Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, February 4 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21 | February Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on February 17)
- Wednesday, March 19 | Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
Good evening CPS Community:
Every Monday this newsletter keeps our community informed about all of the great things happening in CPS. It starts with a section called “What We’re Celebrating,” and every week we have a multitude of options to choose from because of the hard work being exhibited across CPS.
While I typically sign off on a brief introductory message, I also believe all of CPS should hear directly from the Superintendent in circumstances warranting a particular point of emphasis. Going forward, our highly capable Communications Department will summarize the contents of the weekly newsletter and you will hear from me when there is something I feel a specific and personal responsibility to communicate to you. While these instances may well be frequent, when I speak on behalf of CPS, I feel a responsibility to represent the entirety of this community and to do so thoughtfully. That requires a steadfast commitment to our community’s core values, and strict avoidance of any improper opinionated commentary.
The recent media attention generated by changes in federal immigration and enforcement policies necessitated my January 24th message to you about how district protocols regarding safety and student records would remain constant. I shared that message with you not to opine on any particular governmental policy, but because the Cambridge Public Schools has an operational and moral duty to foster an environment in which all students are free from fear and know that they are truly valued. A failure to embody these fundamental values would imperil our core mission, which is why that will not be allowed to happen.
In recent days there have been announcements at the national level purportedly aimed at imposing specific definitions related to gender identity that have traditionally been managed locally. Once again I feel compelled to state that our district policies, like our community’s values, will not change. In the Cambridge Public Schools, members of the LGBTQ+ community will be valued, respected and protected. No federal policy or threat of coercion will compromise the care and dignity we demand be extended to every student, staff member and caregiver constituting the diverse constellation of individuals that are the Cambridge Public Schools. We will continue to celebrate our diversity, and we will be unyielding in our efforts to cultivate educational environments that are grounded in equity.
As noted above, our weekly newsletter begins with a section entitled “What We’re Celebrating,” and as always, there's plenty for you to read about this week, including the start of Black History Month and innovative initiatives RSTA is employing to provide career and technical pathway opportunities for CRLS students. These are the types of exciting storylines being generated everyday in CPS on which this newsletter should be allowed to focus. These stories also reflect the profound dedication our educators feel to our students and, through our continued allegiance to core values that embrace empathy and reject cruelty, how we will do right by students.
Thank you and have a great week.
Sincerely,
David Murphy
Interim Superintendent
Resources:
In this Issue:
- What We’re Celebrating
- Planning for the 2025 -2026 Budget
- Cambridge Rindge and Latin Scholarship Portal Now Open
- Resident Bike Lottery Program: Application Open Soon
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
What We’re Celebrating in February!
The origins of Black History Month traces back to 1915 when Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland organized to research and promote achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. In 1926, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) sponsored a national Negro History week in February to align with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In the 1960s, this evolved into Black History Month, and was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
In Cambridge Public Schools, Black history is taught throughout the year. We not only focus on stories of oppression but also agency and joy. In addition to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, our educators teach about lesser-known figures like Bayard Rustin, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terell, Daisy Bates, and Fannie Lou Hamer.
The City of Cambridge is hosting a variety of events throughout the month honoring Black history! See program details here.
Celebrate and learn more about local icons in Black history by exploring the Cambridge Black Trailblazers digital library here.

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow
belongs to those who prepare for it today."
–Malcolm X, Minister and Civil Rights Activist
Career and Technical Education Month celebrates the value of Career and Technical Education (CTE). CTE Programs prepare students to graduate with skills and credentials that will help them make informed decisions about future careers.
At CPS, we are committed to provide accessible college and career pathways for all students. We are proud to embrace technical education and career exploration through the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) and through our Early College program.
Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) offers 12 CTE Pathways. Students in grade 8 who are preparing to select courses for grade 9 should consider the Grade 9 Exploratory course, which gives students the opportunity to experience all the programs that RSTA has to offer in their first semester, and a select a pathway to study throughout high school. This provides students with the ability to earn industry-recognized credentials, certifications and licenses, career exploration opportunities, such as cooperative learning during grade 12, and college credits during their high school experience.
Hear from students about their experiences with RSTA by watching this video!
The Early College Program allows students in grade 10, 11, and 12 the opportunity to experience college-level coursework on a clearly defined pathway while gaining exposure to a variety of career opportunities. By earning college credit for free while in high school, students can shorten the time and cost of earning a college certificate while increasing the likelihood of completion.
Program partnering universities include Lesley University and Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, with offerings in health sciences, art and design, mental health and wellbeing, construction management, renewable energy, and more. Check out what our Early College students have to say about the program in the video below.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for updates about information sessions, and field trips for Early College here or email [email protected].
National School Counseling Week (February 3-7) aims to highlight the tremendous impact that school counselors have in helping students achieve academic and long term success. At CPS, our school counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their strengths, abilities, interests, and talents to enhance their academic, career, and social emotional development. Thank you for all that you do! Your dedication, and role is integral to student success.
Need to Know News
Planning for the 2025-2026 Budget
Thank you to all who attended our January Community Budget meetings. If you were unable to attend, you can access the budget presentation here: English | አማርኛ | عربي | বাংলা | Kreyòl ayisyen | Español.
We look forward to continuing to work with CPS staff, parents, caregivers, and Cambridge community members to develop a budget inclusive of our shared priorities and operational responsibilities.
Tips for Understanding the Budget:
Access more information about the budget process and community meeting schedule here.
Cambridge Rindge and Latin Scholarship Portal Now Open
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Scholarship portal is open to grade 12 students now through March 3!
Resident Bike Lottery Program: Application Opens Soon
Need a new bike? Through the Cambridge Resident Bike Lottery, income-eligible residents can apply for a voucher to buy a new bicycle from a participating bike shop. Vouchers range from $800-$3,000 and will be awarded through a random lottery.
Applicants can apply for a pedal bike, e-bike, e-cargo bike, customized adaptive bicycles or electric wheelchair attachments are also an option. Learn more, view flyers, and review applicant eligibility requirements here.
Applications open later this winter. Sign up to receive email updates on the Resident Bike Lottery program here.

In the District
Upper School Math Night
Thursday, February 13 | 5:30 - 7 PM
King Open School / Cambridge Street Upper School (850 Cambridge Street)
Join CPS and community partners to learn and engage in your student’s middle school math experience during and after school! Hear important updates to 7th grade math, and get helpful resources and information about various math-related questions and needs. Childcare is available.
Register here.
Haitian Folkloric Dance Workshop
Saturday, March 1 | 6 - 7 PM
Fletcher Maynard Academy Gym (255 Windsor Street)
Explore new movements and enjoy live drumming with artists from Jean Appolon Expression at this free dance workshop! CPS students, families, and staff are encouraged to attend.
Register and learn more about the workshop here.
This event is sponsored through an Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Equity Collaborative grant.
District Calendar
In the Community
College Preparedness Workshop
Wednesday, February 5 | 6PM -8PM
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 2nd floor Library (459 Broadway Ct.)
Get practical tips for
college planning (Grades 6 - 12). Dinner and childcare are provided.
Register for the workshop here.
Webinar: How to Recognize Early Signs of Disordered Eating and What to Do.
Wednesday, February 5 | 6PM
Join Cartwheel and Dr. Amy Egbert to learn more about early signs, symptoms, practical tips for fostering supportive, non-judgemental conversations, and how to explore treatment options when disordered eating is suspected.
Register today with Cartwheel.
Virtual: Cambridge Volunteer Fair
Friday, February 14 | 12 - 1:30PM
Zoom (link to be provided through registration)
Connect with local non-profits and find opportunities support organizations and your community at the
Cambridge Volunteer Fair! Register to attend here.
Foundry Festival
Saturday, February 15 - Saturday, February 22 | Various Times
The Foundry (101 Rogers Street)
Immerse yourself in a week of free arts and STEM programming centered around this year’s theme of resilience at the
Foundry Festival. Celebrate how stories, cultures, and communities continue to thrive, not just as an act of survival, but in the creation of strong communities that take care of each other.
Access the Foundry Festival program details here.
Frost Fit: Orienteering on the Esplanade
Monday, February 17 | 10AM - 1PM
Fiedler Field, Charles River Esplanade (Boston)
Join Navigation Games and the Esplanade Association for animal orienteering – a scavenger hunt to find animals while completing challenges to unlock the next checkpoint.
Learn more and register here.
District & Community Resources

FMA Design Meeting
Last week, more than 50 parents, caregivers, staff, and students from the Fletcher Maynard Academy (FMA) participated in an all-school meeting to help envision the future of school day configuration at FMA. Attendees worked in small groups, providing valuable input on student experience and outcomes, and how they envision the experience for future generations of FMA students and staff. This session and this process is being co-led by the DesignLab, with the goal of designing a daily schedule that improves learning for all students at the FMA.
This meeting was a fantastic example of how family and community engagement is critical and valued in CPS, and we thank everyone who lent their time and voices to this process!