Worcester Public Schools - From Here, Anywhere... Together

🧥 Operation Warm Coat Visits West Tatnuck School 🧥 Students at the West Tatnuck School recently had the chance to pick out brand new coats just in time for winter thanks to Operation Warm Coat. Students could select from a variety of sizes and colors with volunteers helping make sure the new coat fits just right. Coats were available for all grades regardless of home income. After making a selection, students visited the "check-out" area where they had their name written inside the coat so they don't lose it. Students signed a thank you card for volunteers as they returned to class. The visit to West Tatnuck is just the latest stop in WPS for Operation Warm Coat having also provided new coats to students at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy and Union Hill School. Operation Warm Coat's mission is to provide warmth, confidence and hope through need-based programs. Coats are manufactured by Operation Warm Coat and distributed to children through TJX. Thank you to Operation Warm Coat and all of the volunteers for making this event possible! Check out some of the smiles and moments from a great day 📸

👟 Inter-High Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park 👟 It was great to see many of our high schools and student-athletes come together for the Inter-High Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park! It was a tough 3.1 mile course filled with steep hills, but competitors from across WPS gave it their all and displayed tremendous sportsmanship, cheering on runners from all teams. For the girls race, South High finished in first place to take the city championship while Burncoat came in second. Doherty and Worcester Tech tied for third in the team standings. For the girls individual winners, Chase Sullivan of Burncoat led the group in first place while Regan Maxwell of South High and Avery Corriveqau of Worcester Technical came in second and third place respectively. In the boys race, Burncoat High came in first place for the team competition while South, Worcester Tech and Doherty rounded out the teams. For boys individual winners, Alfonso Huaman of Worcester Tech led the race in first place followed by Griffon Spofford of Burncoat and Isaiah Jacques of South in second and third place respectively. Check out a few images from a great day of cross country! 📸

🚀 STEM Day Highlights at City View Discovery! 🌟 City View Discovery School recently welcomed families for a hands-on STEM Day. Together, they explored the STEAM Lab, checked out the Robotics program, and got creative with science and engineering projects. From building pumpkin walls to designing speaker boxes, every grade brought science to life! Project Highlights: Pre-K: Built a structure to keep Harry the Dirty Dog clean 🐾 Kindergarten: Engineered walls for five pumpkins 🎃 1st Grade: Explored pumpkin products with all five senses 🍂 2nd Grade: Designed & tested hoop gliders 🚀 3rd Grade: Crafted “creepy” carrot gardens after reading "Creepy Carrots" 🥕 4th Grade: Created musical instruments using recycled materials 🎶 5th Grade: Became "food scientists" with Amplify Science 🥄 6th Grade: Constructed speaker boxes to amplify sound 🔊 Bonus Activity: "Photosynthesis in a Bag" with our STEP classes 🌱 Thank you to our dedicated staff and all the families who made this day of learning and discovery an incredible success! Take a look at the photos to catch the excitement in action! 📸✨

Celebrating Excellence at Doherty High Memorial School! 🎉✨ We are thrilled to recognize the following students who have achieved perfect MCAS scores, showcasing their dedication and perseverance as leaders in their academic journeys: • Isabelle Adamsson (English, Math) 📚✏️ • Abdullah Alaloosi (English) 📖 • John Hickey (English) 📖 • Kleri Morcka (English, Math) 📚✏️ • Raphael Otero (English) 📖 • Morgan Sibray (English) 📖 • Nathan Lopez (Math) ➕ • Jorgea Nico (Math) ➕ • Naomi Thompson (Biology) 🔬🌱 These students exemplify academic excellence and have set the bar high with their outstanding performance! We also want to give a special shoutout to two exceptional students from Mass Academy who achieved perfect scores on their Math/English exams—what an impressive accomplishment! 🎓👏 A heartfelt thank you to our devoted teachers, staff, and families for their essential role in our students’ achievements. 🙏💙

🎃✨ Pumpkin Drop Physics Lesson at South High Community School! ✨🎃 Students at South High used their Physics Free Fall unit to get further into the Halloween spirit with a fun pumpkin drop lesson! Students recorded video of the drop and then marked the position of the pumpkin at set time intervals. With the information, they were able to create a motion diagram, position vs. time graph, velocity vs. time graph and calculate the acceleration due to gravity of falling objects near Earth's surface. It was a great time for all involved, except for maybe the pumpkins!

🌊💡Hands-On Learning at Broad Meadow Brook!💡🌊 As part of last week’s STEAM Week, Worcester East Middle School Grade 7 scholars in Ms. Alexis Thompson's "Real Math, Real Science" LEAP class took learning outside! 🦆🌿 During their field trip to Broad Meadow Brook, students used rubber duckies to measure brook flow rates and modeled how different surfaces impact watersheds. It’s amazing to see math and science come to life right in nature! 🧑‍🔬🌍✨ Take a look at their adventure! 📸

Friendly Faces of Union Hill School 👋 Students at the Union Hill School had a blast recently during the school’s first “Tear it Up Tuesday” with Principal Ish Tabales leading a fun dance session during lunchtime to inject energy into the day. From there, students enjoyed recess outside, taking advantage of some nice weather. It was also Cultural Day with students dressing up in cultural outfits and waving flags to showcase their cultural identity. Inside the school, second grade students were hard at work learning mathematics. Union Hill School is located in the North Quadrant of Worcester Public Schools. It serves 390 students for the 2024-25 school year, hosting grades K-6. The school features two buildings, one built in 1893 and the other built in the early 1960’s.

🎉 Hispanic Heritage Month Museum at Worcester Dual Language Magnet School 🎉 Students and staff at Worcester Dual Language Magnet School recently held an amazing museum event for Hispanic Heritage Month! 🌍✨ Throughout the day, students showcased projects completed during Hispanic Heritage Month for their families. Projects featured Hispanic role models in the arts, sciences, athletics, politics and locally in the Worcester community. The event also featured cultural clothing, Hispanic music and dancing and plenty of fun for staff, students and families! 💃🕺 Check out highlights from the Hispanic Heritage Museum at Worcester Dual Language Magnet School! 📸

⭐Amanda Burke, School Adjustment Counselor at Worcester East Middle School ⭐ “Amanda's commitment to excellence is evident in the meticulous quality of her work, which consistently benefits our school community. She plays a key role in leading school-wide initiatives that enhance the social, emotional, and academic well-being of our students, always going the extra mile to ensure their success. Her passion for education and her genuine care for the students shine through in everything she does. Worcester East Middle School is incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and compassionate staff member. Thank you, Amanda, for your invaluable contributions!”

South High Community School Hosts Doherty Memorial High School in Football 🏈 South High recently hosted Doherty High for a matchup of WPS teams on the football field. It was a terrific fall night for football with plenty of fans from both schools in attendance. Doherty came out on top with a 28-6 victory over South. Cheerleaders from both teams were in action as well with a friendly battle taking place at the 50-yard line during halftime. Statistically for Doherty, senior Josh Romeo threw three touchdowns with junior Ryan Dennis (two touchdowns) and sophomore Chris Lefebvre (one touchdown) on the receiving end. Donte Aghapour ran in for a touchdown while Carlos Tumer (12 tackles), Tom Kursonis (eight tackles, two sacks) and Jailen Givins-Osafo (nine tackles) bolstered the defense. For South, sophomore running back Peyton Mosely finished with 86 yards on 21 carries while junior Uche Mba grabbed four receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Aedan Gonzalez and Mba finished with eight tackles while freshman Cyrus Johnson recorded an interception. Take a look at some of the scenes of the game! 📸

Seasonal Clothing Donation from Cradles to Crayons 🧥 Recently the Family and Community Engagement Office received its annual donation of seasonal clothing packs from Cradles to Crayons! Thanks to this amazing partnership, schools were able to order specific items for students, and Cradles to Crayons did the rest, delivering a truckload of essentials just in time for winter. The items donated included long sleeve shirts, pants, sweaters, socks, underwear, and winter coats! 🚚✨ A huge shoutout to everyone involved—especially our fantastic wraparound coordinators and the dedicated staff from the McKinney-Vento office—who helped sort and distribute these much-needed donations! We can’t wait to see these items go to our WPS families! 🧦💖

Hispanic Heritage Month at Norrback Avenue School! Fourth graders at the Norrback Avenue School recently learned more about Hispanic Heritage Month during a lesson taught by World Cultures educator Shan-Shan King. Throughout the lesson, scholars explored the many unique Hispanic cultures and learned where Hispanic countries are located on the world map. They also learned about the achievements of Hispanic idols such as Lin Manuel-Miranda, Cesar Chavez, Frida Kahlo, Sonia Sotomayor and others! Students also learned how to do the merengue, the national dance of the Dominican Republic. The class wrapped up the lesson with a fun dance session!

Friendly Faces of West Tatnuck School 😊 We recently stopped by West Tatnuck Elementary School to say hello to our friends! 👋 West Tatnuck scholars took advantage of the early fall weather 🍂 during recess, enjoying kickball ⚽, playing on the playground 🛝, and running around the school's spacious outdoor area. Inside, 5th and 6th-grade scholars played Cribbage 🃏, read their favorite books 📚, and stayed focused on their learning. 📖✨ West Tatnuck School, located within the Doherty Quadrant of Worcester Public Schools, serves 343 students for the 2024-25 academic year, hosting grades PreK-6. Since 1953, the school has evolved to meet the needs of the community, incorporating modern updates and embracing diversity. Key features include: • A curriculum meeting state standards • Active family and community participation • Extracurricular activities promoting teamwork • A commitment to inclusivity West Tatnuck Elementary School is dedicated to providing a supportive, engaging learning experience for student success! 💙

💫 Highlights from the Burncoat Quadrant SEPAC Meeting! 💫 A big thank you to all the amazing parents and caregivers who attended the Burncoat Quadrant Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Welcome New Parents Meeting on October 17 at Norrback Avenue Elementary! 🌟 It was wonderful connecting with everyone and sharing valuable resources on the special education support available for your children. From speech and occupational therapy to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, we hope you left feeling more informed and confident about the comprehensive support available in Worcester Public Schools! 💬💡 Missed this one? No worries! There are still two more chances to attend: 📍 North Quadrant: Tuesday, October 29 @ Roosevelt Elementary 📍 Doherty Quadrant: Thursday, November 7 @ Nelson Place Elementary 🎒 Don't forget—every family receives a welcome packet full of helpful resources! Childcare will be provided at both upcoming events to make attending easier for families. We’re here to support you every step of the way! ❤️

Happy National Principal Month! ✏️ October is all about celebrating the dedicated principals that help shape our school communities. Their passion and commitment to WPS students and staff inspires us every day! We know this image doesn't capture all our amazing WPS principals, so drop a comment to give a shout-out and say thank you to yours!

Worcester Technical High School Volleyball Hosts Blackstone Valley 🏐 The Worcester Tech Eagles recently faced off against Blackstone Valley Tech on the volleyball court in a Colonial Athletic League match up. The match marked the final home contest of the season, and the final home game for the Eagles' five seniors. The seniors, pictured in the fourth slide, are captain Magdalena Sotiropoulos, captain Adyson O'Leary, outside hitter Aisha Olivier, defensive specialist Casey Lopez and middle blocker Kaya Szydlik. Despite a tough 3-0 loss, the Eagles gave it their all, showcasing incredible effort until the final point. Swipe through to see highlights from this hard-fought match! 📸

Doherty Memorial High School Ribbon-Cutting, Plaque Dedication Ceremony 🏫 Today, an official ribbon-cutting and plaque dedication ceremony was held to commemorate the opening of the new Doherty Memorial High School at 299 Highland Street, a state-of-the-art facility that began serving students in grades 9-12 on August 26. “There are many allies in our local, state, and federal delegation that made this project possible,” said Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “I feel incredibly grateful to be celebrating another school, and we are incredibly fortunate to have strong partnerships that allow us the opportunity to improve the learning environment for our scholars.” Numerous public officials, design and construction project leaders, school staff and students were in attendance to celebrate the opening of the 425,000 square-foot high school. The new building is located adjacent to the old high school building, which opened in 1966 and was demolished over the summer. “This beautiful facility gives our scholars the space and resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and creatively,” said Dr. Rachel H. Monárrez, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools. “The new Doherty is built for learning, for growing, and becoming the future-ready leaders of tomorrow.”

⭐Alex Dao, Seventh Grade Scholar at Forest Grove Middle School ⭐ Alex is a thoughtful student who actively participates in classroom discussions and is making great strides in Spanish class. He shows off more of his bright personality with each passing day and his sense of humor makes him a joy within the Forest Grove community. Take a look at what is being said! “Alex is a hard-working student with many insightful ideas that he shares with his classmates in discussions. Alex has recently increased his participation in his Spanish class and now enjoys engaging in dialogue with his classmates. He continues to increase his confidence in the classroom and take more academic risks. According to the staff at Forest Grove, Alex has a great sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and brightens any room he enters. He is quick with a witty joke or remark and always keeps us laughing!"

Worcester Public Schools Receives Game Changer Award at Worcester Chamber of Commerce Game Changers Conference 🏆 The Worcester Public Schools recently received the Game Changer Award from the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, which celebrates local organizations that drive meaningful change within the Worcester community. Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez accepted the award on behalf of WPS. WPS was recognized as a Game Changer for its on-going commitment to Career and Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) programming for high school students and adults. WPS was also recognized for its Innovations Career Pathways programming and Adult Night Life classes, both of which provide opportunities to acquire the skills and experiences needed to enter the workforce. The WPS College and Career Readiness team were also on-site, sharing insights directly with employers about the career technical education programs available in our high schools. Career technical educators from Worcester Technical High School were also in attendance to network with local industry leaders. The Game Changers Conference connects local industry leaders, employers, and training experts to explore innovative strategies for workforce development.

Happy National School Lunch Week! 🎉🥗 From October 14-18, we are celebrating the delicious, nutritious meals served every day in Worcester Public Schools! Our amazing Nutrition Department works hard to provide breakfast, lunch, snacks, and more, fueling students for success in the classroom. This week, we're featuring some exciting new menu items that are being sampled across the district, including: 🍽️ Plant-Powered Nuggets 🌮 Empanadas & Tamales 🍜 Veggie Dumplings & Vegetable Lo Mein 🍛 3-Bean Chili & Vegetable Egg Rolls with Fried Rice Let’s give a big round of applause to the team behind these tasty and healthy school meals!