Francis J. McGrath Elementary School Celebrates DESE School of Recognition Distinction! 🎉🏆
Students and staff at Francis J. McGrath Elementary School are celebrating after being named one of just 56 schools across Massachusetts to earn the School of Recognition distinction from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)! ✨
This honor recognizes schools making outstanding progress toward state accountability targets, with an emphasis on achievement in English Language Arts and math. 📚✏️
McGrath Elementary School met or exceeded 89% of its targets in 2026. Its overall accountability percentile increased by 13 points since last year and 21 points over the past two years.
To mark this milestone, the school hosted a school-wide assembly to celebrate its School of Recognition distinction and encourage students to continue making academic progress. A special banner will also be displayed at the school's main entrance to recognize this achievement.
Following the assembly, students across all grades enjoyed extra recess on a beautiful fall afternoon, playing yard games, drawing with chalk on the blacktop and spending time outside with friends!
Congratulations to the entire McGrath Elementary School community on this incredible recognition! 💙🌟
Visit https://www.worcesterschools.org/article/3168549 to read more about the district's four Schools of Recognition!
Burncoat High School Arts Featured Guest at DESE Event!
Burncoat High School's Music and Dance Programs were featured guest artists at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education statewide Arts Convening, Celebrate Arts, held at the Worcester Art Museum on October 27.
Arts educators and administrators from across the state learned about Burncoat’s Arts Magnet program and enjoyed standout performances by the Burncoat Jazz Team and a piece choreographed by Burncoat High Dance seniors. Lunchtime entertainment was provided by the Burncoat Jazz Trio.
Congratulations and thank you to our talented students, as well as Mrs. Lord, Mrs. Shea, and Ms. Pennucci, for preparing students to shine at this statewide event!
Burncoat High School's Music and Dance Programs were featured guest artists at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education statewide Arts Convening, Celebrate Arts, held at the Worcester Art Museum on October 27.
Arts educators and administrators from across the state learned about Burncoat’s Arts Magnet program and enjoyed standout performances by the Burncoat Jazz Team and a piece choreographed by Burncoat High Dance seniors. Lunchtime entertainment was provided by the Burncoat Jazz Trio.
Congratulations and thank you to our talented students, as well as Mrs. Lord, Mrs. Shea, and Ms. Pennucci, for preparing students to shine at this statewide event!
🧠 Mental Health and Wellness Day 💚✨
Middle school students from across Worcester Public Schools attended Mental Health and Wellness Day at Polar Park! ⚾️🏟️
There were lots of fun activities and resource tables to promote the health and well-being of our students, including music, cultural dancing 💃🕺, face painting 🎨, and other activities. 🎈🎉
The event began with a welcome from Dr. Charles Steinberg, the President of the Worcester Red Sox. 🎤⚾️
Middle school students from across Worcester Public Schools attended Mental Health and Wellness Day at Polar Park! ⚾️🏟️
There were lots of fun activities and resource tables to promote the health and well-being of our students, including music, cultural dancing 💃🕺, face painting 🎨, and other activities. 🎈🎉
The event began with a welcome from Dr. Charles Steinberg, the President of the Worcester Red Sox. 🎤⚾️
🔬 STEM Week at Jacob Hiatt: Learning Through Hands-On Discovery! 🚀
Students at Jacob Hiatt joined together for school-wide learning activities to celebrate Massachusetts STEM Week, exploring science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on projects! 🧪✨
Over three days, students collaborated across grade and age groups to investigate scientific concepts, test their ideas and learn from one another.
Activities included first and third graders exploring gravity with marble runs, second and fourth graders learning about hurricanes, kindergarteners and sixth graders building and launching catapults, and fifth graders working alongside preschoolers to explore dissolving solutions. 🌪️🎯
These activities encouraged students to think critically, solve problems and work together while making connections to STEM concepts through engaging, hands-on experiences. 🧠🤝
🥕🥦 Learning About the Human Body at Lincoln Street School! 🍲
First-grade students at Lincoln Street School celebrated completing their Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Human Body unit with a special vegetable soup activity!
With the help of their families, students learned how eating a variety of colorful foods helps keep our bodies healthy while enjoying a hands-on learning experience.
Thank you to our families for joining us and making learning fun, meaningful, and delicious! 💚
First-grade students at Lincoln Street School celebrated completing their Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Human Body unit with a special vegetable soup activity!
With the help of their families, students learned how eating a variety of colorful foods helps keep our bodies healthy while enjoying a hands-on learning experience.
Thank you to our families for joining us and making learning fun, meaningful, and delicious! 💚
🗓️ Public Forum: Saturday, November 7 🏫
📍 Join us at Goddard Elementary School, 14 Richards Street, at ⏰ at 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 7, for a public forum of the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
🧪💥 STEM Week at Forest Grove Middle School: Investigating Bath Bomb Chemistry!
As part of STEM Week across Worcester Public Schools last week, Forest Grove Middle School students explored the chemistry behind bath bombs! They observed how bath bombs reacted in water, examined the properties of individual ingredients, and tested each ingredient with water to identify which produced gas.
Through hands-on experiments, students investigated how gas forms during a chemical reaction, using observations and evidence to test their hypotheses. 🔬
As part of STEM Week across Worcester Public Schools last week, Forest Grove Middle School students explored the chemistry behind bath bombs! They observed how bath bombs reacted in water, examined the properties of individual ingredients, and tested each ingredient with water to identify which produced gas.
Through hands-on experiments, students investigated how gas forms during a chemical reaction, using observations and evidence to test their hypotheses. 🔬
🤖⚙️ STEM Week Spotlight: Doherty Memorial High School Students Put Engineering Skills to Work!
Last week, for STEM Week, students in Doherty Memorial High School’s after-school robotics program put science, technology, engineering, and math into action!
🛠️ Students from all grade levels work together to design and build robots that compete against teams from other high schools. Led by Engineering Instructor Scott Pineo, the team is preparing for an upcoming scrimmage at South High Community School against teams from South, Hopkinton High School, Grafton High School, and Bancroft School.
💡 Through designing, building, testing, and problem-solving, students apply engineering concepts in a hands-on setting while developing technical skills and learning to collaborate as a team.
We’re proud of Doherty’s robotics students for their hard work, creativity, and dedication to STEM learning beyond the classroom!
❤️ Wawecus Students Learn About Heart Health and CPR ❤️
Students in grades 4–6 at Wawecus Road School learned important lessons about heart health and CPR during a visit from the American Heart Association!
Worcester EMS also stopped by the school, giving students a tour of an ambulance and introducing them to the work of emergency medical services professionals.
Students learned how to perform CPR and explored ways to keep their hearts healthy, such as healthy diet and exercise. The lesson led up to the school's Wellness Walk, where members of the community came together for a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood.
Thank you to the American Heart Association and Worcester EMS for helping our students build these important life-saving skills!
Students in grades 4–6 at Wawecus Road School learned important lessons about heart health and CPR during a visit from the American Heart Association!
Worcester EMS also stopped by the school, giving students a tour of an ambulance and introducing them to the work of emergency medical services professionals.
Students learned how to perform CPR and explored ways to keep their hearts healthy, such as healthy diet and exercise. The lesson led up to the school's Wellness Walk, where members of the community came together for a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood.
Thank you to the American Heart Association and Worcester EMS for helping our students build these important life-saving skills!
🎓 Superintendent Brian Allen held the second Superintendent Student Advisory Council meeting of the year at South High Community School.
🤝 Student leaders from across all district high schools spent a morning conducting workshops on restorative practice and other areas — to build skills and leadership.
🧩 One of the activities was called the “Human Knots Challenge,” where students explored how communication, active listening, and trust helps teams work together.
💬 The Student Advisory Council is a great way for students to communicate with district leaders to help us shape the future of the Worcester Public Schools. 🌟
🤝 Student leaders from across all district high schools spent a morning conducting workshops on restorative practice and other areas — to build skills and leadership.
🧩 One of the activities was called the “Human Knots Challenge,” where students explored how communication, active listening, and trust helps teams work together.
💬 The Student Advisory Council is a great way for students to communicate with district leaders to help us shape the future of the Worcester Public Schools. 🌟
🔬🧬 Worcester Technical High School Students Explore Biotechnology During STEM Week!
Last week, students in Worcester Technical High School’s Biotechnology Department took their learning beyond the classroom with exciting, hands-on experiences at three local universities!
🩺 UMass Chan Medical School: Students participated in a simulated Disaster Day, responding to scenarios involving Ebola, anticholinergic poisoning, and plague. With the help of special effects makeup artists and medical students, they explored clinical responses to emergencies and practiced real-time disaster response.
🧪 Assumption University: Students worked with Dr. Niece to conduct a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) lab, exploring analytical techniques used in scientific research.
🔬 Clark University: Students worked with Dr. Don Spratt to perform protein purification, gaining practical experience with laboratory procedures used in biotechnology.
These experiences gave students the opportunity to apply classroom learning, develop technical skills, and explore real-world applications of biotechnology while connecting with university faculty and medical professionals.
A big thank-you to UMass Chan Medical School, Assumption University, and Clark University for helping make these valuable learning experiences possible!
Last week, students in Worcester Technical High School’s Biotechnology Department took their learning beyond the classroom with exciting, hands-on experiences at three local universities!
🩺 UMass Chan Medical School: Students participated in a simulated Disaster Day, responding to scenarios involving Ebola, anticholinergic poisoning, and plague. With the help of special effects makeup artists and medical students, they explored clinical responses to emergencies and practiced real-time disaster response.
🧪 Assumption University: Students worked with Dr. Niece to conduct a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) lab, exploring analytical techniques used in scientific research.
🔬 Clark University: Students worked with Dr. Don Spratt to perform protein purification, gaining practical experience with laboratory procedures used in biotechnology.
These experiences gave students the opportunity to apply classroom learning, develop technical skills, and explore real-world applications of biotechnology while connecting with university faculty and medical professionals.
A big thank-you to UMass Chan Medical School, Assumption University, and Clark University for helping make these valuable learning experiences possible!
🌱 Greendale Head Start Students Harvest the School Garden! 🌱
Greendale Head Start students teamed up with the Worcester Regional Environmental Council (REC) to prepare their school garden for a new planting season!
Students rolled up their sleeves to clear weeds and debris using garden tools and their hands. They even harvested two paper bags of potatoes!
Later in the day, students planted new bulbs to help grow more in the seasons ahead. It was a hands-on opportunity to get outside, work in the garden and learn about growing food!
Greendale Head Start students teamed up with the Worcester Regional Environmental Council (REC) to prepare their school garden for a new planting season!
Students rolled up their sleeves to clear weeds and debris using garden tools and their hands. They even harvested two paper bags of potatoes!
Later in the day, students planted new bulbs to help grow more in the seasons ahead. It was a hands-on opportunity to get outside, work in the garden and learn about growing food!
🗓️ TONIGHT: Monday, October 26: Realignment Project Public Forum 🏫
📍 Join us at Forest Grove Middle School, 495 Grove Street, at ⏰ 6:00 PM on Monday, October 26, for a public meeting on the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
This meeting will be exclusively for the public to share their feedback about the realignment proposals shared so far. There will be no presentation
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
🗓️ Monday, October 26: Realignment Project Public Forum 🏫
📍 Join us at Forest Grove Middle School, 495 Grove Street, at ⏰ 6:00 PM on Monday, October 26, for a public meeting on the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
This meeting will be exclusively for the public to share their feedback about the realignment proposals shared so far. There will be no presentation
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
🏫🚶♀️ Great Brook Valley and Curtis Apartments Principal Walk 🚶♂️🏘️
💼 Administrators and wraparound coordinators from schools in the Burncoat Quadrant gathered with Worcester Housing Authority officials and families at the Great Brook Valley and Curtis Apartments housing developments on Thursday.
📍 The second-annual Principal Walk was an opportunity to connect with families and students in their neighborhoods while also learning directly from WHA officials about the community, ongoing initiatives, neighborhood developments, and new construction taking place in the area. 🏗️✨
💬 School wraparound coordinators regularly hold informational meetings with families in Great Brook Valley about various school or district initiatives to help foster family and community engagement. ❤️📣
💼 Administrators and wraparound coordinators from schools in the Burncoat Quadrant gathered with Worcester Housing Authority officials and families at the Great Brook Valley and Curtis Apartments housing developments on Thursday.
📍 The second-annual Principal Walk was an opportunity to connect with families and students in their neighborhoods while also learning directly from WHA officials about the community, ongoing initiatives, neighborhood developments, and new construction taking place in the area. 🏗️✨
💬 School wraparound coordinators regularly hold informational meetings with families in Great Brook Valley about various school or district initiatives to help foster family and community engagement. ❤️📣
📢 Early Childhood Screening for Children Ages 3 and 4
Worcester Public Schools is offering early childhood screenings for children ages 3 and 4 to help families better understand their child’s development.
The screening looks at communication, learning, motor skills, and school readiness and can help determine whether a full special education evaluation may be needed.
📅 Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
📍 Location: Worcester Arts Magnet School, 315 St. Nicholas Avenue, Worcester
📞 Appointments are required. Call 508-799-8201 to schedule a screening.
Worcester Public Schools is offering early childhood screenings for children ages 3 and 4 to help families better understand their child’s development.
The screening looks at communication, learning, motor skills, and school readiness and can help determine whether a full special education evaluation may be needed.
📅 Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
📍 Location: Worcester Arts Magnet School, 315 St. Nicholas Avenue, Worcester
📞 Appointments are required. Call 508-799-8201 to schedule a screening.
🚗 National Teen Driver Safety Week ⚠️
Between 2023 and 2025, young drivers in Worcester were involved in 500 crashes resulting in injuries, according to the City’s Department of Transportation and Mobility. 🚨
🗣️ Talk to your teen about safe driving habits:
👀 Keep your eyes on the road. Driving requires your full attention.
⏱️ Drive at responsible speeds.
😴 Don’t drive if you are tired or conditions are unsafe. 🌧️
🚫 Never drive or ride with someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
🔑 When you’re in the driver’s seat, own the responsibility.
🔗 For more resources and information, visit the National Safety Council at nsc.org 🌐
Between 2023 and 2025, young drivers in Worcester were involved in 500 crashes resulting in injuries, according to the City’s Department of Transportation and Mobility. 🚨
🗣️ Talk to your teen about safe driving habits:
👀 Keep your eyes on the road. Driving requires your full attention.
⏱️ Drive at responsible speeds.
😴 Don’t drive if you are tired or conditions are unsafe. 🌧️
🚫 Never drive or ride with someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
🔑 When you’re in the driver’s seat, own the responsibility.
🔗 For more resources and information, visit the National Safety Council at nsc.org 🌐
💈✂️ Fresh Cuts for Picture Day at Thorndyke Road School!
A big thank you to Thorndyke Road School parent Mike Arriaga for bringing his portable barbershop to school and providing free haircuts for students ahead of picture day! With the help of another barber, Mike made this a special event for our students.
We appreciate Mike’s generosity and the time he took to help our students look and feel their best. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience! ❤️
A big thank you to Thorndyke Road School parent Mike Arriaga for bringing his portable barbershop to school and providing free haircuts for students ahead of picture day! With the help of another barber, Mike made this a special event for our students.
We appreciate Mike’s generosity and the time he took to help our students look and feel their best. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience! ❤️
🗓️ Monday, October 26: Realignment Project Public Forum 🏫
📍 Join us at Forest Grove Middle School, 495 Grove Street, at ⏰ 6:00 PM on Monday, October 26, for a public meeting on the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗓️ Two more public forums will be held October 26 and November 7.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
📍 Join us at Forest Grove Middle School, 495 Grove Street, at ⏰ 6:00 PM on Monday, October 26, for a public meeting on the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗓️ Two more public forums will be held October 26 and November 7.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
🗓️ TOMORROW: Monday, October 19: Realignment Project Public Forum 🏫
📍 Join us at Chandler Elementary School, 114 Chandler Street, at ⏰ 3:00 PM on Monday, October 19, for a public meeting on the Worcester Public Schools Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
🗓️ Two more public forums will be held October 26 and November 7.
🗣️ We want to hear your feedback!
Proposals under consideration include:
🗺️ Redesigned school assignment boundaries
🔀 More logical school-to-school pathways
🚌 Adjustments to school start and end times to expand school bus access
🎒 Expanding full-day preschool
❗ No decisions have been made! Your input will help shape final scenarios that will be presented in December. 📊
🔗 Info: worcesterschools.org/alignment or click the link in the bio 📲
