November 2022
Embedded Files
Superintendent's Corner
Superintendent's Corner
This is the time of year when I reflect on the many reasons I feel thankful. Here are just a few. On a personal level, I am thankful for my family, my friends, our health. On a professional level, I am thankful for a school community that never fails to come together to support our students and their learning. It is this shared sense of purpose that helps our students to thrive during their years in the Westfield Public Schools. Please read on to learn more about the exciting classroom lessons and initiatives taking place in our schools and around the district.
Thank you.
Dr. G.
WHS Robotics Club Hosts FirstTech Challenge New Jersey
Photo by David Sexton
Throughout the year, we will use our monthly community newsletter to update you on the progress we are making toward developing our 5-year strategic plan. A lot of work has taken place over the last several weeks to set the foundation for the months ahead. Here's a summary of some of the highlights:
The District held in-person stakeholder sessions on October 26 for staff, on November 2 for parents/guardians and members of the community, and on November 3 for students in grades 9-12.
Surveys were shared with staff, students, parents/guardians, and members of the community from November 1-18.
Thank you to all who attended the stakeholder sessions and/or completed the survey. Your feedback is greatly valued.
District data was gathered and shared with our facilitators who also are compiling the feedback from the surveys and stakeholder sessions.
The Strategic Planning Council held its first meeting on November 14 and will meet again on December 7.
A Strategic Plan website is posted at www.westfieldnjk12.org and will be updated frequently.
A "Word Cloud" is a data visualization technique... a collection, or cluster, of words depicted in different sizes. The bigger and bolder the word appears, the more often it was mentioned by those participating in the "Word Cloud" exercise and thus, the more important it is to that set of stakeholders. The "Word Clouds" below were created during the three in-person stakeholder sessions to capture what our staff, parent/community, and students think the essential skills our students will need for success in the future. Notice the similarities and differences in the perspective of each stakeholder group.
Essential Skills session 1.pdfSTAFF
STAFF
Essential Skills session 2.pdfPARENT/COMMUNITY
PARENT/COMMUNITY
Essential Skills session 3.pdfSTUDENTS
STUDENTS
CURRICULUM CORNER
CURRICULUM CORNER
Our curriculum encourages and supports student-driven investigation, collaboration, and problem-based learning. We enjoy seeing our students engaged and curious as, each day, they become stronger readers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, and overall learners. Here are some examples of the quality instruction that took place in November:
As part of the Westfield High School Environmental Science curriculum, students visited Sandy Hook to observe species in their natural environment, while focusing on the importance of the salt marsh as an ecosystem.
McKinley 5th graders presented "Readers' Theater" skits to 2nd graders, an aspect of the balanced literacy approach that helps students build fluency and expression. Conversations after the skits focused on helping 2nd graders understand characters and how they develop in stories.
Franklin 5th graders recently explored red worms and their environment. The district's science curriculum provides many opportunities for teamwork, hands-on exploration and discovery.
Lincoln Kindergarten students used their knowledge of letter sounds to write about their weekend activities.
Roosevelt 7th grade scientists tested how temperature changes during a chemical reaction.
The District's elementary Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program, Responsive Classroom, calls for routine energizers throughout the day to keep everyone refreshed and energized for learning. Franklin 4th graders recently used an energizer break to answer "fast facts" in a multiplication relay.
Scroll through this photo carousel for glimpses of the problem-based, hands-on learning that took place this month.
Our district’s Media Specialists play an important role in providing students and families with strategies for staying safe in digital spaces. These efforts were highlighted in a two-part presentation by elementary school librarian Jennifer Ciampa, who presented “Plugged in Parents” to K-8 parents at the Westfield Memorial Library.
During the professional development day on November 9, our health educators, physical education/health teachers, and athletic trainers received expert training in managing individual health plans for students with epilepsy/seizure disorder. The presenter was Columbia University Pediatric Neurologist, Dr. Cigdem Akman.
We've made a few updates to the district and school websites that we hope you find useful.
Each staff directory is searchable by department or job title.
Each staff directory is searchable by department or job title.
The District website calendar has all schools listed to allow for a search of events across multiple schools and the district.
The District website calendar has all schools listed to allow for a search of events across multiple schools and the district.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Heritage, History, and Religious Observances
As we look ahead to December, our observances include the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah which begins at sundown on December 18 and is celebrated for 8 days and nights to commemorate the Maccabean victory over their Syrian-Greek oppressors in the second century B.C.; Christmas Day on December 25, the day that many Christians associate with Jesus' birth; Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1, a week-long celebration of African-American culture and heritage; and New Year's Eve, as we countdown to a new year on December 31.
We also celebrate National Special Education Day on December 2, which commemorates the signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975. Thank you to all of the dedicated professionals, including our special and related services teams and special education teachers and paraprofessionals, who support our students in so many ways.
DID YOU KNOW?
We are planning to adopt the 2023-2024 school instructional days calendar at the December meeting of the Board of Education. As always, the calendar will indicate the number of days schools are open or closed. However, we also are going to provide an accompanying list of federal and state holidays, along with religious and cultural observances, to serve as a resource for planning purposes and to promote awareness. Thank you to members of our community and DEI Advisory Committee who provided valued feedback.
BOARD CORNER
BOARD CORNER
The Westfield Board of Education is seeking an applicant who is interested in serving on the Board from January 1, 2023 through April 24, 2023 to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Board member Amy Root. The deadline to submit your application for consideration is Tuesday, December 6. Read full details HERE.
The Board of Education held a meeting on November 15. The next regular public meeting of the Board will be on December 13 in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School.
We are grateful to our many community partners and for their support of our students and staff. Most recently, the Westfield Education Fund provided a generous donation for training on grief-informed education and the many definitions of loss. Read more here.
Community Corner
Community Corner
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
Fall Singalongs
Sterling Hill Mine Field Trip
RIS French Breakfast
Dr. Derrick Nelson Award
GOOD NEWS
WHS Robotics Club Hosts FirstTech Challenge - Tap into Westfield
The Secret in the Wings - Hi's Eye
Cultural Food Helps Form Connections - Optic Magazine
Dia de los Muertos, McKinley Interim Principal, and Board Vacancy - Courier News (scroll down to Westfield)
Girls Volleyball Season: In Review - Hi's Eye Sports
WHS PinkOut, Marching Blue Devils, New BA, ShopRite Cup, and WHS Academic Honors - Westfield Monthly
Marching Blue Devils and WHS Makerspace Halloween Designs - Courier News
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
December 2: National Special Education Day
December 7: Strategic Planning Council Meeting
December 13: Regular Board Meeting and Interviews of Board Candidates for open seat
December 18-26: Hanukkah (begins at sundown)
December 23: Early Dismissal
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26-30: Winter Break (Schools Closed)
December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa
2022-2023 School Calendar rev 6-14-22.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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