There will be no school for students starting Monday, December 26, 2022 - Monday, January 2, 2023, for the Holiday Recess. Schools will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Happy Holidays from all of us in the Westfield Public Schools!
Please click on the images below to read the second District Quarterly Newsletter of this school year. Happy Holidays from all of us in the Westfield Public Schools!
The Westfield Public Schools saw the Food Pantry's request for help and quickly created a "festive dress down day" to raise some money. All the schools and administration combined raised $1,089 for the pantry and had some fun while doing it. Here are a few pictures from the Intermediate school.
Mrs. Thielen's third grade class is collecting non-perishable food items for our Westfield Food Pantry. This idea was inspired by their economics unit learning about "wants vs needs." Items were collected at our Franklin Family Holiday Party and will continue to be collected during our holiday concerts on Tuesday, December 20. All donations will be brought to the Food Pantry this week. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for giving so generously.
Designers of Westfield’s planned new elementary school were far enough along to talk about color palettes and interior design at a Dec. 8 building committee meeting.
Architect Bert Gardner of Caolo and Bieniek Associates presented up-to-date drawings of the interior finishes of the school, highlighting aspects of the design, which is considered 90% complete.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/12/decor-of-new-elementary-school-will-reflect-westfields-natural-features-history.html
Just a reminder that our Franklin Family Holiday Party will be held Friday, December 9. Please drop by between 6:30 - 8 p.m. to say hello and partake in cookie decorating, crafts, and a whole lot of fun. Please make sure your child has turned in his/her "count slip" that went home last week so PTO has an accurate count for attendance.
Math Game Night at Franklin Avenue! Come join us in making and playing fun math games with Ms. Pighetti and Ms. Vadnais on Tuesday, 11/29/22, from 6-7 p.m. Walk away with with new games and new ideas on how to make learning fun for the whole family. All Franklin Families are welcome.
Franklin Avenue Elementary School celebrated the spirit of giving thanks this week before the school closed for the holiday, said Principal Chris Tolpa.
Students in Jennifer Thielen’s third grade class made “turkeygrams” for the staff to express their gratitude for their work, and then walked the halls delivering their messages personally.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/students-at-franklin-ave-school-in-westfield-celebrate-spirit-of-giving-thanks.html
If you missed last week's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. In this episode, our District Instructional Leadership Team explains our Multi-Tiered System of student Support. We also recognized National Play Monopoly Day. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Owb4DOsO4Y
The Westfield School Department’s Thanksgiving meal drive went into overdrive this year, with co-chairs Sue and Ralph Figy and Eileen and Jimmy Jachym ordering and delivering turkeys and all the fixings to a record-breaking 230 families this year, 80 more than anticipated.
Ralph Figy said the district coordinated with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, which is providing 100 meals for area families. The school volunteers put together 230 meals, so that between them 330 families would receive meals.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/11/thanksgiving-effort-goes-into-overdrive-to-help-families-in-westfield.html
Share the Warmth Coat drive is ON!
From now until Dec. 14th, visit any of our participating members locations to make a donation to benefit Westfield Public School students.
Franklin Avenue PTO Meeting Tonight at 6 p.m. Please use the following link:
https://meet.google.com/geu-yepb-wjy?hs=224
We will be making final plans for our December 9 Franklin Family celebration that will take place from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Hope you can support us in this school community event.
With the weather turning cold and stormy this week, School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski is getting ready for another season of deciding when to call a snow day.
It is not a call that he makes by himself, however.
“We look at the weather forecast, which is a pretty good guide, although not always 100% accurate,” he said. “We check with the Maintenance Department, the Westfield Police Department, [school Transportation Director] Pam Kortarski, who checks with the bus company, and area superintendents,” Czaporowski said. ”We try to make the call as early as possible to not inconvenience families.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/many-factors-influence-snow-day-call-westfield-school-superintendent-says.html
Tune in this Thursday, November 17, 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 are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Education, and our Director of Assessment and Accountability about our Multi-Tiered system of Support. Thanks for watching!
Our Franklin PTO is holding a Dine to Donate at the Maple Leaf on Tuesday, November 15. 15% of the total bill will go directly to support our PTO. The PTO has many exciting events planned this year, including our Family Holiday Gathering on December 9 @ 6:30 in our gymnasium. What an easy and fun way to support Franklin Avenue.
The newest thrift shop downtown, Blessed Buys, has expanded its offerings and has made the decision to donate a portion of its profits during the holidays to families in need with children at Abner Gibbs and Franklin Avenue elementary schools.
Blessed Buys volunteer Cindy Gaylord said that the shop had been exploring how to help charities and causes in Westfield that may not get as much attention as some more prominent ones, like the soup kitchen and food pantry. Instead of donating to a specific charity, they decided on giving directly to families in need.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/11/congregational-church-thrift-store-will-donate-some-profits-to-school-families.html
Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, for the observance of Veterans Day. Thank you.
Tune in this Thursday, November 10, 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 are talking with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction and our Substance Abuse Counselors about the results of our youth risk survey that administered last spring. Thanks for watching!
PTO MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, 11/9. Please join us by using this link: https://meet.google.com/bfx-tbvj-emp?hs=224 We will discuss our Maple Leaf Dine in Fundraiser, our Holiday Family Event, and a student program for the spring, Birds of Prey. Thanks for supporting our Franklin PTO.
Picture retakes have been rescheduled to November 22. If you plan on having your child's picture retaken, please be sure to fill out the documents on-line before this date.