Message from Christen Sohn
Good afternoon CSUS parents and caregivers,
I hope everyone enjoyed the day yesterday, and Happy Veteran’s Day to the veterans in our community.
Scholars are hard at work as we enter into the second marking quarter. 6th graders were working in our STEAM lab in Social Studies today, 7th graders are exploring triangles this week, and 8th graders are finishing their essays on All
American Boys. We are looking forward to sharing your child’s progress with you via first quarter progress reports, which will be available in ASPEN this Friday.
Please see below for the homework calendar and important information regarding Teen Grief Awareness Month and our partnership with The Children’s Room, food resources and grocery gift card for SNAP recipients, next week’s
Title I Family Information Session, and next week’s School Council meeting.
CSUS Homework Expectations and Weekly Homework Calendars
In an effort to keep scholars, caregivers, and out of school time providers informed regarding weekly assignments,
our teaching teams are sharing weekly homework calendars. These will be posted on our website for reference and easy access.
Grade 8 Weekly Homework
Grade 7 Weekly Homework
Grade 6 Weekly Homework
Interested in knowing more about what’s happening in classrooms? Check ParentSquare for monthly curriculum updates from your child’s teaching team!
CSUS welcomes The Children’s Room on November 13 for National Children & Teen Grief Awareness Month
This month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact that the death of a family member has on the life of a child or teen. It also provides a space for them to show support and encouragement to others.
Staff and interns from The Children’s Room (TCR) will be partnering with counseling staff from our school to host activities and an awareness table during lunch. Students who would like to participate will have the opportunity
to anonymously represent anyone in their life who has died and/or write a message of support for peers.
We hope that this event may also be an opening for family discussion. Consider asking your student what they drew/wrote on their blue heart honoring or supporting someone. Share with them about the individuals your family remembers
and the memories you hold.
The color for Grief Awareness Month is Blue. Please encourage your child to join us by wearing BLUE on November 13 to show support for their friends & classmates who have experienced grief.
If you would like more information about ways to be supportive of a child/teen who is grieving, please click here.
Please feel free to contact The Children’s Room for information about grief support services available free of charge for children, teens, and families. Click here for the contact form.
Food Resources for Eligible School-Aged Cambridge Residents
To help CPS students and families, we have options available to address food insecurity for families who are eligible for SNAP benefits.
This week on Friday and Saturday, Cambridge Public Schools is distributing gift cards to a local grocery store to eligible students’ families. Each eligible student will receive
one $50 gift card. To receive a gift card, families must do the following:
- Come to one of the events listed below.
- Provide your EBT card, and the name of your student(s). If you have students at more than one CPS school, please pick up all of your gift cards at one time.
- Gift cards will be available at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (459 Broadway) on the following dates:
In the meantime, there are options available during school hours for ALL students:
- All students have access to FREE breakfast and lunch every school day. View the daily menus here. **CSUS
cafeteria doors open at 8AM for scholars who would like breakfast** Breakfast options are available through arrival and until classes begin at 8:45AM.
- Beginning on this week, CPS Food Services is making meals more substantial by adding more protein options to daily menus.
- Students may visit salad bars more than once during meals for additional fruit and vegetables.
- Students are encouraged to use the “share tables” in the cafeterias. Students who have wrapped, unused food items can place them on the share table for others to take as needed.
- If you need additional support or want to visit a local free food market, find all options here.
Title I Parent Information Session
Monday, November 17 | 6-7PM | Zoom
There will be a VIRTUAL Title One Parent Information session for caregivers
on Monday, November 17th from 6-7PM.
Here is the Zoom link for the event.
Meeting ID: 852 6149 2870
Passcode: ms7vGy
CSUS School Council next Thursday at 6:30PM
Thursday, November 20 | 6:30 to 7:30PM | Cambridge Street Upper School
Join the School Council meeting
next Thursday, November 20 from 6:30 to 7:30. The meeting will be held in person at Cambridge Street Upper School; families will also be able to join remotely. All caregivers are welcome! We will share the topic of next Thursday’s
meeting in next week’s Tuesday Take Home letter, and will also share the virtual link - we hope to see you there!
Upcoming important Dates
- November is Indigenous People’s Month
- November 12: Lockdown Drill at CSUS/KO buildings
- November 14: S1 Progress Reports Published
- November 20: CSUS School Council Meeting | 6:30-7:30PM
- November 21: Picture Day Retake
- November 26: Early Dismissal - 12:45PM
- November 27-28: Thanksgiving Break - No School
- December 4: Caregiver Academy at CSUS: December’s topic is Adolescent Development - more information to come!
- December 17: Winter Concert
- December 23: Early Dismissal - 1:15PM
- December 24 - January 5: Winter Vacation - No School
Thank you for entrusting us with your scholars’ education. We are looking forward to a joyful and enriching year with you and your children.
Go Cobras!
Christen
Head of School
Cambridge Street Upper School
PCO Update | Election Results, Gift Card Drive & More
Hello families,
Ah "Sweet November Rain" - it's a month that can't quite make up its mind weather wise or season wise. We're still coming down from the Halloween sugar rush, about to wave a brief hello to
Thanksgiving and already surrounded by Holiday cheer.
And today, as we mark Armistice Day—known here as Veterans Day—we pause to honor those who have served and sacrificed. It’s a moment to reflect, even as the season swirls around us.
Here are some important updates:
CSUS School Council – Results are in!
Voting has ended. Please welcome your representatives: Sarah Figge-Hussain, Amber Villa and me (that's Shalini).
We're all 7th grade parents with a commitment to our children, the school and our community and look forward to being part of the conversation.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you'd like us to discuss at the next school council meeting.
Supporting Families This Thanksgiving
As we approach the holiday season, the PCO is preparing to support families in our community who may be facing added financial
strain this season, including those affected by recent changes to federal assistance programs.
To ensure every family feels supported, we’re launching our Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive early this year. Contributions will help us provide gift cards to families who need extra support during the break.
We’re also looking for volunteers to help deliver baskets on Monday, November 24th. If you’re available and would like to lend a hand, we’d love your support—it's a great way to connect and
make a direct impact. Please add your name here.
If you’re in a position to give, your donation—no matter the amount—will make a meaningful difference.
Scan the QR code or click the link below to contribute: 
https://cambridgestreetpco.square.site/vacation-week-gift-card-drive
Together, we can make this season a little brighter for everyone.
Events
Community Bake Sale - to everyone who helped set up, turned up to sell and/or baked such delicious and wonderful goodies - thank you!
We successfully raised just over $240. A huge thank you to Dunkin' Donuts (Twin City Plaza) who kindly donated coffee to the bake sale and helped stave off the cold.
Not everything was sold, which meant our amazing teachers got an unexpected, sweet treat—an early dose of appreciation that was very well received!
Your support is always greatly appreciated, and we couldn't have done it without you.
CSUS PCO Monthly Meeting
Monday, December 8 | 7:30 – 9PM | Google Meet
Join online meeting here >>
Or dial: (US) +1 218-451-4253
PIN: 295 240 209#
Questions about the PCO?
You can find the answers here or send an email to [email protected].
Warm regards,
Shalini Ayre
President, CSUS-PCO
The Cambridge Street PCO is a 501c(3) public charity (Federal Identification # 46-1980223) registered in Cambridge, MA. USA.