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
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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!
A Heartwarming Thanksgiving at Thorndyke Road School! 🍁🦃
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral generously prepared and served a delicious Thanksgiving meal for our students at Thorndyke Road School today, Monday, November 24. From savory turkey and sides to sweet treats, the feast brought everyone together to celebrate gratitude and community.
A special thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this event possible. Your support and dedication made the day truly memorable for everyone! 💛
Take a look at some photos from the celebration! 📸
Our School Nutrition team brought the spirit of Thanksgiving to lunch tables across the district on Thursday, and the whole community helped make it happen!
Students enjoyed a cozy, scratch-made feast featuring fresh roasted turkey with gravy, fresh stuffing, a whole grain roll, steamed corn, and creamy mashed potatoes made with nearly half locally grown potatoes from Jekanowski Farm right here in Massachusetts.
A big shout-out to Matthew Dalbec and Sheyenne Dennis, our lead chef trainers, and their amazing team. Thank you to all our nutrition team members for making sure every student enjoyed today’s meal 🍽️. Your extra work truly paid off! 🧡🦃
Take a look at some photos from Jacob Hiatt School, Goddard School of Science & Technology, and Forest Grove Middle School enjoying their Thanksgiving-style lunches! 📸
Staff came together for homemade dishes, good company, and holiday spirit at our potluck gathering in the Dr. Helen A. Friel Auditorium.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and made it such a warm and memorable celebration!
The Worcester School Committee recently recognized Maria Gardner, a paraprofessional at Worcester Arts Magnet School (WAMS), for her dedication to beautifying school grounds across the district.
Since 2008, Maria has shared her love of gardening with students, planting sunflowers and other greenery that bring joy and learning opportunities to our schools. Her recent “Beautify WPS” project included planting 45 mums at 15 schools, inspiring principals and students to start garden clubs and engage in hands-on gardening activities.
Thank you, Maria, for your creativity, generosity, and for making our schools more welcoming and vibrant! 🌿💛
We visited Mill Swan Head Start and saw some of our youngest learners enjoying music lessons, arts and crafts, outdoor play, and plenty of engaged learning.
Head Start has served thousands of Worcester children over the years and remains an essential early learning program for families. It helps children build strong academic, social, and emotional foundations while ensuring families have access to important support services.
We are proud of Worcester Head Start students, staff, and families, the program’s mission, and the continued positive impact on our community.
Students at Doherty participated in the school's annual Career Day, an event that brings community professionals into the school to share their career journeys, education paths, and day-to-day work.
A wide range of professions participated, including firefighters, police officers, engineers, social workers, educators, and more. Each student heard from three speakers, asked questions, and learned about careers to help explore their options for life after high school.
This annual Doherty event took place in the new school building for the first time, continuing a tradition of inspiring students through real-world examples and conversations with industry professionals.
Rice Square School Celebrates Day of Gratitude 🧡
Rice Square School enjoyed a meaningful Day of Gratitude this week on Wednesday, where students and staff took part in activities focused on reflection and appreciation for their school and community. It was a joyful day centered on thankfulness. ✨🧡
We were honored to welcome volunteers and community members from the Montserrat Program at the College of the Holy Cross, UMass Medical School, and the Knights of Columbus/Lady of Loretto Church. Their support and participation helped make the celebration truly special. 🤝🦃
The day ended with a Thanksgiving Feast for all students and staff, supported by Simply Delicious Catering and Peppercorns Grill & Tavern. 🍽️🧡 Thank you to everyone who contributed and shared messages of gratitude with our students. We are grateful for the kindness and generosity of our Worcester community. 🧡
Students at Grafton Street School were honored for their Quarter 1 Perfect Attendance with a special Pancake Breakfast! 🥞
They beamed with pride, and having parents join made the morning even more meaningful. Full of smiles, energy, and community, it was a wonderful way to celebrate students who show up every day. ✨
We can’t wait to celebrate even more students at the Quarter 2 event! 🎉
Honoring Our Veterans at Goddard School of Science & Technology!
This week, students at Goddard School of Science & Technology celebrated Veterans Day with a schoolwide assembly featuring inspiring student writing ✍️, including contributions from several 6th-grade students, and a spirited sing-along 🎶 led by our music teacher, Mr. Matt.
Paula Rodriguez-Linares, Grade 6 (shown in the photo) 📸, shared how we can honor veterans: “We can honor veterans by reaching out to them and letting them know how courageous they are for serving our country. You can also tell them you’re grateful for all their hard work and even send them letters of thanks ✉️.”
The Veterans Day Sock Drive 🧦 ends today, November 14th! The school is just 83 pairs away from its goal of 300 brand-new socks to benefit Veterans Inc. in Worcester.
WEDF (Worcester Education Development Foundation) is excited to host Coats for Kids on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 PM at Worcester Fitness, 440 Grove St, Worcester. ❄️ Let’s help kids in our community stay warm this winter!
🌟 For more information and ways to donate, visit: https://wedfwps.org/coats-for-kids/
Gates Lane Honors Community Veterans at Annual Veterans Day Breakfast
Gates Lane School of International Studies proudly recognized and celebrated the veterans in its community during the annual Veterans Day Breakfast. The event was a heartfelt tribute to those who have served our country and a reminder of the enduring importance of service and sacrifice.
The ceremony featured Chief Butman, Chief Tyson, and the South High Jr. ROTC Color Guard 🎗️, whose participation added distinction and meaning. Mr. Stemple, the music teacher, led Ms. Cherry’s fourth-grade class 🎵 in a patriotic song, and the Student Council 👏 helped facilitate all activities, ensuring the event ran smoothly. Families and community members joined in to honor the veterans and share in the celebration.
📸 Check out some photos from the event!
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
