Westfield High School student liaisons Maya Guillotte and Sam Gustafson report monthly to the School Committee on student activities at their school. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Central Office Administrative Team (COAT) of Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Curriculum & Instruction Director Susan Dargie, Assessment & Accountability Director Denise Ruszala, and Student Interventions Administrator Christopher Rogers gave a presentation to the School Committee on their strategies for continuous improvement Nov. 18.
Dargie spoke about providing students with opportunities for social and emotional development in addition to academics.
One way the district accomplishes this is through positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS), which they have expanded from pre-k to grade 12. Dargie gave examples of ways students are rewarded for positive actions, such as extra credit for high school students involved in student voting, and credits for elementary students that they can spend on non-material rewards. Dargie said the district is partnering with the UMass Behavior Center on PBIS, and each school has its own PBIS team.
Mindfulness is another way the schools are helping students be more present and focused. Teachers are creating mindfulness spaces where students can take a break and refocus; a practice that teachers are also modeling. Dargie said there are staff members who are passionate about mindfulness, and are bringing ideas to other staff during optional professional development opportunities. She called it a “grass roots effort.”
“We always want to make staff development relevant,” Dargie said. She said they offer two days of professional development where teachers can choose what they want to learn, which has resulted in more teachers bringing back what they’ve learned into the classroom.
Dargie also spoke about the strategic partnerships for professional development of staff in many of the schools. She gave examples such as the Abner Gibbs Elementary School partnership with the Enchanted Circle Theatre for development in the arts, and Westfield Technical Academy’s partnership with Reach for Better Teaching.
For prevention, the district is partnering with the Coalition on Outreach, Recovery and Education (CORE) to present a series of workshops for parents, beginning this week (Nov. 20) with a Strengthening Families workshop at the Westfield Intermediate School.
Rogers spoke about project-based learning and performance assessment in the schools, moving students up from basic knowledge to come up with solutions to problems. He cited Westfield Middle School students at a winter band concert and the Lego Robotics Club as project-based learning projects.
He also spoke about the students at Summer Edventure at WMS that advocated for eliminating plastic straws in the district last year, a practice that was adopted; and for eliminating plastic bags this year, which the district is studying. School Committee member Bo Sullivan said the state Senate just voted on Monday to eliminate plastic bags statewide.
WMS also collaborated with “Bob the Bike Man,” who challenged seventh and eighth graders to refurbish bicycles. At the end of the projects, students without bicycles were able to take one home.
Other recent project-based learning programs Rogers pointed to were the activities during the recent STEM week in all the schools, and the trees that students planted at each school to commemorate Westfield’s 350th birthday, donated by Westfield 350 Committee.
Czaporowski spoke about Edgenuity, a program which provides increased opportunities for self-directed learning. He said currently there are 121 students taking courses online; including 44 students from Pathways earning credits towards graduation, and others taking courses not offered in Westfield.University, and a new articulation agreement with students in Westfield Technical Academy’s Allied Health to graduate with 12 credits at Springfield Technical Community College. Aviation Maintenance technology students will also enter college with 18 to 20 credits earned, he said.
Czaporowski said more and more students are earning college credits through dual enrollment and other programs, such as Westfield Promise, a partnership with Westfield State University which has doubled its junior class cohort.
He also spoke about opportunities for internships and job shadowing through the Career Center in WHS. He said the Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) also has 15 Adopt-a-Classroom programs with local businesses scheduled.
Ruszala spoke about the focus by the Central Office team on fostering positive relationships. She said the school year began with a visit by the team to each of the schools to meet with staff. She said the district is committed to supporting its staff and teachers.
The team is also involved in helping families, through the district-wide food drive on Nov. 25 and year-long support of the food pantries in the schools. Ruszala said they are working to increase communication with families through the weekly Superintendent Spotlight radio show, which airs on Thursdays from 8:45 to 10 a.m. on WSKB Community Radio 89.5 FM, and have added the ability to text message families to their communication efforts.
Ruszala said the district wants parents to have a voice in education, and supports the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), and the new English Learners Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC).
She said Central Registration moved their offices to the first floor of the Westwood building, in order to meet every new family entering the district. She said teachers and translators will also be doing home visits with kindergarten students, beginning with Franklin Avenue Elementary School.
Rogers spoke about new cameras and security locks at the schools, and the great relationship that the schools have developed with the Westfield Police Department. He said recent lockdown drills were the best he’s seen to date.
“It’s sad to talk about creating schools and classroom spaces to enhance safety; but the kids love the new spaces,” Rogers said, showing examples from different schools.
Ruszala also spoke about the efforts underway to embed technology in the schools, with one-to-one Chromebooks at Westfield Middle School, which is coming to Westfield Intermediate School at the end of January. She said thanks to the teamwork among principals and teachers, the rollout of the program at WMS went smoothly.
“It’s truly an exciting time in our schools, as we continue to train students in technology,” she said.
“There is work to be done, we know that. We need to focus on all the great things you’re doing at all levels,” said Cindy Sullivan following the presentation, saying progress is being made by “leaps and bounds.’
“Gone are the days where you’re just teaching academics. You’re focused on the entire child,” said Diane Mayhew, adding that school is so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic.
Heather Sullivan said she appreciated the common theme of increased community participation. “When children see the community together and giving back… it’s really important. Awesome work,” she said.
“This is the kind of thing as a school liaison I try to share,” said Ralph J. Figy, who is temporarily serving on the School Committee as Acting Mayor. He thanked At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris for coming to School Committee meetings, and expressed his frustration that more councilors did not come.
“Your staff knows what to do,” said School Committee vice chair Ramon Diaz, Jr.
