Excellence award spotlight 🌟
Xiomara Gutierrez Feliciano, an 11th grade student at Dean Tech, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. Xiomara was nominated for her empathy, kindness, and support. She continues to show up with determination, attending school, staying involved in extracurricular activities, and remains committed to her community.
Congratulations Xiomara!
Xiomara Gutierrez Feliciano, an 11th grade student at Dean Tech, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. Xiomara was nominated for her empathy, kindness, and support. She continues to show up with determination, attending school, staying involved in extracurricular activities, and remains committed to her community.
Congratulations Xiomara!
Excellence award spotlight 🌟
Interim Superintendent Soto surprised King Cotto, a second grade student at Morgan School with an award of excellence this spring. King was nominated by his teacher, Jessica Majkowski. Ms.Majkowski highlighted King’s positivity, kindness, and accelerated learning in the classroom. He continues to demonstrate analytical skills, and remains supportive and kind to his peers.
Congratulations King!
Interim Superintendent Soto surprised King Cotto, a second grade student at Morgan School with an award of excellence this spring. King was nominated by his teacher, Jessica Majkowski. Ms.Majkowski highlighted King’s positivity, kindness, and accelerated learning in the classroom. He continues to demonstrate analytical skills, and remains supportive and kind to his peers.
Congratulations King!
Excellence award spotlight 🌟
Erica Hernandez, a front office clerk at Donahue Elementary School, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. She was nominated by Donahue Elementary School Principal Marc Swygeryt, who called Ms. Hernandez “a great asset to Donahue and the HPS community. She has made the front office welcoming for students, staff, and families.”
Congratulations, Ms. Hernandez!
Erica Hernandez, a front office clerk at Donahue Elementary School, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. She was nominated by Donahue Elementary School Principal Marc Swygeryt, who called Ms. Hernandez “a great asset to Donahue and the HPS community. She has made the front office welcoming for students, staff, and families.”
Congratulations, Ms. Hernandez!
A championship day for the Unified Track and Field team🏆🥇
On Wednesday, May 27, members of Holyoke’s Unified Track and Field team traveled to Natick to compete in the Unified Track and Field State Championship. Unified Track and Field is an interscholastic sport program where students with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on one team. The team joined schools from across Massachusetts in a day of competition that highlighted teamwork and inclusion. Results from the meet are listed below.
- Alondra Santiago: 5th place in the tier 2 long jump
- Aniya Gomez: 2nd place in the tier 1 100 meter
- Armando Zambrana: 4th place in the tier 3 400 meter, and 4th place in the tier 8 shot put
- Calogero Rasario: 10th place in the tier 3 javelin
- Emmanuel Rivera: 5th place in the tier 4 100 meter
- Isaiah Laporte-Walter: 7th place in the tier 4 shot put
- Logan Turgeon: 10th place in the tier 1 shot put
- Michael Valentin: 6th place in the tier 10 100 meter, and 6th place in the tier 8 shot put
On Wednesday, May 27, members of Holyoke’s Unified Track and Field team traveled to Natick to compete in the Unified Track and Field State Championship. Unified Track and Field is an interscholastic sport program where students with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on one team. The team joined schools from across Massachusetts in a day of competition that highlighted teamwork and inclusion. Results from the meet are listed below.
- Alondra Santiago: 5th place in the tier 2 long jump
- Aniya Gomez: 2nd place in the tier 1 100 meter
- Armando Zambrana: 4th place in the tier 3 400 meter, and 4th place in the tier 8 shot put
- Calogero Rasario: 10th place in the tier 3 javelin
- Emmanuel Rivera: 5th place in the tier 4 100 meter
- Isaiah Laporte-Walter: 7th place in the tier 4 shot put
- Logan Turgeon: 10th place in the tier 1 shot put
- Michael Valentin: 6th place in the tier 10 100 meter, and 6th place in the tier 8 shot put
From proud smiles to heartfelt speeches, relive the moments that made graduation day unforgettable for the Dean Tech High School Class of 2026.🎓👏 www.youtube.com/@hpsmediacenter
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Desde sonrisas orgullosas hasta discursos sinceros, reviva los momentos que hicieron que el día de graduación fuera inolvidable para la Clase Graduanda de 2026 de la Escuela Superior Técnica Dean.🎓👏 www.youtube.com/@hpsmediacenter
Holyoke Public Schools has selected 11 middle school students to receive one of the district’s most prestigious honors for students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and community involvement. www.youtube.com/@hpsmediacenter
Seniors take final walk at Holyoke High 🎓💫💜
A milestone moment for the Class of 2026: This year’s seniors took their final walk through the halls of Holyoke High School North, greeted by cheers and applause from students, teachers, and staff. Congratulations to all Holyoke graduates as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
Rising Stars, graduations, Fine Arts Day, and more in this edition of Together for Holyoke | Estrellas sobresalientes, graduaciones, Día de las Bellas Artes, y más en esta edición de Juntos por Holyoke https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/newsletters/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-june-1-2026
Peck Middle School students closed out the 1st Annual Fine Arts Day & Concert with a heartfelt performance of "Count on Me" a perfect note to end an evening celebrating student achievement, community and the arts. https://www.youtube.com/@hpsmediacenter
🌞Shine On Day 2026🌞
E.N. White students, staff, and families engaged in random acts of kindness on Tuesday, May 26, as part of Shine On Day to honor the memory and enduring legacy of former SHINE student Genesis Silva. Shine On Day serves as an invitation for the entire Holyoke Public Schools community to cultivate positivity in both significant and subtle ways.
Suggestions include: Write notes of thanks and appreciation for special people in your lives and smile at everyone you see. There’s lots of other great ideas on the Shine On Day checklist—or spread kindness however you feel moved!
For further information about Genesis and her mother (and E.N. White teacher) Ruth Silva, please view this brief video produced in 2018.
Excellence award spotlight ☀️
Compliance Manager & Title IX Coordinator Nakaia Smith was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. M s. Smith was nominated by HHS North Principal Lori McKenna, who called Ms. Smith “epitome of the HPS mantra Juntos Podemos. She works tirelessly with school teams to make sure that they have what they need and to support them with the work they are doing. She is always available for a call or a personal check in meeting to work through some of the challenges of the work. If something comes up, she makes herself available immediately to make sure that we get on it right away, to get a plan for follow up, and then a check in for next steps. She is supportive, empathetic, responsible, available, and a true partner in the work. She has helped us to do better and be better. The work she does is hard and when you have a partner you truly do feel like, Together, We Can!”
Congratulations, Ms. Smith!
Compliance Manager & Title IX Coordinator Nakaia Smith was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. M s. Smith was nominated by HHS North Principal Lori McKenna, who called Ms. Smith “epitome of the HPS mantra Juntos Podemos. She works tirelessly with school teams to make sure that they have what they need and to support them with the work they are doing. She is always available for a call or a personal check in meeting to work through some of the challenges of the work. If something comes up, she makes herself available immediately to make sure that we get on it right away, to get a plan for follow up, and then a check in for next steps. She is supportive, empathetic, responsible, available, and a true partner in the work. She has helped us to do better and be better. The work she does is hard and when you have a partner you truly do feel like, Together, We Can!”
Congratulations, Ms. Smith!
Excellence award spotlight 🌟
Colleen Dorsey, an inclusion coach at Peck Middle School, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. Ms. Dorsey was nominated by parent Sharilyn Garcia, who wrote this about her son’s teacher:
“Colleen went above and beyond to support us. During moments when we felt worried or uncertain, she made time to speak with us, even on days when she was not working, just to make sure we felt heard and supported.
“Colleen truly has a heart for inclusion. She consistently finds thoughtful and creative ways to make sure ABL students and students in sub-separate classrooms are included in school activities and feel like valued members of the Peck community. Her commitment ensures that every student is seen, respected, and given the opportunity to participate and belong.
“For families like ours, that kind of dedication means everything. Colleen’s compassion, leadership, and unwavering belief in inclusion have made a lasting difference for my son and for many other students at Peck. She is exactly the kind of educator who represents what true inclusion should look like in our schools.”
Congratulations, Ms. Dorsey!
Colleen Dorsey, an inclusion coach at Peck Middle School, was recently surprised with an Award of Excellence from Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. Ms. Dorsey was nominated by parent Sharilyn Garcia, who wrote this about her son’s teacher:
“Colleen went above and beyond to support us. During moments when we felt worried or uncertain, she made time to speak with us, even on days when she was not working, just to make sure we felt heard and supported.
“Colleen truly has a heart for inclusion. She consistently finds thoughtful and creative ways to make sure ABL students and students in sub-separate classrooms are included in school activities and feel like valued members of the Peck community. Her commitment ensures that every student is seen, respected, and given the opportunity to participate and belong.
“For families like ours, that kind of dedication means everything. Colleen’s compassion, leadership, and unwavering belief in inclusion have made a lasting difference for my son and for many other students at Peck. She is exactly the kind of educator who represents what true inclusion should look like in our schools.”
Congratulations, Ms. Dorsey!
With help from our friends, we packed 25,000 meals for our Weekend Backpack Program! 🎒🥫🫘
A heartfelt thank you to our friends and supporters who helped Holyoke Public Schools with our recent large-scale meal packing event in support of our Weekend Backpack Program. This initiative was made possible through a generous $15,000 donation from the Feed The Kids Golf Tournament, which we used to purchase food items.
In partnership with End Hunger New England / The Outreach Program, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity across the region, volunteers from the community came together to organize and pack 25,000 meals for students and their families. The event brought together volunteers of all ages, whose time and effort played a critical role in expanding access to food for those in need.
A heartfelt thank you to our friends and supporters who helped Holyoke Public Schools with our recent large-scale meal packing event in support of our Weekend Backpack Program. This initiative was made possible through a generous $15,000 donation from the Feed The Kids Golf Tournament, which we used to purchase food items.
In partnership with End Hunger New England / The Outreach Program, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity across the region, volunteers from the community came together to organize and pack 25,000 meals for students and their families. The event brought together volunteers of all ages, whose time and effort played a critical role in expanding access to food for those in need.
Families are invited to join Holyoke Public Schools and the Holyoke SEPAC for an upcoming information session on the 2026 ESY and Summer Learning programs. The meeting is Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. To register: https://bit.ly/4sj9dDJ
Western Mass News meteorologist Dan Brown brought fair skies and inspiration to Donahue School 🌤️🌈 📘
Accomplished meteorologist Dan Brown helped inspire the next generation of weather enthusiasts when he participated recently in Donahue School’s Beyond the Bell program. During his visit he engaged with enthusiastic students in grades 1-5 as part of a weather-focused program.
Students participated in a ”picture writing” initiative and then finished by creating a book of poems about the weather.
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El meteorólogo de Western Mass News, Dan Brown, trajo cielos despejados y mucha inspiración a la escuela Donahue🌤🌈 📘
El reconocido meteorólogo, Dan Brown, ayudó a inspirar a la próxima generación de aficionados del clima al participar recientemente en el programa “Beyond the Bell” de la escuela Donahue. Durante su visita interactuó con estudiantes entusiasmados de primero a quinto grado como parte de un programa centrado en el clima.
Los estudiantes participaron primero en una actividad de "escritura a partir de imágenes", para luego terminar la sesión creando un libro de poemas sobre el clima.
Accomplished meteorologist Dan Brown helped inspire the next generation of weather enthusiasts when he participated recently in Donahue School’s Beyond the Bell program. During his visit he engaged with enthusiastic students in grades 1-5 as part of a weather-focused program.
Students participated in a ”picture writing” initiative and then finished by creating a book of poems about the weather.
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El meteorólogo de Western Mass News, Dan Brown, trajo cielos despejados y mucha inspiración a la escuela Donahue🌤🌈 📘
El reconocido meteorólogo, Dan Brown, ayudó a inspirar a la próxima generación de aficionados del clima al participar recientemente en el programa “Beyond the Bell” de la escuela Donahue. Durante su visita interactuó con estudiantes entusiasmados de primero a quinto grado como parte de un programa centrado en el clima.
Los estudiantes participaron primero en una actividad de "escritura a partir de imágenes", para luego terminar la sesión creando un libro de poemas sobre el clima.
Excellence Award Spotlight🌟
Interim Superintendent Soto recently surprised Maria Roldan, a teacher at E.N. White School, with an excellence award. Mrs. Roldan works with the youngest students in the building and has created a classroom that is welcoming, safe, and full of clear structures and routines that help her young learners thrive. Her presence and consistent communication with both students and families promote belonging and a positive classroom culture. She provides families with frequent updates on classroom learning and reminders, and is known for being extremely supportive and approachable.
Congratulations, Sra. Roldan! 🎉
Interim Superintendent Soto recently surprised Maria Roldan, a teacher at E.N. White School, with an excellence award. Mrs. Roldan works with the youngest students in the building and has created a classroom that is welcoming, safe, and full of clear structures and routines that help her young learners thrive. Her presence and consistent communication with both students and families promote belonging and a positive classroom culture. She provides families with frequent updates on classroom learning and reminders, and is known for being extremely supportive and approachable.
Congratulations, Sra. Roldan! 🎉
Library cards for young learners, improved graduation rates, and more inside! | ¡Tarjetas de biblioteca para los estudiantes más pequeños y mejores tasas de graduación, entre otras noticias!
https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-april-7-2026
https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-april-7-2026
