
Cohasset High School Newsletter
News and Happenings at Cohasset High School
November 1, 2024
Dear Families,
It's one thing to describe the anatomical processes involved when someone has a heart attack. It's quite another to watch your grandfather have one. As the Superintendent shared in her newsletter last week, "We are currently living through a politically charged time and our own Cohasset community is composed of individuals with different life experiences, backgrounds, and points of view. Many of us are passionate about all three of those things that make us who we are and that is important." If you haven't had the opportunity to read the full message, I would encourage you to do so.
We are raising students in a world where the most salient issues that confront us, both as a nation and as a school, are matters that speak deeply to who we are as people and the values that we hold true -- values that are laden with as much emotion as they are intellect. As educators, our challenge is to acknowledge the realness of that emotion while not allowing emotion to overtake constructive dialogue so that we might work towards creating an environment of shared ideas and productive progress.
In his book Love Your Enemies, political scientist Arthur Brooks argues that we currently suffer from what he calls a culture of contempt, a combination of anger and disgust that erodes dialogue by reducing the other to a place of worthlessness. The culture is amplified over social media and sometimes invites extreme reactions to opinions, that, while harmful, might actually be rooted in honest values and fears. Sometimes, we need to approach these conversations with curiosity and not judgment.
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff (2018) engages the same phenomenon from a slightly different perspective, remarking on how -- on college campuses at least -- this has resulted in a cancel culture, where speakers are disinvited and college professors are threatened for sharing ideas (see a recent Boston Globe article here). Haidt and Lukianoff go on to argue how this trend is damaging our students, that by trying to protect young people from all forms of harm or discomfort, we're actually preventing them from developing the resilience and coping skills they need to succeed in life.
From an educational perspective, I agree with the authors that our mission needs to return to evidence-based practices that build psychological strength through measured exposure to challenges. Any less is doing our students a disservice. And so, broadly speaking, I wanted to share a few things that we have engaged in or are about to engage in:
- Establishing and expanding community circles, small groups of students, moderated by an adult, where students can exchange ideas about sensitive topics in safe and non-judgmental spaces. These include the recent retreats at Ferry Hill and optional community circles for students and faculty (separately) following the election.
- Encouraging students in all classes to assume a variety of perspectives and validating emotions without minimizing them, honoring people's experience and the gravity that comes with that experience and trying to make human connections.
- Inviting Dr. Peter Ubertaccio, Dean of the Faculty at Stonehill College, who presented to students on the election of 1800 and the first peaceful transfer of power, a lens through which to view our current election.
- Acknowledging that changing one's opinion through self-reflection and information vetting can be an indication of growth and not weakness.
- Engaging in thoughtful work around our curriculum and identifying entry points for all students in our community to see themselves in empowered positions, while educating about the inequities that are rooted in history and that persist.
- Reviewing policies, procedures, and curriculum materials in order to close loopholes that can impact a student's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
There is much work to be done, but the work could not be more important. Our students have a tremendous opportunity to be vehicles of compassionate dialogue and change. We need to set them up to do just that.
Sincerely,
Brian T. Scott
Principal
Conferences
Just to put on parents' radar, parent-teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, November 20th and Thursday, November 21st from 1:00 - 3:00. Sign ups for conferences will be available at https://app.ptcwizard.com/cohassetk12. The window for scheduling conferences will open at 3:00PM on Friday November 8th and close on Tuesday, November 19th at 3:00PM.
Congratulations to Grace Shaughnessy!
Congratulations to Grace Shaughnessy who was awarded the Graduating Seniors Award from US Figure Skating, Platinum Level.
The U.S. Figure Skating Graduating Seniors Award recognizes the hard work of student athletes who have participated in figure skating throughout high school; awards are given at the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, level based off a skater’s level of competitive achievement in high school. Selection for this award speaks to a skater’s continued commitment to succeeding in their athletic and academic endeavors.
2025 Yearbook Cover Design by Owen Gurtz!
The Doctor is In
Dr. Peter Ubertaccio, Dean of the Faculty at Stonehill College, presented to students on the election of 1800 and the first peaceful transfer of power, a lens through which to view our current election. Thanks to Mr. Luvisi for coordinating the event.
A Revolutionary Experience
AP U.S. visits the Massachusetts Historical Society to examine and evaluate primary source documents from the Revolutionary War.
One Fish, Two Fish . . .
Students from Dr. Duncan's Marine Science class build sustainable ecosystems from elements found in the harbor. This group has to go old school and use the book!
Dia de Los Muertos
Sra. Nelson's class preparing pumpkins as part of learning about Dia De Los Muertos!
Just Another Day at the Fair
This past week over 30 clubs were represented at the second annual club fair hosted during utility period. Which club(s) did you student sign up for?
From the Desk of Nurse Collins
As numerous illnesses are spread through the respiratory tract, please remind your student:
- NOT to share food or drinks!!!!
- To cough/sneeze into their elbow.
- To keep their hands away from their face.
- Wash their hands frequently.
Technology Resources for Families
Please see the following list of technological resources and troubleshooting instructions for student technology:
https://www.cohassetk12.org/departments/technology/tech-for-families
Check Out the Following Pictures from Mr. Leahy!
Girls' Soccer vs. Mashpee
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bp27gZpiCQPLhabh7
Volleyball vs. Abington
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GtwDeTT62qdwGTqB9
Girls' Soccer vs. Abington
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Exa56KbgcgkitDHRA
Girls' Soccer vs. Silver Lake
Daily Rotation
Put a Pin in It
Dates to remember:
A Downloadable Version of the Calendar can be found Here:
Cohasset High School
Website: www.cohassetk12.org
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781-383-6100
Twitter: @CoHSPrincipal