This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. On behalf of the staff, thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness! We thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream truck, gourmet lunch, and coffee and candy bars! Lottery scratch off day was fun, too, though sadly there were no winners! More than anything else, we appreciated all of the hand written cards and drawings. It is truly our pleasure to teach your children. 💙

In Pre-K this week students began a new unit of study on gardening. They explored what grows in gardens and discovered the types of foods that flourish there. To complement their learning, they delved into books such as "NatGeo - In My Garden" and "Oliver's Vegetables". Additionally, dramatic play areas were transformed into garden-related spaces (e.g. flower shop, nursery), fostering imaginative play and deepening their connection to the theme.

In Kindergarten this week, students practiced reading short sentences with fluency and using all they know about spelling patterns to write their own sentences. In Readers' Workshop, they used their superpowers to read non-fiction books, and distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books. In Math, students practiced subtraction facts within 5, finding number pairs that add to 10, and exploring patterns in solutions. In Social Studies, they learned about staying safe during summer activities, comparing Japanese meals to home-cooked ones, and they even practiced using chopsticks - what a fun way to build hand strength! In Science, they shared what plants need to grow and observed plant growth in their classrooms.

To all the moms and mother figures - have a fabulous Mother's Day weekend! 🌺🌼💐🌷🌹

Enjoy this week's photo gallery -

Do you have an upcoming 1st grader or know someone who does? Please remember to visit our Student Registration portal to register your child. To register a 1st grader for the 2024-2025 school year, the child must be a resident of Westfield, reached the age of 6 on or before October 1, 2024, and have not yet attended the Westfield Public Schools. Having the most up-to-date enrollment numbers are critical as the district plans for the upcoming school year.

May 13-17 is Food Allergy Awareness Week. As parents, most of us have had a child with food allergies in our care at some time. Having information on how to recognize and respond to anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, helps take the guesswork out of how to handle a potential emergency situation. For those interested in refreshing their skills, here is information on recognizing and responding to a reaction, along with brief videos on "How to Use an Epi-pen Auto-Injector" and "How to Use an Auvi-Q Auto-Injector." You could help save a life.

This is the time of year when students start to display seasonal allergy symptoms. As symptoms can be similar, we want to advise you that a case of pertussis (whooping cough) was identified at Westfield High School. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air by a cough or sneeze. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough, which become much worse over 1-2 weeks. While most people have been vaccinated against pertussis, there is some loss of protection after several years. If your child has had a cough for several weeks which is worsening, please let your healthcare provider know that a case of pertussis has occurred in our community so they can properly care for your child.

A special thank you goes out to the PTO Executive Board members who were instrumental in the coordination and set up of the Flower Patch: Tony & Marissa Nigro, Phillip Lam, and Lauren Pakier.

Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped facilitate each of the activity stations:

Margo DeSerio, Nicole McCormick, Zehra Irshaduddin, Ashley Meisch, Nicole Peters, Bridget Messina, Erica Witte, Amanda Avery, Elizabeth Vuelta, Lori Lampart, Bonni Zukof, Theresa Guzek, Danielle Roseman, Heather Sabreen, Alyson Vogel, Corey Bindler, Lauren Ritz, Jessica Hooper, Danielle Pfund, Dana Spano, Elina Schaller, Julie Huang, Kelly Palmisano, Katelynn Leemhuis, Nicole Buffa, Kristen McGraw, Brianna Rosenbaum, Reema Thakkar, Jennifer Disler, Lauren Lioon, Katherine Zapata, Barbara Shapiro, Francesca Lee, Elizabeth Shumaker, Kristen Karp, Meredith Perrone, Robyn Glessner, Sarah Yu, Taryn Ackerman, Marisa Sobol, Christina DeRitis, Krista Zoch, Riki Newman, Andrew Cabrera, Mara Claricia

The connections forged through family participation enrich our students' educational experiences and foster a spirit of togetherness. All families are encouraged to share their time and talents in these upcoming school wide events -

On Monday, May 13, 2024, the Pre-K will be holding its annual "Tournament of Champions" field day event (rain date Monday, May 20). The Tournament will be held at Kehler Field behind Lincoln School. This culmination of our adapted physical education program is directed by Mr. Daniel Pereira.

Please complete the permission slip.

The First Grade Orientation has been scheduled at your child's Elementary School on Friday, May 17. Please complete the form below. Students will be dismissed from the main entrance at their scheduled times.

This form is due no later than Monday, May 13th by 4:00pm.

Kindergarten Field Day will take place on Tuesday, May 21 on the grassy field between both playgrounds. Families and friends are welcome to watch from the sidewalk on Westfield Avenue. Only volunteers will be permitted on the field.

The Kindergarten Celebration will take place on Friday, June 7. Please refer to the invitation for class times. Additional details will follow.

May is celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, honoring the contributions and cultural diversity of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It's a time to recognize the histories, traditions, and achievements of these communities, as well as to raise awareness about issues they face and promote inclusivity and understanding.

The NYC Public Library showcases a collection of recommended books celebrating Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage for kids. It features a diverse range of titles that highlight the rich cultural heritage and experiences of AANHPI communities, offering engaging stories, vibrant illustrations, and educational content suitable for young readers.

May

12: Mother's Day

13: Pre-K Tournament of Champions (Field Day)

17: Training Day | First Grade Orientations at Elementary Schools (click HERE for times)

20: Rain date Pre-K Tournament of Champions (Field Day)

21: Kindergarten Field Day

24: Schools closed

27-28: Schools closed

28: Rain date Kindergarten Field Day

June

4: International Dinner for Multilingual Students - WHS - Cafeteria B (6 - 8 PM)

7: Kindergarten Celebration

12: School Wide EOY Carnival

14: Spirit Day

16: Father's Day

19: Juneteenth

19 - 20: Early Dismissal for Students

20: Last Day for Students