Healthcare Pathway Westfield High School

Overview

Westfield Public Schools, in conjunction with businesses and healthcare facilities in Western Massachusetts, has determined that a biomedical pathway that prepares students to enter the healthcare field in a variety of capacities is a need of the community. 

The mission of this pathway, is to allow students the opportunity to explore the healthcare field via coursework and practical applications which are both rigorous and relevant. Students will have practical experience and the opportunity to build the skills they need to be successful in a variety of careers within the biomedical field.

Westfield High School has designated a pathway of courses which are flexible for all students and levels. All freshman at WHS take introductory biology, the first core course of our pathway. Students who indicate an interest in the pathway will apply by the end of the third quarter of 9th grade. 

There are several students that have also indicated an interest in engineering. In order to expose students to this partnership, students who opt into this pathway will be enrolled in Project Lead the Way, Introduction to Engineering Design in conjunction with Biomedical Anatomy and Physiology. Students in their junior year will be enrolled in Chemistry and a focused Physical Education class, that will provide them opportunities to begin receiving certification in: CPR, First Aid and Stop the Bleed. They will also start fulfilling hours in the healthcare field totaling a minimum of thirty hours during their junior year. We will work with our MassHire Workforce Employment Career Counselor to place students in various experiences based on interest and community need.

In their senior year, students will complete a Capstone Course that will allow them to apply the knowledge and skills that they have learned previously in the pathway to new and relevant scenarios.  Students will work with a certified life science teacher as well as a Registered Nurse to complete their Certified Nursing Assistant license. This course is a partnership between Westfield Public Schools and Holyoke Community College. With the help of our community partners we have been able to run a pilot course during the 2019-2020 school year, while building a hospital room in the high school for our students to obtain realistic training.

ENGLISH: If you need assistance understanding this information, please contact your principal (Chuck Jendrysik) to arrange translation services. Arabic: الت ر اذا تحتاج مساعدة لفهم هذه المعلومات ,الرجاء االتصال بمدير المدرسة لتقديم خدمات جمة NEPALI: यो जानकारी बुझ्न सहयोग चाहहएमा कृ पया तपाइको प्रधानाध्यापकलाइ अनुबाद सुहहधाको लाहग सम्पकक राख्नुहोस. RUSSIAN: Если Вы нуждаетесь в переводе, пожалуйста, сообщите директору школы, и школа обеспечит вас переводчиком. SPANISH: Si Ud. necesita ayuda para entender esta información, favor de comunicarse con el Principal para los servicios de traducción. UKRAINIAN: Якщо Вам необхідний переклад даної інформації, будь ласка, повідомте директору школи, і школа забезпечить вас перекладачем.