Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, December 17 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Friday, December 20 | 4-Hour School Day (All Grades)
- Monday, December 23 - Thursday, January 2 | Winter Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on December 24 & 25, 30, 31 & January 1)
- Thursday, January 2 | Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
- Friday, January 3 | Students Return to School
- Monday, January 20 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
Good evening CPS Community:
December has flown by! As we look towards the start of Winter Break, I encourage all families to attend our Community Social this Thursday from 5:30 - 7:30PM at the Cambridge Street Upper School Cafeteria. This will be a great opportunity for us to connect, celebrate the year, and look towards what we can accomplish together as we enter 2025. Members of our CPS website improvement team will be stationed at the event to gather feedback on our current website. We hope you’ll stop by and provide insight on how to ensure the website is user-friendly, accessible, and meets the needs of all of our families.
Families with students in elementary school are invited to attend a virtual elementary curriculum caregiver seminar hosted by the English Language Arts Department this Wednesday. Learn more about the CKLA curriculum and register today.
As a reminder, the Kindergarten Lottery will open January 2 and close on January 31. Families with a child who will be five years old by August 31, 2025 are encouraged to apply.
Last week, I shared an update regarding a change to the school year calendar for 2024-25. As a result of this change, this Friday is a 4-hour school day for all students and there will be no school on Monday, December 23. Please note that this is the final issue of the CPS Connect for 2024. Our next issue will be on January 6, 2025!
In this Issue:
- Planning for the 2025 -2026 Budget
- Community Social This Thursday
- Kindergarten Lottery Opens Soon!
- Your Guide to Winter Break Fun!
- Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Fuel Assistance
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
Sincerely,
David Murphy
Interim Superintendent
Need to Know News
Planning for the 2025-2026 Budget
Thank you to all who attended our Community Budget Meetings! We will offer additional community engagement/information sessions in January. Keep an eye out for details!
Access more information about the budget process and community meeting schedule here.
Community Social This Thursday
You’re invited to join the Family and Community Engagement Team and our community partners for the December Community Social. The theme for this event will be “Color Your World with Joy!”
Come and join the festivities, indulge in delicious food, participate in our raffle, and take home some swag! Check out the Community Social flyer here.
- When: Thursday, December 19 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
- Where: Cambridge Street Upper School Cafeteria (830 Cambridge Street)
Be sure to stop by and visit our CPS Website Improvement team and give your feedback on the current website.
The CRLS Model United Nations (MUN) club will also host a bake sale at this event.
Questions? Contact Mia Ferej or call 617.349.9786
Kindergarten Lottery Open Soon!
The Kindergarten Lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 2 and close on 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.
Your Guide to Winter Break Fun!
The Cambridge Agenda for Children (Out of School Time) has put together a collection of activities, programs, and workshops to help students, Kindergarten through grade 8, to stay engaged during the school break.
Looking for additional programming? Check out Find It Cambridge Instagram, Facebook, or visit the Find It Cambridge website!
Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Fuel Assistance
Colder weather means higher heating bills. The Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 season. The program helps residents pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30.
Learn more about how to qualify and fill out the application here.
In the District
Virtual: Elementary Curriculum Caregiver Seminar with the English Language Arts Department
Wednesday, December 18 | 6 - 7PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Elementary families are invited to a
virtual seminar focused on the new literacy curriculum, CKLA. Learn the new curriculum and hear directly from teachers and representatives from dual language programs. Register here.
Community Social
Thursday, December 19 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
Cambridge Street Upper School Cafeteria (830 Cambridge Street)
Join CPS and our community partners for our December Community Social. Enjoy food, raffles, take home some swag, and celebrate the theme “Color Your World With Joy!”
District Calendar
In the Community
Cambridge MLK Day of Service and Learning
Monday, January 20 | 2 - 5PM
Central Square Church
(5 Magazine Street)
Join Many Helping Hands, My Brother’s Keeper, and other community groups for the 15th annual MLK Day of Service and Learning! Volunteer in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of service.
Learn more and register here.
MLK Math Festival
Monday, January 20 | 10AM - 12PM
Fletcher Maynard Academy
(225 Windsor Street)
Join the Cambridge Math Circle for the 7th annual
MLK Math Festival! This free event offers several fun math games and puzzles for families with students Kindergarten through grade 8. The first 150 participants will get prizes!
District & Community Resources
Second Annual School-Community Partnerships Gathering
Family liaisons, community outreach workers, educators, public health practitioners and all sorts of Out-of-School Time (OST) and community program leaders came together for the second annual School-Community Partnership Gathering last week. Together, they centered on fostering collaboration between the elementary, middle, and high school providers, addressing shared obstacles while building sustainable solutions, and sharing tools and best practices to strengthen networks and connections.
The energy was electric as new connections were formed, knowledge was shared, and plans were made, all in support of our Cambridge youth. Feel free to read more about the event in this blog post.