🎓 Watch the full Opportunity Academy "Class of 2025" Graduation 🎓
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@hpsmediacenter
OA graduation, summer programming, and celebrating district accomplishments in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-june-16-2025
During today's monthly central office birthday and anniversary celebration, we realized something exciting...
One of today's celebrated employees is Bill Welch. Mr. Welch is a help desk computer technician who has been at HPS for 43 years! With a few upcoming retirements, Mr. Welch will be the most senior employee at HPS during the 2025-26 school year. Thank you for choosing Holyoke Public Schools, Bill. Congrats!
Our four-year graduation rate has increased significantly: from 62% in 2015 to 77.1% last year. 🎓 Among Hispanic/Latino students, the rate has increased even more: from 55.6% to 76.2% during the same period.
✨ Excellence Award Spotlight ✨
Superintendent Soto paid a visit to McMahon School to award fifth grade student Stayesh Sayedi, who was honored with the Superintendent’s excellence award after being nominated by seven different McMahon staff members. We could barely fit everyone who wanted to celebrate Stayesh in one photo!
Teachers and staff members commend Stayesh’s dedication to learning, her kind demeanor, and how welcoming she is to everyone she meets. Her positive attitude, even when working through challenging situations, is a positive example for students and staff alike. She also volunteers with second grade students, going out of her way to make new students feel welcomed and supported.
Congratulations, Stayesh!
Summer is just around the corner! ☀️
Before you hit the beach, make sure the following important dates are in your calendar:
• Thursday, May 29: HHS Dean graduation
• Friday, May 30: HHS North graduation
• Friday, June 13: OA graduation
• Wednesday, June 18: Last day of school!
The last day of school will follow the regular Wednesday schedule.
Academic celebrations, budget planning, and neuroscience at Kelly School in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-may-19-2025
Holyoke educators join the B-U-Z-Z! 🐝
Five teams of Holyoke educators participated in Homework House's 10th Annual Adult Spelling Bee at the De La Luz Soundstage on May 1. While none of the HPS teams made it to the winner’s circle, they all had a lot of fun participating in the good-natured competition while also helping to raise funds to support Homework House’s free tutoring and mentoring programs.
HPS’s teams included:
🐝 The Beech Boys: Aaron Morris, Danny Loughlin, and Carlos Quiles
🐝 Bee Afraid, Bee Very Afraid: Stephen Mahoney, Jackie Glasheen, and Shaena Gubala
🐝 BeeFit: Amy Burke, Amy Piedra, and Abigail Serrano
🐝 Un-Bee-Lievable Wildcats: Katie Bourque, Siobhan Brennan, and Caitlin O’Hare
🐝 The McMahon Cheetahs: Melissa Robert, Erik Spracklin, and Katie Plasse
Head to the Holyoke Public Library on Saturday, April 12, from 9:30-3:30 to play 18 holes of miniature golf for FREE inside the library and "Human Foosball" outside! ⛳️📚
April Acceleration Academy: Enroll today! ⏰
HPS has scheduled FREE Acceleration Academies for Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25, designed to provide enriching learning experiences as well as math support for elementary, middle, and high school students during April break. Families of interested students can enroll online. Space is limited so families are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible to ensure their children can participate. For assistance with enrollment, please call (413) 534-2000, option 1. https://enrollholyoke.schoolmint.com/login
Careers at HPS, Ignite Reading’s impact for young readers, and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-march-31-2025
Impactful Student Summit, Read Across America, and cooking with confidence in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-march-17-2025
A visit from Governor Healy, Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards, and more in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-march-4-2025
HPS schools will open two hours late today due to weather. Delayed opening schedule here: http://bit.ly/3H3sTG1 | Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke abrirán dos horas más tarde hoy debido al clima. Consulte el horario de comienzo de clases retrasado aquí: http://bit.ly/3H3sTG1
Black History Month, grant awards in action, and a tour of the new Peck Middle School in this edition of Together for Holyoke: https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-february-10-2025
Congratulations to our Q2 attendance award winners! 📆🏅 More than 50 students were honored for their excellent or improved attendance during last Thursday’s community dinner celebration at Kelly School. Honorees enjoyed food, a prize raffle, and commendations from the Mayor and Superintendent for modeling excellent attendance for their peers.
Holyoke Public Schools will be closed tomorrow due to weather conditions. There will be no after-school activities. Note to 12-month staff: Offices will be closed. As possible, 12-month staff are expected to work remotely and be available to their supervisor and colleagues by phone and/or email. | Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke permanecerán cerradas mañana debido a condiciones climáticas adversas. No habrá actividades extraescolares. Las oficinas estarán cerradas.
HPS schools will open two hours late today due to weather. | Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke abrirán dos horas más tarde el día de hoy/mañana debido al clima.
