Harvard Teaches Upper Schoolers to Think Spatially About Astronomy

An exciting partnership between Harvard University and the CPS Science Department has created a true win-win for students and science education researchers alike.

Based on the premise that those who enter STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers have stronger spatial thinking skills, the program immerses students in 3-D modeling of astronomical concepts that are easily misunderstood when represented in the flat diagrams found in textbooks.

ThinkSpace (Thinking Spatially about the Universe- A Physical and Virtual Laboratory for Middle School Science), which has now been implemented in CPS Upper Schools, was recently profiled in the Harvard Gazette.

Read the Gazette Story >>

WCVB-5 Spotlights Cambridge as a Model
Channel 5 has just completed an investigative report into the relationship between Massachusetts school districts and their local police departments. Channel 5's Mike Beaudet profiled Cambridge as a model of successful collaboration that aims to stabilize students and families rather than criminalizing young people. 

The investigative report credits Cambridge's Safety Net Collaborative as the reason behind starkly lower rates of arrests on school property than can be found in other urban school districts. Safety Net brings together representatives from Cambridge schools, mental health, human service, and law enforcement agencies to coordinate prevention, intervention and support services that foster positive youth development and keep students out of the juvenile justice system. Read the rest of this story & watch the video >> 

Nobel Laureate Illuminates Stone Cold Science at CRLS

On Tuesday, September 26, CRLS students had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Nobel Laureate Dr. Eric Cornell. Dr. Cornell, who attended CRLS during the late 1970’s and MIT during the 1980’s, shared a witty and thought-provoking lecture on the concepts involved in his research into the coldest materials in the universe, Bose-Einstein condensates.

This research was honored with a Nobel Prize for Physics in 2001. Read the rest of the story >>

King Open & CSUS Construction Update
Construction is well underway on a new campus that will include King Open School, Cambridge Street Upper School, a DHSP Community School and Afterschool program, a new Valente Branch Library, the Gold Star Pool, and Cambridge Public Schools administrative offices. 

According to the project website, the new complex will be designed to improve traffic patterns around the school buildings and also improve visibility and access to Donnelly Field and the Frisoli Center. 

Design renderings for the school portions of project were released over the summer, and demolition of the site at 850 Cambridge Street is now complete.

Construction is expected to take a total of four years and the project is slated to be completed in time for the opening of school in September 2019. 

View more architectural renderings >>

Did You Get Our Text?
CPS has recently launched a new service that will allow you to receive emergency alerts via text message. Current CPS families should have received a text message from 675-87 on Monday, October 30th, inviting you to opt in.

If you did not receive the text, please contact the school so they can check your student's record. You may opt in to this service by responding to that text at any time, or text 675-87 to subscribe.

As a reminder, please check with your wireless carrier to determine any possible costs related to text messaging. CPS does not reimburse for any charges associated with sending or receiving text messages.