WHS Principal Summarizes NEASC Accreditation Report
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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com WHSVOL. 86 NO. 151 principal summarizesTUESDAY, NEASC JUNE 27, 2017 accreditation report 75 cents By AMY PORTER commended on the presence of val- has confidence in his leadership The school continues to use the Correspondent ues and beliefs about learning team, which has been in place for software program “Navience” to WESTFIELD – Westfield High among the staff, students and admin- three years. gauge student interests and strengths School Principal Charles Jendrysik istration. Recommendations includ- Jendrysik also mentioned the in terms of potential careers. He also gave a summary to the School ed defining learning expectations, school’s involvement in the mentioned Westfield Promise, the Committee on Monday about the and revising the school’s core val- Westfield Education 2 Business ongoing collaboration with 100 plus page report from the New ues and school-wide 21st century Alliance, and the 20 students now Westfield State University. “We England Association of Schools and expectations based on research, data doing internships in the community. have a very good relationship with Colleges (NEASC), who visited and and priorities of the school, district Regarding curriculum, the school Westfield State University and with evaluated the high school last year. and community. was commended on the willingness a number of other colleges and uni- “It’s a lot to take in,” Jendrysik said. “We haven’t really had a deep of teachers to engage individually versities,” he said, also citing the He said NEASC gave both rec- look at core values,” said Jendrysik, and by department in developing the work done by the Reed Career ommendations and commendations who is in his third year as principal curriculum. Recommendations Center. to the school on seven standards, of Westfield High School. He said include providing more time for This year, WHS is piloting a new which included Core Values, they have now begun the process staff to do this work. Jendrysik said course called 21st Century Learning Curriculum, Instruction, and will continue for the next three there is ongoing professional devel- Skills, taught by Family Consumer Assessment, Student Culture and years with input from all of the opment with the International Science Teacher Margaret Toomey. Leadership, School Resources for stakeholders, including the leader- Center for Leadership in Education, He said the course focuses on work WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik Learning and Community Resources ship team, Student Advisory and they have formed a school data readiness skills, such as interviews, presents the School Committee with a for Learning. Council, Student Improvement team to guide the school in teaching summary of the NEASC report. (Photo Jendrysik said the school was Council and staff input. He said he and learning. See NEASC, Page 8 by Amy Porter) Town and school Fire Commission officials discuss discusses Chief’s safe routes program By GREG FITZpaTRICK exams, active Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Select Board discussed the federally- funded Safe Routes to Schools program (SRTS) that was established in 2005 by Mass Department of grievances Transportation(DOT). The program works with schools to By PETER CURRIER increase transportation for children that are in elementary or Correspondent middle school. Peter Rosskothen, owner of The Delaney House, The Log WESTFIELD- The Westfield Fire Commission convened The Select Board was recently made aware of the program Cabin in Holyoke, and the expanding Delaney’s Market. for its last regularly scheduled monthly meeting of 2018 on by DPW Director Randy Brown. (Photo submitted) Tuesday at station 2. A school district would need to initiate the program into the Chairman Albert Masciadrelli and Commissioner Patrick school system in order for a community to be a part of the Olearcek were present along with Acting Chief Andy Hart. SRTS program. Being included in the program would allow Commissioner Carlo Bonavita was absent. school districts to fix infrastructure issues that are two miles Delaney’s Market Acting Chief Hart noted that the second fire in six months or less from an elementary or middle school in the district. happened in the vicinity of station 2 within the last month. “It’s an opportunity. It’s something we should look at,” said “I think it’s important having this station where it is,” said Select Board Clerk Doug Moglin. “We don’t have the best planning location Hart, “the odds of two fires happening directly across the sidewalks around Powder Mill Road.” street are pretty slim too. But I guess they’re not.” Moglin mentioned Depot Street, which is less than two Masciadrelli said that assessment activity for the fire chief miles from Powder Mill or Woodland School, as an infrastruc- series exam has ended. The only name on the Westfield 2018 ture issue that could fit with the program. Since it’s so close to in Westfield Fire Chiefs Series eligible is Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Egloff. both schools, Depot Street is used by children who walk or By PETER CURRIER “As for appointing a chief at this point, I have no informa- bike to school. Correspondent tion whatsoever,” said Masciadrelli, “As soon as the trigger is Sidewalks on Depot Street are a piece of infrastructure that WESTFIELD- Restaurant owner Peter Rosskothen will be Moglin would like to see improved if this program comes to expanding Delaney’s Market into Westfield as well as other See Fire Commission, Page 8 fruition. nearby towns in 2019. “I’d love to see kids safely walking to school or riding their Rosskothen, who owns the Delaney House and the Log bikes,” said Moglin. Cabin, plans to add a storefront for Delaney’s Market in Brown, who said he met with the school district last year Springfield, Wilbraham, Holyoke and Westfield to expand his about the SRTS program, is hoping to meet with school offi- Western Massachusetts prepared take-home store. cials again. “We’re working really hard specifically in Westfield right “We have some infrastructure repairs that could be benefi- now,” said Rosskothen, “we have not been able to close the cial from that program,” said Brown. deal yet, but we’re close.” Brown also agreed with Moglin’s thoughts on Depot Street. Rosskothen said he is favoring a location in a shopping center on Route 20 in Westfield, however the lease terms have See Safe Routes, Page 8 not yet been finalized with the landlord of the property. There is no confirmed date for construction to begin or for a grand opening, but Rosskothen hopes to have it open in 2019. “If everything went great, I would say by next May,” said Rosskothen. The first Delaney’s Market opened in Longmeadow is 2016. The store sells meals that have already been prepared at the Left to right: Commissioner Patrick Olearcek, Chairman Albert Masciadrelli, and Acting Fire Chief Andy Hart. (Photo See Delaney’s Market, Page 8 by Peter Currier) Secret Santa and Angry Elf toy drive underway By GREG FITZpaTRICK Correspondent The sidewalk on Powder Mill Road can be used by walkers SOUTHWICK – The Southwick and bikers. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Civic Fund is hosting their annual Secret Santa and the Angry Elf toy drive this holiday season. According to Joe Deedy, President of the Southwick Civic Fund, the drive SEPAC to hold roundtable consists of receiving donations of unwrapped toys for children from the discussion on preparing ages of one to 15-years-old. Deedy says toys are donated by people throughout the community as well as for an IEP meeting businesses and organizations in town. By AMY PORTER The toy drive serves anywhere from Correspondent 50 to 100 families each year. Any fam- WESTFIELD – Do you have ily that would like to receive toys can everything ready for your next IEP fill out an application on the Southwick meeting? The Special Education Civic Fund website. With the deadline Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) for applications being December 12, is holding a roundtable discussion on the “Angry Elves”, which are Deedy’s The Southwick Civic Fund is accepting unwrapped toys until December 12. (Photo how parents can better prepare for an volunteers, show up to the homes of from Moolicious) IEP meeting this Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the families days before Christmas and the Westfield Technical Academy cafeteria. deliver the toys. ries of tears shed,” said Deedy. “I get Santa” for about 10 years. The IEP, Individualized Education Program, is a writ- Deedy has hosted this event since nothing but compliments that the parents As a result of the great experience he ten document that’s developed for each public school 2014 and says that his “Angry Elves” are so happy.” had with “Operation Santa,” Deedy child who is eligible for special education. The IEP is always come back from delivering the Prior to organizing the event in 2014, thought it was time to begin his own toys to the homes with great memo- Deedy, his family, and volunteers had event. See SEPAC, Page 8 ries. helped the West Springfield Park and “They come back with a lot of sto- Recreation Center with their “Operation See Civic Fund, Page 8 PAGE 2 - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Westfield Teen events at the Post 124 to Observe December Fest Farm and Southwick Public Library Pearl Harbor Day WESTFIELD — American Legion Post 124, 38 Broad Street SOUTHWICK — Cocoa and Coloring–Chat, listen to music and have some hot Westfield, Mass.