It is quite obvious that the road has not been a stumbling block for the Westfield High School boys varsity lacrosse team.
One week into the 2024 season, the Westfield High School boys varsity lacrosse team is perfect. The Bombers latest win came Saturday on the road against East Longmeadow, an 11-5 victory.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-boys-lacrosse-emerges-from-three-game-road-trip-3-0.html
Western Mass News was on the front field over at Westfield High School where the Space and Astronomy Club held a viewing event for students and community members.
Now, it really was a party here at Westfield High School, people brought their picnic blankets and outdoor chairs all to view the eclipse in Westfield.
We spoke with some students who told us what got them so excited to see the eclipse!
“Defintiely the peak and also just seeing outside it kept getting progressively darker and darker throughout the eclipse,” expressed Mirabella Prefontaine.
“I just wanted to make sure that no one gets vision loss,” said Andy Liu “That was one of my main concerns because we’re not in the path of totality so no one could really take off their glasses during the eclipse.”
https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/04/08/students-astronomy-enthusiasts-gather-westfield-eclipse/
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.
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/
The much-anticipated solar eclipse is just days away and areas schools are preparing their students to have a front row seat for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“This is called a pinhole viewer…and some classrooms, we provided instructions, so that teachers can create these, and kids can use them and safely view the eclipse with things they have at home,” said Lauren Cadigan, supervisor of Science Technology and Engineering at Westfield Public Schools.
Throughout Westfield Public Schools, teachers have received resources ranging from directions on how to create a pinhole viewer, reading materials, maps, and more. Some of the masterminds behind it are Cadigan and Pre-K through Grade 4 STEM Coach Lindsey Ayers.
“I think students are more excited about learning when they can see something in real life. We’re excited about that real-life experience,” Ayers added.
However, preparations for the eclipse are extending outside of the classroom too. Across the district, after-school sports practices and games have been cancelled so students can take in the eclipse.
To view the eclipse, you need the right lenses to protect your eyes. Elementary school students were given eclipse viewing glasses, but teachers throughout the district had the chance to request them. We’re told the demand was so high that by Monday, the district plans to order and distribute nearly 3,900 pairs about 2,500 pairs were donations from UMass Amherst.
“I hope we inspire the next generation of scientists. As always, we try to create a space where all kids, if they want to be, can be successful in STEM and can see themselves in stem,” Cadigan noted.
https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/04/03/schools-preparing-use-eclipse-learning-moment-students/?fbclid=IwAR1lAUd35NgO0rf-OqlCMdx5WBr0Y8gDgwaR-im7MpVClfrp_NcbRewMTO0_aem_AUtfRf3DEHnxeT87bc9iDiYdtPrI8iY9RQl8fnC4CRYKFiYJL5XLsB50hz-u0fQjjidQwBTV9qq_ayNSw1VdGzUQ
Westfield High School baseball sophomore pitcher Josh Wagner scattered five hits, three walks, and one run over 6 2/3 innings of a home opener Friday to pick up a win over Minnechaug at Bullens Field. He struck out eight batters.
Lead-off hitter Patrick Moore paved the way for Westfield (1-0) on offense, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Bombers’ Nick Lenfest went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Wagner and Emmett Garfield each had a hit.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-josh-wagner-bombers-baseball-silence-minnechaug-in-opener-3-1.html
Bombers junior hockey goalie Evan Mastroianni will receive the Bruce Landon Award and a $500 scholarship at the April 11 reception hosted by the Amo Bessone Awards Committee.
The committee gives awards annually to several players, coaches and supporters of high school hockey in Western Massachusetts. This year, Mastroianni is the only winner representing a school in Westfield or Southwick.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-bombers-hockey-player-evan-mastroianni-wins-landon-award-for-goalies.html
A reminder that schools are closed tomorrow, March 29, for Good Friday. Thank you. Have a great weekend!
Retired Westfield Bombers coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews will be inducted to the Massachusetts State High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame on May 4, honoring several decades of success.
Matthews, who retired in 2021, said he wasn’t expecting to be honored, and that coaching high school students was enough of a reward.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-bombers-hockey-coach-moose-matthews-chosen-for-state-hall-of-fame.html
Students in the Junior Criminal Justice class at Westfield High Westfield High School had the opportunity to visit the Massachusetts State Police Headquarters in Framingham, MA. During their visit, they learned about the history of the State Police, the recruitment process to become a state trooper, and the immense opportunities available after completion of the academy. They toured the facility, which included an information session with the Lieutenant in the Fusion Center, and a lesson on their portable Alcohol Checkpoint busses that they use to look for drink drivers. They were also informed about a Cadet summer camp that they can participate in for a more hands-on experience. It was a great day!
In Massachusetts, students with attendance rates consistently above 95% in pre-kindergarten through grade 3 outperformed students with lower attendance rates during any year between pre-kindergarten and grade 3 on the grade 3 MCAS tests.
Click below for the Quarter 3 Newsletter from Westfield Public Schools.
https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/documents/district/district-newsletters/quarter-three-newsletter/598820
Click on the link below for the latest episode of "Superintendent's Spotlight". This week, we spoke with winning Science Fair students from Westfield, MA High School about their incredible projects. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlBy_4ohHN4
Yesterday, Westfield High School sent a group of five students to the Chemistry Olympiad at UMass, a chemistry competition put on by the American Chemical Society. Approximately 50 students from Western MA participated. In the 60-question multiple-choice assessment. Among the top six scorers, were WHS students Conner Gelinas and John Doyle.
Conner and moved on to the next stage where they completed some short answer problems as well as a lab practical. Their results in this part will determine if they take the national exam to compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad in July.
It was great to see WHS students perform so well alongside other Western MA schools. Congrats to Conner and John!
If you missed "Superintendent's Spotlight this morning, please click on the link below. This week, we spoke with students from Munger Hill Elementary School about their new Student Council. Westfield High School Assistant Principal Andrew Joseph joined us to tell us about pi on Pi Day, and Westfield Technical Academy Culinary Arts staff and students helped us to celebrate the day with some freshly made chocolate cream pie. Thanks for watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtSyZgbck-8
Students in grade 11 from Westfield, MA High School, Westfield Virtual School, Westfield Technical Academy, and St. Mary's High School participated in our 6th Annual Career Fair at Westfield State University this morning. After the event, students were treated to lunch at the Dining Commons on campus. Special thanks to Westfield State University, Westfield Gas + Electric/Whip City Fiber, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and the over 75 businesses in attendance for making this even a success again this year!
On Friday, March 8, Westfield High School participated in the Region 1 Science and Engineering Fair. Our students from Westfield did extremely well, placing first overall, Tegan Chisholm- Godshalk will attend the International Science Fair in Los Angeles in May. Seven teams moved on to the Massachusetts Science Fair at Gillette on April 5th. Of those seven teams, five received special awards in the categories of life science, engineering, and a special designation from the Air Force!
Last week, Westfield Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and Science, Technology and Engineering Supervisor Lauren Figy Cadigan met with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to present their application for a Career Innovation Pathways designation for a manufacturing engineering curriculum at Westfield High School.
Cadigan said the project has been in the works for four years.
“We’ve had a three-course pathway. This would be a five-course pathway, focused on getting kids industry experience,” she said. “We’ve been in the process of putting the structures in place for this to be a possibility for four years.”
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-high-school-applies-to-state-to-help-fund-more-engineering-courses.html