CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

The weather has been extremely mild making outdoor activities more comfortable than in past years. Winter will soon be on our doorsteps, and it looks like a rollercoaster of warm, wet, and yes, even a coating of snow is not far in our future next week. We all know that New England weather is very fickle, and you never know what you will encounter week to week. We will see what the weather predictions bring us in the upcoming months.

It has been a welcomed relief not having to write to you weekly about COVID-19 and all the updates since we have been back to full in-person learning this year with no restrictions. Though we are back, it comes with the return of some other illnesses that we have not had to deal with as much over the past two and a half years. This week, there has been an uptick in Norovirus (the stomach flu) which affected one of the schools leading to higher absences than normal for students and staff. Fortunately, this virus is short-lived, and we were able to keep schools open. When a situation like this occurs, we monitor the situation very closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Chelmsford Health Department, and our school physician, to decide if any adjustments to the schedule need to be made to the school day for students and staff. Our mitigation efforts have been successful in limiting the spread of infection, and we will continue to monitor illnesses that may affect the operation of our schools. Please be sure to remind your children about proper hand hygiene to help stop the spread of illnesses. We remain committed to the health, safety, and well-being of your children.

The month of December is passing by quickly and we are only two weeks away from the December recess. The next two weeks are full of events. As noted last week, our holiday concert season is upon us. As the recordings become available, I will post them in the newsletter. I highly recommend you attend any of these great concerts if your schedule permits. I guarantee you will be happy that you did!

Have a terrific weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• View complete athletics schedules here.

• Parker Middle School Band Concert, 12/12, 7:00 p.m.

• Parker Middle School Chorus Concert, 12/13, 7:00 p.m.

• Chelmsford High School Winter Concert, 12/14, 7:00 p.m.

• Parker Middle School Virtual PTO Meeting, 12/15, 7:00 p.m.

• McCarthy Middle School Chorus Concert, 12/15, 7:00 p.m.

There will be thousands of full bellies this holiday season thanks to Project 300, the massive annual Thanksgiving food drive in its 47th year at Chelmsford’s McCarthy Middle School. It is the largest food drive by a school system in Massachusetts that benefits both the Salvation Army Lowell Corps and the Chelmsford Food Pantry, whose needs are greater than ever. Each year the goal for Project 300 is to collect more non-perishable items than the previous year. While this year’s output of more than 26,000 items is less than the 2021 total of nearly 33,000, the McCarthy school’s output is nonetheless impressive and vital considering the current climate. To read more about Project 300, please visit our website.

Chelmsford High School alumni spanning six decades performed in the Chelmsford Center for the Arts “Magic, Music, and Mayhem” variety show on Saturday, Nov. 26. Please use the following link to view the photo gallery of this event.

Seniors: it's time to register for the Seal of Biliteracy! This state award is given to seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and a World Language. Students who qualify for this award receive a special seal on their diploma and are recognized at the Senior Awards Ceremony in June. Last year, 22 CHS seniors earned the Seal of Biliteracy in languages such as Spanish, French, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian! You can sign up for a Seal of Biliteracy information session during PRIDE block on 12/13 or 12/15 and review the document below or our website for more information on this opportunity.

Seal of Biliteracy Information:

Slide w/ QR code

Formal letter for seniors

Fact sheet

Chelmsford Public Schools has partnered with Paper to provide unlimited access to trained tutors so every student can ask questions, work through problems, and grow their confidence—at no cost to families.

Paper is an online, on-demand tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions for their writing, there will always be experts available online to assist students one-on-one in all subject areas and in more than four languages. See Paper FAQs to learn more.

Please use the following link to access the K-12 CPS Family and Student Handbook and CHS Handbook Addendum for the 2022/23 School Year.

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 the Health Services page on the website for all your health services needs.

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