Greetings CPS Community!
What a beautiful, spring-like weekend! I hope you were able to get out and enjoy it.
A reminder that there is no school tomorrow. We are very excited that our staff will be engaging in various professional learning opportunities that support their commitment to our students' learning and growth. I look forward to sharing more about our learning soon.
I am delighted to share that the Office of Academics and Schools will lead the design of our instructional framework, one of the focused initiatives outlined in our district plan for this school year. The instructional framework will serve as a blueprint we use to ensure educators continue to gain the knowledge and tools necessary for all students to receive high quality instruction every day, while providing coherence, consistency, and rigor in our students’ learning experience across all schools. The design of the framework will be collaborative and involves multiple stakeholders including educators. We welcome your participation in this process to design our instructional framework and ask that you consider participating in the following activities.
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Please complete this survey, to help us gain useful insight and information. The survey will close on Monday, November 21.
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Please attend the in-person Education Summit next Thursday, November 17 to learn more. Registration details are below.
Your feedback will inform the Instructional Framework Design Team, which will be composed of students, educators, and school and district leaders. We are excited to engage you in the process and look forward to hearing your voice!
Thank you for your continued support.
Make it Great!
Dr. Victoria L. Greer
Headlines
Instructional Framework Design: Education Summits
Two Education Summits will be held next Thursday, November 17.
RSTA Review
We have published initial findings from the multi-phase review of the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA), the career and technical education program at the high school. We will continue to share information on the implementation of program improvements and additional phases of work.
Winter Athletics Registration Open!
Registration for Winter Athletics is open and will close on Monday, November 21.
To register for the winter season, click here.
Testing and Masking Following Upcoming Long Weekend
We continue to emphasize that personal responsibility is also key in minimizing COVID-19 and its impact on our communities. As we have done following “high-risk” times, we ask that every student and staff member take a rapid test before school next Monday, November 14.
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If positive or negative but have symptoms, please stay home and notify the school.
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If negative and do not have symptoms, we will see you at school.
In addition, we, along with the Cambridge Public Health Department, strongly recommend masking at school through Friday, November 18, particularly if an individual traveled or attended a large indoor gathering over the long weekend.
Make-Up Caregiver Sessions for i-Ready Personalized Instruction Next Monday
A make-up session for i-Ready Personalized instruction will be held next Monday, November 14 from 6 -7PM.
What is i-Ready Personalized Instruction?
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Online program for 3rd - 8th grade students to advance their reading and math skills beyond the school day.
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Customizes lessons to improve and accelerate reading and math skills, whether students are performing below, on, or above grade level.
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Lessons accessible at home, during after school programs, when absent, and during school closures.
Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Lottery Information Sessions
The JK/K Lottery for the 2023-2024 school year will open on January 3, 2023 and close on January 31, 2023. All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points.
Please consider attending a virtual information session to learn more about the process.
Wednesday, November 9 | 6-7PM
Wednesday, November 16 | 6-7PM
COVID-19 Booster Recommended for Children ages 5 and Older
The new bivalent booster is now approved for children ages 5 and older.Children (and adults) can get this booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose (initial vaccines or booster).We continue to strongly recommend that all eligible individuals stay up-to-date with their vaccination and boosters for the best protection against COVID.
The Cambridge Public Health Department is hosting free flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the Cambridge community.
**Please note that VaxAbilities ill host a second disability-friendly clinic on Wednesday, November 16.Additional staff will be at these clinics to provide skilled support to individuals with disabilities and sensory support needs.**
To make an appointment and for more information, including dates and locations, visit their website.
Students Shine at MASC/MASS Conference
We are incredibly proud of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which participated in the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) joint conference in Hyannis last week. Our Chief Equity Officer, Mr. Manuel Fernandez, moderated the sessionLeading and Implementing Equity with Intentionality with the Amigos School’s Assistant Principal, Marco Curnen, and School Adjustment Counselor, Kini Udovivki, both serving as panelists. Several students including our student school committee members,Grace Clemente and Adelina Escamilla-Salomon, also presented.
Graham & Parks 5th Graders Explore State Reservation
Graham & Parks School 5th Graders had an amazing trip to Purgatory Chasm, which is located in the middle of Massachusetts in Sutton. The state park has a visitor center, play structures, ball fields, and most importantly, nature paths! The most challenging and entertaining walk took students through the heart of a boulder chasm created by the retreating of glaciers. Students scrambled over rocks, explored caves, and walked tree-lined paths. The best part of the adventure, for many, was the sliding rock! It is a giant rock formation that is angled perfectly for sliding down. At one point in the day, 15 students slid down the rock at once, making for many squeals and laughs of delight.
It was an incredible day for making new friends, reconnecting with old friends, and learning more about the natural world!
Author Susan Tan Visits Kennedy-Longfellow School
Author Susan Tan recently visited Kennedy-Longfellow and presented her book,Pet's Rule. It's the story of Ember, a rescue Chihuahua who thinks he is destined to rule the world. Ms. Tan shared her personal struggle to read and write as a child with students encouraging them to write and read every day. At the end, Porter Square Books, which arranged the visit, announced that each student would receive two autographed books! A special thank you to Porter Square Books for making this happen!
Featured Events
Free ACE Trade Day at CRLS
Calling all ACE students, high school students from greater Boston, and ACE alumni! Come spend some time at the ACE Trade Day at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and spend some time working through different trades, such as masonry, carpentry/painting, building information management (BIM), surveying, HVAC, and electrical.
Saturday, November 19 | 9AM - 1PM (459 Broadway)
Caregiver Equity Summit
Come Learn, Connect, and Reflect with families as we identify what equity sounds like, looks like, and feels like to caregivers in the Cambridge Public Schools community. There will be workshops, music, food, and much more!
Saturday, December 3 | 9AM - 3PM (Cambridge Street Upper located at 840 Cambridge Street)
Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday, November 8 | Election Day - Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
Friday, November 11 | Veterans Day (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
Wednesday, November 16 | Early Release Day (JK-8)
Wednesday, November 23 | Early Release Day (All Grades)
Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 | Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 26 - Monday, January 2 | Winter Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on December 26 & 30 & January 2)
Tuesday, January 3 | Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
Key Resources