CPS Superintendent's Update

Dear CPS Community,

The second week of school at CPS is in the books, and it seems everyone is getting back into the swing of things. Our fall athletes are back in action, student activities are picking back up, college visits at Chelmsford High School have commenced and there are a lot of other wonderful events on the horizon.

Parent-curriculum nights kicked off yesterday at McCarthy Middle School and will continue at the rest of the schools throughout the coming weeks. Please see the link in this newsletter to find out when your child(ren)’s school will be holding their open house and make a plan to attend. It’s not only a great opportunity to learn more about your child’s education, but also to meet with administrators and staff and to see what other great things are happening in the building.

The Chelmsford High School Theatre Guild had a fabulous turnout for its open house last week; check out some photos from the event in the newsletter below. It won’t be long before auditions, callbacks and rehearsals begin in preparation for the fall musical, which has been announced as “Beauty and the Beast.” I, for one, cannot wait to see the magic this talented group brings to the stage this year!

Parent-teacher organizations are starting to hold regular meetings again, so if you’re interested in joining or learning more about their tremendous efforts at your school, I encourage you to attend. Dates, times and locations are all posted to the district calendar. The School Committee will also be meeting the next two Tuesdays, Sept. 10 and Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Central Administration Offices. You can tune in to the livestream, courtesy of Chelmsford Telemedia.

In closing, please keep in mind that Wednesday, Sept. 11, will mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, and one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. While students currently enrolled at CPS have no personal memory of that day, there are many opportunities to take a step into the past to remember and learn about the events that transpired. Please find time on Wednesday to keep those affected by these events in your thoughts.

I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter highlights and have a great weekend.

Yours truly,

Jay Lang, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• Athletics Schedule
• "Come From Away" film screening: Monday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m., CHS PAC (sponsored by the Middle School PTOs)
• School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m., Central Administration Office
• School Committee Meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Central Administration Office
• Creating Chelmsford's Future Community Kickoff Event: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m., Chelmsford Elks Lodge
• Friends of the Chelmsford Public Library Book Sale: Sept. 27-29
• Chelmsford Health Department's Fall Festival: Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Town Common

The Chelmsford Public School Committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 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 livestreamed by Chelmsford Telemedia here.

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

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 these dates to visit your child(ren)'s schools!

The McCarthy and Parker Middle School PTOs are sponsoring a free screening of the Broadway musical “Come From Away” for Chelmsford families. The screening will take place on Monday, Sept. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center at Chelmsford High School. "Come From Away" tells the story of 38 planes – carrying 7,000 passengers – that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada when United States airspace was shut down on Sept. 11, 2001. Please visit our website to learn more about this event and to register.

Byam Elementary School students recently had a Kelso's Choice Day. Kelso's Choices is a conflict-management program for primary aged children based on the premise that every child is capable of becoming a peacemaker. Designed around Kelso the Frog, this program offers nine options children can choose from to resolve minor conflicts on their own.

Teachers, staff members, administrators and even PTO members at several Chelmsford schools helped welcome students back last week with some colorful messages chalked on the sidewalks and entryways!

Chelmsford High Environmental Studies students used microscopes to observe the total number of organisms, as well as the total number of unique organisms, with the goal to use observed biodiversity as a measure of soil health from around the high school.

Congratulations to sophomore Samantha Schena (and her teacher Maddie Alves), whose work was selected for the cover of the fall issue of the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal! This beautiful piece will be viewed and appreciated by many readers in Massachustts and beyond.

CHS students had the opportunity to learn about the Theatre program and upcoming musical, Beauty and the Beast, alongside Director Erica Lundin and Technical Director Craig Robertson at an open house event on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Students also participated in a free headshot clinic and will receive professional photos to use for CHS productions and beyond! Mark your calendars now for the opening of Beauty and the Beast, November 21-23. More info to come!

Developed by Parker Middle School artist-educator Ashley Norman, the 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. See the flyer below for more information.

The CHS World Language Department is excited to announce a trip to Panama and Costa Rica for April vacation 2025. High school students interested in traveling abroad and seeing some incredible sights should plan to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Learning Commons. Please see Ms. Sanchez in Room 243 for more information.

Many teachers, staff members and administrators at Chelmsford Public Schools likely have vivid memories of where they were and what they witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent days. Those who are old enough to recall the events also remember what life and the country was like both before and after this historic day.

However, students currently enrolled at CPS do not share that collective conscious of the events, as they were not yet born. As the nation pauses to reflect, we must recognize the importance of the day and provide our students with the tools and resources to understand the causes and consequences of Sept. 11.

To access some 9/11 remembrance resources, please visit our website.

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.

The crashing of Cape Cod waves is music to Thomas Brown’s ears. As he reclines his beach chair and digs into the scorching hot sand, life couldn’t be better for the rising Chelmsford High senior.

But for Brown, that sense of relaxation and peacefulness lasts for all of a few seconds. He’s plagued with a sense of urgency the Atlantic Ocean can’t overcome. Someone is getting better than him.

“I know if I go down there I have to go on a run or get a workout in because if I don’t, I feel like I’m falling behind and somebody else is doing more work than me,” Brown said.

Continue reading at LowellSun.com.

A recent guest on Chasing the Facts, hosted by Sam Chase, Superintendent Dr. Jay Lang discusses embarking on his 10th year at CPS, rising enrollment and the Parker Middle School building project. Watch the full episode at the link below.

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.

Chelmsford Community Education is offering private music lessons starting on Monday, Sept. 9. CommEd is offering lessons on piano, guitar, ukulele, orchestral strings, brass and woodwind instruments. More information and registration can be found here.

Questions or need help registering? Contact Christopher McGillicuddy, Private Lesson Supervisor, at mcgillicuddyc@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

Fifty percent of youth with ADHD also have a co-existing disorder or diagnosis, such as anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders, or learning disorders, such as dyslexia. What are the impacts on students who have both ADHD and learning disorders? What can we as parents, caregivers, and school staff do to support kids who may have co-existing symptoms?

Join Cartwheel and Dr. Anne Arnett on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. for a free webinar which will discuss how to tell the differences between ADHD and learning disorders, the co-existence of ADHD and learning disorders, and the importance of treating both when they do co-exist.

Register here.

More than 60 colleges and universities will be sending representatives to Chelmsford High School this fall to meet with students interested in continuing their education at a post-secondary institution. Please see the College Visit Schedule for more details.

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

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 just a few 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.

With the 2024-25 CHS athletic season now underway, please take some time to review the Spectator Guidelines below if you plan on attending any of the Lions sporting events.

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