CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

“Believe it or not,” today is Friday the 13th, which is considered an unlucky day since the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday. Many people believe this combination of day and date is particularly ominous and may choose to avoid certain activities or undertake precautions. The origins of this day are uncertain, it is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages. It is important to note that superstitions are not based on any scientific evidence, and Friday the 13th is no more likely to be associated with bad luck than any other day of the year. The good news about the 13th is that during my visits to the schools today, I saw how lucky our students are learning as they were engaged in a variety of educational activities.

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. And don’t forget, if your child needs support with studying or assignments, please remind them in addition to after-school time with their teachers, they can log on to Paper through their Clever account to connect with a tutor for help. Paper tutors are available 24/7 to support students in all subjects. For more information about Paper academic support, please visit our website.

We are entering a long weekend with Monday, January 16th 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 using nonviolent actions. 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.

The mild weather has been great for getting outdoors these past few weeks with more to come. Hopefully, you can get out and enjoy it while it lasts. I wish you a wonderful long weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• View complete athletics schedules here.

• No School - MLK, 1/16, All Day

• School Committee, 1/17, 6:00 p.m.

• MMEA All States Auditions, 1/21, All Day

• Kindergarten Registration, 1/24 & 1/25, By appointment

2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

(Approximately 15-minute appointments)

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 & 25, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION CENTRAL OFFICE

230 NORTH ROAD, CHELMSFORD, MA

Book Your Appointment Now

Click on the RESERVE YOUR APPOINTMENT link to enter parent/guardian contact information and preferred appointment time within a three-hour window. You will then be contacted to confirm a date and time for your registration appointment. Registration packets may also be dropped off at the School Administration Office, 230 North Road, Chelmsford, MA:

Monday – Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., if you are not able to attend these two dates.

In addition to the completed student registration packet, the required documentation to submit is listed on the CPS Student Registration page. For additional information or questions on kindergarten registration please contact Jane McDonald at mcdonaldj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us; or 978-251-5100, ext. 6901

Grade-level meetings at South Row today with a focus on Nutrition. Great job by all the 4th-grade student council members that read The Two Bite Club to the different grade levels.

View the latest news regarding scholarship information and process for the Chelmsford High School Class of 2023 on our website.

Many photographers will agree that the most moving photos often come from the most ordinary of settings. Chelmsford High School senior Sharon Chen would also agree, as her 3-photo sequence of her mother making pan-fried dumplings won the 2022-23 CHS Celebrations and Traditions Photography Contest. Ms. Chen’s photo was among 19 submissions to the Contest, which was open to the student body for the first time this year after several years held within art educator Allison Gover’s photography courses. The contest is typically situated around the holidays to showcase the family celebrations, traditions, and occasions of CHS students. As the winner, Ms. Chen received a collection of art supplies from Ms. Gover as well as art educators Madalena Alves and Diane Cogliano, who also judged the competition (Ms. Chen is also enrolled in Ms. Gover’s Studio Art III class). To read more about the contest, other student submissions, and to view the picture gallery, please visit our website.

Former Chelmsford High coach Mike O’Keefe has hit exalted status in the Bay State baseball ranks. The Chelmsford native is one of four high school coaches who will be inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association (MBCA) Hall of Fame at the Four Points by Sheraton in Wakefield on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. Read more about this induction at the Lowell Sun.

Chelmsford Community Education, which has provided diverse and unique programming to people of all ages in the Chelmsford community and beyond, has named Dan Sherman as its new brass and piano instructor. A native of Peabody, Mass., Mr. Sherman will be teaching in-person, one-on-one lessons on Mondays for the CCE winter-spring session, which begins on Monday, Jan. 23. To register for lessons or for more information on programming, visit ChelmsfordCommunityEd.com or call 978-251-5151, extension 6091.

Eleven Chelmsford High School alumni took part in the CHS Career and College Readiness Center’s Reverse College Day, Thursday, Jan. 5. In a timed-table format, CHS students were able to hear the diverse experiences of most of the alumni.

We’re grateful to the following alumni for taking part:

• Mike Stagnone ’22 (Boston College)
• Hannah Mattsen ’20 (Clark University)
• Bridget Sheehan ’20 (Saint Anselm)
• Kate Mason ’22 (University of New Hampshire)
• Lea Mitchell ’22 (University of Massachusetts)
• Michelle Mwangi ’22 (Howard University)
• Katelyn Fox ’21 (Simmons University)
• Allie Lococo ’22 (Holy Cross)
• Theo Farag ’22 (UMass Lowell)
• Lyla El- Gamel ’22 (Temple University)
• Haley Ruccio ’21 (Quinnipiac)

Please see the gallery of pictures of this event on our website.

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.

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