Greetings CPS Community!
I hope that you had a wonderful long weekend.
January is a busy and exciting month for us as we ramp up our budget process for Fiscal Year 2025, which will support the 2024-2025 school year. Our Finance & Budget Office, the School Committee, and I are eager to share information with you about the development of the budget and hear your perspective. We will be sharing more information on the upcoming community meeting later this week.
As we continue the 2023-2024 school year with our newly elected School Committee, we will share recaps of meetings in this newsletter. Our next School Committee meeting will be tonight, at 6 p.m. The Finance & Budget Department will present an overview of Fiscal Year 25. I will also share an update on the District Plan and the progress we are making in various initiatives.
Thank you for your continued support.
Make it Great!
Dr. Victoria L. Greer
Headlines
Get to Know Our Chief Strategy Officer Skyler Nash
Skyler Nash comes to Cambridge with extensive experience in public service and strategic leadership. Most recently serving as Chief of Staff at the Minneapolis Police Department, Skyler successfully orchestrated the comprehensive implementation of a $225 million department budget and played a pivotal role in legislative initiatives, leading the campaign to amend state statutes for a department-wide restructuring.
Skyler oversaw the establishment of Minneapolis’s first-ever police reform implementation unit to address court-mandated consent decrees as well as developing the legislative agenda for the Police Department, ensuring alignment with state and federal lawmakers. Skyler is a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to promoting equity, justice, and positive change in his communities. We asked him some questions to help you get to know him:
- Do you prefer staying up late or waking up early in the morning?
- What is your favorite movie?
- What is your favorite food?
- What are two activities you enjoy doing outside of work?
- Name a role model who has inspired you in your career.
- What is something that you want our school community to know about you?
Click the play button below to hear his responses!
Mr. Nash’s 90-day Entry Plan
As the new Chief Strategy Officer for the District, Mr. Nash has put together an entry plan that outlines the actions he took through his pre-entry process as well as the steps he will be taking going forward as he continues to onboard into the role.
January Family/Caregiver Virtual Dinner Hour Tomorrow
We are excited for tomorrow’s Family/Caregiver Virtual Dinner Hour from 6:30-7:30PM. Please note that we will begin organizing the meetings by triad. Next week’s meeting will be for Kennedy-Longfellow, Morse, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Putnam Avenue, and Cambridge Rindge and Latin.
This is an opportunity to engage with families and caregivers to learn about your experiences with our schools, have meaningful conversations about our schools and school district, and answer any questions that you may have. Please register at the link below. By registering, you will also be able to share topics of interest which will help us plan.
Monthly on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:30PM
Register Here for tomorrow, Wednesday, January 17
January 17
February 28
March 20
April 24
May 15
Cambridge Preschool Program Application is Now Closed
The application period for the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) is now closed for the 2024-2025 school year. Families in need of application assistance should contact [email protected].
If you have submitted a completed CPP application, please see the enrollment timeline below for what’s next in the process:
Notification of preschool match in early March 2024.
- Families have 2 weeks from notification to accept or decline their placement.
- For additional information, including updated FAQs, please visit our website.
Office of Communications
Welcome Lily Rivera, Our New Senior Communications Specialist
We are delighted to welcome Lily Rivera, who has joined the Office of Communications as a Senior Communications Specialist. Lily most recently served as the joint Marketing and Communications Specialist for Franklin Public Schools and the Town of Franklin. Prior to that, she was the Urban Agenda Outreach Coordinator for the City of Framingham. Lily has spearheaded several communication campaigns with an equity and strategic lens. She will be a tremendous asset in supporting our collective work. Please join us in welcoming Lily!
Strategic Communications Plan
The Office of Communications is excited to share its Strategic Communications Plan, which was developed over several months and outlines our primary objectives and key initiatives for the school year. The plan was designed as a fluid blueprint that will evolve to meet the needs of our school community.
January 9th School Committee Special Meeting Recap
Moving forward, we will include a brief summary of each School Committee meeting that highlights presentations and any key votes that impact district policies and procedures as well as a link to the meeting.
A special School Committee meeting was held last Tuesday. Highlights include...
- Swearing-in ceremony of the remaining School Committee elect members Caroline Hunter and José Luis Rojas.
- Election of Member Hunter as Vice Chair of the School Committee.
- Provisional adoption of the 2024-2025 School Committee rules.
- Watch the meeting here.
Interested in receiving email notifications about meetings? Join the School Committee listserv
Kindergarten Lottery Closes in Two Weeks
The Kindergarten Lottery for the 2024-2025 school year will be open through 4PM on Wednesday, January 31. All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points. To learn more, visit our website.
Featured Events & Opportunities
Free Science Club for Girls…Apply Today!
Science Club for Girls' mission is to foster excitement, confidence, and literacy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities by providing free, experiential programs and by maximizing meaningful interactions with women-in-STEM mentors.
- Clubs will begin the week of February 26 and run for 8 weeks.
- Programs will be held virtually via zoom or in-person; to offer flexibility and convenience, participants are able to choose one of six weekly meeting times.
- Mondays | 4 - 5PM (virtual)
- Tuesdays | 4:30 - 5:30PM (virtual)
- Thursdays | 4 - 5PM (virtual)
- Fridays | 3 - 4:15PM (Amigos School located at 15 Upton Street)
- Saturdays | 10:30 - 11:30AM (virtual)
- Saturdays | 10:30 - 11:30AM (Prospect Hill Academy located at 50 Essex Street)
- Saturdays | 10:30 - 11:30AM (University Park located at 65 Franklin Street )
- Space is limited…apply today! **Registering is not a guarantee of acceptance. You will be notified as soon as possible regarding an available space for your child.**
Participants in our virtual programs will use Zoom via a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone with internet access. All other materials will be provided free of charge and distributed at a convenient location prior to the first week of clubs.
Health Updates
CPS Policies & Procedures
In addition to our current COVID-19 policies and procedures, which align with the end of the COVID-19 Federal Emergency on May 11, 2023, we ask that all students, families, and staff remain vigilant. Please continue to monitor for symptoms, use COVID tests as necessary, and stay home when you are not feeling well. Masking and hand washing are also great ways to protect yourself and others against illnesses.
January Free Food Markets
All families are welcome to stop by our free, school-based food markets. They offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry items. Please bring your own bags.
- **This Thursday, January 18 | 3:15 - 5:15PM (Peabody School/Rindge Avenue Upper Campus)
- ** Next Friday, January 19 | 1:30 - 3:30PM (Graham & Parks School)
- Tuesday, January 30 | 3 - 4:30PM (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School/Putnam Ave Upper School)
- Wednesday, January 31 | 1:45 - 3:45PM (Fletcher Maynard Academy)
- Wednesday, January 31 | 2 - 4PM (Kennedy-Longfellow School/Vassal Lane Upper School)
- See the full list of free food markets for the 2023-2024 school year.
CRLS Cross Country Runner is Breaking Records
Congratulations to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School junior Aoife Shovlin, who is the 2023 MSTCA Frank Mooney Cross Country Athlete of the Year! Aoife is also a two-time Cross Country Division 1 All State Champion! CBS Boston recently caught up with her…watch her interview below!
Key Resources
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, February 19 - Friday, February 23 | February Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on Monday, February 19)
Tuesday, March 5 | Staff Professional Development Day (No School)
Wednesday, March 13 | Early Release (Grades JK-8)
Friday, March 29 | Good Friday (No School & CPS Offices Closed)