Westfield Technical Academy

Click on the image below for more information about the 16th Annual Westfield Scout Expo being held on Saturday, November 9. Thank you!

If you missed this morning's episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Information Technology Department about careers in the field, cybersecurity, and AI (artificial intelligence) on National Techies Day. These students really know their stuff! Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3VHeuLg4fg

October is National Principals Month, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing principals who lead our schools. Their dedication, passion, and commitment shape the educational experiences of our students and foster positive school cultures. Every day, our principals inspire teachers, staff, and students to strive for their best. They navigate challenges with grace and create environments where every student can thrive. This month, join us in recognizing and thanking these remarkable leaders. To our wonderful principals, thank you for all that you do. Your leadership and tireless efforts make a profound difference. Let’s all take a moment to #ThankAPrincipal and show our appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our schools and communities.

Westfield Public Schools continues to update our school district’s comprehensive safety plan in conjunction with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments. A team of Westfield Administrators and other staff members representing every level from elementary to high school, has been working collaboratively with the Westfield Police and Fire Departments to make sure our students, staff, and families have a current, research-based, and educationally sound emergency operations plan. As part of our continued work with Westfield Police Department and our ongoing training for students and staff, our city departments working together will conduct lockdown drills in our schools the week of October 15-18 utilizing the enhanced lockdown procedures known as A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate). If you have any questions regarding our drills, please contact Mr. Christopher Rogers, Director of Operations and Safety for the Westfield Public Schools at 413-572-6495.

The Westfield Technical Academy Construction Technology Advisory Board met with department instructors on Sept. 24 to review applications for paid off-campus construction projects, and begin the selection of projects for the 2024-25 school year. The main direction for the department is the next Westfield Technical Academy Foundation student build, to follow up the house at 64 Mill St. that was completed and sold earlier this year, according to construction technology chair and head instructor Matthew Gomes. He said they are actively seeking a new opportunity to build a house with the students. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-tech-seeks-land-for-next-student-built-house-ideas-for-other-projects.html

Rain in the forecast may have stopped some people from attending the Big E on Sept. 26, as the fair only managed 48,078 admissions, far short of the pleasant-weather standard. But on Salute to Westfield Day, it couldn’t keep several city residents from making the short trip to the West Springfield fairground to see their exposition favorites, like the Avenue of States. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-residents-enjoy-food-business-sightseeing-on-citys-day-at-big-e.html

Pickleball has grown in popularity across the country, including in western Massachusetts. Now, there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “I got into it in the middle of summer, and it’s kind of a new thing for me,” said Lia O’Brien, freshman at there is a pilot program underway for the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. O’Brien has been getting the hang of pickleball. In fact, during the summer, she heard about a new pickleball league just for high schoolers in her community. Now, about a month into the school year, she is the first player to ever serve in the Western Mass. High School Pickleball League. “It’s really fun having a connection through a new sport and it’s fun to see how other people play and the competition’s fun, too,” O’Brien added. Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Technical Academy, told Western Mass News he jumped at the opportunity for his students to participate in the pilot program. “I talked to some of the kids at school during class, and they’re like. ‘Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll do it’ so we had a lot of interest and the kids really took off with it,” Dulude noted. They took off indeed. As of this moment, there are 20 kids on the team and there are three other schools involved: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, South Hadley High School, and Springfield International Charter. The games take place on the 14 pickleball courts located behind Westfield Tech, including eight new ones recently put in the town. Westfield Technical Academy Coach Ron Nadeau told Western Mass News that the main goals are to eventually make pickleball a varsity sport across the Bay state and get kids into a sport that has grown in popularity. “I’m very impressed, actually. Getting an opportunity to see other teams and how well they play or don’t play, and I think our team is doing very well. We’re off to a 2-0 record so far, so we’re hoping that we can continue success and impress our community,” Nadeau explained. The league will have games on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of October. The hope is to make a pickleball an MIAA varsity sport in the next one to three years. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/09/26/high-school-pickleball-league-make-debut-western-mass/

If you missed this yesterday's new episode of "Superintendent Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we talked with our Human Resources staff about their careers and their work in our district. We were also joined by staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program to help us recognize 'National Pancake Day'. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4CwDD1iASk

If you missed the latest "Superintendent's Spotlight" this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we talked with school nurse Liz Flaherty and Athletic Director Greg Vouros about concussions since National Concussion Awareness Day is on Friday, September 20. In this episode, we learn about symptoms, long term effects, concussion protocols in our athletic programs, and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BGXHNp4zB8

If you were unable to watch or listen to this morning's edition of "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with staff from Westfield Middle School about instruction and our instructional priority for this school year. The staff and students in Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Department also helped us celebrate 'National Chocolate Milkshake Day'. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR6sC8iDuRI

Student-athletes at Westfield Technical Academy will be among the first to compete in what may end up as Massachusetts’ next high school varsity sport. Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Tech, told the city Parks and Recreation Committee on Monday that the Tigers are among four high school sports programs in Western Massachusetts participating in a pickleball pilot program for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/09/westfield-tech-is-one-of-4-w-mass-schools-piloting-pickleball-for-miaa.html

If you missed the season premiere of Superintendent's Spotlight this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we chatted with Principal Charles Jendrysik about some of the capital projects at Westfield High School over the last year, free SAT prep classes, and more. We also celebrated National Cheese Pizza Day with staff and students from Westfield Technical Academy's Culinary Arts Program. Superintendent's Spotlight airs weekly on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on WSKB 89.5 FM, wstfieldtv.org, and WCPC TV Channel 15. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxK14ZjIGw

If you missed last week's Rock on Westfield with host Harry Rock, click on the link below. Guests Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Dargie talk with Harry about the 2024-2025 school year and more. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLyi7YDDK20

Westfield Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. Have a great long weekend! Thank you.

Westfield Public Schools is offering Free SAT Prep Courses this fall. Sessions will be held this September at both WHS and WTA. See image for more details.

To emphasize the importance of attending school, DESE's "Power of Presence" initiative asks you to submit a creative piece of artwork, music, photography, videography, writing, etc. to express why you attend school. We hope to hear from everyone:pre-K to adult students, families, school staff, educators, and administrators! Some examples include a short story about your school community, a painting of your favorite teacher, a photo of your classroom decorations, a video interview of your favorite teacher, a song you've been practicing for the school play, a testimonial about a new skill you learned - we are encouraging you to get creative! We will choose one entry to be featured this spring, highlighting you and your school community! We can't wait to see what you create and what makes your presence so powerful. This opportunity is open to all students, school staff, educators, and families in Massachusetts public pre-K-12 schools and adult learning classes. Deadline: December 20, 2024 To Submit: Complete the Entry Form (with included Media Agreement language) Attach your submission to the form. Deadline is Friday, December 20th, by 11:59 p.m. The creator of the entry that will be featured in the spring will be notified on or before January 10, 2025. https://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/attendance/?utm_source=DA-Commissioner%27s+Weekly+Update&utm_campaign=bcd0ba25fc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_08_26_08_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bcd0ba25fc-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

For the first time, Westfield’s public high schools are offering a free SAT prep course through a collaboration with Westfield State University, Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy. The classes will be offered in person at both high schools. “This is a shared commitment to look at post-graduation options families have. Colleges are certainly one of them. This will help level the playing field,” said Human Resources Director Michael Morris, adding, “This is an important test for people who want that option.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/08/westfield-high-schools-to-offer-free-sat-prep-classes-with-help-from-university.html

Elm Electrical hosted a co-op signing day on Aug. 20 at its training facility at 21 Cycle St., Westfield. The event brought together new hires, their families, company leaders and community partners to formally welcome three former co-op students to the Elm Electrical team. Dylan Morgan and Rudy Charland, 2024 graduates from Westfield Technical Academy, and Israel Vargas from Chicopee Comprehensive High School were the guests of honor. All three were joined by proud parents, teachers and administrators at the event. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/08/elm-electrical-hosts-signing-day-for-former-co-op-students-beginning-careers.html

Thank you to St Joseph’s Church for their donation of school supplies. These supplies will be distributed to our refugee and McKinney Vinto families

Westfield Public Schools is pleased to announce FREE SAT Preparation classes this fall for students at Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy. Please click on the image for sign up information. Thank you!