Wareham schools report strong start: night school growth, preschool opening and new high‑school programs

Principals across Wareham Public Schools reported a strong start to the school year, citing increased night‑school enrollment, growing pre‑K and traditional enrollments, and new high‑school course offerings.

Jane Fondoulis, night‑school principal, said the fall night‑school program enrolled 44 students this term, up from 34 last fall, with increased out‑of‑district participation: “Compared to last fall, we had 34. We have 12 school choice… we have 3 ninth graders, 10 tenth graders, 22 eleventh graders, and 9 twelfth graders,” she said. Fondoulis said the program plans to move to the McDuffie Educational Center and is coordinating community partners and electives.

Dan Sylvester, principal at Wareham Elementary School, reported district elementary enrollment of 945 students and detailed grade counts including pre‑K at 75 students and kindergarten at 183. “We had the pre‑K/K carnival… it was a huge success,” Sylvester said, noting outreach to families and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) activities and planned open house events.

At Wareham High School, the administration reported 544 students districtwide at the high school level (150 eighth graders; 80 freshmen; about 100 students in grades 10–12 each). High school administrators highlighted new classes and opportunities: American Sign Language, AP African American Studies, EMT training with the possibility of state licensing, and a new elective in officiating that prepares students to be paid officials for local contests. The high school also has 16 juniors and seniors in a Bridgewater State dual‑enrollment program and reported near‑full staffing for paraprofessionals.

Principals and administrators also noted partnerships and support: Subaru of America recognized six Wareham teachers; 5 Guys is piloting a reading incentive that will reward students with a small food item and collect gently used books for donation; and the night school continues to pursue state grants to support programming. Administrators cautioned that some federal grant distributions remain uncertain pending higher‑level budget actions.

Why it matters: enrollment and program changes affect staffing, schedules and budgeting. Officials said higher night‑school numbers and dual‑enrollment opportunities improve access for students and may generate revenue, while new electives aim to increase post‑graduation readiness.

Ending: Principals will continue outreach and report back to the committee; several administrators said they would provide further updates at upcoming meetings including a planned open house and future principal reports.