March 2022
Embedded Files
Superintendent's Corner
Each month, we strive to provide readers of The NEWS Letter with new and updated information regarding school district operations and initiatives. In this issue, we share updated COVID guidance regarding international travel, along with important dates and other news. Additionally, we hope our new "Curriculum Corner" segment will help to answer questions relating to state-mandated and district curricular initiatives. This month, we provide specific information on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts as part of our District Goals for 2021-2022.
Thank you for your continued involvement and support,
Dr. G.
Curriculum Corner
From Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Programs Dr. Paul Pineiro
Curriculum Corner
From Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Programs Dr. Paul Pineiro
District Goal #3 focuses on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and developing a framework to promote DEI in the areas of professional development, recruitment, selection and retention of diverse candidates, curriculum and curricular materials, community engagement and schoolwide programming. Our DEI Steering Committee has been hard at work since the start of the school year. Here is where we stand in our efforts:
PROGRESS TO DATE
Established Steering Committee (Sept 2021)
Monthly Meetings
Created subcommittees to address five sub-goals (Sept 2021)
Developed a framework with guiding principles and action plan (October-December 2021)
Established Advisory Committee of diverse community members (January 2022)
Distributed DEI Audit by Hanover Research to parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members (March / April 2022)
NEXT STEPS:
Review/analyze results of Hanover DEI Audit
Provide DEI Update in June
DEI SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE
Professional development
2021-2022 - Intermediate and High School Cultural Proficiency PD
2021-2022 - Intermediate and High School PD during faculty meetings
Upcoming: Elementary - Cultural Proficiency (Intermediate and High School received this training already)
Upcoming: DEI Ambassadors - Elementary
Upcoming: LGBTQ+ PD for Intermediate and High School
Recruitment, selection and retention of diverse candidates
District administrator recruiters attend CJ Pride job fair and campus job fairs with diverse student populations
CJ Pride is a consortium of more than 40 school districts committed to recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse applicants.
Curriculum and curriculum materials
DEI Curriculum Subcommittee developing resources to conduct in-district audit
Community engagement
DEI Audit by Hanover Research
Communication Survey to gauge best practices
Spotlight on Education Webinar on Holocaust Education
DEI Survey
DEI Survey
As part of our DEI Goal, we have partnered with Hanover Research to conduct an equity audit of the district. Part of the audit includes a survey of students (grades 6-12), staff, parents/guardians, and members of the Westfield community. The survey’s purpose is to collect your thoughts on the district's continuing efforts to provide equitable opportunities and a welcoming environment to students, parents, and staff from diverse backgrounds. Diverse backgrounds include various ethnicities, races, cultures, genders, sexualities, religions, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and all other identities. This study is for research purposes only: all information you provide will be anonymous and maintained on a confidential basis by Hanover Research and will only be reported to Westfield, so please be candid in your responses. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, April 22. Please access the survey by clicking here. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input.
The audit is funded by dollars provided by American Rescue Plan – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER) funds designated specifically for addressing equity in education.
Spotlight on Education
Spotlight on Education
We launched our new Spotlight on Education Webinar Series this month to provide the school community with opportunities to learn more and ask questions about trending topics in our district. The first in the webinar series focused on Holocaust Education. Tentative plans for the series include a webinar in June with an update on our DEI initiatives.
On our Spotlight on Education page at www.westfieldnjk12.org, you will find a recording of the Holocaust Education webinar, along with a curated selection of videos, photographs, and written articles that showcase our Tradition of Excellence throughout the years. The content will be updated as we continue our effort to share best practices in the Westfield Public Schools.
COVID-19 UPDATE
We continue to closely monitor our COVID activity as we adjust our mitigation measures. In light of the upcoming Spring Break, we would like to share the following guidelines regarding travel:
Q: Will I need to quarantine if I travel? (Updated 3/21/2022)
Q: Will I need to quarantine if I travel? (Updated 3/21/2022)
A: In light of the changing COVID activity around the world and in consultation with our local public health officials, Westfield Public Schools will utilize the following guidelines for travel.
DOMESTIC TRAVEL:
DOMESTIC TRAVEL:
No quarantine is required for domestic travel within the United States and U.S. territories.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
The guidelines for international travel are as follows:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ALL international travelers are recommended to:
Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
Get tested 3-5 days after travel unless you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days (regardless of vaccination status).
REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS
International travelers who are unvaccinated, or not up-to-date (Ages 12 and older: not boosted or not within 5 months of last vaccination or Ages 5-11: not fully vaccinated):
OPTION A: Quarantine for 5 days. A negative rapid COVID test taken on day 5 is required to return to school on day 6. It can be a home test. Email the test result to the nurse.
OPTION B: Test to stay (TTS). A rapid COVID test is required on day 1. If the test is negative, you can come to school. Another COVID test is required on day 5. Email both test results to the nurse. They can be home tests.
Please always confer with your school nurse regarding any emergent travel plans.
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
April 4: School Librarian Day
April 4-8: Assistant Principal Week
April 6: Paraprofessional Day
April 5: BOE Meeting
April 11-18 : Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
April 20: PTC Meeting (Virtual)
April 22: Earth Day
April 26: BOE Meeting
April 27: Administrative Professionals Day
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
There are many Westfield organizations who support our schools and students through generous donations. To learn more about how you can contribute to these funds and scholarships, click the links below.
Optimist Club
PTC Scholarship Fund
PTC Special Education Scholarship
Rotary Club of Westfield
Westfield Boosters Association
Westfield Coalition for the Arts
Westfield Education Fund
Westfield Foundation
Please email mmcgann@westfieldnjk12.org if your organization has been inadvertently omitted.
Board Corner
Board Corner
A synopsis of each Board of Education meeting is emailed to subscribers and posted under the Board tab at www.westfieldnjk12.org, generally no later than the Friday following the Board meeting.
NEXT BOARD MEETINGS
NEXT BOARD MEETINGS
Regular Public Meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30p
Recognition of Girls Basketball & Boys Winter Track and Field Teams
Regular Public Meeting: Tuesday, April 26 at 6:00p
Public hearing on Final Budget &
Recognition of Girls & Boys Swimming Teams & Individual Bowling & Wrestling Achievements
All public Board of Education meetings are held in WHS Cafeteria B
BOARD POLICIES
BOARD POLICIES
At its March 15 meeting, the Board approved for first reading a number of policies for revision and repeal. Board President Brendan Galligan noted that, per a review by school policy and regulation consulting service Strauss Esmay, minor changes were made to some policies while others were recommended for repeal because duplicative or comparable policies exist. Mr. Galligan mentioned that Policy 0131 (Bylaws and Policies) shortens the time required between the 1st and 2nd readings of a policy.
Community Corner
Community Corner
The next general meeting of the Parent Teacher Council (PTC) will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. Email ptc@westfieldnjk12.org to receive a link to the virtual meeting.
To support attendee schedules, PTC monthly meetings will be held virtually on May 18 and in-person at 302 Elm Street on June 8.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
Pi Day
Out of this World Visit
Women's History Month
Lincoln Singalong
March 4 was School Maintenance Workers Day.
Thank you to our industrious school maintenance staff who work tirelessly to repair, restore, and revitalize our buildings and grounds.
March 4 was School Maintenance Workers Day.
Thank you to our industrious school maintenance staff who work tirelessly to repair, restore, and revitalize our buildings and grounds.
GOOD NEWS
Jared Isaacman Visits Westfield 5th Graders - Courier News
Westfield is 2021-2022 NJ.Com Girls Swim Team of the Year - nj.com
Westfield High School Musicians Receive Honors - nj.com / Suburban NewsCelebrating Influential Women of Westfield - Hi's Eye
WHS Athletics: Home to some of the Best Winter Athletes in New Jersey - Hi's Eye
Student Musicians Advance to Regional Ensembles - Westfield Monthly
Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook @westfieldpublicschoolsnj, FOLLOW us on Twitter @westfieldnjk12, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel @ Westfield NJ Public Schools.
Our Mission
The Westfield Public School District, in partnership with families and community, educates all students to reach their highest potential as productive, well-balanced and responsible citizens who respect individual differences and diversity in an ever changing world.
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