WPS District Quarterly Newsletter
March 2026
Supporting Healthy Childhood Development
As educators and parents, we all share the same goal: helping our children grow into healthy, confident, and well-balanced young people. One important conversation gaining momentum nationwide is the role of social media in children’s lives, particularly for those under the age of 16.
A growing body of research suggests that early and unsupervised social media use can expose children to risks they may not yet be developmentally prepared to manage. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that youth who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Longitudinal research following nearly 12,000 young people found that increases in social media use during early adolescence were associated with higher depressive symptoms one year later.
Sleep and overall well-being are also concerns. In a recent national survey, 45% of teens said social media hurts the amount of sleep they get, and many reported negative effects on productivity and confidence. Pediatric experts note that younger adolescents are particularly vulnerable and recommend delaying social media until high school years whenever possible.
Waiting until age 16 to introduce social media gives children more time to develop critical thinking skills, stronger self-identity, and healthier face-to-face social habits. It also allows families to establish clear expectations around digital citizenship before students begin navigating complex online environments independently.
Families who choose to delay social media often report positive outcomes, including improved focus on academics, stronger in-person friendships, and fewer online conflicts. Of course, every child and family is different. My goal is not to prescribe a one-size-fits-all rule, but to encourage thoughtful, informed decision-making.
If your child is already using social media, consider setting clear boundaries around screen time, privacy, and respectful online behavior. If they have not yet started, you may wish to reflect on whether waiting a bit longer could support their overall well-being.
Our district remains committed to partnering with families to promote safe, healthy technology use. Together, we can help our students thrive, both online and offline.
Respectfully,
Stefan Czaporowski
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent's Spotlight
Tune into WSFD 107.5 FM, westfieldtv.org, or WCPC Channel 15 for “Superintendent’s Spotlight” every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Each week, Superintendent Czaporowski and Christopher Rogers talk with guests about our schools and community. Previous shows can be viewed on the WSFD Community Radio YouTube Channel and the Westfield, MA Public Schools Facebook Page.
Upcoming Shows:
March 5 - Westfield Intermediate School Robotics Team
March 12 - Westfield Eats! WPS Food Services
March 19 - Westfield River Elementary School
March 26 - YMCA of Greater Westfield
April 2 - Autism Awareness Day
April 9 - Westfield High School US History Students
April 16 - Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield
April 30 - Kiwanis of Westfield
May 7 - State Representative Kelly Pease
Kindergarten Registration Open
Kindergarten registration is open for the upcoming school year. Our Central Registration team is ready to help!
You can register your child by going to the registration tab at www.schoolsofwestfield.org and either scan/email your documents to s.kotarksi@schoolsofwestfield.org or bring them to the Central Registration Office at 94 North Elm Street, Suite 101.
Please be sure to register your child by the beginning of May to be contacted by their new school’s principal to schedule a brief visit and initial screening to help plan for their needs this fall.
You can check out https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/page/required-enrollment-documents for the list of required documents.
For more information about registration or if you have any questions, please email Sarah Kotarski at s.kotarski@schoolsofwestfield.org or call at 413.572.6439. For translation assistance, please email Laura Surprise at l.surprise@schoolsofwestfield.org or call at 413.642.9320.
Expanding Early Education
Our goal is for our youngest learners to have access to preschool within their city. Whether in our elementary schools, at the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, Head Start, or at one of several private preschool programs and licensed home daycare settings, we invite Westfield families to choose the program that best fits their needs. In addition to fostering critical thinking and academic development through play, preschool helps children develop empathy, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution.
All 3 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday for 2.5 hours, either in the morning or afternoon. The morning program will run from 9:15 am to 11:45 am and the afternoon program will run from 12:45 pm to 3:15 pm. All 4 year old preschool classrooms will be held from Monday through Friday from 9:15 am to 3:15 pm each day. The 3-year-old classrooms will be located at Munger Hill or Highland, and 4-year-olds will attend at Munger Hill, Highland, Southampton Road, or Westfield River Elementary. Each classroom will have 15 students, with 7 special education seats and 8 peer seats. There will be two special program classrooms for 3 and 4-year-old students with intensive needs to ensure that every child receives support in the environment that will allow them to thrive.
Enrollment and the Lottery Process for 2026-2027
As we plan for the upcoming school year, we invite parents of children that will be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2026 to complete the Preschool Interest Form if you would like your child to be entered in the 2026-2027 lottery. All students currently enrolled in one of our 3-year-old class will have a seat in a 4-year-old class. Seats will be filled with the goal of having 4-year-olds enrolled in their home school whenever possible.
By law, we maintain a set number of 'open' seats specifically for students with special needs. This ensures that as soon as a child is identified as needing extra support, at any time during the school year, the resources and space are already waiting for them. All other ‘open’ seats in 3 and 4-year-old classes will be selected through the preschool lottery. Whenever possible, students will be assigned to their home school.
Parents who have submitted an Interest Form will be entered in the lottery and will be notified of selection on or before April 2, 2026. Please note that parents are responsible for transporting their child to preschool unless the child qualifies for transportation through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
We are so excited to meet our newest students as they join our preschool classrooms next year! If you have questions regarding our preschool program, please contact Jonathan Scagel, Preschool Program Supervisor, (jonathan.scagel@schoolsofwestfield.org).
