There were lots of hugs and smiles as Westfield Public Schools staff gathered for an Opening Day ceremony on Tuesday, September 5 and prepared for the return of students on Thursday, September 7.
Superintendent Dr. Raymond González welcomed teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, custodians, administrators, and other staff members, including 44 new educators who have joined the school district.
“I love the start of a new school year,” says González. “It is great to witness the energy on opening day as our teachers, paraprofessionals, and all of our staff gather together, ready and eager to welcome their students back to school.”
González expressed his appreciation for the hard work that took place over the summer to prepare for the new school year and for the important work still to come. He told the group that the district looks forward to unveiling its Strategic Plan this fall, a comprehensive blueprint of goals, objectives, and outcomes thoughtfully prepared to provide a clear path for moving the district forward over the next five years.
Also on hand to welcome the staff on opening day were Board of Education Vice President Robert Benacchio and Westfield Education Association President Kim Dickey.
On September 6, staff members spent a full day participating in professional development sessions that included grade level and content-specific cohorts and an overview of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), an educational framework designed to ensure that all students’ needs are met.
On August 29 and 30, the 44 newly hired educators attended a two-day, in-house orientation as part of the New Staff Institute (NSI). The NSI is a two-year program designed to support first-time educators and those who are new to the district.