In Fitchburg and beyond, students go back to school

Game On for Red Raiders

Save for the football team, the Red Raiders will have a new home for games this fall.

And the new residence brings with it both impressive facilities and an eye-popping view.

The Fitchburg High boys and girls soccer teams will join the field hockey team in playing their home contests at the Game On Fitchburg complex, while the gridiron gang will continue to inhabit the hallowed grounds of historic Crocker Field on Friday nights.

Field hockey is entering its third season practicing and playing at Game On, while the soccer programs will be doing so for the first time. The soccer teams had played on the outfield grass of Tony Alario Field, the softball diamond located at Fitchburg High School.

“ Some school districts are very fortunate to have turf on their campuses, but we’ve yet to make that to happen. We’ve used satellite facilities probably since the dawn of the school district,” Fitchburg High athletic director Craig Antocci said Wednesday afternoon. “ But to have Game On in town and have them be open to us using the fields, to have the support of ( Fitchburg Public Schools superintendent) Robert Jokela, the Central Office Administration, the school committee, to make it all possible. … It provides an opportunity to our kids that, to be honest, I think puts us at the top of the heap when it comes to facilities.”

Read more here.

Jarrett named interim principal at FHS

Tonya Jarrett, an assistant principal at Fitchburg High School, can’t help but be excited for her new high- profile role.

Jarrett, who has worked in Fitchburg Public Schools for 22 years, was a historic hire recently after being named the new interim principal at Fitchburg High.

“ I am humbled and honored to not only hold this position, but to be the first woman principal at Fitchburg High School in the 173 years of its establishment,” said Jarrett, whose parents graduated from FHS in the early 1970s. “ I am committed to the students, parents and staff at Fitchburg High. I look forward to serving as interim principal for the upcoming 22-23 school year.”

Jarrett is a 1994 graduate of Narragansett Regional High School in Baldwinville. She holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s in SPED/ reading specialist from Fitchburg State University, and CAGS in Educational Leadership & Management.

“ Mrs. Jarrett has already hit the ground running during the summer to welcome back students, families, and staff for the upcoming school year,” said Superintendent Robert Jokela. “ Mrs. Jarrett is familiar with FHS and the Fitchburg community, and she is committed to making FHS and Fitchburg a great place to learn, live, and prepare our students for the next stage of their lives.”

Jarrett replaces former Fitchburg High School Principal Jeremy Roche, who has transitioned to the Central Office staff as the director of finance and operations.

“ It’s important for me and others to know that I’m me,” Jarrett said. “ I am who I am. I’m not Mr. Roche. I’m not a former principal. I’m going to use my gifts and talents to the best of my ability and not try to be somebody else, but use those skills to better the school.”

Jarrett has worked at Fitchburg High for the last five years as a literacy coach and assistant principal. While serving the students in FPS for 22 years, Jarrett has also worked at Academy Middle School, BF Brown, Longsjo Middle School and McKay Arts Academy.

“ Being in the district for over 22 years, I definitely have deep roots here in Fitchburg,” said Jarrett, who has served in a variety of roles in FPS, including special education teacher, Title 1 teacher, ELA teacher, literacy coach and assistant principal. “ I now get to meet former students who have stayed in the city and are now raising their children here in the city. It’s great to have those connections. I really value the students that we work with and the families that live here in Fitchburg.”

Read more here.

History in the making at Fitchburg High

By moving up from assistant principal to interim principal, Tonya Jarrett has made history at Fitchburg High School.

“I am humbled and honored to not only hold this position but to be the first woman principal at Fitchburg High School in the 173 years of its establishment,” Jarrett said in a press release. “I am committed to the students, parents and staff at Fitchburg High. I look forward to serving as interim principal for the upcoming ’22-23 school year.”

“Mrs. Jarrett has already hit the ground running during the summer to welcome back students, families and staff for the upcoming school year,” said Fitchburg Superintendent of Schools Robert Jokela.

“Mrs. Jarrett is familiar with FHS and the Fitchburg community, and she is committed to making FHS and Fitchburg a great place to learn, live and prepare our students for the next stage of their lives.”

Jarrett succeeds Jeremy Roche, who spent 11 years as Fitchburg High principal and is now the district’s director of finance and operations.

“It’s important for me and others to know that I’m me,” Jarrett said. “I am who I am. I’m not Mr. Roche. I’m not a former principal. I’m going to use my gifts and talents to the best of my ability and not try to be somebody else, but use those skills to better the school.”

As interim principal, Jarrett said, she will be “very relational. I care about the people that I work with, whether it be staff, students or parents. It’s important to know each other and build that relationship.”

Read more here.

Tonya Jarrett makes history as first female leader at Fitchburg High School

By moving up from assistant principal to interim principal, Tonya Jarrett has made history at Fitchburg High School.

“I am humbled and honored to not only hold this position, but to be the first woman principal at Fitchburg High School in the 173 years of its establishment,” Jarrett said in a press release. “I am committed to the students, parents and staff at Fitchburg High. I look forward to serving as interim principal for the upcoming ’22-23 school year.”

“Mrs. Jarrett has already hit the ground running during the summer to welcome back students, families, and staff for the upcoming school year,” stated Fitchburg Superintendent of Schools Robert Jokela. “Mrs. Jarrett is familiar with FHS and the Fitchburg community, and she is committed to making FHS and Fitchburg a great place to learn, live, and prepare our students for the next stage of their lives.”

Jarrett succeeds Jeremy Roche, who spent 11 years as Fitchburg High principal and is now the district’s Director of Finance and Operations.

“It’s important for me and others to know that I’m me,” Jarrett said. “I am who I am. I’m not Mr. Roche. I’m not a former principal. I’m going to use my gifts and talents to the best of my ability and not try to be somebody else, but use those skills to better the school.”

As interim principal, Jarrett said, she will be “very relational. I care about the people that I work with, whether it be staff, students or parents. It’s important to know each other and build that relationship.”

Read more here.