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Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, 10-11:30am (Virtual): Zoom Link

Our network meeting this month will focus on our middle schoolers (6th-8th graders) - particularly the older rising 7th and 8th graders that are often hardest to recruit and maintain in summer programs, yet are also most important to have in programming. Our big question for the meeting is: What does it take to engage middle schoolers in the summer? 

Because you can only do so much in 90 mins we will be focusing on three elements: what trends we are seeing among the 6-8th grade post-COVID (in schools and programs), what the ‘flow of the day’ schedules look like for middle school programs, and what we are naming “the culture challenge”: how do you create a pathway so that 5th graders want to be 8th graders in your program? Bring your summer schedules, your experience, your dilemmas and your questions, and let’s work on this community challenge together.

What happened to the ESON meeting? ESON folks, don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you! We’ve been working with our Cambridge friends to offer BOOST & STRETCH: Summer Planning Retreat (Register NOW) on Friday, March 8th (two days later), in person at the Foundry (see graphic to the right). This event is not age specific - there will be folks from the elementary school and middle school world - and is designed for program directors and full-time youth workers. We encourage you to attend that instead of the MSN meeting on Wednesday - although all are certainly welcome to our conversation on Wed about serving older kids, as many of you who work with the little ones also have wisdom & experience with middle schoolers as well.

Let's Get Middle Schoolers Excited about Summer!

Come visit Upper School classrooms with us! March (and early April) is the month that we gather summer program providers to visit each Upper School and get kids excited about their options this summer. Come join! 

Represent summer programs, pitch your program and be part of our citywide effort to boost middle school participation in summer programs. 

How it works: 

• You sign up on this document for the schools, dates and times that can fit into your schedule (and the grade levels you serve; if you serve 6th graders, sign up for the 6th grade classrooms)
• Keep checking back as more dates get added; we are still scheduling with multiple schools
• Annie will get in touch with more details for that date, especially for the 'interactive workshop' blocks where you get to actually run an activity with young people 
• Different schools, different models: schools opted for different things based on the amount of time they had and what students need. It’s confusing. I promise I will get you up to speed before it happens.
• On the day of the workshop, you come join our crew of fun summertime people, who invade classrooms for a period of time to get kids excited and hear about their options

Questions? Email Annie (aleavitt@cpsd.us)

Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) is Looking for Worksites! 

MSYEP offers Cambridge teens the opportunity to work with non-profits or government agencies for 6 weeks during the summer. Teens work 20 hours per week from July 1st-August 9th. There are two ways of providing opportunities for youth to work with your organization: 

Traditional Worksites: MSYEP provides all youth wages and an MSYEP Liaison who will monitor youths’ experience and provide support to the teens and to you. If you would like to host one or more young people at your workplace as a traditional worksite, please complete only the MSYEP Worksite Application.

Summer Work and Learning Sites: Expand the scope of MSYEP by including an educational enrichment component. SWL programs are an opportunity for you to design and manage an educational, work-based learning project specific to your organization’s mission and needs. Funds are available to cover personnel costs related to the program and supplies. As with traditional worksites, MSYEP pays the wages for all teens assigned and provides the support of an MSYEP Liaison. If you’d like to apply as an SWL site, please complete the MSYEP Worksite Application AND the RFP Proposal Form.

Both forms are due on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Questions? Contact George Hinds, 617-349-6268 or ghinds@cambridgema.gov

Hosting a Program or Activity During April Break?

We are creating a slideshow for April Break that will be shared with students and families. If you are planning to host a program during this time, we would love for you to share the following details:

• What is the program about?
• When will it take place?
• Where will it be held?
• How much does it cost?
• How can students sign up?

Please send your program details to Tyrique Kittrell (tkittrell@cpsd.us)

Attention Cambridge Families: Don't Miss Rollin' & Summer Resources Happening This Saturday!

Get ready for some summer fun at our annual Rollin' & Summer Resources event this Saturday, March 2nd from 1-4pm!

Families will have the opportunity to explore 50+ summer camps, programs, and providers while enjoying roller skating, music, food and accessing valuable family and community resources.

Location: CSUS/King Open/Community Complex, 830 Cambridge St, Cambridge

Families: Click here to register and sign up for bus transportation.

DHSP Summer Lottery Window Ends This Sunday, March 3rd

Go to this website to learn more and to enter your child in the DHSP Summer Programs Lottery.

The Lottery window goes from Feb 1st-Mar 3rd, families can put in their application at any time in that window!

Subscribe to DHSP Newsletter for Kids, Teens, and Families

Interested in getting more updates about City of Cambridge programs, opportunities and events for kids, youth, and teens?

Subscribe to the Department of Human Service Programs’ monthly “DHSP News for Kids, Teens, and Families” newsletter! Click here to subscribe!

(Position Vacant)

ESON Coordinator

Cambridge Public Schools & Agenda for Children OST

Annie Leavitt

MSN Coordinator

Cambridge Public Schools & Agenda for Children OST

617-349-6018, aleavitt@cpsd.us