Greer Gazette: January 30, 2023

Greer Gazette: January 30, 2023
Posted on 01/30/2023

Greetings CPS Community!


January has been an exciting month with our budget community meetings, the design of our Instructional Framework, and the launch of PAPER, a 24/7 chat-based tutoring service for our 5th through 12th grade students! We are looking forward to February!


We truly appreciate everyone who participated in our community budget sessions and completed the survey. We value your input as we develop the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. We presented our enrollment and budget projections for the next school year to the School Committee last Tuesday and encourage you to watch the meeting and review the presentationWe will present the proposed budget at a Special Meeting of the School Committee on Tuesday, March 14.


Thank you for your continued support.


Make it Great!


Dr. Victoria L. Greer


What We’re Celebrating in February!

The history of Black History Month dates 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. What is known today is that in 1926, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) sponsored a national Negro History week during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In the 1960s, this evolved into Black History Month. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month.


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. At the Cambridge Public Library, there is currently an exhibit dedicated to local Black Trailblazers. Learn more here.


"Be open to new ideas and experiences because you’ll never know when someone else will have an interesting thought or when a new door will open to take you on the journey of your dreams."
–Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Career and Technical Education Montrecognizes the value that Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides high school students all across the country, including here in Cambridge. CTE students earn industry-recognized credentials, certifications and licenses, dual enrollment, and early college opportunities.


CRLS students are provided these opportunities at the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA). Learn more about the career pathways available to RSTA students hereHear from students about their experiences with RSTA by watching the video below!




Headlines

Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Lottery Closes Tomorrow

Registration for the JK/K Lottery for the 2023-2024 school year closes tomorrow.All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points. You can find more details here.


Instructional Framework Community Meetings


On Wednesday, we will hold two more virtual community update sessions on the design of ourInstructional Frameworkwhich is one of our focused initiatives in the District Plan. A team of students, educators, school and district leaders, community partners, and community members is leading the process. The framework will serve as a blueprint for all students to receive high quality instruction in every classroom, every day while providing coherence, consistency, and rigor in our students’ learning experience across schools.

Please register for one of our two remaining virtual community update sessions:

Wednesday, February 1| 6 - 6:45PM & 7 - 7:45PM



Free, 24/7 Chat-Based Tutoring for Students!


We are thrilled to have launchedPaper, a free chat-based tutoring service for all 5th through 12th grade students.Paper provides:


  • 24/7 access to tutors and writing support in more than 200 subjects.

  • Available in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

  • Expert review on any written work (essays, creative writing, poetry, lab reports, etc.).

  • Hundreds of resources and activities to help you best support your student(s) at home.

  • Interactive shows and activities to expand learning beyond the classroom.

  • And so much more!Check out this quick overview.


Your student(s) can access this incredible resource today!Not sure where to start?Learn more about Paper and sign up for a free live webinar here.


We can’t wait to see all of the student growth that occurs with Paper!



Get to Know Our New COO, David Murphy

As we previously shared, Mr. David Murphy recently joined our district as the new Chief Operations OfficerMr. Murphy brings more than a decade of experience in public education leadership to our school community. We put him “on the spot” to help you get to know him.

  • Do you prefer staying up late or waking up early in the morning?

  • What is your favorite movie?

  • What is your favorite food?

  • What are two activities you enjoy doing outside of work?

  • Name a role model who has inspired you in your career.

  • What is something that you want our school community to know about you?


Click the image below to hear his responses!





Featured Activities & Events

Sidewalk Poetry Contest!

Would you like to help choose poetry that will be imprinted in sidewalks across Cambridge? The city is looking for people to participate in the selection process for its 2023 Sidewalk Poetry Contest. To learn more and see the work of past winners, click here. The deadline to apply for the selection committee is next Monday, February 6.


Photo Courtesy: City of Cambridge





Poems for International Mother Language Day


International Mother Language Dayis celebrated around the world onFebruary 21, to honor cultural diversity. More than 90 languages are spoken in Cambridge Public Schools. To celebrate each one, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui's office, in collaboration with Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School’s (CRLS) South Asian Club and the Media Arts Studio, Cambridge Arts, the Cambridge Public Library, and CRLS student Priyota Imam, are inviting community members to submit poems in their native languages, along with English-language translations. The poems will be displayed at Cambridge Library branch locations and in City buildings.




Health & Wellness Update


Free Weekly Vaccine Clinics
To help keep our community safe this winter, the Cambridge Public Health Department ill be offering free COVID-19 and Flu vaccines to adults and children 5 and older every Wednesday, beginning February 8 and through June 14.

  • WHERE:119 Windsor Street

  • HOURS:12 - 4PM

  • Appointments are required. Insurance and identification are not required. Book your appointment here.


Community Behavioral Health Center

The Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)is one of 25 newly established Community Behavioral Health Centers. This initiative aims to make it easier for people to get help for mental health and substance use disorder, expanding access to timely and high-quality treatment for people of all ages.

  • 24/7 Crisis Line: 833.222.2030

  • Walk-In Urgent Behavioral Health Access Clinic

    • WHERE: Cambridge Hospital, located at 1493 Cambridge Street

    •  HOURS: Monday - Friday | 8AM - 8PM




Leaders in Equity

We are grateful to our local media partners for elevating the fact that we are the first school district in New England to establish sacred spaces at each of our schools for students and staff members who observe spiritual or religious practices that require regular prayer. The spaces, which were established in November, are accessible throughout the year to any student or staff member. Each space also has a prayer rug for those who wish to use it.


This initiative is the result of a partnership between the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OEIB) and the Muslim Community of Cambridge Public Schools (MCCPS), a CPS Employee Resource Group.


  • Watch the local media coverage here!





Mark Your Calendar

Monday, February 20 - Friday, February 24 | February Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on Monday, February 20)


Wednesday, March 15 Early Release Day(JK-8 only)


Monday, March 20 Staff Professional Learning Day
(No School)

Friday, April 7 | Good Friday (No School & CPS Offices Closed)


Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21 April Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on Monday, April 17)

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