As you will read below, the district also observed the Week of "Extra" Respect, Red Ribbon Week, School Violence Awareness Week, and other key opportunities to provide education, raise awareness, and support the well-being of all our students.  As educators, these themes for the month of October ring true, as they are among the pillars of what we work to accomplish every day throughout the school year.  Now, more than ever, we are sincerely committed to providing a safe space for our students in which to learn and express themselves. 

Additionally, this month the Board of Education approved our 5-year Strategic Plan, following a year-long, data-driven, thoughtful process.  In each goal, objective, outcome, and action item, the focus is on our students.  Links to the Strategic Plan and a Strategic Plan video brochure are provided below and on our website.  However, again with these October observances in mind, I want to point out Goal 3, which seeks to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity across academic and extracurricular programs.  Our DEI work does not center on any single group but instead emphasizes the importance of creating an environment that is welcoming and equitable for people of all cultures, religions, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, and abilities.  This is, has been, and will continue to be a priority for the Westfield Public School District.  

As you read on for additional information about the district's commitment to student safety and security, please know that a direct link to Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) resources, including how to submit a HIB incident report, can be found on the homepages of the district/school websites.  And, as always, our school counselors and Student Assistance Coordinators (SACs) stand ready to help at all times.

With gratitude for our continued partnership,

Dr. G.

Special Programs and Student Support Services

October was a busy month, as we continued to support our students and meet their academic, social, and emotional needs in a variety of ways with age-appropriate instruction and/or activities, including:  

• Week of Respect:  New Jersey requires that all public school districts designate the week beginning with the first Monday in October of each year as the "Week of Respect"  Additionally, New Jersey’s Week of Respect coincides with National Bullying Prevention Month which is annually observed in October. This allows school districts to observe the Week of Respect when there is a national spotlight on bullying prevention efforts as we place an emphasis on promoting kindness and inclusion in schools.   Examples of activities that took place in our schools included themed spirit wear days representing different aspects of kindness and respect, grade level assemblies, lessons and respect-themed books, and wearing name tags, encouraging students to learn more about each other.

• School Violence Awareness Week:  The State also requires that the week beginning with the third Monday in October of each year be designated as School Violence Awareness Week in New Jersey.  This week affords a great opportunity for districts and schools to bring staff, students, parents, and law enforcement together to be active participants in the important work of violence prevention and school safety.   Age-appropriate activities included morning announcements focused on respect, safety, and wellness at the elementary schools, intermediate school lessons encouraging students to speak up if they feel unsafe, and, at the high school, an "Upstander Pledge", asking students to stand up against bullying, along with a meeting of the "No Place for Hate" Committee and other activities.

• Red Ribbon Week:  Per the U.S.  Drug Enforcement Administration, Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year.  During Red Ribbon Week, youth and adults around the nation pledge to increase their knowledge by learning more about the destructive effects of drug abuse, including prescription drug misuse, and renew their commitment to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. 

• Thursday Table Talks, a new program offered by the WHS Counseling Department held during all lunch periods outside of the cafeteria, provides students the chance to discuss a variety of topics.  See the flyer below for additional information.

• Organized by the intermediate school counseling team, monthly "advisory" lessons are a great way for students in Grades 6-8 to share personal feelings and stories during homeroom, as well as how they receive support and assistance during difficult times.

• A post-secondary planning session was held on October 12 for parents/guardians of our 11th graders.

• Our Effective School Solutions (ESS) clinicians held an Open House on October 6 for parents/guardians of our intermediate and high school students to share social-emotional supports offered by ESS.

Spotlight on MTSS

As outlined in our Strategic Plan, the district is developing and implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, a proactive and preventative approach that integrates data and instruction to maximize achievement in all areas of student development.  MTSS Tier 1 instructional strategies are performed by teachers in the core classroom while working with their students. We often use the term “intentional” when describing Tier 1 instruction because this type of responsive instruction does not happen by accident. It is the result of thoughtful and deliberate planning. 

An excellent example of this “intentional” planning took place during a recent meeting of the Grade 5 Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Tamaques.  During their PLC meeting, teachers Lori Swanson, Nicole Barbuto, Marisa Truselo, and Principal David Duelks analyzed ELA scores from last Spring’s New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) and a recent on-demand narrative writing screening assessment.  As the team analyzed these scores, they looked for individual areas of need and strength. They also looked for patterns of specific skill deficits that emerged across the grade level. These patterns then served as the discussion for future instructional lesson and student growth objectives. 

This work, taking place across the district, serves as an excellent example of the type of data analysis and informed planning that describes high-quality, “intentional” Tier 1 instruction. 

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.