Westfield Middle School

The last day of school is on Monday, June 17. It is also an early release day. High school students will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m., Middle and Intermediate School students at 11:30 a.m., and Elementary School students at 12:15 p.m. Thank you.

Our 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 13th beginning at 5:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 4:30 p.m. Local food trucks will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m. and continuing after the ceremony. Cash and cards are accepted. Please know, all students will be recognized at the ceremony and will receive a certificate. Our ceremony will take place on the front lawn of Westfield Middle School. Please bring your own chair! Chairs will be provided for students. Parking is available in the front and rear parking lots at Westfield Middle School, as well as the Amelia Park lot. We encourage families to carpool, if able. We look forward to celebrating our 8th graders' accomplishments! We hope to see you there! -Principal McMillan

ATTN: Westfield Intermediate Families! Register for the WMS Summer Transition Program! https://forms.gle/nTnnX5LE18TDohYo7

Westfield Middle School held its annual Memorial Day program last week to honor our fallen heroes. The ceremony included pieces from the WMS band and chorus, under the direction of Mr. Emken and Mr. Gomes, as well as a history of Memorial Day presented by students. We were honored to have local veterans in attendance. Thank you to Mr. Dufraine, WMS STEM Teacher and Retired Air Force Colonel, for organizing the event!

If you missed yesterday's "Superintendent's Spotlight", click on the link below. This week, we talked with staff and students in our English Learner Program. Thanks for watching! #AchievingExcellenceTogether https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDh48u_8su4

Please view the attached information for 7th and 8th grade end-of-year events!

If you missed yesterday's "Superintendent's Spotlight", please click on the link below. This week, we were live from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield to talk with Kellie Brown all about the great things they have going on at the club. Thanks for watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYNr7FNzZlA

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

Attention Rising 7th Grade Families: This is a friendly reminder that the WMS Information Night will take place tomorrow evening, Thursday, May 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the WMS auditorium. We look forward to meeting you.

The weather was beautiful for the Westfield Middle School Arbor Day ceremony on April 26, and the planting of the first of 50 trees on the school’s campus, donated by the Greening the Gateway Cities program. During his remarks at the ceremony before a tulip tree was planted in the front of the school, Principal Jesse McMillan said the project started when he was speaking to School Committee member Kathleen Hillman last fall about ways to enhance the school property. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-middle-school-plants-1st-of-50-trees-on-campus-at-arbor-day-ceremony.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

At an Arbor Day ceremony at the Westfield Middle School on April 26, a tree will be planted to kick off the school’s collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Over 50 trees, one of the largest projects to date of the DCR’s Greening the Gateway Cities program in Westfield, will be planted around the entire perimeter of the school. WMS Principal Jesse McMillan said the goal is to increase curb appeal at the school. The trees that will be planted are a mix of large and small shade trees, urban tolerant, long-lived, and many are native and have ornamental features, with the more decorative trees planted in the front of the school. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/middle-school-to-get-50-trees-in-state-program.html

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

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.

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

Dear Rising 7th Grade Families, Due to impending weather on Thursday, we will be re-scheduling our Informational Night for 7th grade families to Thursday, May 2nd. We will send reminders as the date approaches. We look forward to meeting you! -WMS Administrative Team

A reminder that schools are closed tomorrow, March 29, for Good Friday. Thank you. Have a great weekend!

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.

Please click on the following link for more information about end-of-year events for our 8th grade students: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FISCQGNEJ7sNR7PLbAVFmoAGmIp-SWmtPgfif7TbFBM/edit?usp=sharing