CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

February is flying by with vacation week already upon us. Beginning at the end of today, our schools will be closed for February vacation and will reopen Monday, February 23.

Once again, we have welcomed our international Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fulbright Scholars to the district. Chelmsford High School is hosting six of the 21 fellows who are engaging in professional development and collaboration activities with their teacher hosts, as they gain insights into American teaching methods. This grant funded program, in partnership with UMass Lowell, fosters cross-cultural exchange and equips educators with the tools necessary to excel in their classrooms back home. UMass Lowell's commitment to excellence in education is reflected in its participation in this esteemed Fulbright initiative, and Chelmsford is proud to be a partner with UML in this program. All 21 Fulbright Scholars will attend our next school committee meeting on Tuesday, February 24, to observe a town committee meeting and share experiences from their time at the different schools.

February 15 is National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day. Our incredible SROs Ashley Rokas, Dan Sullivan and David Linstad act as liaisons between the school community and law enforcement. They serve our students and families by providing informal counseling, mentoring, education, and law enforcement roles to support our entire district. SROs have a diverse role and are invaluable, essential members of the education community in the pursuit of maintaining safe schools and protecting students. We are fortunate to have this partnership with the Chelmsford Police Department and very much appreciate the continued collaboration with CPD in support of our schools. Please join me in acknowledging their dedication and the positive impact our SROs make each day.

There are several holidays coming up in the next week that many CPS families observe. Tuesday, February 17, begins the Lunar New Year, otherwise known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. This is one of the most important holidays in China and other Asian communities, with 2026 being the Year of the Horse. Tuesday is also the start of Ramadan, which is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, communal prayer, reflection and community. We also have Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 18, marking the start of Lent. I hope all who recognize these occasions enjoy your observances!

February is also Black History Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans and the crucial roles they played in founding and shaping the United States of America. During the month, there are many activities and lessons in our classrooms celebrating the achievements of African Americans. In addition, the Chelmsford High School Black Student Union will be holding BSU Spirit Week February 23-27. This week will serve as an opportunity for the school community to celebrate Black history, culture and unity in a positive, inclusive and school-wide way. Black History Month is not just about looking back; it is about recognizing resilience, celebrating culture and continuing to build understanding and unity within our community.

Have a wonderful and relaxing break; we’ll see you all on February 23!

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule

• February Vacation - No School: Feb. 16-20
• School Building Committee Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., Central Administration Offices
• Chelmsford School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m., Central Administration Offices
• South Row Science Fair: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., South Row Elementary School
• CHS South Africa Trip Informational Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., Chelmsford High School Learning Commons
• South Row PTO Meeting: Monday, March 2, 7 p.m., South Row Elementary School
• Chelmsford School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, March 3, 6 p.m., Central Administration Offices
• K-12 Youth Art Month Exhibit Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 4, 5 p.m., Chelmsford Public Library
  
• CHS Wellness Fair: Friday, March 6, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Chelmsford High School
• Instrument Test Drive: Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m., Chelmsford High School

The next Chelmsford School Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 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.

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

If you missed the Feb. 3 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.

Registration for Summerfest 2026 will open on Wednesday, February 18, at 10 a.m.

Register on ChelmsfordCommunityEd.com.

Summerfest: Open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. For students in 1st-6th grade.

Dates: July 6 -August 14

We will have all our favorite areas open this summer: the STEM Room, Art Room, Chill Zone, Gym, Playground, Waterplay and Outdoor Rec. Summerfest will allow all students to visit each exciting area of Summerfest during the week, providing them with multiple activities during their day.

Spots fill very quickly, often within the first few minutes of being open. Please be sure to register for the waitlist if a week you are interested in is full.

Learn more here.

Chelmsford High School staff and students attended a watch party in the PAC on Wednesday morning, Feb. 11, in support of 2018 graduate Chevonne Forgan, who along with her partner Sophia Kirkby, competed in the first ever women's doubles luge event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

The Parker Middle School community collected 3,500 items for the Chelmsford Food Pantry as part of the school's Souper Bowl food drive. Student Council members helped to deliver the supplies to the pantry on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Congratulations to CHS student Jane Nute on winning the Grade 9-12 category of the Massachusetts Art Educators Association (MAEA) Youth Art Month Poster Design Contest! The theme for the 2026 Poster Contest and Virtual YAM exhibit is “The World Needs Art.”

Jane's recognition at the state level reflects the strong visual arts instruction at CHS and their guidance in preparing students for professional-level design competitions. Her design will be featured on the MAEA website.

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.

Three community forums regarding the Parker Middle School Building Project have been held over the past few months. Chelmsford Telemedia recorded all of these 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, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Chelmsford Public Schools Administration Offices, 230 North Road, Chelmsford.

If you missed the Jan. 15 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.

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.

Click the image above to purchase tickets.

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.

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

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.

Here are some noteworthy events and activities taking place around Chelmsford in the coming weeks:

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.

Click the image above to read The Booster Beat

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