District Information

Dear Families of the Gardner Public Schools,

I want to extend a warm welcome back to school for the 2023-2024 school year. We have been busy preparing for the upcoming school year this summer and are excited to see our staff, students, and families.

As I reflect on the accomplishments of the last few years, I am grateful for our hardworking teachers and staff. With a focus on students' social emotional and academic needs, the district has been making measurable progress on our goals in family engagement, academic outcomes, and effective student support. This shows me that our entire staff is working toward making our district better every day, year after year. 

I am excited to welcome all new staff in the district, including some new school administrators, and welcome back the rest of our team. I am truly excited to have exceptional, dedicated leaders in Gardner who are committed to seeing through the positive changes we are implementing academically and culturally.   

I also have to say how thrilled I am that our school committee, mayor, and city council have pledged to support our school funding to continue growing and improving our educational and enrichment programs for all students. I want to thank them all for their commitment to the children and families of Gardner!

I wish you a happy time for the rest of your summer and look forward to seeing you in the near future! We at the Superintendent's office wish everyone a productive school year.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Mark J. Pellegrino

Every Child, in Every Classroom, Every Day will: 

feel welcomed, safe, and included in our community;

• Adults will personally welcome each child as they enter the school and each classroom.
• The layout of the school and each classroom will be inviting and conducive to learning.
• Students will learn social/emotional skills through direct instruction, supports, and institutional practices.
• Disciplinary practices are restorative rather than punitive--repairing relationships.
• Schools will actively engage families in the education of their children and community.

have adults consistently interact in ways that foster positive, supportive relationships; 

• School expectations, practices, and rules will be informed by the chronological and actual developmental levels of the children we serve.
• Adult responses to children’s behaviors will be empathetic and caring, considering their comprehensive knowledge of the child’s development and any possible trauma or stressors.
• The school will work proactively and collaboratively with families to support the whole child.

and be engaged in relevant, academically rigorous instruction, informed by data.

• Each lesson will incorporate rigorous student tasks that engage all learners, provoke higher-order thinking, monitor each student’s progress, and provide feedback to students for improvement.
• The schools will monitor and adapt their instruction to ensure students learn the skills and knowledge to prepare them for their own future.