For those who may have missed the November 21 Board of Education meeting, I want to share my reflections again here: 

As a school district, we strive to be prepared for times of crisis.  To be proactive, not reactive.  To ensure that proper safeguards are in place.  And to support all of our students at all times to help them feel safe and heard.  In my 25 years as an educator and administrator, I have never - and will never - waver in my commitment to these fundamentals. The well-being of our students - physical and emotional - is always top of mind for our administrators, teachers, and staff.  Now more than ever, school districts are faced with unexpected challenges for which we don’t always have an immediate answer… global and domestic events and rapid advances in technology, among them.  We will continue to address any crisis with urgency while remaining deliberative in our response and always mindful of the needs of all our students.

In response to some of the concerns recently expressed, let me say, as we have stated previously on many occasions: 

• To be 100% clear, as the Superintendent of Schools and on behalf of the entire Westfield Public School District, I strongly condemn anti-semitism, islamophobia, racism, homophobia, discrimination, and any acts of harassment, intimidation, bullying, hate, and terrorism of any kind. Hate has no place in our schools, our Board meetings, and our community.

• When events transpire that impact our students, our team of professionals remains ready to respond.

  • 1. • Our school counseling team, including our new Student Assistance Coordinators, supports our students in many ways, individually and collectively, as the situation warrants, to provide them with the space and voice to express themselves safely.

       • Our administrators and educators are provided age-appropriate materials by our Curriculum and content specialists to help navigate difficult discussions in the classroom. 

       • I am fortunate and grateful to maintain positive and open communication with the Westfield Education Association to respond to any needs that our educators may have to help them help their students when navigating difficult topics.

• As a reminder, we have shared with the school community ways to file a complaint of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying in my reports during Board meetings, in principal weekly newsletters and, most recently, in the October issue of the district newsletter which is emailed to all parents and staff.  This year, a direct link to HIB resources, including the reporting form, was added to the homepage on the district and every school website to help our students, families, and staff report any concerns they may have related to HIB.

• Also, new this year, and included in the district and principal newsletters, was notice of Speak Up for Safety, a safety feature that provides an easy way for students in grades 6-12 to anonymously share concerns about school safety and the well-being of their peers.  This is part of the newly implemented Safety Management System we put in place at the start of the school year and shared with the school community in September.

As we approach the holiday season, I want to express gratitude for a school community that is so passionate about the well-being of our students and ask that we always remember to give generously the gift of kindness and compassion to one another.

I encourage you to continue reading to learn more about the district's Holocaust Education, additional efforts to support both students and educators in difficult times, our continued work to celebrate and raise awareness of the diverse backgrounds of the school community, and other district news.

Dr. G.

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ADDITIONALLY... 

At the November 21 Board of Education Meeting, as part of his Curriculum, Instruction and Programs (CIP) Committee report, Board Vice President and CIP Co-Chair Robert Benacchio reported on the many ways the school district has been supporting all students and staff in the wake of the terror attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.  His report included the following:

• The violence in Israel and Gaza has been a topic of discussion in department and faculty/grade level meetings.  In addition to sharing resources, teachers were provided access to online information and coursework.

• The District has also received significant and regular support from the Kean University Holocaust Research Center and Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship.  Kean University has been a longtime partner of the district in creating Holocaust and Genocide Studies curriculum and the interdisciplinary ELA/Social Studies course for 8th grade students.  Representatives from the Holocaust Research Center have been a part of staff and department meetings and are available to teachers of all grade levels to assist in discussing this difficult topic.

• The Westfield High School "No Place for Hate Committee" conducted its own discussion, moderated by a member of the WHS faculty, with resources, support, and future programming for students provided.

• In connection with reports that students were concerned for their safety in our schools, the Board received direct feedback regarding data on student attendance, counseling requests, and incidents of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB). The data reflected no increase in absences, HIB incidents, or counseling requests thus far.  Nevertheless, our school counseling team proactively created office hours and group meeting times for students, recognizing that students may not always express their concerns outwardly.  Counselors also provide the same opportunities and direct contact for faculty who may observe students in need of assistance.