CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

While it was a hot one, we had a terrific second week of school. The schools were very busy with staff working with students to establish relationships and create solid routines to set the stage for success this school year. Before you know it, students will be well on their way with their activities and learning, and it will be as if they have been in school for months! It has been wonderful to see our schools “come alive” again with the return of all our students and staff.

The beginning of the school year can be very hectic for families, with information, recommendations, and requirements coming fast and furious. Please be on the lookout for important paperwork and notices that are time-sensitive such as health forms, field trip paperwork, and upcoming events from the schools. Each school will send weekly newsletters that highlight events happening along with informational notices. When in doubt about what is needed or when something is supposed to take place, please reach out to your child’s teacher or principal for clarification. I also encourage you to attend your child’s open house as another way to learn more about the happenings at school and to ask any questions. Additionally, please take note of our Student/Family Handbook and Chelmsford High School Handbook Addendum to provide additional information about our school policies and procedures.

In closing, please keep in mind that Monday, September 11th will mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. Two decades later, this event has created an enduring legacy where an overwhelming share of Americans still remember exactly what they were doing when the attacks unfolded that day and how the entire nation came together in a spirit of sadness and patriotism. Although our students have no personal memory of that day, there are many opportunities to take a step into the past to remember and learn about that day. Each year, commemorative events are held at all three sites on the anniversary of the attacks. At the annual observance held at the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, family members of the victims read aloud the names of those killed in the 9/11 attacks and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Please find time on Monday to keep those affected by these events in your thoughts.

This week’s newsletter features snapshots of student learning, events, and district news stories. The warm weather looks like it will continue to hold on for the weekend with a break coming for next week. Please enjoy the warmer weather this weekend and stay safe.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• 9/11 Remembrance 9/11, All Day
• 9/11 McCarthy MS PTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 9/11 Parker MS PTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 9/12 Parker MS Gr. 5 Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
• 9/14, Campus Bound Live Webinar, 6:30 p.m.

Chelmsford High School has over 30 DE offerings for the 2023-2024 school year. If a student is currently enrolled in a DE course section, they should complete the following to receive DE credit from Middlesex Community College:

1. Complete the DE Application form- SY23 Application Form (for any student who has NOT previously taken Dual Enrollment).

2. Complete the Registration form from MCC- SY23 Registration Form (all students must complete this form)

3. Provide completed forms to your Guidance Counselor and request their signatures and a copy of your high school transcript (please provide them with at least 2 days to complete)

4. Turn in completed forms and transcript to Ms. Cunningham in the Career and College Readiness Center no later than Friday, September 15, 2023, for Fall Semester DE Courses.

The Middlesex Community College (MCC) Dual Enrollment per credit rate is $126. Most classes are 3-4 credits. Bills are sent directly from MCC in late October. Please see the CHS website for more information - Dual Enrollment at CHS

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.

With any luck, the classes of 2028 through 2031 and beyond just might be some of the fittest to ever graduate from Chelmsford High School. The students (and staff) at the McCarthy and Parker middle schools now have all the means. New fitness centers at each middle school officially opened Tuesday, Aug. 29, and feature an array of exercise equipment that could rival some high schools. It was the collaboration of Katie Simes, the Health Education, Physical Education, and Consumer Sciences coordinator at Chelmsford Schools, and Director of Facilities Brian Curley as well as their collective staff. To read more and view more pictures of the fitness center, please visit our website.

There are nearly 40 clubs and organizations from which students can choose at Chelmsford High School, but few with a profoundly personal mission as the newest club on campus. The Body Positive Alliance is an equal parts support group, motivational messenger, and safe haven. It is the result of a January 2023 English class conversation about body image between Jennifer Yu and Sofia Trottier, then sophomores. A day later, Ms. Trottier had a similar conversation with then-sophomore Emma Kelley. Please visit our website to read more about the Body Positive Alliance.

Welcome to Chelmsford Community Education! Fall classes are available for all to sign up. To get started please Create an Account with all your household information. The data provided (emergency contacts, medical information, etc.) will help us better serve you. This info will also be automatically placed into your registration forms. When you’re ready to start registering for activities, be sure to review the How to Register for an Activity page. We look forward to seeing you!

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.

Each year, the schools hold an open house for families to visit and learn more about what students are learning at school. Please mark your calendars with the following dates below to visit your child(ren) schools!

Please see the College and Career Event Schedule for CHS students. Follow the CHS Career and College Readiness Center on Instagram: @chs.careercenter

Apply now for free and reduced lunch.

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 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 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