Ribbon cutting for College and Career Center re-opening Wednesday.
WESTFIELD – After two storm-related cancellations, the Westfield High School College and Career Center was able to hold its grand reopening on Wednesday morning. Rosalin Acosta, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development drove in for the ceremony, as did Rep. John Velis, Drew Renfro, Senator Donald Humason’s Chief of Staff, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, City Councilor Cindy C. Harris, School Committee members, Westfield Public School district administrators, staff and students.
The excitement was due to the partnership Westfield High School has made with CareerPoint career center in Holyoke, who will be bringing their resources in job and internship development, interview and resume skills and career guidance to both WHS and Westfield Technical Academy. Xandria Sotomayor, Career Point’s High School Career Center Coordinator will work closely with the Center to meet the needs of the students in Westfield.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski welcomed the guests, saying his main goal since he began as superintendent has been to create more opportunities for students, and the College and Career Center will do so by offering career assessments and essential job skills, as well as helping with internships.
“For me as a principal, it’s rare that you can mark a date on the calendar,” said WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik, adding that March 21, 2018 will be a day to remember for the school. He said the grand reopening is “a promise to students of Westfield that we’ll help them in all of their needs.” He said the support they’re adding with CareerPoint will bolster the efforts of teachers and counselors.
Southwick Fire Department intern Sarah Bannish.
Jendrysik then introduced Sarah Bannish, an intern with the Southwick Fire Department. Quietly, she said she recently took an EMT course with the department, and then had the honor to provide CPR and save someone’s life. She said she is on track to attend Greenfield Community College’s paramedic program, and thanked the Career Center for making all of it possible.
Jendrysik thanked the Reed family of Mestek for starting the Career Center in the first place, and Stewart Reed for his continued support, and invited him forward to speak. “At Mestek, we love interns,” Reed said, describing them as the “best job interviews of all time.” He said most of Mestek’s interns are from college, but they have had several from Westfield Public Schools that have “worked out very well,” and become career employees.
Reed said that not every student is bound for a four-year college, and students have an excellent two-year option at Springfield Technical Community College. He said at Mestek, they are very enthusiastic about students interested in information technology, engineering, finance and accounting.
“With that, I’d like to provide a check for $5,000,” Reed said, presenting it to Jendrysik.
Executive of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta and CareerPoint CEO David Gadaire.
“We’re really excited about this for all the obvious reasons. We’re helping youth figure out what their options are – even ones they’re afraid of,” said David Gadaire, CareerPoint CEO. “We’re not the answer to anything, but part of the answer for everything,” he said, and nodding to Sarah Bannish, added, “By the way, when you save someone’s life, it’s kind of a big deal.”
Gadaire, in introducing Secretary Acosta, said CareerPoint never before received the level of support they are getting now from the statehouse.
Acosta said when she first heard about the Career Center, she was so excited, that not even the threat of the fourth Northeaster was going to keep her away. “We have to do this in every school across the Commonwealth,” she said.
Acosta spoke about her own five grown children, and the lack of support and career guidance they received in school. She said 80% of the job is learning how to collaborate, be a team player, take initiative, show up (on time), and shake hands. She also said she believes it is particularly important for girls to learn to negotiate and speak for themselves. “They need to be a little more vocal about their talents,” she said.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and Stewart Reed, who presented a check for $5,000 to the Career Center.
Acosta said Governor Charles Baker established a Workforce Development Cabinet by executive order when he first started, and the three secretaries meeting bi-weekly to make sure they are aligned in goals and grant making.
Acosta said if the state does nothing, by 2024 there will be a shortage of employees for 15,000 health care jobs and 10,000 manufacturing jobs. She said in information technology, which crosses all sectors, there are currently 8,000 job openings statewide. She said Westfield is leading the way through programs like this one.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan thanked the business community, and in particular Stewart Reed, for the support of the Career Center. “You’re being here all the time is a big gift to Westfield,” he said to Reed. Sullivan also spoke about the Westfleld Education 2 Business Alliance (WE2BA) efforts to involve the business community in the schools.
Rep. John C. Velis with his intern this year, WHS senior Haylee Moniz.
“This is a success story that’s growing. We appreciate that we can be the model for the Commonwealth,” the Mayor said.
Rep. John C. Velis said it was an “honor” for him to be there, but said the most important people in the room were the students and what they are doing. He introduced WHS senior Haylee Moniz, who interned with him for six months.
Velis spoke about a vote that he was struggling with and seeking advice for. He said he had a conversation with Hayley that helped him to see another side. “It’s a cool thing to be a state rep from Westfield,” Velis said, adding, “We’re leading the way in a lot of things.”
For her part, Moniz said she is interested in going into law school. She said the House of Representatives hosted the legislative interns, where they had an opportunity to hear the speaker of the house. “I had a great firsthand experience with the Representative,” Moniz said.
“We’re excited to have CareerPoint open a satellite campus here. This will help to expand our internships and job shadowing. We want these kids to get career experience, and see what’s out there to tap into,” said Tara Bean, the district’s college and career counselor for both Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy.
