Cambridge Public Schools

Congratulations to our RSTA Culinary Team on earning 2nd place at the 17th Annual Massachusetts ProStart Invitational (MAPSI) at Gillette Stadium earlier this month! The MAPSI allows high school teams to compete in either the management or culinary portion of the competition. RSTA took on the culinary competition where they prepared a starter, entrée, and dessert along with a prepared menu. Their three courses included: Gnocchi di Patata Dolce al Miele Coffee-crusted Steak au Poivre Le Rêve Citrique Members of the culinary team also received the following recognitions: Saridia Wright: 3rd place in Cake Decorating Jahsmine Son: The Kitchen Boss Award and Social Media Award Izzy Bettencourt: 1st place in Mocktail Mixology Contest Last but not least, congratulations to Chef Rick McKinney on being awarded Massachusetts ProStart Educator of the Year! Photos courtesy of Eno Renaud. Learn more about MAPSI: https://bit.ly/41dwJGR

We're proud to share that 46 CRLS students won a total of 93 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards this year! This is the nation's longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers in the visual and literary arts. Our incredible young artists were awarded 22 Gold Keys, 1 Silver Key Portfolio, 26 Silver Keys, and 44 Honorable Mentions for the Massachusetts Region! 🌟 Explore the extraordinary works by our students: https://lnkd.in/gEMrdPk2 All Gold Key Massachusetts Award winners will have their work featured in an exhibition at Tufts University in March and will be reviewed at the national level by panels of creative professionals to be considered for national awards, medals, and scholarships. Learn more about Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: https://lnkd.in/eTf6n-tA

Join us in welcoming Christina Radley, our new Director of Budget & Finance! She started her career teaching middle school science and has more than 10 years of experience in management in education organizations, including Teach for America and TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project). Most recently, she was a financial analyst at Boston Public Schools, where she supported schools and departments. She is excited to continue this work in her new role here at CPS, and we are delighted to have Christina join our Finance team!

Career & Technical Education Month celebrates the value of Career & Technical Education (CTE)! CTE Programs prepare students to graduate with skills and credentials that will help them make informed decisions about future careers. At CPS, we are committed to provide accessible college and career pathways for all students. We are proud to embrace technical education and career exploration through the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) and through our Early College program. Learn more about the 12 RSTA career pathways here: https://rsta.cpsd.us/ Check out this video to find out what our students have to say about their experience with Early College at Lesley University!

National School Counseling Week (February 3-7) aims to highlight the tremendous impact that school counselors have in helping students achieve academic and long term success. At CPS, our school counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their strengths, abilities, interests, and talents to enhance their academic, career, and social emotional development. Thank you for all that you do! Your dedication and role are integral to student success.

Though February is officially known as Black History Month, in Cambridge Public Schools, Black history is taught throughout the year. We not only focus on stories of oppression but also agency and joy. In addition to widely celebrated historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, our educators teach about lesser-known figures like Bayard Rustin, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terell, Daisy Bates, and Fannie Lou Hamer. The City of Cambridge will host a series of events and feature a variety of stories throughout February in celebration of Black History Month. Throughout the month, programs led by the Public Library, Veterans Services, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and more will highlight Black theater, poetry, movies, musical traditions, and cuisine to celebrate Black heritage and culture. See details here: https://bit.ly/42HeGv6. You can also celebrate and learn more about local icons in Black history by exploring the Cambridge Black Trailblazers digital library here: https://bit.ly/3Un0OBY Did You Know? Black History Month dates back to 1915 when Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland organized to research and promote achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. What is known today is that in 1926, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) sponsored a national Negro History week during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In the 1960s, this evolved into Black History Month. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month.

Happy Lunar New Year! This is one of the most important celebrations for people of East and Southeast Asian descent. It is usually celebrated for 15 days from the first new moon of the lunar calendar until the full moon arrives. China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival. Koreans call it Seollal, and Vietnamese refer to it as Tết Nguyên Đán. The holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors. It is a time to put the past behind and look forward to a fresh start. Happy Year of the Snake!

CRLS chemistry teacher Ms. Ariel Serkin has been named a 2021 National Awardee for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Up to two awardees from each state and U.S. territory are granted this prestigious award each year. All awardees have been invited to attend a celebration in Washington, DC and will also receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. Ms. Serkin has led workshops at the local, regional, and national level. She is continually exploring ways to leverage student discourse to improve learning using whiteboarding techniques. Ms. Serkin will present on this topic at the ChemEd conference in Golden, CO this summer after teaching a 2-week Chemistry Modeling Instruction (TM) workshop in Georgia and serving on the American Chemical Society High School Conceptual Exam Committee. Join us in congratulating Ms. Serkin on this accomplishment! We are proud of Ms. Serkin’s dedication to continued excellence in education. Read more about the PAEMST award here: https://bit.ly/40v0G4P

Meet our new Director of Communications! Jackie Piques has been appointed as the new Director of Communications for the district. Mrs. Piques has 18 years of communications experience in the public sector. She has worked for the City of Somerville, City of Medford, and comes to us most recently from her position as Chief Communications and Development Officer at Somerville Public School District. She looks forward to connecting with the Cambridge community to incorporate community needs into district communications. Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Piques to the team!

The Cambridge Rindge & Latin School has earned recognition as a Silver school on the Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results and access for students. Learn more about how CRLS performs in the areas of college credit, college culture, and college optimization here: https://bit.ly/3OfjL53