Upcoming Events
Sept 23 - Senior Parent Meeting (virtual) - 7 pm - 9 pm
Sept 30 - Back to School Night - 7 pm
|
|
PTSO Notes
WHS Counselors Corner
Click here for links to the WHS Guidance Department news and resources.
WHS Hi's Eye
Click here for the WHS Hi's Eye student newspaper and please subscribe.
WHS Morning Announcements
Click here for WHS Morning Announcements provided by the SGA provided by SGA and the WHS Morning Show Class
WHS Sports
Click here for the complete and most up-to-date schedule of games, matches, scrimmages and other sporting events. You can also sign up to receive text alerts, and there is a mobile app available for download. If you see a camera icon, it means it is streaming. Just click on it.
WHS Emails
Click here for a link to the Principal's Updates and emails sent out by WHS .
WHS Community Flyers
|
|
|
Virtual Event: "After Covid...What Does Child Stress and Anxiety Look Like?" - September 21st |
|
WHS No Place for Hate Book Event - September 29th
|
The WHS No Place for Hate committee is planning a special event for the Class of 2025 and any upperclassmen who are new to WHS. This mini book club event will take place on Wed., Sept. 29 from 2:45 to 4 p.m. on the front lawn of the school (in the event of inclement weather, we will meet in the Student Center). The purpose of the event is to welcome new students to WHS, introduce them to No Place for Hate and discuss a few excerpts from the book Tell Me Who You Are. We have a great afternoon planned with discussions and other activities. Invitations have been emailed to the Class of 2025 as well as to all upperclassmen who are new to WHS.
If students are interested in attending, they can RSVP by completing the attached Google Form. We hope to see them there!
|
|
WHS Children's Book Collection |
Please consider donating new or gently used children and teen books for the WHS Back-to-School Book Drive from September 20 to October 20. Donation bins will be located at Tamaques, Edison, Roosevelt, WHS, the Westfield Memorial Library, and St. Helen’s Parish. All donations will be sent to Reader to Reader, Inc., a charity dedicated to helping under-resourced libraries across the world. Contact mannygonzalez220@gmail.com for more information.
|
|
WHS Bowling Sign Up - September 27th |
|
Subscribe to the Hi's Eye and Optic |
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
After a lot of roadblocks and unique challenges last year, Hi’s Eye and Optic Magazine continued to deliver the news and won some prestigious awards along the way (Hi’s Eye- 1st place award from the American
Scholastic Press Association. Optic- Best high school magazine in the country and 1st place award with special merit from the American Scholastic Press Association)
Once again, we are committed to our journalistic duty and are doing everything in our power to continue to print newspapers and deliver hard-hitting, high-quality content to our community this year. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we will be going back to our old schedule of printing every week and bringing back HOMEROOM DELIVERY! Optic Magazine had a great inaugural year and will also be printing and delivering quarterly magazines again this year.
Please click here for more information on subscriptions and pricing. And, as always, we appreciate any and all donations as we are independent publications and do not receive any school-affiliated funding.
Whichever option you prefer, just fill out the attached form and submit it with your check made out to Hi's Eye. We welcome all new subscribers and thank our loyal readers for their continued support.
Sincerely,
Ethan Messerman, Evan Tompkins & Tyler
Sontz, Business Managers (Hi’s Eye)
Amanda Rickert and Kimberly Su, Business
Managers (Optic)
Shawn McDonald & Darren Finkel, Advisers
|
|
Welcome back to a new year at Westfield High School! We look forward to a fun and productive year for you and children.
This year the WHS PTSO is moving to a new platform for our directory, fundraisers and dues — Membership ToolKit. All parents, new and returning, should sign up for Membership Toolkit. Directions to sign up are below.
We encourage you to join the PTSO and help make your child's experience that much greater. Membership to the PTSO provides access to the directory, funding to support school and student activities, and engaging speakers on topics that are most important to you and your child. Your contributions make so many events and activities possible at WHS. In the 2021-22 school year, the PTSO will be providing funds to help modernize the WHS Library. Plans include redesigning study spaces for group work and upgrading equipment. All these improvements will make your student's experience at WHS that much better and more enriching. Thank you for any additional funding support toward this project you can provide through the direct appeal donations when you join the PTSO.
This fall, you will receive our parent email newsletter, WHS PTSO Press which will provide a wide variety of school information. We hope you can volunteer with the PTSO - keep your eyes out for a volunteer sign up email after the first day of school.
Please visit our webpage here under the Family Resources tab of the WHS website. There you will find parent information as well as general information to help you during your tenure at WHS.
We know the past few years have been unusual, to say the least, but we at the WHS PTSO are committed to providing all needed resources and information to help make this school year as traditional and inspiring as usual.
Thank you,
The WHS PTSO
How to Activate Your Membership Toolkit Account
1a) If you had children at other Westfield Schools last year and have previously signup for Membership Toolkit. Click on Returning User and use your log in credentials from last year. You can update your information, pay your WHS PTSO dues and contribute to WHS PTSO fundraisers.
*******
1b) If you have never signed up for Membership Toolkit (or don't remember if you did) then click “Create Account”.
2) Complete the “Create Account” form.
Important: Use the same email that you use to logon to Genesis (the address that this email was sent to). Do not use a different email. You will be able to change your email or add additional emails to your account once it is activated.
3) Once completed you will receive an email from Membership Toolkit. Click the link in the email message to verify your email address and complete the process. You can update your information, pay your WHS PTSO dues and contribute to WHS PTSO fundraisers.
4) Be sure to download the Membership Toolkit App on your mobile device so you always have your directory with you! App Store OR Google Play.
***If you have children at other Westfield Schools, you can use the same login information but will need to go to each school's individual Membership Toolkit webpage page from a computer to access each school's directory and pay PTSO dues. (i.e. rooseveltptso.membershiptoolkit.com for RIS PTSO and westfieldhsptso. membershiptoolkit.com for WHS.) If you use the app on your phone, you can log in with the same information and can toggle between schools within the app.***
|
|
Order WHS Student Planners |
|
WHS student planners can be purchased for $10 online using your Membership Toolkit account. If you have already set up your account, click here, log in and click "Student Planner" to purchase your planner. While you are on the site, you can also pay your PTSO dues, contribute to WHS PTSO fundraisers and make scholarship donations.
If you have not created your Membership Toolkit account yet, please follow the instructions above
Once you set up your account, you will be able to place your student planner order.
Unfortunately, due to worldwide shipping delays, the planners will not arrive until October. We have included a free printable PDF of September and October planner pages and school information for your child to use until the planners arrive. The links to print out the school information found at the front of the planner and planner pages for September and October can be found here or at this link https://schooldatebooks.com/westfield-senior-high-school-nj/
If you are unable to print out the pages at home, please email the PTSO at whsptso@westfieldnjk12.org and we will provide the pages to your child. We thank you for your patience and understanding with delays that are out of our control.
|
|
Municipal Alliance Meeting - September 15th |
|
Save the Date for the next Municipal Alliance meeting on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 p.m. at the Westfield High School Guidance Office. There will be a virtual option as well. Agenda and Zoom link to follow. |
|
Support Westfield Students |
|
As the 2021-2022 school year gets underway, here are a few ways to support our students and school communities.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and continued generosity.
|
|
Westfield PTC Special Education Committee BTS Night - September 22nd |
|
The PTC Special Education Committee is sponsoring its annual Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. via Webex accessed by clicking this link. Attendees will hear from Dr. Michael Weissman, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services and Andrea Lo, Special Education Supervisor, PreK-12, who will provide updates on the latest developments and supports that are important to the Special Education community. In the spirit of collaboration, please submit questions by Wednesday, September 15, 2021, to westfieldspecialedparents@gmail.com so the Special Education Committee can compile the FAQ. This program is free and all parents, teachers, and therapists are invited to attend. Pre-registration is not required.
|
|
The following Westfield residents have declared their candidacy for three seats on the Board of Education: Emily Barker, Robert Benacchio, Kent Diamond, Robert Garrison, Ilya Eric Kolchinski, Kristen Sonnek-Schmelz, and Mary Wickens will be on the ballot in November. Board of Education members whose terms are expiring as of December 31, 2021 are Robert Garrison, Gretchan Ohlig, and Tara Oporto.
The election will be held on Tuesday, November 2. The date for a Board of Education Candidates Night -- sponsored by the Parent Teacher Council and held at Westfield High School -- will be announced soon.
|
|
For the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series in October, guests are welcome to the in-person luncheon at the newly renovated Echo Lake Country Club on Wednesday October 6th at 11:45am. Richard Rosenthal will present "The Precedents of the Prefident*: George Washington and the Creation of the Executive Office." (*In 1789, a print “s” was written “f.”) Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or, by calling 908-654-1794, before Friday, Oct. 1st. Please advise if there are special dietary needs. The luncheon fee of $35 (WHS members) or $40 (non-members) includes a three-course meal, coffee/tea, and gratuity. Tables will be spaced out and mask wearing is encouraged except when actively eating or drinking.
The luncheon fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing to Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ 07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or, online at: www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org/registration. Payments should be received by Friday prior to the luncheon. Westfield Historical Society memberships will also be available at the luncheon.
|
|
As part of the Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace program, the Rotary Club of Westfield is holding a used bicycle and sewing machine drive on Saturday, October 9, rain or shine. Adult and child bicycles (no tricycles, please) in repairable condition can be dropped off at the Board of Education building at Walnut and Elm Street between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Working portable sewing machines and sewing notions (no fabric, please) also can be donated. No disassembled bikes or “bikes for parts” will be accepted. The used bikes and sewing machines will be shipped to developing countries in Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe to be reconditioned by partner agencies of Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace and distributed at low cost to help working adults in need. A donation toward shipping costs is necessary for the program’s continued success; $20 per donated item with a minimum of $10 is suggested. All materials and monetary contributions are tax deductible and a receipt will be provided onsite. For more information, please contact Ray Kostyack at raykostyack@gmail.com or Warren Rorden at wrorden@msn.com.
|
|
The Westfield Recreation Commission will sponsor the Tour de Westfield, a free family biking event, on Sunday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting at the North Side Train Station. Families will love joining the police-led 2 mile parade downtown or joining the WPD in the Bike Safety Rodeo. Cheer on the parade downtown! Younger children can have fun on the Tour de Tots, an obstacle course for kids with tricycles or scooters. Families can compete for $100 - $150 gift certificates by decorating their bike in the Bling Your Bike contest or by registering with the largest team name.
More information, including how to register and a schedule of events, is available HERE and at westfieldnj.gov under News and Announcements. Registrants who sign up before September 21 will receive a free t-shirt at the event on a first come, first served basis.
|
|
The Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library is hosting its 10th Annual Children and Teens Book Sale. Donations of books, CDs, and DVDs in good condition can be dropped off at the library at 550 East Broad Street on September 19 from 1:00 to 4 p.m., September 20 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and September 21 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sale days are September 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. A library story time will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 23. Visit fwmlnj.org for additional details or contact info@fwmlnj.org to volunteer.
|
|
Kick off the fall with a visit on September 26 from 2-4 p.m. to Westfield’s treasured Miller-Cory House Museum and learn all about cranberries! Discover the fascinating history of this all-American berry and learn how berries are harvested. Other cranberry-themed activities will include story time, a scavenger hunt, and crafts for the kids. The Miller-Cory House Museum is located at 614 Mountain Avenue in Westfield. Admission is $5.00 for ages 13 and older, $3.00 ages 3 to 12 and free under age 3. For more information, please call 908-232-1776 or email millercorymuseum@gmail.com.
|
|
Odyssey of the Mind Information Session
Tuesday, October 5 at 7 p.m.
If you would like to participate in the Zoom Virtual Meeting, please sign up via this Google Doc.
What is Odyssey of the Mind:
Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem solving competition for students. Teams of 5 to 7 students collaborate together over 4-5 months to solve a predefined long-term problem and present their solution at a competition. They must also participate in a spontaneous portion of the competition by generating solutions to a problem they have not seen before. Participants use knowledge of STEAM fields, independent thought, time and budget management, imagination, and public presentation abilities. In recent years many Westfield teams advanced to World Finals and some have placed in the top 10.
Who Should Attend the Information Session:
Parents, elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, or anyone interested in learning more about Odyssey of the Mind including understanding what it means to be part of an Odyssey team, schedule and time commitments, and how the program works.
|
|
Registration is open for the Foreign Language Awareness Group (F.L.A.G.). For over 30 years, F.L.A.G. has been offering Spanish, French, Mandarin, Japanese and Italian classes to Westfield children. Classes are held once a week from 4-5 p.m. at Edison and Roosevelt Intermediate Schools and run from October 18, 2021 through March 2022. The deadline to register is September 25. $10 early registration discount for registration/payments received before September 10. CLICK HERE for registration form and additional information.
|
|
As part of the Westfield Public School District's new website, there is a Community Flyers section under the Family Resources tab. Here you will find information about upcoming events sponsored by non-profit organizations in the community. The events will also continue to be included in the newsletter along with links to click for specific details. |
|
Editor: Josephine Stack
E-mail deadline for the Monday Issue of WHS PTSO Press: Friday at 12 noon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
