TPS District Newsletter

Happy October, Everyone!

While the cold weather certainly snuck up on us, we are all so happy to share this beautiful (and very busy) fall season with our students and with all of you. There are so many events, both at our schools and in the Tewksbury community that highlight our focus on students and families.

A few important updates to keep on your radar:

Progress Reports (grades 5-12): You'll find your child's mid-term progress updated in their Aspen account, posted on October 8th. If you need any help accessing Aspen, your school secretary is always happy to assist—please don't hesitate to reach out. For information regarding your child(ren)’s ongoing progress in grades PK-4, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher.

MCAS Reports: Parents of students who were in grades 3-10 last year should have received their child's MCAS results by now in the mail. We know these reports can bring questions; your child's teacher, guidance counselor, or principal would be delighted to discuss this report with you if needed.

Celebrating Our Community: There's such great energy in our buildings! Just in the last 2 weeks, our schools have come alive with PAC-sponsored fun-runs, booster events, clubs, fall athletics, and inclusive student events. I’ve observed students engaged in enriching learning and social activities in their classrooms with their teachers. We’ve had milk with a cop, seen principals get “sundae-d,” honored coaches, students, and our middle school for recognition, welcomed NFL Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, and then I got to host a tour of our high school to the TMHS Class of 1975 for their 50th reunion! Together with our School Committee Chair and Vice-Chair, we greeted dozens of new residents to Tewksbury at the annual new resident event. I do have to say that the best part of my month so far was being principal for a day at the Heath Brook School. There’s nothing like being with our youngest students to make you smile!

As always, thank you for your support and for being such an important part of our TPS community. Let's continue to make this October memorable together for our students!

With gratitude and warm wishes,
Brenda Theriault-Regan

• Student Recognition: Senior Cameron Guendner was recognized as MIAA Student-Athlete of the Month.
• Staff Recognition: Coach Brian Aylward received the New England Patriots Coach of the Week Award.
• School Achievement: Wynn Middle School was designated a state School of Recognition for MCAS achievement and growth on the spring 2025 Assessment.

• Sustainability Success: The Food and Nutrition Services composting program has diverted over 53,000 lbs of food waste and continues to reduce single-use plastic and foam.

• Facility Improvements: The Strong Field Varsity Infield was successfully rehabilitated using $22,000 in town funding under the Community Preservation Act. THANK YOU residents of Tewksbury!

• Aftercare Focus: The Committee is actively addressing the Alphabest waitlist, capacity, and growth of the program.

• School Safety: Installation of new classroom VOIP phone systems is underway at the Dewing and Heath Brook schools to enhance safety.

• Transportation: The bus driver shortage continues to be managed.

• TPS Educator-Led PD: Professional Development on October 31st and January 28th will feature 13 sessions designed and presented by TPS teachers and administrators, focused on the District's student learning goal priority of improving instructional supports for student learning.

• Official Stance: The Committee confirmed its support for the Superintendent with their primary focus on student success and in maintaining collaborative relationships with all unions.

In accordance with federal and Massachusetts state regulations governing K-12 student records, we are writing to inform you about your rights regarding the release of directory information and to provide an opportunity to opt out if you choose.

Please click the button above to read the letter that was sent home to all K-12 parents/guardians to see what directory information may be shared upon valid requests.

Congratulations to Cameron Guendner for being elected as the MIAA Student of the Month for the month of September. Cam was selected from a number of nominations from across the state. As impressive as you are on the football and lacrosse fields and the wrestling mat, your academic successes and community service are tremendous!

Have you ever considered composting? You can now support your child's school while reducing food waste, reducing your carbon footprint, and creating nutrient-rich soil!

You can use the QR code in the poster below (or the button above) to sign up with Black Earth Composting. Enter your child's school name in the referral field, and the school will receive a $10 credit.

Tewksbury Public Schools is proud to collaborate with the Tewksbury Police Department for our annual Milk With A Cop lunch! Everyone enjoyed a special visit from our local officers.

Thank you to Town Manager John Curran, the Tewksbury Community Preservation Committee, and to the Tewksbury residents for approving funds at Special Town Meeting, in accordance with the Community Preservation Act, to rehabilitate the Varsity infield at Tewksbury Memorial High School's Strong Field. The work has already been completed and will serves the students of Tewksbury for years to come!

Check out some recent highlights from our Food & Nutrition Services department!

On October 14th, TMHS students toured UMass Lowell's Engineering Department, meeting with department heads and representatives to learn more about the different types of engineering fields.

The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth's free Parenting Solutions Library is now available in Spanish! Please see more information via the button above, or by visiting our Office of Student and Family Support website.

Did you know that Tewksbury Public Schools has been highlighting student, staff, and school community achievements through a new video series? Check out our recent videos below and click the button above to view them all!

The AppleFest Craft Fair will take place Saturday, October 25th from 9am - 3pm at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Come browse a wide assortment of local crafters and vendors to celebrate the fall season!

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is hosting both a poster and PSA contest for students! This year's theme is "Kind People are the Best Kind of People".

The poster contest is open to elementary, middle, and high school students with a submission deadline of January 30, 2026.

The PSA contest is open to middle and high school students with a submission deadline of April 10, 2026.

Each participant must complete the student application form signed by a parent/guardian consenting to the student's involvement in the Poster/PSA Project. The form is available to download below and can also be found on MPY’s website, along with upload instructions for entries. School staff are responsible for collecting the permission slip and keeping them on file. When uploading a student’s project, please check the box acknowledging receipt of the signed permission slip.

The following events are sponsored by organizations outside of our school community. Please reach out the individual organizations for more information.

Tewksbury is holding this year's Fall-O-Ween celebration this Sunday, October 19th! The event will take place at Tewksbury Town Common, 1009 Main St from 1pm to 4pm, with parking available on the Center Elementary/Ryan campus. The FREE, family-friendly event will feature:

• Pumpkin decorating and kids; crafts
• Sensory-friendly Halloween-themed activities
• Haunted house
• Face painting
• Balloon twisting
• Exotic animal meet and greet
• Trunk-or-Treat, food trucks, and more!

Please see the flyer below for information on the Lions Club's annual Princess Harvest Ball.

If you or someone you know would like to make a difference in our students' lives by providing exceptional transportation service, Tewksbury Transit is hiring. Their number is 978-851-9863.

AlphaBest Education, who provides before and afterschool childcare in Tewksbury, is currently hiring. For more information, please see the flyer below.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of our expectations at school sponsored events at Doucette Stadium. The staff and students of Tewksbury Memorial High School need your cooperation in ensuring the safe, secure and fun environment for our students and guests while attending athletic and other school sponsored events at all of our school venues. Click the button above for more details.

Please click the button above for the full 25-26 TPS District Strategic Plan.

As we move forward this year, I am excited to share our priority district goals and objectives that will shape our educational landscape. As a reminder, we ended the last school year strong and made significant progress towards growth and achievement for our students and school district. That growth (noted in the 24-25 State of the District Review) kick-started the ongoing District Strategic Plan (DSP) for the 25-26 school year. Thank you to the entire administrative team, School Committee, and to all of the staff and TPS community who gave valuable feedback to refine this document.

As we welcome students back into school we are happy to provide free breakfast and lunch at all schools for all students!

We are still encouraging our households to fill out a Free/Reduced Meal application because the benefits do not stop at just free school meals. Other school fees may be free and reduced for those who qualify. Please click here for more information.

The Office of Student and Family Support developed a comprehensive website designed to provide a wide range of resources aimed at supporting student and their families.

In addition, the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY) has curated an outstanding resource library offering valuable tools and information to families at no cost. These resources cover topics such as mental health, wellness, and more. We encourage you to visit both sites to explore the support and information available to help your family thrive!

Website: https://www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/
Location: 139 Pleasant Street, Tewksbury, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 640-7800