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Students in Mrs. Loughrey’s class huddled in a corner during the Southampton Road School Emergency Drill on Wednesday. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
www.thewestfieldnews.com www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017
WESTFIELD
Schools practice lockdown drills By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Students at Southampton Road School yesterday partook in a lockdown drill that was organized by Westfield Police and the Westfield School Departments. The lockdown drill was one of several that are occurring across the city’s schools this week as part of the lockdown procedure known as ALICE. The efforts are being done in order to improve the students’ and faculty safety, preparedness and awareness in the event of an Principal Kathy O’Donnell gives school keys to Officer intruder at a school or other Dan Gustafson during the Southampton Road School incidents. Emergency Drill on Wednesday. (Photo by Lynn Boscher) “Our purpose with the safety drills is to promote the Westfield Fire staff, anyone can call for a student and staff and com- Department when appropri- lockdown,” he said. “When munity safety,” Christopher ate, according to Rogers. we adopted the principles Rogers, Administrator of Rogers said that the drills of ALICE, anybody who Student Interventions for utilize the fundamentals of spots a threat can call for a the We s t f i e l d ALICE, which stands for lockdown.” SchoolDepartment, said. “Alert, Lockdown, Inform, According to The drill at Southampton Counter and Evacuate.” Southampton Road School Road School, which has Rogers said that these Principal Kathy O’Donnell, over 420 students, was principles guide faculty and the school practices lockdone in conjunction with students in the event of an downs “a couple times a the Westfield Police intruder or other incident year,” including a general Department who had offi- that could be a threat to lockdown and what she cers on scene, and drills for student or staff safety. called “shelter in place.” other situations also include “We’ve empowered our “With the shelter in
place, teachers close their doors and continue to teach,” she said. “We master a skill and practice something we hope we never use,” Rogers said. At Southampton Road School yesterday, the drill itself was for an intruder. “This you do one of three things: flee, hide or fight, or a combination thereof,” she said, saying that the option is up to the teacher. Regarding the actual drill, it began with an announcement from O’Donnell that it would be occurring and that the intruder was located in a particular portion of the school, which was made over the public announce system at the school. “We announce that this is a drill and give a location of the threat. Then teachers make a decision based on the location,” Rogers said. He also added that the decisions are made in real-time as information is given. O’Donnell said that the drill includes a codeword for teachers to be aware that it is a drill.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017
Westfield Police Dept vehicles are positioned in front of Southampton Rd. School on Wednesday during the school’s lock down drill. (Photo by Lynn Boscher).
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Huntington Selectmen discuss Gardner State Park, the River Walk and ambulance service By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON -At the Huntington Board of Selectmen’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Derrick Mason of Russell and Jeffrey Penn of Huntington spoke about a Department of Conservation and Recreation field trip on Friday, Nov. 17 with DCR Commissioner Leo Roy to Gardner State Park and several other area parks that were closed last year. Mason said they are looking for options for the DCR to reopen Gardner, which was gated since the spring. “Our argument is that the park along with other state lands should be kept open as part of our economic driver,” Mason said. Penn said the state’s attitude has been a management issue, and that the parks did not pay for themselves. Penn said such issues have been resolved in creative ways in other areas, and they hope to see whether the state will work with them to find a solution. See Huntington, Page 8
Marijuana sub-committee discusses overlay zones and special permits By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – With the state’s Cannabis Control Commission recently starting the process of putting a law together for recreational marijuana, the marijuana sub-committee in Southwick has continued to discuss and review the latest bylaw they have constructed. Doug Moglin, who is on the committee as a liaison for the Select Board, gave an overview to the rest of the committee about overlay zones and special permit use. It’s important to the committee since the town would be able to zone where recreational marijuana facilities or retail stores can be located. An overlay zone is a zoning district that goes over one or more zoning districts that are already established. The overlay zone can
See Lockdown, Page 8
See Marijuana, Page 8
Kindness Rock Garden unveiled at Abner Gibbs By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Abner Gibbs formally unveiled its Kindness Rock Garden Wednesday afternoon in a short ceremony in front of all the students who contributed and special guest Westfield Public School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. Principal Stacy Burgess said that the project was the kickoff for the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) program for the year. “We are focusing on being kind. In a world where there’s lots of trouble, simple acts of kindness can go a long way,” Burgess explained. Every student in the school, which has an enrollment of 222, painted a rock and decorated it. Burgess said this has been an ongoing
Abner Gibbs students gather for the formal unveiling of the Kindness Rock Garden.
project since the beginning of the year. The students brought the rocks from home and chose the messages to paint on them, such as
“Be Kind,” “Kindness changes the world,” and “Be kind and follow your dreams.” Shortly after 2 p.m., all the classes came outside and gathered in a circle around the rock garden, which is at the base of the Abner Gibbs School sign, and which will be surrounded by flowers in the spring. “How you treat one another has a big impact on another person’s life,” Principal Burgess said. She told the students that the garden was a symbol of everyone’s promise to be kind to one another. Fourth grader Hailey Texiera then read a poem to the students by Carly Dugmore, which began: “It doesn’t’ matter where you go, or who you meet along the way. Carry kindness in your heart, and practice it each day.” WPS Superintendent Czaporowski was then presented with a kindness rock. He said
he would put it on his desk, and look at it every day. Burgess said the theme will be carried throughout the year, as a part of the daily morning message and weekly school-wide meeting. “We are trying to promote kindness in the student body in words and actions,” she said. They also have a case displaying kindness rocks in the school, and a brightly colored bulletin board which reads, “Throw kindness like confetti.” Stacy Burgess said the project would not have been possible without Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) director Tina Macy and her volunteers who provided supplies and help. She also credited her PBIS team: School nurse Debbie Poremby, reading specialist Emily Byrne and counselor Amy Crowley.
Abner Gibbs PBIS team: Reading specialist Emily Byrne, Principal Stacy Burgess, Counselor Amy Crowley and School Nurse Fourth grader Haily Texiera read a poem about kindness at the ceremony. Debbie Poremby.
WPS Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski received a kindness rock which he said he would put on his desk and look at every day.