Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, May 6 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Tuesday, May 20 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Monday, May 26 | Memorial Day (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- Thursday, June 19 | Juneteenth (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
- Tuesday, June 24 | Last Day of School for All Grades (4-Hour School Day)
In this Issue
-
Share Your Feedback…Take the District and School Culture Survey Today
- Applications for Next Year’s DHSP Afterschool Programs Close This Sunday
- Summer Jobs for Teens - Apply by This Friday
- 2025-2026 School Year Calendar Now Available
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
What We are Celebrating
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week! We are deeply appreciative of dedication, compassion, and expertise our educators demonstrate yea round to foster a joyful learning environment for each learner.
This week we will be sharing messages of appreciation from families on our district social media channels. Recognize a CPS educator using the form here: English | አማርኛ | عربي | বাংলা | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Español.
Need to Know
Share Your Feedback…Take the District and School Culture Survey Today
The
District and School Culture Survey (formerly known as the
District and School Climate Survey) is now open!
We are eager to hear from you as we strive to continue to provide high quality learning experiences that meet the needs of all of our scholars. As we have shared, we have partnered with Panorama Education for the survey. Panorama safeguards your privacy, keeping your responses confidential.
You may complete the survey online through
Friday, May 30.
Take the survey here.
Cambridge Kicks Off Summer! Our Final Community Social of 2024-25
Please join us as Cambridge kicks off summer with our final Community Social of the school year! Prevent the “Summer Slide” and celebrate the school year with us on Thursday, May 15, with family activities, food and ice cream, summer learning resources, and more!
When: Thursday, May 15 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
Where: Cambridge Street Upper School Cafeteria (830 Cambridge Street)
Questions? Contact
Mia Ferej or call 617.349.9786
Applications for Next Year’s DHSP Afterschool Programs Close This Sunday
The City’s Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) is now accepting applications to the
DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery through this
Sunday, May 11.
Cambridge families can apply to all four afterschool program models through a single online application process.
- Eligibility: Cambridge children entering Kindergarten – Grade 8 in September 2025 are eligible to apply
- Cost: Tuition is determined based on household size and income
- Re-enrollment: Children currently enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program can re-enroll in the same program by completing an application by the deadline. Open seats are filled through a lottery process.
Families will be notified of their child’s placement in a program or in the Waiting Pool by the end of June. To learn more and apply, visit cambridgema.gov/AfterschoolLottery.
Summer Jobs for Teens - Apply By This Friday
The Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) connects eligible teens to paid summer jobs in Cambridge and surrounding communities. This is a great opportunity for teens to get real world exposure to a variety of career paths, get some work experience and earn money!
Who is Eligible?
- Teens who are Cambridge residents.
- Teens turning 14 years old by July 7, 2025 and are age-eligible through the summer after completing high school.
- Teens must be eligible to work in the U.S. in order to get paid.
Teens can apply online using the Youth Employment Trax platform now - Friday, May 9. Learn more about the MYSEP program here.
In the District
Our Cambridge Project Exhibit
Monday, May 5 - Friday, May 9 | City Hall Hours
Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Avenue)
Kindergarteners recently created models imagining a more just, inclusive, and sustainable city. Come view their models at Cambridge City Hall May 5 - May 9.
Community Summer Kickoff
Thursday, May 15 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
Cambridge Street Upper School Cafeteria (830 Cambridge Street)
Join us for our final Community Social of the year, aimed at helping students and families avoid the “summer slide.” Cambridge Kicks Off Summer will include summer learning resources, family activities, food, community connections, and more! Let’s get ready for a summer full of growth, fun, and learning!
DanceWorks
Friday, May 9 - Saturday, May 10| 7PM
Fitzgerald Theatre at CRLS (459 Broadway)
Enjoy a dance performances created by students, alumi, faculty, and professional guest artists. The CRLS Dance Program is offering a limited number of FREE DanceWorks tickets to CPS 8th graders along with an accompanying chaperone. Sign up for a Grade 8 complementary ticket while they are available.
See more events and get tickets | View the VPA performance calendar here
District Calendar
Visit our
digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community
Webinar: How Trauma Affects Youth & Family Mental Health
Thursday, May 15 | 12PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Join Cartwheel and Chris Smith, LCSW to learn about how trauma affects youth and families and what to do to support yourself and your kids. Learn how to break cycles of trauma and improve family functioning.
Register today with Cartwheel.
Cambridge -Somerville Asian Festival
Saturday, May 24 | 11AM - 3PM
Cambridge Street Upper School (850 Cambridge Street)
Enjoy an improv workshop, Asian American Experiences class civic projects, food, art activities and more! The
Cambridge- Somerville Asian Festival is free fun for the whole family!
Cambridge Welcomes!
Thursday, May 29 | 6 - 8PM
Cambridge Street Upper School/King Open Community Complex (located at 830 Cambridge Street)
Join the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship for a joyful evening celebrating the many cultures and identities that make Cambridge Special. The
Cambridge Welcomes event is free for all!
Link
District & Community Resources
Staff Highlighted in Cambridge Community Foundation Annual Report
The Cambridge Community Foundation has released their annual report, titled “Custodians of Our City”, defining “custodians” as the caretakers of the people, places, and spaces that shape our city. This report highlights several CPS Staff members, including Tobya Abdie, CPS Amharic-speaking Bilingual Liaison for her work guiding immigrant families. “I always tell the families I work with that they have a voice. And if they can’t find it, they can speak through me.”
View Cambridge Community Foundation’s annual report and explore highlighted staff:
- Francis “Kakra” Brew-Smith, Cambridgeport Custodian, pages 8 - 9
- Tobya Abdie, Amharic-speaking Bilingual Liaison, pages 29-29
- Jenny Chung, History and Social Studies Instructional Coach and Deepa Bharath, Elementary Math Coach, pages 30-31
- Danny Adkins,Cambridgeport Custodian, pages 38 -39
Photography was done in part by our very own Cambridgeport Family Liaison Kristen Emack!
Traveling Chorus Earns Gold!
CRLS Traveling Chorus poses with their Gold Medal award
Earlier in April the Traveling Chorus performed at the MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association) Festival. The festival adjudicators were very impressed with our selections and awarded the team a gold medal for the first time! This recognition demonstrates the team’s continuous improvement and dedication to excellence. Join us in congratulating the members of the Traveling Chorus on a job well done!