The CMS Tide Weekly Newsletter

April 5 was an especially exciting Monday at CMS. Students, whether walkers, bus riders, or dropped off by parents, were met at the entrance by smiling teachers, balloons, welcoming signs and sidewalk messages, and pink flamingos! It was a fun and positive start to April.

However, in order to keep this good momentum going we have to all stay vigilant against COVID. We will continue to expect students to maintain appropriate social distance in school (hallways, cafeteria, and classrooms). All students are expected to continue to wear an appropriate mask at ALL time in school as well.

• NEW DROP-OFF/PICK-UP LOCATION: Parent drop-off/pick-up is now behind the school at the circle (see picture below). Please pull forward when dropping off. Once you are between the orange cones please drop-off or pick-up.
• NEW HOURS: School continues to begin at 8:15AM but our new dismissal is 2:40PM
• TRAFFIC SAFETY: We will now have twice as many walkers and bikers during drop-off/pick-up. Please stay alert, avoid distractions, and drive safely.
• COVID SAFETY: Like you, we see the uptick in student cases of COVID. We will be vigilant in enforcing our safety protocols with students. Please continue to follow CDC and DPH guidelines in your private lives so that we can stay COVID-free for term 3.

THANK YOU!

Last Wednesday (April 7), Principal Mills announced to all students that the school will begin enforcing the school's prohibition on students wearing hats/hoods again beginning March 12.

Throughout the fall, CMS classroom windows frequently were left open to ensure sufficient airflow to combat COVID transmission which often made the school and its classrooms feel cold. The school stopped enforcing the prohibition of wearing hats/hoods during school hours because CMS wanted its students warm and comfortable in order to promote learning. However, CMS now has air purifiers in each classroom eliminating the need for open windows and ensuring a comfortable temperature in each room. . Additionally, the warming weather has also made hats unnecessary.

Now that CMS has returned to in-person learning, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure a positive and healthy learning environment is available for all. As learning is a social process, it is important that students are able to clearly communicate with each other and with teachers. In order to promote a positive learning environment where individuals can look at each to understand one another and see as much of one another’s faces as the masks will allow, students at CMS will no longer be able to wear hats or hoods beginning Monday April 12th.

This return to enforcing the no hat/hood rule is aimed at facilitating healthy, respectful relationships which is hard when wearing COVID masks. When students wear hats and hoods/especially pulled down over their eyes, they are disconnected from those around them and disengaged with their context. So in order to promote healthy communication and relationships, students are asked to not wear their hat or hood at anytime throughout the day. To prevent any distractions, students will be asked to leave hats at home or in their backpacks for the entire day.

We know we can count on our students to meet this expectation and contribute to a positive school environment for all.

(See image below)

If you are looking for unique summer opportunities for your CMS student, MIT is offering the Inspirit Scholars artificial intelligence live online program this summer for middle school students. Inspirit, the artificial intelligence program for middle schoolers is taught by MIT and Stanford graduate students.

AI Creators and AI Pioneers are 10- or 20-session (25 hours) enrichment programs that expose middle school students (Grades 5-8) to fundamental AI concepts and guide them to build a socially impactful project in areas including law, healthcare, education, and more. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, students receive a personalized, interdisciplinary learning experience with a student-teacher ratio under 5:1. Students with prior programming experience may be placed in advanced sections. Students can apply here by May 1st for Summer Break cohorts. Please contact Greta Farrell at greta@alum.mit.edu with any questions.

Please find check out the program flyer found here which summarizes the curriculum and structure of the programs.

In order to clearly understand the CMS plan to return to a full in-person learning model, please watch the narrated presentation or click on the slideshow above below.

Ground Level Café is back at Sandy Beach to truly kick off the Spring season!

Whether you’re looking for a chance to perform, a chance to enjoy some live music, or just a place to get together with your friends, socially distant of course, Ground Level is for you and it is free!

Open to all Cohasset 7th-12th graders and is made for students only. Anyone who is interested in performing can sign-up for a 15-minute time slot, and all students interested in enjoying the time down at Sandy with friends and peers must register ahead of time.

This pop-up GLC at Sandy Beach kicks off the Spring season, Friday, May 7th from 5:30-7:30pm. Register, grab your friends, mask up, and enjoy the evening with Nona’s Ice Cream Food Truck on us!

Ground Level Pop-Up Event @ Sandy Beach

Special thanks to the sponsors for the 2020-2021 GLC season season: the Cohasset Recreation Center, Constellation Energy, and the Sandy Beach Association!

WHO: Cohasset students grades 7-12, the first 30 to register!

WHAT: Ground Level Café! Whether you’re looking for a chance to perform open-mic, a chance to enjoy some live music, or just a place to get together with your friends, come do so with the best view in town.
WHERE: Sandy Beach. Register at:
WHEN: May 7th 5:30PM-7:30PM

Among our most treasured partnerships is our relationship with Safe Harbor. You frequently see Safe Harbor event notifications and stories in the CMS Tide. But what is Safe Harbor?

About the Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition

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. 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, visit the Safe Harbor website at safeharborcohasset.org. Keep up to date on the latest trends by following Safe Harbor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/safeharborcohasset, on Twitter @cohsafeharbor, & 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