This week, we were deeply honored to host Holocaust survivor and educator Maud Dahme. Our 5th graders were joined by their peers from Wilson School for this incredibly moving presentation. As Mr. Latessa shared in his introduction, “For all the lessons that we teach in class, today those lessons come to life in a firsthand account from somebody who was there.” Ms. Dahme’s story is a powerful reminder of the tragedies of the past and the vital importance of being an upstander for others today. We are profoundly grateful to Ms. Dahme for entrusting our students and staff with her story.
Our students in grades 1–5 have been busy pouring their hearts into a special Valentine’s Day community outreach project. Each grade level is creating handmade cards for a specific local group ( Complete Care at Westfield, Westfield Senior Housing, Mobile Meals of Westfield, Kean University Be the Change, and Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside) to brighten their day. Thank you to our teachers for organizing this outreach activity. We are so proud of our students for using their creativity to give back to our amazing community!
Our SOUPer Bowl canned food drive was truly out of this world! We are so proud of the overwhelming generosity shown by our students and families. Together, we collected a staggering 3,692 food items!
A huge congratulations to top classes with the most donations:
1st Place: Class 3Z
2nd Place: Class 2K
3rd Place: Class 3L
Because of your kindness, we were able to provide significant donations to Grace Church, the Westfield Food Pantry, and Feeding America. Thank you for helping us tackle hunger and support those in need!
A huge congratulations to top classes with the most donations:
1st Place: Class 3Z
2nd Place: Class 2K
3rd Place: Class 3L
Because of your kindness, we were able to provide significant donations to Grace Church, the Westfield Food Pantry, and Feeding America. Thank you for helping us tackle hunger and support those in need!
Class 2W had an absolute blast exploring the world of Non-Newtonian fluids today! Our young scientists discovered that Oobleck breaks all the rules—it behaves like a solid when you squeeze it, but flows like a liquid when you let go. It was fun morning of discovery!
There is nothing quite like "Buddy Time." Class 1A and Class 4L came together to participate in the Kindness Challenge. They started by listening to Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch; a perfect story about how one small act can change everything. Afterward, the buddies collaborated to write heartfelt notes to their loved ones.
Our 1st and 2nd graders are thriving with our Heggerty and Fundations programs! They are having a blast tapping out sounds and marking up words. It is exciting to watch them build their phonics skills—they are well on their way to becoming great readers!
We are proud to recognize four 5th-grade winners of the annual MLK, Jr. Essay and Poetry Contest. These students demonstrated exceptional effort and insight through their writing. The winners will be honored at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Service held at First Congregational Church of Westfield this coming Monday. We congratulate our students on this well-deserved distinction and commend them for their dedication to honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
We had a fun assembly led by Mrs. Naylor and our talented 5th Grade Orchestra. Their performance was amazing. It is clear these students have dedicated many hours to practicing their craft! We wish everyone a fun and restful winter break.
Our first graders in 1MK and their families teamed up for a special "Winter Penguin" craft day with a mission of giving. Using just rice and socks, students created three adorable penguins: one to keep, one to gift to a loved one, and one to donate to a child in need. These handmade penguins are on their way to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to spread some comfort and holiday cheer! Thank you to Mrs. Kosciuk and all the families who joined us for this meaningful day of service!
Class 2K students and parents teamed up for a festive "sock snowman" craft with a meaningful twist. For every snowman kept, one was created to be gifted away! These crafts, along with handmade holiday cards, will be donated to the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains to brighten the holidays for residents and their families. Great job, 2K, on such a successful and selfless project!
Class 3L recently explored the traditions of Hanukkah with a special guest, Mrs. B shared a wonderful presentation on the holiday's history and foods, followed by a lively game of dreidel. Every student received their own dreidel to take home, capping off a great day of hands-on learning. We are fortunate to have families share their traditions with us!
Our students were engaged by an inspiring assembly, the Writer's Journey, presented by author and songwriter Daryl Cobb. He captivated students with his dynamic approach to storytelling, encouraging their own creative writing journeys.
Our 5th grade students delivered two great performances with the Winter Band and Chorus Concert, led by Mrs. Webber and Mrs. Meyer. The students did a terrific job at both the student assembly and the evening concert for their families. Thank you for everyone's support!
Our 4th grade artists are currently working on a visually stunning project: making feathers inspired by artist Kelsey Montague. In this unit, students are concentrating on the foundational concepts of color theory, specifically mastering tints (color plus white) and shades (color plus black).
Our Thanksgiving Food Drive was a great success! With the generous support of the Jefferson families, we were able to donate an incredible 1,011 food items to the Grace Church food pantry. Our dedicated Early Act advisors and a wonderful group of students restocked the pantry. We wish everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!
Our 1A and 4L buddies had a wonderful time together preparing for Thanksgiving! They gathered to listen to a story and held a discussion focused on gratitude, sharing what they are thankful for—both people and things. To contribute to our school's holiday display, each student then decorated a paper feather to be added to our collective turkey decoration.
To celebrate Veterans Day, Class 2B was honored to welcome Mr. Tuohy, who served as a Marine in the United States Armed Forces. Mr. Tuohy shared stories and experiences from his time serving our country. The students were full of thoughtful questions and truly enjoyed learning from him. It was a wonderful and meaningful experience for all. Thank you to all veterans for your service!
This afternoon's Professional Development session focused entirely on staff wellness! Our incredible teachers took time away from their busy schedules for some much-needed self-care. They enjoyed mindful coloring, wrote gratitude notes to their colleagues, and took a refreshing walk to enjoy the beautiful weather and stunning fall foliage. This time allowed them to either spend time alone for reflection or bond with their peers. We truly love our teachers and recognize they need care, too—today was all about supporting the dedicated professionals who care for our students every day!
We had a wonderful visit today! The Executive Director of the Westfield United Fund stopped by to read the heartwarming book, The Buddy Bench, to several of our classes. This visit was extra special because it celebrated the arrival of our very own Buddy Bench, generously donated by WUF!
This beautiful bench is a great addition to our playground. It’s designed to help children feel more included and actively supports their social-emotional well-being. A student sitting on the bench signals that they're looking for a friend to play with, making it easier for classmates to reach out.
This beautiful bench is a great addition to our playground. It’s designed to help children feel more included and actively supports their social-emotional well-being. A student sitting on the bench signals that they're looking for a friend to play with, making it easier for classmates to reach out.
Our students were wowed by an engaging science assembly! They dove into the fascinating worlds of chemistry and physics, witnessing various thrilling experiments that brought scientific principles to life right before their eyes. We extend our thanks to the Cultural Arts Committee and the PTO for generously sponsoring this educational and fun program.
