Worcester Public Schools - From Here, Anywhere... Together

Forest Grove Middle School's Katherine Amankrah Illustrates Social-Emotional Learning Picture Book 🎨📖 Katherine Amankrah, an eighth grade artist at Forest Grove Middle School, recently had their illustrations featured in a newly-published Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) picture book that aims to educate kids about mental stress and anxiety. The book, titled “My Body Knows. Do I Know?” is a collaboration between Amankrah and author Ashley Hope Cournoyer-Smith, who is a school psychologist at Elm Park Community School. Katherine's vibrant illustrations are not just beautiful but also play a crucial role in helping educate children about mental wellness. “It is extraordinary that someone so young as Katherine is able to see her artwork in something that has been published. Katherine has been exceptional in her artwork as well as her academics,” said Forest Grove art teacher Sharon Mansfield. We are so proud of Katherine for sharing her talents with the world! ✨

Happy National Custodian Day! 🗑️🧽 Today, we celebrate the incredible custodians in Worcester Public Schools who work tirelessly to create a clean and welcoming environment for our scholars. Pictured are a few of the dedicated custodians in our schools: 🧹 John Culbert, a 25-year employee currently at Union Hill School. Principal Tabales says "John is a reliable custodian who can be seen setting up a safe morning transition. He is willing to assist whenever needed." 🧹 Kevin Chviruk, a 29-year employee currently at Quinsigamond School. Principal Racca says "Kevin has great pride and works hard to ensure that our school is a welcoming and safe environment for our entire school community." 🧹 Brian Letourneau, a WPS employee since 2017 currently at Doherty Memorial High School. Principal Staley says "Brian is a valuable member of the Doherty faculty. He takes pride in his work, is responsive, is a team player, and takes the initiative to find solutions to issues as they come up." 🧹 Caitlyn Berthiaume, a WPS employee since 2019 currently at Burncoat Middle School. Principal Irizarry says "She is literally the glue and backbone of the custodial staff. She is highly adored and even more respected. She is always pleasant with a cheerful disposition no matter what happens." 🧹 Stan Jackson, a WPS employee since 2018 currently at Columbus Park Preparatory School. Principal Carignan says "Stan is an exceptional custodian who consistently goes above and beyond to make our school an amazing place. His dedication and pride in his work are clear every day." Sending a huge thank you to all of our WPS custodians!

South High Community School 365z Club Pick Apples for Local Food Pantries 🍎🍏 South High's 365z Club recently took a field trip to the Community Harvest Project in Harvard, Mass. where they picked 1,600 pounds(!!) of apples to help support local food pantries around Worcester. Great job by our South High 365z scholars giving back to local communities!

Friendly Faces of the Academic Center for Transition! 😀 😊 For Hispanic Heritage Month, fourth-grade ACT students made drawings modeling the designs of Brazilian artist Romero Britto. And, every morning, a Disney song from celebrating Latin American culture is played at the school. One of the recent songs was “La Familia Madrigal” from the film “Encanto.” ACT is a therapeutic public day school serving scholars in grades K-6. Classroom sizes are between 8 and 10 students to ensure each student has individualized attention. The goal is to teach students academic and social-emotional skills to eventually transition them back into an inclusionary setting. Many of the scholars were happy to have their photos taken and share what they have learned! A big thanks to Coordinator Iliana D’Limas, the staff and scholars for welcoming us into their school!

🌅 Senior Sunrise at Worcester Technical High School 🌅 Take a look at some of the sights from the recent Worcester Technical High School senior sunrise! Even with the early hour and the dark skies, the Class of 2025 gathered to watch the sunrise and celebrate the start of their final year. Seniors enjoyed freshly baked cookies prepared by the talented students in the Culinary Program, making the morning even sweeter! 🍪✨ It was a memorable way to start a year filled with laughter, friendships, and exciting adventures ahead. We’re sending our best wishes to Worcester Tech’s Class of 2025! May this year be full of unforgettable moments. 🌟

⭐ Navian Rodriguez, Kindergarten at Midland Street School ⭐ You can expect smiles and positivity from Navian whenever you are in his presence! This kindergarten kindness superstar helps brighten the day of those around him with cheerful greetings and genuine care for classmates. Take a look at what is being said! “Navian is a breath of fresh air. Every morning he greets everyone he comes across and tells them to have a good day. He is more than willing to comfort friends who are still not used to being in school.” “Navian has come home everyday so eager to tell me about what he has learned and is getting so good at relating what he’s learning at school to real life.” ⭐ Do you know a WooStar? We are looking for students and staff who have gone above and beyond to feature on our social media channels. 👉 Nominate a student at https://buff.ly/4g5M2aW 👉 Nominate a staff member at https://buff.ly/3Mlru0N

🌟Kudos to Worcester Tech Early Childhood Students! 👶🏽👶🏿👶🏻 These scholars provided childcare services along with teacher Shelese Johnson at the recent Citywide Parent Planning Advisory Council (CPPAC) meeting. CPPAC is parent-run and meets monthly to learn about what’s happening in the district and to provide feedback from families. The September meeting was held at the new Doherty Memorial High School and featured an overview from Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD, on her goals for 2024-25. Learn about CPPAC: https://worcestercppac.weebly.com/

🌅 Senior Sunrise at North High School 🌅 Even with a little rain and some overcast skies, the seniors of North High School made the most of their recent senior sunrise! North High's Class of 2025 enjoyed the company of classmates and senior advisory staff in celebration of the final year of high school. Seniors were able to enjoy donuts and lemonade from a food truck, listen to music and hang out with friends before the school day. We're sending our best wishes to North High School's Class of 2025! May this year hold many more memories like this one!

Doherty Memorial High School Field Hockey Wins at the Buzzer 🏑 Doherty field hockey earned an impressive win on September 20 as a last minute goal propelled the Highlanders to a 3-2 victory against Wachusett.  With only 12 seconds left to play in regulation, junior Ava White scored the game-winning goal, sneaking the ball past the goalie on a one-on-one following an assist from junior Sarah DeFusco. Sophomore Riley Cormier and senior Casey Cole each scored for the Highlanders in the win. Doherty field hockey improved its season record to 7-1 with the victory. Doherty field hockey is back in action today at 4 PM when they travel to Tantasqua. Check out a few images from Friday's clutch win! 👏

🌅 Senior Sunrise at Doherty Memorial High School 🌅 Take a look at some of the sights from the recent Doherty Memorial High School senior sunrise! Despite the light drizzle and overcast skies, Doherty seniors made the most of the moment, enjoying coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts on the school's terrace courtesy of the dedicated staff ☕🍩 It was a memorable way to kick off a year filled with laughter, fun, and exciting adventures ahead. We're sending our best wishes to Doherty High School's Class of 2025! May this year hold many more memories like this one! 🎉

⭐Aimee Poland, Kindergarten Educator at Vernon Hill School ⭐ Miss Aimee is wholly invested in the success of her students and Vernon Hill School. She has a knack for connecting with younger students and helping them reach new benchmarks in their education. Take a look at what is being said about Miss Aimee! “My son was struggling at his first school, then we moved and he transferred into Miss Aimee's class and he flourished in school,” said a parent nominator. “She then ended up having my other son for kindergarten the next year and he also excelled in learning!” “Miss Aimee loves Vernon Hill, her students, their families, and her colleagues,” said Vernon Hill Principal Tammy Boyle. “She is a fierce advocate for early childhood education and what her students need! She is kind, creative, fun, energetic, and dedicated - the kind of kindergarten teacher I would want for my own children.” ⭐ Do you know a WooStar? We are looking for students and staff who have gone above and beyond to feature on our social media channels. 👉Nominate a student at https://buff.ly/4g5M2aW

🌟 Worcester Public Schools at MassHire Job Fair! 🌟 On Friday, September 13, our District Recruiting Team, along with the 🍽️ Nutrition and 🚌 Transportation teams, joined 90+ employers at Polar Park for the MassHire Central Job Fair! It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with job seekers and share exciting career opportunities within our district. Interested in joining our team? Apply now at worcesterschools.org/jobs and become part of Worcester Public Schools! Thank you to all who visited our table! 🙌🎉

📚🏫 Know Your School Night at West Tatnuck School 🏫📚 The West Tatnuck School recently hosted its Know Your School Night and it was a great time with parents! Know Your School Night is an opportunity to visit your child's school to learn about everything happening there! Childcare was provided at West Tatnuck so caregivers could ask their questions and focus on learning about the school. Know Your School Nights run until October 17 at all of our Worcester Public Schools.

🎒💻 Happy IT Professionals Day! 🎉 IT pros are the tech wizards of our schools, tackling the tech puzzles 🧩 that leave the rest of us scratching our heads! Whether it’s managing Chromebooks 💻, desktops 🖥️, networks 🌐, or even fixing cafeteria registers 🍔, you keep everything running smoothly. From keeping our Wi-Fi strong 📶 to safeguarding our cybersecurity 🔐, you handle the complexities of modern tech with superhero skills 🦸‍♂️💥. Thank you for being the ultimate tech champions that power our classrooms! 🙌✨

🌿🛠️ Volunteers from Hanover Insurance Clean Up Wawecus Road School 🌿🛠️ The Wawecus Road School recently had its campus cleaned and beautified by over 50 volunteers from The Hanover Insurance Group. Volunteers worked tirelessly to lay down fresh mulch for the playgrounds, repaint picnic tables and clean up landscaping around the school. They also put together new metal picnic tables and replaced the rims on the basketball courts. The volunteer effort was part of the United Way's Day of Caring which brings together local companies and community members for projects such as this one. Sending a big thank you to all of the volunteers for all of your hard work! 👏

🌅 Senior Sunrise at Burncoat High School 🌅 Take a look at some of the sights from the recent Burncoat High School senior sunrise! The annual senior sunrise has become fun way to bring in senior year with friends and look ahead on the final year of high school and beyond. Burncoat seniors came together to enjoy games, music, fun signs and baked goods while watching the sunrise from the hill behind the school. Staff even brought donuts and breakfast for students. We're sending our best wishes to Burncoat High School's Class of 2025! May this year hold many more memories like this one!

⭐Ahmarhiyana Dennison, Sixth Grade at Nelson Place School ⭐ Ahmarhiyana, also known as Mari, is being recognized for her Excellence in Kindness! Mari is always eager to meet new friends and lift those around her with her positive attitude. Take a look at what is being said about Mari. “Mari is one of the sweetest little ladies you will ever meet. She will say hello to you everyday with a smile. She loves to make sure people are treated like she wants to be treated. She will share and ask to be a friend if she is not already.” ⭐ Do you know a WooStar? We are looking for students and staff who have gone above and beyond to feature on our social media channels. 👉 Nominate a student at https://buff.ly/4g5M2aW 👉 Nominate a staff member at https://buff.ly/3Mlru0N

🥗 New Menu Alert! 🍎 Fresh and tasty options are hitting the menu at all schools this year! Whether you're in elementary, middle, or high school, there’s something new for everyone to enjoy. ✨ From a game-changing breakfast to a delicious lunch, our new dishes will have you looking forward to every meal! But don’t just take our word for it - here’s what some of your fellow students are saying: 🗣️ “The new breakfast is AMAZING! This is exactly what we needed!” - 11th grade student 🗣️”Good, it’s better than last year, better food!” - 4th grade student 🗣️ “The kids like the food and kept asking if I tired the Mac and Cheese” - 5th grade teacher Check out what’s on the menu and try something new today. 😋🍎 📲 View the full menu at https://buff.ly/47lkI4R

🍽️ Lincoln Street Receives Support to Combat Hunger ❤️ Lincoln Street School Principal Karen Allen and thanked volunteers from the Juniper Outreach Foundation who recently restocked the school's food pantry. The foundation hosts pantries in four Worcester Public Schools to prevent hunger at Lincoln Street, City View, Elm Park, and Burncoat Prep.

🌍 Worcester Girl Visits All 351 MA Town Halls in Just 1 Year! 🏛️🚗✈️ Meet Ciara Barber, a 9-year-old student from Rice Square Elementary, who has achieved an incredible milestone—visiting every single city and town hall in Massachusetts! 🙌 Starting at Worcester City Hall and traveling over 7,000 miles, Ciara's journey took her from bustling cities to charming small towns, with stops including Worcester, Boston, Swansea, and Erving. Ciara’s adventure, which included day trips, camping, and even a ferry ride, has captured hearts and inspired many. Discover more about her amazing journey and the fun experiences she had along the way. 📸 Follow her journey on Instagram: @town.hall.project 📖 Read the full story here: https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2024/09/10/city-town-hall-project-massachusetts-ciara-barber/75141595007/ 📸 Photo credits: Allan Jung / Telegram & Gazette