TPS District Newsletter

Dear Tewksbury Public School Community,

Let me start by saying that the Tewksbury school district has been my home, my passion, and truly my labor of love for the past 26 years. That is why it is with a heart full of gratitude that I am writing to share some personal news: I have made the decision to retire at the end of this school year, effective June 30, 2026.

This community has been central to my life in every possible way. My connection to Tewksbury is deep and multi-faceted:

• As a former student, I grew up here and was educated in these very schools.

• Like you, as a parent, I proudly watched my own children grow up within our school walls.

• As a resident and neighbor, I have shared in the life of this town alongside you.

• As an educator, administrator, and currently your superintendent, I have had the privilege of pouring my heart and soul into the work of serving our students.

Serving my own hometown has been the greatest honor of my professional life. However, I am now ready to transition my time and energy toward my own family during a time when they need me most.

While my retirement is still six months away, I want to assure you that I am 100% focused and dedicated to our work every day through the end of June. We have a Strategic Plan to execute and District Goals to achieve, together.

I am incredibly privileged to work alongside such a talented and dedicated group of people—starting with you, our partnering families, to our district and school leadership team, our School Committee, and the hundreds of faculty and staff members who show up every day, most importantly for our students and families. We have important work ahead to ensure a strong, smooth finish to the school year and to set a robust path forward for the future of Tewksbury Public Schools. Next month, I look forward to sharing our collective mid-year progress with you as we continue this momentum.

So, I am not saying goodbye just yet, but I do want to sincerely thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve this wonderful community. I look forward to making these final six months our best ones yet and having the chance to say my full goodbyes as we approach the end of the year.

In closing, I wish you all a wonderful December recess with your family and loved ones.

With gratitude,

Brenda Theriault-Regan

• The Tewksbury School Committee recognized Tewksbury Public School Students for academic excellence tied to the state MCAS Spring 2025 tests, which included:

• 2025 MCAS Student Achievement in the following categories:

• Students who received scores of Exceeding Expectations in two or more MCAS subject areas

• Students who exceeded expectations in three subject areas

• Students who exceeded expectations in four subject areas

• Students who received a perfect score in one subject area

• Students who received a perfect score in one subject area and exceeded expectations in one subject area

• Students who received a perfect score in one subject area and exceeded expectations in two subject areas

• Class of 2026 John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Recipients.

• Ms. Regan discussed correspondence from the state related to grants the district applied for and were denied or ineligible for due to the town's non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.

• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is currently auditing the district’s English Language Learner (ELL) programming. This is part of a six-year Tiered Focus Monitoring cycle that includes student record reviews, parent surveys, and interviews. Future audits in this cycle will include Special Education and Civil Rights.

• The state recently released an interim report regarding high school graduation requirements. The Graduation Council provided seven recommendations in the report for further input. The graduation requirements aim to provide students and districts additional flexibility within the graduation requirements for all students, providing equity toward post secondary decisions.

• The School Facility Study Committee has been working with consultants to develop a long-term vision for Tewksbury’s buildings. A final report is expected by March 2026.

• Superintendent Brenda Theriault-Regan announced her retirement at the end of this school year.

The following new policy has been adopted by the district:

IKFE - Competency Determination

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

On December 17th, the Tewksbury Public Schools administration and School Committee recognized students for their MCAS achievements, including students achieving exceeding expectations in multiple areas, perfect scores, and our John & Abigail Adams scholarship recipients. Congratulations to all of our high-achieving students!

A great night of inclusivity for all students took place recently as the TMHS and Masconomet DECA & Best Buddies programs came together. Students learned about career development opportunities and presented a poster or movie that they created together. They also participated in two role-play scenarios as a Starbucks counter server and as a grocery store cashier!

TMHS's Project Lead The Way Computer Science and Engineering students had the opportunity to participate in a StudentSolve experience. Groups of students partnered with industry leaders from Philips and Pan-Mass Challenge to solve a real world problem!

Kindergarten students at Heath Brook engaged in hands-on EL Education LABS during Module 2, Weather Wonders. Through exploration and experimentation, students created landscapes that reflected their learning about weather patterns and the natural world. These experiences supported curiosity, creativity, and joyful learning in our youngest classrooms.

Second grade students in Mrs. Enos and Mrs. Taggart's classrooms proudly welcomed families to the Dragonville Grand Opening, celebrating the completion of EL Education Grade 2, Module 1: Schools and Communities. Guided by the essential question, “How do communities solve problems so their children can go to school?”, students designed and built Dragonville as a model community. During the event, students shared their thinking around community structures, problem-solving, and collaboration, demonstrating a deep understanding of how communities support children and learning.

Fourth grade students in Mrs. Conrad and Mrs. Barbato's classrooms recently celebrated the completion of EL Education Module 1 by hosting a Poetry Café for families. Students confidently shared original poems and engaged parents in meaningful conversations about their writing process, growth, and learning. The event was a wonderful example of how authentic audiences can deepen student engagement and pride in their work.

A good book and a friend make for caring connections!

Check out some recent works from the very talented young artists of TPS!

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.

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

Tewksbury Firefighters Local 1647 is conducting its annual Toys for Local Children donation drive to support families in need this holiday season. New and unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at any of the three Tewksbury fire stations until December 23rd:

• 984 Main St
• 2342 Main St
• 830 North St

The Greater Lowell YMCA will offer week-long recreation camps for school vacation over Massachusetts February and April school vacations for children ages 5-13 at the Tewksbury Recreation Center at 286 Livingston Street.

There will be a variety of daily activities including games, sports, arts and crafts, and more for kids to enjoy over the school break. There may be outdoor activities, weather permitting, so campers should be equipped with appropriate outdoor clothing if there is nicer weather.

The YMCA will offer a recreation camp February 16-20 and April 20-24. The camp will run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. There is a two-day minimum required for registration, but families may sign up for two, three, four, or five-day packages.

Employees of the Town of Tewksbury do not need to be YMCA members to register for these programs.

Direct URL to be released January 5. If you or a family member is interested in staffing these camps, please see attached application information.

If you have questions or trouble registering for this camp, please contact tewksburyprograms@lowellymca.org.

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.

Scan the QR code below for more information on job offerings for the YMCA vacation week programs.

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!

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.

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