SPS District Newsletter

Credit: Artists for Humanity

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Students in the Capuano’s Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP) had a mini-career day recently. For the second year in a row, our amazing Special Education ECIP teachers organized a Community Helper Event. Students spoke with police officers, a doula, a chef, a teacher, and a USPS worker about their jobs helping Somerville thrive. Read the full story.

Seventh graders at the Healey School are learning math while they learn real-world lessons about cooperation and perseverance, and develop a sense of accomplishment. Starting in September, students in Steve Stephano’s math classes sat down and imagined their dream homes. Would it have a game room? A beautiful kitchen? A big yard? Every student started with a pencil, a piece of graph paper, and their imaginations. Read the full story.

Grade 5 classrooms across the district celebrated STEM Week through an engineering project developed by the Tufts Center for Engineering Education Outreach. Students worked together to design and build models for storm drainage that provided a barrier to contaminants. Part of the district’s climate education curriculum, the project is a way to apply science and engineering to solve problems. Additionally, SHS students co-facilitated introductory climate change lessons designed by Mass Audubon to prepare for STEM Week. Thank you to the Grade 5 teachers, volunteers from the community, Somerville High School students, MIT, Tufts, BU, Lesley and Mass Audubon for collaboratively implementing the first annual Grade 5 STEM Week project.

Argenziano sixth graders enjoyed an exciting three-day overnight field trip with an unforgettable experience at the Outdoor Classroom in Groton. They tried new adventures, built lasting memories, and deepened their connections with classmates and teachers. Thank you to the Argenziano PTA for supporting this program for students.

Ms. Moore's Grade 7 and 8 science classes explored the scientific method recently through hands-on experimentation. After watching videos of paper airplane competitions, they asked questions to identify reasons why one airplane flies further than another one. They researched how paper airplanes fly and wrote a hypothesis then tested their hypothesis through experimentation. Students analyzed their data and used the results to write up a conclusion. In Ms. Moore's words, "What a way to soar into the school year!"

This fall, student artists at SHS took a field trip to Boston’s Artists for Humanity (AFH). Students toured the state-of-the-art AFH studio and gallery space, where teens create commissioned artwork, then participated in a hands-on workshop. The workshop focused on color relativity, an important concept in the high school's 2D Art Course. AFH Foundation Studio Mentor Dominique Nelson asked the students to set up in the Painting Studio with a chosen object. Using the colors in their object, students selected two colors and worked with the paint on their palettes (primary colors and white) to mix those two colors themselves and place them in an imaginary landscape. You can see some wonderful photos of the event. Photo credit: Artists for Humanity

High school students in the Culinary Arts program served a delicious brunch to a packed house of Somerville veterans in November in the Highlander Café. The event is part of a free, monthly breakfast event hosted by the City of Somerville's Department of Veterans Services. Thank you to the Culinary Arts students and educators for the delicious treats, and thank you to our Veterans for your service!

Dear SPS Community,

As we enjoy this holiday season, I am reminded of the incredible richness and diversity that define our school community. This time of year brings a variety of traditions and celebrations - Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and many others - each reflecting the unique cultures, beliefs, and histories that our students and families bring to Somerville.

Our diversity is not only one of our greatest strengths - it is part of who we are. In every classroom and school, we see students learning from one another, honoring different perspectives, and building a stronger, more inclusive community together. That spirit of connection and understanding is something to celebrate this season and throughout the year.

As we prepare for time with family and friends, I want to thank you for your partnership, your resilience, and your dedication to ensuring our students thrive. May the coming weeks bring joy, rest, and moments of reflection for all. I look forward to the new year ahead and the continued progress we will make together.

Warmest wishes for a peaceful and happy holiday season,

Dr. Rubén Carmona

Superintendent of Schools

Any activities listed below are free, unless otherwise indicated.

December 9. 5:00-7:00pm, Somerville High School, lower cafeteria. K-8 students and their families are invited to join Somerville High School students and teachers, along with university partners from MIT, Lesley STEAM Learning Lab, and Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach to explore computer science and robotics in a fun, relaxed environment. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP.

Students are encouraged to enjoy a fresh, nutritious breakfast every morning before school! Nutritious breakfast and lunch are free for all students in our schools. Breakfast starts at 8:15am for prekindergarten students, at 7:30am for students in grades K–8, and at 7:15am at Somerville High School and Next Wave / Full Circle. Find the link to daily menus on the Food and Nutrition Services website.

Participate in interactive Listening Sessions with SPS administrators. Share what's working well and how we can improve at a topic-focused session. Learn more or register for a Listening Session.

Special Education Discussion: Tuesday, January 20th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

Out of School (After School) Time Discussion: Wednesday, January 14th, 8:30 - 10:00am or Tuesday, February 10th, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Multilingual Learner Education Discussion: Wednesday, January 28th, 8:30 - 10:00am

Ongoing. Somerville High School Automotive Technology students are ready to work on cars. If you would like to bring in your vehicle for repair or maintenance, please fill out the SHS Auto Tech Work Request Form. The students' services are highly in-demand and that occasionally leads to a short work backlog.

December 3–12. Families of students in Grades K–8 are invited to register for FREE after school clubs starting on December 3 at 9:00am. Visit the Clubs webpage to see examples of club offerings.

December 18. 5:00pm Art Exhibit, 6:30pm Concert. Enjoy music performed by the Somerville High School Chorus, Orchestra, Band, World Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Guitar Class. Artwork from current High School art students will be on display and select ceramics pieces will also be available for purchase. All staff, family, and friends of the Somerville Public Schools community are invited to join an evening celebrating the arts!

January 2 - February 13, 2026. Families enrolling a child in Somerville Public Schools are invited to enroll during our 'priority' enrollment period to maximize the chance their child will go to their top choice school. Visit our Enrollment Office website for more information.

January 6, 2026. 7:00pm, join a conversation with other parents and guardians who have children in our special education programming. Visit the Somerville Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) website for more information.

January 8. Families and residents are invited to two more tours dates. Drop in and join tours at 9, 10, 11am or 12pm at any of our PK-8 schools on January 8 and January 27, 2026. Please visit our school tours page to learn more.

January 13, 2026. 6:00-7:30pm, East Somerville Community School. Join other parents of multilingual learners and discuss their social and academic needs. This is a great opportunity to meet other families, build leadership skills, and enjoy great conversation. Dinner and child care will be provided. Please email Gladys Valle with your questions.

If your family needs a little extra support right now, please find a concise list of food resources on our website. Your child's school liaison can also help with more complicated issues, including access to cold-weather clothing, and can connect families with local services offering assistance.

Dates and times for school committee meetings are listed on the SPS district website calendar. Visit the School Committee website for information and find meeting details on the City of Somerville Events page.

Check out this year's district newsletters here: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/newsletter

The boys cross country team had yet another undefeated season, marking their fifth straight GBL championship. This incredible streak reflects the hard work of the athletes and coaches, and the team's consistency has solidified them as a dominant force in the league.

GBL All-Stars: Henry Zarecor, Robert Leoni, Henry Omura, Ranjan Warren, and Gabriel Sloss.

The girls cross country team went undefeated this season, and won an extremely close GBL Championship Meet, beating Medford on a tie-breaker that involved the 6th runner! Freshman standout Aly Amin went undefeated in GBL Meets, and advanced to the State Open "Meet of Champions." She was named Greater Boston League Runner of the Year.

GBL All-Stars: Aly Amin, Greta O’Sullivan and Jennifer Gordon.

Girls volleyball finished with an impressive 15-5 regular season record and secured 2nd place in the GBL. Their strong performance earned them a home MIAA playoff game, where they swept Revere 3-0. Unfortunately, the team lost in the next round to a very strong Minnechaug squad. None of this would have been possible without the tremendous leadership and dedication of their five seniors.

GBL All-Stars: Alexis Bowie and Cate Timmins.

The girls soccer team's consistent performance and dedication earned them a spot in the MIAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

GBL MVP: Camila Plata.

GBL All-Stars: Camila Plata and Anika Johnson.

The Highlander Boys Varsity Soccer team earned a spot in the MIAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year, while the freshman boys’ soccer team ended their season undefeated with a 10-0 record, highlighting the bright future of Somerville soccer. With a young and talented roster returning, the program’s future looks even more promising in the years to come.

EMSCA All-Star: Boys Soccer – Marco Hoxholli

GBL All-Stars: Marco Hoxholli and Hector Alvarado Bermudez

The golf team had an impressive 2025 season highlighted by consistent play, determination, resiliency, and a trip to the state tournament. Qualifying for the tourney was a goal the team set early on, and seeing it come to life was rewarding. With several key players returning next season, the team will look to build on this year’s success and continue to raise the standard for excellence both on and off the course.

GBL ALL-STAR: Emmett Easton

Against a demanding GBL schedule, the SHS football squad demonstrated consistent development, toughness, and determination every week. They finished the year triumphantly at the annual Thanksgiving "Battle for the Picket Fence" game against Cambridge, which you can watch here.

GBL All-Stars: Marcos Pineda, Esmael Mack, Ryan Louis, Ousman Kaba, and Kerry Alphonse.

Both the varsity and JV cheer teams competed in multiple competitions. Varsity finished second in the GBL division and advanced to the regional competition, coming in 8th in Division 2. Junior Varsity won the GBL title for the first time ever! The cheer team is excited for the winter season!

In Year Three of the Unified Basketball team, we were excited to see how the program continues to grow. Our athletes and partners showed incredible teamwork and team spirit throughout. Unified Basketball is an inclusive program where individuals with and without intellectual disabilities compete together, build friendships, develop teamwork, and foster a greater sense of social inclusion in our high school community.

There's a new channel just for the Somerville Highlanders Athletics team games. Check it out and catch up on the action.