Greetings from Julie Craven
Dear RAUC Families,
Education can make a difference in the world. So can compassion and community. These beliefs guide the work teachers and staff at Rindge Avenue do every day. They were also sources of strength in the face of the unsettling and tragic events of last week. Teachers welcomed students back on Monday with a particular attention to nurturing the sense of inclusion and safety for all. Additionally, social studies teachers are drawing on resources from Facing History and Ourselves to support students in reflecting on the following questions relating to the violence in Louisville and Pittsburg: What questions do these events raise for you? What feelings do they provoke? What can we do if we ourselves are feeling vulnerable? How can we stand with and support others who are feeling vulnerable? What are some meaningful actions we can take, even if only in our own home, neighborhood, or school? Please reach out to Shanika Boadu or your child’s teacher if you believe your child would benefit from more support.
Thankfully, our community is strong in so many ways. Look further in the newsletter to keep up to date. And please make sure to sign up to meet with your student’s teachers at our fall Learning Partners Conferences--look for information and a live link in this newsletter.
In unity,
Julie Craven
Head of School
Schedule a Meeting with your
Student’s Teachers
Face to face time with each family is very important to us. Sign up for your Fall Learning Partners Conferences. If you do not have access to the internet or need support in scheduling, please call the Taraneh Ahmadi, Family Partnership Coordinator at 617.349.4060 x2041 or Linette Maloney at 617.349.4060. Slots for core academic teachers are 20 minutes– in that time, you will rotate through a 5 minute meeting with each individual teacher. You can also sign up for a 10 minute meeting with Specials teachers. Bring your student to the conference so everyone hears the same message!
- ALL Grades and Specials: Wednesday, November 14
5:30 - 8:20PM
- 6th Grade: Thursday, November 15 | 8AM - 3:50PM
- Specials: Friday, November 16 | 8AM - 8:40AM
- 7th Grade: Tuesday, November 27 | 8AM - 3:50PM
- 8th Grade: Thursday, November 29 | 8AM - 3:50PM
Goals of Learning Partner Conferences:
- Communication that helps family and school work with deepened cohesion to support student success and well-being
- Demonstration to student that school and family care about their success and well being and are working in partnership to support them.
It’s Here– the BIGGEST Fundraiser Event of the Year!
We promise you a fun evening of food, drinks and a silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 3rd from 6 - 10PM on the MIT Campus. This event is organized by the Families of RAUC (FRAUC) to support enrichment and field trips for ALL RAUC students. Our goal is to raise enough funds to provide financial assistance so that all our 8th grade students can participate in the class trip to Washington DC. Funds raised this year also provide a cushion to ensure we can keep the DC trip up for future years! Your attendance will help us meet this important goal.
- Please purchase your Gala tickets here.
- You can make a direct donation to FRAUC here and click the ‘Donate’ button on the right.
- Access our wonderful Silent Auction here. An anonymous donor will match the total amount we raise through the silent auction, up to $5000! Help us secure all $5000! Bid NOW!
- FRAUC Co-chairs Deirdre Logan or John O’Neil will also happily receive any items, services, gifts you are willing to donate for our silent auction!
The First RAUC Dance of the Year was a Success!
Huge thanks to the 7th grade families who sponsored the dance--the donations of refreshments, and the time of the volunteers for donating refreshments, a fun photo booth, and their time decorating and setting up, selling snacks, and cleaning up all to ensure a fun evening.
Gisel Saillant’s Lesson Adaptation Featured on Teaching Tolerance Website
Below is an excerpt of the posting:
Help students analyze costumes to see how they reinforce stereotypes.
TT’s lesson, What Do Halloween Costumes Say?, is easily adaptable for students at any grade level. Analyzing advertisements for costumes, students identify the stereotypes they find in even popular costume choices. Recently, social studies teacher Gisel Saillant tried this lesson with her sixth-graders—and took it a step further. She concluded by having her students write letters to the costume store whose advertisements they had analyzed.
You can check out student voices and read the entire article, Teach about Blackface and Other Racist Halloween Costumes.
Reflecting on Veterans Day
RAUC music teachers have been hard at work preparing their musicians for another community event, the Veterans Day assembly that will be held jointly with the Peabody School on Monday, November 5.
Cafeteria Taste Test
In partnership with the Cambridge Public Schools Food Service, the Cambridge Public Health Department will be conducting a taste test of a new recipe in the Peabody School and Rindge Ave Upper School school cafeteria alongside the regular lunch as part of the International Flavors Series on school menus. This recipe came from a CPSD community member. The featured recipe of this taste test is Fricase de Pollo (Chicken Fricassee). This is a Puerto Rican braised chicken dish that will be served over brown rice. Ingredients include chicken, salt pepper, oregano, vegetable oil, red peppers, green peppers, garlic, cilantro, recao, vinegar, tomatoes, bay leaves, olives. The taste test will be conducted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2018. Food staff will not serve anyone sitting at “allergy free” tables in the cafeteria or any student with a food allergy over concern for cross contamination. The Public Health Department will coordinate with School Nurse Anita Barandao and cafeteria staff prior to the taste test to ensure every child with a food allergy is identified. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Public Health Nutritionist Gabriella Headrick.
6th Grade Learning Previews
See what our students are going to be studying this month in 6th Grade! Read more >>
Quality Learning and Professional Time
Studies conducted last year, and meetings with diverse stakeholders since, have raised concerns about the amount and quality of learning and professional time in Cambridge Public Schools. CPS is in the midst of a study and design process examining a range of options for improving learning and professional time, with an initial focus on elementary and Upper School schedules.
View the latest updates on this process on the CPS website, and save the dates for the following Public Forums:
December 5 | 6PM | Morse School
January 10 | 6PM | Kennedy-Longfellow School
January 12 | 10AM | Graham & Parks School
The Superintendent will develop a proposal that will be shared for stakeholder feedback in January. In addition to the public forums, school-based meetings are being scheduled for all schools. Any changes in school schedules will benefit from a full planning year in 2019-20 before implementation in 2020-2021.
Outside Opportunities
Immigration Legal Screening Clinics
3rd Wednesday each month, 5:15-7:15PM
Free consultations with an immigration attorney for Massachusetts immigrants and their families
Community Legal Services & Counseling Center (CLSACC)
90 Third St., Cambridge
617.349.4396; [email protected]
See flyer >>
Cambridge Affordable Housing Information Sessions
Learn about the eligibility requirements and application process for the following programs Cambridge Rental and Homeownership Programs: Inclusionary Housing Rental Program for studios, 1BR, 2BR, & 3BR units
throughout Cambridge, Homeowner Resale Pool, First-Time Homebuyer Workshop, Downpayment Assistance, and HomeBridge. Open to all. No RSVP Necessary. Learn more >>
Rep. Katherine Clark – Cambridge Office Hours
Hosted by Rep. Clark's Immigration Issues Liaison Katie Worley
3rd Thursday each month, 3-4PM
Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass Ave. (Mayor's Office, 2nd fl)
Staff will be on site to answer questions about immigration benefits, USCIS cases, Passports, and more. If you have questions or need assistance outside of scheduled hours, please do not hesitate to contact our district office:
701 Concord Ave., Suite 101, Cambridge, MA 02138
617.354.0292, katherineclark.house.gov
Cambridge Flu Clinics
The flu (influenza) can be a serious illness. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from influenza is for all adults and children over 6 months old to get a flu shot every year. Cambridge Public Health is offering free flu shots at:
- Peabody School - Wednesday, November 7 from 5:30 - 7:30PM in the gym.
There is no charge, but please bring your health insurance card if possible. For more information and the full list of flu clinics, visit our website or call the recorded flu clinic info line, 617.665.3855.
Cambridge Bicycle Safety
Does your child bike to school? Do you bike with your child to school? Would you or your child like to get around by bike but feel it is not safe?
Cambridge Bicycle Safety is an all-volunteer group of Cambridge residents who are asking for safer bike lanes and a complete network of protected lanes throughout Cambridge. Separated lanes in the last two years--Cambridge, Brattle and sections of Mass Ave--have been the result of people in the community organizing. But we need more voices.
We are looking for stories of parents and their children who bike or would like to bike. If you have a story and want to learn more, email us.
MIT-SEED Program
MIT-SEED is a free Saturday engineering program for Cambridge, Lawrence, and Boston 7th- 12th graders. 7th and 8th graders apply in the fall to start in the Spring. Applications are due November 9th. More >>
City Step
All levels dance classes with college students: 6th graders will meet at the Dance Center at Harvard on Tuesday afternoons. Still space for 6th graders! Learn more >>
Work Force for 8th graders
CRLS site still has 3 spots and the Roosevelt Towers site (East Cambridge) still has lots of spots available. Let's get them filled - paid program with free academic support and paid internships all the way through high school, and matching college savings. Learn more >>
Girls Only Leadership Development (GOLD)
A free weekly leadership development program for 8th grade girls run out of the YWCA. Wednesdays this year, and every week! More >>
Breakthrough Greater Boston
A year-round, tuition-free program that offers six years of academically intensive out-of-school time services to highly motivated, traditionally underserved middle and high school students in Greater Boston. Application is due in mid-December-- stay tuned! More Info >>
Let's Connect!
Stay in the loop by joining our social media communities.
RAUC Facebook >>
District Social Media >>
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