As we ring in 2026, we celebrate our students, staff, and families for their accomplishments this past year.
Here’s to a new year full of learning, growth, and shared success in our community! 🌟📚🎉
Learn more about this worldwide celebration: https://buff.ly/2Lx2PFc

Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration honoring African-American culture, family, and community. Let’s celebrate unity, history, and shared values together! ❤️💚🖤
Learn more about this celebration: https://buff.ly/3Rmi8nv

Wishing all our students, families, and staff a joyful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and togetherness. Here's to a bright and successful new year ahead!
To learn more about this annual holiday, check out this article: https://buff.ly/2Q9l5Lg

May your holiday be filled with warmth, reflection, and meaningful moments with family and friends. Wishing all who celebrate a peaceful and happy Hanukkah.

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

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! 💛

Veterans Day honors military veterans for their service and sacrifice. It’s a day to show appreciation for those who have served to protect our country.
Click here to learn more about the significance of Veterans Day and ways you can honor those who served: https://buff.ly/3IOnULk

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

Students and staff at Lake View School wrapped up Massachusetts STEAM Week with a schoolwide showcase celebrating creativity, curiosity, and discovery!
Each grade hosted an experiment or activity, giving students the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on learning.
Excitement filled the halls as students proudly shared their projects and presented their discoveries to classmates. It was a morning full of energy, enthusiasm, and learning!







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 month, we’re introducing new principals in WPS as part of National Principal Month! Principals work every day to support students, guide their staff, and build strong school communities.
Meet Angelina LaRose, who is serving as the acting principal at Lake View School this year.
Principal LaRose has been working in Worcester since 2009. Her favorite part of working in education is sharing her love of learning and inspiring students to try new things with excitement and curiosity.
Join us in welcoming Principal LaRose!

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!





Last week, teamwork and positivity made a big impact at Lake View Schol! 🙌
Students were thrilled to meet WooSox pitcher José De León and catcher Chadwick Tromp during a special visit. ⚾🎉
📸 Check out the photos from their visit!


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

