Superintendent's Weekly Update- September 7, 2026
Dear BPS Community:
Over the past three weeks, students in our Bristol Public Schools community have been involved in three separate motor vehicle accidents. Each of these incidents has affected the respective school communities, and throughout these difficult moments, the outpouring of care, compassion, and support has been remarkable.
I am especially grateful to our school administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families who have rallied around these students and their loved ones. Their compassion is a powerful reminder that our schools are more than places of learning—they are communities that care deeply for one another.
A special thank you to Friends of Feeney, who have consistently reached out and immediately offered assistance to support our students and families in any way needed. Their willingness to step forward without hesitation reflects the very best of Bristol.
We are also grateful for the prayers, positive thoughts, encouragement, and countless acts of kindness extended to these students and their families. We continue to keep each of them close in our thoughts and send our collective strength and support in the days ahead.
During challenging times, Bristol continues to show what it means to come together as a community. We truly are All Heart.
Looking Ahead
This Wednesday, the Bristol Board of Education will hold its first regular meeting of the 2026–27 school year. Please see the attached agenda for meeting information.
Also attached is the agenda for our first School Safety Committee meeting of the school year. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain among our highest priorities. I am grateful for the continued partnership of our Board of Education, staff, families, first responders, and community members as we work together to keep our schools safe, welcoming, and supportive places for every student.
Better Together,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools
Lt. DeMonte Peace Garden at West Bristol School;
We are deeply grateful to Winterberry Gardens and Account Manager Paul Vanasse for their extraordinary generosity in transforming Dustin’s Peace Garden at West Bristol School.
Created in memory of Lieutenant Dustin DeMonte, West Bristol’s former School Resource Officer and a beloved friend to the school community, the garden serves as an enduring symbol of peace, unity, hope, and healing.
After being contacted for landscaping advice, Paul and his team enhanced the garden with long-term weed control, pollinator plants, and fresh mulch—and generously donated all labor and materials.
Thank you to Paul and the entire Winterberry Gardens team for helping preserve this beautiful tribute to Lt. DeMonte’s life, service, compassion, and ultimate sacrifice. Your kindness reflects the very spirit this special garden represents.
You can read more about the garden in the attached announcement. The garden is not yet complete; more enhancements are planned!
Congratulations to Advanced Placement Capstone Scholars:
Bristol Eastern High School had five students recognized as AP Capstone Scholars. AP Capstone is a diploma program from College Board based on two year-long AP Courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Studies show that AP Capstone scholars earn higher grades freshman year of college. Congratulations to the following students on this significant achievement!
Kaelyn Gonzalez, 12th Grade
Gabriel Harmon, 11th Grade
Giavana Hatcher, 12th Grade
Avery Nye, 11th Grade
Maja Paxil, 11th Grade
Greene-Hills Tunnel of Hope:
Prudence Crandall Guest Presentations:
I am pleased to share an upcoming learning opportunity for students at Bristol Central High School, Bristol Eastern High School, and Bristol Preparatory Academy through our partnership with the Prudence Crandall Center.
Over several days in September and October, members of the Prudence Crandall Center team will serve as guest presenters in classrooms. These presentations are aligned with the district’s wellness curriculum and will complement the learning already taking place in our classrooms. Students will participate in developmentally appropriate lessons focused on healthy relationships, dating abuse prevention, consent, communication and mutual respect, personal and digital boundaries, bystander intervention, and recognizing signs of unhealthy or abusive relationships.
These classroom visits are part of the School Prevention Education/Seedlings initiative, a three-year partnership designed to strengthen prevention education and increase students’ knowledge, skills, and protective factors. The initiative also helps connect young people with trusted adults, advocacy services, and community resources when they need support.
For students in grades 9–12, the initiative provides education around healthy relationships, dating abuse, consent, bystander intervention, and the cultural influences that can shape relationships.
I am grateful to the Prudence Crandall Center and to our BPS staff for collaborating to bring this important learning directly into our classrooms. By aligning the expertise of our community partners with our district wellness curriculum, we are able to reinforce important lessons and provide students with additional knowledge and tools to make healthy decisions, support one another, and know where to turn when they or someone they care about needs help.
Our vision this year is that every student feels connected, supported, and engaged. Helping students develop healthy relationships, understand personal safety and boundaries, and learn how to advocate for themselves and others is an important part of bringing that vision to life.
Thank you to the Prudence Crandall Center for its continued partnership and commitment to Bristol’s young people. This collaboration is another example of what is possible when we work Better Together.