CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

It has been a busy start to the month, as today marks the 100th day of school with learning activities at the elementary level created to emphasize the day. Students engaged in a variety of counting activities and artwork centered around the number 100, and yes, even dressed up as if they were 100 years old. This day is always a treat for our students and a fun way to reinforce early math skills.

February is also the start to Black History Month. Black History Month honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. It serves as a reminder to reflect on the struggles, triumphs, and cultural impact of African American individuals. Many events including educational programs and discussions to foster awareness and appreciation for the rich history and accomplishments of the African American community are available throughout the Commonwealth for anyone looking to learn more.

Continuing with the excitement of the month, today is Groundhog Day, the annual event revolves around the folklore that a groundhog predicts the weather. According to tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of wintery weather, and if not, spring will arrive yearly. The most famous celebration of the day occurs in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania where Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow to provide his annual weather forecast. At today’s event, Phil did not see his shadow after scurrying out of his burrow, predicting that winter will soon end, and spring will be early this year! It will be interesting to see if this prediction holds true over the next six weeks.

If you are looking for some last-minute events to attend this weekend, tonight is the opening of the McCarthy Middle School production of the Lion King Jr. Tickets for tonight’s and tomorrow’s performances are still available. On Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. the CHS Class of 2025 will be hosting a craft fair featuring over 125 local artisans. Please stop by for what promises to be a great event.

Please enjoy this week’s highlights and have a wonderful weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• Lion King Jr. Play, 2/2 & 2/3, 7:00 p.m.
• In Tune (Presented by LiME Club) 2/2, 7:00 p.m.
• Class of 2025 Craft Fair, 2/4, 10:00 a.m.
• CHIPS PTO Meeting, 2/5, 6:30 p.m.
• School COmmittee Meeting, 2/6, 6:00 p.m.
• Early Release, 2/8, See School Schedules

The African savannah will come to life on the stage in Chelmsford as McCarthy Middle School’s Drama Club presents “The Lion King Jr.” An inspiring coming-of-age tale, “The Lion King Jr.” tells the story of the epic adventures of a curious cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destiny as king. Along the way, the young lion encounters a colorful cast of characters including spunky lioness Nala, charismatic meerkat Timon, and loveable warthog Pumbaa. To claim his rightful place on the throne and save his beloved Pridelands, Simba must find his inner strength and confront his wicked Uncle Scar. “The Lion King Jr.” features classic songs from the 1994 film such as “Hakuna Matata” and the Academy Award-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” as well as additional songs penned for the Broadway production. Members of the McCarthy Drama Club, which has been bringing live theater to the Chelmsford Community for over 20 years, have been hard at work preparing for this weekend’s performances. Please visit our website to learn more about the performance and cast members.

Please enjoy these wonderful photos of the Harrington Elementary School Cultural Night courtesy of Brenna Sullivan Photography. Use the following link to access the gallery.

It’s rare that lightning strikes the same location twice. However, last year, South Row Elementary School in Chelmsford was struck by lightning twice in the span of just a couple weeks. “The two most recent lightning storms occurred this past summer,” said Christine Clancy, Chelmsford’s director of public works. “We had just repaired the fire alarm system that was damaged from the lightning strike(s) and another storm came through and damaged the system again. The repairs to each instance cost several thousand dollars.” Because the damages to South Row’s fire alarm system were not only expensive, but also created a serious safety issue, local officials began looking into possible solutions. Ms. Clancy said the town consulted with a lightning protection vendor, who recommended installing two lightning interceptors on the roof of the school and grounded from the roof to the ground at four locations. “The lightning protection system will allow lightning to hit the two towers and safely dissipate any charge from the lightning to the ground without damaging any school infrastructure,” she explained. Funding for the project will be coming from the state. Please visit our website to learn more about this new installation.

This year, many of Chelmsford’s band, chorus, and orchestra students have worked diligently with their ensemble and private lesson teachers to prepare for state-level music events, including the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) Northeast District Junior District Festival. After auditions of approximately 1,000 students from more than 95 public and private schools on Jan. 27, students from grades seven through nine were selected to participate in the prestigious MMEA Northeastern Junior District Festival. The program is offered by the MMEA as an enrichment opportunity providing a musical experience to dedicated young musicians. The students were selected to perform in the Junior District Concert Band, Orchestra, SSA Treble Chorus, and SATB Concert Chorus. Please visit our website to read more about these students.

The CHS School Counseling Department would like to send a friendly reminder to seniors and the families of seniors about the importance of scholarships. Town of Chelmsford Scholarships and the are still available. The deadline is March 15th. For more information, including application deadlines, please refer to the handout provided; it contains all the necessary details to help you navigate the application process smoothly. Remember, scholarships can make a significant difference in your educational journey! Please take advantage of the opportunity to apply, and don't hesitate to reach out to your school counselor for support.

Make plans to celebrate the end of the school year: Take the family out to the ballgame! Your kids can join fellow students from both McCarthy and Parker to enjoy watching the Boston Red Sox play the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, May 30th at 7:10pm. Tickets are $40 per person with a portion of the proceeds benefiting both PTOs. Tickets are expected to sell out like last year so act fast to get in on the action! See the directions to get your tickets for this event.

Go to: https://givebutter.com/gMsmi9 to place your order.

Or, use the QR code below on the attached flyer.

Print out our flyer as your reminder!

NOTE: Tickets will be emailed to your MLB app directly in May!

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 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