Socially-distanced classrooms at Boys & Girls Club summer program. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – The Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA of Greater Westfield will serve as remote learning centers for some Westfield Public School students who are participating in the hybrid learning model, announced Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski.
Students in grades K-8 who get into the program will be able to attend either the Boys and Girls Club or the YMCA starting Oct. 13, 2020 through Dec. 23, 2020 during their remote learning weeks during school hours at no cost. Lunch will also be provided to all students.
Remote Learning Centers will be staffed by Boys and Girls Club and YMCA employees who will assist students in connecting remotely to their instruction. The directors of both programs will collaborate with principals and teachers to support maximum engagement of students.
Czaporowski said that Westfield Public Schools and the two organizations reached an agreement following the final approval of the plan by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to have the Club and the YMCA provide the remote learning centers during remote learning weeks.
“Part of the issue was that we were using the reopening school grant to fund this, and we had to wait for final approval from the state. DESE funding was approved through the end of December,” Czaporowski said.
Enrollment is limited to 200 students due to space restrictions. Last month, parents were asked to call or email the WPS curriculum office to express an interest in enrolling their children. These families are currently being contacted by the Boys and Girls Club. Additional families that would like to sign up a child for this program may call the office at 413-562-2298 to be put on a waiting list.
“We had a lot of people put their names in, then we’ll see what’s next,” Czaporowski said.
“While I realize that this does not solve every issue that our parents and guardians will encounter as we fully implement our hybrid learning model, it is my hope that this offers some temporary relief for a number of families,” Czaporowski said.
