Specialist's Reflection 
Let's talk math! This week, we hear from Cambridgeport math coach Glen Sherman. Read more >>

Kindergarten Registration/Lottery
Will your child be 4 years old by March 31, 2015 or 5 by August 31, 2015? Then your child is ready for Kindergarten in September 2015! In order to have the best chance of getting into the school of your choice, you must register in January 2015. Register for Kindergarten: January 5 – January 31, 2015. For added convenience, parents of siblings may register at the Cambridgeport School on January 5th, 7th, or 9th. Contact [email protected] or 617.349.6587 x111 for registration times. Or register anytime during January 5 – 31 at the Family Resource Center; 8:30AM – 3:30PM; 459 Broadway (Cambridge Rindge & Latin School building). Parents may pick up a registration packet at C'port School from Shirley or may download one.



Family Game Night
You're invited for a fun-filled night of games at the King School on December 10. Learn more >>

Places to Visit During the Holidays

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 
Free after 4PM on Wednesdays; youth 6 and under free all the time; youth 7-17 free on weekdays after 3PM, weekends, and Boston Public School holidays, otherwise $10. See mfa.org for details.

The Boston Children’s Museum
808 Congress Street, Boston, MA 022310
Fridays from 5-9PM: admission is $1. Saturdays–Fridays, 10AM – 5PM:  Adults $14; Children (1-15) $14; Children (0-12 months) FREE. The Children’s Museum offers many visual and performing arts program that frequently change. See website for details: bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Around the City

Cool News for Public Area Recycling & Composting

Public Area Recycling: DPW is excited to announce that we’ve installed additional public area recycling bins in the City. New locations include in Harvard Square, along Cambridge Street, Inman Square, Mass Ave in North Cambridge, and more! This brings the total number of permanent public area recycling bins along streets and in business districts to over 100 locations. For seasonal bins in City parks, we have over 80 bins. Please know that DPW will remove and store the park recycling bins over the winter beginning in early December and will put them back out in April for the spring, summer and fall. In the last year, we’ve recycled over 95,000 pounds from the public area bins. Thank you! A little effort makes a big difference.

Composting: The City recently announced that the  curbside compost pilot program in North Cambridge will continue through October 2015. 600+ households are participating. The weekly rate for the green bins set out at the curb is close to 90%, trash at participating households has decreased by over 30%, and participants are overwhelmingly positive about the program. Next year, DPW will continue to look at the pilot results and next year will determine expansion possibilities to other neighborhoods in the future. 

Participatory Budgeting (PB) in Cambridge

What is it? Residents Making Real Decisions About Real Money. Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process through which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Cambridge’s pilot PB project will for the first time, directly involve residents in the budgeting and City-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the City’s Capital Plan reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents. Since its inception in 1989, over 1,500 city budgets around the world have undertaken Participatory Budgeting initiatives, including Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Vallejo, CA. 

How much money is Cambridge setting aside and for what can it be used? The City is setting aside $500,000 in capital Funds for the 2014-15 PB process. These funds will be used for one-time capital projects. Learn more about PBP at www.cambridgema.gov/yourbudget.

How do I get Involved?
1) Log onto www.cambridgema.gov/yourbudget to SUBMIT IDEAS ONLINE or find out about upcoming brainstorming sessions and events.
2) Contact the City’s Budget Department at [email protected] or 617.349.4270.