New Board, Enrollment Study for St. Mary's Parish School
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 MONDAY, MARCH 09, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 057 New board, enrollment study for St. Mary’s Parish School By HOPE dents and families and she “Here, students help each Jensen-Derrig said the mis- E. TREMBLAY hopes the new School Board other and they feel safe,” she sion of the committee mem- Editor and Enrollment Committee said. bers is multi-fold: First and WESTFIELD — St. will help spread word to the St. Mary’s does not admin- foremost they act as school Mary’s Advisory School community. ister the Massachusetts ambassadors and promote the Board and the ImpactED St. Mary’s Parish School Comprehensive Assesment school and the enrollment Strategic Enrollment offers education from pre- System test, which Jensen- efforts, they help plan, man- Committee launched last school through grade eight Derrig said gives teachers the age, and staff events for week, paving the way for and operates in conjunction opportunity to teach a variety recruitment and retention, good things to come at the with St. Mary’s High School. of subjects and discuss cur- they increase enrollment preschool and elementary Jensen-Derrig said classes are rent events. A well-rounded through effective communi- school, said St. Mary’s Parish small – currently the smallest education is the focus, with a cation and personally follow School Principal Juli Jensen- has 14 students and the larg- goal of preparing students for up with families that show St. Mary’s Parish School Principal Juli Jensen-Derrig. (THE Derrig. est has 22 – which allows life after high school. interest in enrolling. WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) Recruitment and retention teachers to really engage with “We want to get students to “I am thrilled with the pas- are big factors in St. Mary’s students and know them and college, but also be contribut- sion and drive that this group growth strategies and market- phases. Phase 1 is observa- future. Jensen-Derrig said in their families. ing members of society – and demonstrated to help our ing/enrollment best practices tion and introduction. Phase 2 March 2017, when the high Jensen-Derrig dispelled the get to Heaven,” she said. school thrive,” Jensen-Derrig and will provide professional is implementation and assess- school nearly closed, 39 stu- myth that you must be Mark Hanrahan from wrote to parents recently. “I development and a fresh per- ment. Phase 3 is improve- dents left the elementary Catholic to attend the school. ImpactED out of Atlanta met have a strong passion for our spective and objective look at ment and optimization. school. “We welcome students of with the Strategic Enrollment school and I feel empowered operations and internal pro- “There are a lot of exciting “We’re still recovering,” all faiths,” she said. And Committee, which includes knowing that I have such a cesses. things happening at St. she said, adding she is aiming while religion is part of the Lindsey Casey, Elizabeth dedicated group along with Jensen-Derrig said Mary’s,” Jensen-Derrig said. to bring in 40 new students. curriculum, Jensen-Derrig Labrie, Hannah Sarat, me.” Hanrahan has already ana- Tuition is another area There are currently 190 stu- said students are taught, Adams-Rivera, Junior Hanrahan is committed to a lyzed data and presented the Jensen-Derrig said is a con- dents at the elementary level. through the Catholic faith, Delgado, Jen Delgado, three-year process, with highs and lows in enrollment. cern for many families. Jensen-Derrig said the about respect, integrity and Robert Walker and Julie enrollment as a priority. He is The Strategic Enrollment school offers so much to stu- character. Fregeau. responsible for introducing Process will occur in three See St. Mary’s, Page 5 New Westfield Westfield High School Middle School POPS Concert principal set for March 13-14 By AMY PORTER Staff Writer ‘excited’ to begin WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School POPS Concert, “20/20 By AMY PORTER Vision,” led by Band Director Patrick Kennedy and featuring the concert Staff Writer and jazz bands is March 13 and 14 In the school gymnasium. WESTFIELD – Superintendent of Schools Stefan Doors open at 7 p.m., and the Czaporowski has announced that Jessica Kennedy is concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets the new principal of Westfield Middle School. are available at the door: $10 gen- “I’m excited. I’m thrilled to be in this position. I eral admission, $5 senior/student. love this school, the teachers, the community, the The theme for this year’s POPS students. I’m lucky to be able to do this. I feel very Concert is “20/20 Vision: Eye fortunate,” Kennedy said. Tunes Through the Years.” There Kennedy, who lives in East Granby, Connecticut, will be a variety of music with has served as an assistant principal at South Middle eyes or seeing in the lyrics. “Eye” School, North Middle School, and Westfield Middle inspired tunes include Eye of the School since 2013. Before coming to Westfield Tiger, the Look of Love, and a Public Schools, Kennedy was a middle school teacher Salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, featuring for five years. some of Frank Sinatra’s biggest The Dixieland Jazz Band performs When asked what her plans are for the school, hits. Kennedy didn’t hesitate. “What I really want to do is their set at a previous POPS help to take the school to the next level,” she said, “Lots of different genres will be Concert. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS adding that she wants to expand on the programs they represented,” said Jennifer FILE PHOTO) have developed at the school. Thielen, president of the Westfield One critical missing piece that Kennedy would like High School Band and Orchestra to address is the stress level that she sees in students Parents (BOP), adding, “It’s a lot of fun, and a big historical evening.” Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and WMS Assistant The concert will begin with the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the and teachers. She said often the students are carrying Principal Jessica Kennedy, at the announcement that a heavy load, sometimes trauma, and their stress can classic American march Burnished Brass. “This song was performed in be taken on by the teachers who are working with Kennedy will be the next Principal of WMS. (WESTFIELD the 1967 Pops Concert and is our tribute to all of the student musicians them. PUBLIC SCHOOLS PHOTO) that have played in the Pops Concert over the years,” said Kennedy. “We have a pretty unbelievable staff — gifted staff The program will also feature the Dixieland Band, solo and small – who are kind and loving and who genuinely care trict’s social and emotional coordinator. group performances, light band classics, pop and jazz numbers and the about our kids,” Kennedy said. She said even those Kennedy said she has 15 students signed up for the traditional grand finale, “Sentimental Journey.” who are doing a wonderful job, sometimes think Saturday all-day retreat, who are looking forward to going. Thielen said the funds raised from the ticket sales, concessions, which they’re not doing enough. “It’s a connection,” Kennedy said. She said in the future, include popcorn and drinks, and sponsorships go towards the band’s trip Kennedy talked about incorporating the teachings she would like to hold optional Saturday retreats for teach- to Washington, D.C. in May, the family picnic at the end of the year, and of University of Houston Research Professor and ers as well. to maintain and update uniforms. Storyteller Brene Brown, who talks about unlocking Kennedy holds both her bachelor’s in English Secondary “It helps a lot of different things in the organization,” Thielen said. everyone’s potential through sharing their stories with Education and master’s in English literature from Westfield The concert will be dedicated to Catherine “Kay” Ward, who passed others. “What we know matters, but who we are mat- State University. away in January at the age of 94. Kay Ward and her husband Doug began Czaporowski said the hiring process included input from ters more,” Kennedy quoted as an example of teaching instrumental music in Westfield in 1948 until their retirement in Brown’s teaching. community members, School Committee, parents, students, Towards that end, Kennedy said she would like to staff and district administrators. 1984. Doug Ward was the WHS band director with the vision and the host a series of “You Matter” retreats for students and “We received a lot of feedback, which vastly supported drive to begin the Pops Concert tradition in 1953, and Kay and Doug for teachers. The first student retreat is scheduled for Ms. Kennedy as principal,” he said. Czaporowski informed created the school’s modern-day instrumental music program, according March 14 at the school, and will be co-led by Gary staff at Westfield Middle School at the end of the day on to Kennedy. Nadeau, Advance Manufacturing Tech teacher at March 5. Kennedy will begin her new contract with the “We are proud to carry on so many of the traditions that they put in Westfield Technical Academy, who is also the dis- district on July 1, 2020. place,” Kennedy said. Judge presents ‘View from the Bench’ March 12 By LORI SZEPELAK January 2009 to January 2015. all which, eventually, led me to junior account executive at a Correspondent Mason will present a lecture titled where I am today,” said Mason, not- Madison Avenue advertising agen- WESTFIELD — The Hon.