Back to School 2024 School Start Dates
· Grades 1-12: Monday, August 26, 2024
· Kindergarten: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
· Preschool: Thursday, September 5, 2024
Parents and guardians with questions about uniform requirements or school hours should contact their child’s school. Bus stop information will be available on the district’s website: www.springfieldpublicschools.com. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership reports that Springfield Honors Academy will start on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The school is in direct contact with families with those details.
First Day of School Media Availability
Media interested in covering the first-day-of-school are invited to the following locations where Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall will be available:
· Hiram L. Dorman Elementary School: 20 Lydia St. - 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.
· John J. Duggan Academy: 1015 Wilbraham Rd. - 11am to Noon
Convocation
Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall will deliver the keynote address during the Springfield Public Schools 2024 Convocation. Media is invited to cover the event:
• Date: Friday, August 23, 2024
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Location: Lincoln/Brightwood Elementary School, 255 Plainfield St. The event will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@FocusSpringfield/streams. Convocation welcomes faculty and staff to the new school year, featuring student performances and remarks from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and education officials.
Back to School Community Day
In a break from tradition, every Springfield Public School will host its own Back to School Community Day this year on Friday, August 23rd in the afternoon. School-based Community Day will provide families with the opportunity to meet their student’s school staff, pick up free backpacks and supplies and learn about resources to help support a successful school year. The school-based format this year has been designed to create more convenient means for families to participate in the back-to-school events than in the past when a single district-wide event was held at Blunt Park. Schools will reach out directly to their families to share more detailed information about their Community Day.
Media is invited to cover Community Day on Friday August 23rd from 1 to 3 p.m. at DeBerry/Swan Elementary School, 680 Union Street, and/or German Gerena Community School, 200 Birnie Avenue.
New This Year
· Sumner Avenue Preschool: This year, Springfield Public Schools opens a new preschool at 65 Sumner Avenue. The building includes three state-of-the art classrooms, a new playground and will enroll about 55 students.
· Ted Plumb Field at Duggan Academy: The newly constructed synthetic turf field and track and field complex includes lights, bleachers, bathrooms, a concession stand and storage area. The field will open with a Mayor’s Cup ceremony on Friday, September 6th at 7 p.m. followed by a football game between Putnam and Commerce high schools.
· Ignite Mentoring Through Music Program: A pilot program that brings students, staff, and SPS graduate instructors together monthly to mentor student musicians of all ages, culminating with a community performance in the spring of 2025.
· Superintendent’s Transition Plan Tracker: Coming soon on the SPS website at www.springfieldpublicschools.com. - A progress tracker that monitors action steps and tasks completed during Dr. Dinnall’s first 100 days as Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools.
Ways for Parents to Engage
Join the PTO – Every school has a Parent Teacher Organization, which meets regularly and provides feedback to the school on decisions about the school and meeting student needs.
Follow Their Student’s Progress – Parents and guardians can see their student’s attendance and grades using the SPS Parent Portal. Parents and guardians can also follow upcoming assignments and deadlines and communicate with teachers using the Schoology app.