Westfield Scholars Inspired to Read at Pages in the Park

Westfield Charter Academy kicked off Fall with an engaging family event focused on reading. Pages in the Park served as an opportunity for students to read with their families and teachers, and they took home a new book to continue reading on their own.

Over 40 families participated in Pages in the Park, which was hosted on Westfield’s playground and outdoor area. Teachers and school leaders read aloud to students to promote literacy. Instructional Paraprofessional Stephanie Abramowicz said the topic has been a priority for Westfield this year.

“As a school, we are making literacy our main focus this year because strong reading skills open the door to success in every other subject,” Abramowicz said. “We want to help students build a love for reading early and give families tools to support that growth at home.”

One of those tools is the new book each student got to take home from the event, thanks to a partnership with Making Spirits Bright. Students couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces as they searched for the perfect book among the stacks of options. Parents shared that they took inspiration from Pages in the Park and want to implement more family reading time at home.

The event was a success, in part because of the positive engagement and partnership with parents. With their help in encouraging their children to succeed, parents are actively investing in the high-quality education Westfield provides. Thanks to these efforts, students are growing into strong readers.

“Family involvement is key to that development,” Abramowicz said. “When parents are engaged and model reading at home, it reinforces the importance of literacy and helps students develop lifelong habits.”

The welcoming environment Westfield created also contributed to the event’s success. With blankets and chairs spread across the area, students and their families cozied up for quality time together. Families could also enjoy donuts and cider to ring in the fall season.

Providing this safe and inviting space was a priority for Abramowicz and Academic Specialist Andrea Krause, who also helped organize Pages in the Park. With a focus on literacy throughout the year, Pages in the Park set the bar high for the remainder of this year’s events.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Abramowicz said. “Families appreciated the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and loved the opportunity to spend time reading together. Many students were excited to choose their own books to take home.”