Greetings CPS Community…
If we haven’t met yet, I am Dr. Victoria Greer, the proud Superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools.
Happy First Day of School! I hope all of our 1st through 12th graders had a wonderful first day back in the classroom. We cannot wait to see our Junior Kindergarten, Special Start, and Kindergarten students this Thursday.
This is my favorite time of year! Our hallways are bursting with excitement, eager smiles, and stories of summertime adventures… and also, some back-to-school jitters. My team and I are so excited to welcome each of our students, families, and staff to the new school year. We will be visiting all of the schools this week and promise to work with schools to ensure your child’s transition goes smoothly.
A few quick reminders for our families:
First…if you haven’t already done so, please fill out the annual forms as soon as possible through the Family Portal.
Second…make sure you have registered for ParentSquare. It is our main way of communicating with you. If you need help registering or choosing your preferred language, please call your child’s school.
Finally…embrace this time of new beginnings filled with hope, possibility, meaningful relationships, and wonderful friends as we lean into the 2023-2024 school year!
Make it Great!
Dr. Victoria L. Greer
Headlines
First Day of School Smiles
What a wonderful first day of school! We are thrilled to have our students back and welcome our new students! Take a look at a few of the big smiles we spotted today!
Don’t Miss Our Second Community Fair!
Our second 2023 Community Fair is happening this weekend! On Saturday, September 9, come meet community partners, learn about community services, and pick up free supplies and clothing at the Peabody School. Dr. Greer is also hosting an “Ask Dr. Greer” table to address your questions and concerns.
- Saturday, September 9 | 10AM - 12PM
- Peabody School (70 Rindge Avenue)
Track Your Child’s School Bus in Real Time
Families who are eligible for school bus transportation should have been notified through ParentSquare with where your child’s bus stop is located and the route.
If your child plans to take the school bus this school year, please download our Bus Tracker App, which allows families to track the location of their child's school bus by GPS.
To register:
- Have your child’s Student ID number. (It is included in your annual forms packet and can be requested from the school.)
- Click New Account and follow the instructions.
- Locate the bus tracker at bus.cpsd.us or if you are using a mobile device, create a shortcut on your home screen to make logging in easier.
- See the User Guide for more instructions and troubleshooting.
Changes Impacting How to Watch Tonight’s School Committee Meeting
As usual, you can watch tonight’s School Committee meeting on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV). A gentle reminder that due to recent changes with Comcast:
- Content previously shown on Channel 99 can now be found on Channel 26. This includes school news and information including school committee meetings, and programs from other educational, nonprofit, and government sources.
- Content previously shown on Channel 98 can now be found on Channel 6. This includes original work from students and faculty, professionally produced educational programs, school events, including sports, and programming acquired from other educational access facilities.
- Information regarding CEATV is still available on our website.
Updated COVID-19 Policies & Procedures
Throughout the pandemic, we prioritized safe, in-person learning and made significant investments in a comprehensive plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We worked closely with the Cambridge Public Health Department and our school leaders to monitor the public health situation, gather input from scientific, medical, and educator experts (Health, Safety, and Facilities Working Group), and update our policies and procedures as necessary.
Below is a summary of our current policies and procedures, which align with the end of the COVID-19 Federal Emergency on May 11, 2023. Please note that we are poised to again respond quickly if conditions change.
- Dashboard: The COVID-19 Dashboard is no longer collecting community metrics.
- Isolation Guidance: Students and staff members who test positive must isolate at home for 5 days. They can return on day 5 if asymptomatic and fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications. A mask must be worn on days 6-10.
- Testing Plan: Our four-part plan focuses on targeted at-home testing after school breaks.
- Vaccination: Students are no longer required to be fully vaccinated to participate in school-sponsored before and after school activities.
- Masking: With the exception of the Nurse’s Office, masks continue to be optional in all school buildings.
- Ventilation: Every school has maximized air circulation through a combination of central systems, HEPA filters, windows, and fans. Regular air quality testing is also conducted and outdoor learning is periodically utilized.
Job and Housing Opportunities for Families
Join the CPS Team!
Cambridge Public Schools is seeking to hire talented education professionals for positions including Administrators, Teachers, Instructional Aides, and Substitutes for the 2023 - 2024 school year! We look forward to recruiting and hiring excellent educators to join our school communities for the upcoming school year.
Volunteer in Our School Cafeterias
The City of Cambridge is looking for volunteers to help our students recycle and compost properly after breakfast and lunch.
- No experience necessary.
- This can be a long- or short-term commitment, but the most help is needed in September.
- Fill out the form here.
- Questions? Contact [email protected] or call 617.349.4836.
Cambridge Preschool Program Coming in SY24-25
The Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP), also known as Universal Preschool, is a publicly-funded program and a joint partnership between the City of Cambridge, the Department of Human Service Programs, and Cambridge Public Schools.
- It will provide free preschool to the families of all 4-year-olds and some 3-year-olds.
- CPP will replace our current Junior Kindergarten-Kindergarten Lottery for the 2024-2025 School Year.
- A child is eligible if they live in Cambridge and are:
- 4 years old by August 31, 2024 for 4-year-old programs; or
- 3 years old by August 31, 2024 for 3-year-old programs (please note there will be limited seats for 3-year-olds and there may be additional eligibility requirements)
- The single, centralized online application will open in winter 2023/2024.
- A paper application will be available.
Learn more:
‘Bridge to CRLS’ Welcomes 9th Graders to High School
Last week, our rising 9th graders were welcomed to CRLS at the annual Bridge to CRLS event, which supports students’ transition to high school.
Scholars took part in a student-to-student panel with peer mentors, had their ID photos taken, picked up their CRLS Chromebooks, toured the building, and bonded with new classmates over Sno Cones, ice cream, and arts and crafts!
Celebrating Our New Educators
We are thrilled to be welcoming dozens of new educators to our school community this school year! In late August, these educators took part in a two-day orientation, which connected them to various resources and colleagues within CPS ahead of their first day of school. Please join us in welcoming them to the district!
Key Resources
Mark Your Calendar
Thursday, September 7 | First Day of School (Junior Kindergarten, Special Start & Kindergarten)
Wednesday, September 20 | Early Release (Grades JK-8)
Monday, September 25 | Yom Kippur (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
Monday, October 9 | Indigenous Peoples Day (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
Wednesday, October 25 | Early Release (Grades JK-8)