Superintendent's Weekly Updates

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🎉 Scroll to read information and news from the school district, our individual schools, and information from our community partners! 🎉

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• District Updates
• Athletic Department Updates
• Extended Learning Updates
• Early Learning Center Updates
• Berkowitz Elementary School Updates
• Hooks Elementary School Updates
• Sokolowski School Updates
• Clark Ave. Middle School Updates
• Wright Middle School Updates
• Chelsea High School Updates
• Chelsea Opportunity Academy Updates
• Messages From Our Community Partners

Chelsea High School Class of 2006 alumnus Vlad Link '06 returned to CHS on Wednesday to speak to students in a special assembly. A Chief Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy, Link was one of the naval officers in the water when the Artemis II crew splashed down and returned to Earth following their mission in space. Link was one of the first people to greet the crew, representing Chelsea on a world stage.

He shared parts of his story and upbringing, and how his time as a CHS student contributed to being on the medical dive team that was in the water to greet the Artemis II astronauts. He shared powerful messages about the importance of mentorship, telling the students "Chase your dreams. Find that mentor. I always found that person that kept me motivated.”

As part of his visit to CHS, he spoke to students and answered questions from students and staff. He shared some of his fondest memories as a student including his time on the football team, being in school plays, and furthering his passion for robotics and engineering. He shared memories of traveling to Georgia for a national robotics tournament.

Thank you, Vlad, for both your service and for inspiring our future graduates and leaders!

The Chelsea Record published on Thursday, April 23, featured two stories highlighting our music students and educators! The front cover had two pictures from the District Concert as well as another full page of photos from a concert that featured over 350 students. The Williams School Gymnasium was filled with a near-capacity crowd of family and friends to watch the students perform.

Also in the Record was a story about the CHS Jazz Band and Cantare performing at the State House in the Senate Reading Room. They received an official State Citation from State Senator Sal DiDomenico at the performance.

Congratulations to all these students and educators. Read more about the stories here:

District Concert: https://chelsearecord.com/2026/04/23/over-350-students-perform-at-the-chelsea-public-schools-district-concert/

CHS Jazz Band & Cantare: https://chelsearecord.com/2026/04/23/chs-jazz-band-cantare-receive-official-senate-citation-at-state-house-performance/

The Intergenerational Literacy Program celebrates adult education at the program's 37th annual Award Ceremony.

Join us for Youth Mental Health Day, an afternoon focused on wellness, connection, and community care. Together, we will uplift youth mental health and share resources to support our students and families.

Acompáñenos al Día de la Salud Mental Juvenil, una tarde enfocada en el bienestar, la conexión y el cuidado comunitario. Juntos apoyaremos la salud mental de nuestros jóvenes y compartiremos recursos para estudiantes y familias.

Join us for Chelsea High School’s first-ever Relay For Life on Saturday, May 16 from 4:00–10:00pm at CHS.

Relay For Life is a powerful and inspiring community event where participants come together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember the memories of loved ones lost, and raise funds to fight back in support of cancer research and essential patient services.

The event will feature:

🔹 A community walk around the track

🔹 Student and community member-led activities, performances, and entertainment

🔹 Food, games, and family-friendly fun

🔹 The Survivor Lap, which recognizes those who face cancer

🔹 The Luminaria Ceremony, a moving tribute to loved ones

Learn more and sign up to participate here: relayforlife.org/chsma

Check out next week's games.

Carlos Mejia Chavez-Baseball

David Ponce-Track & Field

Aria Green-Track & Field

Schedule for the 2026 Spring Season

Over April Vacation, middle school students were creating toy cars, designing rescue shuttles and landing pads for drones, creating marketing presentations and investigating antivirals in a STEM-focused Acceleration Academy!

Check out the video below to see all that our 5th-8th grade students learned and achieved!

CPS/FKO enrichment is going strong across the complex! Students are engaged in coding, LEGO building in Art, and strengthening their social-emotional skills through SEL. The Life is Good Playmaker group is also helping students build teamwork, positivity, and connection. It’s great to see so much collaboration and learning happening each day!

Third graders in Ms. Caceda and Ms. Molina’s Discovery Academy after-school group took on an exciting hands-on STEM challenge by designing and building solar-powered ovens using pizza boxes. As part of the project, students explored renewable energy and learned how the sun’s energy can be used as a clean, sustainable resource, then applied this knowledge by planning and constructing their ovens with materials like foil, plastic wrap, and insulation to trap heat. Throughout the process, they practiced critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration as they tested and improved their designs. The project will culminate in a fun experiment where students use their ovens to melt chocolate for fondue.

Our Student Government has been hard at work running fundraisers at BMS and our Chess Club, has been enjoying playing in the classroom and outside while the weather is nice!

In expressive art club with Ms. Kenney and Ms. Kay, students have been working on making windchimes using different materials! They’ve started by taking small planters, punching holes in the bottoms, painting them, and then will add decorative beads!

In book club and literacy support with Ms. Fields students took some time to create their own bookmarks to go along with their novels. They’re almost finished and have been enjoying the drama in their reading!

CPS eighth grade student, Aria, was interviewed for an upcoming docuseries called "United States of Soccer", a city-by-city portrait of soccer in the United States!

The series explores how the game of soccer lives across the country.

Aria plays soccer for Chelsea Public Schools and was on the high school team this past fall as an eighth grade student. She currently is the goalkeeper with Soccer Without Borders this spring and was filmed playing in a game last weekend. She also is on the track team at CHS too! Stay tuned for information on how to watch the series, which will debut this summer.

ELC families completed the April STEM challenge by creating something from recycled materials in honor of Earth Day.

The ELC Garden Club has created a sensory garden in the courtyard. The plants in the garden have been specifically chosen to encourage students to use their senses to explore the garden.

First Grade students worked with partners to design and build a technology that would keep an egg from breaking when dropped! Families were invited to see the results!

Caminos Room 347 planted their sunflower seed today and will be monitoring its growth.

The Berkowitz School Spring Dance was held yesterday. Students, families, and staff came together to dance, connect, and enjoy pizza in a welcoming and festive atmosphere.

The Berkowitz School Celebrates Autism Acceptance Awareness with special activities throughout the week.

Mrs. Pergola’s first graders have been hard at work learning about different artists, including Horace Pippin! Students participated in a gallery walk where they collaborated, shared ideas, and discussed Pippin’s artwork together. They then created their own inspired pieces using simple colors and adding a “splash of red” just like Pippin.

This week, our second graders had the exciting opportunity to learn from guest speakers Alice Chou and her volunteer assistant Melissa from the Mystic River Watershed Association as we prepare for our upcoming field trip to the Horn Pond Dam. Students explored local waterways, including connections to nearby ecosystems, and learned how pollution can impact plants, animals, and food webs. Through a hands-on investigation of pervious and impervious materials, they began to understand how different surfaces affect the environment. Students were highly engaged and inspired to think about ways they can help protect their community and environment. We are so grateful to Alice, Melissa, and the Mystic River Watershed Association for providing this meaningful learning experience to our students.

Students in Room 206 are working on identifying 2D and 3D shapes and their attributes!

Students in 112 read to grow have been diving into Charlotte’s Web as our latest book club read, and it has quickly become a classroom favorite! It has been wonderful to see their excitement grow as they make connections, ask questions, and share their ideas with one another.

In science, we are learning about predators and prey in Science by making a food chain.

Students in 301 Read to Grow are enjoying their book clubs. Before April break, students “field tripped” down to our book set resource closet and picked their own books. They are loving diving into their literary finds!

Students in Room 312 have begun preparing for Mother’s Day by creating crafts and accompanying written notes. As part of this activity, each student composed thoughtful statements expressing the reasons they appreciate and love their mothers, fostering both creativity and reflective writing skills.

Thanks to all the families who joined our Literacy and Math Night! It was a wonderful evening of learning and enjoying time together as a family.

At Sokolowski School, we are proud to celebrate Principal Camilo Machado on Principal Appreciation Day! His leadership is steady, thoughtful, and always focused on what matters most to our students and families. He leads with heart, shows up for his school community every day, and creates a space where everyone feels seen, supported, and inspired to do their best. We are truly grateful for his commitment and the positive impact he brings to our school.

6th grade students at the Clark Ave School were able to enjoy a fun and educational day at the Franklin Zoo learning more about the animals, their diets and habitats.

A mentoring program where friendships grown and everyone belongs! 8th grade student mentor our functional academic students every Friday through fun, meaningful activities that build confidence, skills, and strong connections.

WSTA Student Council hosted their first Spring Fling and WOW, was it a great time!

83 10th and 11th grade students attended the NACAC National College Fair on Tuesday, April 28 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston with the CHS Counseling Department.

The fair brought together hundreds of colleges and universities from across the country and around the world, giving students the opportunity to explore a wide range of options and connect directly with admissions representatives. Students asked questions, gathered information, and learned more about programs, campus life, and future opportunities.

It was a great day filled with exploration, meaningful conversations, and steps toward planning for life after high school!

During April break, a couple of our high school counselors hosted a two-day Junior Bootcamp to support college planning for students. Over 20 members of the Class of 2027 participated in the program.

Students explored the college application timeline, built or updated college lists using MEFA Pathways, and learned about the SAT vs. ACT along with test-taking strategies. A representative from Holy Cross also came to speak with students about the college experience and admissions process. Students had time to work on college lists and reflect on their goals.

Day two focused on SAT registration, financial aid (FAFSA/MASFA), scholarships such as QuestBridge and Posse, as well as local scholarships available to CHS students, and college essay writing, along with dedicated work time and next steps planning.

To celebrate participation, four Reebok backpacks and a Holy Cross pennant were raffled off to participating students. Overall, the bootcamp gave students practical tools and guidance to feel more prepared for the college application process.

Family Enrichment Café partnered with TRiO to host a session for families of 9th and 10th graders, emphasizing the importance of starting early when planning for their child’s future. Parents and guardians asked great questions and left with a better understanding of financial aid and the value of early preparation. The program, TRiO also offers students the opportunity to visit over 20 colleges throughout the year which the families did not know and love that their child can have this experience.

A special "Thanks" to TRiO: Herman, Maria and Gleny. It's always a treat to see our families engaged in meaningful conversation. All the best, Jay, Olga and Yrlen. Team JOY.

Over the course of April break, students took part in a MIT Museum 3D Printing credit opportunity in collaboration with the MIT Museum. Students identified an issue that they could solve with a 3D printed product, which they had to design and iterate. Students had the chance to showcase their work at the MIT Museum, as well as take a tour of the MIT campus. For COA seniors, please continue working hard towards the May 15th graduation deadline! We are only 2 weeks away!"

Our ambassador CHELSEA was so excited to set up the dressing room for PROM 2026!!

In a partnership with the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, Chelsea Police Department presents "Chelsea's PROMise" to our high school students who are looking for a dress to attend Prom this year!

There are aready some beautifully donated dresses and we are actively accepting donations at our CPD wishing well! We have sizes 0-28! Please peek at the flyer below to sign up for an appointment at the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. You can make an appointment to check out the dresses or also email Ofc. Nicole McLaughlin at:

NMcLaughlin@chelseama.gov for appointment or donation questions.

Link for Appointments: https://forms.gle/57cZCMZ1PE9QedRC7

Mark your calendars for the Chelsea Research Festival, taking place on Monday, May 18, 2026 at the Chelsea High School Gym!

Community members are invited to attend one of two sessions: 1:30–3:00 p.m. or 4:30–6:00 p.m. Stop by to explore student-led research projects, connect with local organizations, and learn from universities, hospitals and community partners.

This family-friendly event will feature food, games and activities—and is a great opportunity to support Chelsea student presenters and celebrate learning across our community. We hope to see you there!

Learn more and get involved by visiting ChelseaResearchFestival.com or by contacting chelsearesearchfestival@gmail.com.