Greetings from Julie Craven

Dear RAUC Families,

The first quarter of the school year wraps up this Friday. Students have accomplished a lot: they’ve crafted essays, dug deep into novels, conducted experiments, grappled with math problems, and developed their linguistic, artistic and musical talents. They have also honed their group building skills, strengthened their muscles, and explored topics that support their physical and emotional well-being. And we hope that they have had some fun in the process. We hope that the Learning Previews have helped you engage in conversation with your student around the topics that they have delved into these opening months of school. Please remember to look in the previews for conversation starters with your student on the topics for the coming month.

The end of the quarter is the time to check in on student progress. Our fall Learning Partners Conferences start in two weeks. Teachers value the chance to meet with you so that teachers, family and student are all working together in support of continued learning and growth. Please look in the newsletter for sign up information. Additionally, you can expect first quarter progress reports to go live in Aspen next Friday--please note they will be mailed home for families without internet access.

Here’s to a strong second quarter!

Julie Craven, Head of School

When students learn to express feelings and show respect for others, they become happier and healthier. If your student shows an emotion, validating their feelings can help them feel heard and valued.

Schedule a Meeting with Your Student's Teacher

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 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!

–6th grade: Tues 11/19 (8AM - 3:50PM); Wed 11/20 (5:30-8PM)
–7th grade: Thurs 11/21 (8AM - 3:50PM); Wed 11/20 (5:30-8PM)
–Specials: Fri 11/22 (8 - 8:40AM); Wed 11/20 (5:30 - 8:20PM)
–8th grade: Wed 12/11 (5:30-8PM); Thurs 12/12 (8 - 8:40AM)

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.

Every 8th grader in the Cambridge Public Schools is invited to attend! Please fill out this form, with your cpsd address, to sign up. Note that you must be accompanied by an adult, but it doesn't have to be "your own" adult. There is a spot on the form to indicate that you are going with a friend's adult. Former RAUC students participating in the musical include Max Hunter, Jinho Lee, Natasha Serfaty, Grace Valaskovic, Aurora Toledo Manrique, Judith Epstein, Elliot Olynciw-Olkuski, Emma Weller and Kate Weller. We hope to see you there on Thursday, November 14th! Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] with any questions. Performances are November 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 7:00 pm, and November 24 at 2:00 pm at the Fitzgerald Theatre, CRLS Arts Building, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, MA. With a cast, crew, and orchestra of over fifty CRLS Visual & Performing Arts students, Sister Act is sure to be a heavenly theatrical experience! Tickets are available now: $10 for adults and $5 for children, students, and seniors (65+). All seats are reserved. Tickets can be purchased online at http://vpa.cpsd.us through the Box Office link. There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door (cash only) as well. Don’t forget your donations, and no need to wear your Sunday best!

Building Equity Bridges Workshop 2: Delving into the Barriers to Equity

Following a successful and well attended workshop #1 last Wednesday, we invite families, school staff/teachers, and community to work together to create a more racially just and equitable Cambridge public schools.

Wednesday, November 13 | 5:30PM dinner, 6-8PM discussion
Baldwin School, 85 Oxford St.
Childcare for preschool age thru 5th graders

What: Each school affinity group will delve deeper into the Barriers to Equity document and discusses what resonates for them as a school, what barriers do they feel are most relevant to them as a school to work on. For anyone who missed the first workshop, please come! 

The Barrier to Equity document is available here >> 

Please RSVP for food, childcare (preschool age thru 5th graders): [email protected]

What is Building Equity Bridges? The Cambridge school district-sponsored Building Equity Bridges with Courageous Conversations is holding a workshop for Baldwin, Peabody, RAUC to engage the school community in action to address the root causes of inequity in Cambridge Public Schools concluded from 18-months of data collection and analysis by 200+ teachers/staff, family, and school community members across the school district.

What We Have Heard from Families

Our School Council and Family Engagement Team have each had a chance to reflect on data from the district’s family engagement survey from last spring as well as from questionnaires filled out at Back to School Night. As you recall, the window for collecting the survey was extended to increase participation rates, so we were not able to look at that data until this year. Teachers and administrators are already actively using the data to guide their work this year. Here are some highlights... 

Learn more >>

Apple Cider Pressing

All month long, CitySprouts has been at every elementary and middle school in Cambridge, pressing apple cider with students. Not only is making apple cider a fun, hands-on and delicious autumn activity, but it also is an opportunity for hands-on learning. 

Learn more >>

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