Tune in on Thursday, March 2 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, Band Director Pat Kennedy stops by to talk about the 70th POPS concert at Westfield High School. We also talk with our School Business Administrator and Director of Transportation about the district budget and school transportation. Thanks for watching!
Families, educators, school leaders, and public education advocates across the country are joining together in celebrating public schools, Feb. 27–Mar. 3; a week designated to highlight and show support for our local public schools.
Public Schools Week 2023 (#PSW23) is part of a larger campaign—#HerefortheKids—one that brings together families, educators, and community members to shine a light on local public schools and share the stories of the positive things happening in classrooms and school buildings nationwide. The teaching and learning in our local K-12 public schools positively impacts students and families, the neighborhoods, and communities they live in, and our nation as a whole. With commitment, creativity, and critical thinking, educators and school leaders continue to provide welcoming and engaging learning opportunities for our children.
#Hereforthe Kids #AchievingExcellenceTogether
Next week is Winter Vacation! There is no school for students starting Monday, February 20 through Friday, February 24. Students return to school on Monday, February 27. Have fun and be safe! Thank you.
THE YOU ROCK AWARD
Each month, the faculty and staff give out the YOU ROCK AWARD! For the month of February we have two deserving recipients. Mrs. Sindhu Sharma and Mrs. Kim Kozik will receive the award! Mrs. Sharma and Mrs. Kozik continually go above and beyond in many areas and have been incredibly selfless when it comes to students and coworkers. At Fort Meadow, Mrs. Sharma and Mrs. Kozik are ALL IN!
Close to 100 families attended the Westfield School Department’s Countdown to Kindergarten event on Feb. 8 to kick off kindergarten registration for the fall. The event is a collaboration with Westfield’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant and coordinator Paula Hebert-Pike.
Families that attended were given an opportunity to meet the principals and staff from the city’s elementary schools, learn about the district’s literacy and STEM initiatives, all about school transportation, and to see sample school lunch menus. All attendees received kindergarten goody bags and tips about getting their children ready to start school.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/02/nearly-100-families-attend-westfield-kindergarten-registration-fair.html
The registration portal for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year is now open. Please visit the Westfield Public Schools website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org for more information. Thank you!
For the first time in three years, Into the Arts is BACK!
We are excited to share that this celebration of all the arts in Westfield Public Schools will return this April 28th and 29th!
February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week. This celebration is intended to highlight the impact that school counselors provide through their work in helping students succeed. Counselors focus on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development. They are a valuable part of our educational team. They support students, teachers, and parents by helping to create more positive school experiences for our students. Fort Meadow is proud to recognize our amazing school adjustment counselor, Alyson Reid! Thank you for all you do!
Five veteran teachers and one teacher new to the profession were named 2023 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award winners in Westfield this week. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski surprised the winners at their schools on Feb. 7.
Winners have demonstrated exemplary teaching practices and have had a strong impact on their students; they’ve inspired and motivated others, engaged their students’ families, and gone above and beyond in the classroom and school community.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/02/westfield-superintendent-surprises-6-educators-with-excellence-in-teaching-award.html
Winter STEM Day here at Fort Meadow. Special thanks to Ms. Ayers, Ms. O'Sullivan, and Mr. Dargie and his Westfield High School students for helping us!
If you weren't able to catch the latest episode on "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, click on the link below. This week we talked with our Registration Team about our Countdown to Kindergarten Registration Event being held on Wednesday, February 8, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Westfield Middle School. We also looked into the history and tradition of Groundhog Day. Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Find out midway through our show. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB1CiRe8rzM
Tune in on Thursday, February 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, WCPC cable channel 15, or westfieldtv.org for the next episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week we will be talking with our Central Registration Team all about our Countdown to Kindergarten Event being held on February 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Westfield Middle School. We will also be following Punxsutawney Phil for Groundhog Day. Thanks for watching!
ATTENTION ALL AREA EMPLOYERS
Sign up for our annual Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) Career Expo and Job Fair sponsored by Westfield Public Schools, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, Mass Hire, and Westfield State University. Engage in conversations with our students about careers and industries and recruit local students for internships and job opportunities. This is a FREE event that will be attended by over 500 local high school students. Scan the QR code or click on the link below to be a part of this yearly event and meet employees of the future. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 10. Thank you for your support!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd82tz-vb-5UK9rRUPvmmz3fTMkEPWZAYABB0JtEea0d55Vew/viewform
Westfield Public Schools will have an early release day on Wednesday, January 25, due to the predicted snowfall in the afternoon.
High Schools will dismiss at 11:00 a.m., Middle, Intermediate, and Virtual Schools at 11:30 a.m., Elementary Schools and Southampton Road Preschool Program at 12:15 p.m. Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center will be closed.
The Westfield YMCA after school care program is also cancelled.
Please drive safely.
Please click on the link to read the Fort Meadow January Newsletter. Thank you.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f9a0cf89-3a09-3085-97f6-c28d70a08d32
The city granted $500,000 it received from the federal government in the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, to fuel assistance and food security programs.
The Greater Westfield Food Pantry will get $200,000 over four years, the city said Monday in a news release. The Food Pantry provides groceries to approximately 1,200 people per month, with 51% of those clients being children and 14% being elderly.
The city also gave Valley Opportunity Council $300,000 to expand home heating assistance programs. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP — funded by the state and federal governments provides up to $1,319 per household to assist with heating costs incurred from November through April.
The Westfield Food Pantry is at 101 Meadow St. For additional information on receiving food assistance, please call 413-572-0802 or visit its website at www.westfieldfoodpantry.org.
For questions related to the Westfield Fuel Assistance Program, residents should call the Valley Opportunity Council Welcome Center at 413-534-2466 or email Jessica at jking@valleyopp.com.
https://www.masslive.com/business/2023/01/westfield-gives-500000-in-arpa-money-to-food-heating-programs.html
Mrs. Turgeon's classroom is busy making beautiful ice castles!
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is inviting students, parents, education professionals, and community members to participate in a survey that will provide feedback on the MCAS program and help inform improvements. The Department is seeking stakeholders’ input in several areas, including communications and support, data and reporting, and release of test questions. The survey will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27. Please contact mcas@doe.mass.edu with any questions.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7072286/Future-Directions-MCAS-General-Survey
Behavioral Health Network Inc., which merged with the Carson Center eight years ago, has opened a new BHN WellBeing Center with expanded hours, expanded service, and walk-in care in its offices at 77 Mill St. in Westfield.
The BHN WellBeing Center, along with one that opened at 417 Liberty St. in Springfield, are part of a statewide network of Community Behavioral Health Centers, or CBHCs, and are intended to shorten wait times for individuals seeking behavioral health treatment with MassHealth and Health New England insurances.
The hours for walk-in care at both locations are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those seeking care can also call 413-301-WELL (413-301-9355) to be connected to services or visit bhninc.org for more information.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/01/walk-in-behavioral-health-care-clinic-opens-in-westfield.html
Families of next year’s kindergarten class are encouraged to attend the Countdown to Kindergarten on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Westfield Middle School cafeteria at 30 W. Silver St., Westfield. The event begins at 6 p.m. but families can drop in anytime until 7:30 p.m. The snow date is Feb. 15.
“We’re really trying to get the word out,” said Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/01/westfield-schools-will-make-kindergarten-registration-a-family-fun-event.html