Westfield Tech students visit Munger Hill Elementary for annual Adopt a School program

Feb. 19, 2020 | Dennis Hackett

A Munger Hill Student tries on a welding helmet during Collision Technology’s presentation.
Reminder Publishing photo by?Dennis Hackett

WESTFIELD – On Feb. 12 students from Westfield Technical Academy’s 12 shops visited students at Munger Hill Elementary School to read books and showcase what they do in their shops as part of its sixth annual Adopt a School Program during Career Technical Education Week.

The shops spread themselves out among the different grade levels and began each session over the course of an hour with some shops visiting multiple classrooms along the way. Each presentation began with the older students reading to the younger kids before showing off the work from their shops.

In one presentation two students from WTA’s culinary arts program before asking the kids what they thought were important cooking skills. During one of the sessions for Collision Technology the students began by passing around some of the equipment they use, including a welding helmet.

In order to prepare for the event, WTA’s school librarian Donna Rollins explained that she picked out the books for the students to read to the younger kids and helped them rehearse before they set foot in Munger Hill for the Adopt a School program.

Principal Joe Langone said that Rollins has been a tremendous help in organizing the event each year. “She’s doing the heavy lifting for the project both in terms of selecting texts and working with the kids in terms of how to read the texts to a specific developmental level of student,” he said, “We couldn’t do it without Donna, she’s amazing.”

Rollins said that the Adopt a School program is one of the best parts of the year for the students.     “This is one of my favorite days of the year, you really get to see the kids shine and do what they do best,” she said.

Langone said that the Adopt a School program is all about the students. “It’s completely student centered in terms of delivery,” he said. “It’s not the adults highlighting the accomplishments of the kids, it’s the kids displaying their own accomplishments.”

Emily Acosta, one of WTA’s Graphics students, said one of her favorite parts of the day is interacting with the younger kids. She said, “It’s sort of like giving back, we really see a mirror of ourselves when we were younger and have the opportunity to show them what they can become.”

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