STEFAN CZAPOROWSKI
It’s been a busy fall season for the Westfield Vocational Technical High School community, and I’m excited to share all the things we’ve been up to. Electrical Wiring students recently completed a lighting project at the Westfield Athenaeum and our Construction Technology students replaced the roof of their storage shed. The Manufacturing department has been recognized on WGBY’s Connecting Point and WGGB Channel 40 News, and has been designated a PRIME site by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation. Students in Automotive Technology will begin repairing city vehicles and students in our Ornamental Horticulture program have started building their second greenhouse. Our Parent Volunteer Organization organized another successful Craft Fair and our freshmen are in the final stages of the exploratory process. This is just a short list of what is happening at our school this year.
In early November, WVTHS held its annual General Advisory Fall Dinner. Over sixty business community members attended to share their expertise and volunteer involvement in our vocational programs. Some of the local businesses represented were Westfield Gage Incorporated, New England Custom Counter Tops, B&E Tool Group, Hamilton Sundstrand, Advanced Manufacturing, Whalley Computer, DeGray’s Auto Service, Balise Auto Group, Michael’s Frame and Collision, Westfield Bank, National Envelope, and Renaissance Manor. We are very appreciative for all of the support that is received from local businesses and the community at large. Since our main goal at WVTHS is to make students’ education as relevant as possible to the current trends and needs in the work force, the collaboration between local business and our school is invaluable. Simply put, it means we graduate students who have the skill sets to be hired.
First term has closed and report cards were distributed on November 16. We had two-hundred fifteen students make first or second honors. This represents forty-five percent of the school and is quite the accomplishment for our students. If you missed the listing of our honor roll in the Westfield News, you can see it on our school website at http://wvths.schoolsofwestfield.org/ under “School News.”
Six students attended the Skills USA Fall State Leadership Conference on November 18-20. The three day event focused on how the student officers could build stronger chapters back at their home schools. The students participated in intensive leadership training in the areas of communication skills, group dynamics and employability skills. They also took part in competitions in the areas of community service, membership promotion, community construction, team portfolios, and recycling. Our group earned four awards and was also recognized with individual leadership awards. Congratulations go out to those six: Ben Gillespie, Megan Ilnicky, Evelyn Beckett, Antonio Rivera, Catherine Oleksak, and Robert Rivest.
Our fall sports program also came to a close in late November. The Boys Soccer Team had a great season finishing 13-6 and making it to the Western Massachusetts Semi-Finals. Teammates Peter Makarchuk, Colin Fecteau, Dimitry Stepanchuk, Tyler Hall, and Adam Guilbert were voted to the all Tri-County Team. Guilbert and Makarchuk were also selected for The Republican’s All Scholastic Boys Soccer First Team. Guilbert was named Division 3 Boys MVP by the PVSOA (Pioneer Valley Soccer Official Association) as well. Great job, Adam! The Girls Soccer Team also had a great season and was selected to receive the John Kurty/Benny Santos Sportsmanship Award. This award is presented by the PVSOA to the girl’s team with outstanding sportsmanship in their division. Girls and Boys Basketball practice has begun and we have seen record numbers of students try out. Our first home Boys Basketball game is January 3at 7:00 pm against St. Mary’s and our first home Girls game is on December 21 at 7:00 pm against the Pioneer Valley Christian School. Go Tigers!
Starting on November 30, Ms. Jennifer Dorgan, owner of Piece of My Art Studio in downtown Westfield, began working with WVTHS students interested in Art. Ms. Dorgan has volunteered to conduct a series of workshops in acrylic painting after school. Supplies for students are being provided through a grant funded by the Volunteers in Public Schools. Over twenty of our students are participating, and WVTHS is thankful for Ms. Dorgan’s generosity.
As the holidays approach, our Culinary Arts students are going to be very busy. Our school restaurant will be hosting a reservation only lunch, on December 13 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm with the Westfield State Jazz Ensembles providing live music. The cost is $8.00 per person and reservations are accepted by calling (413) 564-3123. Our Annual Holiday Lunch Buffet will be on December 20 this year, join us if you can.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Westfield Vocational Technical High School!
Stefan Czaporowski
Principal
