The CMS Tide Weekly Newsletter

Dear CMS Families and Guardians,

As you were recently informed by Asst. Superintendent Dr. Scollins, Cohasset Public Schools is implementing a new K-8 math and reading assessment called i-Ready. This diagnostic assessment will help identify each student’s strengths and areas for improvement are within each learning standard.

I am contacting you to tell you that CMS will be implementing this assessment this coming week. Students will take the math assessment in a math class on October 12th or 13th. They will take the ELA assessment on October 14th or 15th in their ELA classes. Each assessment will require one class period. Testing accommodations will be provided to students in accordance with their 504 or IEP plans.

As assessment data in schools inform the teaching and learning and to create strong academic success for all students, it is important that students try their best on these assessments. The assessment will ask students questions that are below their skill level, above and right at their skill level. Students should not be surprised if they feel they got questions wrong—it is how the assessment is constructed. The data does not become part of their class grades or transcript.

Please note that we want to make sure that any i-Ready reports are a true reflection of each student's learning, and administering the assessment this first year is a way for us to best gauge and understand what information the reports provide. For these reasons, and since i-Ready is new for our students and teachers, we will not be sharing any individual reports with families at this time. Teachers will certainly be able to speak to the data from i-Ready as well as other assessments, use what they learn about each child in order to help them grow, and discuss their progress at conferences, but teachers are still learning about how to best use the data. We have hired additional reading specialists K-8 and increased the elementary math specialists schedules to be able to assist everyone in this process.

Importantly, students must bring the following to math and ELA classes this week:

• Their fully charged device
• Earbuds/Air Pods/or headphones that are compatible with their devices
• Something to read after completing the assessment (e.g., book)

Thank you for reminding your student of these responsibilities.

Sincerely,

John P. Mills

Principal

Cohasset Middle School

As part of the school's effort to enrich the CMS school culture, JC Pohl, founder of Teen Truth will be visiting on Wednesday, October 13. JC Pohl's ground breaking programs, Teen Truth and Rising Up has sent him around the world, inspiring students, educators, and parents to build school culture and empower student voice. He will be meeting with the student body and faculty in two morning assemblies. He is facilitating an afternoon leadership training with CMS 8th grade Peer Leaders called Rising Up as well.

We look forward to partnering with JC as we continue to develop and improve a positive and inclusive school culture at CMS. Please watch the video below to learn more about JC Pohl and Teen Truth.

The CMS Cross Country team began their season with a strong performance in last Wednesday's meet in Weymouth with Weymouth and Randolph winning both boys and girls brackets. Molly Campbell won the girls' race with Libby Struzziero and Regan Carroll also finishing in the top five runners. Cohasset's Cieran Bergan, Carter Backus, and Liam Baker finished in the top five in their race.

Coach Sullivan stated after the meet that he was "extremely proud of and impressed by all his runners".

The Cross Country team's next meet is Wednesday, October 13 against Scituate and Randolph in Randolph. Good luck to all of our runners!!

As many have likely heard in the news, a series of "challenges" trending on the social media platform TikTok have captured the attention of students both locally and nationally. These challenges encourage destructive and illegal actions within schools. They escalate from stealing soap dispensers to criminal behaviors (e.g., vandalism, theft, battery, and sexual assault).

I am happy to report that none of these behaviors have occurred at CMS. I trust our students are more respectful and thoughtful than the people posting these TikTok videos. When these trends happen, it provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to discuss good decision-making and personal integrity.

We encourage parents to have conversations with their children about not blindly following the social media “crowd” and the seriousness of participating in such challenges. In this case, the consequences would include school discipline and reporting the incident to the Cohasset Police Department as possible crimes.

From Cooking to Weightlifting, CMS offers afterschool Enrichment classes for a multitude of interests! The classes will meet once a week for 6 weeks starting the week of October 18. Sign-up & class descriptions coming next week!

Greetings Cohasset Families,

As I made all of you aware in a previous communication, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley has issued a memorandum, dated September 27, 2021, indicating that, if a school demonstrates a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 80 percent or more of all students and staff in the school, then, upon approval of the Commissioner and local authorities, vaccinated individuals in that school would no longer be subject to the mask requirement as of November 1, 2021.

In order to ascertain whether a school has reached the 80 percent threshold, we ask that, if your child is vaccinated, that each of you confidentially inform your school’s nurse of verification of your child’s vaccination status. As there is currently not a vaccination available for students under 12 years of age, we realize that this attestation does not currently apply to all students. However, we encourage you to communicate vaccination attestation to your school nurse upon vaccination of your child. Your verification must indicate that your child has received either the required two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s Jannsen.

All documentation related to a child’s vaccination status will be maintained confidentially.

• Proof of your child’s vaccination, submitted to your child’s school nurse, can be provided in one of the following ways:
• · A signed self-attestation completed by a parent / legal guardian of the child indicating the brand of vaccine; or
• · Documentation provided to the individual by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or a health care provider. Documentation may include but is not limited to a COVID-19 vaccination record card or a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card, or a print-out from the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS).

Please submit this information as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the day on Thursday, October 7, 2021. Thank you for your understanding and for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Patrick Sullivan, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Cohasset Public Schools

We are off to a busy start of the school year and are very happy to see all the students back in the cafeteria. A reminder that breakfast and lunch are free again this year through the Federal Government. Second meals and A la carte items will be charged to student accounts in Mosaic as we have done in past years. Parents/guardians can check student lunch account balances and add money on myschoolbucks.com.

Menus are posted on our website cohassetk12.org each month under the nutrition page. You can also pre-order meals using the “online ordering” button located at the top of each menu. Free and reduced lunch forms are also available on our site and can be filled out at any time throughout the year to qualify for EBT benefits through the state.

Like many other school districts and businesses, we are currently experiencing food and paper product inventory and delivery issues from the nationwide shortage of workers. We may need to make menu substitutions as needed in the coming months. We will update menus on our site if changes occur and Elementary schools will announce menu changes so that students know what is being offered that day. We are working to minimize disruptions and we are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We are also seeking one individual to join our cafeteria workers team. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30-1:30 during the school year. Interested candidates can find the posting on our website cohassetk12.org or check out SchoolSpring and Indeed for more details.

Thank you,

Marilyn Haraden

Director of Food Services

The Wellness Committee is looking for family representatives to be part of the committee. The committee is also working with CMS and CHS administrators to find student volunteers. Having family and students voice at the meetings will strengthen the work of the committee.

The committee is currently made up of teachers, nurses, administrators, food service, and a school committee member. The committee meets four times a year to review policy and procedures and chose focus areas to enhance wellness throughout the schools. The district received a grant from DESE which has provided a Wellness Coach for last year and continues into this year.

If you are interested in being part of the Wellness Committee please contact Dr. Scollins at lscollins@cohassetk12.org.

The Quincy Family Resource Center serves the Norfolk County and the South Shore and is hosting lots of great Free Events and Educational / Support Groups In October!!

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren & Kinship Caregivers—Zoom support group for grandparents and kinship caregivers meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 1-2pm. For more information, contact Andrea at 617-639-4719 or email aroderick@baystatecs.org.

Nurturing Your Parenting Skills Group—Beginning October 7th Learn age-appropriate expectations for your child, behavioral management, discipline techniques and appropriate consequences in this Zoom group. To register please reach out to Rebecca rhalloran@baystatecs.org – 617-481-7227 x166.

LEADS— Learning Everyday ApplieD Skills for Success engages students (ages 11-18) in learning about positive decision making, leadership, taking responsibility, and healthy relationships. Meets weekly on Wednesdays, now offering two options for times: Option 1: 3:00-4:00 PM and Option 2: 4:30-5:30 PM. This group will be conducted via Zoom video online conferencing. Registration is required. Please contact Candice at 857.939.4078 or ckunigenas@baystatecs.org.

LGBTQ+ Teen Social Group – Tuesday, October 5th from 6:00-7:00. A group where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth can come to socialize with peers and find support. Ages 12-18. Group will be conducted via Zoom online platform. Registration required. Please contact Candice at 617.481.7227 x193 or ckunigenas@baystatecs.org

Parents Raising LGBTQ+ Youth Group — Tuesday, October 5th from 7:00-8:00. Join us for discussion and conversation on topics that affect LGBTQ+ youth and how to support LGBTQ+ teens. COME WITH QUESTIONS! Group will be conducted via Zoom online platform. Please contact Candice at 857.939.4078 or ckunigenas@baystatecs.org for registration and information.

Free. Period. Products and Supplies— We are grateful to be partnering with St. John the Evangelist (Hingham, MA) on their “Free.” initiative which provides free menstruation supplies to those in need on the South Shore. The products to support this biological function are an added expense placed on many who are already experiencing financial insecurity. Compounding this issue is that these products are not covered by benefits. This gap in need and coverage imposes yet another barrier to equity in education and employment as many are forced to miss school or work. If you need these products, please reach out to the Quincy Family Resource Center by contacting Rebecca at rhalloran@baystatecs.org – 617-481-7227 x166.

Birthday in a Bag— The QFRC is offering an ongoing event to help plan your child’s birthday! We will provide you with a bag full of birthday treats, gifts, and party supplies. You will need to register 2 weeks in advance before your child’s birth date. For more information, please contact Rebecca at rhalloran@baystatecs.org – 617-481-7227 x166.

Drop-ins with Drea— Are you between the ages of 16 & 24 and in need of basic resources and information regarding things like employment, health insurance, housing, education, finances, etc.? The QFRC invites you to come on in!! Let’s “sip some tea”, chat about your situation and see how we can help!! Drop-in time is every Wednesday from 4:00PM-5:00PM. Any questions contact Drea at, aroderick@baystatecs.org or 617-481-7227 ext. 157

Trunk-or-Treat— Join the QFRC and Dianne DeVanna Center for a ‘Trunk or Treat’ event at 1120 Hancock St. Quincy, MA 02169. This event takes place Friday, October 29th from 3:30-4:30pm. Staff’s car trunks will be filled with treats and snacks! Don’t miss out on thi fun and safe way to celebrate Halloween! For more information, reach out to Rebecca at 617-481-7227 ex. 166 or rhalloran@baystatecs.org BOO!

Laundry Love — Complimentary laundry services for families are being offered on a modified basis. Laundry supplies and preloaded laundry cards for clients are being left during the designated times asking everyone to use on the honor system. Please remember to follow proper social distancing and wear face masks- we really want everyone to be safe! Tuesday, 10/12 at 4:00-6:30pm on (the 2nd Tuesday of each month) at Superwash 1620 S. Main Street, South Weymouth, and Monday, 10/25 (4th Monday of each month) at 4:00-6:30pm at Superwash 259 Nantasket Ave Hull, MA. The last load must go in by 5:45 PM. This is provided by St. John's Episcopal Church in Hingham, with support from the Quincy Family Resource Center. Signs are posted at each location with instructions and contact information. For more information contact laundrylovesj@outlook.com.

Have You Considered Becoming A Foster Parent? Join us on Thursday, 10/14/21 at 5:30pm for a virtual information session about becoming a foster parent and make a difference in a child’s life. For more information, please contact Jahnea by phone at 508-894- 3906 or by e-mail at Jahnea.Johnson@massmail.state.ma.us or Christine Barry at 781-864-5103.

Family Fun Friday on Social Media – Be on the lookout for virtual activities posted every Friday on the Quincy Family Resource Center Facebook page! These videos include fun activities for children of all ages and are a great way to keep kiddos busy during this time. Be sure to check it out!

Coming Fall & Winter 2021/22

ATTENDS—Does your child struggle with attending school? The goal of this parent group is to increase school attendance by providing parents with tools needed to address these concerns and increase their child’s likelihood of lifelong success. For more information contact Susannah Mazer at smazzer@baystatecs.org or at 617-481-7227 x120

Knowledge is Power – This group empowers young women (ages 12-18) to become bulletproof by making safe relationship choices, recognizing warning signs in relationships, practicing social media safety, and developing an awareness around and preventing exploitation. Registration required. For more information, please contact Andrea Roderick at aroderick@baystatecs.org or at 617-481-7227 x 157

HOW TO REACH the QFRC!

The Quincy Family Resource Center is available to support you, offering individual support for families, referrals for services, assessments, and groups in person or on Zoom. If you need any assistance, please contact Rebecca at 617-481-7227 x166 or email QuincyFRC@baystatecs.org. Any schedule changes will be posted on our website and social media pages.

ANNOUNCEMENT! NEW HOURS OF OPERATION:
QFRC is fully reopened, fully staffed, and resuming full hours of operation including
evenings, and 2nd/4th Saturday of each month.

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QFRC Monday-Friday Hours of Operation

Monday 9am-5:00pm

Tuesday 9am-7:30pm

Wednesday 9:30am-5:30pm

Thursday 9am-7:30pm

Friday 9am-5pm

2nd & 4th Saturday of the Month: 9am-12pm

The CMS administration and faculty communicate with our families using many digital and traditional means. Our weekly newsletter, the CMS Tide, will be sent to families and students every weekend. It is also posted on our school website and shared via Twitter (@comsprincipal).

We call it the CMS Tide because just like we find when we walk along the beach, the tide brings to us treasures from the deep. It helps us picture what is going on just beyond where we stand. The CMS Tide supplies news, images, stories about life at CMS to our families each week,

We hope you enjoy each issue this year!

Since July 2014, Safe Harbor Cohasset has been working to promote awareness and implement resources to help make an impact on the substance use in the community. The group has members from across the spectrum in the community, including, but not limited to, Paul Pratt Memorial Library, Cohasset Recreation Department, Cohasset Police Department, Cohasset Public Schools, Second Congregational Church, town leaders, health professionals, parents, youth, fire personnel, and concerned citizens. In September 2017, Safe Harbor was awarded a federal Drug- Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant, which focuses on preventing substance use among youth ages 12-17.

Since then, the group has worked to foster a strong and inclusive community that allows youth to strive and encourages healthy, educated and responsible choices about drug and alcohol use. The mission is supported by evidenced based, prevention focused, sustainable policies and youth- focused programs, such as Ground Level Café and the Safe Harbor Youth Ambassador Program. To learn more, and to find resources for both parents and teens, visit the Safe Harbor website at safeharborcohasset.org. Keep up to date on the latest news and trends by following Safe Harbor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/safeharborcohasset, on Twitter @cohsafeharbor, and on Instagram @safeharborcohasset.

Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu observed "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."

These are certainly difficult times and many parents and families are experiencing great stress. Our ability to cope is regularly challenged and, understandably, there may be times when individuals can no longer manage their emotions. It is important to know where to turn when we reach that point.

To help our families, we share this contact list of support providers--Mental Health and Crisis Contacts These support providers offer great opportunities to help receive help when those we love are struggling to manage.

The Cohasset Middle School is a grade 6-8 school dedicated to the development of the whole child. We are an inclusive, supportive, and safe learning environment committed to excellence and growth. Our community values experiential, collaborative, active learning that is rigorous and relevant, and fosters creative, responsible contributors to a global society.

Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Domain/9
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781.383.6100
Twitter: @comsprincipal

We are very excited to partner with Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) in order to promote the positive social-emotional development of our students. There is increasing evidence that helping students feel good about themselves, their school and their relationships improves their learning.

We will administer PEAR’s Holistic Student Assessment to students in grades 6-8. As part of this effort, your child will be asked to complete a brief survey about him or herself at the beginning and end of the year.

Designated school staff will have access to these results. This information can help staff tailor teaching and support programming to our student body’s unique strengths and needs.

PEAR will use data from our school for research and educational work. Students' names will never be used as part of this research. If you have any questions about this effort, please contact Principal Mills at jmills@cohassetk12.org