Cambridge Public Schools: First Day Of School - Important Information

Cambridge MA

08 September, 2021

6:43 PM

Description

Press release from Cambridge Public Schools: September 7, 2021 First Day of School - Important Information Greetings! "I hope that you and your family have had a wonderful summer. I know I speak on behalf of all of CPS's teachers and staff when I tell you that we are so excited to welcome our students back to school this week. I also want to provide five quick reminders for the first day of school. Sign your back-to-school forms: If you haven't already done so, please sign your annual student forms, including the COVID-19 testing consent form. I look forward to seeing you Thursday, September 9, for the first day of school. Make it great!" Dr. Victoria L. Greer Interim Superintendent Cambridge Public Schools COVID Questions of the Week Is CPS providing masks for students and staff? Yes. CPS has provided all schools with an ample supply of masks. These masks were independently lab tested to achieve a high rate: between 90% and 95%. These masks are available for all students and staff who need them. See Masks Keep You Healthy for more information. Is CPS requiring COVID vaccinations? On Tuesday, August 31, the School Committee approved Superintendent Greer's recommendation to require vaccinations for all staff. For all staff that are not part of the union, they will be required to be vaccinated or participate in daily testing. For staff represented by a union, the details and timeline of this requirement are being worked out. Based on recent surveys, most CPS staff are already vaccinated. What is the plan for lunch? CPS's current COVID-19 Safety Manual requires meals to take place outdoors when weather conditions allow. However, as was the case last year, this is not always possible due to limited outdoor spaces and on days with poor weather conditions. In these cases, schools using indoor spaces for meals will follow the CPS protocols: maintain at least 3 feet of distance, students face in the same direction, and ventilation maximized using air filters and open windows. Additional Resource: COVID Quick Reference: What Should I Do? Welcome New Members to the CPS Team Join us in welcoming many new staff to CPS this year, including the new school and district leaders listed below. Caught Doing Good Are you proud of something happening in your classroom or program? Share your stories with us so we can help spread the word. Thank you to the staff of the Student Registration Center, including Kathy Sampson, for their leadership in supporting families in the registration process. Thank you to the family engagement team, including our school liaisons, who are helping facilitate the Conversations with Superintendent Greer. Afterschool Opportunities Looking at afterschool options for your child? See these regularly updated online guides created by the Agenda for Children. Pre-K-5th Graders: ESON After School Guide (Questions: Shawn Proctor Elementary OST Network Coordinator) 6th-8th Graders: MSN After School Guide (Questions: Annie Leavitt, Middle School Network Coordinator) Conversations with Superintendent Greer Join me for a virtual conversation to share your perspective on the future of CPS. Grades 2-5 Families, and Grades 6-8 Families. School Calendar: Upcoming Dates SY2021-22 School Calendar September 6 - 8 | Rosh Hashanah Other Upcoming Events Saturday, September 25 | 10AM - 12PM, CPS Community Fair Back-to-School Forms Don't forget to complete your Forms! COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms If you haven't already done so, please complete your COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms. Superintendent Greer's Family Focus Groups Join CPS's new superintendent, Dr. Victoria L. Greer in a virtual focus group to share your perspective about the future of Cambridge Public Schools. Learn more >> This press release was produced by Cambridge Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.