CPS Superintendent's Update
PERSEVERANCE * RESPECT * INTEGRITY * DEDICATION * EMPATHY
Superintendent's Update - 3.4.2022
Dear CPS Community,
I hope you had a wonderful transition back to school this week from the February break. Although still chilly outside, I am happy to report that March did not “come in like a lion” and decided to leave a major snow event for February instead. Hopefully, we will be “out like a lamb” and see a rise in temperatures as the sun is higher in the sky and daylight is longer as each day passes. As we continue into March, we enter a longer stretch of time in school, with minimal disruptions to the calendar. This time of year allows for more consistent schedules before our next official school vacation break in April.
As communicated over the break, beginning this past Monday, February 28th, we shifted to being mask-optional in schools. Each school reported this week went well, and that students and staff were able to make seamless adjustments to individual and family choices about masking. Subsequently, the US Centers for Disease Control updated their guidance for face coverings on public transportation to not require the wearing of masks on buses and vans operated by public or private school systems. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) confirmed this information and updated their guidance to districts to reflect that it is no longer required that masks be worn on school buses or vans for K-12 students and children in child care. To be consistent with our district mask-optional policy, students no longer are required to wear masks on school buses and vans. Students may certainly continue to wear masks if they desire and all individuals are respected for their individual masking choices, whether they elect to wear one or not. It seems we are well on our way to witnessing the end of many COVID-19 protocols as the number of positive cases are very low in schools, the town, and the state.
I have two important updates to share with you about our strategic planning work to help us guide our goals for the next several years. Our district and school committee are working with consultants from the District Management Group (DMGroup) to help us through the strategic planning process and to begin building the plan that will set the vision, mission, and goals that will drive the work we do in our schools over the next several years. We have been holding many stakeholder meetings to gather feedback. Next week, the district will be hosting an opportunity for all community members to provide feedback on our schools with three sessions on March 9th. There are two virtual sessions and one in-person session. Please registrar in advance for a virtual session and you will receive a link to join for the time you select. You do not need to register in advance for the in-person session. I welcome you to join one of these sessions to give your input on our schools. Your input is important and helpful for us to plan for the future of our schools.
Community Input Sessions – Wednesday, March 9th
Option #1 Virtual Session: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Please use the following Registration Link
Option #2 Virtual Session: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please use the following Registration Link
Option #3 In-Person Session: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. McCarthy Middle School Library, 250 North Road, Chelmsford
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Yours truly,
Jay Lang, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Upcoming Events
Community Input Sessions, 3/9, 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
Parker MS - The Little Mermaid, 3/11, 7:00 p.m., 3/12 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
ICHSA Varsity Vocals Competition, 3/12, 3:00 p.m.
Family Resources to Discuss Ukraine Events with Children
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Paper - Free Online Tutoring for CPS Students
"Cat In The Hat" Day at Lions' PRIDE Preschool
LIME’s 2022 In Tune Showcase - Clean River Project
Chelmsford High School’s Leaders In Motion Everywhere (LIME), a student organization focused on teaching students leadership skills through event planning and management, raised more than $1,700 for the Clean River Project with its musical variety production of ‘In Tune’ Feb. 11 at the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center. Returning live to the PAC following a one-year absence due to the Covid-19 outbreak, In Tune featured a dozen student musicians and groups performing genres such as a cappella, blues, folk, classical violin, and even beatbox. The event drew 175 spectators. To read more about this event, please visit our website.
Parker Snowshoers and McCarthy "Bucket List" Vacation Challenge Winners
Parker MS Drama Club Performs The Little Mermaid Jr.
The Parker Middle School Drama Club, spearheaded by music director/educator Martha Robinson and director Timothy Chase, will perform its winter musical production of The Little Mermaid, Jr., Friday and Saturday, Mar. 11-12, at the McCarthy Middle School Auditorium.
The Parker Drama Club will perform three shows including:
- Friday, Mar. 11 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Mar. 12 at 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Mar. 12 at 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person. The production marks the second live performance at the McCarthy Auditorium following a three-year absence due to the Covid-19 outbreak. On Feb. 6-7, the McCarthy Drama Club performed the musical Moana, Jr.
For more information, contact the Parker Middle School at (978) 251-5133.
Chelmsford Public Schools MAEA Youth Art Month Exhibit
March is Youth Art Month and we have two galleries to celebrate. In concert with Massachusetts Art Educators Association (MAEA) K-12 Youth Art Month, we are pleased to share our students’ excellent work in the MAEA Virtual Gallery below. In addition, the Chelmsford Public Library is showcasing an extensive collection of artwork by Chelmsford Public Schools students from Friday, Mar. 4 to Thursday, Mar. 31.
READ: A letter from Dr. Christy Whittlesey, CPS K-12 Fine and Performing Arts Department Coordinator
South Row Extended Day Snow Time Creations!
Volunteers Needed!! CHS Career Exploration
The CHS Career Exploration Breakfast will be held on March 15, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. This breakfast offers CHS juniors the opportunity to select two careers of interest and spend time with a professional in that field. Speakers share their interests, educational background, and what skills are needed to perform their jobs to give juniors career awareness and support them in planning their futures. We are looking for professionals in the following careers to volunteer their time to share their experiences with our CHS juniors. If you are interested, please contact Alexandrea Cunningham at: cunninghamalex@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.
CPS Employment Opportunities
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.
CHELMSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION
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.
Chelmsford Public Schools
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