CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

As the third week of October comes to an end, we have continued forecasts of mild weather, allowing us to hold our seasonal outdoor events and activities. I am sure your calendars continue to fill with many events to attend and outside projects you may have on your list to complete prior to the winter months ahead. With one full week left in the month leading up to Halloween, there are still many celebrations planned at the schools and throughout town, for all to enjoy. In addition to the school events, the Chelmsford Center for the Arts is having a Halloween Festival and Costume Parade on Saturday, October 29th for all community members. This town event is a great way to meet other families within the district.

To continue to be mindful of the health of our school community, the Chelmsford Public Schools will be offering a free COVID Booster Clinic for students 12 years of age and older on Wednesday, October 26th. Remedium Pharmacy will administer the Pfizer bivalent booster on-site at Chelmsford High School, 200 Richardson Road, in the cafeteria from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please enter through the front of the building (Door #44). To ensure an appointment, please sign up by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 24th. Please see the announcement below to secure a spot.

CPS COVID Booster Clinic

Protect your child and our school community by getting the COVID-19 booster! The COVID-19 vaccines, including the booster, continue to save lives and prevent severe illness and hospitalizations. As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage those eligible to consider getting the booster dose to provide better protection against currently circulating variants. Thank you for keeping our school community safe!

1. Go to www.Remediumrx.net
2. Select the BLUE button Chelmsford Student 12+ COVID Booster 10/28/22
3. Enter the Access code: Chelmsford
4. Select your school and appointment time
5. Register by 12:00 p.m. on 10/24/22 to ensure an appointment

Please enjoy this week’s newsletter filled with highlights of learning, activities, and the accomplishments of our students. I wish you a wonderful weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• View complete athletics schedules here

• Harrington and Parker - Battle of the Boos, 10/22, 3:00 p.m.

• Byam School Boo Bash, 10/22, 4:00 p.m.

• Center School Trunk-Or-Treat, 10/22, 1-3 p.m.

• Parker Middle School Scholastic Book Fair, 10/24-10/28, All-Day

• Parker Middle School, Pumpkins, Pizza, and Paperbacks, 10/25, 6:00 p.m.

• McCarthy Middle School Stringfest, 10/26, 7:00 p.m.

• CHIPS PTO Meeting, 10/27, 6:30 p.m.

Did you know the following fun facts about October?

Today, October 21st, is National Apple Day!

• October's Birthstones - Opal and Pink Tourmaline
• October Birth Flowers - Cosmos and Marigolds
• Astrology Zodiac Signs of October - Libra - 9/23 - 10/22 and Scorpio - 10/23 - 11/22

• Yom Kippur
• Sukkot
• Diwali
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• National Book Month
• National Pizza Month
• World Space Week
• National Popcorn Poppin Month
• National Dessert Month
• National Cookie Month
• National Origami Month

Chelmsford Public Schools recently installed its third nine-hole disc golf course – covering the Parker Middle School campus – to go with those installed in 2019 on the Chelmsford High School and McCarthy Middle School campuses. Katie Simes has a vision for the 27 ‘holes’ of disc golf spanning Chelmsford High School and the McCarthy and Parker middle school campuses. It expands much further than simply being part of the physical education curriculum. “I think it’s unique to have three courses on school grounds,” said Ms. Simes, in her 11th year as the Pre-K-12 Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Services Coordinator at Chelmsford Public Schools (20th year at Chelmsford). To read more about the disc golf course, please visit our website.

On Wednesday, October 19, two members from the International Institute of New England (IINE) came to speak to members of the High School Counseling, Psychology, and ESL Department to educate us about their organization and how they support children and families who are resettling in Chelmsford and surrounding towns. The presentation was followed up by several questions by Chelmsford Colleagues about how we can support refugees from Afghan, Ukraine, and South America who have moved to our schools. We welcomed this opportunity and look forward to continuing a partnership with IINE so that our students and families can benefit from their community services and supports.

Chelmsford High School's Athletes earn top rankings in sports!

Chelmsford Football at No. 6 (5-1)

Chelmsford Field Hockey at No. 6 (9-3-0)

Chelmsford Boys Soccer at No. 16 (8-3-2)

https://miaa.net/power-rankings/

With a passion for children’s literature, Ms. Cooper has introduced an incentive for each of her classes: when they have completed a book, the book cover is added to the wall outside the music room. Her classes are off to a strong start with 13 titles on the wall already. To read more about Ms. Cooper's literature learning, please visit our website.

On Saturday, October 15th a ceremony was held at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center to honor the nine new members of the Chelmsford High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Congratulations to our new inductees. To read about each inductee's profile, please visit our website.

• Rachel (Fairbanks) Adaran (2010), actor/clothing entrepreneur
• Kenneth Chutchian (1975), journalist/author/educator
• Mark Dearborn (1986, posthumously), athlete/philanthropist
• Thomas Gill (1971), artist/philanthropist
• Daniel Hart (1999), athlete/youth sports advocate and volunteer
• Michael McLarney (1973), three-sport athlete/New England champion wrestler
• Timothy McMaster (1994), athlete/broadcaster
• Deena (Patsourakos) Ronayne (2001), actor/producer/entrepreneur
• John Sousa (1984), contributions/service

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.

You are invited! Join other VIP guests to solve the mysterious murders at the CCA's art show on October 22. On the menu? Art, murder, appetizers, desserts, cocktails, FUN. Your ticket includes one free drink. 21+ only. $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Buy 10 tickets or more, and get 2 free. Please use the following link to get your tickets today!

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