CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

Spring has officially arrived and with it comes a busy stretch here at Chelmsford Public Schools. Our athletes will be embarking on a new season, our musicians are gearing up for concerts and festivals and we have plenty of science and STEAM fairs, talent shows and other exciting events still to come.

Two of our students had their artwork selected as the Massachusetts Art Education Association's President’s Choice Award winners for Youth Art Month. Congratulations to Tessa, a second grader at Harrington Elementary School, and Carson, a sixth-grade student at Parker Middle School, who have their work on exhibit as part of the National Art Education Association Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Also, the Youth Art Month Virtual Gallery featuring work from students in grades K-12 is live on the MAEA website. If you have time this weekend, take a moment to admire and appreciate these incredible works of art.

Chelmsford High School’s two a cappella groups, The Thursdays and The Crescendos, placed second and third, respectively, during last weekend’s Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) semifinals. That means they are both now eligible for a wild card berth that could see one of them advance to the finals in New York City next month. Good luck to all!

On Tuesday, March 25, Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing begins with the ELA assessment at Chelmsford High School. In the following weeks, our grades 3–8 students will begin their testing window for ELA, as well. MCAS measures critical skills students need for success in the 21st century: deeper understanding; knowledge application; synthesizing; and writing. The assessment also helps the Commonwealth of Massachusetts identify schools and districts that need additional support and provides schools with the necessary information on how students are performing compared to the identified learning standards for each grade and grade spans.

The next-generation MCAS reports your child's scores in new categories that better show whether your child is meeting expectations in their grade level. State test scores are just one piece of a student's academic picture, but they are important information. Schools use a variety of assessment information including social emotional learning coupled with educator professional judgement when supporting students in school. Please be sure you have marked your calendars with the dates your child(ren) will be assessed and be sure they have a good night’s rest and nutritious breakfast on their designated testing dates. If you have any questions about MCAS testing, please contact your child’s school directly.

And if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Parker Middle School’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” is outstanding, and there are still three more shows to go. More information and a link to grab your tickets is provided below in this newsletter.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• Parker Drama Club presents "The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition": Friday, March 21, 6 p.m.; Saturday, March 22, 2 and 6 p.m., McCarthy Middle School Auditorium
  
• Council of Chelmsford Schools Meeting: Thursday, March 20, 7 p.m., McCarthy Library
• School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m. Central Administration Offices
• Parker Middle School STEM Fair: Thursday, March 27, 6:30 p.m., Parker Middle School
• Byam's Got Talent: Saturday, March 29, 6 p.m., Chelmsford High School PAC
• Professional Development Half Day: Tuesday, April 1 (Early Release)

The Chelmsford Public School Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. at the Central Administration Offices, 230 North Road. The meeting can be viewed on Comcast channel 6 or Verizon channel 37. It will also be live-streamed by Chelmsford Telemedia.

The agenda for Tuesday's meeting can be found here.

If you missed the March 11 School Committee meeting, watch it here:

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.

Join Parker Middle School for a magical journey down the Yellow Brick Road in "The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition!"
Show Dates & Times:
5th Grade Performance – Friday, March 21, at 6 p.m.
6th Grade Performances – Saturday, March 22, at 2 & 6 p.m.
Location: McCarthy Auditorium, 250 North Road, Chelmsford
For the first time, each show will feature just one grade - don’t miss this exciting new tradition!

Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.

The Harrington PTO is excited to announce our 2025 Harrington STEAM Fair on Tuesday, April 15.

Harrington Elementary School students are invited to create a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts or Mathematics (STEAM) project and display it at the Fair!

This is a fun event intended to nurture students' interest in STEAM. There is no judging, but STEAM fair mentors will visit every project and talk to each participant about their topic.

All participants presenting at the STEAM Fair will be automatically entered into a raffle for gift certificates and other prizes supported by donations from the University of Massachusetts Lowell Department of Chemical Engineering!

Please review the attached document and sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/HarringtonSTEAMFair2025
Contact harringtonsteamfair@gmail.com or HPTO with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

To view the entire list of available scholarships for graduating seniors, please click here.

Brynn Murray, a CHS alum, visited Parker Middle School to teach a STEM lesson this week for her grad course at Bridgewater State. The lesson featured background information about composting and the benefits it has for the environment.

Part of the lesson asked students to find a problem they would solve related to composting, then build a design that would solve the problem. Students came up with several ideas, including how to help with the smell of composting, measuring the supplies for a successful compost and speeding up the process of composting, among others.

In Mrs. Fidler’s Technology Lab at Harrington, kindergarteners and first graders have been using Scratch Jr to program animal animations as part of the Project Lead the Way unit Animals and Algorithms.

Kindergartners learned about different animal habitats with a matching activity in Google Slides. They then used Scratch Jr to program an animal in its natural habitat. They were asked to think about how their animal meets its basic needs, in their habitat. They coded animals to eat their food with a simple algorithm.

First graders took this a step further and learned how animals adapt to their environments as part of the PLTW unit Animal Adaptations. They used Scratch Jr to code an animal to camouflage itself from predators using the hide and show blocks.

Byam Fourth Grade - Lowell Mills

South Row Fourth Grade - Boston Symphony Orchestra

To view more photos from Wednesday's event, please visit our website.

Artwork by two Chelmsford students was selected as Massachusetts Art Education Association's President's Choice Award winners for Youth Art Month. Tessa H. (grade 2, Harrington Elementary School) and Carson K. (grade 6, Parker Middle School) have their work exhibited in the national Youth Art Month Exhibit as part of the National Art Education Association Convention, which is being held in Louisville, Kentucky, this year from March 19-21.

View the entire MAEA Youth Art Month Virtual Gallery for Chelmsford here.

To view more photos from Wednesday's dress rehearsal, please visit our website.

Courtesy of the Council of Chelmsford Schools, Digital Health & Safety expert Katie Greer will return to the district on Tuesday, April 8, to present to our CHS students and rising fifth graders. She will again offer a session for parents/guardians at 7 p.m. that night in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).

While much of Katie's work is directed to a younger audience, she acknowledges that many adults are mystified by the digital world we live in. For this reason, she offers a program that helps parents navigate the new normal of technology.

She aims to help parents who want to better understand the boundaries (and opportunities!) of tech. Some of what she'll discuss includes:

• Updates on the latest tech trends including popular apps, social networking trends, gaming, sexting and more.
• Social media age limitations - and how often kids are breaking them
• Privacy settings, location services, check-ins: Are your devices set-up safely?
• Advice for having real conversations with your child to foster a positive online experience for your family, with suggested restrictions and rules
• Digital health check-in: Is your family doing a good job balancing life and technology? Most KIDS say "NO!"
• Smartphones & Age: What's the average age kids get smartphones? Are there alternatives? Is there a right age for kids to get smartphones?

Learn more about what Katie Greer discussed with the CPS middle school students on Jan. 23.

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 seeking guest speakers to discuss their career journey with a group of Innovation Career Pathway students. CHS is looking for guest speakers in the following fields: Information Technology/Computer Science, Business & Finance, Life Science and Engineering/Manufacturing. If you have experience in any of these fields and are interested in sharing your career and career path with high school students, please reach out to Career and College Readiness Facilitator, Alex Cunningham at cunninghamalex@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

To redeem School Dollars, all shoppers need to do is enter the unique printout code and store number on the Hannaford Helps Schools program website and select their school. Each School Dollar printout has a QR code that will bring shoppers directly to this link, ensuring that redeeming School Dollars is as easy as possible. Please note that the in-store collection tower has been eliminated. However, schools will be able to turn in School Dollar printouts.

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.

Twenty-six student musicians representing Chelmsford High School and McCarthy Middle School music ensembles participated in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeast Junior District Festival last weekend.

The concert was held at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield on Saturday, March 15.

Read more on our website.

The Chelmsford High School World Language Department, in conjunction with The Richelieu Club of Lowell, recently hosted a French Oratorical Contest for local high school students studying French.

The contest seeks to engender and encourage the study of the French language by inviting area high school students to participate for cash prizes. The financial gifts are offered to students studying French with the hope that they will continue their studies in future years.

Read more about this year's competition by visiting our website.

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.

These virtual events are part of Cartwheel's free webinar series for parents, caregivers and school staff.

Sometimes, big feelings can take over a household. Sometimes they're our kids' feelings, and sometimes they're our own!

Join Cartwheel and Janine Halloran, LMHC for a webinar to learn practical tips on how to help kids and teens cope with big feelings.

By starting from a foundation of connection and co-regulation, Janine will provide strategies you can teach your kids (and yourself) for noticing, welcoming, and neutralizing big emotions before they take over the household. Attend this webinar if you are hopeful for more peace and patience and less arguing in your home.

Register here.

More than 75 colleges and universities sent representatives to Chelmsford High School this fall to meet with students interested in continuing their education at a post-secondary institution. To learn more, check out the College Visit Schedule.

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

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!

Looking for information about the ongoing Parker Middle School Building Project? Visit our website to learn more and stay updated. And if you missed the public information session that was held in the spring, during which Superintendent Dr. Jay Lang shared a plethora of information, view it here:

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