Local celebrities greet Worcester Public Schools students, staff as school begins - Boston News, Weather, Sports

WORCESTER, MASS. (WHDH) – Worcester Public Schools students and staff received a star-studded welcome ahead of their first day of school for the 2024-25 school year on Monday, with celebrities including Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, rapper and actor Joyner Lucas and rapper Darryl McDaniels of the group Run-DMC all greeting members of the school community in a video message.

The school year officially began in Worcester on Monday. Worcester Public Schools shared its video welcome message on Friday, including remarks from Stevens, Lucas, McDaniels and others.

“You’re awesome and you’re dominating,” McDaniels said. “You’re plugged in and you’re jumping. This year, it starts here.”

“Keep moving, dancing, jumping and swaying, and remember that education, generosity, honesty and kindness are the real superpowers,” he continued.

Lucas grew up in Worcester and attended South High Community School in Worcester.

Lucas said current South High Principal Jeff Creamer is “one of the greatest principals to ever walk the face of the earth.”

“You’re all lucky, you have a lot of things that we didn’t even have when I was there,” Lucas told the current students.

“I want to congratulate everyone and welcome you,” he continued. “I hope your summer vacation was great.”

Professional boxer Jose Antonio Rivera is among the celebrities who recorded a video message for Worcester Public Schools.

Local leaders also participated.

“We hope you have a great year,” said Worcester Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier.

Rep. Jim McGovern focused on teachers and staff.

“You guys are amazing,” he said. “You put our kids first and our kids are 100 percent of our future.”

City Manager Eric Batista welcomed members of the school community back to school.

In his own message, Worcester Mayor and School Committee Chairman Joseph Petty said, “This is an exciting time to be a part of Worcester Public Schools.”

“We have great leaders here in Worcester,” Petty said. “We have great educators. We have great academics. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

Comedian and social media star Jimmy Cash spoke toward the end of Worcester’s welcome video. Cash, who also worked as a public school janitor for 18 years, according to his website, made his share of school-themed jokes in his message.

“We’re going to have a great school year, hopefully with lots of snow days,” he said.

Beyond the famous faces, Worcester is celebrating a series of milestones as the new school year begins.

The city is entering its third year since it began operating its own school buses. As of Monday, officials said all 222 school bus routes in the city were fully equipped.

Worcester plans to introduce 15 electric school buses in 2026. Meanwhile, the 2024-25 school year will mark the start of a new Worcester Public Schools policy officially requiring students to put away their cell phones at school.

Monday also marked the first day of school with the first students entering Worcester’s new Doherty Memorial High School. Although construction is planned on the Doherty campus, Worcester Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez said in a recent back-to-school letter that the school is on track to open its doors to students in time for the first day of school. She called the opening “historic.”

In a separate statement, officials said the 425,000-square-foot school will provide students with “a state-of-the-art educational experience.”

Elsewhere in Massachusetts, districts including Lawrence Public Schools held their own first day of classes on Monday.

The first day of school in Boston is scheduled for September 5.