The Howler

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Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you during Open House last month. Our hallways were filled with families reconnecting with teachers and exploring classrooms. These moments of connection between home and school are what make our community strong. Speaking of connection, I'm excited to share that we're placing a renewed emphasis on family communication this year. Throughout this newsletter, you'll find links to newsletters, which offer valuable insights into what's happening in your child's classes. I encourage you to take a few minutes to explore them.

Additionally, TalkingPoints remains a great resource for reaching out to teachers and administration directly. Clear, consistent communication helps us work together to support every student. Feel free to contact us using the TalkingPoints app!

Our first all-school dance (Neon Night!) was a tremendous success! It was energizing to see students from all grade levels come together for an evening of music and fun. We're building on that momentum as we prepare for our first pep rally, which is coming up soon. These school-wide events help build spirit and create memories that students will carry with them.

I also want to share an important staffing update. Ms. Leveille's last day as 8th grade assistant principal was this past Friday, and we're grateful for her contributions to our school. In a few weeks, we'll welcome Mr. Paul Sullivan as our Interim Assistant Principal. Mr. Sullivan brings a wealth of experience to our school and community. He spent 14 years as a middle school math teacher, served as the Dean of Students in Springfield for two years, and most recently spent the last four years as an Assistant Principal in the Berkshires. His varied background and long commitment to education will be an asset to our staff and students. He is very much looking forward to learning about our school's culture and offering his support.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. Don't ever hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

Best,

Jesse

Principal McMillan and his Principal’s Council represented Westfield Middle School at the New England League of Middle Schools’ Student Leadership Conference! “Grow. Lead. Inspire.” was the theme of this year’s conference. It was a day designed to help young leaders recognize their potential, build confidence, and take meaningful action in their schools and communities. Through interactive workshops, team-building activities, and inspiring speakers, students explored what it meant to grow as individuals, lead with purpose, and inspire others through their words and actions!

Gándara Center’s Westfield Family Resource Center provides a number of resources for families in the Westfield community in one convenient location. Get help navigating through housing, education, courts and legal systems, as well as health insurance, EBT and behavioral health services. If a specific need cannot be met at the center, trained staff will point the family in the right direction to obtain the services they need elsewhere.

Location:

18 George Street

Westfield, MA 01085

Contact:

(413) 417-2020

Our librarian, Mrs. Scott, in collaboration with 7th grade Social Studies teachers - Ms. Mendez, Ms. Kenneally, and Ms. Plummer - taught our 7th grade students about Veterans' Day. Students then created cards and wrote letters to veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home as part of Senator Velis' "Thank-a-Veteran" project.

If you've been hearing your child mumble "6-7" around the house lately, don't panic! They haven't developed a bizarre obsession with consecutive numbers or started speaking in code. This cryptic phrase has taken over schools faster than a viral TikTok dance, and honestly, we're still not entirely sure where it came from. What we do know is that it's apparently the perfect response to absolutely everything: "How was your day?" "6-7." "What do you want for lunch?" "6-7." "Can you explain your math homework?" "6-7." The teachers embraced the madness with their Halloween costumes this year, putting their own hilarious spin on the phenomenon (see photos below). So, the next time you ask us a question, don't be surprised if you get a knowing smile and a casual "6-7" in response. Welcome to the club!

At Westfield Middle School, we have recess time built into our lunch schedule, so all students have the opportunity for a break! Here is an interesting read about middle school recess...

“Just because students have entered middle school doesn’t mean they no longer need recess,” say Catherine Ramstetter and Charlene Woodham Brickman (Successful Healthy

Children) in Principal Leadership. They point to these research-based reasons:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics says that breaks from cognitive work help consolidate newly acquired information for later retention and retrieval.

• Recess helps adolescents deal with puberty’s biological, social, and academic stressors, and is especially helpful for students who’ve experienced adverse childhood events.
• Kids need time to engage in student-directed activities that promote social competence and protect against substance abuse and poor mental health.
• Face-to-face time with peers is especially important given pervasive cellphone use and the decline in time spent socializing with peers outside of school.
• Time for informal interaction can contribute to an inclusive, positive school culture and a sense of connection to the school, which extends to academic learning.

“The Case for Middle School Recess” by Catherine Ramstetter and Charlene Woodham

Brickman in Principal Leadership, September 2025 (Vol. 26, #1, pp. 19-21)