Checking in with Teachers
How did it get so late so soon.
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December before it’s June.
My goodness, how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
-Dr. Seuss
If Dr. Seuss was a member of the CMS community he might have asked "How did get so late in term 1?" As the end of term 1 rapidly approaches (December 2), it is critical for students to check their progress in Aspen in each class. If a student has concerns or questions about their progress, it is important to reach out to their teachers to discuss why and what they need to do to find greater success. This habit of self-advocacy and communication is a new skill for many students, but developing it in middle school will benefit them throughout their academic and professional lives.
If a parent has not checked their child's progress in Aspen, this is an important time to do so. If there are questions about a student's progress and how the parent can help the child, please reach out to the teacher to discuss. Parents are encouraged to do this now rather than at Parent Conferences (December 14 and 15) as grades will have already closed.
If you are not sure of how to check grades in Aspen, view the linked video below. If you are unable to log in to Aspen and need help with your username/password, please email Mrs. Simmons at dsimmons@cohassetk12.org
New Issue of Pond St Press is here!
It gives us great pleasure to share the latest edition of the CMS school newspaper, The Pond Street Press. Please click on image or download it below.
The newspaper is staffed by student journalists, editors, artists, and graphic designers under the supportive eye of ELA teacher Mrs. Donna Melia. We are always impressed to read the stories that our students care about and thoughtfully report on—student voice and well-crafted writing. Enjoy!
Sharing Valuable Life Experiences
Among the learning experiences CMS students find in our classrooms, perhaps the most memorable are guest speakers. When students can meet someone whose occupation, travel, skills, or other life experiences connect to what they are learning, the curriculum comes alive. Learning becomes authentic and grounded in the real-world.
The CMS community is rich and made up of individuals with diverse experiences. Teachers would love to invite you to meet their classes to share your knowledge. However, it is difficult to know who is willing to become a guest speaker and who had the experiences that would connect to curriculum.
In order to facilitate this, we ask any parents who have experiences and knowledge to share and are willing to be a guest speaker to fill out and submit this form which will be shared with teachers.
The CMS faculty and students thank parents willing to share their experiences as a guest speaker!
The Nurse's Corner--Student Nutrition and Eating Habits
I encourage all parents to discuss the importance of making healthy choices regarding food and nutrition at school.
- Breakfast: Our cafeteria provides breakfast items in the morning from 7:45 until the bell rings to start school. We understand that the morning can be a harried time as parents and children rush to get out of the house. However, children should be encouraged to eat something before they start the day to help with their focus and energy throughout the morning whether at home or eating at school.
- Break: It is critical for parents to know that students are no longer provided a mid-morning break time. If children skip breakfast they are liable to feel hungry during the morning. Once again, please encourage your child to eat something for breakfast so they do their best all morning.
- Lunch: Our grade 6 and 7 students eat lunch at 11:05 and grade 8 students eat at 11:35. It is critical that children who have not eaten at all have a healthy lunch. Some children choose to purchase a snack lacking in the nutrition of a full lunch entrée. Please encourage your child to make food choices wisely during lunch so they can achieve at a high level all afternoon.
Middle school is time for students to develop autonomy and responsibility, but they still need our guidance at times to make healthy choices.
Thank you,
Nurse Erin
Erin Kalberer, APRN
Cohasset Middle School Nurse
Excessive Student Absence Notification Process
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 76 requires that each school notify parents and guardians if their student has five (5) or more unexcused school absences. Parents and guardians will receive a letter when their child has 5, 10, and/or 15+ days of unexcused absences. The letter will also include the number of unexcused tardies and unexcused early dismissals.
Absences will be excused under the following circumstances:
After a medical appointment documented with a note from the medical office
Illness or quarantine with a note from the appropriate medical office
Observance of a religious holiday
Bereavement or serious illness in family
Court appearance
A child may also be excused for other exceptional reasons with approval of the Principal or designee in accordance with the school committee policy and the regulations set in Chapter 76
Daily attendance is essential to a student's success. Missing a significant number of days of school has a detrimental effect on academic and social development. Therefore, each school will work with individual families to support student attendance.
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!
Cohasset Middle School
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Domain/9
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781.383.6100
Twitter: @comsprincipal
