Burncoat High School’s Guidance Department and Wraparound Coordinators teamed up with community partners MEFA and Dynamy to host a FAFSA Fiesta for seniors and their families!
The event provided hands-on support to help students complete their FAFSA applications and CSS Profiles as they prepare for the college application process.
The FAFSA Fiesta is part of Burncoat High's ongoing FAFSA Fridays series, which offers dedicated time each week to help students and families complete their financial aid applications and take the next step toward their college goals.
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!
🗓️ November Nomination Deadline: Monday, Nov. 24
👉 Nominate a student: https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member: https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
“Julianna has been canvassing for candidates for school committee and city council for the past two elections. She researched candidates and reached out to volunteer, and has spent the past several Saturdays canvassing around Worcester for the candidates that she supports. She volunteered all summer at the Massachusetts State House in Boston as a tour guide, as well as an online internship with State Senator Robyn Kennedy's office. Julianna is an assistant teacher at our religious school, participates in several clubs, and is part of the Hanover Insurance Academy of the Arts at Burncoat.”
This demonstrates that Julianna is an Engaged Community Member, a disposition of the Vision of a Learner. Julianna can identify a need in their community, articulate and communicate solutions, develop an action plan, and advocate for change (ECM 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
What an incredible day celebrating school spirit, teamwork, and Green Pride at Burncoat High’s 2025 Homecoming Pep Rally! 🏫✨
From the pep band kicking things off with Swag Surfin’ to the Spirit Team’s high-energy performances and cheers, the excitement in the gym was unmatched! 🎺💃
👏 A big shoutout to all of Burncoat’s Fall Sports Teams and especially the Seniors — we’re so proud of your hard work and dedication!
The Burncoat Spirit Team kicked off the Fourth Annual Fashion Fundraiser with an electrifying performance, wowing the crowd and setting the stage for an evening of fun and community support at Union Station.
The fundraiser helps the Spirit Team raise money for their upcoming trip to the National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Florida this January, where the team will defend its National Championship from last year.
During the Fashion Fundraiser, local leaders, city officials, and community members showed their support by walking the runway, contributing to raffles, and making donations to help the Spirit Team this competition season.
Burncoat High School math teacher Em Beeler was featured in a recent episode of The WPI Podcast, where she shares her love of mathematics, what drew her to teaching, and her approach to creating team-based learning and offering real-world applications for math in the classroom.
🎙️ Listen here: https://www.wpi.edu/listen/wpi-podcast/e19-college-connections-em-beeler-class-2022
Worcester Public Schools middle school students spent last Friday morning at Polar Park in honor of World Mental Health Awareness Day!
They enjoyed a variety of fun, hands-on activities designed to support well-being and promote self-care, including:
💧 Aromatherapy
🎶 Polyrhythmic music station
🎨 Face & nail painting
🐾 Therapy dogs
🎧 DJ practice station
💬 Positive affirmations
⚾ Wiffle ball — and more!
The event gave students a chance to focus on mental health, connect with peers, and discover meaningful ways to care for themselves and others.
A heartfelt thank-you to Polar Park and our incredible community partners for making it such a memorable day! 💚
📸 Check out some photos from the event!
This week, Worcester Public Schools proudly celebrates our incredible Nutrition Services team for preparing healthy, delicious meals that fuel student learning every single day. 💚🍎
From the early mornings spent preparing breakfasts to the busy lunchtimes serving thousands of students across the district, our WPS Nutrition Services staff go above and beyond to make sure every child has access to nutritious meals that help them learn, grow, and thrive. 🌟
Their care and dedication make a lasting difference in our classrooms and communities — one meal at a time. 🍽️💪
A big thank-you to our WPS Nutrition Services team for nourishing our students and strengthening our schools! 👏🥗
At Worcester Public Schools, we are committed to supporting the mental and emotional health of our students, staff, and families.
We have numerous health and wellness resources for students, families and staff on the WPS website, including healthy recipes, after-school care, and fitness activities 🍏🏫🌟, to adult wellness support with yoga, meditation, self-compassion and more. 🧘✍️
Our Health & Wellness Roadmap and Strategic Plan ensure emotional wellness is a priority for both students and staff, fostering a thriving and caring community for all.
For more resources and information, visit our website today at https://buff.ly/4dGPLJG
A big thank you to NRIVA, a nationwide nonprofit with 55+ chapters, for donating 70 backpacks filled with school essentials to Worcester Public Schools! 🎒💪✏️
The backpacks were delivered to our Parent Information Center and will be distributed to students as they enroll, giving them a strong start to the school year. 💛
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!
🗓️ October Nomination Deadline: Monday, Oct. 27
👉 Nominate a student: https://buff.ly/levYdnc
👉 Nominate a staff member: https://buff.ly/gigMJcA
On Saturday, October 4, 14 Worcester Public Schools students worked with Danielle Collins of InspireEd to prepare and perform two songs at a Modern Band Workshop hosted by Berklee College of Music. They also joined a panel with 40+ music educators from New England and New York, led by Dr. Bryan Powell of Music Will.
Students:
• Ginalee Diaz, Jazenaliz Cordova, Adriani Lovet, William Quinones Soliver, Caleb Opoku Ampong, Seerwan Al Shankal (North High School)
• Camilla Snyder, Jadiel Ortiz, Pavel Orellana (South High Community School)
• Giovanni LeBron, Maria Perez Hernandez, Marco Gambaccini, Ian Vigo Torres, Mia Santos (Burncoat Middle School)
Their talent, teamwork, and creativity left everyone amazed! 🌟👏
📸 Check out the photos from the workshop!
Worcester Public Schools celebrated the graduation of 21 students from its Night Life programs in Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPT) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
The CCMA program runs for 14 weeks and includes a 120-hour clinical externship, two nights of test prep, and a national certification exam. The CPT program spans 12 weeks with an 80-hour externship, two nights of test prep, and a national certification exam.
Night Life gives adults in the community the opportunity to build new skills and earn nationally recognized certifications in high-demand fields. These programs are funded through a state grant procured by MassHire (Healthcare HUB) and through the City of Worcester’s Worcester Jobs Fund.
Learn more about Night Life programs and upcoming classes: https://worcesternightlife.org/
Congratulations to the newest group of Night Life graduates!
Vision of a Learner - Spark Leadership Academy Launches in WPS 💡
Worcester Public Schools is launching the Spark Leadership Academy, a program that brings principals, district leaders, and the Office of Innovation together to deepen implementation of Vision of a Learner.
To guide this work, leaders are using a human-centered design thinking process, a hands-on way to solve problems by:
• Listening and learning from others (empathize)
• Identifying needs (define)
• Brainstorming possibilities (ideate)
• Trying out new ideas (prototype and test)
• Making what works part of the school routine (implement)
As part of this effort, leaders will shape the parts of the Learning Journey that help celebrate and track student growth, including:
• Artifacts – real examples of student learning
• Gateways of Learning – important milestones that mark growth and progress
• Portfolios – collections of student work that show how skills develop over time
Throughout the year, the design teams will try out ideas, get feedback, and adjust to make sure the Learning Journey works for every school and every student.
Learn more about Vision of a Learner!
Wishing all our Jewish families a happy Rosh Hashanah! Today is the celebration of the world's creation and marks a fresh start for all.
To learn more, check out this article on the significance of this holiday: https://buff.ly/4yEcdA2
🌟 WooStars Are Back 🌟
We are excited to reintroduce our WooStars recognition series for students and staff in the Worcester Public Schools!
🗓️ September Nomination Deadline: Monday, Sept. 29
👉 Nominate a student: https://www.worcesterschools.org/forms/20473
👉 Nominate a staff member: https://www.worcesterschools.org/forms/20864
New to WooStars for 2025-26:
🔹 Monthly Recognition: We will spotlight one student and one staff member each month for their impact in our communities. Nominations will reset each month, allowing us to recognize individuals in a timely manner.
🔹 Aligned with Vision of a Learner, Vision to Action: Student selections will highlight how they embody Vision of a Learner with specific examples. Staff selections will describe how the employee has gone above and beyond to serve their school community.
🔹 Your Voice Matters: Your thoughtful nominations ensure we can spotlight individuals who are putting Vision to Action across Worcester Public Schools.
Happy IT Professionals Day! 💻
Join us in celebrating the Worcester Public Schools Information Technology team!
From managing devices and networks to supporting staff and students, our IT professionals ensure schools can stay focused on teaching and learning.
Information Technology Director Bob Walton and Assistant Director Tim Williams shared insight into the work of these teams:
IT Support Specialists: The IT Support Specialists are the district’s first line of IT support. They maintain 1,500 computers, 25,000 Chromebooks, and 6,000 iPads across 55 sites. Each school has a technician for printers, projectors, document cameras, interactive boards, and more. Last year they resolved over 6,000 tickets, ensuring educators and staff had reliable technology.
Network Operations: The Network Operations team manages districtwide hardware and infrastructure that would rival Fortune 500 companies in scale and complexity. They provide connectivity for all devices, oversee wireless access, security, communications, and Internet across WPS. The team also runs the IT help desk and ensures the reliability and safety of the district’s digital systems.
Information Systems Team: The Information Systems Team develops and maintains complex systems and integrations. They oversee 13 key databases for student information and special education data and manage two dozen in-house applications, including Pay Stub, Translation Services, and Curriculum Maps. Their innovation ensures WPS staff have accurate, accessible, and effective data services.
Administrative Trainers: The IT Admin Trainer Team delivers systems training to clerical and administrative staff across 54 schools. They support key platforms such as WooEdu, Workday, and ParentSquare. Trainers enable administrators and clerks to build proficiency while passing on institutional knowledge essential to daily school operations and long-term success.
Thank you to all of our IT professionals for keeping our schools connected and secure.
Celebrating Worcester’s vibrant Hispanic and Latino community all month long! / ¡Celebramos a la vibrante comunidad hispana y latina de Worcester durante todo el mes!
Did you know? In 1973, the Concilio de Padres was founded to advocate for equal education for Spanish-speaking students in Worcester. / ¿Sabías que? En 1973, se fundó el Concilio de Padres para abogar por una educación igualitaria para los estudiantes hispanohablantes en Worcester.
Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month at https://buff.ly/2Z8hbrt / Descubre más sobre el Mes de la Herencia Hispana en https://buff.ly/2Z8hbrt
Burncoat High School's Class of 2026 came together earlier today for the annual Senior Sunrise!
Students gathered with friends on the hill behind the school to catch the sunrise. It was a morning of laughter, music, colorful signage, and sweet treats as seniors celebrated the start of their final year.
Here’s to the Burncoat High School Class of 2026—let’s make this year unforgettable! ✨
Honoring September 11th
Today, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
We pause to remember and honor the lives lost on 9/11, a moment that forever changed America and the world. We reflect on the courage of civilian heroes, first responders and the resilience of our nation. May we continue to foster a spirit of unity and hope.
