Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, November 19 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
- Wednesday, November 27 | 4 Hour School Day (All Grades)
- Thursday, November 28 - Friday, November 29 | Thanksgiving Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed)
Good evening CPS Community:
I hope you enjoyed the long weekend.
Our Student Registration Center will host an information session regarding the 2025-2026 Kindergarten Lottery process tomorrow, November 13. Families with a child who will be five years old by August 31, 2025 are encouraged to attend and learn more below.
I’m proud to share that the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has earned recognition by the College Board as a Silver school on the Advanced Placement School Honor Roll for the 2023-2024 school year. This achievement highlights our ongoing commitment to improving college readiness for students seeking post-secondary education, while highlighting areas of opportunity for our advanced placement coursework. Congratulations to CRLS on their achievement.
At next Tuesday's school committee meeting we will focus on the 2024 MCAS and accountability data and discuss steps for continued improvement.
As always, thank you for your continued commitment as partners in education.
In this Issue:
- CRLS Earns Silver Recognition on AP School Honor Roll
- Transgender Awareness Week
- Kindergarten Lottery Information Sessions
- Out of School Time Program Sharing Session: Kindergarten - Grade 8
- Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Fuel Assistance
- Upcoming Events
- District & Community Resources
- The Bright Spot
Sincerely,
David Murphy
Interim Superintendent
Need to Know News
CRLS Earns Silver Recognition on AP School Honor Roll
For a second consecutive year, Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (CRLS) earned recognition by the College Board on the 2023-2024 Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll as a Silver school. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results and access for students.
Honor Roll recognition is earned annually in the following categories and is calculated on the percentage of students in the graduating class who:
- College Culture: complete an AP exam at any point in high school regardless of score.
- College Credit: earn a 3 or more to earn college credit on the AP exam.
- College Optimization: complete 5 or more AP courses where at least 1 AP exam was taken in 9th or 10th grade.
The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. School distinction is determined by the baseline level of achievement across all categories.
| *CRLS Distinction by Category (2024) |
| College Culture |
College Credit |
College Optimization |
| Silver |
Gold |
Platinum |
*note that the criteria for each distinction change by category and school distinction is determined by the baseline level of achievement across all categories.
You can view the CRLS 2024 AP School Honor Roll Progress Report here.
Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Awareness Week leads up to what has traditionally been known as Trans Day of Remembrance, a day to remember trans people who died in the previous year due to anti-trans violence. Trans people, especially trans women of color, continue to be at a high risk of violence due to widespread and increasing transphobia and anti-trans hate. More recently, the day has been reframed as Trans Day of Resilience, to put the focus on people's lives rather than deaths.
Our goal in Cambridge Public Schools is that every child thrive as their full self. We know that when young people are supported in exploring and expressing who they are, they are happier and healthier in all aspects of their lives. In honor of Trans Awareness Week, you may want to read some of the stories of these inspiring young trans activists who are fighting for kids like themselves to have that support.
Nearly every school in Cambridge has a thriving club or group for LGBTQ+ students, the children of LGBTQ+ caregivers, and their allies.
Kindergarten Lottery Information Sessions
The Kindergarten Lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 2 and close on January 31. All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points. To learn more, visit our website.
Information Sessions:
Out of School Program Sharing Session: Kindergarten - Grade 8
We have partnered with the Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-Of-School Time to support their year-long effort to evaluate the needs of the community as it relates to out of school offerings for families with children in kindergarten - grade 8. Families are encouraged to share their feedback at one of the following upcoming virtual sessions.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Fuel Assistance
Colder weather means higher heating bills. The Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 season. The program helps residents pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30. Learn more about how to qualify and fill out the application here.
In the District
Virtual Kindergarten Lottery Information Session 1
Wednesday, November 13 | 6 - 7PM
Zoom:
http://bit.ly/cps-k-info1
Families with children who will be 5 years old by August 31, 2025 are encouraged to attend the upcoming
Kindergarten Lottery Informations Sessions. The lottery will open for registration January 2nd.
Information Session 2
Saturday, December 7 | 10:30 - 11:30AM
Zoom:
http://bit.ly/cps-k-info2
District Calendar
Visit our digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community
Webinar: Can We Talk? Conversations With Kids and Teens About Mental Health
Wednesday November 13 | 7 - 8PM
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology (11 Divinity Avenue)
Join Cartwheel for a webinar focused on mental health questions that kids & teens have but are often afraid to ask. Get suggestions about how caregivers can safely and appropriately respond when mental health topics come up in their homes. Register today with Cartwheel.
Open House at The Library
Thursday, November 21 | 4:30 - 7:30PM
Central Square Library (45 Pearl Street)
Get ready for winter and join The Spot for a
free shopping pop up at the Central Square Library.
District & Community Resources
Ms. Curda President’s Award
We’re proud to share that Ms. Riley Curda, King Open librarian, has received the Massachusetts School Library Association's President's Award. This award honors a school librarian who is a “rising star” and in a career of one to five years has made a significant impact on student learning through a quality school library program. Ms. Curda demonstrates emerging excellence in school librarianship in inquiry, inclusion, collaboration, curation, exploration, and engagement. Congratulations Ms. Curda!
CRLS Named 1 of 8 Schools Selected for National Technology Challenge
Congratulations to the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) for being selected to participate in the national Lemelson-MIT Program “InvenTeam” program for the 2024-2025 year! CRLS will receive $7,500 in grant funding to support the development of technological invention to solve a problem in their community.
Following the creation of their invention, students will showcase a prototype during a technical review in February 2025, and then again as a final product in June at EurekaFest at MIT. We look forward to seeing what our students create!