Washington Elementary School 🐾

It was another meaningful week at Washington Elementary, filled with important academic learning and opportunities to nurture the social-emotional skills that help our students thrive. Our teachers collaborate with community members to bring experiences like yoga, mindfulness, and therapy dogs into our classrooms because we believe developing soft skills is just as important as building academic skills. We take that balance seriously! In the new year, we’ll also be introducing mindful knitting, so stay tuned for more details!

Behind the scenes, our staff and I dedicated time this week to carefully review and analyze students’ beginning-of-year benchmark assessment results. This important work helps us thoughtfully plan and tailor instruction for the weeks ahead. We are continually assessing to teach and teaching to assess, using what we learn about our students to inform our next steps.

We wrapped up the week with our very first Washington School Store! It was wonderful to see our students’ excitement, pride, and Washington School spirit on full display. Go, Wildcats!

Wishing all of our Washington families a wonderful weekend! 💙 Be sure to check out our Live Feed and School News.

Westfield Public Schools is continuing to examine how technology is used across our schools and how much time students spend engaging with screens throughout the school day. Technology can be a valuable tool for teaching, learning, communication, and access to information. At the same time, we recognize the importance of ensuring that its use is purposeful, developmentally appropriate, and balanced with hands-on learning, collaboration, movement, creativity, and meaningful interpersonal connections.

This year, the district is gathering input from teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community members to better understand current practices, recognize what is working well, and identify opportunities to improve how technology supports student learning and well-being.

We recognize that technology use and screen time can look different across grade levels, classrooms, and learning experiences. We want to hear a range of perspectives, including examples of how technology enhances instruction, concerns about its impact, and ideas for achieving a healthy and effective balance between digital and non-digital learning experiences.

We invite parents, guardians, teachers, and community members to participate in upcoming input sessions. These conversations are an opportunity to share your experiences, ask questions, raise concerns, and offer suggestions. Your feedback will help inform the district’s ongoing review and support thoughtful, student-centered decisions about technology use in Westfield schools.

Community Input Sessions

• Monday, October 26, 2026

• Monday, January 11, 2027

• Monday, March 15, 2027

Location: Westfield High School, Cafeteria B
Time: 6:30–7:30 PM

If you are interested in attending any of these three community input sessions, please sign up on the linked form HERE.

• Halloween Parade: Friday, October 30 at 9:05 AM, shortly after arrival
• Students will parade twice around the perimeter of the school using the sidewalks.
• Families are welcome to watch from grassy areas or front lawns.
• Keep all sidewalks clear for the parade.
• Students should arrive at school already dressed in their costumes.
• After the parade, each class will find a spot outside for a group photo.
• Costumes: masks and costume weapons are not permitted, including guns, axes, knives, swords, etc.
• No Halloween goodie bags, food, candy, or cards with food/candy attached should be sent to school.
• Each class will enjoy Halloween-themed crafts and games organized by class parents in consultation with teachers. Only class parents are permitted to attend class parties.
• Students may bring one special snack from home to enjoy during their class celebration.

• Questions about costumes or the celebration? Please reach out to me!

Halloween masks may be worn during the parade.

Keep all sidewalks clear. Spectators are welcome to view from any grassy area on Sherman Avenue.

The Westfield Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts Department is excited to invite families and young music lovers to an evening of musical storytelling as the Westfield High School Wind Ensemble presents its annual Children's Concert on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m in the Edison Intermediate School Auditorium.

This year's program will transport audiences into the magical world of Disney and Pixar, featuring memorable music from several beloved Pixar films and Disney's The Lion King, alongside a performance of Paul Dukas' classic orchestral masterpiece, The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

This year's Children's Concert promises an entertaining evening for the entire family.

Event Details

• Date: Monday, November 9, 2026

• Time: 6:00 p.m.

• FREE - Click here to reserve your tickets

This section of the newsletter will be used to communicate important information and reminders pertaining to fifth grade events.

We are extremely excited for this week’s overnight trip to Fairview Lake! On Tuesday, the fifth-grade team and I will meet with students to review expectations and answer any questions they may have.

As fifth grade families prepare for the trip, we encourage students to pack their own belongings so they know what they have packed and where to find everything during their stay.

Be sure to check the Live Feed throughout the trip for fun photos and details chronicling our adventures at Fairview Lake!

October

28-29: G5 Fairview Lake Trip

30: Halloween Parade

November

2-3: Early Dismissal | Parent-Teacher Conferences

4: Early Dismissal | Staff In-Service

5-6: School Closed, NJEA Teachers Convention

11: Saint Joe's Collection | PTO General Membership Meeting

13: School Photo Retakes

14: Family Ice Skating

19: Thanksgiving Food Drive Packages, G5 Event

20: Pretzel Sale @ 3 PM

21: Craft Fair

25: Early Dismissal

26-27: School Closed