THE NAVIGATOR
School Edition, January 31, 2020
Newsletter
Important Upcoming Events
2/5/20- Read-A-Thon Closing Ceremony
2/11/20-Grade 8 Curriculum Night (Parents / Guardians of In-coming 9th Graders) 6:30PM in the Learning Commons
2/14/20-Read Your Heart Out Day at Deer Hill
2/15/20-2/23/20: February Break
2/24/20 - Classes Resume
School Start and Ending Times Confirmed for 2020 - 2021 School Year
Fantastic Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Project-Based Learning at CMS
Courtesy of Principal Mills and the CMS Spinnaker
All teachers in grade 6 enhanced their instruction over the last few weeks to incorporate the book and its themes creating a coherent learning experience for their students. This approach is called Project-Based Learning (PBL). It has been shown to promote student engagement and learning.
There were many enriching activities students participated in as part of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind unit. See the pictures below. These included:
- Collecting Change to Bring About Change: Students held a change drive and raised over $800 that will be donated to Moving Windmills-a non-profit founded by Kamkwamba to support economic development projects in Malawi.
- A Taste of Malawian Culture: Students enjoyed a feast of Malawian food made by families and teachers.
- Taking a Spin: Students built and tested windmill models using recycled materials.
- Contrasting Story Versions: After reading the book, students watched the film version of the story and then participated in an insightful and substantive group discussion on differences between the film and text.
We were proud of our students and their commitment to their learning. We are also proud and appreciative for the creativity and hard work of our teachers." - Principal Mills
Great job, Sixth Grade Team!
Samantha Skunk Presentation to Osgood Students by CMS Safe Harbor Youth Ambassadors
Green Team presentation on the importance of Recycling at CMS
Cohasset Students to Present Little Women on February 27 & February 28
Jeopardy Competition at Deer Hill to reinforce Skipper Creed Expectations
Asian Culture Club Presents to Deer Hill Students about Chinese New Year
Science and Social Studies Collaboration at CHS
It's Science . . . and Social Studies
Courtesy of Principal Scott and the CHS Newsletter
"Ms. Thompson's Biology classes teamed up with Coach A's World History classes last semester in a PBL-inspired, interdisciplinary symposium on environmental issues. The students were charged with defining their own topics/issues, conducting their own research, interviewing a local expert and after the 2 months of work, they presented their findings to the joint classes.
Students utilized the Learning Commons for several research classes, and the actual presentations were in lieu of a final exam in World History.
Student Presentations were as follows:
Green House Gases and Climate Change
Conservation of Natural Space
Nuclear Energy
Climate Change and its effects on the Fishing Industry
Plastic, Climate Change and its impact on the Environment
Coastal & Oceanic Health
Pharmaceutical Drugs and their Impact
Renewable Energy
Illegal Drugs and Cartels
Carbon Footprints and ways to improve
Space Travel & Technology
Healthy Life Styles"
- Principal Scott
Cohasset Safe Schools Committee
At last week’s Safe Schools Committee meeting we discussed the role of the team for this year going forward. We determined that, in line with our sub-committee goals, each team would work to produce one product this year. Here are the planned products:
Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness Subcommittee: Communicating resources that can be used to help students with stress and mental wellness
Building Security and Protective Measures Subcommittee: Creating and potentially finding funding for a “Safety Bag” for each classroom in the event of an emergency
Promoting a Safe and Inclusive Culture Subcommittee: Creating a bridge workshop between the high school (diversity club, AP classes etc) and Deer Hill around a to be determined topic (word choice, empathy, civic discourse, etc)
Safe Schools Bullying Procedure and Safety Policy Review Subcommittee: Reviewing and clarifying the Bullying Incident Reporting Form. The goal is to inform staff of the procedures for reporting such incidents and the process of the investigation.
Communication and Action Planning Subcommittee: Creating and sending out an edition of The Navigator Newsletter to Cohasset families that highlights national trends, school initiatives and resources in each of the subcommittee areas: Bullying Prevention, Social Emotional Learning and Wellness, Inclusive Cultures and Building Safety
We plan to meet in April to review progress and to finalize work products in a May meeting.
Thank you to everyone on this team for their great work!
From the Director of Finance and Operations...Michael MacMillan
FY21 Budget Update
The process for determining the town and school budget for the next financial year (2020/21) continues and School Principals recently presented their budget priorities at a workshop with the Cohasset School Committee. These priorities included increasing resources for teaching math at the elementary schools, literacy at the middle school, and social studies at the high school. There were also requests for additional social and emotional learning support for students at all levels.
The Town Accountant, Don Piatt, also provided an overview of the Town's five year financial plan at the Town's Fiscal Forum on December 19th. This included draft figures for the FY21 budget. Although these numbers might change over the coming months as more information becomes available, the envisaged 3.02% increase for the schools will not be enough to fund all the priorities requested by Principals and some difficult decisions will have to be made before the budget is finalized and presented at Town Meeting.
We have updated the Business office website to include more information on the budget process and relevant documents, including the budget workshop presentation and the Town's draft five year plan: https://www.cohassetk12.org/domain/207. We will continue to update the community through the website and with information in the newsletter . In the meantime, if you have any questions about the budget or require additional information, please contact Michael MacMillan, the Director of Finance and Operations, mmacmillan@cohassetk12.org or Superintendent Patrick Sullivan, psullivan@cohassetk12.org.
Capital Plan Update
The district recently submitted twelve requests to the Town's Capital Planning committee. These are:
- School Bus Lease
- Replacement of the High School Gym Roof and roof top units.
- Replacement of the Deer Hill School roof top units.
- Funding for classroom furniture and technology
- Replacement of Deer Hill School windows
- Plumbing for additional science lab at the High School
- Repairs to the sidewalk at the Middle High School (alongside Alumni field)
- Painting of the High School corridors
- Painting of High School auditorium (by the gym)
- Replacement of corridor floor tiles at Deer Hill.
- Installation of padding at Joseph Osgood School gym.
- Installation of AC for the music room and band room at Deer Hill
The district will be discussing these priorities with the Town's capital planning committee on January 27th. More information on these requests and our capital process is also available on our website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4149
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Compass: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Elementary Math Pilot Update
The Elementary Math Committee met last week to discuss the pilot process so far and determined that extending the pilot would give teachers more opportunity for a deeper dive into the program materials. We have extended the pilot from April to early June.
Professional Development Days
February 7
January 24
Osgood
Cassy O’Brien facilitating a workshop called Creating your Own Personal Learning Network. Deer Hill will have the same workshop in February.
CHS
CMS
Deer Hill
Evaluation
Formative Assessment Reports for 1-year Cycle
The mid-cycle Formative Assessment Reports for those educators on a one-year educator plan are due in February. See the timeline below.
Evaluator should complete mid-cycle Formative Assessment Reports for Educators on one-year Educator Plans February 1
Evaluator holds Formative Assessment Meetings if requested by either Evaluator or Educator February 15
Course Reimbursement Requests
From the Office of Mary Buchanan, Director of Student Services
Office of Student Service:
Peer Preschool Applications
Preschool Applications for morning and afternoon sessions are now available at the Office of Student Services or on Cohasset Public Schools website. There will be a lottery, if there are more students who register for preschool than seats available.
SEPAC Presentation on Practical Social Strategies
Please join Cohasset SEPAC as they welcome Amy Gordon, Director of Second Nature Social Skills Company on Thursday, February 6th, 2020 at the Paul Pratt Memorial Library located at 35 Ripley Road, Cohasset. The presentation will be focused on practical social strategies for all ages from 6:30pm-8:00pm. The attached flyer provides additional information about the presentation as well as contact information for SEPAC.
METCO UPDATE FROM METCO DIRECTOR MS. ALEISA GITTENS-CARLE
Feel free to contact Ms. Aleisa Gittens-Carle or Ms. Atisha Winslow at (781)383-6117 with any additional questions.
On Saturday, February 1, 2020, Safe Harbor will be partnering with Lenny’s Hideaway for the first ever ’18 & Under Open Mic Nite.’ The event is open to all ages, but you must be 18 or under to perform. The goal is to increase community connectivity, which has been shown to reduce risky behaviors.
We are excited for Cohasset's 250th Celebration
Trivia
This Sunday is Groundhog Day. Let's hope Punxsutawney Phil can't find his shadow, so we will have an early spring.
In the movie Groundhog Day (1993) with Bill Murray what song is repeated over and over as he repeats his never ending day?
Have a fantastic weekend!
Have a great weekend.
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