Check out Ms. Garelick's hydroponic system and tiered garden! The plants have started to sprout and the students are excited to watch the magic every day.
Congratulations to Ms. Nugent, 7th grade math teacher, on being awarded the Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award! Ms. Nugent was nominated by Principal McMillan and recognized for her unwavering commitment to students, highly engaging instruction, and innovative teaching practices. There are only a select few teachers who receive this award in Western Massachusetts. Congratulations, Ms. Nugent!
Good morning. Due to current weather conditions, Westfield Public Schools will have a two-hour delayed start today, Thursday, February 13, 2025. Thank you.
WHS students enrolled in the Find Your Path program gave presentations to our 7th grade Health students this week! In the Find Your Path program, high school students take classes focused on their career interest and then have opportunities to gain real world experience through internships, field trips, and certifications. There are 4 pathways: Preschool Education, Engineering/Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Criminal Justice. The WHS students did an excellent job and our students were very attentive. Mrs. Scott (WMS librarian), Mrs. Devine (WMS health teacher), and Mrs. Healey (WHS career counselor) tied this presentation in with the middle school's career research projects. It was a great introduction to future opportunities!
This week is National School Counseling Week. This week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Please join us in thanking our school counselors across the district for their dedication to their professions and to our students. Thank you!
This week marks National School Counselors' Week, and I want to take a moment to celebrate the extraordinary work of our counseling team: Mr. Michalik, Mr. Baker, Mrs. Kelly, and Mrs. Michalik. These dedicated professionals are truly the heart and soul of our school community, working tirelessly to support our students' academic, social, and emotional well-being.
Every day, our counselors wear countless hats – they are listeners, advocates, problem-solvers, and mentors. They help our students navigate the challenging waters of adolescence while maintaining a steady focus on their future success. Whether they're providing emotional support during difficult times, mediating conflicts, or coordinating with families and teachers, their influence touches every corner of our school community.
Please join me in thanking our counselors this week! Consider sending them a note about the positive impact they've had on your child (k.michalik@schoolsofwestfield.org; v.baker@schoolsofwestfield.org; a.kelly@schoolsofwestfield.org; l.michalik@schoolsofwestfield.org). They truly exemplify what it means to put students first, and we are fortunate to have such an exceptional counseling team at WMS.
With gratitude,
Principal McMillan
8th Grade Families,
Starting next week, Westfield Technical Academy will be hosting tours for all 8th grade students. The decision to apply to a technical school can be difficult for middle school students. The hope is that by visiting the individual shops to experience what each has to offer and talking directly with WTA staff about the programs, students will have a better understanding of what a technical school education has to offer.
Tours will begin at 8:15 am and conclude at 10:30 am each day. Bussing will be provided. Each tour day is broken down by team. Students will attend their team’s scheduled day:
-Team 81 : Monday, February 10th
-Team 82: Tuesday, February 11th
-Team 83: Thursday, February 13th
-Team 84: Date TBD after Winter Break
If there is a snow day or delay of school, that day’s/team’s scheduled trip will be moved to after break at a date TBD.
Permission slips are not required; however, if you do NOT wish for your child to attend, please contact Lindsey Michalik at l.michalik@schoolsofwestfield.org by the end of the day on Friday, February 7th.
WMS Families: Happy snow day! Unfortunately, tonight's drama production of The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood is cancelled. However, the show is still on for tomorrow evening, Friday, February 7th at 6 p.m.! Admission is $5. Lastly, the SEPAC meeting scheduled for this evening is also cancelled. Stay warm and stay safe!
Our offices are closed today due to the winter storm bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you.
The SEPAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. is canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.
Due to the impending winter storm, particularly the timing and the prediction of freezing rain tomorrow afternoon, Westfield Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Thank you.
A small group of our NJHS students raised funds to purchase new sports equipment for students to use at recess. Today, they shared this with all students and celebrated International Day of Play with an extra ten minutes at recess. Great work, NJHS students!
Good morning. Due to current weather conditions, Westfield Publlic Schools has a two-hour delayed start today, Monday, February 3, 2025. Thank you.
The WMS Builders Club will be holding a Duffle bag/Backpack Drive this March to benefit teenagers living in local shelters.
The Young Singers of Greater Westfield will be starting back up February 13th. They rehearse at the Catherine Dower Center for the Arts at Westfield State University from 6:00-7:30 pm on Thursday nights. All students grade 4-8 are welcome to join!
The Young Singers of Greater Westfield will be starting back up February 13th. We rehearse at the Catherine Dower Center for the Arts at Westfield State University from 6:00-7:30 pm on Thursday nights. All students grade 4-8 are welcome to join us! click on the image below for the registration form. Thank you!
Our Project351 Ambassador, Ella Golec, kicked off her year of service at her first leadership conference in Boston this past weekend! The leadership day was in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King, and in Celebration of the new Ambassador Class.
A statewide service program known as Project 351 is giving four local 8th graders the opportunity to participate in a year-long journey of service, civic engagement and leadership.
Through their work with this nonprofit, Diana DeSanto, Olivia Gagne and Daniiel Morrissey — from Southwick Regional School in the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District — along with Ella Golec from Westfield Middle School will learn how to help find solutions for a more just, inclusive and equitable world as “ambassadors” to Project 351.
The program’s goal is to inspire students through the ethic of service and values of kindness, compassion, humility and gratitude, The four 13-year-olds are among a new class of 8th graders who will engage in a youth-led community service program, including three projects in their own communities.
Selected to represent their communities and their schools, these ambassadors from the state’s 351 towns and cities will travel to Boston on Jan. 25 to launch a transformative year of service and leadership. This kickoff event will include a day of celebration and service projects in the state’s capital.
The Project 351 model — the only one of its kind in the country — is embarking on its 15th year of community service that honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are expected to meet with the ambassadors — also known as “unsung heroes” because of their unselfish work in helping to lead social change.
Golec is an avid WMS athlete who understands the importance of teamwork — which will help her as a Project 351 ambassador.
“It’ll be a good opportunity to meet new people and help communities,” said the Westfield native who was chosen from among the 358 students in her class. “There will be lots of other students like me who want to be leaders. Project 351 will connect me with people who can push me into becoming a better leader.”
When the principal called her to his office to tell her about becoming the ambassador, Golec thought she might be in trouble.
“I was surprised when he told me about Project 351. I had no idea what it was,” she said.
At home, she and her mother explored the Project 351 website.” When I saw pictures of teenagers doing many hands-on projects together, I realized what a great opportunity it will be. I enjoy working with partners at my school, so I’m looking forward the most to working with other people.”
https://thereminder.com/local-news/hampden-county/southwick/southwick-westfield-students-selected-for-leadership-project/
Congratulations, Ella, on becoming the Project351 Ambassador for Westfield Middle School!
https://thereminder.com/local-news/hampden-county/southwick/southwick-westfield-students-selected-for-leadership-project/
Director of Curriculum Susan Dargie and Westfield Middle School Principal Jesse McMillan presented for approval to the School Committee a new grant program called BRYT -- Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition, that will now start at WMS this winter.
BRYT is an in-school intervention for students that have fallen behind due to a significant mental health or medical disruption. Staffed by a full-time school adjustment counselor-clinician, who McMillan said will be highly qualified, and a part-time academic teaching assistant to be hired through the grant, BRYT is an 8-to-12-week intervention designed to provide intensive individual support for students who need it.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/01/school-committee-approves-bryt-intervention-grant-for-westfield-middle-school.html