A monthly e-newsletter from the Westfield Public Schools
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Back to School 2023
Welcome back! I hope your summer was enjoyable and filled with memory-making moments.
We look forward to greeting our students on Thursday, September 7. Much work has taken place over the summer to prepare for the 2023-2024 school year and we are excited to get started. Keep an eye on your email inboxes for a communication from your building principals with details on the return to school.
As you will read below, we have lots of district updates and news to share, so please review this newsletter carefully.
See you next week!
Dr. G.
As you will recall, the process began last fall to draft the district's Strategic Plan. Last year was all about gathering data and defining priorities. A Strategic Planning Council met throughout the 2022-2023 school year and more than 3,300 students, parents, staff, and community members provided valued input through surveys and in-person sessions. Based on this comprehensive process, district administration drafted Goals and Objectives, which were approved by the Board of Education at its June 27 meeting.
Over the summer, the administrative team continued its work, crafting an accompanying action plan with concrete steps to be taken to meet these exciting goals and objectives. We look forward to sharing the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan with the public this fall. In the meantime, please visit our Strategic Plan portal for more information.
In our continuous efforts to keep our students safe on our network and in our schools, we are proud to report that Westfield Public Schools will introduce new enhancements to our safety and security tools and protocols.
Implementation of Gaggle for Student Account Monitoring: The Westfield Public School District is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our students in the digital realm by using the Gaggle Safety Management System to monitor students' Google accounts, including email and drive, for any signs of self-harm, cyberbullying, or other potentially harmful behaviors. This measure aims to provide timely support and intervention, fostering a secure online learning environment for all students. Student privacy remains a top priority; the monitoring will be carried out with the utmost discretion and sensitivity.
Pilot Launch of Visitor Aware: We also are excited to announce the upcoming pilot of the Visitor Aware visitor management system at McKinley Elementary School this fall. This system is designed to heighten security by streamlining visitor tracking and access BEFORE entering the school building through the use of a kiosk located outside the main entrance. Notably, every visitor will be screened against national sexual offender registries, while keeping up-to-date visitor information, and giving schools and parents peace of mind. If proven successful, our intention is to implement Visitor Aware across all other schools, ensuring a safer environment for everyone. Stay tuned for updates on this crucial initiative.
K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams: On August 1, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law N.J.S.A. 18A:17-43.4, requiring the creation of a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team in each public school, charter school, and renaissance school project. The purpose of the team is to provide teachers, administrators, and other staff with assistance in identifying students with behaviors of concern, assessing those students’ risk for engaging in violence or other harmful activities, and delivering intervention strategies to manage the risk of harm for students who pose a potential safety risk. All Westfield Public Schools have established their teams, participated in training provided by the NJDOE, and are prepared to implement the systems in accordance with the law and recently adopted Board Policy 2419: School Threat Assessment Teams. For more information https://www.nj.gov/education/security/.
Scroll through the photo carousel for glimpses of the dynamic learning taking place at STEM Camp!
STEM Camp
This summer, 93 students in grades 6-8 and 180 students in grades 3-5 participated in the district's popular STEM Camp, with a host of classes designed to immerse campers in hands-on activities centered around Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Music, and Mathematics concepts. STEM camp courses strive to promote a child's natural curiosity and to provide opportunities for campers to ask questions and develop solutions to specific problems.
The goal is that campers will develop a growth mindset and an interest in a STEM activity that encourages them to dive deeper into new STEM skills and concepts. The strategic blend of instruction in core values and important content will help these campers in both school and later in life. Thank you to STEM Camp Advisors Mr. Bonasera and Mrs. Paiva, along with all of the teachers for another great summer of STEM learning.
More Summer Learning
Nineteen Westfield students in grades K-5 took part in the English Language Learners (ELL) Summer Experience, a two-week summer camp that provides meaningful enrichment activities to help students continue their English language acquisition.
Additionally, the Extended School Year (ESY) Program, now in its 21st year, assists students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) in preventing skill regression and preparing for the upcoming school year.
Read more about this important annual summer learning.
Scroll through the photo carousel for snapshots from the ELL Summer Experience!
STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS NOTIFICATION
New Jersey school districts are required by statute (N.J.S.A. 18A: 7C-6.6) to annually notify parents or guardians by October 1 of any statewide student assessment or commercially developed standardized assessment that will be administered over the school year. The assessments in this table include all state-mandated testing that the district is obligated to administer this year. Additional information about selected district testing is also provided via links in the table.
EXCUSAL FROM HEALTH EDUCATION INSTRUCTION
EXCUSAL FROM HEALTH EDUCATION INSTRUCTION
Per Policy 5250, parents have the opportunity to request that their child be excused from "any part of the instructions in health education, family life education, sex education, or instruction that includes dissection of animals that the parent or legal guardian of the student or the adult student finds morally, conscientiously, or religiously offensive." Details from the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment are included in the Back-to-School packet on the Genesis Parent Portal. The Health Education curriculum and excusal request forms by grade can be found on the department page. If you have any further questions about student excusal requests, please contact your principal.
For planning purposes, the deadline to submit an excusal from instruction request is Friday, September 8. Any family wishing to submit an excusal request after September 8 must contact the principal of their child's school.
Heritage, History and Religious Observances for September 2023
As we welcome our students back for a new school year, we also look forward to recognizing these important commemorations:
Patriot Day is a holiday observed in the United States on September 11 in memory of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, along with the many people who performed extraordinary acts of heroism.
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the rich history and culture of the American Latino community during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.
The Jewish New Year celebration of Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 15 and ends at sundown on Sunday, September 17.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a solemn day of fasting from sundown to sundown on Sunday-Monday, September 24-25.
Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish festival that celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem, begins at sundown on Friday, September 29 and ends on Saturday, October 7 at sunset with the festival of Simchat Torah, marking when the reading of Torah is completed and the next cycle is begun.
Our new educators participated in a 2-day orientation on August 28-29, as part of the New Staff Institute. We look forward to welcoming all of our staff - new and returning - on September 5 at the Opening Day Convocation.
There are many ways to stay connected with the Westfield Public School District. If you haven't already done so, we encourage you to download our mobile app to stay up-to-date, with access to events, school news, student stories, and more.
The 1-minute video explains how you can customize the app by school and sign up to receive push notifications of school-related news. You can download the app for free on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
In addition to The NEWS Letter which is emailed monthly to families and staff, click on the buttons below for quick access to some of the more commonly requested information.
UPDATED PROTOCOLS FOR THE GENESIS PARENT PORTAL
UPDATED PROTOCOLS FOR THE GENESIS PARENT PORTAL
Genesis.Absence Reporting.pdfBeginning in September, parents/guardians should use the Genesis Parent Portal to report a child's absence or late arrival. Please refer to the PDF for instructions.
If you still need to complete the Back-to-School digital packet of forms emailed to parents/guardians on August 18, please remember to do so. You will find the electronic packet on the Genesis Parent Portal. You must complete it before gaining access to your child(ren)'s class assignment/schedule.
Intermediate/high school students will receive their own Genesis account within the first few weeks of school; however, access to certain information and permissions will be limited to parent/guardian accounts.
RESTORATION OF THE MASONRY FACADE AT ROOSEVELT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
RESTORATION OF THE MASONRY FACADE AT ROOSEVELT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
The exterior work to restore the masonry facade at Roosevelt Intermediate School continues as planned. To ensure the safety of students, staff, and members of the community, the scaffolding and fencing will remain in place as the work continues throughout the school year and into next summer.
The Board of Education held its first Regular Public Meeting of the 2023-2024 school year on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School.
The next Regular Public Meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, September 19.
We are fortunate to have valued community partners who support our students and schools in so many ways. Please click the buttons to learn more about some of these organizations, including ways you can contribute and/or become involved.
From the Town of Westfield - Crossing Guard Information
From the Town of Westfield - Crossing Guard Information
Prior to the first day of school, please familiarize yourselves with the crossing guard post closest to your walking route. A full list of posts and information about the crossing guard program can be found on the Town of Westfield's website at westfieldnj.gov/985/Crossing-Guard-Information/crossing-guards.
We're Hiring!
Check out our Jobs Portal
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.
New Assistant Principal, Visual and Performing Arts Supervisor - Tap into Westfield
Summer Learning in the Westfield Public Schools - Westfield Patch
Hands-on, Problem-Based Learning at STEM Camp - Tap into Westfield
Westfield High School Wins Group 4 ShopRite Cup - Westfield Monthly
Celebrating the WHS Class of 2023 - Westfield Monthly
WELCOME BACK!
September 5 - Teachers and Paraprofessionals Return
September 6 - Staff In-Service
September 7 - First Day of School!
September 19 - Board of Education Meeting
September 25 - Schools Closed for Yom Kippur
2023-2024 School Calendar2023-2024_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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