CRLS Family Connection

Photo: Main entrance of CRLS (Rindge Building)

CRLS Grocery Gift Card Drive

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised nearly $1,000 in gift cards and over $10,000 for the CRLS Food Pantry. Our goal is $15,600–$20,000 by November 30.

How to help

🎁 Donate $25 Star Market or Target gift cards** to Family Liaison Tabithalee Howard. These stores are easiest for families to access. 💳 Give online to the CRLS Food Pantry via Friend
💳 Give online to the CRLS Food Pantry via Friends of CRLS* https://focrls.org/fm

Please avoid donating food directly—we’re dealing with a mouse issue, and gift cards allow families to buy what they need. See details below.

This drive is organized by CRLS Family Connection but spending of pantry funds and gift card distribution are managed by CRLS. See details here.

Donate to Friends of CRLS: 100% of Falcon’s Pantry donations go to food for CRLS students and their families. Please also consider a separate donation to focrls.org to cover their operating costs.

About Falcon’s Market: The food pantry inside CRLS (after entering the main entrance, turn right and it is the last door on the right) is run by the school and serves over 100 students and families a week. It needs donations throughout the year. Make a monetary donations via Friends of CRLS to the food pantry so that family liaison Tabithalee Howard (thoward@cpsd.us; 617-349-6660) to buy what the pantry needs most.

Details

*Why Star Market or Target cards? It is logistically difficult for our Family Liaison to buy Star Market or Target gift cards in bulk because the stores don't make it easy. She can buy Market Basket cards in bulk, but unfortunately many families do not have the transportation or time to go all the way to Somerville.

**Donations (collected via FOCRLS) enables our Family Liaison to purchase exactly what families need to stock the food pantry. We have an issue with mice, so it is much better not to bring food donations.

***Why $15,600-$20,000? 15.6% of Massachusetts residents receive SNAP benefits. ~2000 CRLS students x 15.8% = 312. So 312 x $50 per family = $15,600. The average monthly SNAP benefit is $325 per household in Mass (Feb 2025).

Nov 6: Volunteer to Sort Donated Clothes 11am-12:30pm

Due to the urgency of getting the CRLS Food Pantry in order, that work has been completed by the school. Instead our Family Liaison is looking for help with sorting donated clothes.

If you've never been to the school during the day, please remember to bring an ID and ask for Tabithalee at the security desk inside the main entrance.

Questions? Email Tina at crlsfamconnection@gmail.com

How to get to CRLS main entrance from Broadway. See a photo of main entrance (Rindge Building) at the top of this webpage.

CANCELLED: CRLS Family Connection community meeting: November 6

Apologies for the late notice. we will reschedule.

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The CRLS Family Guidebook

We created this guidebook -- diligently reviewed by CRLS staff and printed by CRLS for rising 9th grade families-- so that all parents/caregivers have the information they need to support the success of their student at CRLS. Printed guidebooks for 8th grade (rising 9th grade) families will be arriving at CPSD middle schools starting the week of March 17. Download the versions here:

Please send us feedback or report any errors or changes here!

ASPEN, Parent Square & Google Classroom Tips for Middle and High School Parent/Caregivers

Technology that Caregivers Need to Know

Family Portal (https://secure1.cpsd.us/family_portal/) - to fill out back to school forms, health forms, etc.
ASPEN (https://ma-cambridge.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do) - a website to see your student's grades, assignments,, and schedule
ParentSquare (https://www.parentsquare.com/signin)- phone app or website to receive notices from Cambridge Public Schools and for parents to communicate with school staff. It can translate communications into the parent's preferred language
Google Classroom - Assignments will be posted here. For caregivers of students with IEPs who need to help their student stay on track with schoolwork. It is most useful to login with your student's login and password.
Who do you contact for help with tech? Email helpdesk@cpsd.us

Who we are

We are a parent/caregiver-led group dedicated to helping Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) parents/caregivers connect and navigate the school system in order to increase student achievement and wellbeing, and promote a positive learning environment where all CRLS students and families feel welcomed, valued, safe, and engaged in a mutually caring community. Sign up for our newsletter below.

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