October 2022
Embedded Files
Superintendent's Corner
Superintendent's Corner
October has been a busy month! We celebrated the Week of "Extra" Respect, Walk or Bike to School Day, Fire Prevention Week, sectional and county wins for the WHS Blue Devils, the appointment of a new Business Administrator and a School Safety and Security Specialist, a day of staff professional learning, and important cultural traditions.
Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Strategic Plan 2023-2028
We also began the strategic planning process which will chart the course for the district for the next five years. As communicated in my October 18 email to the school community, this is a collaborative process that relies on input from all stakeholders.
As a reminder, here are some of the opportunities to have a voice in the process:
A well-attended session was held for staff on October 26.
Parents and community members are encouraged to attend a stakeholder session on Wednesday, November 2 from 7-9 p.m. in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School.
Students in grades 9-12 will have the chance to provide feedback on Thursday, November 3 from 2:45-4 p.m. in Cafe B.
A community-wide survey will be distributed on November 1. The window to complete the survey is November 1-18.
A Strategic Plan 2023-2028 website is being developed and will be active soon.
Public comment will be welcome at Strategic Planning Council meetings where a quorum of the Board is in attendance.
Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB)
Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB)
As mentioned, New Jersey school districts observe the first week of October as the "Week of Respect." Here, in the Westfield Public School District, we call it the "Week of Extra Respect" as we believe respect should be practiced daily. The District takes very seriously the safety and well-being of our students and staff. In addition to the ongoing efforts of each of our ten schools and administration to guide and protect our students, these resources, including a Form to Submit an Anonymous HIB Incident Report, are available to parents as we join together in safeguarding our children and providing a supportive environment that fosters good conduct and learning.
Our New Business Administrator
Our New Business Administrator
Assistant Business Administrator Patricia Ramos will succeed Dana Sullivan as Business Administrator/Board Secretary on January 1, 2023. “Since starting in Westfield, I have been impressed by the dedication of the staff. There is a true motivation to provide for the success of all students,” says Ramos. “Even with a budget that is less than comparably-sized districts, the staff has found ways to keep Westfield a top-rated public school system.” Read More.
Our New Safety and Security Specialist
Our New Safety and Security Specialist
Former Westfield Police Captain Frank Padovano has been appointed to the newly created position of School Safety and Security Specialist. “We need to create a climate in our schools that promotes a culture of wanting to be safe,” Padovano says. “A School Safety and Security Specialist can share relevant safety knowledge about which many are unaware in the educational profession. Together we can accomplish this goal through inclusion, a sense of belonging, effective communication, and teamwork.” Read More.
Curriculum Corner
Curriculum Corner
Two months into the 2022-2023 school year and our students and staff have settled well into their classroom learning and routines. This month, chemistry students at WHS held their annual "Mole" Day celebration in recognition of this particular scientific unit of measurement. Comic strip pre-writing helped McKinley 5th graders plan their narrative stories and reinforce story structure. Roosevelt 6th graders learned how to be better digital citizens, while 8th graders at Edison compared multiple texts to develop their own analytical essays in Language Arts. This is a mere snapshot of the dynamic learning taking place across the district. We will continue to share glimpses into our classrooms and schools each month in The NEWS Letter, on the district / school websites, and on district social media.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Staff members gathered on October 10 for a full day of professional learning.
Classroom teachers in grades K-5 explored diverse mentor texts.
Guidance counselors, Child Study Teams and related services participated in two sessions: "Destigmatizing Mental Health" and "Strategies to De-Escalate a Student."
Achieve teachers reviewed current academic intervention programs.
Teachers in Grades 6-12 focused on "Building Consistency of Practices."
Content-area departments held "Ignite" Sessions to exchange ideas.
All elementary teachers joined a session on "Grief and Loss-Informed Schools," facilitated by Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss.
At the October 18 Board of Education meeting, Supervisors from our Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Programs provided an Annual Statewide Assessments Performance Report for 2022.
Annual Statewide Assessments Performance Report.10.18.2022.pdf
Communication Update
Communication Update
The District tested its new emergency notification system on October 6. All staff members and families should have received a text message, voice call, and email. All voice calls from the district's notification system will come from (908) 519-2253. Please add this number to your phone's contacts so that it is not blocked. Also, make sure your email carrier recognizes the westfieldnjk12.org address. All staff will receive email alerts to their Westfield address. Please use THIS FORM to report any future missed alerts.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Heritage, History, and Religious Observances for November
“Remember, you are all people and all people are you” - Joy Harjo, Remember
These words from Native American poet, musician and performer, Joy Harjo, speak to two National observances for November. November is National Native American Heritage/Alaska Native Heritage Month and November 14-20 is Transgender Awareness Week. In the spirit of unity and appreciation for all people as one people, here are some resources from Smithsonian and the Library of Congress for recognizing the culture and contributions of Native and Alaska Native Americans; and here is an interesting read from National Geographic on “How Historians are Documenting the Lives of Transgender People.”
Also, early November marks the time each year where we honor the service and sacrifice of all veterans - living and deceased. This year, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 and to commemorate this service and sacrifice, some of our district’s media specialists have identified materials for use in the classroom: teacher resource guides from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and lesson planning for middle school students exploring Veterans Day and the Meaning of Sacrifice.
BOARD CORNER
BOARD CORNER
A Reminder: The Board Election has been Moved
A Reminder: The Board Election has been Moved
The Board election has been moved from Tuesday, November 8, 2022 to Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Westfield residents also will vote on the 2023-2024 school district budget on April 18. Read more in the June 2022 edition of The NEWS Letter.
The Board of Education held a meeting on October 18. Board members will meet next on November 15 in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School @ 7 p.m.
The district website provides important connections to our school community.
Visit the Parent Teacher Council webpage for monthly meeting dates, ways to get involved, and much more. Information from our school PTOs are found on their respective school websites.
The Community Flyers page lists upcoming events sponsored by Westfield-area non-profit community organizations.
The NEWS Letter is archived on the website as well. If you missed it, check out the Back-to-School issue with links to many of our community partners.
Community Corner
Community Corner
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
WHS XC Sectional Champs
WHS Community Service Club
Wilson Pumpkin Patch
Halloween Makerspace at McKinley
GOOD NEWS
You Have Been Inducted into the National Honor Society. Now What? - Hi's Eye
Hands-On Science Learning in McKinley Garden - Courier News
Westfield High School Students Earn Academic Honors - Tap into Westfield
New Business Administrator Appointed - Westfield Patch
ShopRite Cup and Marching Band Honors - Courier News
One Westfield Place: The Future of Downtown Westfield - Hi's Eye
Golden Pass and other school news - October issue of Westfield Monthly
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
November 2: Strategic Planning Stakeholder Session for Parents / Community Members
November 3: Strategic Planning Stakeholder Session for Students (Grades 9-12)
November 7 & 8: Early Dismissal for Grades PK-5 Only
November 9: Early Dismissal for ALL Schools
November 10-11: Schools CLOSED
November 15: Regular Public Board of Education Meeting
November 23: Early Dismissal - ALL Schools
November 24-25: District Closed for Thanksgiving Recess
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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