The NEWS Letter
A monthly e-newsletter from
the Westfield Public Schools
Embedded Files
March 2023
Superintendent's Corner
Superintendent's Corner
With a public vote on the 2023-2024 school district operating budget less than a month away, we have been sharing news of our schedule of Community Engagement Sessions for Westfield residents to learn more and ask questions. At its meeting on March 28, the Board of Education adopted the final budget for 2023-2024, as approved by the Executive County Superintendent. The budget now goes before Westfield voters on Tuesday, April 25.
Thank you to all who attended our first two virtual community engagement sessions on March 29 and March 30. We encourage Westfield residents to visit our April Budget Vote portal and to join an engagement session so that you can make an informed decision when you go to the polls on April 25.
Additional opportunities to learn about the school district budget are scheduled, as follows:
Tuesday, April 11, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Edison Intermediate School Auditorium
Thursday, April 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Lifelong Westfield, Westfield Memorial Library
Monday, April 17, 7:30-8:30 p.m. - LINK to Virtual Session
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m. - LINK to Virtual Session
Thursday, April 20, 12:00-1:00 p.m. - LINK to Virtual Session
You also will find the complete list of community engagement opportunities below as well as posted on the budget portal, along with links to the remote sessions. Please note that, while certain sessions are listed for specific audiences, all are welcome to attend whichever date works best.
We hope to see you there!
Dr. González
2023-2024 Budget Explainer
2023-2024 Budget Explainer
In this 13-minute video, which is posted on the District's YouTube Channel, Dr. González provides an overview of the 2023-2024 school district operating budget, along with a brief history of school budgets, considerations when developing a budget, and the District's priorities for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Strategic Planning Council held its 6th and final meeting on March 20. Council members reviewed proposed goals, objectives, and action plans in the areas of Teaching and Learning, Safety and Wellness, Finance and Facilities, Leadership and Governance, and Community and Culture.
Next Steps: A small group of district administrators will meet to finalize a Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 that reflects the goals, priorities, and vision of our community stakeholders and the Strategic Planning Council.
Curriculum Corner
Curriculum Corner
From the NJ Department of Education - Discontinuing Start Strong
The Start Strong assessment was originally piloted in the fall of 2020, and its administration has continued since then. In the fall of 2021, this assessment was mandated as a mechanism to ensure that districts had access to high-quality, standards-based student data through the suspension of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA). With the successful reinstatement of the NJSLA in the spring of 2022, the New Jersey Department of Education will discontinue the Start Strong assessment, effective fall 2023. The Department is grateful to the education community for their partnership in successfully implementing the Start Strong assessment over this period.
FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT...
FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT...
Artistic whimsy as Ms. Schwarzenbek's Ceramics 1 and 2 students create a gnome village, on display in WHS main entrance. Ceramics 1 used expertise in pinch pots to create the body and hat, while Ceramics 2 used handbuilding techniques for homes, castles, even a gnome outhouse.
In its 16th year, Washington's Annual Women's Tea, in recognition of Women's History Month, received a surprise visitor and was a huge success as 3rd graders shared their biographies of women notables.
Mrs. Doyle’s Engineering/Design students at WHS researched, built, and tested truss bridge designs. Specs included 20 pieces of balsa wood, small bottle of glue, a span of 24” and ability to hold as much weight as possible. This team's bridge with highest efficiency rating held 29+ lbs!
Science fun with Oobleck in Ms. Conklin's Pre-K class. Students talked about the qualities of a solid and a liquid, while using such scientific terms as suspension, glide, hard, separate, cut, melt, ooze, and squishy.
Scroll through this photo carousel for March snapshots.
Scroll through this photo carousel.
Content-Area Highlights
Visual and Performing Arts
Content-Area Highlights
Visual and Performing Arts
We were proud to welcome audiences to our spring musical productions this year. The Edison and Roosevelt Theatre Departments presented “Cinderella, the Musical" and "Grease: The School Version," respectively. The Westfield High School Theatre Department presented “Sunday in the Park with George." All productions provided students with opportunities to grow, both onstage and backstage. Each production also featured a live pit orchestra.
Student musicians and instructors across the district are busy rehearsing and performing Spring concerts, while there is much creativity taking place in our art classrooms under the direction of our talented art teachers.
SAVE THE DATES for the District Art Show
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are very pleased to announce the return of the Westfield District Art Show on June 1-2 from 3:00pm - 8:00pm at Westfield High School. The exhibition will feature approximately one thousand pieces of 2D and 3D artwork from students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
More information to come.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY
AND INCLUSION
DIVERSITY, EQUITY
AND INCLUSION
Heritage, History and Religious Observances for April 2023
There is much to commemorate in April!
Ramadan, an Islamic holiday marked by fasting, praise, prayer, and devotion to Islam, began at sundown on March 22 and ends on April 21 with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that marks the end of the fast.
The Jewish holiday of Passover is observed from April 5 at sundown through April 13. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
Christians will observe Palm Sunday on April 2, Holy Thursday on April 6, Good Friday on April 7, and Easter on April 9. Eastern Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter on April 16. During this sacred Holy Week, Christians mark Jesus' crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.
Additionally, April is recognized as:
Arab American Heritage Month,
Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, and
Celebrate Diversity Month.
We also look forward to Earth Day on April 22 and Take Your Child to Work Day on April 27.
Board Corner
Board Corner
At its March 28 meeting, the Board approved for second (final) reading the following policies:
At its March 28 meeting, the Board approved for second (final) reading the following policies:
3232 - Tutoring Services
3340/4340 - Grievance
9400 - Media Relations
To view these and all district policies, CLICK HERE.
Community Corner
Community Corner
Click HERE for more information, including online nominating forms.
Nominate an Outstanding
Staff Member!
Nominate an Outstanding
Staff Member!
The Rotary Club of Westfield is accepting nominations for the 30th Annual Charles Philhower Fellowship Award, which recognizes an outstanding full-time educator in Grades Pre-K through 5 in the Westfield Public Schools.
Additionally, the Rotary Club is introducing the 1st Annual Weyman Steengrafe Award to recognize full-time employees of the Westfield Public School who are not certified teachers.
The deadline to submit a nomination for both awards is Friday, April 14, 2023.
Blue Devil Community Network
Blue Devil Community Network
The Westfield High School Counseling Department is excited to announce a new initiative to better connect our students with members of the Westfield community willing to share their passion, care, and expertise. Learn more HERE.
Become a Substitute Today!
The Westfield Public School District is seeking Substitute Teachers who hold appropriate credentials. The district accepts candidates with a Standard Certificate, CEAS, CE, or a current County Substitute Certificate. The district also is seeking substitute paraprofessionals and secretaries.
The District also is in need of Substitute Nurses, an ideal position for a stay-at-home parent or grandparent who are registered nurses. Click HERE to learn more.
GOOD NEWS
Washington School's Annual Women's Tea Receives Special Visitor - Tap into Westfield
Westfield's Athletic Trainers and What You Don't See - Hi's Eye Sports
Intermediate Student Musicians Achieve Prestigious Honors - Westfield Local
Music Honors for Westfield Intermediate and High School Students - Tap into Westfield
National Merit Finalist - Tap into Westfield
Tamaques Multicultural Festival - Westfield Monthly
Eastern Culture and Mandarin Club - Hi's Eye
New McKinley Principal and Supervisor of Special Education - Tap into Westfield
IMPORTANT DATES
April 3-7 - Schools Closed for Spring Break
April 10 - Schools Closed (Unused Snow/Emergency Day)
April 11 - Budget Community Engagement Session (at Edison), 6-7p
April 13 - Budget Community Engagement Session (Hosted by Lifelong Westfield at Westfield Memorial Library), 10:30-11:30a
April 17 - Budget Community Engagement Session, 7:30-8:30p Remote LINK
April 19 - Budget Community Engagement Session, 7:30-8:30p Remote LINK
April 20 - Budget Community Engagement Session, 12-1p - Remote LINK
April 20 - Regular Public Board Meeting
Visit the Calendar on the District and School Websites for more.
2022-2023 School Calendar rev 6-14-22.pdf2022-2023 Observances (1).pdfOur 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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