Dear WPS School Community,
We are under one week away from opening the school doors for the 2026–2027 school year! I hope you and your family have enjoyed the summer months and are as ready as we are to get going! We are excited to welcome staff, students, and families on our first day of school, Wednesday, September 2. If you’re returning to your school, we are excited to reconnect with you! If you are new to your school or to Winchester, welcome—we look forward to getting to know you!
Below, you will find updates to help you prepare for the new school year. Your school(s) and teachers will also continue to share information in the days and weeks ahead.
🍎The new school year begins on Wednesday, September 2, with WPS staff and administrators convening for professional development days on August 31 and September 1.
⏰Kindergarten–Grade 5 will have an early release on September 2, and Kindergarten will also have an early release on September 3.
⛱️ There will be no school on Friday, September 4 or Monday, September 7.
Next week, please watch for another district-wide message requesting that parents and guardians electronically sign acknowledgments of our district policies for the 2026–27 school year.
Thank you, and happy back-to-school!
Dr. Frank Hackett, Superintendent of Schools
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☀️ Summer Enrichment programming was a wonderful success this year, across the Winchester Public Schools. It was great to see young people engaging in a diverse range of opportunities. |
As they so eloquently shared this past school year, WPS educators and administrators are energized about launching our new Arts & Letters elementary literacy curriculum this upcoming school year. Please stay tuned for updates. |
The Muraco Elementary School was among those honored at the State House in June for its Walk to School program. COURTESY PHOTO/SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL |
Winchester Public Schools is delighted to welcome several new leaders to our schools this year. Please join us in welcoming: |
Dr. Heidi Paisner
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education
Dr. Heidi Paisner joins the district as Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education. Dr. Paisner most recently served as principal of Wellington Elementary School in Belmont, Massachusetts. Previously, she was an assistant principal and English Learners program coordinator in the Wayland Public Schools.
Heidi began her career in education as a first-grade teacher with the New York City Public Schools in 1998. In 2001, she moved to Massachusetts and began a 15-year tenure in the Wayland Public Schools, serving as a first-grade teacher, special education teacher, special education liaison, and team chairperson. Dr. Paisner earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, a master's degree in Special Education from Bank Street College, and a bachelor's degree from Columbia University.
Dr. Paisner joins us following a thoughtful and comprehensive search process. The search committee included central office and elementary school leaders, elementary and secondary educators, and community members. The district extends its sincere thanks to all who contributed their time, care, and dedication throughout the search process.
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Mr. Wayne Puglisi
Athletic Director, Winchester High School
Mr. Wayne Puglisi joins the district as the new Athletic Director for Winchester High School. Mr. Puglisi most recently served as athletic director for Andover Public Schools since 2022, after beginning his career there as a physical education teacher in 1998.
He brings extensive leadership experience in lacrosse at the youth, high school, and international levels, including serving as regional director for the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League, president of the Eastern Massachusetts Lacrosse Coaches Association, and as the current boys' lacrosse coaches' representative to the MIAA. He also serves on the board of the Italian National Lacrosse Program.
The district thanks everyone who contributed to the search process and looks forward to Mr. Puglisi joining the Winchester community.
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Karyn Roy
Special Education Supervisor, Muraco & Vinson-Owen
Karyn Roy joins the district as the new Special Education Supervisor for Muraco and Vinson-Owen Elementary Schools. Ms. Roy most recently served as team chairperson at Malden Public Schools since 2023, after serving as the district's board-certified behavior analyst from 2017 to 2023 and as a PACE teacher prior to that. In her role as team chairperson, she coordinated special education services, ensured compliance with IEP timelines, and worked closely with families to support them through the evaluation and eligibility process.
She brings nearly two decades of experience in special education, including conducting functional behavior assessments, developing positive behavior support plans, and training staff in crisis prevention strategies. She holds a master's degree in special education from Simmons College, is a board-certified behavior analyst, and licensed applied behavior analyst and is licensed in Massachusetts as a special education administrator.
We're excited to have her join the Muraco and Vinson-Owen communities this year.
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Erik Desmond
Special Education Supervisor, Ambrose & Lincoln Elementary
Erik Desmond joins the district as the new Special Education Supervisor for Ambrose and Lincoln Elementary Schools. Mr. Desmond most recently served as principal at Lawrence Public Schools' School for Exceptional Studies since 2022, after six years as assistant principal/dean of students there, where he supervised and evaluated more than 110 staff and faculty members.
He brings 19 years of experience in therapeutic and special education settings, including developing crisis intervention protocols, collaborating with families and staff on IEPs and behavior intervention plans, and implementing restorative justice practices. He holds a master's degree in educational leadership and management from Fitchburg State University and is a CPI-certified instructor.
We're excited to have him join the Ambrose and Lincoln communities this year.
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🚚 The majority of our Central Office and Business Office personnel have settled in at Parkhurst. The team is looking forward to hosting School Committee meetings and additional community activities this upcoming school year.
📺 WinCAM has moved their offices from Swanton Street joined us at Parkhurst. They have a dedicated space on the lower level of Parkhurst with their own entrance and parking. Welcome, WinCAM!
🚧 There have been improvements made across our schools, including the installation of a new chiller at Lincoln, new concrete at the entrance of Ambrose, and repairs made to the stairs at the main entrance of WHS.
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Last week, we welcomed our new WPS educators with the New Teacher Orientation program at Winchester High School. We are excited to have these new teachers and staff joining the district. They bring enthusiasm and experience that will complement the many outstanding educators already here.
Earlier this week, district leaders gathered for our annual K-12 Leadership Workshop, where we worked together on our strategic plan, WPS2030. The sessions focused heavily on data and included presentations from our 6-12 Directors, principals, technology leaders, and students.
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The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff, and visitors is of the utmost importance. Winchester Public Schools continuously reviews its policies and procedures to ensure they are supported by the most recent research and data. Learn more here. |
📳 New Mobile Application: EZ Arrival
For the 2026–2027 school year, families will need to use a new mobile application to track bus routes—the app is available for iOS and Android devices:
With EZ Arrival, you can:
- See your student’s assigned bus stop and schedule
- Track their bus’s location in real time
- Receive notifications when the bus is approaching the stop
- Receive alerts when unexpected delays or route changes occur
The EZ Arrival app is free to download and easy to use. Simply download it, create an account, link to your student, and you’re all set.
To begin, first download the app:
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Each school year, health forms and updates are required for all students. We appreciate your efforts to ensure that your student’s health records and forms are completed in the SNAP Health Portal before the first day of school, Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Thank you for your attention. |
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PreK: Arrival: 8:55 a.m., Dismissal: Varies by program
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K-5: Arrival: 8:00 a.m., Dismissal: 2:25 p.m.
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Middle School, 6-8: Arrival: 8:25 a.m., Dismissal: 3:12 p.m.
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High School, 9-12: Arrival: 8:25 a.m., Dismissal: 3:12 p.m.
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The Aspen Family Portal has been updated for the new school year. Classroom assignments and student schedules are now available there. |
This school year, the Massachusetts state budget will continue to fund universal free breakfast and lunch for all public school students. View school menus here. For information about free meals/milk and reduced-price meals served under the National School Lunch Program, please visit this page. If your family is seeking meal support beyond the school day, WPS encourages you to explore the En Ka Pantry and additional local resources. |
This is a reminder that students in grades 5–12 must participate in the WPS Bring-Your-Own-Device program. Learn more here. If you are unable to provide your student with a device, please see the information about requesting assistance from WPS. |
Stay up to date with the latest news and information from Winchester Public Schools—including district-wide updates, classroom and division-specific newsletters, event sign-ups, and more—by downloading the ParentSquare app.
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Positions include:
- Lunch Support (paid hourly or available as tax work-off program)
- Building Substitutes
- Teaching & Special Education roles
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Explore upcoming town events here. |
Explore upcoming community events here. |
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