WORCESTER – Saturday, April 5, 2025 – Working for Worcester, a non-profit organization led by local college students, completed its Year 13 Build Day on Saturday, April 5, providing improvements to the inside and outside of 13 schools within Worcester Public Schools.
Each year, Working for Worcester hosts its Build Day, when volunteers come together to make improvements to spaces of Worcester Public Schools and other community organizations in Worcester. This year’s projects included a wide range of upgrades aimed at creating more engaging, accessible, and inclusive spaces for students to play and learn.
Student volunteers for this year’s Build Day come from Assumption University, Clark University, Holy Cross, Quinsigamond Community College, WPI, Worcester State University, and UMass Chan Medical School.
Some of the key initiatives for the Year 13 Build Day included painting blacktop games, installing ADA-accessible swings, constructing buddy benches, adding new play structures, and performing landscaping and cleanup efforts to refresh and beautify school grounds.
WPS schools benefiting from this year’s Build Day include Belmont Street School, Burncoat Street Preparatory School, Columbus Park Preparatory Academy, Forest Grove Middle School, Heard Street Discovery Academy, May Street School, Norrback Avenue School, Quinsigamond School, Rice Square School, Roosevelt School, Thorndyke Road School, Union Hill School, and Worcester Arts Magnet School.
Here is a complete list of renovations by school:
Belmont Street Community School: The outdoor space at Belmont Street Community School will be revitalized to create a safe, inviting recreational area for students. Along with refreshed landscaping, the blacktop will feature vibrant new games and engaging designs, fostering a more dynamic and enjoyable play environment.
Burncoat Street Preparatory School: The cafeteria and surrounding hallways at Burncoat Street Preparatory School will be repainted to create a brighter, more inviting communal space. Additionally, new recreational games will be added to the blacktop area to inspire creative play.
Columbus Park Preparatory Academy: As a longtime W4W community partner, ongoing efforts remain dedicated to enhancing the recreational environment for students at Columbus Park. The project includes installing a buddy bench to promote connection and inclusion, painting new recreation games to encourage active play, and adding a colorful mural to bring new life and vibrancy to the space.
Forest Grove Middle School: Forest Grove Middle School serves as a hub for the community, regularly hosting events that unite students and families. The life-skills classroom will be transformed into a more welcoming and functional space. Additionally, a storage room will be converted into a food and clothing pantry to provide essential resources for local families.
Heard Street Discovery Academy: Heard Street Discovery Academy offers a variety of after-school community programs for students and families, but lacks an indoor gymnasium, making the outdoor space crucial for recreation and physical activity. Plans include building a new playground to expand recreational opportunities for students.
May Street School: The recreational space at May Street Elementary will be enhanced to better reflect students’ interests and support a variety of activities. Planned upgrades include the installation of an outdoor musical instrument and a buddy bench to encourage connection and creativity, along with a freshly painted soccer field.
Norrback Avenue School: An ADA-accessible swing will be installed at Norrback Avenue School to provide a new recreational activity for students with physical disabilities, ensuring inclusivity. Additional projects include painting new games on the blacktop area and creating a sensory pathway to encourage creative play.
Quinsigamond School: In partnership with Hygge House Books, the school library at Quinsigamond School will be revitalized with upgraded furniture and a fresh collection of books—creating a warm, inclusive space that reflects the diverse interests, voices, and identities within the student body.
Rice Square School: The play area at Rice Square School will be transformed into a more functional and engaging space for students. Basketball hoops will be lowered to a usable height and repositioned to meet standard regulations, with court lines painted for a complete refresh. In response to student input, a soccer field will be painted, a buddy bench will be installed, and vibrant games will be added—bringing new energy and creativity to the environment.
Roosevelt School: Roosevelt School has become a primary receiving school for students with physical and intellectual disabilities. On Build Day, an ADA-accessible swing will be installed, and the school’s recreational area will be enhanced to ensure inclusivity and safety.
Thorndyke Road School: The recreation space at Thorndyke Road School will be improved by installing an additional playground barrier to prevent runoff and flooding while replenishing the wood chip supply. Outdated hallways will be repainted to brighten the space, and landscaping will be refreshed with new plantings and a thorough clean-up, creating a more welcoming environment for students and families.
Union Hill School: Last year, a new playground was built at Union Hill School, bringing joy to students' recess time. This year, efforts continue to enhance the school’s limited outdoor space by installing an additional play structure, creating more opportunities for movement and play.
Worcester Arts Magnet School: A musical instrument section will be installed at Worcester Arts Magnet School, featuring a glockenspiel, metallophone, and bongos, to encourage creative and interactive play. Additionally, the blacktop area will be enhanced by painting sensory pathways and new games, transforming it into a dynamic, multipurpose space for all to enjoy.
Additional Volunteer Groups Participating:
Assumption University Men's Ice Hockey
Assumption University Women's Swimming & Diving
Worcester State University Women's Hockey
Holy Cross Women’s Basketball
Holy Cross Men’s Basketball
Holy Cross Women’s Hockey
Holy Cross Field Hockey
Holy Cross Men’s Hockey
Holy Cross Rugby
Holy Cross ROTC
WPI ROTC
WPI Phi Sigma
Non-Collegiate Groups Participating:
Hanover Insurance
Attorney General's Office
Committee for Public Counsel Services
Worcester Red Sox
Berkshire Bank
Fontaine Bros
United Way of Central Massachusetts