CPS Connect: June 22, 2026

Good Evening CPS Community,

This week we continue our season of celebration with our Grade 8 Graduations. Congratulations to all our scholars who will be moving on to high school in the fall!

This week is the final CPS Connect of the school year, in it you will find a variety of resources for families for the summer, including the Summer Contact List, Summer Reading information, and much more.

As a reminder, the last day of school is Friday, June 26. You can expect a CPS Connect newsletter to be sent early August with information about the upcoming school year. We look forward to finishing off the year strong and continuing to plan for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

Sincerely, The CPS Team

In this Issue:

• Summer Learning Resources
• Summer 2026 Summer Contact List
• Summer Support for Students and Families
• Free Meals for Youth - Summer Food Program
• MBTA Red Line Closure July 21 - July 30
• Summer and Afterschool Opportunities
• Free Food Markets this Summer
• Fall Sports Registration is Open
• Minors Ages 14-17: Get Employment Permits at RSTA
• Reminder: Updated Start Times for Select Schools Starting SY 2026-2027
• June 16 School Committee Recap
• Upcoming Events
• District & Community Resources
• The Bright Spot

Need to Know News

Summer Learning Resources

Keep the learning going all summer long to be prepared for the new school year! We know that learning happens all summer long in a variety of ways. Visit our website for some additional at-home and in-person resources to help families engage in learning opportunities while enjoying all of the fun and relaxed routines that the warm weather brings.

Summer 2026 Contact List

Please note that our school buildings are closed Monday, June 29 - Monday, August 31. If you have a question over the summer, please see our list of summer contacts (አማርኛ | العربية | বাংলা | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Español). Staff at your child’s school will be available to answer any questions you may have beginning Monday, August 17.

Summer Support for Students and Families

With summer only a few weeks away, it’s a good time to check in with your child and line up mental health support for over the summer, if needed. Through our partnership with Cartwheel, your family has access to:

• Appointments with a licensed therapist within days
• Virtual, flexible scheduling — evenings and weekends available throughout the summer
• Care is available in multiple languages including English and Spanish
• Free with Medicaid; most private insurance accepted

Cartwheel also offers parent guidance sessions, an opportunity to ask questions, talk through concerns, and get practical support for everyday challenges. You don’t need a referral or a crisis to reach out.

Looking for helpful resources this summer? Check out Cartwheel’s free Parent Guides here.

Get started by filling out the Cambridge Cartwheel interest form.
 

Free Meals For Youth - Summer Food Program

The Cambridge Summer Food Program provides free meals to Cambridge residents 18 and under every weekday at parks across the city starting Monday, June 29. Recreational activities including games, sports, and free books from Cambridge Book Bike will be available to young people in addition to their meal. Identification is not required to receive a meal.

• View summer meal site locations here

Get started early at the free Summer Food Program Kickoff Event and enjoy an inflatable obstacle course, games, free food, face painting, activities, and more!

• Friday, June 26 | 12 - 4PM
• Simoni Skating Rink (155 Gore Street)
• View the Summer Food Program Kickoff Event flyer
   

MBTA Red Line Closure July 21 - 30

The MBTA will begin scheduled track improvements that will impact service in July.

• Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street for 10 consecutive days, Tuesday, July 21 – Thursday, July 30.
• Riders are also encouraged to utilize existing Bus Routes 69, 87, 88, 89, 91, and 109 from Davis Square, Harvard Square, and Central Square to connect with the Green Line’s Medford/Tufts and Union Square branches as an alternative way to travel to Park Street.

Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between the route.

What does this mean for you?
We encourage you to plan for longer than average commute times, whether you are driving, taking a shuttle, or riding the bus. The closures will likely cause increased road traffic as well as reduced street parking in some areas along the shuttle route.

For additional information, visit the MBTA website.
 

Summer and After-school Opportunities

The Cambridge Agenda for Children has assembled a complete guide to summer programming in and around the city. Check out our summer programming below!

• Kindergarten - Grade 5 Summer Slideshow

• Grade 6 - 8 Summer Slideshow

Explore more in our Cambridge 2026 Summer Opportunities Resource Guide (Kindergarten - 8) (አማርኛ |  العربية |  বাংলা  | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Español).
 

Planning After-school Activities for Next Year? 

The 2026 - 2027 After-school Opportunities Guide serves as a centralized resource for Elementary (K-5) and Middle School (6-8) out-of-school time (OST) programs. It will be regularly updated with new information and additional programs throughout the year.

View the After-school Guide here:  አማርኛ  |  العربية  |  বাংলা  |  Kreyòl Ayisyen | Español
 

Free Food Markets This Summer

All CPS families are welcome to stop by our free, school-based food markets. They offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry items.

Free Food Markets are on select Thursdays. Please bring your own bags.

• July 16 and August 13 | 2:30 - 3PM (Community Charter School of Cambridge -245 Bent Street)
• July 23 and August 20 | 2:30 - 3PM (Peabody School/Rindge Avenue Upper School)
• July 30 and August 27 | 2:30 - 3PM (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School/Putnam Ave Upper School)
   

Fall Sports Registration is Open

Interested in participating in an athletic team at CRLS next fall? Registration for Fall Athletics is open through Monday, August 17.

• Register for the fall athletic season.

To learn more about the sports offered and more important dates, click here.
 

Minors Ages 14 - 17: Get Employment Permits at RSTA

Minors ages 14 - 17 working in the City of Cambridge must obtain an Employment Permit issued through the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) office at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

An offer of employment is required to begin the process of getting an Employment Permit. The RSTA office is open daily from 7:30AM – 3PM when school is in session. During summer/ vacation weeks; staffing may shift, so email employmentpermits@cpsd.us for confirmation or questions.

Apply for an Employment Permit Application:

• CPS STUDENTS: Online Employment Permit Application
• NON CPS STUDENTS: Online Employment Permit Application
• PAPER: Employment Permit Application

Learn more about Employment Permits here.

Please note, students working in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program must submit their online permit for MYSEP here, but do not need to apply for a general employment permit.
 

Reminder: Updated Start Times for Select Schools Starting SY 2026-2027

Strategic Spotlight: Class of 2026 Shines in Post-Secondary Plans

• Cambridge Public Schools 2025-2026 School Year Calendar
• District Plan in 1 Minute
• Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
• CPS Employment Opportunities
• Cambridge Energy Helpline
• Information for Families in the Event of a School Emergency  
  • አማርኛ | عريب | বাংলা | Kreyòl ayisyen |  Español
• 2026 Summer Opportunities Resource Guide for K-8  
  • Translations: Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Spanish
• 2026-2027 Cambridge After School Opportunities Guide
  • Translations: Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Spanish

Cambridge Youth Pride

Earlier this month, CPS hosted the fifth annual Cambridge Youth Pride Celebration. The event featured a variety of performances, art projects, resources, and food. LGBTQ+ students and allies gathered for an afternoon of celebration, expression, and joy!

Meet Our CRLS Super Seniors

Each year, CRLS recognizes a handful of graduates as Super Seniors, who were chosen on the merits of their academic standing and for the way in which they embody the school motto of Opportunity, Diversity, and Respect. Click on the photos above to learn more about each student and their amazing contributions to the school community!

CPS Earns National School Communication Awards for 4th Consecutive Year

Congratulations to our Communications and Digital and Creative Services teams for earning national recognition for the fourth consecutive year from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)!

NSPRA honored Cambridge Public Schools with three awards, including three NSPRA Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards in the special purpose publication and branding/image package categories. View the award winning entries here.

Seal of Biliteracy

Congratulations to our Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School students who were awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy. The award recognizes high school graduates who demonstrate high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and a world language in recognition of having studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages upon graduating.

99 students received a State Seal of Biliteracy, representing 20% of the Senior class; out of those students, 16 received multiple Seals of Biliteracy each for their proficiency in an additional language.

Haggerty Choir Concerts

Earlier this month Haggerty hosted their annual Spring Concert. With so many performances and songs to share, the celebration was divided into two separate concerts. The first concert featured students in preschool - grade 1, and grade 4. Musical performances included American folks, Dutch spinning song Sarasponda, We’re Free, Hawaiian folks song Kapulu Kane, Waka Waka, and many more tunes.

The second concert featured grade 2 students singing My Owlet, a Kiowa Native American lullaby, American folk song Shady Grove, and two songs about changemakers: Martin Luther King, and Haggerty favorite What Can One Little Person Do? Haggerty Chorus closed out our concert with a variety of pieces and closed with Crowded Table and had the audience join on the chorus, and the specialty version of the bridge featuring the Haggerty motto: “Everyone is different, and everyone belongs.”