CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the end of 2025 and winter officially begins on Sunday!

We’re ending the year on a high note, as we had yet another wonderful community forum for the Parker Middle School Building Project on Wednesday night. Like the previous public visioning sessions, it was recorded by Chelmsford Telemedia and will be shared online for all to view soon. There will be more opportunities for public input in the new year, so make sure to keep an eye out for communication about those dates in the coming weeks and months.

As you prepare to turn the calendar to January, take note of the upcoming half-days and no school days for the remainder of the year in the current academic calendar. Please help keep your children informed, as these dates come up quickly, and we want to make sure all students are prepared for changes in their regular schedules including daycare and bus/pickup routines.

For those who may be wondering, kindergarten registration will be held Tuesday, January 27, and Wednesday, January 28, 2026. If you have friends or neighbors with children entering kindergarten next fall, please let them know they will need to schedule an appointment to come in and register. A link to do so will be shared in the Action Center on the district and elementary school websites in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out for that.

Our schools will be closed for winter break beginning Wednesday, December 24, and will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026. Whether or not you celebrate any significant holidays or traditions this time of the year, I hope you are able to take some time to relax and enjoy family and friends, as well as do the things that make you happy. With 2025 coming to a close, now is the perfect time to reflect on how much you have accomplished over the past year and celebrate your successes. I look forward to seeing everyone in 2026.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule

• December Recess - No School: Dec. 24-Jan. 2
• School Resumes: Monday, Jan. 5
• South Row PTO Meeting: Monday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. - Virtual
• Chelmsford School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m., Central Administration Offices
• Byam School Association Meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. - Virtual
• Middle School PTO Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m. - Virtual

The next Chelmsford School Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Central Administration Offices, 230 North Road. The meeting can be viewed on Comcast channel 22 or Verizon channel 36. It will also be live-streamed by Chelmsford Telemedia here.

The agenda for the meeting, when it becomes available, will be posted here.

If you missed the Dec. 16 School Committee meeting, it can be viewed below:

As our schools reopen, this is a final reminder that all students riding the school bus must be registered regardless if a fee is required.

Register Now

Please keep in mind the following:

• All riders must be registered online.
• INCOMPLETE REGISTRATION: Anyone who has received an e-mail message regarding an incomplete bus registration and/or has not completed the registration will not receive a bus pass or be on the driver’s passenger roster.
• ALTERNATE ADDRESS: Any student using an alternate address must contact the transportation department immediately. All riders' addresses are automatically reset to the home address each year. Alternate addresses must be for all 5 days of the week.
• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Anyone who has chosen the 'seeking financial assistance' option during registration must apply and be approved for the free and reduced lunch program.

For more information, contact the Transportation Office at 978-251-5100 or by e-mail at brekalisp@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

Members of Chelmsford High School's National English Honor Society (NEHS) volunteered to read to South Row students during the week of Dec. 15-19. The volunteers really enjoyed the opportunity to engage with the youth and see the joy on the children's faces as they read aloud to them.

To view more photos from Wednesday's Read Aloud sessions, please visit our website.

This week, Parker Middle School students graphed items on a coordinate plane created on the classroom floor. They moved around the room placing items using the correct x- and y-coordinates, reinforcing their understanding of ordered pairs and graphing in Quadrant I.

Featuring original artwork by the students of Mr. Miller and Mrs. Tiano, these art pieces represent the spirit and theme of the McCarthy and Parker Middle School Winter Orchestra Concert, transforming the sounds of winter into visual stories and setting the stage for the performance.

The Town of Chelmsford is in the process of working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in order to construct a new school for the community.

The project has been accepted into the feasibility study phase, with the School Building Committee recently bringing on board LeftField, LLC, as the Owners Project Manager (OPM) and Ai3 Architects as the project designer.

Two community forums regarding the Parker Middle School Building Project have been held over the past couple months. Chelmsford Telemedia recorded both events and have made them available to view here:

If you're looking for additional information about the ongoing Parker Middle School Building Project, please visit our website to learn more and stay updated:

The next School Building Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Chelmsford Public Schools Administration Offices, 230 North Road, Chelmsford.

If you missed the Dec. 18 meeting, you can watch it here:

All eight of Chelmsford Public Schools' PTOs, as well as the Council of Chelmsford Schools, now have their very own website. It's a one-stop shop to find out information about PTO meetings, events, fundraisers, scholarships and much more.

Registration for Chelmsford Community Education’s Winter/Spring session is open!

CommEd is excited to offer a wide variety of engaging programs this winter and spring. Here are just a few highlights you can look forward to:

• Creative Arts & Crafts
• Youth STEM Workshops
• Adult Fitness & Wellness
• Culinary Classes
• Enrichment Programs for All Ages

To explore all the course offerings for the Winter/Spring session, visit ChelmsfordCommunityEd.com. Be sure to check the website regularly and follow Chelmsford Community Education on Facebook and Instagram (@commedwestlands) for the latest updates and announcements.

Sketchbook Spectacular is a FREE art initiative open to artists of all ages in the Chelmsford community and beyond. All mediums are welcome, including drawing, watercolor and collage. Participants are encouraged to explore prompts in their sketchbooks, but the prompts can also inspire free-standing artwork. Developed by Parker Middle School artist-educator Ashley Norman, this project is perfect for starting or maintaining an art practice throughout the year. Want to share your work? Email your art to normana@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

Chelmsford High School is looking to expand its current partnerships to support the Innovation Pathways Program. Final requirements for this program require students to complete an industry-related capstone project or internship during the spring of their senior year in high-need employment areas such as business & finance, information technology, engineering, and life sciences. More information about our pathways can be found here.

If your business would like to be a part of this partnership, please reach out to Ms. DaSilva, the Career and College Facilitator, and Mr. Morris, the K12 Science Coordinator.

This year, Massachusetts is offering all school lunch and breakfast at no charge to students. This does not automatically make families eligible for any other benefits. Families that feel they are eligible for transportation or extended day reduced tuition are strongly encouraged to fill out the online free and reduced meal application.

Chelmsford High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) held its inaugural Festival of Trees during the first weekend of December with proceeds benefiting the CPS Holiday Fund for Families in Need.

Advisor Jennifer McManus said the idea to hold the Festival of Trees was based on a long-standing community event in the town in which she grew up. When she approached the NHS officers with the idea, they eagerly jumped on board.

Continue reading about the event on our website.

Dozens of colleges and universities sent representatives to Chelmsford High School during the fall to meet with students interested in continuing their education at a post-secondary institution. More dates for spring visits will be added soon. Please see the College Visit Schedule for more updates.

Follow the CHS Career and College Readiness Center on Instagram: @chs.careercenter

We are thrilled to announce a partnership with Middlesex Community College (MCC) offering all CHS freshmen a free, 1-credit College and Career Exploration I course. This fully online, self-paced program allows students to build essential study habits and explore potential careers via Edgenuity and SCOIR, with support available during PLUS and PRIDE Blocks. To earn this free college credit, students must complete the course modules by June 1. Registration is now open: interested students must submit the required google form (link HERE) and MCC application paperwork to Gabriella DaSilva in the Career Center no later than Jan. 16, 2026. Students can get a copy of the MCC application and registration forms with their guidance counselors or Ms. DaSilva . Students that completed IDS101 last year will be contacted individually to register for IDS 106. Please contact Ms. DaSilva at dasilvag@chelmsford.k12.ma.us for application forms or questions.

The Chelmsford Public Schools utilizes SchoolSpring to advertise job postings and the online application process. To apply for any of our positions, please visit our website.

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.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 7-8:00 p.m.

Big emotions are a normal part of growing up. But when kids avoid hard feelings, those emotions can feel even bigger over time. In this webinar, Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., will share simple, developmentally appropriate ways to help kids face tough emotions instead of pushing them away. Families will learn practical tools and everyday language to support children when they feel worried, overwhelmed, or stuck — and help build confidence at home and at school.

Register here.

There are a plethora of local youth sports and scouting organizations that hold fundraisers and recruiting events throughout the school year. Some may also be seeking volunteers. If you're a parent looking for social and skill-building opportunities for your child or children, we have launched a new webpage devoted to just that. In addition to event information, this resource page will also feature links to all the websites or social media accounts for youth sports leagues and scouting troops. So head on over there and check it out!

Chelmsford High School has a cashless system for admittance to its regular season home athletic events. To get your tickets, CHS has partnered with GoFan.co, a digital, cashless ticketing app used by more than 10,000 schools, for fast and convenient payments for regular season home games. CHS fans are encouraged to download the GoFan app. For Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association postseason tournaments, the MIAA also utilizes GoFan.co as its own ticketing system. Visit the MIAA Ticket Information page.

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

Instagram: @chelmsfordpublicschools X: @CPSchoolsMA