Upcoming Events


August 23, 2023


Dear Parents and Guardians,

I would like to welcome you and your child(ren) to the 2023-2024 school year! On behalf of the Woonsocket Education Department (WED), I extend a warm welcome to our returning families and those who are new to our district. It is hard to believe that the summer has come to an end and I hope that you and your child(ren) enjoyed a safe and happy summer vacation.

The start of each school year brings with it much excitement, anticipation, hopes, and trepidation. This year is no different as we embark on a journey to continuously improve the WED. As a district, we strive to provide the best possible education for all of our students. This includes working in partnership with you to ensure that our students have the social, emotional, mental health, and academic support necessary for continued growth and success. In an effort to equip our students with competencies for success, we are committed to providing all students with the opportunities to grow as problem solvers, critical thinkers, researchers, effective communicators, creators, and reflective thinkers.

Our district’s mission is to “Provide all learners with a safe and rigorous learning experience that embraces diversity, culture, and individuality to create productive members of our global community.” Central to our mission is collaboration and partnership with our families. The most important factor in student success is the participation and presence from families. In order to assist your child(ren) attain their goals, our teachers, staff, and administrators need your support and involvement, whether through attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in your children’s school or reinforcing the importance of attending school every day as well as promoting positive behavior and attitudes toward their education.

The most gratifying aspect of my job is to visit schools and classrooms on a regular basis, interacting with students, teachers, and staff. Each time I visit a classroom I am reminded of the dedication and commitment our teachers and staff have for our children. Most importantly however, I am reminded of our amazing students who make our school community truly special.

Tantamount to engaging with students and staff, regular communication with families is also important to the success of a school district. This year I look forward to engaging with families through meetings at each of our schools as well as a regular Superintendent’s Community Update letter that will be sent out on Fridays highlighting news across the district, upcoming events, and recognizing students and staff.

In conclusion, I am confident that the 2023-2024 school year will be a successful one. As we begin our journey, I thank you in advance for your continued support and invite you to continue to be involved in your student’s education. I eagerly look forward to the work that we, as a community, will accomplish this year!


You may click on the following link to access the Woonsocket Education Department’s 2023-2024 Academic Year Calendar

You may click on the following link to access the 2023-24 school year bus routes


The following outlines the student’s staggered first days of school for the 2023-24 school year:

Wednesday, August 30th

  • First day of school for students in grades 1-9.
  • First day of school for Kindergarten students with their last name beginning with the letters A-L.

Thursday, August 31st

  • First day of school for students in grades 10-12.
  • First day of school for Kindergarten students with their last name beginning with the letters M-Z.

Should you have any questions regarding your child’s(ren’s) school year, please contact your building principal for assistance. I wish you and your child(ren) a wonderful 2023-24 school year!


Sincerely yours,

Patrick McGee, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools




Thundermist School-Based Health Centers (Health Huts)

Thundermist Health Center provides care to students at two school-based health centers in Woonsocket. The “Health Huts” are located at Villa Nova Middle School (provides care to students of Villa Nova and Hamlet Middle Schools) and Woonsocket High School.

The Health Huts are a great addition to our schools and help to keep our students healthy and well.

The Health Huts are open during school hours and students can get:

  • Physical examinations, including school and sports physicals
  • Immunizations
  • Sick visits
  • Nutritional assessments and counseling
  • Treatment of chronic illness like diabetes and asthma
  • Treatment of minor injuries
  • Behavioral health services, including psychiatry
  • Health education

These services are available to students at school. There is no need for them to miss school, for family to miss work, or to lose time due to transportation. There is no out-of-pocket cost for care provided at the Health Hut. If you have insurance, Thundermist will bill your insurance company.

You must complete a consent form and return it to the school before your student can receive care. The form is available in English and Spanish. The same consent form is used for both schools and is in effect until the student graduates.

Thundermist has an experienced team working at the Health Huts including family nurse practitioners, behavioral health clinicians, health educators, and medical assistants.

If you have questions about the Health Huts, please call (401) 767-4100.

Our Students