a lot of debt. “I have to be frugal. I’m trying to figure out how to boost my credit score and plan for when I become a doctor,” she said. Wunnyuriti Ziblim, an environmental engineer, said he had gotten an additional part-time job as a math tutor to help pay his bills. Susan Borsella, financial literacy teacher at Gateway, brought 25 seniors to Credit for Life in the Huntington school’s first year participating. “This is it, they’re seniors on the edge of being adults. Most of them are walking around saying, ‘I’m broke already.’ They’re all getting jobs.” Borsella, whose class teaches students how to write checks, the difference between banks and credit unions, loans and credit cards, and hourly and salary wages, said a lot of what she teaches is out of her own experience and mistakes. Gateway seniors Abigail Madru and Kai Rahilly were finding the exercise worthwhile. They had just bought phones and a streaming service at the “Multimedia” Booth from Al Lieb of Otis Ridge. “It’s really fun and useful to help kids see how much they actually have to spend,” said Rahilly. “It’s really valuable to go through this before going through it in the real world,” Madru said, adding, “It’s a shock to go from having to pay for nothing to buying a car.” Kate Perez, math supervisor for Westfield Public Schools, said the fair is put on by Western Mass Credit for Life, which raises funds throughout the year to pay for it. Sponsors include MassHousing, Berkshire Bank, Bank ESB, Polish National, Westfield Bank and Westfield Gas & Electric. Volunteers also came from the Westfield Education to Business Alliance, and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/credit-fair-teaches-greater-westfield-teens-to-bal/

Southampton Road Elementary School students will get active and get moving today’s “Fun Run,” an event where they will spend a class period outdoors running from station to station, doing various activities like sports and relay races. The event is a collaboration between the school and four Westfield State University students who are minoring in coaching. “I am very excited,” said physical education teacher Kate Bust. “I love partnering with people in the community and having some young Westfield State University students come is going to be really motivating for the students.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-state-university-students-to-help-elementary-pupils-get-moving-today.html

It’s tough enough that the Westfield High School softball team has all of Western Massachusetts gunning for them as winners of three straight Western Massachusetts crowns. On Thursday, the Bombers were tasked with overcoming two opposing forces. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley tossed a two-hitter, striking out nine batters in defeating Pittsfield – and the rain – 3-2 at home. Hurley walked four and hit two by pitch with intermittent showers raining down on the field. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/shea-hurley-westfield-softball-hold-off-pittsfield-for-3-2-victory.html

The Westfield High School softball team is just two games into the 2024 season, but it appears the three-time defending Western Massachusetts champion Bombers already have that look. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley already appears to be in mid-season form, throwing a perfect game and striking out 14 batters in Tuesday’s 22-0, mercy-shortened shutout of Longmeadow at home. The Bombers exploded for 22 runs over just four innings. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-softball-begins-title-defense-with-pair-of-shutout-victories.html