The Bullying Remediation and Court Education (B.R.A.C.E.) partners are pleased to announce their fifth  annual Bullying Prevention and Education Conference, made possible by a generous grant from DCU for Kids.

North High School (150 Harrington Way) is hosting the conference.

The conference features these outstanding keynote speakers:

Dr. Michele Borba, Educational Psychologist/Author/National Media Contributor

Dr. Borba is a world-recognized educational psychologist and parenting, bullying, and character expert, whose aim is to strengthen children's empathy and resilience, and break the cycle of youth violence. Dr. Borba has delivered keynotes and workshops to more than 1,000,000 participants and authored 24 books. She is a frequent NBC contributor, and has made multiple appearances on the Today show, Dateline, Anderson Cooper, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, The View, NBC Nightly News, and CNN.

Christopher Poole, Director, YOU, Inc. Adventure Challenge Experience (ACE)  

Chris Poole is the Director of the Adventure Challenge Experience, YOU, Inc.'s highly-regarded, certified Therapeutic Education program. Chris holds a degree in Movement Arts/Physical Education, and brings more than 15 years of experience and training in therapeutic recreation to his work at YOU, Inc. Chris is certified as a Challenge Course Manager by a national ACCT organization, has completed Outdoor Leadership training with the Appalachian Mountain Club, and is a Red Cross certified First Aid/CPR instruction. The ACE program combines classroom-based and outdoor experiential activities, and promotes team building, self-esteem, and trust in a safe and innovative learning environment.

Submissions to It’s Lit! A Celebration of Student Writing are due by Thursday, April 13, 2017. The theme for this year's publication is "Inspiration."

All submissions will be considered regardless of the theme.

It's Lit! is a district-wide celebration of student writing for the Worcester Public Schools. All students Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 are encouraged to submit original, not previously published creative works such as poems, memoirs, and short stories. A student committee will assist with the selection and production of the publication.

Online submission is now open. Responses are limited to 2,200 words or 10,000 characters (including spaces). If a submission is longer than 2,200 words please arrange for a paper or e-mail submission.

E-mailed forms and all questions related to It’s Lit! should be directed to Katie Silva at silvak@worc.k12.ma.us.

Paper submissions should be sent to:

Worcester Public Schools to launch a new advanced academy, the Hanover Insurance Academy of the ARTS, at the Burncoat Campus for the 2017-2018 school year.

The Hanover Insurance Academy of the Arts is a partnership between the Worcester Public Schools and The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. This collaborative partnership will provide rigorous courses embedded in the arts and service learning. Students will benefit from an education that integrates visual and media arts, dance, music, theater and exposes them to a variety of cultural experiences.  

The Hanover Insurance Academy for the Arts is a program designed for gifted and talented students, grades 7 -12 in the City of Worcester located on the Burncoat Campus. The program supports students in developing a strong academic foundation, which will enable them to be strategic thinkers, complex problem solvers, effective communicators, creative collaborators and active contributing members in the community. Students will demonstrate mastery of concepts and content through a variety of performances and interdisciplinary projects.

Information sessions for families will be held on Thursday, 3/9, and Tuesday, 3/14, at 6:00pm at Burncoat Middle School.

The Worcester Public Schools’ Visual Arts Department presents the Renewal Art Show at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate the fine works of our many talented art teachers.

"Renewal is described as the process or state of being resumed, extended, or restored. Join us for an exploration of the dynamic and cyclical relationship between the old and the new. Renewal is about our work, and ourselves: where we’re from, where we’re going, and who we are. Without further ado, we present you Renewal – a collection of works by art educators of Worcester Public Schools."

Participating Artists:

Benjamin Adwetewa-Badu
Keri Anderson
Laurie Atchue
Susmita Bando
Jay Benotti
Patti Kelly Bernhard
Megan Bertel
Laura Cahill
Christine Cross
Joe DiGregorio
Margaret Donahue
Kathryn Egnaczak
Lizzie Fortin
Jason Harthan
Alana Juneau
Darya Kuruna
Timmary Leary
Stacy Lord
Sharon Mansfield
Laura Marotta
Kim Marshall
Amie Nemes
Tithya Puch
Ann Rokosky
Ken Salins
Cory Shepherd
Brynnalee Simmons
Jamie Sullivan
Katie Switzer-Walsh
Michael Walden
Fran Warner

Congratulations to all our Worcester Public School winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry Contest.

Winners will be honored at the 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Breakfast Celebration on January 14, 2017. The breakfast reinforces the principles and philosophy of Dr. King, and encourages youth to take a peaceful stand against violence through poetry, song and dance.

The breakfast is a free event and is open to the public.

Grade 12

Chantielle N. Chapman, Claremont Academy
Mariah Acquaye, Doherty High School
Steven Thomas Rivera, Burncoat High School

Grade 11

Daniel Mbusa, North High School
Millicent Oppong, North High School
Brian Le, North High School

Grade 10

Meshia Brooks, South High Community School

Grade 9

Tracy Frimpong, North High School
Adanna Duanys, North High School
Gabriella Medeiros, North High School
Hussain Bhatti, Worcester Technical High School
Jayda Cesar, Doherty Memorial High School

Grade 8

Boa Han Ngo, Goddard Scholars/ Sullivan Middle School
Annalisa Allan, Forest Grove Middle School
Clarise Liu, Goddard Scholars/ Sullivan Middle School
Abigail McDermott, Goddard Scholars/ Sullivan Middle School
Samuel Posner, Goddard Scholars/ Sullivan Middle School
Lily Engquist, Goddard Scholars/ Sullivan Middle School

Grade 7

Drusilla Wilson, Sullivan Middle School
Kiana Alliance, Sullivan Middle School
Isabella Archambault, Sullivan Middle School

The Guidance Office announces the Mortgage Reports’ Annual Business and Finance Scholarship application and the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Scholarship Program application.

The Mortgage Reports’ Annual Business and Finance Scholarship: The maximum award is $1,000.00 and is due January 29th. For an application and more information, please log into your Naviance Family Connection accounts or visit http://themortgagereports.com/scholarship/.  

The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Scholarship Program: The maximum award is $1,000.00 and it is due April 3rd. For an application and more information, please log into your Naviance Family Connection accounts or visit www.cohenjaffe.com/college-scholarship.

Due to school cancelations caused by snow, the last day of school has been moved to June 21st.*

June 21st will also be the end of Marking Quarter 4.

* This date is set as of March 22nd and may change in response to more snow days used during the remaining school year.

Come support Worcester Crew as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Worcester Public High School Crew team.

Join current rowers and fellow Alumni rowers, coaches and families from the past 20 years as we celebrate and kick off the boat naming of our two new boats, The Alumni Spirit and Dawn & Larry Johnson. Learn how you can have YOUR NAME added to the Alumni Spirit boat!!

Tickets are $35 at the door at the Worcester Lodge of Elks. All proceeds to benefit Worcester Crew.

For more information contact Gala Co-Chairs:

Lydia Borenstein 508.688.7926 or lydia_borenstein@yahoo.com
or
Bethany Daly 508.981.7610. bethany.daly@gmail.com

Splash offers a full day of over 80 classes taught by Clark students to over 400 local students in grades 5-12.

Clark University’s Educational Studies Program (ESP) believes that by giving students the opportunity and freedom to take classes outside of the traditional K-12 curriculum, they will become more curious, motivated, and engaged learners as they kindle new and old passions. Splash classes include introductions to advanced academic topics, hands on experiments, discussions of current issues, and visual and performing arts lessons. Clark University’s Educational Studies Program (ESP) is a student volunteer run organization.

The kick off for the twelfth annual book drive by Worcester: the City that Reads has started. The Committee is looking for books (Pre-k to grade 8) for summer reading.

The group was founded by John and Anne-Marie Monfredo twelve years ago to promote literacy in the community, put books into the hands of children who lack books in their homes, and to promote the importance of being a life time reader. In eleven years over 480,000 books have been collected. The goal is to reach the 500,000 book collection this year.

After the drive in May the books will be distributed to the schools and various agencies in Worcester during the week of June 4th as part of the "Reading In Our City Week."

Please donate a new or gently used books, Pre-kindergarten to grade 8, at the following sites from now to May 8th.

• People’s United People’s Bank ( (all six city branches) including the town of Shrewsbury,
• Worcester Public Library
• Commerce Bank (all four city branches) including Holden
• Bay State Savings Bank (all branches)
• TD Bank  on West Boylston Street
• Stop and Shop on Lincoln Street
• Stop and Shop on Grafton Street
• Stop and Shop on West Boylston Street
• Shaws Market on West Boylston Street
• RSVP and the Senior Center on Vernon Street
• Worcester Credit Union
• Starbucks Coffee on one West Boylston Street and in Auburn
• Panera’s on West Boylston Street
• Austin Liquor at Gold Star Blvd
• Jewish Community Center on Salisbury Street
• Leader’s Way – Kung Fu Academy on Burncoat Street
• Greendale YMCA
• Main Street YMCA
• Bagel Inn on Main Street in Holden, Ma.
• St. Vincent’s Hospital at the entrance door on Summer Street
• Summit Elder Care on Grafton Street
• Worcester Public Schools School Committee Office – 20 Irving Street
• Worcester City Hall at the City Manager’s Office
• Anne’s Books Shop on James Street in Worcester

Other sites assisting in their own book drive are as follows:

• Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt Publishing Company
• Salvation Army
• UMass Medical
• UMass Memorial
• Worcester Public School High Schools... Burncoat High, Doherty High, North High, South High, Claremont Academy, University Park Campus and Worcester Technical High.
• Bancroft School
• Holy Name High School
• St. John’s High School
• Notre Dame Academy
• Worcester Academy
• Venerini Academy
• Boy Scouts
• Girl Scouts
• Hanover Insurance
• Harvard Pilgrim
• Little leagues of Worcester
• UNUM insurance
• Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
• Wilson Language Training Center
• The following colleges and universities: WPI, Clark University,  Becker College, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, Assumption College, and Mass. College of Pharmacy, and  Salter College, and Quinsigamond Community College.
• AFL/CIO Labor
• Northboro Junior Women’s Club

A LISTING OF THESE SITES AND OTHER ADDITIONAL SITES CAN BE ACCESSED BY GOING TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:  www.worcpublib.org

For more information, or if other schools or businesses are interested in helping out please call John or Anne-Marie Monfredo at 508 853-3444. Remember, everyone can help in this most worthwhile community service project and bring the joy of reading to every child for NO skill is more crucial to the future of a child or to a community, than literacy. Please be part of this project!

All grade 8 students and parents/guardians are invited to attend the North High Open House.

We will be showcasing our unique programs such as Nursing program, JROTC, and Microsoft Imagine Academy.

Class of 2017, the Rotary Club of Worcester is offering a scholarship of $2,500. The application deadline is April 14th.

Please see the attached link for an application copy and/or visit your Naviance accounts for more information.

The Bullying Remediation and Court Education (B.R.A.C.E.) partners are pleased to announce their fifth  annual Bullying Prevention and Education Conference, made possible by a generous grant from DCU for Kids.

North High School (150 Harrington Way) is hosting the conference.

The conference features these outstanding keynote speakers:

Dr. Michele Borba, Educational Psychologist/Author/National Media Contributor

Dr. Borba is a world-recognized educational psychologist and parenting, bullying, and character expert, whose aim is to strengthen children's empathy and resilience, and break the cycle of youth violence. Dr. Borba has delivered keynotes and workshops to more than 1,000,000 participants and authored 24 books. She is a frequent NBC contributor, and has made multiple appearances on the Today show, Dateline, Anderson Cooper, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, The View, NBC Nightly News, and CNN.

Christopher Poole, Director, YOU, Inc. Adventure Challenge Experience (ACE)  

Chris Poole is the Director of the Adventure Challenge Experience, YOU, Inc.'s highly-regarded, certified Therapeutic Education program. Chris holds a degree in Movement Arts/Physical Education, and brings more than 15 years of experience and training in therapeutic recreation to his work at YOU, Inc. Chris is certified as a Challenge Course Manager by a national ACCT organization, has completed Outdoor Leadership training with the Appalachian Mountain Club, and is a Red Cross certified First Aid/CPR instruction. The ACE program combines classroom-based and outdoor experiential activities, and promotes team building, self-esteem, and trust in a safe and innovative learning environment.

The Worcester Educational Development Foundation, Inc. (WEDF) is pleased to announce the mini-grants recipients for spring 2017.

WEDF requested civic engagement proposals to help students become better informed citizens for the preservation of our democracy. WEDF is awarding a total of $ 4,800 for the following:

Colleen Kelly - Mini Lecture Series for AP US History Students  (District-wide)
Jayne Cardin -  Civics with Digital Literacy  (Rice Square)
Christine Rovezzi - Worcester, You Have a Friend in Me  (Gates Lane)
Brenda Dubrey - All American City Tour  (Thorndyke Road)
Allyson Houlihan - North High Community Outreach Committee  (North High)
Alexizendria Link - Unitey Culinary & Musical Arts Series  (North High)
Phyllis Goldstein - Lin-Manuel Miranda: A Study in Text to Music  (North High)
Chris Pappas - Civic Engagement: Teens Learning About and Supporting Early Literacy  (Alternative High)
Jennifer Rochon - 3 Dimensional Design Renditions  (Worcester Technical)
Rick Torres - Aligned with ADA Guidelines
Lilyvette Perez - Bullying Prevention Project  (Chandler Magnet)
Steve Alzamora - Cultural & Linguistic Library  (New Citizen Center)
Brian Cummings - Understanding OSHA Regulations  (Worcester Technical)

WEDF was established in 2005 for the sole purpose of supporting the Worcester Public Schools. Through WEDF, more than $ 4 million has been invested in students and teachers through field trips, educational supplies, professional development, scholarships and awards, and special opportunities. WEDF is a 501 (c) 3 no-profit organization. Funds for mini-grants are raised through the Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the Worcester Public Schools event held annually.

Attention Worcester Families, you and your children are invited to our 8th Annual FREE Health & Safety Fair at the YWCA. It’s BIGGER and BETTER than ever!

There will be Summer Program Information, Free Food and Drinks, Health Screenings, Car Seat Safety, and Bike Safety with Helmet Give-a-way (both parent & child must be present for fitting).

Supported by a Grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care.

Help Support the North High School Arts Department by placing an ad or shout out in the 2017 Spring Art Show Program.

Your support helps to fund the refreshments and meals at future arts shows. Funds also support materials, trips and other opportunities for Art and Music Students at North High School.

Your ad or shout out will be distributed as part of the program to everyone in attendance at our third annual spring arts show at North High School. We expect to see 700-800 community members who generally reside in and around Worcester. Programs will be handed out to all attendees when they arrive. Audience members typically arrive an hour before the musical performance for presentations, to view student artwork and spend their time eagerly looking through the program.

Advertising deadline is Sunday, April 30th.

FOR MOREI NFORMATION CONTACT: JASON HARTHAN~508 799 3370~HARTHANJ@WORC.K12.MA.US

A discussion on financial literacy and college affordability for Massachusetts students.

At Sheehan Multipurpose Room—Worcester State University. Light Refreshments will be served. These discussions will be applicable for both college and high school students and their families.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda will speak of the need to support first generation college students and their families.

Deborah ‘Deb’ Goldberg, MA State Treasurer, will be discussing two initiatives, the SEEDMA program, as well as college-aged financial literacy.

Jose Medina, Presidential Student Ambassador, Senior Criminal Justice Student, and $eedMA Fellow

Dr. Patricia Marshall, Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs & Student Success from the Department of Higher Education, will be speaking to the Commonwealth Commitment and initiatives aimed at affordability in higher education.

Jayne McGinn, Director Financial Aid Office at WSU, will speak to how student loan debt affects the college experience.

Angel Burgado, Community Partnership Manager Santander Bank, will discuss the importance of Financial Literacy, Budgeting and Credit.

This event is sponsored by the MA Department of Higher Education, the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement, the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, the President’s Office, and the Office of MA State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.