The Cohasset Compass

Dear Cohasset Families,

Last week we sent a survey out to gauge your interest in two aspect of the 2025 - 2026 school calendar. The response to this survey was outstanding ~ 514 families and staff responded! Today, I am asking you to complete one more survey. While this strategic plan survey may not help you make your vacation plans, it will help us thoughtfully plan for the future of the Cohasset Public Schools. This strategic planning survey is where you have a voice in what happens next in our district. We want to hear what you have to say. Clicking on this link will bring you to the survey that I am, respectfully, asking you take the next 7-10 minutes to complete. Let's try to capture at least as many responses about the future of our district as we did when determining when our winter vacation will be next year!

We are also excited to announce that the Cohasset Public Schools has a new Facebook page. Our District used to rely on Twitter to share news, announcements, and updates, however, we are shifting away from that platform and will now be sharing similar information via Facebook. We invite you to click here to Like and Follow our page to stay on top off all of the latest CPS news.

Ever onward,

Sarah

In the last newsletter, I shared that I would have a report from Open Architects to share at this past Wednesday night's School Committee meeting. Unfortunately, Open Architects did not have that report ready for us, however they did share some highlights with me that I reported out and shared. We are hopeful they will have the report ready for the February 5, 2024 School Committee meeting. If you are interested in hearing the high level insights they provided to me, you can watch or listen to this past Wednesday night's meeting by clicking on this link. This portion of the meeting begins at 56:00 minutes.

Despite this setback, I am planning to introduce the first draft of the FY26 budget at the February 5, 2025 School Committee meeting. We invite all families to join our School Committee meetings in person or to watch on Zoom or at the Cohasset Live Streaming Facebook page. I will continue to keep you updated on the budget in this newsletter and on our website (cohassetk12.org) as well.

On Tuesday, December 3, we held the first in a series of three community forums to share an update on the Cohasset Middle and High School Feasibility Study. We are grateful to those who attended and are providing access to the information shared by Ai3, our architects, via this link.

We are holding two more community forums this month and next. These two forums are important and will share key information about any potential CMS & CHS building project that could happen. I hope that you will consider joining us. The forum dates and topics are:

• Tuesday, January 28th @ 6:30pm - Ai3 will share several conceptual designs for a potential middle/high school project. These designs will fall into several categories: code upgrades only, addition/renovation, addition/demolition/renovation, and new construction.
• Tuesday, February 25th @ 6:30pm - Ai3 will share refined conceptual designs as well as estimated costs associated with potential projects options.

Are you the parent or caregiver to a child or children ages 9-15? Are you looking for ways to strengthen your relationship with your child as they navigate the challenges of adolescence? Do you want to feel more confident in setting boundaries and managing conflict at home? Would you like to connect with other parents and caregivers who are facing similar challenges? If so, Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition invites you to join our upcoming 4-week workshop, “Guiding Good Choices,” designed for parents and caregivers of children aged 9-15. The workshop, led by Amy Mahoney, LICSW, and Scituate School Counselor, will equip families with the tools and strategies needed to foster stronger bonds, set healthy boundaries, and navigate the challenges of adolescence with confidence.

Workshop Details:

• Dates: March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Location: Willcutt Commons (Sail Loft), 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA
• Special Session: March 19th will include your child/children for a collaborative learning experience.
• Registration deadline: February 20th, 2025

Other Details: Dinner provided for all attendees. Onsite babysitting available upon request during registration. A $15.00 fee for the Family Guide (payable by cash or check at the first class). Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. This evidence-based program will help participants: Set clear and effective rules and boundaries. Communicate openly with their children. Strengthen family connections. Address and manage conflicts constructively. Recognize and respond to risky behaviors. “Guiding Good Choices” creates a supportive environment where parents can share experiences and learn together. By joining this workshop, families will gain invaluable insights and practical skills to nurture resilience, trust, and mutual understanding. Interested parents and caregivers can register at www.safeharborcohasset.org/GGC. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your family and build a stronger future together.

The South Shore Regional Vocational School District has secured a $111m grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to construct a new vocational high school that would house 900 students for its 9 member communities. Cohasset was one of the 6 founding members of the high school, which opened its doors in 1962. The school is located at 476 Webster Street in Hanover.

The school would add more seats to address a growing waiting list and also house 2 new programs: Plumbing and Veterinary Science, along with the 12 vocational majors it currently offers.

After the grant, remaining $162m local share that would be split amongst the towns based on enrollment. It is projected that Cohasset’s share of the project would be around 1.5-2%. The full borrowing of the project would not roll on until FY29.

There is more detailed tax impact information on the project website. The school district projects that for the FY24 average assessed home in Cohasset, the impact would be

FY26: under $1 per year

FY27: $13 per year

FY28: $26 per year

FY29+: $64-77 per year

The next step in the process is to ask voters in all 9 towns to vote on the project. The vote is determined by total vote count in all 9 towns combined. This special district election will be held on January 25, 2025 at the Deer Hill School from 9AM-5PM.

If residents have any questions about the project, please feel free to contact Superintendent Tom Hickey at thickey@ssvotech.org or 781-766-4002.

Additional links you may find useful:

143TV December update

Keeping up with our Anxious Generation purposeful play and responsible risk taking challenges, I am inviting you to join in on our January activities. This month, our challenges are:

Purposeful Play Challenge

So, this challenge is weather dependent ⛄. The challenge this month is to get outside and make a snowperson, build a snow fort, have a snowball fight! Remember the joy and excitement of a fresh snowfall with your children. And, if it doesn't snow, bundle up and take a winter walk in one of our many protected areas in Cohasset. There's nothing better than a brisk walk as a family through Wampatuck, Whitney and Thayer Woods, The Whitney Spur Trail, Great Brewster Woods, or up Turkey Hill! Here are two websites to help you locate each of these sites: NSRWA.org and The Cohasset Conservation Trust.

Responsible Risk Taking Challenge

We're kicking off our new year with a challenge to talk to someone new, to make a new friend, or for those of us who may have lost touch with some folks, pick one to reach back out to and say hello. This challenge helps teach our children how to make new friends, why kindness matters, and how to step outside our comfort zones and put ourselves out there.

MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students' families thrive. Explore this curated collection of quick videos and informative handouts thoughtfully grouped by relevant topics. Each segment below is filled with proven, practical, and easy-to-implement video solutions on a wide range of parenting challenges.

Some offerings include:

• Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle & High School Students

• Parenting Principles for Progress not Perfection

• Support Your Anxious Child

• Help Your Neurodiverse Child Thrive (ADHD/ASD)

Click her to learn more and see all of the offerings.

• January 28: Cohasset Middle & High School Feasibility Study Community Forum @ 6:30pm

• February 5: School Committee Meeting @ 6pm