Dear BPS Community:
March is a special time in our district as we formally recognize and celebrate three groups whose dedication and service are vital to the success of our schools: our School Board members, Social Workers, and Maintenance staff.

Our School Board members provide thoughtful leadership, vision, and governance. Their countless volunteer hours, careful decision-making, and commitment to students and families help guide our district forward. We are deeply grateful for their stewardship and unwavering support of public education.

Our Social Workers play a pivotal role in supporting the social, emotional, and mental well-being of our students. Their compassion, expertise, and advocacy ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. They are often the steady presence behind the scenes, helping students and families navigate challenges with care and professionalism.

Our Maintenance team works tirelessly to provide safe, clean, and welcoming learning environments. From early mornings to late evenings, their attention to detail and dedication keep our schools running smoothly.  Through snow and ice, often in the early morning hours, they worked diligently to clear parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances, ensuring that staff and students could safely return to school. Because of their dedication, our schools remained safe, accessible, and ready to welcome everyone back.

In partnership,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools





Women's History Month:
Throughout history, women have shaped the course of education, science, government, the arts, and civil rights. Their achievements continue to inspire generations.  In our own district, we are fortunate to work alongside exceptional women who serve as educators, leaders, mentors, support professionals, and role models. They make a lasting impact on our students' lives each and every day. By honoring the past and celebrating the present, we inspire our students to envision a future where every individual can achieve their full potential.  I encourage our school community to take time this month to learn, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in history, in our district, and in our own lives.


Read Across America Week:
This week, March 2 through March 6, we proudly celebrate Read Across America Week — a nationwide effort to promote a love of reading in children. The week begins in recognition of Dr. Seuss's birthday, whose stories have inspired generations of young readers to discover the joy and imagination in books.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our PTAs for their hard work in recruiting volunteer readers for our schools. Your dedication and partnership help bring literacy to life for our students. Thank you as well to all of our guest readers who are generously giving their time to support our district’s literacy initiative. Your presence in our classrooms sends a powerful message about the importance of reading.
BPS is also proud to partner with United Way to support United Way Read Across America Day on Thursday, March 5, 2026. United Way is coordinating community volunteers to read to our Grade 2 classrooms on this special day. This initiative highlights the importance of building early literacy and language skills so that every child is reading proficiently by the start of fourth grade — a critical milestone in a student’s academic journey.
This year, these volunteers will share the book See Marcus Grow by Marcus Bridgewater. In this thoughtful story, a young boy named Marcus learns life lessons from his grandmother in her garden, drawing meaningful parallels between nurturing plants and personal growth. Through themes of water, sunshine, and space to grow, the book offers students an engaging way to reflect on patience, care, and the conditions we all need to thrive.
Thank you to everyone who is helping make Read Across America Week a meaningful and inspiring experience for our students. Together, we continue to foster a lifelong love of reading in BPS.




UBI Federal Credit Union Donation:
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UBI Credit Union for their continued generosity and support of our Kindergarten program. For the second year in a row, they have reached out to our district to donate books to our students. This year, UBI thoughtfully asked to present the books on February 26th to coincide as closely as possible with National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Their donation of The Night Before First Grade is a wonderful way to celebrate kindness and promote a love of reading among our youngest learners. UBI representatives visited Greene-Hills last Thursday afternoon to personally drop off and present books. We are truly grateful for their partnership and for the meaningful impact they continue to make in our school community.




Kay Yow  Cancer Fund Empowerment Tour at Bristol Central High School:
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund Empowerment Tour visited Bristol Central High School on Thursday, February 19, to help change the narrative around cancers affecting women. The program focused on educating, empowering, and equipping the next generation with the tools needed to positively impact their families and communities.
Sandra Kay Yow was a pioneering basketball coach who led the North Carolina State University Women’s Basketball Team. First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, she battled the disease on and off for 22 years before passing away in 2009. Her legacy continues to inspire many, especially through her powerful words: “When life kicks you, let it kick you forward."  It was wonderful to see our students so engaged and actively participating in this meaningful event.









Karl J. Schwartz Scholarship Program:

Applications for the Karl J. Schwartz Scholarship Program are now being accepted, the Rotary Club of Bristol announced.

The scholarship fund is offering 10, four-year renewable scholarships of $8,000 each to graduating high school seniors who reside and attend school in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington or Terryville. Established in 1991 through a generous bequest from a former member of the Rotary Club of Bristol, the Karl J. Schwartz Scholarship Fund has distributed more than $3 million to graduating seniors.

This endowment enables managed fund growth and allows the club to provide significant financial support to deserving students pursuing full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire upcoming school year.

The scholarships are renewable for up to four years, offering sustained support throughout a student’s college education, subject to the fund's renewal criteria. The scholarship program is administered independently and impartially by Scholarship America on behalf of the Bristol Rotary Scholarship Fund, Inc.

The application deadline is March 18. Students can find eligibility requirements and apply online at: scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/bristolrotary/

• English Session: 6:00 PM
• Sesión en Español: 6:45 PM