THE NAVIGATOR
April 26, 2024
Newsletter
Images of the Week
Electric School Bus Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Electric Bus is no part of our fleet! The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday was attended by school leadership, teachers, and students as well as town government and committee members. The speakers all shared their enthusiasm about our new electric bus and how this is the start of something great. Then those who were interested took a quick trip around the block! One student said she could not believe how quiet it was and that they "won't have to yell over the sound of the engines anymore!"
Thank you to the Cohasset School Committee, Chair of the Alternative Energy Committee, Tanya Bodell, Transportation Supervisor, Ray Miscioscia, Director of Finance and Operations, Susan Owen, Assistant Town Manager, Michelle Leary, Town Manager, Chris Senior, and to everyone who helped make this a reality. We are excited for the future direction with electric busses.
Cohasset High School Among the Top Schools according to US News & World Report
On Tuesday morning, the most current US News and World Report Rankings were published and we again scored well, 787th nationally and 32nd in the state among 25,000 and 405 public high schools respectively evaluated. That puts us among the top 3% nationally and top 8% in the state. Congratulations to Principal Scott and Team!
Deer Hill Arts Night
Deer Hill Arts Night on April 25 was extra special with the unveiling of the 5th grade installation in the remodeled Innovation Commons.
Deer Hill Math Day
Deer Hill Math Day for Grade 3 was a huge hit as families came to school to learn about math from their children and Math Specialists Ms. Thonet and Ms. Varney.
Neurodiversity Presentation
Excellent presentation regarding neurodiversity at Osgood! Thank you to Ms. Hartford and Ms. Casey and to the Osgood first grade students for their great work. We are excited for the Cohasset Harts for Autism Celebration, which will take place on Tuesday, April 30 from 5:30PM - 7:30PM in the Osgood Cafeteria.
Finance and Operations Updates
FY25 Budget and Capital Budget Approved by School Committee
Thank you to Director of Finance and Operations, Susan Owen, and to everyone who helped develop and approve our FY25 Budget and Capital considerations. The process from here is to meet with advisory, have these items voted on by the Cohasset Select Board, and then it is off to Town Meeting for final consideration and approval.
Please click on the links below to view budget and capital budget
Finance and Operations News:
Transportation News:
For Parents:
BUS REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR HAS OPENED
Effective for the 2024-2025 school year, Cohasset Public Schools will continue to administer a fee-based transportation program. The application fee applies to students in Grades K-6 who reside less than or equal to 2 miles from their designated school, and all students in Grades 7-12.
Please visit the Cohasset Public Schools website for more information and the register your child for transportation.
Cohasset Public Schools is proud to offer the Stopfinder app.
Stopfinder is the all-in-one parent engagement app designed by parents for parents to keep you in the know. Receive bus location and messages, updates, and alerts in real-time. No other parent app provides this much information in real-time to parents and school transportation departments. Think of the peace of mind when parents and guardians know where their child’s bus is and when their student arrives at school or when dropped off at the bus stop.
All this power in the palm of your hand.
The Stopfinder app is secure and protected. But the app requires your local district to be utilizing Transfinder’s Routefinder software. Stopfinder with Routefinder software will provide your district accurate real-time updates of routes and bus substitutions.
More information to follow in the coming weeks.
Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2025 School Budget
A public hearing has been scheduled on April 10th, 2024, at 5:30 pm. The hearing will be held in the Learning Commons at the Cohasset Middle & High School, and Via Zoom Video Call. The purpose of this meeting is to invite public comment as the law requires, on the School Committee’s deliberation and certification of the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 School Budget
Food Service: The Skipper Cafe for Seniors Opened today! More information in next newsletter
2024 - 2025 Cohasset School District Calendar
At the 3/13/2024 Cohasset School Committee Meeting, the Cohasset School Committee unanimously approved the calendar below (please click on the image to view the full calendar).
Cohasset Public Schools Report Cards from DESE
We are pleased to share with you the 2023 school report card from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please note that because the grade levels at Osgood do not take MCAS, the state indicates "insufficient data" for accountability for Osgood. Osgood's good work on MCAS is indicated in the grade 3 performance. You can access our schools' and district's report cards by clicking on the links below:
For JOS: Osgood 2023 School Report Card
For DH: Deer Hill 2023 School Report Card
For CMS: Cohasset Middle School 2023 School Report Card
For CHS: Cohasset High School 2023 School Report Card
Cohasset School Council Surveys are Forthcoming
School Council Surveys regarding the state of each of our schools will be sent out over the coming weeks. We are appreciative of your input to ensure we are moving in the best direction to serve our students. Please see below for anticipated release dates of these surveys to each school community.
School Menus! Please click on the image below.
Updated 2023 - 2024 School District Calendar
With the Monday, December 19 and more recently, Tuesday, February 13 cancellation of school due to storms, our new last day of school is June 14. Please click on the image below to access the updated calendar, which is also on the District Web Page.
February 28 School Committee Meeting at METCO Headquarters
Thank you to Ms. Gittens-Carle and to our amazing "Black Student Union" who presented at this past Wednesday's School Committee Meeting, which took place at METCO Headquarters at 11 Roxbury Street, Roxbury, MA. The presentation was wonderful and highlighted the fabulous students in this important group. This was a great example of increased student voice throughout the district. Excellent job, students! You made us all proud!
Opportunities for Staff, Students and Families
The Home Parenting Solutions Library may easily be accessed using the link on the MPY's home page or clicking this link. No log in or passcode is needed.
METCO HQ and REI Committee Workshop Offerings
METCO HQ and its REI Committee have partnered with Dr. Darnisa Amante-Jackson and Dr. Lee Teitel to offer practical skills in holding productive and persuasive conversations about racial equity with various constituencies. Talking to peers about METCO 2.0—and more generally, about race, equity and integration—can be hard. To realize the vision of METCO 2.0—that every student in a METCO district receives an inclusive, equitable and antiracist education—requires deep change for all of us: for METCO directors, district leaders and HQ, but also for parents, community leaders, students, and school committee members. These sessions are designed to help navigate polarized environments, have conversations about difficult topics, and further the mission of METCO 2.0.
There are several two-part Thursday/Monday Zoom workshops coming up. You will also find upcoming dates in the registration link for the following groups and are welcome to sign up ahead of time for these as well:
· School Leaders, Staff, & Teachers
· School Committees
· Community allies, racial equity groups, METCO supporters
· Parents (parents of both METCO and suburban students)
· Students (METCO students and resident students from the METCO district
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new MPY Parenting Solutions Library. The MPY Parenting Solutions Library is offered at no charge, in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The trainings are presented by experts with advanced degrees and the trainings focus on child and adolescent development, including difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, racism, and grief. These trainings present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.
FREE 24 Home Parent Video Presentations
- Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students
- Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection
- Mental Health Knowledge and Skills
- Support Your Anxious Child Library
- ADHA and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive
Kindergarten Registration Now Open
Please click on the image below to access the Joseph Osgood Kindergarten Registration
MCAS Action Plan Presented to Cohasset School Committee
Thank you to Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Leslie Scollins and to Director of Data, Evaluation, and Curriculum, Rock Roberts, for their great work in creating and presenting the MCAS Action Plan at the 12/6/2023 Cohasset School Committee Meeting. Thank you to all educators who play a role in analyzing the data and in creating and implementing this plan.
Please click on the images below for the full stories
Sports Information
Girls Softball dropped to East Bridgewater in a close game 5-3. (Photos by William Wassersug)
Girls Lacrosse fell 14-4 to top ranked NDA. (Photos by William Wassersug)
Track team work hard!
Girls golf defeated North Quincy
Chowder Cup 2024
CHS Junior Nathan Askjaer displays amazing work ethics to achieve a new school record for the Long jump at the Warrior Invitational last weekend with an impressive 21’ mark placing him 25th in the state. 400m time of 51.85. Placing 5th out of 120 runners.
Congratulations to our amazing CHS Track Star Will Norgeot for breaking a new school record in the discus with a throw of 126’10” inches at the Warrior Invitational over the April break. Last recorded record was in 2002 Go Blue!!
Click below for more sports information
Cohasset High School Recognized for Advanced Placement Excellence
College Culture: Percent of students in the graduating class who took an AP exam at any point in high school, regardless of score.
College Credit: Percent of students in the graduating class who scored 3B on any AP Exam in high school.
College Optimization: Percent of students in the graduating class who took 5 or more AP Exams in high school, where at least 1 exam was taken in 9th or 10th grade.
Thank you to all who support our successful AP program.
Cohasset Public Schools Ranks #2 in State in Reaching Targets on 2023 MCAS and Deer Hill and Cohasset High School recognized as schools of distinction by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Further accolades for MCAS performance place Deer Hill Elementary School and Cohasset High School as two of the 66 schools in the Commonwealth who were recognized for exceptional growth or achievement under the state's accountability system, which takes into account MCAS scores and other measures. This honor is a complete team effort and certainly reflects the good work happening at Osgood and CMS, as well.
MCAS Analysis and Responsibilities of the Director of Data, Evaluation, and Curriculum (DEC) by Rock Roberts, DEC., presented at the 11/1/2023 Cohasset School Committee Meeting.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Assessments
MCAS 2024 Schedule
High School
ELA: March 26 & 27 (Grade 10)
Math: May 21 & 22 (Grade 10)
Physics: June 4 & 5 (Grade 9)
Middle School
ELA: April 2 & 3 (Grades 6-8) (CHANGE to the dates from April 1 & 2 to April 2 & 3)
Math: May 16 & 17 (Grades 6-8)
Science: May 7 & 8 (Grade 8 only)
Civics Field Test: May 23 7 24 (Grade 8 only)
Deer Hill Elementary
ELA: April 3 & 4 (Grade 3)
ELA: April 8 & 9 (Grades 4 & 5)
Math: May 15 & 16 (Grade 3)
Math: May 13 & 14 (Grades 4 & 5)
Science: May 7 & 8 (Grade 5 only)
Curriculum Updates
The Elementary Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) for Literacy met this week to create the Look Fors in Readers Workshop for our Learning Walks. These Look Fors will help teachers and administrators collect information on the trends and patterns to be used to improve teaching and learning.
Student Opportunity Act Plan for 2024-2027 was presented to the School Committee on March 27, 2024 and approved for submission by the Committee.
Please see the Professional Development Calendar below for more information about the professional development for this year.
Cohasset Public Schools' Strategic Plan for 2021- 2024
Please Click on the Link Below to Access the Entire Strategic Plan
Cohasset High School Vision of the Graduate
Other Major Focus Points
School Improvement Plans for 2023-2024
Cohasset Public Schools Vision of Equity
CPS Equity Vision Statement
BE THE CHANGE
Please visit our website for resources regarding the promotion of diversity.
Cohasset PSO Happenings
Thank you, PSO, for your great work in sponsoring the recent FUN RUNS at Osgood and Deer Hill! Thank you to everyone who donated and who participated.
Cohasset Education Foundation (CEF)
Thank you, CEF!
Thank you to the CEF for awarding $23,554 for innovative grants in the last grant cycle. We are so appreciative of the support.
Thank you, Cohasset Education Foundation (CEF) and to everyone who helped donate at the CEF Fall Festival. CEF raised $32K for Cohasset Public Schools! This included a wonderful silent auction.
RISE Program
The Student Opportunity Act
The Student Opportunity Act (SOA) implements the recommendations of the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission and includes other provisions to benefit our public schools.
As part of the SOA, districts are required to submit three-year, evidence-based plans aimed at closing persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups. The District submitted the SOA Plan in January 2021 and then sent the amended plan in March 2022. Please see the presentation below.
Office of Student Services
Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) Information Session
Employment Opportunity
UPDATES
Opening Letters and Information Regarding Multi-Tiered Student System of Supports (MTSS)
Be Sure to View the Information on the Student Services Web Page
Digital Learning & Technology Updates
Dear CPS Families,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
Please review our Tech For Families page on the Cohasset Public Schools web site for a list of links and Getting Started resources for CPS families, such as Aspen and Google.
LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4455
For Families in Grades 6-12, your child is a member of our BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program. Check out our recommended specifications to ensure that you purchase a device that will support their learning at CPS.
LINK:: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4454
Follow these steps to help your child install the BYOD certificate at home:
LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4470
Contact our IT Help Desk for help with your Aspen Family or Student Portal Account, a forgot/lost Cohasset K12 Google Account password, or for assistance with your child’s BYOD device.
LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4481
SAFE HARBORS UPDATES
Updated Safe Harbors Website
Important Dates
April 8 & 9
Samantha Skunk Performances
Grades K & 3
930AM
April 11
Mosaic Night at CMS
Visit our table!
6-730PM
April 22
Open Coalition Meeting
11-1230PM
April 27
National Drug Take Back Day
CPD
10-2PM
April 30
Overdose Prevention Night
East Coast Recovery
6-7PM
THURSDAY, December 14, 2023
The holiday season is upon us and we wish everyone a safe and healthy time celebrating with family and friends.
For some of us, the holiday season may bring heavy emotions or you may have a college student returning home for break. Find resources below to assist during this time.
Youth Ambassadors have kicked off their holiday season with their annual sticker shock at Curtis Liquors (read more here), suicide prevention training, Holiday Stroll presence, and are full steam ahead into the new year.
And as we look ahead into the new year, find information below for our Kick Start breakfast on January 11th. RSVP by December 20th so you do not miss out!
December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Since 1981, every US president has shown a commitment to stop impaired driving, by proclaiming December National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, also known as National 3D Prevention Month.
Why December? The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's has statistically shown to be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on American roadways due to impaired driving.
Support for Individuals in Recovery
Above are some alkathons that are happening in the area during the holidays. An alkathon is an event or gathering focused on providing support and fellowship for individuals recovering from addiction. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time of year for many, and alkathons help provide a safe, sober place to celebrate.
To Download and View a Full-Size PDF version of this infographic, please CLICK HERE.
Impaired Driving, Talk With Your Kids
SAMHSA
Holidays bring more social event opportunities that may involve substances. Talk openly with family members about being in a vehicle when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, including marijuana. Communicate honestly with your children, friends, family members, and colleagues about expectations of behavior and safe choices when attending holiday events, whether they take place in someone’s home or at a public venue.
Please CLICK HERE to continue...
Preventing Risky Drinking By College Students The Focus of New Penn State Study
By Penn State news, December 2020
“Underage alcohol consumption has consistently been linked to more frequent consequences across students’ college years, including blackouts, drinking more often and more heavily, and a greater likelihood of driving under the influence or riding with an impaired driver. These outcomes can negatively affect students’ grades, their physical and emotional well-being, and can put them at greater risk of assault or legal problems.”
Please CLICK HERE to continue…
CLICK HERE for more FEATURED NEWS!
Safe Harbor Cohasset Kick Start Breakfast
RSVP by December 20th to safeharborcohasset@gmail.com
Fabulous Presentation at the November 1, 2023 School Committee Meeting by members of the Safe Harbors Youth Ambassadors. Great job, students!
Most Recent Safe Harbors Newsletter
Thank you to all of our counselors for their caring and selfless work throughout the District!
Osgood: Dave Vinton dvinton@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill: Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill and Osgood: Maeve Dulles mdulles@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill and Osgood: Alyson Doyle adoyle@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)
CMS: Emily Manewal emanewal@cohassetk12.org (adjustment Counselor)
Allison Pearce apearce@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)
CHS: Laura Struzziery lstruzziery@cohassetk12.org (lead counselor)
Leanne McCarthy lmccarthy@cohassetk12.org (high school adjustment counselor)
Kevin McGowan kmcgowan@cohassetk12.org (high school counselor)
Allison Battista abattista@cohassetk12.org (high school counselor)
Catlin Stromberg cstromberg@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)
Robert Collins rcollins@cohassetk12.org (middle and high school social worker)
Take Care of Yourself and Take Care of Each Other
Please click on the following link to access even more information on the Cohasset Public Schools Web Site.
Please follow me on Twitter for daily updates from the Cohasset Public Schools
Email: psullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Phone: 781 383 6111
Twitter: @SuperCohasset
You can also follow the entire leadership team on Twitter to see real-time updates.
Assistant Superintendent: @CPSAssistantSup
Joseph Osgood School: @JOsgoodppal
Deer Hill School: @DeerHillSchool
Cohasset Middle School: @comsprincipal
Cohasset High School: @CoHSPrincipal
We utilize both Aspen and Blackboard communications to inform families of important events, cancellations, and happenings.
Proud Superintendent of Cohasset Public Schools