WESTFIELD – A moving open letter to former students of Westfield HIgh School and Westfield Technical Academy was posted on Facebook this week. The letter was signed by many retired teachers, as well as some current teachers and administrators. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said he knew that given the chance, all 800 plus current staff would have signed it.
“You left your footprints on our memories,” begins the letter. “When you graduated from our high schools, you sat in rows and listened to words like these, as we sent you off on your way into the `Real World.’ Now, more than ever, we want you to know that those `footprints’ you left are being remembered and that we are sending you, not just our very best thoughts, but also our prayers and our heart-felt thank you for all that you are doing and facing for your communities and the people who are so terribly affected by this Covid-19 virus.”
“Whether you became a first responder, doctor, nurse, custodian, support person, grocery store worker, mail person, or any one of the thousands of jobs that put YOU in peril of contracting the virus yourselves, or whether you are currently at home, keeping your family going while they shelter-in-place, or whether you are taking over the duties of teacher for your families or seeing that your neighbors who are unable to get groceries are safe, or whether you are just following the guidelines of sheltering-in-place to help stem the tide of this pandemic, know that your teachers have you in our thoughts!
“Some of us were with you in our classrooms back on 9/11, when, together, we experienced one of the worst attacks on our country in our history. We all wondered how you would grow and thrive in a world where disasters called upon the very best in us to survive; well, survive you did, and now, we can see that we are in very good hands, with all of you doing your very best, the best we knew you had in you, to help keep those near and dear to you, and those you never met before, healthy and given the best chance to continue living. Your hours have been long, your worries weighing heavily on you, but it has not gone unnoticed by your grateful teachers.
“This `Real World’ we sent you into has been a challenge for your generation, and you have risen to face that challenge, just as we hoped you would, those many years ago, when you sat in front of us in our classrooms. Know that we are so appreciative of the great sacrifices you are facing and that we do not take what you are doing for granted. As you walked out of your high school graduation ceremony, you were wished Godspeed. Once again, that is our fervent wish for you!”
The letter ends with the wish “Godspeed,” from their former teachers and administrators.
Those listed include: Christine Hagan, Margaret Toomey, Patricia Barnes, Jeanne Ryan, Dianne DeMarco, Helena Mochak, Rick and Karen Gomez, Mitch and Karen Bannish, Tom Daley, Karen Whitaker, Joyce O’Donnell, Jen Hartman, Meg Stopa, Jack Dougherty, Bill Daley, Alison Kelly, Greg Miller, Linda Burzdak, Patty Healy, Donna McKay, Kathy Friguglietti, Bob Piper, Lisa and Greg Strycharz, Ray Broderick, Sharon Ensign, Gaetana Aliotta, Kim Baitler, Trish LeClair, Helena Alves, Lynn Roberts, Ben Hatch, Kate Pawul, Jon Tyler, Paula Figella, Dimitra Cook, Joanne Santos, Jen Levesque, Dennis Duquette, Jenna Gauthier, Jill Keenan, Joe DeChristopher, Emily Larson, Kelly Simon, Paul Mason, Joe Langone, Chuck Jendrysik, Donna Drewnowski, Paula Parsky, Deb Auclair, Laurie Clark, Tara Bean, Maureen Parker, Karen West, Ann Marie Picard, Sue Willey, Stefan Czaporowski and more.
