Year in Review 2015

Contact: Anne-Marie Fiore
Telephone: 978.251.5100
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Year in Review 2015
Accomplishments of the Chelmsford Public Schools
Chelmsford, MA, December 26, 2015– Chelmsford Public Schools Year In Review 2015
The Chelmsford Public Schools cultivates inspired, creative, and well-rounded lifelong learners who possess the integrity and self-direction necessary to be contributing community members. While this article may not include every detail of 2015, the intent is to capture the essence of the great work and many accomplishments of our students and staff.
The Chelmsford Public Schools ranked #46 in the Greater Boston Area by Boston Magazine. Chelmsford High School earned a spot on Newsweek’s “America’s Top High Schools 2015.” The list included 500 high schools. The Newsweek rankings were based on standardized test scores, graduation rates, and student-teacher ratios, among other factors.
There were many memorable moments for the music department under the direction of Christina Whittlesey. In April, Chelmsford’s All Town Wind Ensemble wowed crowds at Fenway Park as they performed the Star Spangled Banner at a Red Sox game. Chelmsford student musicians were back at Fenway Park on September 8th, when the CHS Marching Band performed the Star Spangled Banner and the Canadian National Anthem for the Red Sox/Blue Jays game. CHS presented The Sound of Music on December 3, 4, and 5. Eighteen (18) Chelmsford High School students were chosen to perform in Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) festival. Seventeen (17) elementary and middle school singers were selected for the 2015 Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Treble Chorus. Chelmsford High School was one of 120 U.S. High Schools designated as GRAMMY Signature Schools Semifinalist. Chelmsford ranked among nation’s top communities for support of music education for three consecutive years by the NAMM Foundation.
The spirit of giving is exemplified in all of our schools. This year marked the 40th Year of Project 300 at the McCarthy Middle School, where students raised 27,309 non perishable items. The South Row Elementary School collected 95 coats for families in need.
The Social Studies Department earned $8,400 in grant monies from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The CHS Speech and Debate Team won a spot at the second National Speech and Debate Tournament where Erin Phillips represented CHS at the National Tournament in Oral Interpretation where students present selections in two categories – prose and poetry.
The Mathematics Department, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Beyranevand, celebrated 2015 with the start of a series of podcasts. Dr. Matthew Beyranevand records regular podcasts on important topics within Mathematics Education.  Guests include teachers, administrators, coaches, and professors who are experts in different topics within Math Education. In addition, Math with Matthew: The Pythagoras Project is being broadcast on Chelmsford Telemedia, Acton TV, Bolton TV, Dracut Access Television, Fitchburg Access Television, Newton TV, Shirley Public Access, Leominster Access Television, Hingham Community Access, Saugus Cable Television, Worcester Community Cable Access, Wilmington Community Television, Groton Channel, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, Northern Berkshire Community Television, Medfield TV, North Andover CAM, PAC TV, Somerville Community TV, and Bridgewater Television.
The technology department was chosen as a partner with Code.org for the expansion of coding in grades K-5. The technology department received a $3,400 grant from the 3M Corporation for Introduction to Computer Science Courses at the middle school level. The technology department celebrated the Hour of Code Week from December 7-13 with 3,800 student coders. In robotics news, the Lockheed Martin Corporation continued support for the CHS Robotics Team with a $2,500 grant. Additionally, the CHS Robotics Team was one of the twenty-four teams that competed in the New England Regional Botball Competition
Parker Middle School Student Megan Levell-Lynch won the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. Eighteen (18) art students from the CHS, Parker Middle School, and McCarthy Middle School earned awards at the Boston Globe-Scholastic Art Awards.
How does a teacher see a walk in the woods? As a teachable moment about fossils, McCarthy Middle School teacher, Mr. Will Guerra demonstrated the difference between trace and mold fossils on a snowy trail. Will Guerra was the WGBH Google video winner for recognizing, and capturing, a teachable moment.
South Row was offered a very special gift – the gift of remembrance, kindness and friendship. The Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation gifted the South Row Elementary School with a buddy bench.  A second grade student in Pennsylvania conceived the idea of a buddy bench. It is a place for students to go during recess if they need a “buddy”.
At Chelmsford High School, students competed on WGBH’s High School Quiz Show. CHS students competed at the 2015 Massachusetts State DECA tournament at the Boston Copley Marriot. All 21 DECA participants earned the Certificate of Excellence. CHS takes PRIDE in National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Of nearly 1.5 million participants in the “PSAT”, 50,000 students qualify for recognition based on their performance. About 15,000 of these students nation-wide are identified as semifinalists. Each of our 5 semifinalists were officially awarded a finalist commendation. This is the largest number of National Merit semifinalists in the past three years. Senior captain Quinn Cooney became the first runner in CHS history to win the MIAA Divisional and All State Championship Meets. Three CHS seniors, Genesis Acosta, Samruddhi Bhoyar, and Joanne Ferreira earned the bronze in the 12th annual Women of Science Scholarship Competition.
Located in the heart of the Merrimack Valley, the Chelmsford Public Schools cultivates inspired, creative, and well-rounded lifelong learners who possess the integrity and self-direction necessary to be contributing community members. Recognized as a model district for digital learning by the White House, the Chelmsford Public Schools is #FutureReady. For more information, please visit us at: www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Anne-Marie Fiore at 978.251.5100 or email at [email protected].