Teacher Appreciation Week; Mask Reminder; Upcoming Early Release Days

Teacher Appreciation Week; Mask Reminder; Upcoming Early Release Days
Posted on 05/03/2021

Dear CPS Community,

This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week across the country, and provides a perfect opportunity to thank our incredible CPS educators for the work they do for our students every day. Please join me in applauding CPS educators for their expertise, energy, and commitment to students, which has been especially valuable during the pandemic. If you are on social media, you can shout out a special teacher in your child’s life with the hashtag #MyCPSTeacher.

PAUSCongratulations to CPS upper schools, who successfully expanded in-person learning last week! Despite the drizzles and masks, it was easy to see the smiles on student, teacher, and family faces.

We know the ongoing updates from federal, state, and local governments about COVID-19 guidelines can be confusing. Here are a few quick reminders about important CPS COVID-19 requirements:

  • CPS requires students and staff to wear masks at all times, including outdoors and during recess.
  • All CPS students have access to COVID-19 testing. Parent/guardian permission is required. Complete the forms online, or complete printed forms and send them to school with your student.
  • No one should attend school if they have COVID-19 like symptoms. Use the CPS Health Checklist as a reference.

A reminder that there is a no school for CRLS students this Wednesday, May 5 because of a staff planning day. There are also several upcoming early release days (see list below) when elementary schools and the Amigos school will dismiss two hours early. I want to reiterate the importance of these professional development times. We’ve seen how learning outcomes improve for students when teachers collaborate and coordinate efforts to best meet students’ needs.

Also, please note, the CPS Community Fair tentatively scheduled for May 8 has been canceled. Save the date for revised fair launch date - June 5!

Please find additional updates below:

  • Upcoming Early Release Days
  • End of Year Celebrations
  • Community Shout-out
  • State Review of CPS Compliance with Special Education & Civil Rights Regulations
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events

Sincerely,

Kenneth N. Salim, Ed.D.
Superintendent

1. Early Release Days
Again, a reminder that students will be dismissed two hours early on the following early release days:

  • Wednesday, May 12: Grades JK-8
  • Wednesday, May 19: Grades JK-5 & Amigos
  • Wednesday, May 26: Grades JK-5 & Amigos
  • Wednesday, June 9: Grades JK-5
  • Wednesday, June 23: All Grades

2. End of Year Celebrations
CRLS will hold a Senior Semi-Formal Celebration on June 4th at Starlight Square. More details will be announced soon. Information on graduations and other end-of-year ceremonies can be found here.

3. Community Shout-outs!
Kudos to all the CPS students, staff and families who participate in the Cambridge Science Festival, including CPS teacher Elizabeth Hill who was acknowledged with the 2021 Curious Teacher award. The Cambridge Science Festival reminds us to “Celebrate Science Every Day”!

Cambridge Street Upper School social studies teacher Allison Scully has been chosen to share her expertise on embedding culturally responsive teaching in the curriculum with the Teacher Collaborative. The Teacher Collaborative is a community for educators across Massachusetts, and we are proud to have our district represented in this forum. Congratulations to Ms. Scully!

4. State Review of CPS Compliance with Special Education & Civil Rights Regulations
Every three years, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) visits each district and charter school to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

This year, during the week of May 10, DESE’s PSM will visit CPS to conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review, which may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The PSM review chairperson will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. During the onsite review, the PSM will interview the chairs of CPS’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). These results will contribute to the development of a report.

Parents and other individuals may call Andrew MacKenzie, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at 781.338.3761 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide CPS with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report here.

5. Upcoming Meetings & Events

  • May 4 | 6PM: School Committee: Regular Meeting
  • May 5 | No School, CRLS (staff planning day)
  • May 6 | 6PM: School Committee, Special Meeting to consider appointment of the Interim Superintendent of Schools
  • May 10 | CRLS begins full-time, in-person learning
  • May 12 | Early Release Day: Grades JK-8
  • May 19 | Early Release Day: Grades JK-5 & Amigos
  • May 19 | 10AM - 2PM: Together We RISE, A Virtual Conference for Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge High School Sophomores & Juniors, sponsored by the Harvard Ed Portal and the Harvard Public School Partnerships team. CRLS alum, Mohammed Uddin, CRLS ‘15, UMass Boston BA ‘19, MPA ‘20, will be a featured guest speaker.
  • May 26 | Early Release Day: Grades JK-5 & Amigos
  • June 5 | CPS Community Fair
  • June 9 | Early Release Day: Grades JK-5
  • June 23 | Early Release Day: All Grades
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