CPS Middle School Families,

This year is like no other! We're excited to announce that our McCarthy music students in ATWE, Festival Orchestra, and Select Chorus will be performing the National Anthem at Fenway Park on Tuesday, May 6th before the Red Sox game. Make plans to celebrate the end of the school year and cheer them on!

Take the family out to the ballgame! ⚾

Enjoy watching the Boston Red Sox play the Texas Rangers on May 6th at 6:45pm. Tickets are $40 per person with a portion of the proceeds benefiting both PTOs.

1. Go to: https://givebutter.com/RedSox2025 to place your order.
2. Or, use the QR code on the attached flyer.
3. Print out our flyer as your reminder!

NOTE: It's important that you remember which email you use to purchase tickets as this is the email we'll use to "toss" your tickets to you via the Ballpark App in late April!

~McCarthy & Parker PTOs

♻️ E-Waste and Recycle Day: Save the date: Saturday, May 3rd 8:00 am- Noon. Center Elementary School and McCarthy Middle School PTOs are partnering to help you get rid of junk items that aren't easily disposed of in the trash (appliances, furniture, lawn equipment, grills (no propane), TVs, etc). This is a great way to support our schools--just drive through, donate a small fee & then leave your junk! Please see flyer for more information and click link for volunteer opportunities: E-Waste Volunteer Link

Registration for Summerfest will open on Tuesday, March 25, at 10 a.m.

Register on ChelmsfordCommunityEd.com.

Summerfest: Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. For students in 1st-6th grade.

Dates: July 7-Aug. 8

Welcome to Summerfest 2025!

We will have all our favorite areas open this summer: the STEM Room, Art Room, Chill Zone, Gym, Playground, Waterplay and Outdoor Rec. Summerfest will allow all students to visit each exciting area of Summerfest during the week, providing them with multiple activities during their day.

Our program will be located at the Chelmsford Community Education Building, 170 Dalton Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824. Summerfest has weekly field trips or in-house guests, and lots of air-conditioned spots to cool off. The staff consists of certified teachers, educational support personnel, nurses, college and high school students.

Please see our website for field trip details.

Forms to complete before Summerfest Registration:

• Summerfest Application 2025
• Summerfest Contact Form 2025
• Summerfest Medical Information Form 2025

Please follow this link for helpful registration tips: CLICK HERE

**If your child has an allergy or medication, additional forms will be due before they can start our program.

Registration for SummerQuest will open on Wednesday, March 26, at 10 a.m.

Register on ChelmsfordCommunityEd.com.

SummerQuest: Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday for students in 6th-9th grade.

Dates: July 7-Aug. 8

SummerQuest is designed for kids entering 6th grade through entering 9th grade. We schedule our weeks with full day field trips that will bring your child to a variety of locations with exciting and enriching activities such as rock climbing, hiking, amusement parks, kayaking, ropes courses and more! We use these trips to create a social environment where kids can engage with their peers with guided independence.

We are offering 5 weeks of off-site field trips. Each Friday will be a ½ day community service project and a ½ day at Varney Park. Our weekly service project will help our teens foster an appreciation for our town and instill in them the value of giving back.

Forms to complete before SummerQuest Registration:

• SummerQuest Application 2025
• SummerQuest Contact Form 2025
• SummerQuest Medical Information Form 2025
• SummerQuest Walker Permission Slip 2025

Registration for SummerQuest is based on your child’s grade.

Please make sure your child’s grade is correct for this school year before registration. Grades will automatically roll up as of June 1.

If you need to update your child’s grade, please email us at commed@chelmsford.k12.ma.us before registration opens.

Registration under the wrong grade group could cause you to lose your spot in SummerQuest.

**If your child has an allergy or medication, additional forms will be due before they can start our program.

It is a powerful documentary about the role the Jewish community played in the Civil Rights Movement. It is free and open to the public if you are interested. Feel free to let others know about it!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Mcas for April -ELA Grade 8 April 3rd & 4th

Mcas for April- ELA Grade 7 April 8th & 9th

Mcas for April- ELA Make-Up Dates - April 10th & 11th

Pirates - Saturday April 12 @ 7 pm

No School - April 18 Good Friday

No School - April 21-25 April Recess

Boston Fleet - Saturday, April 26th. Start time is TBD

School Reopens April 28

Red Sox @ Fenway - May 6 @ 6:30

Mcas for Math Grade 8- May 6th & 7th

Mcas for Math Grade 7- May 8th & 9th

Chelmsford Middle School Showboat talent show Saturday, May 10, with two shows

Mcas for Science Grade 8- May 13th & 14th

Mcas for Math/Science Make-Up- May 15th & 16th

Mcas for Civics Grade 8 - May 20th

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-exposure-guidance-for-children-and-staff-in-child-care-k-12-out-of-school-time-ost-and-recreational-campprogram-settings

Gina Clancy - clancyg@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Meaghan Hughes - hughesm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

McCarthy Middle School will be completing the school-based program called SB-SBIRT on March 24th with all 7th graders. The acronym SB-SBIRT stands for: School Based - Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Services. SBIRT-is a public health model for identifying and addressing substance use and related risks. The goal is to identify students who may need extra support and connect them with the resources they may need to thrive. Together, schools and parents CAN make a difference for the youth in our community. Please learn more about this screening.

We know that Ramadan is a very special time for many of our families and is a period of prayer, fasting and goodwill to others.

Your school community wants to be a support to you during this time. Please let us know if we can provide you a separate space to rest, pray in private or work on homework during your lunch period.

The school day can be long for students participating in fasting. Please refer to this resource which provides some advice for helping your student stay safe and to maintain their stamina throughout the school day. Providing a variety of foods (protein, whole grains and fruit and/or vegetables) at the start and break of their fast is key in helping kids thrive during this special time.

https://riseandshine.childrensnational.org/children-and-ramadan-fasting/

As always the health office is here to support all students and families. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Your School Nurses

978-251-5122 x2

The cold/flu season is upon us at Chelmsford Public Schools. We want to keep your children and our teachers healthy. Here are some ways we can work together to decrease the spread of illness.

• Use good hand hygiene and wash hands frequently.
• Cover coughs with a tissue or cough into sleeve not your hand.
• Keep your child home when sick (Symptoms such as fever cough, sore throat, bad headache, body aches, or chills)

• Keep your child home with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher. Your child can return to school after their temp is < 100 for 24 hours without any fever reducing medicine AND when your child is able to participate in normal activities.

• Keep your child home from school if they have vomiting and/or diarrhea. Your child can return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.

Any symptoms that persist or worsen should be evaluated by a primary care physician. Please notify our offices if your student is diagnosed with the flu by their doctor.

In addition to academics, we know students are very busy with sports and activities. Please do not send your student to school sick! This is for your child’s benefit and for the benefit of other students, teammates, and staff.

**** It is not too late to get the Flu Vaccine****

Hannaford Helps Schools

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.

April Schedule

Mcas Schedule for April -ELA Grade 8 April 3rd & 4th

Mcas Schedule for April- ELA Grade 7 April 8th & 9th

Mcas Schedule for April- ELA Make-Up Dates - April 10th & 11th

May Schedule

Mcas for Math Grade 8- May 6th & 7th

Mcas for Math Grade 7- May 8th & 9th

Mcas for Science Grade 8- May 13th & 14th

Mcas for Math/Science Make-Up- May 15th & 16th

Mcas for Civics Grade 8 - May 20th

McCarthy PTO is working hard to create community building events for our students, families and staff members. Check out a few upcoming activities below:

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to McCarthy PTO at PTO.McCarthy@gmail.com As always, thank you for your continued support of our school!

McCarthy Calendar Raffle: Thank you to all that sold calendar raffles! Winners are announced daily on McCarthy Middle School Parents Facebook page and prizes are sent home daily with students. Congratulations to this week's winners: Socheakta Kung (3/17), Amy Tatton (3/18), Steve Eriksen (3/19), Amanda Collison (3/20) and Jim Shea (3/21).

The Chelmsford Middle School Showboat talent show is happening on Saturday, May 10, with two shows.

Fifth and sixth grade will take the stage from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and seventh and eighth grade will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

There will be a mandatory dress rehearsal on May 9.

Parker and McCarthy students who would like to audition should fill out this registration form: http://jotform.com/cfom01824/showboatauditions2025

Group acts are HIGHLY Encouraged - singers, instrumental groups, skits, etc.! Multi-age! So many possibilities!

• Audition prep rehearsals with high school volunteers being scheduled
• Come for one show or enjoy the whole evening
• 6th & 8th Grade emcees!!! 3-4 extra after school meetings required
• All ages string ensemble being added!

Questions? Email lionsmiddleschoolsshowboat@gmail.com Karyn Crouthamel

Taste of Chelmsford

The Center School PTO is excited to announce the Taste of Chelmsford calendar raffle!

This year’s raffle will run in March, and has amazing prizes offered daily from area restaurants and businesses. Funds raised from the Taste directly support enrichment programs for students at Center.

Tickets are $25 and each ticket can win 31 times in March! All prizes are valued at $100 or more. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold, so get yours now before they sell out!

Purchase your raffle tickets today at: www.tasteofchelmsford.com.

CHELMSFORD STUDENT HOUSEHOLDS

Whether you live in a single-family home, a duplex or condex, a condominium, or an apartment, sign up for your NO COST Mass Save Energy audit here:

www.HWE.Works/Chelmsford. Enter the name of your student's school In the REFERRAL CODE on the form.

After your audit is complete, the town energy audit team will donate $25 to the Council of Chelmsford Schools (CoCS).

Help the Council of Chelmsford Schools, a 501(c) organization composed of all of the PTOs in the Chelmsford School District, and at the same time Improve your home energy efficiency. You can have a Mass Save® energy audit every 2 years with incentives recently increased.

The Chelmsford Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee is promoting this program as part of a town- wide effort to improve our home energy efficiency campaign.

--

Council of Chelmsford Schools (CoCS) Board

Lisa Bryant & Ginger Skoog - Co-Presidents

Amanda Collison - VP Photo Contract

Melissa McCaffrey- VP Community Read-In

Melissa Brennan- Secretary

Courtney Cooper - Treasurer

TUESDAY

American Sign Language Ms. Fitzgibbons Bi-weekly Virtual Meetings 2:30-4:30

Invite Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjA5MjE3MDU3MzEz?cjc=yqtuwha

Class Code: yqtuwha

Yearbook Ms. Egan Room 104

Backstage Crew Ms. Richardson Chorus Room

Cross fit Ms. Suchecki Fitness room

Homework Club Ms. Sousa Library

Jazz Band Mr. DeStefano Band room

Select Chorus Ms. Richardson Chorus room

TV Club Ms. Martin Meets @ Parker School *Students must take the bus to Parker after school to use the television studio.

Stand-Up McCarthy (GSA) Ms. Briand Room 209

Wednesday

7th Grade Art Club Ms. Morton Art Room 120

Community Service Org. Ms. Isaacs Bi-weekly Room 233

Festival Band ATWE Mr. DeStefano 6pm-8pm Band room

Festival Orchestra Mr. Miller Room 124

Game “D&D” Ms. Carter & Ms. Sorrows Room 130 As soon as you are interested in joining, 1) join Google Class https://classroom.google.com/c/NTU5MTkxODM0ODc3?cjc=plj2ho2 with the code “plj2ho2”

Project 300 Mr. Gallagher Room 109

Thursday

8th Grade Art Club Ms. Kiley Room 122

Magic Gathering Club Mr. Warnock Room 230

Running Club Ms. Hughes Fall - ( IS BACK) Outside Café

Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday

Drama club Ms. Richardson Chorus room Join the Drama club google classroom : qslajac to stay informed of your opportunities to get involved. You can participate

Intramurals Ms. Suchecki, Mr. Sherlock, Mr. Graham, Mr. Johnson Gym

Wednesday-Thursday

Fitness Room Mr. Graham Fitness room

Please be aware all activity times/days are subject to change

As of October 28th, if you haven't signed your student up for after school activities through My School Bucks or turned in your Health directive, your student will be ineligible to participate.

You Science

Students will participate in brain-game exercises and activities to uncover personal aptitudes, then connect these aptitudes to careers and educational pathways designed to help students find relevance in school and confidence in making future educational and career related decisions.

Lunch/Cafeteria Reminder:

Our school is considered to be "nut aware" and not nut free. Although nuts are allowed, no students are permitted to share food in the building. It is also considered best practice not to have students bring in shelled peanuts for the safety of others. It is important for students to understand that if they are bringing in nut products, they cannot share them regardless of whether the other student is allergic or not. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no student experiences an anaphylactic response and we can help prevent those events together.

While we have these discussions with students throughout the day, it would be helpful and appreciated if you would address this at home as well.

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, student’s name should appear on page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order

For the upcoming half day please place your order a week before

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 4/1/25

Email: mccarthy_attendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Please Send Email: Prior to 9am on the day of the absence (same as current voicemail option) Please Include: Child’s name, Grade, and Reason for absence.

We encourage you to use the email option when reporting an absence, dismissal, etc. Parents are still free to use the phone system to report absences, but you are encouraged to use email for greater office efficiency.

If you prefer, you can certainly call the attendance line prior to 9:00am, at 978-251-5122, please press 1.

**PLEASE READ**

We will continue to send automated emails home when students are absent. You will receive the email whether you notified the school or not. In order for an absence to be marked as "Excused", families will need to provide medical documentation.

Thank you for your understanding.

McCarthy Middle School

Attendance Matters

For an absence to be “excused” families need to provide medical documentation. This includes dismissals from the health office, unless your school nurse is requiring the dismissal based on the “Illness Policy” (ie: temperature over 100, vomiting, etc.) set by the Chelmsford School District or nursing judgment based on concerning symptoms that require further assessment or monitoring. Any absences over 3 days require medical documentation to be considered excused.

I've invited you to fill out a form:McCarthy Family Resources

McCarthy wants to offer support and assistance to your family if you are in need. Please complete this form if your family would benefit from our resources that we offer.

With the resources available, we will do our best to meet the needs of all families.

If you do not feel comfortable completing this form, please contact our school counselors, 978-251-5122

Moya Charig Covers students A-G @ charigm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext.7478

Elyse Seero Covers students H-N @ seeroe@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext.7465

Jessica Weaver Covers students O-Z @ weaverj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext. 7477

They will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

TERM 1-- 8/27/2024-10/31/2024

TERM 2-- 11/1/2024-- 1/22/2025

TERM 3-- 1/23/2025 -- 4/4/2025

TERM 4-- 4/7/2025 --- 6/25/2025

• Front Doors open @ 7:55 a.m.
• Warning Bell to go to class @ 8:08 a.m.
• First Period bell rings @ 8:10 a.m. (students should be in First period Class at this time)
  

• Dismissal is @ 2:30 p.m.

Email: mannioni@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Website: https://mccarthy.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 250 North Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5122