CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

The much-anticipated winter break is here! Our schools will close for the holiday break beginning today and will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Many of our families have been celebrating throughout the month with Hanukkah that began at sundown on December 7th and Christmas Day and Kwanzaa rounding out the month on the 25th and 26th respectively. The celebrations do not end there as the new year is right around the corner! Whether or not you celebrate holidays or traditions this month, I hope you take time to relax and enjoy family and friends, as well as do the things that make you happy to reenergize to have a spectacular start to the new year.

As you turn your calendar to the January, please note upcoming half-days and no school days for the remainder of the year in the current academic calendar. Please help keep your children informed, as these dates come up quickly, and we want to make sure all students are prepared for changes in their regular schedules including daycare and bus/pickup routines. For future planning purposes, please note the Chelmsford School Committee approved the 2024/25 Academic Calendar at their regular meeting this past Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

As 2023 ends, please take a moment to reflect on how much you have accomplished this past year. The new year is a blank page, and the pen is in your hands to write the next chapter, as every end marks a new beginning. Here is to new beginnings. Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing everyone in 2024.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• December Recess, 12/25 - 1/1, All Day
• New Year's Day, 1/1, All Day
• School Reopens, 1/2, All Day
• School Committee Meeting, 1/2, 6:00 p.m.

The days and weeks leading up to Christmas are often a joyous time. However, for parents and guardians who may be on a strict budget or living paycheck to paycheck, it can be incredibly stressful. That’s why Chelmsford’s school communities have programs and resources available to help families in need have a happy holiday season. “We are aware that there’s a lot of need around the holidays,” said Center Elementary School Counselor Kate Lallas. “There’s always a lot of need. … And we try to fill it.” Center Elementary School accepts gift cards from stores like Target or Walmart – places where folks can purchase most household essentials, as well as clothing, food and gifts during the holiday season. Of course, the holidays are not the only time gift cards are needed. Ms. Lallas said there are other instances when families might need additional financial support, including job loss, prolonged or unexpected illness and fire. Center also hosts a gift room prior to the holidays so students may purchase gifts for loved ones in a safe environment. “We make it affordable so they can come in with $5 or $10 and still get a couple things,” said Ellen Ellis, co-president of the Center School PTO, for which the event serves as a fundraiser. “They love it.” Vouchers are made available to students who may not be able to afford to “shop” in the gift room. Please visit our website to read more about this program.

Students in our Social Science classes at Parker, McCarthy and CHS have been practicing small acts of kindness throughout the last few weeks. Most recently, students have made hundreds of cards for the wonderful members of the Chelmsford Senior Center. These cards will be distributed to individual seniors throughout the next few months letting our seniors know that the students of CPS are thinking of them and grateful for their contributions to our community.

This past week, members of the National English Honors Society visited local elementary schools to read their favorite childhood holiday books to the students. They read, engaged with, and offered advice to the younger students, bringing smiles to their eager faces and spreading the joy of the holiday season!

Six seniors were recently honored as Chelmsford High School named its Lions Pride/Rotary Student of the Month recipients for November, announced CHS Principal Stephen Murray. Seniors receiving recognition were Bryn Munson and Moiz Canteenwala from Emerson House, William Larsen and Cailin Deutschmann of Hawthorne House and Caitlin Correa and Sarah Windoloski from Whittier House. Please visit our website to read more about the December Students of the Month.

The CHS Speech and Debate Team completed a very successful Holly Tournament! This past weekend, 35 members of the CHS Speech and Debate team attended "The Holly" tournament at Natick High. This is a special tournament, with a unique legacy. The students competed in 12 different events. Thank you to the 11 parents who helped as judges in three different categories of events - Speech, Novice Public Forum Debate, and Varsity Public Forum Debate. Several Speech students competed in more than one event, with Sophia Roy competing in the Pentathlon - a unique event found only at the Holly, where she competed in five different events across the day's tournament, many overlapping. Sophia took home awards in five events and the Team took 7th in the Team Sweepstakes. Congratulations to the team and kudos to Mr. Zopes for the prep and coordination!

COngratulations, Ms. Travers for winning the Staff Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest yesterday – Ms. Bak was 2nd Place and Ms. Mason came in 3rd! Thank you all for participating and joining in on the fun.

Parker Middle School students came together to make music during their band concert last night, and it was truly memorable! It was amazing to see and hear hear approximately 125 students for the first time make music together Thank you to all our student performers led by our band directors, Eric Linsner and Vincent DeStefano.

CPS students in grades 6-12 gathered to perform another fantastic concert during the month of December. Thank you to our two band directors, Matt Sexauer and Vincent DeStefano for leading our students through a carefully selected rich program and wonderful evening.

McCarthy Middle School students came together to make music during their band concert to perform a carefully crafted and challenging pieces that engaged both students and audiences alike! The jazz band, grade 7 ensemble, and grade 8 ensemble all played with passion and skill. It was especially exciting to hear the full grade 8 band perform together for the first time! Thank you to all our student performers led by our band director, Vincent DeStefano.

Parker and McCarthy Middle School students came together to make music during their orchestra concert to perform challenging and inspirational music for all to enjoy. The thoughtfulness of the pieces performed and the collective efforts to bring both middle schools with all grades together showcased the growth of students through out each grade level. Thank you to our two orchestra teachers, Lisa Tiano and Luke Miller for all your hard work with our students. Special thanks to Kate Comeau, Eric Linsner, and Martha Robertson for providing extra support before and during tonight’s event!

The CPS Wellness Advisory Committee is excited to announce the CHS Wellness Fair for students and staff on Wednesday, March 6th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Conrad Gymnasium. We are actively seeking local, wellness related vendors to participate, utilizing interactive stations to help engage with over a thousand students and staff at CHS. Registration is free for vendors but must be confirmed with our Wellness Fair Chairs: Katie Simes (simesk@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) and Stephanie Quinn (quinns@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) by January 26th. If you would like to learn more, please see our flyer or reach out to Katie or Stephanie.

The Town of Chelmsford was officially invited by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) into its 270-day eligibility period – a significant step to receive funding for a building project focused on Colonel Moses Parker Middle School. The MSBA’s board of directors voted unanimously to authorize the invitation for Chelmsford, along with 18 other municipalities and districts, on Wednesday morning, Dec. 13. Superintendent Dr. Jay Lang, noting there are several school buildings in Chelmsford that are aging, thanked State Treasurer Deb Goldberg and the MSBA for the opportunity to join the eligibility period. Please visit our website to read more about this building project.

Registration for Chelmsford Community Education’s Winter/Spring 2024 class schedule opens on Friday, December 15th. Please use the following link to view all the programs we have to offer during our winter/spring session. Be sure to check our website often and like us on Facebook (Chelmsford Community Education) and Instagram (commedwestlands) for announcements as they happen.

Chelmsford Community Education is seeking a long-term substitute childcare supervisor. To learn more and apply, please see the job posting using the following link.

Chelmsford High School has a cashless system for admittance to its regular season home athletic events. To get your tickets, CHS has partnered with GoFan.co, a digital, cashless ticketing app used by more than 10,000 schools, for fast and convenient payments for regular season home games. CHS fans are encouraged to download the GoFan app. For Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association postseason tournaments, the MIAA also utilizes GoFan.co as its own ticketing system. Visit the MIAA Ticket Information page.

The CPS Health Services Department is committed to providing evidence-based/ best practice holistic nursing care to the unique, culturally diverse students of Chelmsford Public Schools. In collaboration with all stakeholders, we advocate for their safety and healthcare needs. We are dedicated professionals who are committed to bridging health care with education and making a positive impact on the present and future wellness of Chelmsford’s school community. Please visit Health Services.

The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners who PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential.

Email: information@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://chelmsfordschools.org
Location: 230 North Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 251-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/chelmsfordpublicschools
Twitter: @ChelmsfordPS