August 23, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I would like to welcome you and your child(ren) to the 2022-2023 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 children attain their goals, our teachers, staff, and administrators need your support and involvement, whether through attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in your child'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 weekly Superintendent's Community Update letter that will be sent out each Friday highlighting news across the district, upcoming events, and recognizing students and staff.
In conclusion, I am confident that the 2022-2023 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!
Please click on the following link to access the Woonsocket Education Department 2022-2023 Academic Calendar. The following outlines the student's staggered first days of school in the WED:
Wednesday, August 31st
- 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, September 1st
- 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.
Sincerely yours,
Patrick McGee, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools