Greetings CPS Community!
I hope you had a restful long weekend.
I want to begin by acknowledging the death of 20-year-old Sayed Faisal. We know that this is a very challengingtime for our community. It can be difficult to process how something like this could happen in our community, especially for our young people. I want to assure you that our district has a number of mental health resources available to families as we move forward together. Here are some that you may find helpful if your child asks about what happened:
Our school social workers provide regular clinical support at each of our schools. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school with any questions or concerns. We are here to support them in any way possible.
We are looking forward to our upcoming community engagement sessions, which begin this Wednesday at the Workforce Building from 6-7:45PM (dinner and childcare will be provided). Please register here. We would also appreciate hearing from you through our budget survey, which closes next Monday, January 23, at 10AM. Additional registration information is below.
At the end of the month and in early February, our Office of Academics and Schools will share an update on the Instructional Framework at four virtual community sessions. We encourage you to join one of the meetings listed below to learn more about the framework and how it will guide our instruction in each of our classrooms every day.
As equity and inclusion are at the center of our work, we also want to share that the City of Cambridge is looking for volunteers to serve on the new LGBTQ+ - Friendly Housing Task Force. The Task Force will consider opportunities for new or revised practices to improve LGBTQ+ persons’ access to existing housing, evaluate possibilities for new housing to be more LGBTQ+ - friendly, and issue final recommendations and action plans. You can apply here.
Finally, Middlesex County remains in the High COVID-19 Community Level. We, along with the Health Department, strongly recommend wearing a mask at school and in all of our buildings through this Friday. Please note that this recommendation may be extended as we continue to monitor the data.
Thank you for your continued support.
Make it Great!
Dr. Victoria L. Greer
Headlines
FY24 Budget: Register for a Community Engagement Session!
As we continue to plan for the 2024 Fiscal Year Budget, our team is eager to hear your perspective on the development of the budget, which supports the 2023-2024 school year. You can share your input by taking our Budget Survey, which closes next Monday, January 23.
We will also offer three community engagement meetings at which we will explain our priorities for the budget, how we determine our spending, and answer any questions you have. There will also be a group discussion about how our budget can best support our students.
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Wednesday, January 18 | 6 - 7:45PM
(Workforce building located at 308 Rindge Avenue); Childcare and dinner will be provided.
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Saturday, January 21 | 10 - 11:45AM
(Fletcher Maynard Academy located at 225 Windsor Street); Childcare and a light breakfast will be provided.
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Thursday, January 26 | 6 - 7:45PM (Virtual)
Instructional Framework Community Meetings
A dynamic team of students, educators, school and district leaders, community partners, and community members is leading the design of our Instructional Framework, which is one of our focused initiatives in the District Plan. The framework will serve as a blueprint for all students to receive high quality instruction in every classroom, every day while providing coherence, consistency, and rigor in our students’ learning experience across schools.
To learn more about our Instructional Framework, please consider attending one of our fourvirtualcommunity update sessions:
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Wednesday, January 25 | 6 - 6:45PM & 7-7:45PM
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Wednesday, February 1 | 6 - 6:45PM & 7-7:45PM
Information Night for Rising 9th Grade Families
Come learn about the exciting and engaging opportunities in academics, arts, athletics, and extra curricula offered atCambridge Rindge & Latin School. The families of current 8th graders/rising 9th graders can meet with guidance counselors, deans, and current CRLS students, and tour the interactive classrooms that are part of the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA). We hope to see you there!
Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Lottery Open
The JK/K Lottery for the 2023-2024 school year is open for two more weeks… through Tuesday, January 31, 2023. All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points. We are so excited to welcome new students to our school community! To learn more, click here.
CRLS Scholarship Opportunities
The 2023 CRLS Scholarship Application system is now open! This spring, deserving graduating seniors will be recognized with several scholarships and awards. Click here to apply by Friday, February 17. Questions? Contact Susie VanBlaricum at [email protected].
5 Months of ParentSquare
This week will mark 5 months since we launched ParentSquare! ParentSquare has elevated our commitment to accessible, accurate, and timely communication with our school community. We are proud of how many families are actively using it to stay connected and informed. A sincere thank you to everyone who has registered and to our schools for their continued outreach to our families.
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We can reach at least one student contact for 99.8%of our students.
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65% of our parents/guardians have registered for ParentSquare.
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85% of our students have at least one parent/guardian registered for ParentSquare.
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Our communications are being translated into 37 languages in ParentSquare!
Need help registering for ParentSquare? Check out this training video, use our one-page summary on how to get started, or contact your child’s school.
Invention & Innovation Program for Teens
Are you a creative problem solver in grade 9-12? If so, you are invited to Lemelson-MIT’sBridge to Invention and Inclusive Innovation workshop. Over the 10-week program, students will learn to identify problems within their community and life. They will refine their creative skills by learning about 3D printing, laser cutter, woodshop, and much more. Participants will become an inventor by taking part in the invention process! Apply here.
Hall of Fame Honors for CRLS Coaches
Congratulations are in order for Scott Cody and Jamalh Prince, who will be inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Athletics Hall of Fame! In addition to their roles as coaches, Jamalh and Scott are also decorated alumni, winning a State Championship during their time as student-athletes. Please join us in celebrating their success!
Feathered Friends Visit Kennedy-Longfellow & Haggerty Schools
Before the break, Kindergarteners at Kennedy-Longfellow School and Haggerty School had some feathered visitors! Unit 2 of “Focus on K” curriculum focuses on Animals & Habitats, and as a special treat, Windows on Wildlife brought by owls for the kids to meet. It was a hoot…students loved it!
New Mental & Behavioral Health Resources
Mental Health and Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide
On January 4, the Attorney General’s Office issued its Mental Health and Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide for Massachusetts LGBTQ2IA+ Young People and Their Trusted Adults. The guide is intended for LGBTQ2IA+ young people, their trusted adults, and supportive community members. It focuses on mental health providers that offer care that is affirming of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, including specialized services around domestic and sexual violence, housing assistance and shelter, and substance use disorder.
State Behavioral Health Helpline
The Department of Mental Health just launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text at 833.773.2445. It is available 24/7 in more than 200 languages. To learn more, please see the FAQ or email [email protected].
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, February 20 - Friday, February 24 | February Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on Monday, February 20)
Wednesday, March 15 | Early Release Day (JK-8 only)
Monday, March 20 | Staff Professional Learning Day
(No School)
Key Resources