The mission of Chenery School is to inspire and support the intellectual, social and emotional growth and well-being of all students in the CUE community. With the support of families, we provide opportunities for students to think, create, reason and problem solve so that they can be positive and productive young adults who are of service to others.

At Chenery School we share a set of beliefs and values that inform and guide our words and actions. Throughout the year we will discuss these and explore how we can continue to foster them in our school. These core values are represented by our school’s motto:

By making these values central to our time together, we will be successful in ensuring the academic, social, and emotional growth of all children.

The Chenery School opened in 1997 in a new, three-levels, state-of-the-art facility arranged around a courtyard and include a 700-seat auditorium, 450-seat cafeteria, integrated media center, band and chorus rooms, several community rooms, and fully networked technology equipped classrooms. Outside are basketball courts, tennis courts, a baseball field, and other grassy playing fields maintained by the Belmont Recreation Department.

Fifth grade students learn in 2 - teacher teams. One teacher for English and Social Studies, and one teacher for Science and Math. Fifth graders also take art, World Music, Physical Education. Instruction in Instrumental and Choral Music is an optional program.

Sixth grade students are organized in a team of four teacher core teams with each teacher responsible for one learning area: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Science. There are approximately 100-125 students on each team. Art, Physical Education, Technology Education, and Health complete the program of studies in grade six.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a music performing group (band, orchestra, or chorus) as part of their class offerings.

Parents may elect to have their child attend a structured after-school program for a fee. This program allows time for students to do their homework and participate in other activities.

Section 59C of chapter 71 of the General Laws: "The principal of each school, in consultation with the school council established pursuant to this section, shall on an annual basis…develop and submit for approval by the district superintendent and school committee a plan for improving student performance. Plans shall be prepared in a manner and form prescribed by the department of elementary and secondary education and shall conform to any policies and practices of the district consistent therewith."

The SIP is posted when available here: School Improvement Plan

The Chenery Upper Elementary School combines students from four lower elementary schools into one larger upper elementary school. In order to foster a smaller and supportivelearning environment within our larger school, we have created a two-house system: Waverley House and Cushing House. Each house serves as a close-knit learning community where students can thrive.

Students move from one teacher in Grade 4 to two-teacher teams in Grade 5 to a four-teacher rotation by Grades 6. Classrooms and teams are heterogeneously grouped.

Grade 5 students learn in two-teacher teams; one teacher for English & Social Studies(Humanities), and one teacher for Science & Math (STEM). Grade 5 students also take Allied Arts classes, including Art, Music, and Physical Education, Technology Engineering and Library Media Studies. Instruction in Instrumental Music, Choral Music or General Music are a choice-based program.

Grade 6 students are organized in a team of four-teacher “core” teams, with each teacherresponsible for one learning area: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science. There are approximately 100-125 students on each team. Grade 6 students also take Allied Arts classes, including Art, Music, and Physical Education, and Technology Engineering Education. All Grade 6 students have the opportunity to participate in a music performing group (Band, Orchestra, or Chorus) as part of their class offerings or General Music.

House Model : The CUE is comprised of two houses.

Waverley House: Led by Assistant Principal Lauren Giunta, this house is located on the first and second floors. It includes:

students in our LABBB program,

seven 4 grade classrooms,

Grade 5 Red, Orange, and Yellow, and Pink Teams, and

Grade 6 Water and Air Teams.

Cushing House: Led by Assistant Principal Jennifer Mathews, this house includes:

seven 4 grade classrooms,

Grade 5 Green, Blue, and Violet Teams, and

Grade 6 Earth and Fire Teams.

The first historical evidence of a Belmont resident with the last name of Chenery dates as farback as 1685. Throughout early United States history the Chenery family were known to send members to the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil wars. Our Schoolʼs namesake, Winthrop Louis Chenery, was a Belmont resident in the mid-1800s. He was born in Boston on February 18, 1845 but came to Belmont at an early age and spent the rest of his life here. He was educated at Chauncey Hall in Boston and completed his course at Harvard College in the class of 1867, ranking high in his class. For 35 years he was the Belmont town treasurer and for many years he served as the town clerk. He was also the first representative the Town of Belmont sent to the Massachusetts Legislature. Fittingly, he even served as a member of the Belmont School Committee. In 1924 the Belmont School Committee voted to name "The new school .... the Winthrop L. Chenery School in recognition of the faithful and efficient service which Mr. Chenery rendered to the Town in Public Service.

The Belmont Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability in admission to, access to and treatment in its programs and activities or in employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding our non-discrimination policies:

Ms. Janice Darias, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Belmont Public Schools
644 Pleasant Street
Belmont, MA 02478
617-993-5410

The Belmont School Department complies fully in the implementation of Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1964.

More information regarding our non-discrimination policies is available here.