TPS District Newsletter

Dear TPS Community,

There's something about November that invites us to slow down and appreciate what matters most…caring for and about each other. As we prepare for the season ahead, we're reminded that our greatest strength lies in how we show up for one another—with kindness, gratitude, and open hearts.

"Do small things with great love," Mother Teresa once said.

Even in their very busy world, our students are showing how much a small gesture can mean. From all over the district they created and sent over 1700 hand-written cards to our veterans at the Edith Norse Rogers Veterans Hospital. Many of our schools are stocking community pantry shelves to support those in need. Student driven clothing and toy drives are popping in in our schools as well, to make sure families have needed items and gifts as we enter the winter and holiday season. They are raising funds for the cure of cancer…and so much more. These quiet and selfless acts of kindness ripple outward, lifting spirits and drawing us all closer together.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are filled with deep gratitude first and foremost for our students. Their joy for learning is contagious and they make us smile every day and inspire us more than they know. Interacting with our students and watching them grow is one of the greatest privileges of this work.

We are grateful for our all of our teachers, staff, and administrators as well. Their dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts shape the lives of our students in ways that will last a lifetime.

And to our TPS families and community—thank you for your unwavering support and partnership. You provide the foundation that makes our students' and our schools’ success possible. Your capacity and desire to care for all of us, and our entire TPS community is commendable.

We are thankful for all of you and wish you all a joyful holiday filled with warmth, connection, and gratitude.

Sincerely,

Brenda Theriault-Regan, Superintendent

Nancy Milligan, Assistant Superintendent

VFW Teacher Award - Teresa Enos was honored with the VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher award. Ms. Enos was nominated for this award by Superintendent Brenda Regan and the award plaque was presented by VFW Post Commander Vinnie Oliva and former Post Commander Jimmy Williams.

Student Event Presentations - TPS teachers presented upcoming programs and events for approval, including the 2026-2027 Foreign Exchange Program and a Drama field trip to NYC.

MCAS Presentation - Nancy Milligan reported on Spring 2025 MCAS results. Overall, we are seeing encouraging results across all grade levels. Grade 8 stands out with exceptional Student Growth Percentiles. This growth earned the Wynn Middle School a School of Recognition Designation by the DESE.

Walking Track - The TMHS Walking track will be open to the public again this year, beginning December 1st.

Register Periods - The Grades 1-4 Report Card and Special Education Progress Report Publishing dates were changed for the first trimester to December 12, 2025.

DECA Fashion Show - The annual DECA Fashion Show took place last week, pushing its four-year fundraising total for cancer research to over $160,000.

Quarterly Reports - Two quarterly items, the budget report and enrollment report, were reported on.

Police Chief Recognized - The Massachusetts Partnership for Youth awarded Tewksbury Police Chief Columbus the Dr. Patrick A. Schnetti Award. This award recognizes those who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the health and safety of students and their communities.

Athletic Director to be Recognized - TPS Athletic Director Ron Drouin will be awarded with the highest honor from the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Director Association, recognizing outstanding leadership and dedication in high school and middle school athletic administration.

As the winter quickly approaches, please click the button above for important information on procedures for school closings, delays, emergencies, and drills. If your child is in preschool, please click the appropriate school link for preschool-specific information:

Dewing Preschool

Heath Brook Preschool

Please note that the Grades 1-4 register period has been updated for Trimester 1. Report cards and Special Education progress reports will now be published on December 12, 2025. Please click the button above for the full, updated register period schedule.

During this holiday season we wanted to take a moment to share resources for families who may be facing food insecurity. To assist, we have compiled a list of local and regional resources to assist families in need.

Locally, the Tewksbury Food Pantry is a pilar of our community, offering convenient hours on designated days and evenings to accommodate families schedules. For a more extensive list of options across the Merrimack Valley, including those in Lawrence, Lowell and Haverhill, please consult the Merrimack Valley Food Pantry & Meal Program list. Just be sure to call ahead to confirm specific requirements and operating hours of any location you plan to visit.

If you are pregnant, have an infant, or a child under the age of five, the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program is an excellent resource, providing not only health foods but also essential nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals.

Finally, for immediate assistance or guidance on any hunger-related need, the Project Bread Hotline is available. You can call, chat, or text them- they are equipped to help you find local meal programs and can assist in 180 languages, confidentially. Please know that help is available, and reaching out is the first, most important step.

Day of AI and Common Sense Media have new videos and a toolkit for families. Recent research shows that 72% of teens use AI companion chatbots, but most parents don't know their children are using them. This resource helps families understand key issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and misinformation, and offers simple ways to discuss them at home. Watch the video and download the toolkit. Then, check out their Family Resources!

The Hills are Alive at TMHS! Tickets for the TMHS Theater Company fall show, The Sound of Music are on sale now, with all shows running this weekend! This classic musical has been enjoyed by generations and now you can see the beloved story of Maria, Captain Von Trapp, and their seven singing children live at TMHS! Tickets are available online now at cur8.com or can be purchased at the door.

On Friday, October 31, TMHS partnered with the Tewksbury Federal Credit Union to host the Credit for Life Personal Finance Fair for our junior students. This hands-on event is designed to help students build essential financial literacy skills and explore real-world budgeting. Students rotated through stations staffed by community business volunteers, learning about key financial responsibilities such as housing expenses, charitable contributions, insurance, transportation, savings, and more.

We are proud to share that two of our DECA students, Ryan and Ian, played a key role in assisting with event planning and organization. This fair will be the focus of their upcoming DECA project, and we are excited to support their leadership and initiative.

This successful event would not have been possible without the support of Principal Andy Long; CTBE department members Mary Jo Kelleher and Jim Sullivan; Gratia Gosslen of Tewksbury Federal Credit Union and her entire staff; and the entire TMHS staff who helped with scheduling, student support, and event logistics. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Tewksbury Federal Credit Union for their continued partnership, generous funding of this event, and their $1,000 donation to the Tewksbury Food Pantry on behalf of the TMHS Class of 2027. Their commitment—and the support of our school community—helped create an impactful learning experience for our students.

Throughout the district, students honored our veterans surrounding the Veterans' Day holiday. Cards were made, bands performed, and students listed to veterans speak on their experiences. Thank you, veterans!

TMHS's Unified Sports team participated in the MVC Jamboree hosted by Lowell High School. Celtics basketball player Derrick White cheered everyone on. Great job, team!

The English Language Education department recently hosted their ELE Cultural Potluck. Food was shared from around the world, giving attendees a taste of many different traditions and cultures. Delicious!

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!

Tewksbury TV has been working with NFHS to provide them with a live stream of the TMHS vs Canton MIAA playoff football game in Lynn, MA on Friday, November 21, 2025. In return, they are allowing Tewksbury TV to broadcast the game for free for Tewksbury residents on the Tewksbury Education Channel: Comcast 22 and Verizon 34. You may also stream live it on YouTube.

Additionally, tickets for the TMHS vs. Wilmington Thanksgiving Day football game at Wilmington on Thursday, November 27, 2025 may be purchased via Go Fan.

Tickets for this game are $11.50 for adults and $6.25 for students and seniors.

The National Honors Society is hosting a clothing drive benefiting Cradles to Crayons!

Please see the poster below for important information on the most needed items and how to donate.

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 town-wide organizations outside of our school community. Please reach out the individual organizations for more information.

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.

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.

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