Dear Students and Families,
I want to personally welcome you to the 2025–2026 school year at New Bedford High School. Whether your summer was filled with relaxation, work, family responsibilities, or challenges, we are glad to welcome you back. A new school year brings a fresh start, and we are excited to support you in all the opportunities ahead.
We know that the start of a new school year can bring both excitement and nervousness, especially for our incoming 9th graders and students who are new to New Bedford High School. Whether you’re starting high school for the first time or transferring from another school, we are here to welcome and support you. You are now part of a community that believes in you and is ready to help you succeed.
As we begin the year, we want to stress the importance of attending school every day and arriving on time. Strong attendance is one of the most important factors in academic success. When students are present and on time, they can fully engage in learning, build relationships with teachers and peers, and make the most of everything NBHS has to offer. We are here to support you, and we ask all students and families to make daily, on-time attendance a top priority.
This year, we are also introducing a new approach to help students stay focused, present, and connected. New Bedford Public School students in grades 6–12 will experience cell phone-free environments during the school day. Students will use Yondr pouches to securely store their phones when they enter the building, and devices will remain put away until the end of the day. We know this is a shift, and we are committed to working in partnership with families to support a smooth transition. This change is part of our effort to reduce distractions, strengthen relationships, and support student learning and well-being.
During the summer, the facilities team and others were hard at work making several enhancements to improve the student experience at NBHS. We also added two new school counseling hubs to increase access to support and information, updated every house office space to make it more modern and welcoming, and we installed air conditioning across all gyms. We are also continuing to modernize our science labs and classrooms through grant funds, and we welcomed many new staff members who are eager to support and serve the NBHS community.
Our student theme for this school year is: “Chart YOUR Course to the Future.” Whether you are preparing for college, a career, or other goals after graduation, we want you to take charge of your future. We encourage all students to get involved in school activities, ask questions, and take advantage of the many academic, enrichment, and extracurricular offerings New Bedford High School provides.
Take pride in being part of the New Bedford High School community… this is your community! We look forward to working together this year. Let’s make it a great one!
Sincerely,
Joyce Cardoza
Principal, New Bedford High School