This Newsletter updates on all matters connected to Cohasset Public Schools. This letter is sent as part of a District initiative focusing on communication.

As we recently shared , Barbara Cerwonka, our Director of Student Services, will be leaving Cohasset as of June 30. We are seeking your participation in the search process for our new Director of Student Services.

This position is a critical role within our district. We look forward to the collaboration and feedback from members of our family and school community as we embark on this important process. The entire process will culminate with the appointment of a new Director of Student Services who will begin work on July 1, 2024.

We are seeking representatives from a variety of roles within our community to be on our interview committee, including the following:

• Two members of the Central Office team

• School Committee Member

• Elementary Principal

• Secondary Principal

• Teacher from Elementary

• Teacher from Secondary

• Team Chair

• ESP

• Student Services Administrative Assistant

• Cohasset SEPAC Member

• Parent/Guardian Representative

Here is some more detailed information about the process and the time commitment that may help guide people’s decision.

1. The Role of the Search Committee and the Role of the Superintendent

1. The Search Committee is the voice for the school community.

2. The role of the Search Committee is to identify a candidate or candidates to recommend as finalists to the Superintendent of Schools.

3. The role of the Superintendent of Schools is to interview the finalists and to move forward a chosen candidate for appointment.

4. The role of the School Committee is to determine the appointment of the candidate who is brought forward to them.

Please see the job description and updated timeline and process. Committee members will need to be available for all dates shaded in gray (these dates do not include any finalist or site visit days). We have extended the timeline to show interest in participating on the search committee to May 20th (3:00pm). Please complete this Google Form if you are interested in serving on this committee.

Should you have any questions about the process of hiring a new Director of Student Services, please feel free to contact at lscollins@cohassetk12.org.

Excellent transition discussions from grade 5 to grade 6 led by Principal Mills at Deer Hill Elementary School this past week, We are excited for our in-coming 6th graders at CMS. These discussions are just one component of our transition plan for in-coming middle school students.

CEF Spelling Bee: Did you hear the buzz? The CEF hosted another successful spelling bee (the 15th!) that spanned three afternoons and three grades. Participation was high and our spellers were i-n-c-r-e-d-i-b-l-e! Many thanks to the CEF and the staff members who volunteered their time. Congratulations to the following winners:

Grade 3: 2nd place finishers, Two Smart Cookies (Katie Florek and Reese Leonard) and 1st place finishers, Nana and Gato (Patrick O'Keefe and Ben Squatrito)

Grade 4: 2nd place finishers the Super Spellers (Everett Manley and Bennett O'Keefe), and 1st place finishers, the Daring Dictionaries (Brody Baker and Harry Brophy)

Grade 5: 2nd place finishers, the Slaying Spelling Stingers (Ava Arace, Nova Coser, & Emma Lantier) and 1st place finishers, the Bee-Ballers (Leo Lamberti and Jack Urquhart)

For the 3rd year, Deer Hill held a Star Wars themed spirit day that also included service to our community. This year we welcomed CHS students from Mr. Sears' AP Chemistry and Senora Nelson's AP Spanish to visit our classrooms where students showered them with letters of encouragement for their upcoming exams.

It is always wonderful to see our CEF grants in action. Pictured here are Deer Hill students riding with Mr. Youmans during physical education class. These bicycles come through a grant from the CEF. Thank you, CEF, for all you do for our students and staff.

Please click on the picture below to read some student written articles on happenings at CHS.

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!

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.

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

Cohasset will be participating in the Diversity in education Career Fair on May 11, 2024 from 10:00am-2:00pm.

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).

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 Public Schools 2023 District Report Card

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.

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!

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.

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

Please click on the image below to access the Joseph Osgood Kindergarten Registration

Please click on the images below for the full stories

Congratulations to the seven Cohasset Boys Tennis Seniors and their families who celebrated Senior Day with a pair of 5 - 0 wins in a doubleheader vs. Canton (Dan Leahy photos).

"Last week, the Nantasket Nor'easters faced their home and home rivals Norwell NDA for Senior Night. Sailing in a chilly but steady easterly all afternoon, the Nor'easters sailed to a 5-0 win over Norwell/NDA. With wins over Boston Latin, Scituate, and Brookline in hand, the win over Norwell/NDA handed the Nor'easters an undefeated regular season."

Congratulations to Will McLaughlin on his new school record at the coaches invitational. Will set the long jump record with an outstanding effort of 21'11.5". Way to go, Will!

Click below for more sports information

Congratulations to Cohasset High School for being recognized by College Board with the highest distinction for Advanced Placement (AP) excellence offered. The AP Honor Roll "recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success." Cohasset High School is honored with a Platinum Distinction in all available categories:

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.

We are proud to announce that Cohasset Public Schools has achieved at a 99% success rate in meeting or exceeding our MCAS accountability targets. 99% success in meeting or exceeding targets places us near the top of all districts (#2) in this important measure. Thank you to the leadership, staff, families, and students for their efforts in reaching this milestone. We are excited to share the full results with families soon. We are in the process of analyzing the results so that we can continue this growth for Cohasset Public Schools.

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.

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)

Dr. Leslie Scollins, Barbara Cerwonka, and Rock Roberts presented the "What and Why" of the Elementary Comprehensive Literacy Approach at the May 8 School Committee. Please see the presentation below.

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.

Please see the graphic below, which was established through the collaborative work of the Cohasset High School Community as part of their accreditation process with NEASC. This work also helped to set our District theme for the year, "Follow Your Compass."

We will continue to engage our students with authentic audiences and to work in contexts that simulate real-world scenarios and conditions. Whether it is the Financial Literacy Fair at CHS, second graders investigating salt marsh minnows and intertidal life, Cohasset High School students presenting their civics action plan and analysis of local watershed data to determine water quality and the health of Cohasset Harbor, CMS French students using their language skills in real life by ordering treats in French at our local Cohasset bakery, French Memories, the amazing opportunities throughout the district provided through our partnership with Holly Hill Farm, our diversity fairs and mosaic initiatives, our collaboration with CEF, including Deer Hill physical education (PE) students learning about bike safety and maintenance in PE, our music students meeting with professional musicians, or our civics and sustainability seminar opportunities (just to name a few), We will continue to provide our students with inspiring and engaging experiences. This real-life and authentic teaching focus will be a major focus for us this upcoming year and will undoubtedly be a major component of our next strategic plan.

All plans and handbooks for the 2023-2024 school year have been approved by the Cohasset School Committee. Thank you to Principal Farrell, Principal Sullivan, Principal Mills, Principal Scott, and to their School Councils for this excellent work. Please see below for the approved plans, which coincide with the Strategic Objectives of the Cohasset Public Schools Strategic Plan, 2021 - 2024.

We will continue to engage students and staff in the meaningful discussions necessary to promote change. We are committed to promoting anti-racism and cultural responsive teaching and learning.

Thank you to the CEF for awarding $23,554 for innovative grants in the last grant cycle. We are so appreciative of the support.

Read more about all our awarded grants in the ‘22/‘23 school year below:

CPS is pleased to continue its partnership with the Cohasset Recreation Department by providing before and after school care for our elementary students. We have an amazing staff that provides wonderful opportunities for our students through the RISE program. Please see this link for more information.

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.

Student Opportunity Act Presentation March 2022

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

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

Zoom

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...

CLICK HERE for more RESOURCES!

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

“Nine Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try”

There are many stressors to our day-to-day lives; however, there are many resources available. The District Website has a page dedicated to Social Emotional Learning and Wellness. Please remember that our schools are a resource, and that our counselors, school psychologists, and social workers can support you and your child.

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)

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can do anything to help your student or your family during this difficult time. Most important is the physical and mental health of everyone, and we will stay focused on making that a priority. Please take good care.

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.