WHS, Westfield Memorial Library, and Kean University's HRC are hosting an important community event on May 6 at the library to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. Learn more: https://events.wmlnj.org/event/12055292 LiveStream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL3rFZHLK2Y
The Board held its reorganization meeting last night. Following the swearing in of Leila Morrelli, Sonal Patel, and Julie Steinberg, Board members elected Robert Benacchio as Board President and Sonal Patel as Board Vice President. Congratulations to all!
Our 5th graders participated in a special assembly. No Place for Hate is a program that fights prejudice and bias in schools across the country. WHS runs multiple events each year that emphasize the importance of tolerance and working against acts of hate. Through the use of a central text that conveys these themes, the high school students encouraged our 5th graders to think critically about the roles they play in their developing school community and culture. This program was a meaningful way to spread awareness and results in a safer school environment!
Our students were actively engaged during our assembly program, Number Drummers. Our presenter, Mr. K., was highly interactive and taught our students to create a rhythmic performance using math - addition, multiplication, fractions and more. The students and staff all had drumsticks to play along and they had so much fun drumming. Thank you to our PTO for sponsoring this program!
Kudos to student artists whose work has been selected in the district's Earth Day Poster Contest. Thank you to all who submitted an entry. The featured posters, along with all of the submissions, are available here: https://sites.google.com/westfieldnjk12.org/wpsgreenteam/home
We are grateful to our crossing guards who keep our children and families safe in our community. Our art teacher made a beautiful banner for our students to sign. The banner will be displayed at the B.R.A.K.E.S appreciation breakfast this month.
Registration is now open for the Westfield K-8 STEAM Night on April 29. https://sites.google.com/westfieldnjk12.org/wps-ptc-ptso/ptc-gifted-education
Get ready for Westfield K-8 STEAM Night on Monday, April 29 from 6:30-8:00p at Wilson, hosted by the PTC Gifted Education Committee. A registration link will be activated Monday, April 15 at 7p on the PTC Gifted Education page. https://sites.google.com/westfieldnjk12.org/wps-ptc-ptso/ptc-gifted-education
Last chance to join a community session on the 2024-25 school district operating budget. Tonight (April 11) at 5:30-6:30p. Link to virtual session: https://www.westfieldnjk12.org/article/1546278 Hope you can join, as Westfield voters prepare to go to polls next Tuesday, 4/16.
Our fourth graders spent some time this week working with published poet, Ms. Luray Gross. Luray has visited many classrooms across the district, and focused on reading, analyzing and writing poetry of different styles and subjects. Her lessons inspired so much creativity in our talented fourth grade writers. Special thanks to our Jefferson PTO for funding this unique experience for our students!
Our students and staff were able to view the partial solar eclipse safely at dismissal today. Thank you to our PTO for the solar eclipse glasses!
The April 16 budget vote and board election is fast approaching. Please consider attending one of the district's last two community engagement sessions to have your questions answered before going to the polls. The virtual sessions are Wednesday, April 10 from 12-1 p.m. and Thursday, April 11 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Links to both sessions can be found on the Budget Vote Portal under Community Engagement.
Enjoy your Spring Break!
March 28 deadline for Rotary and Steengrafe nominations is approaching! Don't miss the opportunity to select a favorite PK-5 educator for the Philhower Award and a deserving staff member in the district for the Steengrafe Award. https://www.westfieldnjk12.org/article/1491926
Students in Class 3O had the chance to share their nonfiction magazines with third graders. Students read together, asked questions, and identified the various text features that were used throughout their projects. The third graders were so proud of their hard work and the second graders loved seeing what they will have the opportunity to do next year!
IMPORTANT: The "Not My Kid" assembly by Stephen Hill, originally scheduled for tomorrow evening (Thursday), March 21, has been POSTPONED! Stay tuned for an update with a rescheduled date.
Class 1H had the pleasure of welcoming a parent presenter who shared a captivating story about Ramadan. The students were attentive, learning about the traditions and values celebrated during this holy month. This visit fostered a wonderful sense of understanding and appreciation for diversity within our classroom. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate different cultures and traditions together!
We celebrated Read Across Jefferson on Monday by doing Drop Everything and Read for 10 minutes after recess. Everyone enjoyed some quiet reading in the hallways. It was a great way to ease into the afternoon. Thank you to Ms. Harrigan for planning our activities for Read Across America week at Jefferson!
On March 21, Stephen Hill of Speak Sobriety will present "Not My Kid: How to Build Resilient Kids to Make Healthy Choices and Overcome Adversity," sharing his impactful story of addiction and recovery. https://www.westfieldnjk12.org/article/1504996
Our dedicated teachers participated in a rewarding afternoon of collaborative learning. Working in small groups, they reflected on the school year so far, identifying both successes and areas for improvement. The focus was on sharing effective teaching strategies that benefit student learning. This valuable exchange fostered innovation and a collective understanding of best practices. Additionally, teachers brainstormed areas they would like to delve deeper into, promoting ongoing professional development. This collaborative session highlights our teachers' commitment to continuous improvement and their dedication to providing the best possible educational experience for all our students at Jefferson.
