Superintendent's Weekly Updates
November 21, 2025
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🎉 Scroll to read information and news from the school district, our individual schools, and information from our community partners! 🎉
If you are viewing this as an email and can't see the entire newsletter, click "view entire message" at the bottom or "view in browser" at the top.
In this issue ...
- District Updates
- Athletic Department Updates
- Extended Learning Updates
- Early Learning Center Updates
- Hooks School Updates
- Kelly School Updates
- Clark Ave. Middle School Updates
- Wright Science & Technology Academy Updates
- Chelsea High School Updates
- Chelsea Opportunity Academy Updates
- Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy Updates
- Messages from Community Partners
DISTRICT UPDATES
Middle School Students Immerse in Career Exploration at JA Inspire
On Thursday, eighth grade students from the Browne, Clark and Wright Middle Schools attended Junior Achievement's annual "JA Inspire" event at the Hynes Convention. This continues a years-long tradition of students attending this event in Boston where they get a head start on learning about potential career endeavors from organizations such as Beth Israel Lahey Health, Staples, local police and fire departments and more.
Thank you to all our educators who help contribute to making this experience a lifelong memory for students. Two students were even interviewed about how important it was experience events like JA Inspire as the prepare for high school.
Middle School Students Participate in 5K
The Girls on the Run Middle School program "Heart and Sole" completed their first 5k over the weekend on Sunday! Over 3,400 girls met on the Boston Common and ran through the streets of Boston with their coaches. It was glitter, smiles, medals, and amazing memories (and merch!). A HUGE shout out goes to the coaches from the CAMS, Wright, and Browne Middle Schools for their amazing attitudes and participation throughout the program this fall: Gabby Culotta, Sarah McGonigle, Michelle Picco, Evelin Esteban, Jacqueline Mendoza, and Ana Aguilar! They also got a surprise visitor who cheered them on from start to finish... Ms. Yi from the Clark!
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Winter Sports Try Outs.
For more information email: atheletics@chelseaschools.com
2025 GBL Fall All Stars-Girls Soccer
Emili Rodriguez Rodriguez
Yahira Jovel Rivas
2025 GBL Fall All Stars-Boys Soccer
Cristian Lopez
Brayan Andrade
Jose Joj
2025 GBL Fall All Stars-Girls Volleyball
Alisson Segovia
11th Annual J. Barry Dwyer Turkey Trot
Join Chelsea Athletics on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Chelsea Memorial Stadium for a morning of fun and fitness while supporting a great cause. Choose between a 5K run ($30) or a 3K run/walk ($25), and don’t miss the free 400m kids’ run for children 10 and under (starting at 9:30 a.m.). Proceeds benefit the J. Barry Dwyer Memorial Scholarship and the Chelsea High School track, field, and cross-country programs. Register by November 6 to receive a T-shirt!
EXTENDED LEARNING UPDATES
Browne Middle School Extended Learning
Here are some of our students from Craft Club using watercolors!
This week in our Caminos Times Club, our 8th graders were making paper star decorations!
Students have fun in chess club with Mr.G!
Clark Ave. Extended Learning
In the Expressive Art Club with Ms. Kenney and Ms. Kay, students completed their 'thankful jars' and started writing on gratitude leaves - reminding us all that there are so many things to be thankful for.
In Art Studio with Ms. Gilmartin, students have been working diligently on projects that showcase who they are and their interests. Using sharpies, pastels, painstakingly cutting cardboard, and using perspective, their projects are coming along!
In Newspaper Club with Mr. Tyman, students have been using a template, completing interviews, and creating engaging material for their first issue which should be out by mid-December!
In the Yearbook Committee with Ms. Metsky and Ms. Waxman, students have been getting the real feel for what it means by putting together fun images to include in their pages and working with real camera gear to capture the spirit of the school community!
Wright Middle School Extended Learning Updates
There was lot of exciting learning from our after-school programs this week.
Intramural Updates
This week the 5th and 6th grade intramural basketball season begins. Students from all three middle schools are getting ready for their games this Friday. Officer Studdo is having fun during cpd open gym, playing all time QB.
EARLY LEARNING CENTER UPDATES
American Education Week
This week we celebrate our public school community. Spirit week festivities honor the team of people who work in our nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria workers, administrative staff, plus countless others. The ELC was excited to invite people from the school district and community to participate by being a guest readers in classrooms. We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all our guest readers who put smiles on all our student's faces throughout the week!
A full-circle moment.
A full-circle moment. One of Dr. Abeyta's former students is now a kindergarten teacher in the very district she leads. When Ms. Ana Sazo saw Dr. Abeyta last year, she said, “You were my principal!” This week Dr. Abeyta had the joy of reading to her kindergarten class. It was especially meaningful because 29 years ago, Dr. Abeyta began her teaching career teaching kindergarten. A beautiful reminder that kindergarten teachers can become superintendents, too!
Caminos Room 347 had a fun American Education Week/Spirit week starting with superintendent Dr Abeyta coming to read to our class. This week we learned about birds, so we made our own turkey. We took time to draw what we are thankful for and finish our Fun Friday relaxing watching a movie about Birds.
Guest Reader Mr. Albie for Mrs. Fowler and Mr. Tom's Class!
Here is room 307 am and pm enjoying American Education Week along with out guest readers Ms.Sofia and Mr.Diego!
Room 236 at the ELC celebrated Author, Grace Lin by trying DIM SUM!
Students celebrated Author, Grace Lin by trying DIM SUM! The food was sent in by a family in our class!
Fun Friday
Students colored turkey headbands and held a harvest feast to celebrate Thanksgiving festivities at the ELC.
AEW Spirit Week activities
Teddy Bear Day, Career Day and Crazy hair/hat Day from room 407!
Fun with Folktales family event
First graders closed out their Unit on Folktales from Around the World by inviting families in to recreate a scene from their favorite folktale and share their folktale narrative writing.
HOOKS SCHOOL UPDATES
Natural Disasters Unit
Grade 4 students in H301, students have been excited to dive into our natural disasters unit. Working in small groups, students explored the four different types of volcanoes. After reading and discussing their features, each group created a mini-poster to showcase what they learned. They then presented their posters to the class, teaching one another and reinforcing their understanding through collaboration.
Read to Grow
Readers in Mrs. Tylicki's Read to Grow have been learning about final e syllables. We are identifying the final e syllables and writing sentences with the final e words. They are working so hard!
KELLY SCHOOL UPDATES
City Manager Fidel Maltez Visits the Kelly School
Students and staff at the Kelly School spent time with a special visitor last Friday!
City of Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez spent time with students in the cafeteria at lunch, participated in a second grade math lesson and read "I Am Ruby Bridges" to fourth grade students.
Thank you to the City Manager for taking time to visit our schools and students!
Hat Day at the Kelly
Students and staff enjoyed hat day.
MORRIS H. SEIGAL CLARK AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
Science at the Clark
Science at the Clark encourages students to be student-scientists as they explore scientific concepts and phenomena. In recent classroom visits, students were observed discussing their learning in a scientist circle, exploring models to explain scientific concepts, and asking questions for further investigation. All of this is part of the Open SciEd curriculum which makes learning fun by starting with real world questions and mysteries such as why ice melts, how sound can move objects, and why a bath bomb fizzes and dissolves in water.
CAMSgiving Feast
Clark Avenue staff had a Thanksgiving potluck! So much great food, stories & laughter was shared. There was even a homemade turkey, stuffing & gravy to get into the Thanksgiving spirit!
Spirit Week
The CAMS Student Government planned a Spirit Week full of fun! Teachers and students got into the spirit by dressing up as fictional characters, matching for twin day, showing grade-level spirit with color wars & wearing pajamas to school!
Quarter 1 Celebrations
The 7th grade at Clark Avenue celebrated the end of the quarter with a Quarter 1 Celebration. Awards were given and homerooms challenged each other to some fun games. Students had a bottle flip competition, relay race and many others. At the end, the 7th grade GOAT of the quarter was announced. Students & staff had so much fun!
WRIGHT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY UPDATES
Bridge to Inclusion
As one of the classes in the WSTA Bridge to Inclusion, students in Ms. Aldrich’s and Mr. Flynn’s history class were practicing their map skills while learning about the geography of Africa and the Middle East.
Sweet Treats
Students in 8th grade math are connecting what they learned about scale factors and similarity in geometry to the constant of proportionality in algebra by using plastic cups and Hershey bars! Students measured the dimensions of these varied-sized items and practiced their graphing skills to discover if they were proportional. At the end, everyone got a sweet treat!
CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
CHS TRiO Updates
TRiO students attended the BHCC Compelling Conversation event featuring Monique Coleman. Students enjoyed a presentation by Monique Coleman, where they learned about her history and her acting career.
Relay For Life
We are excited to announce that Chelsea High School will host its first-ever Relay For Life on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in partnership with the American Cancer Society.
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. This marks a meaningful milestone for our district as students, families, staff, and community members unite for a cause that touches the lives of so many.
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
Local organizations, businesses, school clubs, and families are invited to form teams and participate in this special event. Opportunities to volunteer or sponsor are also available!
More information can be found at: relayforlife.org/chsma
We look forward to coming together as a district and community to bring hope, support, and strength to those affected by cancer!!
CHS Drama Club Play
The Chelsea High School Drama Club will be presenting our first production of the year, the farcical comedy Rumors by Neil. The play will go up December 4, 5 and 6, in the CHS auditorium at 7pm. Ticket prices are $8 at the door, and $5 if purchased in advance.
Please contact our Drama Club advisor and director, Iliana Valentin, or producer, Bryan Pinales, with any questions and to purchase tickets in advance.
Here is a list of students involved in the production you will be supporting by coming to see the play:
Aimee Hernandez
Karla Anzora
Amy (Ronnie) Padilla
Joslany Peters
Adriann Best
Sheyly Fajardo
Jaylannie Hunter
Natali (Yuki) Sanches
Khadijatou (Girlie) Bajinka
Arwa Ait-Chaib
Jadiel Canelas Nunez
Melanie Soto
Sofia Guerrero
Kenneth Corado
Ny'Jala Cheek-Cooper
Eliel Canelas Nunez
Aleena Rivera
Andrea Pascual
Police Pup Visits CHS
Cash, Chelsea Police Department's service dog, visited Chelsea High School this week! Students showered Cash with love and kindness. Cash's presence uplifted the whole school!
CHELSEA OPPORTUNITY ACADEMY UPDATES
COA Happenings
The last full week of school before Thanksgiving break included lots of learning at COA, inside and outside the classroom. Science students explored the vastness of the solar system in the hallway, creating a model of the planets and their proximity to the sun. Outside the classroom, students visited The Peterson School and learned about career opportunities the school offers. Staff this week also spent time preparing for the annual COA Thanksgiving Celebration that is happening next Tuesday
CHELSEA VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY UPDATES
CVLA Happenings
Meet CVLA Class of 2026 Student Bessy P!
Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy is the school home to extraordinary students, and we are proud to introduce you to one of them! Meet 12th grader Bessy, who will graduate this June. Bessy’s soft-spoken demeanor belies her many achievements and strengths. Like many CPS students, she has faced significant challenges in her young life. Yet, despite obstacles that would overwhelm many, Bessy made a conscious decision to persist—and to succeed.
Bessy’s academic accomplishments speak for themselves. Last year, Bessy earned almost a perfect score on her first attempt on the 10th grade Math MCAS. By the time she graduates, Bessy will have successfully completed six courses through Bunker Hill Community College. She also maintains an honor roll average in her CVLA classes.
Beyond her academics, Bessy also works part-time at La Colaborativa, contributing to youth development and social activism in our Chelsea community. When she is not studying hard and contributing to social change, Bessy works with her mom to support a catering business. Bessy plans to attend college next year, and we have no doubt she will continue to excel.
Below, Bessy shares some of her thoughts, goals, motivations and advice.
Once I graduate from CVLA, I want to go to college and study Forensic or Business, and do whatever makes me happy.
I am proud of the person I have become throughout the years and what I have been capable of doing.
What motivated me to improve my grades was that I knew I wasn’t performing well at my former school, and that would negatively impact me later on. I would be graduating really late if I didn’t put my mind into school, so I decided to do better if I wanted to graduate and pursue a career later on.
The person who most inspires me most in life is my mother because she has been wonderful, she has worked hard to give my sisters and me the best support she can.
If I could give advice to my 9th-grade self, I would say that I shouldn’t have skipped class and should’ve put more thought into my first year of high school, and not care about others' opinions or follow the things they do, because that will only take me down a bad path. Be yourself.
Once I came to CVLA, I received so much support that I hadn’t received before and I would like to thank all the teachers, Ms. Maccini and Ms. Clayman. I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave to me.
Please join us in congratulating our CVLA students who worked hard achieved Honor Roll Term 1!
High Honors:
Kaylee E
Sophia M
Honors:
Bessy P
Lisette P
Ana A
Soliheydy C
Aeleen C
Julianna F
Pam R
Joseelyn A
Ashly C
CVLA 12th graders Planning for their Futures!
Friday, some of our students from the Class of 2026 gathered at 77 Webster with their staff advisors to work on their post graduation plans, whether those plans include employment, post secondary training or college, volunteer work or enlisting in the military service. Students also enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by one of our CVLA parents!
CVLA Alumni Class of 2024 Alumni Napoleon Jean Lambert Postcard from Camp Sill Oklahoma
The CVLA school community warmly congratulates Class of 2024 graduate Napoleon Jean Lambert on successfully completing his Army Reserve Basic Training this week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His next phase of Army Reserve training will take place in Missouri, where he will pursue electronics certification. Napoleon is also a Salem State University sophomore, currently on leave, majoring in Computer Software Design. We proudly thank Napoleon for his service! Pictured with Napoleon is his proud father, Elephant Jean Lambert.
MESSAGES FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
BU Upward Bound Tutoring & Mentoring
Boston University Upward Bound Math Science has openings for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who want to go to college
Support the Chelsea Kiwanis Club MicroPantry!
The Chelsea Kiwanis Club has proudly adopted the Healthy Chelsea MicroPantry at Iglesia La Luz De Cristo/SELAH (738 Broadway) — helping ensure local families have access to essential items year-round.
Community members can support this effort by donating shelf-stable food and hygiene products.
Donations may also be dropped off at the Chelsea School Department, 500 Broadway, Room #216.
Chelsea Eats Food Drive
The Chelsea Eats Food Drive is collecting non-perishable food items to help feed more than 10,000 residents at risk of losing SNAP benefits this November.
Donations can be dropped off at Chelsea City Hall (basement level, 500 Broadway) during regular hours. Items most needed include canned vegetables, proteins, soups, pasta, grains, boxed milk, tomato sauce, and other shelf-stable foods.
Learn more at www.chelsea.gov/food or call (617) 466-4209.
Chelsea’s Annual Santa Parade & Holiday Tree Lighting – December 6
Kick off the holiday season in Chelsea on Saturday, December 6, 2025! The celebration begins with the Santa Parade from 2–4 p.m., as Santa travels across the city on a fire truck spreading cheer. Then head to Chelsea Square for a festive Holiday Marketplace & Festival from 3–6 p.m., featuring visits with Santa, pony rides, a bouncy house, face painting, caroling, hot cocoa and cookies, and a special screening of The Polar Express. The evening will culminate with the community Holiday Tree Lighting at 4:30 p.m.. This free, family-friendly event is hosted by the City of Chelsea.
For more information, visit chelseama.gov/annualevents
Chelsea Youth Basketball Winter Leagues
Registration is open for Winter Leagues with the Chelsea Youth Basketball League! Students and families can visit their website below to see information about all the CYBL programs and to register. CYBL offers programs for youth as young as four and through 10th grade