Doherty Memorial High School

👟 Inter-High Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park 👟 It was great to see many of our high schools and student-athletes come together for the Inter-High Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park! It was a tough 3.1 mile course filled with steep hills, but competitors from across WPS gave it their all and displayed tremendous sportsmanship, cheering on runners from all teams. For the girls race, South High finished in first place to take the city championship while Burncoat came in second. Doherty and Worcester Tech tied for third in the team standings. For the girls individual winners, Chase Sullivan of Burncoat led the group in first place while Regan Maxwell of South High and Avery Corriveqau of Worcester Technical came in second and third place respectively. In the boys race, Burncoat High came in first place for the team competition while South, Worcester Tech and Doherty rounded out the teams. For boys individual winners, Alfonso Huaman of Worcester Tech led the race in first place followed by Griffon Spofford of Burncoat and Isaiah Jacques of South in second and third place respectively. Check out a few images from a great day of cross country! 📸

Celebrating Excellence at Doherty High Memorial School! 🎉✨ We are thrilled to recognize the following students who have achieved perfect MCAS scores, showcasing their dedication and perseverance as leaders in their academic journeys: • Isabelle Adamsson (English, Math) 📚✏️ • Abdullah Alaloosi (English) 📖 • John Hickey (English) 📖 • Kleri Morcka (English, Math) 📚✏️ • Raphael Otero (English) 📖 • Morgan Sibray (English) 📖 • Nathan Lopez (Math) ➕ • Jorgea Nico (Math) ➕ • Naomi Thompson (Biology) 🔬🌱 These students exemplify academic excellence and have set the bar high with their outstanding performance! We also want to give a special shoutout to two exceptional students from Mass Academy who achieved perfect scores on their Math/English exams—what an impressive accomplishment! 🎓👏 A heartfelt thank you to our devoted teachers, staff, and families for their essential role in our students’ achievements. 🙏💙

South High Community School Hosts Doherty Memorial High School in Football 🏈 South High recently hosted Doherty High for a matchup of WPS teams on the football field. It was a terrific fall night for football with plenty of fans from both schools in attendance. Doherty came out on top with a 28-6 victory over South. Cheerleaders from both teams were in action as well with a friendly battle taking place at the 50-yard line during halftime. Statistically for Doherty, senior Josh Romeo threw three touchdowns with junior Ryan Dennis (two touchdowns) and sophomore Chris Lefebvre (one touchdown) on the receiving end. Donte Aghapour ran in for a touchdown while Carlos Tumer (12 tackles), Tom Kursonis (eight tackles, two sacks) and Jailen Givins-Osafo (nine tackles) bolstered the defense. For South, sophomore running back Peyton Mosely finished with 86 yards on 21 carries while junior Uche Mba grabbed four receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Aedan Gonzalez and Mba finished with eight tackles while freshman Cyrus Johnson recorded an interception. Take a look at some of the scenes of the game! 📸

Seasonal Clothing Donation from Cradles to Crayons 🧥 Recently the Family and Community Engagement Office received its annual donation of seasonal clothing packs from Cradles to Crayons! Thanks to this amazing partnership, schools were able to order specific items for students, and Cradles to Crayons did the rest, delivering a truckload of essentials just in time for winter. The items donated included long sleeve shirts, pants, sweaters, socks, underwear, and winter coats! 🚚✨ A huge shoutout to everyone involved—especially our fantastic wraparound coordinators and the dedicated staff from the McKinney-Vento office—who helped sort and distribute these much-needed donations! We can’t wait to see these items go to our WPS families! 🧦💖

💫 Highlights from the Burncoat Quadrant SEPAC Meeting! 💫 A big thank you to all the amazing parents and caregivers who attended the Burncoat Quadrant Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Welcome New Parents Meeting on October 17 at Norrback Avenue Elementary! 🌟 It was wonderful connecting with everyone and sharing valuable resources on the special education support available for your children. From speech and occupational therapy to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, we hope you left feeling more informed and confident about the comprehensive support available in Worcester Public Schools! 💬💡 Missed this one? No worries! There are still two more chances to attend: 📍 North Quadrant: Tuesday, October 29 @ Roosevelt Elementary 📍 Doherty Quadrant: Thursday, November 7 @ Nelson Place Elementary 🎒 Don't forget—every family receives a welcome packet full of helpful resources! Childcare will be provided at both upcoming events to make attending easier for families. We’re here to support you every step of the way! ❤️

Happy National Principal Month! ✏️ October is all about celebrating the dedicated principals that help shape our school communities. Their passion and commitment to WPS students and staff inspires us every day! We know this image doesn't capture all our amazing WPS principals, so drop a comment to give a shout-out and say thank you to yours!

Doherty Memorial High School Ribbon-Cutting, Plaque Dedication Ceremony 🏫 Today, an official ribbon-cutting and plaque dedication ceremony was held to commemorate the opening of the new Doherty Memorial High School at 299 Highland Street, a state-of-the-art facility that began serving students in grades 9-12 on August 26. “There are many allies in our local, state, and federal delegation that made this project possible,” said Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “I feel incredibly grateful to be celebrating another school, and we are incredibly fortunate to have strong partnerships that allow us the opportunity to improve the learning environment for our scholars.” Numerous public officials, design and construction project leaders, school staff and students were in attendance to celebrate the opening of the 425,000 square-foot high school. The new building is located adjacent to the old high school building, which opened in 1966 and was demolished over the summer. “This beautiful facility gives our scholars the space and resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and creatively,” said Dr. Rachel H. Monárrez, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools. “The new Doherty is built for learning, for growing, and becoming the future-ready leaders of tomorrow.”

Worcester Public Schools Receives Game Changer Award at Worcester Chamber of Commerce Game Changers Conference 🏆 The Worcester Public Schools recently received the Game Changer Award from the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, which celebrates local organizations that drive meaningful change within the Worcester community. Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez accepted the award on behalf of WPS. WPS was recognized as a Game Changer for its on-going commitment to Career and Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) programming for high school students and adults. WPS was also recognized for its Innovations Career Pathways programming and Adult Night Life classes, both of which provide opportunities to acquire the skills and experiences needed to enter the workforce. The WPS College and Career Readiness team were also on-site, sharing insights directly with employers about the career technical education programs available in our high schools. Career technical educators from Worcester Technical High School were also in attendance to network with local industry leaders. The Game Changers Conference connects local industry leaders, employers, and training experts to explore innovative strategies for workforce development.

Happy National School Lunch Week! 🎉🥗 From October 14-18, we are celebrating the delicious, nutritious meals served every day in Worcester Public Schools! Our amazing Nutrition Department works hard to provide breakfast, lunch, snacks, and more, fueling students for success in the classroom. This week, we're featuring some exciting new menu items that are being sampled across the district, including: 🍽️ Plant-Powered Nuggets 🌮 Empanadas & Tamales 🍜 Veggie Dumplings & Vegetable Lo Mein 🍛 3-Bean Chili & Vegetable Egg Rolls with Fried Rice Let’s give a big round of applause to the team behind these tasty and healthy school meals!

No School on Monday, October 14 🗓️ Worcester Public Schools will be closed on Monday, October 14 for Indigenous People's Day / Columbus Day. District offices will also be closed.

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚 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

🚀 First Meeting of Student Advisory Council with Superintendent 🎓💬 🎓 We recently held the first meeting of our Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC)! These remarkable students are partnering with Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, PhD, to shape the future of our schools through leadership, collaboration, and student-driven initiatives. 💬 The council’s work is guided by a clear agenda focused on: Leadership Development: Strengthening leadership and problem-solving skills by addressing key school challenges. Community Building: Creating connections across diverse student groups to establish shared core values. Policy Engagement: Actively participating in school policy discussions to ensure all voices are heard. Student Agency: Empowering students to take charge of their school environment and make a lasting impact. 🌟 The outcomes we aim to achieve include: Empowerment: Ensuring students feel valued as critical contributors to our school community. Collaborative Problem Solving: Building teamwork and negotiation skills through group activities. Relationship Building: Establishing trust and connection among council members through icebreakers and discussions. 🏫 We’re excited to see how this council will inspire positive changes across our district! Stay tuned for more updates as these student leaders continue to drive progress in our schools.

Thank You to WPS Coaches on National Coaches Day 👏 Today is National Coaches Day and we want to recognize the many coaches who play an important role in the lives of our WPS scholar-athletes. Whether you are a head coach, assistant coach or volunteer, your contributions are invaluable to the scholar-athlete experience in Worcester. From teaching life lessons, to helping students reach personal goals in both sports and academics, we are grateful for all you do!

WPS Nursing Department Hosts Conference on Family Health Center Model 🩺 The Worcester Public Schools nursing department recently hosted representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Health for an in-depth discussion on the school-based partnership with Family Health Center of Worcester. Family Health Center of Worcester provides preventative health care for WPS students at school-based satellite sites. These health centers are a one-stop shop for primary care, behavioral health, dental, lab services, and much more, offering services for students regardless of income or access to health care. School-based centers are run by Family Health Center of Worcester, allowing students confidential health care. It also provides translation services in more than 50 languages to ensure accessibility of health care. During the conference, employees from the Family Health Center and WPS nursing staff spoke about the benefits of the school-based health center model and its positive impact on students in Worcester. There was also a tour of the health center at South High Community School and a Q/A session with current students who shared their own personal experiences. There are currently seven Family Health Care Centers in WPS located in Doherty Memorial High School, Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School, Elm Park Community School, Goddard School of Science & Technology, South High Community School, Worcester East Middle School and a combined center for Claremont Academy and Woodland Academy.

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!

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!

🌟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/

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! 🎉

🌟 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! 🙌🎉