CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

As the month of January comes to a close, we have officially past the halfway point of the school year – January 24th was the 90th day of school. This time of year brings the beginning of term 3 in our schools, and believe it or not, planning for end-of-year activities. I can hardly believe that we will be turning our calendars over to February next week!

This past week, I wrote to you about an announcement from the state to provide at-home rapid antigen test kits to interested families and how this new option will affect our COVID-19 mitigation strategy. Next Friday, February 4th, students and staff registered to participate in the new program will receive their first test kit with instructions for use. Test kits each containing two tests will be distributed every other week. This will allow for students and staff to test weekly (take 1 test each week) at-home. Further, we will continue weekly Pool Testing for registered students and staff. Taken together, our students and staff will have the ability to test twice weekly (1 time at home, 1 time in school). If you have not done so already, please use the links provided at the end of the letter to provide consent to participate in our pool testing program and to receive your at-home test kits. You are not obligated to participate in Pool Testing to receive at-home test kits; however, I encourage you to do so as an added mitigation measure.

Save the date – We will be hosting another COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Chelmsford High School for any interested students 5 years of age and over. The first vaccine dose will be administered on Wednesday, February 9th, the second vaccine dose will be administered on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. An e-mail will be sent to all families next week with registration information. This is a convenient way for your child(ren) to be vaccinated if they have not yet done so.

We have a significant snowstorm headed our way this weekend. All Saturday events in our buildings have been canceled, we will review events scheduled for Sunday as the storm progresses. Our custodial staff will be on hand clearing our facilities for a safe return to school on Monday. Please take care and stay warm this weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Next week:

• View complete athletics schedules here

• School Committee Meeting, 2/1, 6:00 p.m.
  

• CHIPS Virtual Information Session, 2/2, 6:00 p.m.

• Chelmsford Booster Club Meeting, 2/3, 7:00 p.m.

• CHS Dual Enrollment Sign Up Deadline, 2/5, All Day

• McCarthy Middle School Production Week, All week, Afterschool

We will offer a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for students ages 5 year-11 years on Wed. February 9th, with a 2nd dose clinic on Wed. Mar. 2nd. The clinics will be held at Chelmsford High School from 3:00-6:00 p.m. The registration and consent links will be sent out to families next week. Thank you to our families and students for getting vaccinated. We are grateful for your commitment to protecting yourself and our school community!

Join our Lion's Pride Teaching team! Lion's Pride is looking for a full-time Preschool Co-Teacher. Please see the posting linked for more information. Lion’s Pride Preschool Co-Teacher Position

The Chelmsford Integrated Preschool (CHIPS) has scheduled a virtual information session for prospective families regarding registration for the 2022-23 academic year on Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. The link to attend the virtual information session will be provided on the morning of Feb. 2. Pre-registration applications will also be accepted on this date. For more information, contact the CHIPS main office at 978-251-5188.

The Taste of Chelmsford tickets are now on pre-sale to Center families— open to the public on February 1st. This year we continue the new tradition of holding the Taste as a month-long raffle in March, with prizes offered daily. Each prize includes $100 or more in gift cards or other items from area restaurants and small businesses! The Taste is our biggest enrichment program fundraiser for Center Elementary School. Each ticket is $25 and has 31 chances to win. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. Get yours now before they sell out!

Tickets link:

https://givebutter.com/TasteofChelmsford

Prize details here:

www.tasteofChelmsford.com

The World Language Department will be running its Spanish and French exchange programs next year! In the Fall of 2022, we will host Spanish students and French students in Chelmsford. During February vacation in 2023, our CHS students will travel to Spain and France to visit their exchange partners for 10 days. This is an incredible opportunity to improve world language skills and knowledge of the Spanish and French-speaking world. Any student enrolled in a French or Spanish class may enroll in this opportunity. For more information, including trip itineraries and prices, please visit our website.

The CHS Career Exploration Breakfast will be held on March 15, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. This breakfast offers CHS juniors the opportunity to select two careers of interest and spend time with a professional in that field. Speakers share their interests, educational background, and what skills are needed to perform their jobs to give juniors career awareness and support them in planning their futures. We are looking for professionals in the following careers to volunteer their time to share their experiences with our CHS juniors. If you are interested, please contact Alexandrea Cunningham at: cunninghamalex@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

CHS students in the IT and Business/Finance Innovation Pathways program visited the Lowell "PlanIt" branch of Work Credit Union for a virtual tour. The Workers Credit Union PlanIt locations feature private spaces where you can meet one-on-one with a certified Workers Way financial coach. Get personalized, judgment-free guidance to help improve your financial wellness and achieve your dreams. This was an exciting interaction for students learning about these two high-demand industry sectors in our pathways programs.

Eligible CHS students can enroll in Dual Enrollment courses approved by a local partnering college while they are still attending Chelmsford High School. Credit for these courses applies both to Chelmsford High School and Middlesex Community College transcripts. Registrations are due in Emerson House by the end of the day, Friday, February 5th. For more information about Dual Enrollment, please visit our information page on our website.

7 Ways to Reduce Cost of College

Regardless of your student's age, income level, or how much you have saved for college there are opportunities to make the cost of college less burdensome.

Chelmsford HS is pleased to host a webinar to introduce you to different ways that you can reduce the cost of higher education on February 7, 2022 - 7:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND RECEIVE ZOOM LINK

If you are unable to attend live, a recording will be sent

**PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE

You will hear valuable insights on and have the opportunity to ask questions on:

• How to integrate cost considerations into your college search

• How the financial aid system really works and how to maximize the aid you receive

• Targeting achievable merit scholarships

• The financial aid application requirements

• How colleges vary in their financial aid policies and how you can plan for it

• Avoiding costly pitfalls when paying the college tuition bills We will also be able to answer questions that you have about the college search and admissions process.

Presenter: Gregg Cohen is the Founder and President of Campus Bound, a company that supports hundreds of students each year with finding, applying, and paying for college. He has personally supported thousands of families through the financial aid process in helping them to maximize their scholarships and grants. Gregg understands the intricacies of the financial aid applications, formulas, and awarding procedures of hundreds of colleges. Gregg has appeared on multiple media outlets over the last 20 years to discuss elements of the college admissions and financial aid process.

And just like that, we’re back! We hope your holidays were restful and relaxing, but we’re ready to get back to learning What are you looking forward to in 2022. Use this link to access everything you need to know about Paper tutoring services.

The Chelmsford Community Education Winter-Spring 2022 catalog is out, and it has a program for you: Archery, Street Hockey, Reiki Genealogy Interviewing Skills for Teens, and much, much more! Please see our course offerings catalog. Sign up today!

The Chelmsford Public Schools utilizes School Spring to advertise job postings and the online application process. To apply for any of our positions, please visit our website.

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