CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

Hopefully, you managed well through the weather we had this past week. How quickly things change in New England, with over a foot of snow landing in the Merrimack Valley last weekend, and then a quick turnaround to rain and temperatures in the upper 50’s on Tuesday to melt most of it away! We are in store for more wet weather from another storm promising more rain and wind this weekend.

As we move along in the new year, please be mindful of term and semester end dates approaching for our students. Our high school students are preparing for semester finals of half-year courses, and both our middle and high school students are approaching the end of Term 2 for full-year courses. Now is a good time to check your child’s Aspen portal to see their progress on assignments posted by their teachers to be sure they are on track for success.

We are entering a long weekend with Monday, January 15th marking a day of remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his activism for civil rights for people of color in the United States. His movement of peaceful protests led the crusade to end segregation and counter prejudice, paving the way for the rights of those oppressed. I encourage you to take time this weekend to reflect on Dr. King’s work and the importance of advocating for civil rights.

As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 15, 2024, in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our schools will reopen next Tuesday, January 16th for classes.

Please enjoy this week’s highlights below and the long weekend. We will see you next week.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 1/15, All Day
• School Committee, 1/16, 6:00 p.m.
• Council of Schools Meeting, 1/17, 7:00 p.m.
• 8th Grade Family Night at CHS, 1/17, 6:00 p.m.
• Early Release, CHS ONLY, 1/18 & 1/19, 10:25 a.m.
• MMEA All-State Auditions, 1/20, All Day

on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. We welcome all of you to attend. On this night, we will:

• Introduce the Administrative Team at CHS
• Explain and describe the House System
• Talk about student involvement and after-school activities.
• Explain the scheduling process
• Explain the supports we have for freshmen
• Explain what Dual Enrollment and Innovation Pathways are. Explain how these programs will spark student interest and how they can potentially save families thousands of dollars when their children attend college.
• Hear a presentation from Middlesex Community College, we partner with for Dual Enrollment and Innovation Pathways.
• Explain how your child can earn an Associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school.
• Review graduation requirements

We will start the evening in the high school’s Performing Art Center (PAC). After explaining school life and the scheduling process, parents/guardians will proceed to the gym. Curriculum Coordinators will be in the gym, ready to answer questions that you might have regarding the curriculum.

You may also take a self-guided tour of the building. Our National Honor Society students will be available to assist with tours/directions and help answer your questions. This is a great night to see the school, ask questions about the curriculum, and learn more about life at CHS.

Kindergarten registration begins this month for the 2024/25 school year on Tuesday, January 30th and Wednesday, January 31st. Registration is by appointment only using the following link. Anyone registering will be contacted to confirm the date and time to come to our Central Administration Building located at 230 North Road to meet with a secretary from your child’s designated elementary school to complete the registration process. Additional information about required paperwork for this appointment may be found here. Please spread the word to any family, friends, and neighbors that may have a kindergarten-aged child entering the school district for the first time.

This student enrichment event featured workshops and performance by Berklee College of Music's Mimi Rabson and members of her contemporary string ensemble. Stringfest directed by music teachers Kate Comeau, Luke Miller, and Lisa Tiano.

The CHS School Counseling Department would like to send a friendly reminder to seniors and the families of seniors about the importance of scholarships. In a meeting with seniors earlier today, we highlighted both the CHS Alumni Scholarships and the Town of Chelmsford Scholarships and the various opportunities around local and national scholarships. 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. As

CHS Engineering/Manufacturing students had the opportunity to meet Retired Air Force Lt. Col. and Retired Raytheon Engineering Program Manager as well as Brian Geaudreau of Hancock & Associates for a presentation on the value of developing Engineering skills important for college and exciting careers. Students heard about multiple engineering careers from pilot to jet production to design and construction fields.

Instead of going home for the day on Tuesday, Jan. 9, which was an early release day for Chelmsford Public Schools students, dozens of high schoolers gathered in the gymnasium to pack over 14,000 meals for local families in need. A volunteer effort for Meals of Hope, the event brought together students from the National Honor Society, Get Involved Volunteer Everywhere (GIVE), Interact Club and the Class of 2024. Working in teams at five workstations, the students filled bag after bag with ingredients for a fortified bean and rice casserole. The bags were sealed and labeled before being packed into boxes and placed on a pallet to be taken to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. Please visit our website to read more about these student volunteers.

CHS students in the Exploring Early Childhood 2 class executing "Under the Sea Day" in the Lion's Pride North Preschool on Wednesday. For the music time, one student wrote his own song and put it to the tune of "Down by the Bay." Everyone loved it! The high school students got a taste of what it's like to be a preschool teacher because they were in the preschool the entire high school day. This was a wonderful experience for all!

Weren't able to join the webinar? Watch the webinar replay and access key takeaways about when and how to seek mental health help for your kid or teenager. Use the following the link to access the webinar. Save the date: Recognizing and treating OCD and tic disorders in children and adolescents on February 6 at 7pm ET. Registration link to come

Mark your calendars for an event that you won't want to miss! Join us at the CHS Class of 2025 Craft Fair on Sunday, February 4th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chelmsford High School.

This event will feature over 125 local artisans. From beautifully framed paintings to resin art, charcuterie boards to stylish totes, and stunning stained glass to intricate crochet work, there will be something for everyone's taste. You'll also find artisan jewelry, trendy clothing and tumblers, intricate beadwork, a selection of books, exquisite pottery, products for your pet, a bake sale, face painting, and so much more. The funds raised during this event will benefit the Class as they prepare for memorable occasions like Cotillion, prom, and Senior Week. So, gather your friends and family, and join us at the CHS Class of 2025 Craft Fair on Sunday, February 4th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chelmsford High School. We look forward to seeing you there!

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!

The Town of Chelmsford Health Department is hosting a series of presentations on mental health at the Chelmsford library every month. The series consists of four sessions, each featuring a different expert on a specific topic related to mental health.

The first session will take place on Tuesday, January 16th, and will feature Jon Mattleman, a renowned therapist and speaker who specializes in depression and anxiety among teens. He will share practical tips and strategies for managing anxiety and recognizing when a teen may need professional help. The presentation is open to both teens and adults and will last for one hour.

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 Center School PTO is excited to announce the Taste of Chelmsford calendar raffle! This year’s raffle will run in February, and has amazing prizes offered daily from area restaurants and businesses. Funds raised from the Taste directly support enrichment programs for students at Center. Tickets are $25 and each ticket can win 29 times in February! All prizes are valued at $100 or more. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold, so get yours now before they sell out!

Purchase your raffle tickets today at: www.tasteofchelmsford.com

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