🍪🏠 Gingerbread fun at Quinsigamond Elementary School!
Thursday morning, our 1st grade students and some 2nd grade students enjoyed a joyful gingerbread-making event with their families, decorating, creating, and making sweet memories together. Laughter, creativity, and holiday cheer filled the room! ❤️✨
A big thank you to our staff and families for helping make this event so special!
📸 Check out some of the photos from this festive celebration!
🎄✨ Holiday creativity on display at the Fanning Building!
Worcester Public Schools' Transition Program students at the Fanning Building put their creativity and teamwork on full display with festive holiday door decorations. From colorful designs to thoughtful details, each door reflects the students’ hard work, imagination, and holiday spirit.
And the fun isn’t over. This will be a friendly holiday door decorating contest, with the winning team celebrating their creativity with a pizza party! 🍕🎉
Spreading holiday cheer, check out the amazing work by our students and staff!
Rice Square School recently received a hat donation from Joyce Giroux, who hand-knit hats for all 500 students. A family friend of fourth-grade teacher Christine St. Denis, Joyce has been supporting Rice Square students with hand-knit hats for several years.
This donation helps ensure every student has a warm hat this season and highlights the strong sense of care and community at Rice Square School.
Students and families filled the Doherty Memorial High School auditorium for Midland Street’s annual holiday concert.
Performances from grades K–6, along with the school’s orchestra, chorus, and band, helped ring in the holiday season.
Take a look at some of the sights from this joyous performance!
May your holiday be filled with warmth, reflection, and meaningful moments with family and friends. Wishing all who celebrate a peaceful and happy Hanukkah.
On Friday, Spectrum Health Systems treated every student and staff member to a warm, delicious breakfast 🧡
The day continued with holiday fun, including Grade 2 students presenting their Greek Myth projects and Grade 1 students performing in the Holidays Around the World concert, both with parents invited.
Thank you, Spectrum Health Systems, for bringing joy and a delicious breakfast to our school! 🙌🥯
Check out highlights from the day! 📸
Superintendent Brian E. Allen visited North High School and Canterbury Street Magnet Computer-Based School to congratulate our November WooStars!
Pictured here with North High School 11th grader Ricardo Bonilla and Canterbury Street TLS teacher Anne Power, Superintendent Allen recognized their outstanding contributions in their school communities, and presented each with a small gift bag.
Nominate your December WooStars below. Deadline for this month's nominations is Monday, December 29.
👉 Nominate a student: https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member: https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
Ten Clark Street Community School students had the joy of going holiday shopping 🛍️✨ thanks to Target’s Heroes & Helpers program, a special partnership between Target, local charities, and the Worcester Police Department (WPD) 🚓🎄.
The students were accompanied by WPD officers to the store, where Target team members made sure the experience was magical from start to finish ✨. Seeing their smiles 😄 as they picked out gifts for themselves and their families was truly unforgettable!
A heartfelt thank-you ❤️ to English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher Kayla Mezzan for making this meaningful experience possible and spreading extra holiday cheer to our school community 🌟🎉.
WPS students shined at the 2025 CDMMEA Senior Festival auditions, earning 36 festival acceptances and 24 All-State recommendations 🥇, the highest totals since tracking began in 2017.
Students from Burncoat High, Doherty High, and South High stood out among hundreds of musicians from across Central Massachusetts 🎵✨.
👏 Congratulations to all of our talented student musicians and the educators who support them! 🎶🎉
➡️ Read the full article here: https://worcesterpsma.sites.thrillshare.com/article/2587295
The Central Massachusetts Safety Council (CMSC) Driving School is offering a holiday break driver’s education course for WPS students from December 29, 2025 to January 2, 2026 at Doherty Memorial High School (299 Highland Street).
Through CMSC’s partnership with Worcester Public Schools, students can access driver’s education at discounted rates.
Visit worcesterschools.org/drivers-ed to sign-up and learn more!
Congratulations to all WPS students being recognized for their hard work and academic achievement in the first quarter. We’re proud to celebrate your success!
Find your student: https://www.worcesterschools.org/article/2566964
It’s time to nominate this month’s WooStars — one student and one staff member who exemplify Vision of a Learner and Vision to Action in Worcester Public Schools!
🗓️ December Nomination Deadline: Monday, Dec. 29
👉 Nominate a student: https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member: https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
This Month's Staff WooStar: Anne Power, TSL Teacher at Canterbury Street Magnet Computer-Based School
"As a teacher in a 2nd–3rd grade transitional life skills classroom, Anne goes above and beyond every single day to ensure that her students not only learn, but truly thrive. Her classroom is a place of warmth, joy, and endless possibilities. She is constantly seeking out creative and meaningful ways to make each day memorable and enjoyable for her students. Whether through hands-on learning experiences, special celebrations, or small personal touches, she makes sure every child feels valued, supported, and seen. Her commitment to improving the lives of her students extends far beyond the school day—she advocates for their needs, partners closely with families, and builds strong, trusting relationships that foster growth and confidence. She is also an active and deeply valued member of the Worcester Public Schools community. Her dedication extends beyond her classroom walls—she is involved in school-wide initiatives, supports colleagues with kindness and collaboration, and is a constant source of positivity.
Outside of school, she continues to embody the values she teaches, dedicating her time to her family and raising funds for meaningful causes such as the Jimmy Fund. Her kindness, authenticity, and unwavering dedication make her not only a remarkable educator, but a true role model—for her students, for her colleagues, and for anyone fortunate enough to cross her path. Worcester Public Schools is lucky to have her, beyond any words that could fully express her impact. Anne Power exemplifies what it means to teach with heart. She changes lives every day."
Do you know a WooStar? We are looking for examples of students and staff who exemplify Vision of a Learner and Vision to Action in WPS to feature on our social media channels.
👉 Nominate a student at https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member at https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
This Month's Student WooStar: Ricardo Bonilla, 11th Grade, Empowered Individual at North High School
Ricardo is an outstanding example of empowerment and determination. As a straight-A student, he consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to his academic success while also excelling as a dedicated soccer player. His ability to balance his studies and athletics shows remarkable discipline, time management, and focus. Ricardo embodies the qualities of a well-rounded individual—motivated, responsible, and driven to achieve his goals. His positive attitude and perseverance inspire those around him to strive for excellence both in and out of the classroom.
This demonstrates that Ricardo is an Empowered Individual, a disposition of the Vision of a Learner. Ricardo can effectively manage their time and workload to meet deadlines, delivering quality work and products on time (EI 2).
Do you know a WooStar? We are looking for examples of students and staff who exemplify Vision of a Learner and Vision to Action in WPS to feature on our social media channels.
👉 Nominate a student at https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member at https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
Wishing our students, families, and staff a joyful Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, reflection, and appreciation for the diverse traditions, histories, and cultures that enrich our community. 🍁
We are thankful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and support one another. May everyone have a restful and enjoyable break! 💛
Our West Tatnuck School family came together for a special Thanksgiving feast, organized by the Climate and Culture Committee 🌟 and the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) 🤝, with help from Doherty Memorial High School students 👩🎓👨🎓 who assisted in serving our students. A wonderful day of connection, celebration, and community spirit! 💛
Check out some photos 📸!
On Monday, November 24, South High’s Black Student Union (BSU) hosted its second annual BSU United Friendsgiving. This special event brought BSUs from across the district together as a sign of unity within the Worcester Public Schools community.
Students and advisors came together to celebrate our students, recognize their efforts toward unity, and share gratitude during the Thanksgiving season. This year’s Friendsgiving included BSU E-Board members, BSU members, and BSU advisors. The event included trivia, bringing everyone together for some friendly competition.
The event was organized by the following schools: Burncoat High School, Doherty Memorial High School, North High School, South High Community School, University Park Campus School, Worcester Technical High School and Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School.
Thank you to all students, advisors, staff, and volunteers who helped make this Friendsgiving event a success!
Check out some photos from the event! 📸✨
Students and staff at Burncoat High School came together this Thanksgiving season to support families in their school community through a holiday donation drive.
Over 60 families received turkeys and Aldi gift cards during after-school pickups in the days leading up to Thanksgiving break. These efforts were made possible thanks to contributions from the school’s Sunshine Fund.
Pictured here are students and staff who helped organize and distribute the donations, including members of the Latinos Unidos Club, Student Council, guidance counselors and school adjustment counselors.
Great job, Patriots—together, you’re making a meaningful difference for families this holiday season.
Students and staff at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast, coming together to celebrate the holiday with community and gratitude.
The school community shared a sit-down lunch, and kindergarten students gave a special performance. The celebration also included a festive balloon parade from kindergarten and first grade classes, featuring balloons designed by the students.
It was a memorable and joyful day for the Columbus Park school community!
Superintendent Brian E. Allen visited Burncoat High School and Burncoat Middle School to congratulate our October WooStars!
Pictured here with Burncoat High School 10th grader Julianna Cohen and Burncoat Middle School culture and climate specialist Yelitza Agosto, Superintendent Allen recognized their outstanding contributions to their school communities and presented each with a small gift bag.
Our November WooStars will be announced on December 1—stay tuned!
