THE NAVIGATOR
School Edition: September 20, 2019
Weekly Newsletter
Thank you, Osgood, Deer Hill and CMS for amazing Back to School Nights
Middle School Start of the Year! Here is a slide show, courtesy of Cohasset Middle School Principal John Mills, regarding the start of school at CMS. This is just one example of the positive start that all schools experienced throughout the District.
High Five Friday and First Responder Recognition
We are also proud to announce that we will be honoring our First Responders at half time of the Cohasset vs. Mashpee football game on October 11. We are thankful for all that our First Responders do each day to keep us all safe.
September 27 Safety Professional Development
COHASSET HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Friday 9/20
Cross Country vs Abington 4:00pm Wheelwright Park
Field Hockey vs Dennis-Yarmouth 7:00pm Alumni Field
Saturday 9/21
Girls Soccer vs Wayland 10:00am Alumni Field
Football vs Nantucket 2:00pm Alumni Field
Boys Soccer vs Weymouth 5:30pm Alumni Field
Festivities Include:
Safe Harbor sponsored tailgate, Cohasset 250 Giveaways, Dunk Tank, Corn Hole Tournament, Youth games, Food Truck.
COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR SKIPPERS!!
THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING CPS CUSTODIAL STAFF FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THEIR CARE FOR THE FACILITIES, FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS. WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU TO FOOD SERVICES FOR PREPARING DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR OUR STUDENTS EACH DAY!
Safe Schools Night Planned for October 15 from 6:30PM - 8:00PM in the Middle and High School Auditorium
This presentation will include a review of A.L.I.C.E. procedures by the Cohasset Police and a presentation of our Youth Risk Behavior Survey. We will also look at safety through the "eyes of the student" in the areas of social-emotional learning and wellness, building security and protective measures, promoting a safe and inclusive culture and bullying procedure and bullying prevention from a District and school perspective . Here is a description of the Mission of each of our subcommittee. A big thank you goes out to the over 30 leaders, students, parents / guardians and educators who are on this important district-wide team.
Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness Subcommittee: This subcommittee will address the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and wellness needs of our school community. The work of this group will include advising our practices / programs at the school level concerning SEL and advising our efforts to help address the wellness needs of students, staff, and families. This subcommittee will include work on creating or strengthening structures that help educate regarding and protect from addiction.
Building Security and Protective Measures Subcommittee: This subcommittee will review our building safety protocols and our procedures for handling a crisis, threat, or critical incident. This committee will collaborate with police, fire, and emergency service providers when needed during the review of these protocols and procedures.
Promoting a Safe and Inclusive Culture Subcommittee: This subcommittee will look to promote ways to ensure stakeholders collaborate to create a culture that is sensitive to the diverse needs of the members of our school community (including the needs of those students who have experienced trauma). This subcommittee will ensure that the culture of each school is inclusive and that our structures and practices are representative of the diverse needs of the school community.
Safe Schools Bullying Procedure Review Subcommittee: This subcommittee will review our current policy and procedures regarding the reporting, intervention and prevention of bullying.
Communication and Action Planning Subcommittee: This subcommittee will create structures to communicate the work of all subcommittees to the stakeholders in the Cohasset School Community (providing one collective voice for the team). This subcommittee will also create structures to gather input from the community.
Credit for Life Fair at CHS!
CREDIT FOR LIFE FINANCIAL EDUCATION FAIR: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 FROM 8:00AM -11AM IN THE COHASSET MIDDLE SCHOOL & COHASSET HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
“Credit for Life is a financial education fair that is a fun, interactive simulation of saving, spending, and budgeting based on career choices and lifestyle decisions. Student participants choose an occupation and make a variety of financial decisions, ranging from where to live and how to save for retirement to buying a television or owning a pet. This event will engage students in the various levels of financial decision making that they will face in their mid-20s. Students will experience the task of managing a budget while maintaining a balance between future needs and wants. The broader goal of all fairs is to help empower students to be proactive about their financial futures by beginning to develop solid personal finance habits. We need many volunteers to make this day a success! Volunteers for the booths are only needed 9-11am but are encouraged to join for the welcoming message and speaker at 8.
Ask how you can get involved by
contacting Nicole Wilson at nwilson@cohassetk12.org or Mary Corwin at maryjcorwin@gmail.com
Homework Free Weekend Coming for Veterans Day Weekend
We have determined that we will observe the homework free weekend for the Veterans Day Weekend. We wanted to give you as much notice as possible for planning purposes. This will be the only homework free weekend that we will officially declare this year. The message may change slightly, but here is what I will be sending to parents as we near the Veterans Day weekend.
Greetings Cohasset Families,
This year, in conjunction with Veterans Day, we are implementing a “homework free” weekend for students as a school district. We recognize that the social-emotional wellness of our students and staff is paramount, so in part, this is a small gesture to allow students time to enjoy a stress free weekend.
In addition, this time away from homework should allow our students and staff, and their families, to focus on the importance of recognizing Veterans Day. In lieu of homework, it is our hope that members of our school community will find the time to thank Veterans for their service to our country and to be involved in the town ceremonies regarding Veterans Day.
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Compass
Update Fall 2019 Courses
Fall 2019 Course Request process:
Many people submitted course requests, which is wonderful. The money is currently encumbered for this round. The next round is in the winter. Please refer to the contract for the dates of submission for that round.
Primary Source Courses:
There is one available slot on the wait list for the Primary Source courses and there are 4 seats available for Building Blocks for Global Citizenship course. The course registration closes 10/4.
Evaluation Reminders
Evaluation Time-Line for 2019-2020
LEARNING WALKS
A priority of the District Leadership is to be more transparent and be more present in the schools. In order to achieve that goal, the Leadership Team will be engaging in Learning Walks this year. A Learning Walk is formative, and the purpose is to improve professional learning and school-wide practices. Student achievement is the primary goal and source of evidence. Learning walks are not meant to evaluate teaching and learning, but to learn from it. It is a non-evaluative observation.
(adapted from Moss & Brookhart, 2015)
The leadership team is working with a consultant, Dr. Scott Borstel, to implement the Learning Walk process. Learning Walks with District Leadership will take place in each building throughout the year. In addition, the Principal, Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent will be engaging in Learning Walks during monthly meetings. In addition, buildings will receive feedback about the trends and patterns that were observed during the Learning Walks via email. We are very excited about this new way of focusing on teaching and learning.
Below are the types of observations that the district will be engaging in this year:
Types of Observation
• Classroom Visits: Classroom visits are simply classroom visits to see staff and students on an informal basis. Classroom visits are most commonly used by building / district administration as part of daily practice.
• Walkthroughs: Walkthroughs are the formal classroom observations conducted as part of the Cohasset Educator Evaluation Model.
• Learning Walks: This term infers that the person doing the walk is learning. The learning walk is used on a monthly basis when district administration visits buildings. We meet formally with each principal monthly and engage in the learning walk during this time. During this walk, we visit as many classrooms as possible and discuss what we see and hear regarding teaching and learning. Learning walks are also used at the building level by administration and other personnel to support the observation of teaching and learning.
START SCHOOLS LATER APPROVED BY SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 2020 - 2021 SCHOOL YEAR
At the August 21 Cohasset School Committee Meeting the School Committee voted unanimously to change the school day start and ending times for the 2020 – 2021 school year. The school day start and ending times for this year (2019 - 2020) will remain the same as to what we are accustomed.
This decision comes after a presentation by the Start Schools Later Team at a July School Committee meeting. This team presented regarding the importance of sleep for students of middle and high school age (presentation attached).
We realize that these changes in start and ending times will impact families. With that in mind, we will be hosting some Start Schools Later meetings to gain input on how to best facilitate the changes. Stay tuned for those dates.
Here is the proposed plan for the school day start and end times for the 2020 – 2021 school year. It should be noted that as we collaborate and hear more voice from stakeholders, the times may shift slightly.
TRIVIA...
In the 19th and early 20th century, why was Lily Pond in Cohasset so important to the culinary practices of the citizens of Cohasset (note: the answer is not the fish in the pond or drinking water)?
Congratulations to Julie Bradford and Eileen Weisslinger, last week's trivia Lunch Winners!
We are excited for Cohasset's 250th Celebration. Stay tuned in the coming months for updates regarding how Cohasset Public Schools is taking a part in this important celebration!
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT WEEK!
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