Kara Schichilone Named Acting Principal at Goddard School of Science and Technology! 🍎✨
A familiar face and long-time leader is taking on a new role! Kara Schichilone will serve as Acting Principal at the Goddard School of Science and Technology for 2026-27.
Goddard has been Principal Schichilone’s professional home for her entire 26-year WPS career, where she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and most recently as assistant principal for the past nine years.
Join us in sending a big congratulations to Principal Schichilone! 🥳🎉
Olga Papadopoulos Named Principal at South High Community School! 🍎✨
A proud South High graduate is officially taking the helm! Olga Papadopoulos has been named Principal for the upcoming school year after serving in an acting role in 2025-26.
With over 20 years of dedicated service to Worcester Public Schools, Principal Papadopoulos brings deep roots, incredible passion, and a commitment to ensuring every student feels valued to her alma mater.
Join us in celebrating Principal Papadopoulos as she continues leading the South High community! 🥳🎉
It’s Back to School Time in Worcester Public Schools! 🎒✨
We are less than three weeks away from the start of a new school year! We can’t wait to welcome our students, families, caregivers, and WPS staff back to the classroom. 🚌🍎
🗓️ Important Back to School Dates:
📚 Grades 1–12: Monday, August 31
🎨 Pre-K & Kindergarten: Thursday, September 3
🔗 Visit worcesterschools.org/backtoschool for resources to start the year strong, including bus schedules, school menus, FAQs, and more.
Emily Kokansky Named Principal at Belmont Street Community School 🍎✨
There’s a familiar face leading Belmont Street Community School! Emily Kokansky has been named Principal for the 2026-27 school year.
After serving Francis J. McGrath Elementary School as Acting Principal this past school year, Mrs. Kokansky is returning to the school where she spent nine years as a Grade 6 teacher and Instructional Coach.
Welcome back to Belmont Street, Mrs. Kokansky!
☀️ Summer Learning Highlights: 2026! 📚
Worcester Public Schools students made the most of summer learning through hands-on activities, academic enrichment, field trips, and opportunities to build skills for the year ahead!
📈 88% average daily student attendance
🎓 90% of secondary students earned a credit toward graduation requirements
🏫 Elementary: Woodland Academy, Nelson Place School, Norrback School, Quinsigamond School, and Roosevelt School
🏫 Middle & High School: Burncoat High School, Worcester Technical High School, Doherty Memorial High School, South High Community School, and North High School
From science and math to literacy, summer reading, field trips, and social-emotional learning, students stayed engaged and continued to grow all summer long. 🌱
👏 A huge shout-out to Kellie Becker, Assistant Principal at Burncoat High School, for running a fantastic summer program and helping make this experience such a success!
💙 Thank you to all our students, families, teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff for making Summer 2026 so impactful!
👉 Read more: worcesterschools.org/page/summer-learning-highlights-2026
Worcester Public Schools students made the most of summer learning through hands-on activities, academic enrichment, field trips, and opportunities to build skills for the year ahead!
📈 88% average daily student attendance
🎓 90% of secondary students earned a credit toward graduation requirements
🏫 Elementary: Woodland Academy, Nelson Place School, Norrback School, Quinsigamond School, and Roosevelt School
🏫 Middle & High School: Burncoat High School, Worcester Technical High School, Doherty Memorial High School, South High Community School, and North High School
From science and math to literacy, summer reading, field trips, and social-emotional learning, students stayed engaged and continued to grow all summer long. 🌱
👏 A huge shout-out to Kellie Becker, Assistant Principal at Burncoat High School, for running a fantastic summer program and helping make this experience such a success!
💙 Thank you to all our students, families, teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff for making Summer 2026 so impactful!
👉 Read more: worcesterschools.org/page/summer-learning-highlights-2026
🚌 Bus Routes for the 2026–27 School Year Now Available!
Worcester Public Schools has released bus routes early to help families and caregivers plan ahead for the upcoming school year.
🛑 How to find your child's stop:
‣ Students: Log in to the WooEdu Student Portal using your WPS Google account.
‣ Parents & Caregivers: Log in to the WooEdu Parent/Caregiver Portal and click “More” on the left sidebar.
📍 For additional transportation info or help finding your stop, visit worcesterschools.org/transportation
Worcester Public Schools has released bus routes early to help families and caregivers plan ahead for the upcoming school year.
🛑 How to find your child's stop:
‣ Students: Log in to the WooEdu Student Portal using your WPS Google account.
‣ Parents & Caregivers: Log in to the WooEdu Parent/Caregiver Portal and click “More” on the left sidebar.
📍 For additional transportation info or help finding your stop, visit worcesterschools.org/transportation
Colleen Dyer Named Principal at Flagg Street School! 🍎✨
Exciting news for the Flagg Street community! Colleen Dyer has been appointed as the new Principal of Flagg Street School for the upcoming school year.
Ms. Dyer brings over 20 years of educational experience to her new role. Since joining Worcester Public Schools in 2013, she has served as a Grade 6 ELA teacher at Worcester Arts Magnet, the district-wide K–12 ELA Liaison, and most recently as Assistant Principal at Thorndyke Road School.
Join us in giving a warm welcome to Principal Dyer! 🥳🎉
🌭🔥 WPS Summer Eats: BBQ Days at the Parks This August ☀️
Join WPS Nutrition Services for Summer Eats BBQ Days at the Parks this August! Free BBQ meals are available for all children and teens under 18. No registration or ID is required.
Locations & Times:
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street): Tuesday, August 4 | 11:15–11:45 AM
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street): Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Burncoat Playground (524 Burncoat Street):Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Crompton Park (47 Quinsigamond Avenue): Friday, August 7 | 1:40–2:20 PM
📍 Bennett State Pool (1260 Main Street, park behind Gates Lane School): Thursday, August 13 | 1:25–1:40 PM
📍 University Park (Crystal Park) (965 Main Street): Friday, August 14 | 12:45–1:15 PM
📍 Shine Pool (184 Providence Street): Friday, August 21 | 12:30–1:00 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
Join WPS Nutrition Services for Summer Eats BBQ Days at the Parks this August! Free BBQ meals are available for all children and teens under 18. No registration or ID is required.
Locations & Times:
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street): Tuesday, August 4 | 11:15–11:45 AM
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street): Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Burncoat Playground (524 Burncoat Street):Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Crompton Park (47 Quinsigamond Avenue): Friday, August 7 | 1:40–2:20 PM
📍 Bennett State Pool (1260 Main Street, park behind Gates Lane School): Thursday, August 13 | 1:25–1:40 PM
📍 University Park (Crystal Park) (965 Main Street): Friday, August 14 | 12:45–1:15 PM
📍 Shine Pool (184 Providence Street): Friday, August 21 | 12:30–1:00 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
🎓 Where Are They Headed? | Class of 2026
August is here, which means many of our recent Worcester Public Schools graduates are getting ready to begin college, settle into their first jobs and careers, deepen their technical skills at trade schools, or embark on military service.
We are proud to celebrate the success of the WPS Class of 2026 one more time and wish you the very best in this next chapter. Class of 2027, you're up next!
Check out a complete list of where the Class of 2026 is headed next: https://www.worcesterschools.org/article/2984362
🌭🔥 WPS Summer Eats: BBQ Days at the Parks This August ☀️
Join WPS Nutrition Services for Summer Eats BBQ Days at the Parks this August! Free BBQ meals are available for all children and teens under 18. No registration or ID is required.
Locations & Times:
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street): Tuesday, August 4 | 11:15–11:45 AM
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street): Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Burncoat Playground (524 Burncoat Street):Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Crompton Park (47 Quinsigamond Avenue): Friday, August 7 | 1:40–2:20 PM
📍 Bennett State Pool (1260 Main Street, park behind Gates Lane School): Thursday, August 13 | 1:25–1:40 PM
📍 University Park (Crystal Park) (965 Main Street): Friday, August 14 | 12:45–1:15 PM
📍 Shine Pool (184 Providence Street): Friday, August 21 | 12:30–1:00 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
🍔☀️ Free Summer Eats BBQ at Greenwood Spray Park & Burncoat Playground Today!
Join WPS Nutrition Services for a Summer Eats BBQ Day! All kids and teens eat FREE with no registration or I.D. required.
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street)
🗓️ Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Burncoat Playground (524 Burncoat Street)
🗓️ Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
🌭☀️ What a great day at East Park! ☀️🌭
Thank you to everyone who joined Worcester Public Schools Nutrition Services for our first Summer Eats BBQ Day! We loved serving free BBQ lunches and connecting with families in our community.
Missed today's event? There are more BBQ Days happening this August!
🍎 All Summer Eats meals are FREE for kids and teens 18 and under. No registration, paperwork, or I.D. required.
📍 Find upcoming BBQ Days and Summer Eats meal locations by visiting worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
We can’t wait to see you at the next park! 👋
🍔☀️ Free Summer Eats BBQ Today at East Park!
Join WPS Nutrition Services for a Summer Eats BBQ Day at East Park today! All kids and teens eat FREE with no registration or I.D. required.
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street)
🗓️ Tuesday, August 4
🕚 11:15–11:45 AM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats
Join WPS Nutrition Services for a Summer Eats BBQ Day at East Park today! All kids and teens eat FREE with no registration or I.D. required.
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street)
🗓️ Tuesday, August 4
🕚 11:15–11:45 AM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats
🌭🔥 WPS Summer Eats: BBQ Days at the Parks This August ☀️
Join WPS Nutrition Services for Summer Eats BBQ Days at the Parks this August! Free BBQ meals are available for all children and teens under 18. No registration or ID is required.
Locations & Times:
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street): Tuesday, August 4 | 11:15 AM–11:45 AM
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street): Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Crompton Park (47 Quinsigamond Avenue): Friday, August 7 | 1:40 PM–2:20 PM
📍 Shine Pool (184 Providence Street): Friday, August 21 | 12:30 PM–1:00 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
Join WPS Nutrition Services for Summer Eats BBQ Days at the Parks this August! Free BBQ meals are available for all children and teens under 18. No registration or ID is required.
Locations & Times:
📍 East Park (180 Shrewsbury Street): Tuesday, August 4 | 11:15 AM–11:45 AM
📍 Greenwood Spray Park (14 Forsberg Street): Thursday, August 6 | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
📍 Crompton Park (47 Quinsigamond Avenue): Friday, August 7 | 1:40 PM–2:20 PM
📍 Shine Pool (184 Providence Street): Friday, August 21 | 12:30 PM–1:00 PM
🍎 Find more Summer Eats locations and meal times at worcesterschools.org/summer-eats.
Countdown to Kindergarten at Polar Park!
Join us for Countdown to Kindergarten on Monday, August 24 from 4:00 to 6:30 PM at Polar Park.
Countdown to Kindergarten is a day to help your child (and you!) prepare for their first year of school. Enjoy hands-on, family-friendly activities, receive free books and other learning materials, and get your questions answered directly by WPS early childhood staff.
Complimentary parking will be available in the LAZ Madison Street Parking Lot located at 25 Madison Street.
Additional details and event tickets will be mailed to families & caregivers with a registered kindergarten student for the 2026–27 school year.
Children and their families will:
🚌 Climb aboard a school bus
🚸 Meet a crossing guard
🎶 Make music
📚 Get a free book
🥦 Learn about healthy eating
🏃♂️ Play the "Lunch Tray Relay"
🧱 Build with blocks – and more!
Join us for Countdown to Kindergarten on Monday, August 24 from 4:00 to 6:30 PM at Polar Park.
Countdown to Kindergarten is a day to help your child (and you!) prepare for their first year of school. Enjoy hands-on, family-friendly activities, receive free books and other learning materials, and get your questions answered directly by WPS early childhood staff.
Complimentary parking will be available in the LAZ Madison Street Parking Lot located at 25 Madison Street.
Additional details and event tickets will be mailed to families & caregivers with a registered kindergarten student for the 2026–27 school year.
Children and their families will:
🚌 Climb aboard a school bus
🚸 Meet a crossing guard
🎶 Make music
📚 Get a free book
🥦 Learn about healthy eating
🏃♂️ Play the "Lunch Tray Relay"
🧱 Build with blocks – and more!
🍎 Summer Eats Is Still Going Strong! ☀️
We've been out visiting Summer Eats locations across Worcester, and it's been great to see children and teens enjoying healthy meals and connecting with their community. Thank you to our dedicated Nutrition Services team and community partners for helping make Summer Eats a success! 💙
Free meals are available for all children and teens ages 18 and younger. No registration, ID, or paperwork is required.
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a location near you.
📸 Take a look at some photos from our visits to Summer Eats locations across Worcester!
We've been out visiting Summer Eats locations across Worcester, and it's been great to see children and teens enjoying healthy meals and connecting with their community. Thank you to our dedicated Nutrition Services team and community partners for helping make Summer Eats a success! 💙
Free meals are available for all children and teens ages 18 and younger. No registration, ID, or paperwork is required.
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a location near you.
📸 Take a look at some photos from our visits to Summer Eats locations across Worcester!
🍎 Summer Eats Is Serving Up Smiles! ☀️
We’ve been visiting some of our Summer Eats locations across Worcester and seeing the program in action! From nutritious meals to friendly faces, it’s great to see our community coming together to keep kids and teens fueled all summer long. 🥪🍏
Through Summer Eats, free meals are available for children and teens ages 18 and younger. No registration or ID is required!
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a Summer Eats location near you.
We’ve been visiting some of our Summer Eats locations across Worcester and seeing the program in action! From nutritious meals to friendly faces, it’s great to see our community coming together to keep kids and teens fueled all summer long. 🥪🍏
Through Summer Eats, free meals are available for children and teens ages 18 and younger. No registration or ID is required!
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a Summer Eats location near you.
Quarter 4 Honor Roll!
Congratulations to all WPS students being recognized for their hard work and academic achievement in the fourth quarter. We’re proud to celebrate your success!
Find your student here: https://www.worcesterschools.org/article/3013300
Congratulations to all WPS students being recognized for their hard work and academic achievement in the fourth quarter. We’re proud to celebrate your success!
Find your student here: https://www.worcesterschools.org/article/3013300
🍎 Summer Eats Is in Full Swing! ☀️
Summer is here, and Worcester Public Schools is helping kids and teens stay fueled all season long! Through the Summer Eats program, we’re serving fresh, delicious, FREE meals throughout the community with no registration or ID required.
A huge shoutout to our incredible Nutrition Services staff who prepare these healthy meals and help make Summer Eats possible all summer long. 💚
Swipe to see some of our Nutrition Services staff in action and the smiles they help create along the way! 🥪🥦🍏
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a Summer Eats location near you.
Summer is here, and Worcester Public Schools is helping kids and teens stay fueled all season long! Through the Summer Eats program, we’re serving fresh, delicious, FREE meals throughout the community with no registration or ID required.
A huge shoutout to our incredible Nutrition Services staff who prepare these healthy meals and help make Summer Eats possible all summer long. 💚
Swipe to see some of our Nutrition Services staff in action and the smiles they help create along the way! 🥪🥦🍏
📍 Visit worcesterschools.org/summer-eats to find a Summer Eats location near you.
🍎 Worcester Public Schools Nutrition Leadership Team Inspires the Year Ahead
Our Nutrition Leadership Team recently attended the Annual National Conference (ANC) of the School Nutrition Association (SNA)!
👩🍳Between hands-on culinary demonstrations, skill-building workshops, and team-building activities, they gathered top-tier ideas to bring back to our school cafeterias.
🌟Get ready for a great year ahead! The team is inspired, recharged, and ready to serve our students! 🍽️
📸 Pictured:
Front row (L-R): Jodi Foster (Assistant Director of School Nutrition), Danielle Collins (Director of School Nutrition), and Sheyenne Dennis (Lead Chef Trainer).
Back row (L-R): Daniel Benoit, Thomas Bongovio, Austin Sands, and Christopher Leotsakos (Coordinators of Culinary Operations).
Our Nutrition Leadership Team recently attended the Annual National Conference (ANC) of the School Nutrition Association (SNA)!
👩🍳Between hands-on culinary demonstrations, skill-building workshops, and team-building activities, they gathered top-tier ideas to bring back to our school cafeterias.
🌟Get ready for a great year ahead! The team is inspired, recharged, and ready to serve our students! 🍽️
📸 Pictured:
Front row (L-R): Jodi Foster (Assistant Director of School Nutrition), Danielle Collins (Director of School Nutrition), and Sheyenne Dennis (Lead Chef Trainer).
Back row (L-R): Daniel Benoit, Thomas Bongovio, Austin Sands, and Christopher Leotsakos (Coordinators of Culinary Operations).
