Westfield Technical Academy

Nathan Sperry, head instructor of the horticulture shop at Westfield Technical Academy, said on May 10 that the annual spring plant sale was wrapping up, and he expected to close at 2 p.m., a few hours earlier than advertised. “We sold a lot of plants,” Sperry said. He said there was a huge crowd on May 7, the first day of the sale, and business had been steady since. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/05/despite-construction-customers-flock-to-westfield-techs-annual-plant-sale.html

Students in Westfield Technical Academy's TV/Radio Broadcasting Program visited the studios of Western Mass News last Thursday. Western Mass News staff remarked that our students had excellent questions and were one of the best groups to visit their studios yet. Special thanks to Western Mass News for hosting our students and to Instructor Steve Forni for arranging this valuable field trip for our students. #authenticlearning #AchievingExcellenceTogether

If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight" yesterday, please click on the link below. This week, we talked with Westfield Technical Academy Substance Abuse Counselor Kristine Hupfer and Westfield, MA High School Adjustment Counselor Carrie Fiordalice about student mental health on National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NksJZsQmko

At the ribbon cutting for the new home at 64 Mill St. built by students of Westfield Technical Academy, Matthew Gomes, head of the construction technology department, took a few minutes to acknowledge the hard work of students in the construction technology, electrical wiring and horticulture technology departments. He also acknowledged the vision of Westfield Technical Academy Foundation, the Polish National Credit Union for funding the loan at 0% interest, and the multiple other sponsors who donated thousands of dollars of materials and financial support, for making the project possible. “It’s been an incredible journey,” said Gomes. He said students were on site for the land survey, excavation and concrete foundation, framed every bit of the entire house, and installed the windows and siding. He said students formed and placed the concrete sidewalk and driveway. Students installed the finishes and millwork after watching the insulation and drywall come together. Students in the newly approved Chapter 74 cabinetmaking program planned, fabricated and installed all of the cabinetry and custom millwork in the house, including all of the kitchen cabinetry, bathroom vanities and mudroom. The electrical wiring students completed all the electrical work, and horticulture technology students designed and installed the hardscape and landscape, bringing the exterior to another level with the patio, walkway and plantings not typically found in a new home construction. “The experience of building a house from start to finish cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting back at the school,” Gomes said. Gomes said the project would not have been possible without the support of the Westfield Technical Academy Foundation and its board of directors, and with the guidance of the school’s Program Advisory Committee. “Please know that this project and all of the work of the Westfield Technical Academy is led by volunteers. 100% of the proceeds from this project will go to providing support for our students. Nobody involved in administering the nonprofit is paid,” Gomes said. WTA Foundation President Joseph Tremblay said for him, “to see the kids get an opportunity of this scale, that’s what it’s all about.” He said the students now have a full house build on their resumes. Tremblay and his wife Alexandra own Tremblay Maison in Longmeadow, an interior design, decor and home furnishings company. Alexandra Tremblay, who was not present at the ribbon-cutting, donated her interior design services to the project, overseeing the selection of light fixtures and other features. A few weeks before the grand opening, the WTA Foundation invited local real estate agents to tour the house. Within a few days it was under contract, although Tremblay said the price could not be disclosed until the sale closes later this month. “At the time of sale, this was the only new house on the market in Westfield.” Tremblay said construction items not donated for the home build were able to be purchased with the 0% loan from PNCU. Once sold, the proceeds will go to the Westfield Technical Academy, earmarked for the construction department. He said now they’re “on the hunt for more land.” Tremblay said the WTA Foundation is ready to partner with any department in the school that wants to use it. He said a couple of departments have approached him with ideas. Construction tech seniors who were on hand for the open house were themselves impressed with the work they had done, calling it “amazing” and “really outstanding.” At the end of his remarks, Gomes said the students were the greatest example of teamwork on the project. “Our students did the work here. This home you are standing in was built by students. Teenagers. Students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. When you stop to think, it’s truly remarkable. “Reflecting on this project fills my heart with hope and promise. It can be difficult today to see through all the negativity and conflict — but here, at 64 Mill St. in Westfield, know that you can find evidence of the next generation of leaders and doers. And at the Westfield Technical Academy you will find a dedicated team of students and teachers ready to take on the challenge,” Gomes said. Sponsors for the project included American Floor Covering, Caesarstone, Chelsea Building Products, DeWalt, Huber/Advantech, Zip System, Keller Williams — Shanna Rowe, National Vinyl, Wright Architectural Millwork, Polish National Credit Union, Kelly Fradet, Boise Cascade, the Erickson family, Frank Webb Home, F.W. Webb, Lucky Sevens Carpet, New England Energy Raters, Rosati, Clean Restrooms, Dalessio Overhead Door, Ondrick Natural Earth, R. Levesque Associates, R.J. Sanding, Schluter Systems, 7 Roads Media, Simpson Strong Tie, Trex, FastenMaster, Sherwin Williams and Westfield Gas & Electric. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/student-built-home-now-finished-purchased-in-westf/

The horticultural technology staff and students at Westfield Technical Academy are ready for their annual Spring Plant Sale, beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 7, and continuing through Friday, May 10, or until plants are sold out. The plant sale takes place at the Greylock Street entrance to the school, next to the Municipal Playground. Department head Nathan Sperry encourages gardeners to come early. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/05/early-birds-get-best-selection-at-westfield-tech-plant-sale-starting-tuesday.html

On the third day of the third annual Chef Showdown at Westfield Technical Academy, a collaboration between the culinary arts department and radio and television broadcasting, a division of graphics arts, the teams had been narrowed down to two who were competing for the win. The competition had started with two teams of six on the first day. The winning team that day was broken down to six lead chefs on the second day, who each chose an assistant from the other teams. On the second day, the chefs chose a culture to celebrate through food, such as East Asian, African and Caribbean. The top two teams then advanced to the finals on the third day, where they also chose a sous chef and assistant. On that day, culinary arts teacher and chef Eric Rogers brought in a huge fresh salmon for the teams to prepare. Judges on the last day were Chris Smigel, executive director of hospitality at MGM Springfield and Shortshop Bar & Grill chef Monica Guarnieri, who ducked into the kitchen to help other culinary students who were preparing desserts for a catering job. “I couldn’t sit and wait,” Guarnieri said as she helped the students to make various cookie bars for a Westfield on Weekends volunteer appreciation event later that day. “They’re doing great! They have a good attitude and want to learn,” she said. On Team One in the competition were Nella Dovganyuk, head chef, Elayna Carlson and Aidan Gomez, all juniors in culinary. On Team Two was Ilianis Rivera, Grayson Ventura and Julian Suggs, all sophomores. Also helping in the kitchen was culinary arts teacher Nick Leslie, who is in his first year as instructor at WTA. A former chef at Arbors Assisted Living, Leslie served as a judge in the competition last year. Smigel said this is his second year participating as a judge. “It’s phenomenal to not only get culinary students to show what they’ve learned, but to allow another class to do a full production,” he said. Digital media teacher Steve Forni, whose student crews were filming and recording audio, interviewing and taking still photographs, said the production was going great. He said all of the students were sophomores and juniors from both shops. “It all depends on the buy-in of the culinary students,” he said. Initially, he added, the students did not want to participate, but “they did a total 180, and are now totally into it.” Forni said from the graphics perspective, a lot goes into the production. “This is the third Chef Showdown. It’s not perfect, but won’t ever be perfect. They’ve done a good job improvising,” he said. Team One then emerged with food to be judged. On the menu was firecracker salmon with a julienne squash and carrot medley, and a lemon cheesecake mousse and almond crumble. After sampling the food, the judges were impressed. “Overall, the taste was very good. The presentation fit the season, and the salmon was cooked very well,” Smigel said. He suggested tossing the peaches in oil first to keep them from going brown. He also complimented the balance in the dessert, which he said, “wasn’t too sweet.” Guarnieri agreed that the salmon was perfectly cooked, although she said she didn’t get enough “firecracker” from the spice. She complimented the students on the lime garnish, which she said brought out the flavor. “The dessert knocked me out of the park with the balance of cream and crumble,” Guarnieri, a baker, said, adding that the whole presentation was nicely done. “Good job, guys!” she said. Team Two made salmon primavera with garlic bread, pasta vinaigrette, a Brazilian limeade and cupcake. Guarnieri said again, everything was very good, although the limeade was a little bitter. “The salmon was very nicely cooked — perfect,” she said, adding that the pasta vinaigrette was different, but she liked how the vinegar acid went with the salmon on the plate. She said the cupcake tasted fresh and the buttercream was beautiful. Smigel said he agreed almost entirely. “The salmon was cooked lovely,” he said, also noting the acid from the balsamic vinegar, which “always plays well with salmon in general.” Smigel said the cupcake was probably the favorite thing he had all day, and the top had a nice crunch. Both judges agreed they had a hard decision to make, when asked how the teams performed. They said one team did well on certain things, and the other team did well on opposite things, and it would be very close. The winners will be announced on Westfield Community Television, where all three episodes of the Chef Showdown will be aired on its YouTube channel in the coming weeks, according to Westfield Community TV engineer Ken Stomski, who served as a technical troubleshooter during the production. Post-production will now be entirely in the hands of the broadcast media students. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/westfield-culinary-media-students-mix-for-chef-con/

The hits keep on coming and that’s only one of the things that Westfield Technical Academy baseball coach Bob Eak likes most about his team’s 8-1 start. Westfield Tech clubbed 12 hits in just four innings, five of the extra base variety, and Tigers freshman pitcher Jo Jo Pouliot tossed a two-hitter, recording nine strikeouts over four innings of a mercy-shortened 20-4 win against High School of Science & Technology on Tuesday at Bullens Field. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/05/westfield-technical-academy-baseball-clubs-sci-tech-to-start-8-1.html

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

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

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/

Now that the solar eclipsed has passed, Westfield’s public schools are passing on the special viewing glasses to students in South America. Westfield school district Curriculum and Instruction Director Susan Dargie said the schools are working with the Holyoke Fire Department to collect glasses to be donated to Argentina and Chile, where an annular solar eclipse will be visible on Oct. 2. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-students-will-donate-used-eclipse-glasses-to-kids-in-south-america.html

Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced to staff this week that Bruce Hastings, who has been serving as interim principal at Westfield Technical Academy for the last eight months, has been selected as principal of the school. “I am pleased to announce that Bruce Hastings has been offered and accepted the role of principal of WTA,” Czaporowski wrote. “A significant majority of respondents supported his candidacy after the visits last week. There were many positive comments about Mr. Hastings, citing his focus on relationships with all stakeholders; his experience as an educator and administrator in multiple settings; and his ability to improve the climate of the school.” https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/interim-principal-named-as-permanent-leader-at-westfield-technical-academy.html

Three up, three down is a common saying associated with baseball when a pitcher retires three straight batters, but, after Tuesday night’s contest, the Westfield Technical Academy High School baseball team left Bullens Field uttering that phrase for a slightly different reason. Westfield Technical Academy won its third game in three tries to begin the 2024 season behind a solid effort from sophomore pitcher Antonio Simpson, who scattered seven hits, two walks, and four runs (all unearned) while striking out eight batters in tossing a complete game, and some timely hitting. The Tigers beat St. Mary’s, 9-4. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-tech-baseball-downs-st-marys-for-3-0-start.html

Westfield Tech senior Deven Werbiskis took the mound for the second straight game and threw a gem in blustery conditions. Werbiskis struck out 16 over six innings, while yielding just one hit, a weak single in the fifth inning. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-westfield-tech-senior-deven-werbiskis-tosses-one-hitter-strikes-out-16.html

Lauren Cadigan, supervisor of science, technology and engineering for Westfield schools, and K-6 STEM coach Lyndsey Ayers, said they are ready to distribute more than 5,700 solar eclipse safety glasses, a pair for every student and staff member in the public school system. Any leftover glasses will be given to the preschools at the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club. “Students won’t get them until Monday,” Cadigan said. She said 3,000 of them were donated from UMass Amherst, and the district purchased the rest. Administrators made sure these glasses have been tested to protect eyes from the intense rays of the sun. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/safety-glasses-pinhole-viewer-project-have-westfield-pupils-ready-for-eclipse.html

Tonight's SEPAC Meeting is now being held virtually only. Thank you.

If you missed last week's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. Westfield Technical Academy Principal Bruce Hastings and Assistant Principal Kevin Daley talk about the school's admissions process and more. Culinary Arts students made a delicious cake to help us celebrate National Black Forest Cake Day too. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-i3JEmRu2Y

Students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy participated in our annual "Credit for Life" Fair on Wednesday, April 3. Students learned about credit cards, housing and transportation costs, budgeting, and more. Thank you to all of the volunteers that made this authentic learning experience possible for our students. Did you know? A course in Financial Literacy is a graduation requirement for all WPS students? #AchievingExcellenceTogether

Students in Westfield got a little dose of adult life Wednesday participating in the high school’s “Credit for Life Fair.” Westfield area students were age 25 for a day and put through the paces of emerging adulthood at the fair, hosted by Westfield High School. “It’s definitely a lot more. Like there is more to it,” said Westfield Technical Academy student Maya. Each student picked a profession, was assigned a credit score and tasked with visiting 15 booths around the gymnasium, each an educational opportunity on an aspect of post-education life. “It’s a budgeting exercise and we’re doing it with seniors because these are the kids that are about to graduate and have these expenses maybe in a few months,” said Edward Nunez, a volunteer with the Springfield Credit for Life program. Some of those expenses were surprisingly high for student Savanah, “The unforeseen expenses. It could be $50 at the supermarket or $900 because your car got towed.” “I was very surprised with the student loan debt. I did think it was really going to be that much,” said student Brady. While the expenses were a revelation, job hunting was an exercise in goal setting. Students selected a career in the area they hope to go after school. Carefully planned finances and dream jobs only get you so far in life… some things you can’t plan for. That’s where the reality check booth comes in. “We did have someone who landed on a spring break trip, so they had to deduct $900 from their balance,” said Kara Wood from Westfield Savings Bank. “This is not an easy thing to do every month. Managing what you want to do with your money and what you need to do with your money,” said Linda Saltus of Western Massachusetts Credit for Life. https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/students-learn-budgeting-skills-through-credit-for-life-fair-in-westfield/