Edward Walker Named Principal at North High School! 🍎✨
A dynamic leader is taking the helm at North High School! Edward Walker has been named Principal for the 2026-27 school year.
Bringing over two decades of dedicated experience in driving student success, Mr. Walker will lead North High after serving as Dean of Students at Worcester Technical High School. His background spans K-12 administration, school counseling, and higher education admissions.
Welcome to North High School, Principal Walker! 🎉
Erin Derr Named Principal at Francis J. McGrath Elementary School! 🍎✨
Erin Derr will serve as the new Principal of Francis J. McGrath Elementary School for the upcoming school year.
Ms. Derr has dedicated her entire educational career to Worcester Public Schools. She began as a teacher at Jacob Hiatt Magnet and Heard Street Discovery Academy before spending the last seven years in leadership at City View Discovery School as Assistant Principal and Principal.
Join us in giving a warm welcome to Principal Derr as she joins the McGrath community! 🥳🎉
🎓🚀 Early College Summer Career Explorer Program 🚀🎓
Over the final week of July, current and future Early College students from every WPS high school gathered to explore exciting careers across a variety of industries!
Students enjoyed hands-on experiences with local entrepreneurs, banks, colleges, healthcare facilities, the Worcester Airport, Worcester City Hall, the Worcester District & Superior Courthouse, and more.
Along the way, students crafted their own business cards, practiced networking, and even earned their CPR certifications! On the final day, they came together to reflect on what they learned and how these experiences shaped their vision for future education and career pathways.
A shoutout to all of our incredible local partners for hosting and inspiring our students including Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester State University, Assumption University, Clark University, Bay State Savings Bank, Worcester Regional Airport, City Hall, the American Red Cross, Upper Blackstone Clean Water, Tasty Experience Bistro, Trim City Barbershop, Worcester Public Market, Worcester District & Superior Court, and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce!
Over the final week of July, current and future Early College students from every WPS high school gathered to explore exciting careers across a variety of industries!
Students enjoyed hands-on experiences with local entrepreneurs, banks, colleges, healthcare facilities, the Worcester Airport, Worcester City Hall, the Worcester District & Superior Courthouse, and more.
Along the way, students crafted their own business cards, practiced networking, and even earned their CPR certifications! On the final day, they came together to reflect on what they learned and how these experiences shaped their vision for future education and career pathways.
A shoutout to all of our incredible local partners for hosting and inspiring our students including Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester State University, Assumption University, Clark University, Bay State Savings Bank, Worcester Regional Airport, City Hall, the American Red Cross, Upper Blackstone Clean Water, Tasty Experience Bistro, Trim City Barbershop, Worcester Public Market, Worcester District & Superior Court, and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce!
Angie LaRose Named Principal at Lake View School! 🍎✨
Angie LaRose has been named Principal of Lake View School after serving the school community in an acting role last year.
Ms. LaRose brings extensive WPS experience to the position, having served as a SAIL and inclusion teacher, an instructional coach at Quinsigamond School and Chandler Elementary School, a district math and special education coach, and Assistant Principal at Lake View.
Join us in celebrating Principal LaRose as she continues leading the Lake View community! 🥳🎉
📚🍧 Back-to-School Fun at Flagg Street!
Flagg Street Elementary hosted a fun back-to-school event last night! Students received free books and popsicles and had a chance to meet new Principal Colleen Dyer and school administrators.
We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back soon! 🎉📚
Flagg Street Elementary hosted a fun back-to-school event last night! Students received free books and popsicles and had a chance to meet new Principal Colleen Dyer and school administrators.
We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back soon! 🎉📚
Latino Education Institute’s Back to School Event 🏫
Worcester Public Schools Wraparound Coordinators and Family & Community Engagement Office staff attended the Latino Education Institute's Back to School event at Worcester State University.
WPS staff presented key back-to-school information in both English and Spanish and answered questions for attending families and caregivers.
In addition to connecting with LEI staff and exploring community resources, families were provided with on-site childcare by WPS.
Worcester Public Schools Wraparound Coordinators and Family & Community Engagement Office staff attended the Latino Education Institute's Back to School event at Worcester State University.
WPS staff presented key back-to-school information in both English and Spanish and answered questions for attending families and caregivers.
In addition to connecting with LEI staff and exploring community resources, families were provided with on-site childcare by WPS.
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.
