September 2025 Edition

The 2025–2026 school year is off to a wonderful start, thanks to the dedication and partnership of our teachers, staff, students, administrators, and families. As we move into October, our schools will take part in the Week of Respect (October 6–10), School Violence Awareness Week (October 20–24), and Red Ribbon Week (October 23–31). These observances are opportunities to reinforce the core values that define our school community: kindness, inclusion, respect, and a deep sense of belonging.

Belonging is the feeling every student and staff member experiences when they know they are valued, respected, and truly part of something greater. Research continues to show that when students feel they belong, they are more engaged, motivated, and resilient. The same is true for us as educators—belonging fosters collaboration, creativity, and well-being. These outcomes are not accidental; they are the result of intentional practices. Whether it’s greeting students by name, creating environments where all voices are heard, or celebrating one another’s successes, we all play a role in nurturing a culture where everyone feels seen and supported.

These efforts align directly with our Strategic Plan, which prioritizes inclusive learning environments and student well-being. As we recognize these important weeks in October, let us also continue the everyday work of building connections, honoring diverse perspectives, and reminding each other that no one walks this journey alone.

In collaboration with Legacy Construction Management, representatives from Johnson & Urban also conducted a series of walkthroughs at schools across the district. These visits focused on reviewing planned electrical service upgrades and identifying potential projects that could be included in Phase 1 of the referendum work, which is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026.

The Strategic Plan portal has been updated to include the Year 3 activity highlights approved by the Board of Education at its September 16, 2025 meeting. These updates reflect our continued commitment to the five-year goals outlined in the plan and mark another important step forward in advancing excellence, equity, and innovation across our district.

We are excited for another year of meaningful growth and visible progress. The Year 3 activities focus on deepening our efforts in key priority areas, including inclusive practices, instructional innovation, student wellness, and community engagement.

Throughout the school year, we look forward to sharing regular updates that spotlight the incredible work happening across our schools driven by dedicated staff, supported by our families, and centered on the success of every student.

For an overview of the plan check out the NotebookLM-generated video overview below.

Westfield Public Schools hosted Back-to-School Nights throughout the month of September. These evenings provided teachers and families with the opportunity to connect, discuss classroom expectations and curriculum, and experience the engaging learning environments created for our students. Community organizations also participated, sharing information about events and programs happening this school year.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has announced an important change in state assessments. Starting this year, Cambium Assessment will replace Pearson as the state’s testing vendor.

With this change, statewide assessments—including the NJSLA and next fall’s NJGPA—will now be computer-adaptive. This means the difficulty of test questions will adjust in real time based on each student’s responses, similar to the SAT. The goal is to provide a more accurate measure of student learning.

To help students, teachers, and schools become familiar with the new format, the NJDOE is requiring field testing during the 2025 school year. These field tests are low-stakes—scores will not count toward state accountability measures and will not be recorded for individual students. The purpose is to give everyone practice and feedback in preparation for the new assessments.

Field Test Details:

• NJSLA – English Language Arts (ELA): Grades 4–10

  • 60-minute reading assessment

  • 120-minute writing assessment

• NJSLA – Mathematics: Grades 4–9

• Students who took Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 in 2024–25 will complete a 60-minute math assessment

• NJGPA – Grade 11:

• Field test for the ELA portion only (no math field test this year)

Field Testing Dates:

• October 27 – November 14, 2025

Principals will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available from the NJDOE. While this represents a new chapter in statewide testing, we are committed to supporting our students and ensuring they are well-prepared throughout this transition.

Special Education and Professional Learning

September set the stage for a strong school year, with a clear focus on ensuring that every student feels supported—academically, socially, and emotionally. Across all grade levels, teachers and administrators engaged in targeted professional learning designed to meet the diverse needs of our students.

In the early grades (PreK–1), teachers participated in training sessions aimed at strengthening early reading skills while expanding their instructional toolkit for both literacy and math. In grades 4–8, professional learning centered on strategies for effective small group instruction, helping educators better differentiate learning and respond to students’ individual needs.

At the high school level, teachers worked collaboratively to adapt to the new block schedule and explored best practices to maximize instructional time and student engagement. Meanwhile, administrators attended workshops focused on inclusive school leadership and strengthening systems of support to ensure that every student, regardless of learning style or ability, can thrive in our schools.

Counseling Support

This month, our counseling teams worked hard to ensure a smooth transition for students by helping them adjust to new schedules, routines, and school environments. Whether welcoming kindergarteners for the first time or guiding seniors through college applications, counselors played an essential role in building a strong foundation for the year ahead.

At the elementary level, students enjoyed “Meet the Counselor” classroom visits, lunch groups, and engaging activities like “Chalk the Walk,” where positive messages lined school sidewalks to promote kindness and connection. These early outreach efforts help students understand the role of school counselors and feel more comfortable seeking support when needed.

In our high schools, counselors supported seniors through the college application process by hosting lunchtime workshops focused on navigating the Common App. The Counseling Ambassador program also launched, with trained students welcoming new peers and assisting college representatives during campus visits. Student Assistance Counselors (SACs) organized lunch groups to help new students build connections and feel a sense of belonging.

Family engagement remained a priority as well, with seniors and their families invited to attend our College & Career Finish Line program, designed to guide students through the post-secondary planning process. In recognition of Suicide Awareness Month, counselors shared important mental health resources and facilitated conversations aimed at fostering emotional well-being and a supportive school culture.

This year, Westfield Public Schools has strengthened several security measures to help ensure the safety of our students and staff.

• Numbered Exterior Classroom Windows: All schools now have numbered exterior classroom windows to assist first responders in an emergency.

• Safety Beacons: Select exterior doors are being equipped with safety beacons to alert visitors in the event of an emergency.

• Flag-Style Classroom Number Signs: New hallway signs will improve wayfinding and are expected to be installed later this year (already completed at the high school).

• School Safety/Security Officers: Officers have returned to our schools, playing a vital role in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment.

These enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, supportive environment for all students and staff.

School Calendar

The Board of Education approved school calendar notes the instructional days that the district and schools are closed, along with an explanation of the three days that are built into the calendar for emergency closings.

For planning purposes and to promote awareness, an Observances Resource List is included with the school calendar with some of the federal and state holidays and religious and cultural observances for the school year. Both of these documents are posted under “District Information” on the district website.

Policies 2330 (Homework) and 8210 (School Year)

Additionally, please note the relevant portions of two of our existing Board policies, specifically those related to the school calendar and the list of observances.

• “No new assignments should be given over major religious holidays and observances, school vacations, and holiday weekends and be due immediately upon return. Teachers should plan and announce homework assignments, especially long term assignments, well in advance so that students can adjust their schedules appropriately. ” (Regulation for Policy 2330)

• “Staff members shall avoid, whenever possible, scheduling a test on a religious holiday commonly observed by residents of the district.” (Policy 8210)

• Yom Kippur: October 1 -2
• Sukkot: October 6-13
• Columbus Day: October 13
• Indigenous Peoples' Day: October 13
• Diwali: October 20

Want to keep up with everything happening in our schools? The Westfield Public Schools mobile app puts the latest district news, upcoming events, student stories, weather alerts, and important notifications right at your fingertips.

Whether you’re at home or on the go, staying informed has never been easier. With just a few taps, you can access school calendars, the parent portal, and real-time updates—all in one convenient place.

Search “Westfield Public Schools” in the App Store or Google Play and stay connected to our school community every day.

If your student is experiencing issues with their district-issued Chromebook, support is available at each school level:

• Elementary School: Students should report any Chromebook issues directly to their classroom teacher.

• Intermediate and High Schools: Visit the Technology Office in the Media Center (Library)

We are here to help ensure every student stays connected and supported!

September 16, 2025: Regular Public Meeting Highlights

At the September 16, 2025, Board of Education meeting, the Superintendent shared two mandated reports: the Student Safety Data System (SSDS) report covering the period from January 1 to June 30, 2025 (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.3(d)1), and the Class of 2025 Graduation Pathways Report (N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.2(f)). Both reports are available in the Notes for the Record section of the meeting agenda.

We were also pleased to welcome Ben Zhou, a junior at Westfield High School, as this year’s Student Representative to the Board of Education. Ben provided a report sharing the high levels of energy, involvement, and school spirit already underway at WHS this fall.

As part of the Governance agenda, the Board approved Year 3 of the 2023–2028 Strategic Plan. Building on the momentum from the first two years, this next phase emphasizes continued progress in several key areas: curriculum enhancements, student wellness, stronger community partnerships, and planning for upcoming referendum projects including facility improvements and the transition to full-day kindergarten.

During the Personnel portion of the meeting, the Board accepted the retirement of Patricia Clark, a dedicated Special Education teacher at Westfield High School, effective January 1, 2026. We thank Ms. Clark for her service and wish her the very best in retirement.

Under Finance, the Board also gratefully accepted the following donations:

• Westfield Boosters – $30,000 to support fencing and dugout improvements at the WHS softball field
• Thornburg Investment Management Education Program – $1,000 to support Miss Sarno’s third grade class at Tamaques Elementary School and $1,000 to support Mrs. Leffler’s first grade class at Tamaques Elementary School

We thank our generous donors for their continued support of our students and programs.

Looking Ahead

The next Regular Public Meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Cafeteria B at Westfield High School.

We value our community partnerships who support our students and schools throughout the year. Please take a look at the What's New in our Community section of the District website by clicking below to learn about local organizations and learn how you can become involved this year.

The town of Westfield has a complete list of posts and information about the crossing guard program for the 2025-2026 school year. Please take a look here: https://westfieldnj.gov/985/Crossing-Guard-Information/crossing-guards

Westfield Public Schools will be closed on the following dates:

• October 2nd in observance of Yom Kippur
• October 13th for Staff In-Services
• October 20th in observance of Diwali