Welcome Back!
The summer is an amazing time, especially for those with school-aged children and for those who work in schools. It’s a time for much needed rest and relaxation, a time to enjoy the sun and outdoor activities, a time for travel and exploration, a time to get caught up on reading, a time to reflect and acknowledge the growth that occurred over the course of the previous school year.

For me personally, this past summer was a time of healing. I have worn glasses since the third grade and contacts since the ninth grade, and this year decided that I would get laser corrective surgery. Due to the thinness of my corneas and some other issues with my eyes, I was ruled out as a candidate for Lasik and was recommended for a lesser known and more invasive procedure, Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). This procedure involves a surgeon removing the epithelial layer of the cornea--which is like a thin protective layer of skin--then the exposed cornea is treated with a wavefront cool laser to resculpt it. This ordeal resulted in a week of having almost no vision, and then several weeks of recovery while my vision slowly returned as the epithelial layer grew back and my eyes adjusted to their reshaped corneas. While my vision was impaired, I tried to occupy my time by listening to audio books, which wasn’t an effective strategy as I would often fall asleep in the middle of listening to them. What did prove to be a wise investment of my time, was using my circumstance as an excuse to submerge myself in the tranquil waters of reflection.

And so I did. I found myself adrift within a vast and gentle pool of thought, taking inventory of all we accomplished and went through as a school community. Read more >>



Summer Reading...Did you reach the moon yet?
It's not too late to complete your summer reading challenge. Read 20 minutes per day to help reach the goal of half a million minutes of reading per grade level! If minutes = miles, we'll read to the moon and back this summer! Remember to keep track of your minutes and books on your summer reading log. Learn more >>



Stay Connected
Get up-to-date news, announcements, event information, and school closing information. Follow Putnam Avenue on Facebook today >>


Superintendent Search Process
The School Committee invites and welcomes community involvement and engagement, and is offering a number of ways in which Cambridge Public Schools stakeholders can have an important voice in the Superintendent of Schools search and selection process, including an online survey, a community-based Superintendent Search Interview Committee, focus groups, community forums, and more.
Learn more >>



Did You Know?
You can view several calendars at once on the district website-- two different schools, district-wide events, even programs or libraries. Look for the instructions at the top of the page. >>



School Bus Information
Bus letters will be mailed out very soon. If you rode the bus last year, or are pretty sure your child will qualify, you can also look up the current list of bus routes and bus stops here.



Questions? Concerns?
Check out the New & Improved For Families section of the CPS website. Email feedback, locate resources, read family engagement updates, and more! >>

Family Involvement