Westfield High School

Members of the community are invited to immerse themselves in the work of talented art students of all ages adorning the walls of Westfield High School at “Into the Arts” Saturday, April 27, and then gather in the gym and enjoy student musicians from elementary to high school perform in “Bandtastic.” Artwork by students in second and fourth grades on up will be on display from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. throughout the school, and at 1 p.m. in the gym, musicians from elementary, intermediate, middle and both high schools will be showcased. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-student-artists-musicians-getting-ready-for-combined-showcase.html

The Westfield High School baseball team found the solution to ending to their first losing streak of the season. His name is Colin Cusack. Westfield senior pitcher Colin Cusack scattered five hits, two walks, and two runs, striking out four over seven innings; and the Bombers played a bit of small ball to defeat rival Pittsfield 5-2 Tuesday at Bullens Field. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/colin-cusack-westfield-turn-back-rival-pittsfield-5-2.html

Don’t miss this week’s match as Westfield High School goes up against Rockville High School on the campus of Westfield State University this Saturday at 7pm, only on New England Public Media!

Aniyah Bailey delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the defending Division 1 state champion Taunton High School softball team to a dramatic 4-3 victory Wednesday, handing Westfield its first loss of the season. It was a game worth remembering though for one Bomber. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley celebrated her 500th career strikeout, striking out 14 Taunton batters. She entered the game needing just 10 Ks to reach that hallowed milestone. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/bombers-pitcher-celebrates-milestone-lauded-for-effort-in-extra-inning-loss.html

The Westfield High School baseball team did not take the holiday off to rest on their laurels. Instead, the Bombers kicked off a five-game homestand on Patriots’ Day with their fifth straight win to begin the season. Westfield sophomore Josh Wagner tossed a one-hitter, striking out nine batters in an 11-1, mercy-shortened win over Agawam early Monday afternoon at Bullens Field. The Bombers exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/josh-wagners-one-hitter-westfield-baseballs-10-run-first-inning-culminate-in-teams-fifth-straight-win.html

Four hundred seniors and juniors from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, Southwick Regional School, St. Mary’s High School, Smith Academy, White Oak School, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative and Gateway Regional High School gathered in two sessions on April 3 at the Credit for Life Fair at Westfield High School for an exercise in “real-world” finances from experts in the field. When they entered the gym, students could either choose or were randomly assigned a profession, a likely salary and a credit score, which they had to display on a tag hanging around their necks. “A lot of them are given really terrible credit scores. For the first stop, they can take a quiz to increase their credit scores. They’re also offered a credit card,” Taylor said. At the “Credit” booth, they get advice on how to maintain a good score, including not ever missing a payment. She said the students are surprised that even prospective landlords will look at their credit scores. Students are also tempted by broadcasted announcements from the “Fun, Fun, Fun” booth to go on vacations and purchase other extras. She said at the end, they returned to the Credit booth to see what “trouble-trouble” they got into. “The goal is to give students some education on what it’s like in the real world, and to learn prices, such as for cell phones. It’s not just about buying a car and expenses. At the ‘Part-time Job’ booth, they go on an actual interview for the job,” Taylor said. Westfield High School senior Milana Camilleri said she was supposed to be 25 years old and a medical resident, with a lot of debt. “I have to be frugal. I’m trying to figure out how to boost my credit score and plan for when I become a doctor,” she said. Wunnyuriti Ziblim, an environmental engineer, said he had gotten an additional part-time job as a math tutor to help pay his bills. Susan Borsella, financial literacy teacher at Gateway, brought 25 seniors to Credit for Life in the Huntington school’s first year participating. “This is it, they’re seniors on the edge of being adults. Most of them are walking around saying, ‘I’m broke already.’ They’re all getting jobs.” Borsella, whose class teaches students how to write checks, the difference between banks and credit unions, loans and credit cards, and hourly and salary wages, said a lot of what she teaches is out of her own experience and mistakes. Gateway seniors Abigail Madru and Kai Rahilly were finding the exercise worthwhile. They had just bought phones and a streaming service at the “Multimedia” Booth from Al Lieb of Otis Ridge. “It’s really fun and useful to help kids see how much they actually have to spend,” said Rahilly. “It’s really valuable to go through this before going through it in the real world,” Madru said, adding, “It’s a shock to go from having to pay for nothing to buying a car.” Kate Perez, math supervisor for Westfield Public Schools, said the fair is put on by Western Mass Credit for Life, which raises funds throughout the year to pay for it. Sponsors include MassHousing, Berkshire Bank, Bank ESB, Polish National, Westfield Bank and Westfield Gas & Electric. Volunteers also came from the Westfield Education to Business Alliance, and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield/credit-fair-teaches-greater-westfield-teens-to-bal/

It’s tough enough that the Westfield High School softball team has all of Western Massachusetts gunning for them as winners of three straight Western Massachusetts crowns. On Thursday, the Bombers were tasked with overcoming two opposing forces. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley tossed a two-hitter, striking out nine batters in defeating Pittsfield – and the rain – 3-2 at home. Hurley walked four and hit two by pitch with intermittent showers raining down on the field. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/shea-hurley-westfield-softball-hold-off-pittsfield-for-3-2-victory.html

The Westfield High School softball team is just two games into the 2024 season, but it appears the three-time defending Western Massachusetts champion Bombers already have that look. Westfield junior pitcher Shea Hurley already appears to be in mid-season form, throwing a perfect game and striking out 14 batters in Tuesday’s 22-0, mercy-shortened shutout of Longmeadow at home. The Bombers exploded for 22 runs over just four innings. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-softball-begins-title-defense-with-pair-of-shutout-victories.html

Now that the solar eclipsed has passed, Westfield’s public schools are passing on the special viewing glasses to students in South America. Westfield school district Curriculum and Instruction Director Susan Dargie said the schools are working with the Holyoke Fire Department to collect glasses to be donated to Argentina and Chile, where an annular solar eclipse will be visible on Oct. 2. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-students-will-donate-used-eclipse-glasses-to-kids-in-south-america.html

It is quite obvious that the road has not been a stumbling block for the Westfield High School boys varsity lacrosse team. One week into the 2024 season, the Westfield High School boys varsity lacrosse team is perfect. The Bombers latest win came Saturday on the road against East Longmeadow, an 11-5 victory. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/westfield-boys-lacrosse-emerges-from-three-game-road-trip-3-0.html

Western Mass News was on the front field over at Westfield High School where the Space and Astronomy Club held a viewing event for students and community members. Now, it really was a party here at Westfield High School, people brought their picnic blankets and outdoor chairs all to view the eclipse in Westfield. We spoke with some students who told us what got them so excited to see the eclipse! “Defintiely the peak and also just seeing outside it kept getting progressively darker and darker throughout the eclipse,” expressed Mirabella Prefontaine. “I just wanted to make sure that no one gets vision loss,” said Andy Liu “That was one of my main concerns because we’re not in the path of totality so no one could really take off their glasses during the eclipse.” https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/04/08/students-astronomy-enthusiasts-gather-westfield-eclipse/

Lauren Cadigan, supervisor of science, technology and engineering for Westfield schools, and K-6 STEM coach Lyndsey Ayers, said they are ready to distribute more than 5,700 solar eclipse safety glasses, a pair for every student and staff member in the public school system. Any leftover glasses will be given to the preschools at the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club. “Students won’t get them until Monday,” Cadigan said. She said 3,000 of them were donated from UMass Amherst, and the district purchased the rest. Administrators made sure these glasses have been tested to protect eyes from the intense rays of the sun. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/04/safety-glasses-pinhole-viewer-project-have-westfield-pupils-ready-for-eclipse.html

Tonight's SEPAC Meeting is now being held virtually only. Thank you.

Students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy participated in our annual "Credit for Life" Fair on Wednesday, April 3. Students learned about credit cards, housing and transportation costs, budgeting, and more. Thank you to all of the volunteers that made this authentic learning experience possible for our students. Did you know? A course in Financial Literacy is a graduation requirement for all WPS students? #AchievingExcellenceTogether

Students in Westfield got a little dose of adult life Wednesday participating in the high school’s “Credit for Life Fair.” Westfield area students were age 25 for a day and put through the paces of emerging adulthood at the fair, hosted by Westfield High School. “It’s definitely a lot more. Like there is more to it,” said Westfield Technical Academy student Maya. Each student picked a profession, was assigned a credit score and tasked with visiting 15 booths around the gymnasium, each an educational opportunity on an aspect of post-education life. “It’s a budgeting exercise and we’re doing it with seniors because these are the kids that are about to graduate and have these expenses maybe in a few months,” said Edward Nunez, a volunteer with the Springfield Credit for Life program. Some of those expenses were surprisingly high for student Savanah, “The unforeseen expenses. It could be $50 at the supermarket or $900 because your car got towed.” “I was very surprised with the student loan debt. I did think it was really going to be that much,” said student Brady. While the expenses were a revelation, job hunting was an exercise in goal setting. Students selected a career in the area they hope to go after school. Carefully planned finances and dream jobs only get you so far in life… some things you can’t plan for. That’s where the reality check booth comes in. “We did have someone who landed on a spring break trip, so they had to deduct $900 from their balance,” said Kara Wood from Westfield Savings Bank. “This is not an easy thing to do every month. Managing what you want to do with your money and what you need to do with your money,” said Linda Saltus of Western Massachusetts Credit for Life. https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/students-learn-budgeting-skills-through-credit-for-life-fair-in-westfield/

The much-anticipated solar eclipse is just days away and areas schools are preparing their students to have a front row seat for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “This is called a pinhole viewer…and some classrooms, we provided instructions, so that teachers can create these, and kids can use them and safely view the eclipse with things they have at home,” said Lauren Cadigan, supervisor of Science Technology and Engineering at Westfield Public Schools. Throughout Westfield Public Schools, teachers have received resources ranging from directions on how to create a pinhole viewer, reading materials, maps, and more. Some of the masterminds behind it are Cadigan and Pre-K through Grade 4 STEM Coach Lindsey Ayers. “I think students are more excited about learning when they can see something in real life. We’re excited about that real-life experience,” Ayers added. However, preparations for the eclipse are extending outside of the classroom too. Across the district, after-school sports practices and games have been cancelled so students can take in the eclipse. To view the eclipse, you need the right lenses to protect your eyes. Elementary school students were given eclipse viewing glasses, but teachers throughout the district had the chance to request them. We’re told the demand was so high that by Monday, the district plans to order and distribute nearly 3,900 pairs about 2,500 pairs were donations from UMass Amherst. “I hope we inspire the next generation of scientists. As always, we try to create a space where all kids, if they want to be, can be successful in STEM and can see themselves in stem,” Cadigan noted. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2024/04/03/schools-preparing-use-eclipse-learning-moment-students/?fbclid=IwAR1lAUd35NgO0rf-OqlCMdx5WBr0Y8gDgwaR-im7MpVClfrp_NcbRewMTO0_aem_AUtfRf3DEHnxeT87bc9iDiYdtPrI8iY9RQl8fnC4CRYKFiYJL5XLsB50hz-u0fQjjidQwBTV9qq_ayNSw1VdGzUQ

Westfield High School baseball sophomore pitcher Josh Wagner scattered five hits, three walks, and one run over 6 2/3 innings of a home opener Friday to pick up a win over Minnechaug at Bullens Field. He struck out eight batters. Lead-off hitter Patrick Moore paved the way for Westfield (1-0) on offense, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Bombers’ Nick Lenfest went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Wagner and Emmett Garfield each had a hit. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/the-westfield-news-scoreboard-josh-wagner-bombers-baseball-silence-minnechaug-in-opener-3-1.html

Bombers junior hockey goalie Evan Mastroianni will receive the Bruce Landon Award and a $500 scholarship at the April 11 reception hosted by the Amo Bessone Awards Committee. The committee gives awards annually to several players, coaches and supporters of high school hockey in Western Massachusetts. This year, Mastroianni is the only winner representing a school in Westfield or Southwick. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-bombers-hockey-player-evan-mastroianni-wins-landon-award-for-goalies.html

A reminder that schools are closed tomorrow, March 29, for Good Friday. Thank you. Have a great weekend!

Retired Westfield Bombers coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews will be inducted to the Massachusetts State High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame on May 4, honoring several decades of success. Matthews, who retired in 2021, said he wasn’t expecting to be honored, and that coaching high school students was enough of a reward. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2024/03/westfield-bombers-hockey-coach-moose-matthews-chosen-for-state-hall-of-fame.html