Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, March 4 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Wednesday, March 19 | Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
- Monday, March 31 | Eid al-Fitr (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- 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
- Planning for the 2025-2026 Budget
- City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting Starts This Week
- Rollin’ and Summer Resources This Saturday (March 1)
- DESE District and School Report Cards
- DHSP Summer Camps and Programs Lottery Closes Tonight! (March 3)
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
What We’re Celebrating
This week is National School Social Work Week (March 2-8)! Our school social workers are essential to enhancing the well-being and success of our students throughout their academic and developmental journey. School social workers provide counseling services, connect families to community resources, and serve as a clinical voice by advocating for students. Thank you to our CPS school social workers for their tremendous effort to support the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of our students.
National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, a time to celebrate all things food! Our Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team designs menus and recipes to satisfy all food preferences while nourishing your child for a day of learning. Their efforts to source and purchase local produce, meats, and fish ensure students receive fresh, quality meals that contribute positively to our local food system.
Families can view monthly menus on our website and follow the FNS team on X and Instagram to view more meals and learn about the department!
Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month was proclaimed by Congress and many governors and legislatures as a month to celebrate the rich and inspiring heritage of women’s contributions to the United States, such as Jeannette Rankin who on March 4, 1917 became the first female member of Congress. She was elected four years before the Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote. We also celebrate Shirley Chisholm who in 1968 became the first African-American woman elected to the United States Congress.
We celebrate these women who served in public office and who paved the way for other women who are currently serving, including local trail blazers U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, and Massachusetts State Representative Majorie Decker.
Need to Know News
Planning for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Budget season continues! Thank you to all who have contributed over the previous months. Our Office of Budget and Finance is hard at work preparing the budget proposal for next fiscal year, which starts on July 1. On Wednesday, March 12, Interim Superintendent Murphy will present the proposed budget to the School Committee. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18.
Tips for Understanding the Budget:
Access more information about the budget process and community meeting schedule here.
City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting Starts This Week
The City’s 11th annual Participatory Budgeting process (PB11) begins this Thursday, March 6, and ends Sunday, March 16.
All Cambridge residents age 12 and up are invited to vote for 5 out of 20 ballot projects to demonstrate their support for funding. Cambridge Public Schools will offer every student in grades 6-12 an opportunity to vote at school in the coming weeks.
The results will be announced at the PB11 Vote Results Party on March 20 at 6PM at Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Avenue). Learn more about the 20 ballot projects here.
Rollin’ and Summer Resources Recap
Thank you to all families and community partners who attended the Rollin’ & Summer Resources event for K-8 families. If you were unable to attend and want to learn more about what programs are available for your student(s), visit the 2025 Summer Opportunities Resource Guide.
DHSP Summer Camps and Programs Lottery Closes Tonight!
The city’s Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) Summer Camps and Programs Lottery application is open now through Monday, March 3.
Program
|
Age Eligible |
Community Schools Summer Camps
|
Current Kindergarten - 4th graders
|
Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP)
|
Current 3rd - 8th graders
*CYP is free for 13-year-olds |
About DHSP Summer Camps and Programs:
- All DHSP Camps and Programs operate Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 5:30PM.
- Families can choose from sessions between June 30 – August 15 (closed July 4)
- Cost is based on family size and income.
Apply online no later than Monday, March 3. (Please note that families with multiple children only need to complete one application.)
Questions? Call 617.349.6200 or email [email protected].
In the District
Opening Reception: Young Artists Exhibit
Thursday, March 6 | 5PM - 7PM
Multicultural Arts Center (41 Second Street)
Explore the artistic works of high school students in the upcoming
Young Artists Exhibition from March 5 - 21. Join the open reception at the Multicultural Arts Center Thursday, March 6. The gallery is closed Monday and open Tuesday - Friday from 10AM - 6PM.
Virtual: English Learner Parent Advisory Council Meeting (ELPAC)
Thursday, March 6 | 6:30PM
Zoom (link to be provided the day of the meeting)
Join current and former English Language Learners to meet voluntarily to improve educational opportunities for English learners.
Sign up for
ELPAC or request an interpreter for meetings by emailing
[email protected], calling 857.331.119, or emailing
[email protected].
Community Iftar
Thursday, March 13 | 6PM
Cambridge Street Upper School (850 Cambridge Street)
All are welcome to attend the
Community Iftar. Iftar is the evening meal where Muslims break their fast after sunset during the Holy month of Ramadan. Free Halal food will be served. Space will be provided for the evening prayer (Maghrib).
Learn more here.
District Calendar
In the Community
Know Your Rights Workshop
Tuesday, March 4 | 6PM - 8PM
Cambridge Library, Main Branch (449 Broadway)
Come and
learn about your rights from immigration attorneys. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Webinar: Motivating Kids to Do the “No Fun, Boring, and Tough” Stuff
Tuesday, March 4 | 7PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Join Cartwheel and Dr. Sharon Saline for insight on how to effectively motivate students at school and at home. Get techniques for partnering with kids to create solutions, increase their buy-in and reduce conflict that everybody dislikes.
Register today with Cartwheel.
Community Astronomy Night
Wednesday, March 12 | 6PM - 8PM
Cambridge Street Upper School (850 Cambridge Street)
Learn about telescopes, view planets, and identify constellations during
Community Astronomy Night. No registration needed!
Leprechaun Orienteering
Wednesday, March 19 | 5PM - 6:30PM
Kingsley Park, Fresh Pond Reservation (250 Fresh Pond Parkway)
Join Navigation Games for a
scavenger hunt in the park and complete challenges to unlock the next checkpoint. Be attentive, some “leprechauns” will be moving checkpoints as you explore.
Learn more and register here.
Participatory Budgeting Vote Results Party
Thursday, March 20 | 6 - 7:30PM
Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Avenue)
The 11th cycle of Participatory Budgeting (PB11) will be open March 6 -16,2025.
Join the City of Cambridge for the announcement of the winning
Participatory Budgeting projects! Food will be provided.
District & Community Resources
Amigos Student Honored Nationally for Essay on The Importance of Being Bilingual
Congratulations to Adrian Davis, a grade 6 student from Amigos, on winning the Middle School First Place Award in the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) 2025 Bilingual Student Essay Competition. Students in grades 6-8 from across the nation submitted essays aligned with this year’s theme of “The Importance of Being Bilingual”.
Last week, Adrian read his award-winning essay at the NABE conference in Atlanta. Adrian’s essay highlighted his personal reflection on how bilingualism allows him to connect to his community and opens doors for genuine connections. Thank you to Senora Montero Marcos and all the educators at the Amigos school for supporting Adrian and encouraging him to complete a submission last fall.
Debate Club: Next Stop, Nationals
Earlier this month, the CRLS Debate Club attended the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) New England Qualifier. Students participated in a series of tournaments, demonstrating their critical analysis and communication skills. Teammates and Debate Club leadership members Rehaan Anjaria and Uri Darom performed exceptionally well, coming just shy of national qualification with a close 1-2 decision against their team.
Krissie Alexis, CRLS junior and member of Debate Club leadership, qualified for the National Tournament in Lincoln-Douglas style debate. Krissie is the first student to qualify for the national tournament in two years and the first qualifier for the National Debate Tournament in some time. Krissie will travel to Des Moines, Iowa for NSDA Nationals in June where she will proudly represent CRLS.