October 20, 2024
Dear Families,
I was recently made aware of a Facebook post by a former student of Mr. Sears, long before his time in Cohasset. As a teacher, there is often nothing better -- and sometimes nothing more surprising -- than seeing how students matriculated beyond high school, and wondering what they brought with them from their experience in high school, good or bad.
This particular student was top of his class, a gifted scholar in all topics that many faculty believed would have led him to do "big things". After marrying his high school classmate, the student went on to, of all things, become a sheep-shearer. He references his 9th grade English teacher, Mr. Duquette, in his post:
Reached a milestone today! The sheep in this picture is the 200,000th I've sheared in my career. It took me 16 years to find the first 100k, and about 6.5 years for the second 100k
Numbers don't mean much; it's the memories, friendships and perseverance that they represent. When chasing after goals seems pointless, I'm inspired by the first poem Mr. Duquette had me memorize in 9th grade English class, by Stephen Crane:
I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed at this;
I accosted the man.
“It is futile,” I said,
“You can never —”
“You lie,” he cried,
And ran (sheared) on.
There is a sense of joy and purpose in his post, one that transcends Western conventions of what it means to be successful, and as someone who considers himself a theological scholar, I'm reminded of aspects contained in both Islamic and Hindu traditions that understand work -- any work -- as a moral obligation to society, one that is grounded in three ethical and overlapping principles, "justice, benevolence, and trusteeship" (Richardson, Sinha, & Yaapar, 2014).
While I don't foresee creating a sheep-shearing elective in the near future, it is my hope that many years from now our students can speak with the same confidence, the same sense of connection, and the same sense of self-worth in whatever they choose to pursue.
Shear on.
Sincerely,
Brian T. Scott
Principal
Students Present to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This Wednesday, Christian Bunge and Max Fernald presented their work with CSCR to NOAA at Stellwagen Bank. As one of the seventeen federally designated National Marine Sanctuaries, Stellwagen Bank serves as a submarine equivalent of a National Park, helping to preserve natural ecosystems. Their presentations highlighted the contribution of Cohasset High School students to the ocean's health across Massachusetts Bay, and how our local institutions are working to stem the tide of climate change in our ocean's vital systems.
Students Reflect at the JPH Organization
Thanks to a grant from the Safe Harbor Coalition, roughly 30 students were invited to participate in a day of wellness at the , James P Harrington Organization, a community retreat and wellness center. In pre and post-surveys collected, students reported a 38% improvement in stress (from 41% reporting high levels of stress going into the retreat to just one student reporting elevated stress after), 84% reporting a better understanding of what they need while stressed, 23% reporting a stronger connection to school as a result, and an improved willingness to apply non-technology coping strategies and self-reflection. On the whole, the students were most thankful for not having their cell phones for the better part of an entire day.
Historical Tour and CoastSweep
For the second year in a row, we partnered with the Historical Society. Ninth grade students toured historic Cohasset locations and learned about local history from museum docents. Following the tours, students were bussed to Rocky, Bassings, and Sandy beaches to participate in CoastSweep, a global effort to reduce marine debris and keep our communities healthy. Special thanks to An LeFevre for the photos.
Cohasset High School UNICEF Club
🎃 Help Us Reach Our Goal of $1,000 by October 31st! 🎃
Your generous donation will directly impact the lives of children around the world, providing them with access to clean water, technology, education, and essential resources for a brighter future.
Let’s make a difference this Halloween! Thank you for your kindness and support!
College Visits
Dartmouth College-Mon October 21, 2024 - just added
Curry College - Mon October 21, 2024
University of Richmond-Mon October 21, 2024
Westfield State University-Mon October 21, 2024
Hofstra University - Tue October 22, 2024
Regis College - Tue October 22, 2024
Sacred Heart University - Tue October 22, 2024
Eastern Connecticut State University - Wed October 23, 2024
Fairfield University - Wed October 23, 2024
The School of Fashion Design - Wed October 23, 2024
American University - Fri October 25, 2024
Cohasset High School
Website: www.cohassetk12.org
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781-383-6100
Twitter: @CoHSPrincipal