Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, April 1 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Tuesday, April 15 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Friday, April 18 | Good Friday (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- Monday, April 21 - Friday, April 25 | April Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on April 21)
In this Issue
-
What We’re Celebrating
- Review the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
What We're Celebrating
Arab American Heritage Month is an annual observance that celebrates Arab American heritage and culture and honors the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans to the wider American community. Many customs and food traditions are influenced by religion. Most people in the Arab world are Muslim, or people who follow Islam. However, in the U.S., an estimated 65-70% of Arab Americans are Christian and about 30-35% are Muslim.
- This month and throughout the year, we can celebrate Arab Americans by learning more about their contributions, food, and culture.
Autism Acceptance Month celebrates the roughly 1 in 36 children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a complex, lifelong disability. No two autistic individuals present with the same sets of strengths or challenges. Our district has scholars with ASD as young as age 3 up through age 22 in our Post-Graduate program.
April was previously known as Autism Awareness Month, but Cambridge and many other stakeholders in the autism community are committed to ensuring that we move past awareness and accept and embrace our neurodiversity. We strive to build an inclusive community where all members are valued for their gifts and true inclusiveness cannot exist without acceptance. Let's celebrate all the things that make us unique, which includes our neurological profile!
National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month reaffirms, celebrates, and advocates for educational and social equity for our Multilingual Learners. In CPS, our educators develop their immense talents and potential so that they can contribute to a multilingual and intercultural society in the future.
- Learn more about our Multilingual Learner Education Department here.
School Library Month is a time to recognize and celebrate school librarians and the programs they provide in our schools. Our Cambridge Public Schools Library Team is essential to advancing learning and supporting educators in fostering joyful learning. Join us in thanking our School Librarians and Library Technology Specialists for all they do to make the library a place for all learners.
April is Earth Month! The CPS community is an important part of helping the City of Cambridge achieve its “zero waste” goals. Everyone’s efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost help to decrease our community’s impact on the environment. Follow us on social media to learn more about all the ways CPS does its part in being environmentally friendly and how you can help at home!
Need to Know
Review the Proposed 2025-2026 Budget
Chief Financial Officer Ivy Washington and Interim Superintendent David Murphy presented the
Proposed 2025-2026 Budget to the School Committee on March 12. You can
view the presentation here.
The proposed budget includes an increase of $12 million (4.5%) compared to last year’s budget.
The 2025-2026 budget proposal aims to align resources to objectives and initiatives outlined in the
CPS District Plan, which has been extended into 2026. Areas of focus for 2025-2026 reflect our district’s long term strategic planning, with the goal of putting as many students as possible in better position for academic success.
| District Plan: Major Focus Area |
|
Educator Effectiveness:
Continued alignment of curriculum, improved supervision, and coordinated professional learning.
|
Facilities Planning:
Clear articulation of capital planning priorities tied to the overarching objective of positioning more students for success.
|
Family Engagement:
Emphasis on sound and deepened family engagement practices across all schools, and Standard 3 professional development.
|
Early Childhood Planning:
Phase 1 of consolidating early childhood programming in an early learning center model. |
Budget Insights:
- Like most budgets for public school districts, staffing and employee benefits make up the majority of operating costs, totalling 83.5% of the total CPS budget and accounting for a $8.4 million increase for existing employee positions for next year.
- Discretionary funding is the amount of money schools have that allows for individual communities to choose how dollars are spent. Some of this funding is outlined in each School Improvement Plan.
- Federal funding accounts for 2.4% of the CPS total budget. The proposed budget assumes full availability of federal funding, however, CPS leadership continues to plan and prepare for strategic shifts if necessary.
A budget workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26. Read more about the
budget process and community meeting schedule here.
In the District
Opening Reception: Young Artists Exhibit
Thursday, April 3 | 5 - 7PM
Multicultural Arts Center (41 Second Street)
Explore the artistic works of students in Preschool - Grade 8 in the upcoming
Young Artists Exhibition from April 1 - 18 at the Multicultural Arts Center. Join the open reception at the Multicultural Arts Center Thursday, April 3. The gallery is closed Monday and open Tuesday - Friday from 10AM - 6PM.
Multicultural Night
Thursday, April 16 | 6 - 8:30PM
CRLS Main Cafe (459 Broadway Court)
CRLS’s student-led Cultural Visibility Team presents the second annual
Multicultural Night for the whole Cambridge Public Schools community! Join us for a night of cultural performances, food, and a whole lot more!
Registration for Multicultural Night is helpful but not required.
Haitian Affinity Group Meeting
Wednesday, April 16 | 6:30-8PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Families are invited to attend the
Haitian Affinity Group meeting to discuss ways to actively participate in your child’s school. Register for the meeting here:
bit.ly/cps-hag-apr2025
Cambridge Community Seder
Wednesday, April 9 | 5:30 - 7PM
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Media Cafe (459 Broadway Ct.)
All members of the CPS community are invited to attend the
Community Seder and learn more about this ritual feast at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Registration is required as there are limited spots left.
Register for the Community Seder here.
District Calendar
Visit our
digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community
Teen Thrift
Friday, April 4 |4 - 7PM
Community Arts Center (119 Windsor Street)
Join The Spot at the Community Arts Center for
a pop up thrift event open to teens only. There will be clothes, free pizza, sewing tutorials, music, and more!
Amazing Archaeology Fair at Harvard
Saturday, April 6 | 1 - 4PM
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology Location (11 Divinity Avenue)
Explore Archaeology with real archaeologists! Try ancient cuneiform writing, discover cave art made by Neanderthals and other early humans, and learn how mummies' names reveal secrets of Egyptian "tomb recycling". Regular museum admission rates apply. All ages welcome.
Visit the Amazing Archaeology Fair event page here.
Her Story: Voices of Leadership and Inspiration
Wednesday, April 23 | 6 - 7:30PM
Cambridge City Hall, 2nd Floor (795 Massachusetts Avenue)
Join the office of Mayor E. Denise Simmons for a
Women’s History Month Celebration and Story Slam.
District & Community Resources
August Wilson New Voices Monologue Competition
Photo courtesy of David Marshall.
Join us in celebrating Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) students Dan Worku and Joud Alkhalife on their participation at the Boston Regional Finals of the 2025 August Wilson New Voices Monologue Competition! Dan performed a monologue from Wilson's "Two Trains Running," earning him a well-deserved 3rd place! We're incredibly proud of both Dan and Joud for showcasing their talents and demonstrating dedication to the arts. Special shout out to CRLS alumni Keith Mascoll who served as the student's guest acting coach.
Aspirations in Computing Award Winner
Congratulations to Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) student, Monique Bennet-Richard, for her recognition from the National Center for Women and Information Technology. Monique has been honored with the Aspirations in Computing (AiC) High School Award for the Region.
This award celebrates outstanding aptitude and interest in computing and technology. Monique was selected as an Affiliate Award winner based on significant demonstration of the following:
- Progression in computing experiences and technical skills
- Leadership through teams, clubs, and teaching peers
- Participation in computing related extracurricular activities
Monique is currently enrolled in the Information Technology and Computer Science program at RSTA and is a proud member of the robotics team.
Author Visit at Cambridgeport
Earlier in March, author and illustrator Matt de la Peña and Loren Long visited Cambridgeport students. Thank you to Porter Books for gifting students with their own signed copy of the book Home.