Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, September 2 | First Day of School (Grades 1 - 12 and Postgraduate)
- Tuesday, September 2 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Thursday, September 4 | First Day of School (Kindergarten & Cambridge Preschool Program)
Good evening CPS Community,
We will have one more edition of the CPS Connect before the first day of school, but this edition includes some important updates and information that families will need before school starts. Please review all sections below. Other quick updates include:
- Annual forms will be available on the CPS Family Portal beginning next Monday, August 18. Families must complete and return these forms for each student before the first day of school.
- ParentSquare Accounts: This Friday, August 15, families and staff who have not activated their ParentSquare accounts will receive an invitation by email. Keep a lookout for our Back-to-School message in ParentSquare, detailing the steps parents/guardians must complete to prepare their child for the first day of school.
- Bus routes are being finalized. We will share that information with you soon.
- In case you missed it, you can read the Interim Superintendent’s Mid-Summer Update message here.
Our next edition of CPS Connect will be on Monday, August 25. That issue will include final, important back-to-school updates. Beginning in September, we are making some changes to CPS Connect. Here’s what to expect this school year:
- We will send CPS Connect every other week, on Monday evenings. We are changing from sending weekly newsletters to bi-weekly.
- In each CPS Connect, you will find more data, project-based updates, budget updates, and information about other district priorities.
Stay tuned for more updates!
In this Issue:
- Superintendent of Schools Finalists Announced
- Back-to-School Events: Back-to-School Forms Help, Community Fairs, and School Events!
- Summer Contact List
- School Meals Continue to be Free for All Students
- August 5th School Committee Recap
- Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan Update
- Know Your Rights
- Summer Learning Resources
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
Sincerely,
The CPS Team
Superintendent of Schools Finalists Selected
Superintendent of Schools Finalists Announced
The Cambridge School Committee has selected three finalists to present to the greater Cambridge Community as a result of the ongoing Superintendent Search.
Finalists for the next CPS Superintendent of Schools are:
- Lourenço Garcia, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Revere, MA
- David Murphy, Interim Superintendent, Cambridge, MA
- Magaly Sanchez, Chief Family Advancement Officer, Boston, MA
CPS community members will have an opportunity to meet candidates during the week of September 22nd, and public interviews are scheduled for September 30th and October 1st. More details will be shared at a later date.
Learn more about the candidates here >>
Need to Know News
Back-to-School Events
Get Help Completing Back-to-School Forms
Families can get help with annual forms from CPS staff. Annual forms will be available on the CPS Family Portal next week. Join us in person for assistance with completing forms:
- Wednesday, August 20 | 5-7PM | Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (459 Broadway Court)
Community Fairs
Meet community partners, learn about community services, access free supplies, backpacks, resources, and clothing!
- Saturday, August 23 | King Open School (830 Cambridge Street)
- Saturday, September 6 | Peabody School (70 Rindge Avenue)
Both fairs will be held from 10AM- 12PM.
Save-the-Date: Events at Your School
School communities will host back-to-school events for students and families. View School-based back-to-school events here. Events will be regularly added, so check the website for updates!
Summer 2025 Contact List
School buildings are closed through Monday, September 1. If you have a question over the summer, please see our list of summer contacts. (አማርኛ | عربي | বাংলা | Kreyòl ayisyen | Español). Staff at your child’s school will be available to answer any questions you may have beginning Monday, August 18.
School Meals Continue to be Free for All Students
All schools will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) again this school year. School breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered at no cost to all students who select a complete meal. Under CEP, meals are provided at no cost, regardless of household income, eliminating the need for free and reduced meal applications.
August 5th School Committee Recap
The School Committee held a regular meeting last Tuesday. Access the most recent School Committee Summary here. Highlights include:
Interested in receiving email notifications about meetings? Join the School Committee listserv.
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan Update
CPS has begun the process of updating the district’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, which outlines the district’s comprehensive approach to reducing bullying/cyberbullying and protecting and supporting those targeted in Cambridge Public Schools.
Families/caregivers and staff will receive an invitation to participate in feedback sessions and an online survey this week. Your feedback will inform the development of the updated plan that supports a safe learning environment for all students.
We look forward to working with you as we continue to build welcoming and safe schools.
Know Your Rights
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we encourage parents to review our Immigration and Non-discrimination resources for families and staff located on the CPS Know Your Rights webpage.
Key Resources:
Summer Learning Resources
We know that learning happens all summer long in a variety of ways. Visit our website for some additional at-home and in-person resources to help families engage in learning opportunities while enjoying all of the fun and relaxed routines that the warm weather brings.
In the District
Back-to-School Forms Help
Wednesday, August 20 | 5-7PM
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (459 Broadway Court)
Get help with Annual Forms from CPS Staff!
Community Fairs
Saturday, August 23 | 10AM-12PM
King Open School (830 Cambridge Street)
Saturday, September 6 | 10AM-12PM
Peabody School (70 Rindge Avenue)
Free supplies, backpacks, resources, and clothing!
Free Food Markets
All families are welcome to stop by our free, school-based food markets. They offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry items. Please bring your own bags.
Thursday, July 31 and August 28 | 2:30 - 3PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School/Putnam Ave. Upper School (100 Putnam Avenue)
Thursday, August 14 | 2:30 - 3PM
Community Charter School of Cambridge (245 Bent Street)
Thursday, August 21 | 2:30 - 3PM
Peabody School/Rindge Avenue Upper School (70 Rindge Avenue)
District Calendar
Visit our digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community
Summer Food Program
Date and Time Varies
City-wide
The Summer Food Program provides free meals to Cambridge residents 18 and under at select parks Monday - Friday during the summer.
Learn more and view the Summer Food Program schedule here.
(NEW) Chibuzo Dunun’s Global African Soundscape
Saturday, August 16 | 6 - 7PM
Clement Morgan Park (60 Colombia Street)
A free
family-friendly music performance sponsored by Cambridge Plays and the Friends of Fletcher Maynard Academy.
Rail Innovation in Action Program
Application Deadline: Monday, September 22
Online
Students in grades 9 - 12 are encouraged to apply for the
Rail Innovation program in partnership with Lemelson-MIT and the California State Railroad Museum. This online eight-week, interactive program focuses on innovation to create community impact. Applications close Monday, September 22.
District & Community Resources
Summer Discovery Program
The Summer Discovery Program is a comprehensive summer learning experience that prepares our students learning the English language for the next school year. 59 students continued to practice their English language skills while participating in English, Math, and Art classes.
With the help of program staff and student collaboration, there has been a significant improvement in students' language skills, including vocabulary and sentence structures, as evidenced by their presentations. They have also made great strides in math and artistic skills, showcasing their potential and readiness for the upcoming school year.
Student groups selected aquatic animals to study throughout the program. Together, they created presentations based on their learning, solved math problems based on various aquatic animals, created art, and even challenged their creativity in an imaginary “Animal Olympics” based on their selected animals.
View Summer Discovery project examples here.