CPS Connect: December 15, 2025

Mark Your Calendar

• Tuesday, December 16 | School Committee Meeting (Beginning at 6PM)
• Tuesday, December 23 | 4-Hour School Day (All Grades)
• Wednesday, December 24 - Friday, January 2 | Winter Break (No School & CPS Offices Closed on December 24, 25, 26, 31, & January 1, 2)
• Monday, January 5 | Staff Professional Learning Day (No School)
• Monday, January 19 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School & CPS Offices Closed)

Good evening CPS Community,

With Winter Break starting next week, we look forward to finishing off the year strong and are already planning ahead for the new year. Last week Superintendent Murphy notified school communities that the 2026-2027 School Year will begin for students on Tuesday, September 1 (the Tuesday before Labor Day). Preschool and Kindergarten students will begin on Thursday, September 3. This shift accounts for how late Labor Day is in September. While the district calendar will not be published until later this spring, we find it important to notify the community with as much notice as possible.

Join us this Wednesday, December 17 at 5:30PM on Zoom for our first Community Budget Meeting. This first meeting will provide the basics of the CPS budget, so to help community members be more prepared to engage in our January Community Budget Session.

As a reminder, Tuesday, December 23 will be a 4 hour school day for all grades. Please note that this is the final CPS Connect for 2025. Our next issue will be published on Monday, January 12.

Sincerely,
The CPS Team

In this Issue:

• ParentSquare Post Notification Update
• Planning for the 2026-2027 Budget
• Holiday Toy Drive Donations Accepted Through This Thursday
• CPS Website Refresh Coming in December
• Your Guide to Winter Break Fun!
• 2027 Teacher of the Year Nominations Now Open!
• December 2 School Committee Recap
• Caring Through the Holidays
• Kindergarten Lottery Opens Soon
• Food Resources in Cambridge
• Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Home Energy Assistance
• Strategic Spotlight: Caregiver Academies
• Upcoming Events
• District & Community Resources
• The Bright Spot

Need to Know News

Planning for the 2026-2027 Budget



Budget season is underway! Superintendent David Murphy and Chief Financial Officer Ivy Washington will host community budget meetings in December and January. At these sessions, CPS administrators will review the fundamental components of the district’s operating budget, and outline the steps through which the budget will be discussed and eventually adopted in the spring of 2026.

The budget for the 2026-2027 school year will begin on July 1, 2026, and in the months leading up to the start of the new fiscal year, the district administration will be presenting to the Cambridge School Committee financial projections and recommended budgetary priorities.

We look forward to working with you all to develop a budget inclusive of our shared priorities and operational responsibilities. 

**Access Draft Budget Process Information & Community Meeting Schedule here: www.bit.ly/cps-budget
**Final approval will be made by the incoming School Committee.

Holiday Toy Drive Donations Accepted Through This Thursday
The Office of Family & Community Engagement is hosting a Toy Drive in partnership with The Spot and SHADE. Donations will be accepted now through Thursday, December 18.

We invite you to donate any unopened toys to support families. Simply visit our drop-off location to contribute. All donations will be distributed to families through The Spot.

• Drop-off Location: Cambridge Public Schools Lobby (135 Berkshire Street)
• Drop-off Times: Monday – Friday | 8AM - 4PM

Questions? Email Mia Ferej at [email protected].

CPS Website Refresh Coming in December!
Thanks to feedback from the CPS community, we are almost ready to share an update to our current district website. Later this month, visitors to the CPS website will notice a new, modern version of our website. You will be able to find the same information through our site, but will see an updated design and new user-friendly features, including:

• A better search function.
• Improved translations using Weglot software.
• An AI search tool/ chat bot that allows you to ask and receive answers to questions in your preferred language.
• Easier opportunities to find information across pages.

Important Note: If you have CPS sites bookmarked in your web browser, please note that you may need to update these links once the new site becomes available.

By improving the website, we hope to create a better website experience for families that allows them to quickly and easily find information online so that they can make informed decisions about their child’s education and overall CPS journey.

Your Guide to Winter Break Fun!
The Cambridge Agenda for Children (Out of School Time) has put together a collection of activities, programs, and workshops to help students, Kindergarten through grade 8, to stay engaged during the school break.

• Winter Break Activities Slideshow 2025-2026

Looking for additional programming? Check out Find It Cambridge Instagram, Facebook, or visit the Find It Cambridge website!

2027 Teacher of the Year Nomination Form is Now Open!
Do you know an excellent educator who…

• Creates a positive and engaging learning environment that balances high expectations with individualized support?
• Build strong relationships with students, families, and the larger school and district community?
• Has ideas to promote high-quality teaching and is eager to work with a wide range of individuals to improve education?

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking nominations for the 2027 Teacher of the Year.

• Nominate a Teacher of the Year here.

The nominated teacher will receive a congratulatory email notifying them of your nomination and an invitation to apply. Learn more about the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year program, including eligibility requirements, here.

December 2 School Committee Recap
The School Committee recently held a regular meeting. Access the most recent School Committee Summary here. Highlights include:

• Presentation: Excerpt from 11/20/25 Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee Presentation
• Watch the meeting here.

Caring through the Holidays
The holidays can be wonderful—and sometimes overwhelming—for kids and teens. If your child could use someone to talk to, or if you'd like guidance navigating a tough moment, we’re here to help.
Through our partnership with Cartwheel, your family has access to teletherapy, family check-ins, and psychiatric care with licensed clinicians. No waitlists, just support when you need it.

Reach out to your child’s school counselor, access resources, or get started with Cartwheel here.

Kindergarten Lottery Opens Soon



The Kindergarten Lottery for the 2026-2027 school year will open on January 5 and close on January 30 at 4PM. All registrations must be fully completed, including all language testing to determine eligibility for Program Language Bonus points. To learn more, visit our website.

Food Resources in Cambridge



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.

As a reminder, all students have access to FREE breakfast and lunch every school day. View the daily menus here. Additional information on how to find food in Cambridge is available here.

Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for Home Energy Assistance
Colder weather means higher heating bills. The Cambridge Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 season. The program helps residents pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30. Learn more and apply.

Please note: the federal government shutdown will cause delays in application processing and payments this year, but we encourage you to apply to the program as soon as possible. If you experience a no-heat emergency, please call 617.665.6234. The program can help eligible applicants within 24 hours.

Strategic Spotlight: Caregiver Academies

Experiences at home and at school shape student experience throughout their formative years, which is why we believe students thrive best when families and schools work together. This year, high school and upper school families have access to Caregiver Academies, a series of workshops throughout the year designed to support families in navigating the various academic, social-emotional, and developmental transitions through their child’s formative years. These workshops provide an opportunity for school communities to connect with families, allowing for enhanced partnership and ultimately, enhance comprehensive support for children.



What is Caregiver Academy?

• A series of targeted workshops throughout the school year, focused on a range of relevant topics.
• Monthly opportunities for parents and caregivers to share questions and to learn about resources and actionable strategies, as well as to meet and connect with other upper school families.

The topics of this year’s workshops were identified through a framework developed by the Cambridge Families of Color Coalition, as well as from suggestions by parents and caregivers and by educators and specialists with expertise in the academic, social, and emotional development of young adolescents

We encourage you to watch a brief overview video from our first Upper School Caregiver Academy earlier this month.  

Objective 4: Build Welcoming & Supportive Schools/ District

In the District 

Virtual Haitian Affinity Group
Wednesday, December 17 | 6:30 - 8PM
Zoom
Families are invited to attend the Haitian Affinity Group meeting to discuss building relationships between student, family, and school. Register here to receive the Zoom link.

Community Budget Meeting 1
Wednesday, December 17 | 5:30 - 6:30PM
Join the Meeting >>
Meeting ID: 940 5758 9723
Passcode: 062124
During the December sessions, we will review fundamental components of the district operating budget. Participants will understand how the budget works so they may effectively participate in the January sessions.

Upper School Caregiver Academies
Thursday, December 18 | Evening (Check your school calendar for times)
In these workshops, caregivers will receive coaching, resources, and strategies to help you and your middle school student. We will host sessions throughout the school year, with each session devoted to a specific topic.

Community Budget Meeting 2
Wednesday, January 21 | 6 - 7 PM
Cambridge Street Upper School Multipurpose Room (840 Cambridge Street)
Review budget priorities, process, and financial projections for the 2026-2027 school year. Dinner served at 5:30PM. Childcare and transportation provided (details coming soon).

District Calendar
Visit our digital calendar for upcoming events here.
In the Community 

Webinar: Building Resilience and Emotional Exposure in Kids
Wednesday, January 14 | 7PM
Join Cartwheel and Alex Hirshberg Psy.D., to learn how to build resilience and emotional exposure in children. Register for the webinar here.

Cambridge MLK Day of Service and Learning
Monday, January 19 | 2 - 5PM
Central Square Church (5 Magazine Street)
Join Helping Hands, My Brother’s Keeper, and other community groups for the 16th annual MLK Day of Service and Learning! Volunteer in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of service.

MLK Day Math Festival
Saturday, January 17 | 10AM - 1PM
Fletcher Maynard Academy (225 Windsor Street)
Join the Cambridge Math Circle for the 8th annual MLK Math Festival! This free event offers several fun math games and puzzles for families with students Kindergarten through grade 8. The first 150 participants will get prizes!

• Cambridge Public Schools 2025-2026 School Year Calendar
• District Plan in 1 Minute
• Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
• CPS Employment Opportunities
• Need Help with Heating Bills? Apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program.
• Information for Families in the Event of a School Emergency
  • አማርኛ | عريب | বাংলা | Kreyòl ayisyen | Español
• 2025-26 Afterschool Opportunities Guide for K-8
  • Translations: Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish)

MIAA Student of the Month



Congratulations to CRLS Senior Emily Anne Wintner on being named MIAA Student of the Month by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Student of the Month program aims to recognize outstanding student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, and community service.

Emily has earned a spot on the Varsity Swim and Soccer teams for all 4 years of high school and Varsity Rugby for 2 years. Having served as captain for both swim and soccer during her junior and senior years.

Beyond her athletic teams, she volunteers with various youth soccer organizations, running girls soccer clinics and has even organized an all-youth soccer clinic. Additionally, she volunteers with the Sea Dawgs (a youth swim team) and teaches swim lessons to children in the community at the War Memorial Building.

She is a proud member of the Title IX Aurelia Advocates (TIAA), an independent Cambridge Rindge and Latin School student group that advocates for CPS compliance with federal Title IX regulations, increased consent education, and stronger consent culture within the district. She has co-created athletic workshops for captains designed to provide student leaders with the understanding and skills needed to promote a stronger consent culture and sense of belonging in sports.

Emily will receive a certificate or recognition, a monetary donation to post-secondary education, and be featured in the MIAA website and social media.

Fire Safety Tobin Fire Fighter



Firefighter Bernardo from Engine 9 (and former Tobin student) visited Tobin’s Children’s House to share the importance of 911 calls and fire safety tips.

• Stop, drop, and roll
• When a smoke alarm sounds, go outside and stay outside.
• When it is smoky, crawl to the exit.
• Don’t touch matches, candles or the stove.

Special thanks to our Cambridge Fire Department for teaching students the importance of fire safety and helping them understand the important role of first responders in our community.

Computer Science Education Week



Join us in celebrating Computer Science Education Week (December 8 - 14). Computer Science Education allows students to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to meet the demands of an everchanging world.

Members of our Educational Technology and Library team presented earlier this year at the MassCUE conference on the way they are advancing Computer Science at CPS!

LEGO Spike Essential Kits: Students in grades 3-5 can learn computer science concepts through hands-on learning with the kits. Jackie Romeo shared her experience implementing the kits.

Professional Learning on AI for Educators: Ensuring staff have a clear understanding of Generative AI, ethical use, limitations, including biases, and inaccuracies is essential to explore AI as an instructional resource. Ingrid Gustafson and Jennifer Lavalle shared their approach to designing professional learning around Gen AI.

Expectations/Guidelines for Gen AI Use for Students: Setting clear expectations regarding Gen AI use reinforces the importance of using AI as a tool to support, not replace, their work while encouraging transparency and accountability. At the high school level, instruction technology specialists Kendall Boninti, Paige Graves, and library teacher, Emily Houston shared how to use an inquiry approach to AI that centers the human and positions AI in a supplemental role to refine research questions, locate relevant and credible source of information, personalize learning, and more.