Good morning Westfield! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Here is a quick update from the past week.
Tuesday I headed over to Springfield for an official ceremony announcing a further partnership between Westfield State University and Springfield Technical Community College. The two have teamed up to offer a RN to BSN completion program. Students who obtain their associate’s degree in nursing from STCC now have the opportunity to continue their studies to obtain a BSN through WSU. The program will be taught online and in person with WSU faculty traveling to STCC to teach. A price tag of $10,500 makes this program the most affordable in the surrounding area. This is a very important partnership. Not only will it strengthen our Western Massachusetts workforce, but it also strengthens the ties between our public institutions of higher education.
Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend an Advanced Placement Pep Rally at Westfield High School. This event was meant to get students excited about their Advanced Placement Courses. I appreciated the chance to meet some of the hardworking students who have stepped up to the challenge of these courses. Good luck!
Thursday night the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren along with the Attorney General’s office co-hosted an event at the Senior Center. The event, an “Information Exchange for Kinship Caregivers,” not only provided grandparents who are raising their grandchildren with information on resources available, but also gave them an opportunity to speak up about what they need. I was surprised by much of what I learned throughout the evening in terms of the obstacles facing these families. The intention of this info exchange tour is to put the information gathered to use in making changes at the state level.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend! As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns at [email protected] or 413-572-3920.
