THE NAVIGATOR
May 6, 2022
Newsletter
Happy National Principals Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, School Nurse Day, and School Lunch Hero Day!
This week brought with it a few important recognition days. The entire week was “Teacher Appreciation Week.” We are so fortunate to have such wonderful teachers who make a huge difference with students and families. Your positive impact on everyone at Cohasset Schools is very appreciated. May 4 was “School Nurse Day” (although some celebrate next week). As it is with teachers, perhaps never have we been so appreciative of having amazing school nurses as we have been the past few years. Thank you for all you do for the students, staff, and families. Finally, today, May 6 is “School Lunch Hero Day.” Thank you to our amazing food service department who creates delicious meals and supports our staff, students, and families every day. Thank you for everything you do.
Images of the Week
Thank you to everyone who helped provide and set up the Class of 2022 Portraits in the town common this past weekend. This new tradition is a wonderful tribute to our graduating students!
Thank you Mass Dot, Officer Taylor, Transportation Supervisor Miscioscia, and Principal Sullivan for a wonderful school-wide presentation on bike safety this morning
"May The 4th Be With You" Day at Deer Hill...on May 4th of course...also Ukraine Day at Deer Hill
Excellent transition from Garade 5 - 6 discussion, as Principal Mills and team visit 5th grade classes. This is part of a comprehensive transition collaboration between the two schools. Pictured are CMS Principal Mills and CMS Guidance Counselor Ms. Pearce, who visited all 5th grade classrooms to discuss the move to Cohasset Middle School this fall.
Congratulations, Deer Hill Community who brought 160 volunteers to the End Hunger NE warehouse and packaged thousands of meals headed to Poland, as part of their efforts to help citizens of Ukraine. Stats from their work: $2195 raised, 42,552 meals packaged which equals $14,893 worth of product. - from @Deerhillschool Twitter..
All School Picture...CMS...WE LOVE CMS!
April Edition of Middle School Newspaper...The Pond Street Press
Biodiversity Ecology students continue work at @HollyHill_Farm helping clear grasses around native plantings
Empowering Voice for an Equitable Tomorrow Diversity Summit, thank you Weymouth HS for an amazing day!
Cohasset Conservation Trust board members Katie Holden and Sarah Charron with Environmental Science students at newly acquired property, the Harvey property.
Green Team representing at EcoFest
Cohasset High School Recognized by US News & World Report
Deer Hill Spelling Bee Returning!
Ai3 Presents School Facilities Condition Study
Cohasset Middle-High School Physical Building Assessment Shows the Condition of the Middle and High School as "Potentially Critical"
Deer Hill Elementary School Physical Building Assessment Shows the Condition of Deer Hill School as "Not Yet Critical"
Joseph Osgood Elementary School Physical Building Assessment Shows the Condition of Joseph Osgood School as just needing some "Recommended Upgrades"
The Educational Program Assessment at Cohasset Middle School and Cohasset High School Shows the Structures Available for Education to be in "Critical" Need of Improvement
Overall Recommendation for Cohasset Middle School and Cohasset High School is for "Comprehensive Renovation and Addition or New Construction as Defined by the Massachusetts School Building Authority and its Core Program"
Thank you to the Town of Cohasset for Approving the Below School District Budget for FY23
School Committee Determines That 2022 - 2023 School Year Will Begin After Labor Day For Students...September 6, 2022
The Cohasset School Committee also decided, by vote, that, moving forward, a pre or post Labor Day school start for students will be determined by how early Labor Day falls within the school year. We are looking at the following draft language, and we will confirm this information to the school community, after consultation with the Cohasset Teachers Association (CTA) and finalized approval by the Cohasset School Committee:
“For the 2022-2023 school year, teachers will begin their work year on the Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day with the Friday before Labor Day as a no school day for students and staff. The first day of school for students for 2022-2023 school year will be September 6th. In subsequent years, if Labor Day falls on September 3rd or earlier, the teachers' work year will start on the Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day with the Friday before Labor Day as a no school day for students and staff and the first day of school for students taking place on the Tuesday following Labor Day. If Labor Day falls on September 4th or later, the teachers' work year will start on the Monday and Tuesday before Labor Day with the first two days of school for students taking place on Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day and the Friday before Labor Day as a no school day for students and staff. Teachers work year will terminate no later than June 30. Input from the Association will be considered in developing the School Calendar.”
Please see full 2022 - 2023 School Year Calendar which was approved at the April 13 School Committee Meeting for vote and approval. Thank you to everyone who engaged in the important discussion during the school committee meeting.
Cohasset Community Health Update
Community Health Information:
As of April 5, 2022, the Department of Public Health (DPH) reports that the town of Cohasset’s positive COVID-19 test rate over the past 14 days is 6.67% with 360 tests reported. The town of Cohasset has 21 positive cases reported over the past two weeks. Currently, 95% of eligible Cohasset residents are fully vaccinated with 13% of eligible residents partially vaccinated. Here is the complete report issued on May 5, 2022.
Here is the Confirmed Positive COVID Cases Weekly Update Spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is also found on the district website under COVID-19 Information.
Vaccination Attestation:
Please remember that as your child becomes fully vaccinated to please contact your child’s school nurse.
Proof of your child’s vaccination, submitted to your child’s school nurse, can be provided in one of the following ways:
- A signed self-attestation completed by a parent / legal guardian of the child indicating the brand of vaccine; or
- Documentation provided to the individual by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or a health care provider. Documentation may include but is not limited to a COVID-19 vaccination record card or a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card, or a print-out from the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS).
Thank you for your understanding and for your assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: We have now officially transitioned our practices from Test and Stay to At Home Testing. In conjunction with DESE requirements for being a part of the At Home Testing Program, we are no longer contact tracing within the schools.
Symptomatic Testing: The same consent previously signed for Test and Stay covers Symptomatic Testing, which will be able to be implemented by our nursing staff, now that we are implementing At Home Testing.
Parents and guardians who wish to have their children participate in the Cohasset School District Covid-19 testing, thus being eligible for Symptomatic Testing, must click on the link provided (if you did not do so previously for test and stay) and complete the consent forms.
METCO Student Discussion Round-Table
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 Public Schools is a proud METCO District. Please see the METCO Web-page for additional diversity resources.
Technology and Digital Learning
On Wednesday, April 27, a volunteer group of Middle and High School teachers attended a hybrid training to introduce them to the Cleartouch Interactive Panel. The Cleartouch trainers appeared virtually through our PolyStudio AI video conferencing system, while a trainer from CCS New England was on site with us in the Learning Commons. Teachers were given hands-on practice time on the two new Cleartouch Interactive Panels that were purchased thanks to Capital funding this year. The training was the second of two that have taken place as part of a pilot program in the district where teachers and students are asked to try out different types of interactive panels in their classrooms and provide feedback. In February, the same group of teachers learned how to use Viewsonic Interactive Panels, which is a slightly different interface. The teachers signed up for 2 week intervals each of trying out the panels in their classrooms. Below are some highlights from the pilot program so far in photos.
Mrs. Cerrutti‘s students virtually interview an expert in the South Shore Recycling Cooperative as part of their civics project using the PolyStudio AI videoconferencing system. Our community expert really saved time on her commute!
Mrs. Weisslinger and Mrs. Cerruti practice writing notes and web browsing directly on the Cleartouch Interactive Panels during the training session.
Mr. Ford runs a PearDeck lesson on the ViewSonic Interactive Panel to engage students in a discussion about bullying. He then wheeled it down to the courts to play and analyze tennis skill videos with the tennis team!
Cohasset PSO Happenings
Cohasset Public Schools' Strategic Plan for 2021- 2024
2021 - 2022 School Improvement Plans
Sports Information
Cohasset softball players joined Deer Hill School in packaging meals for Ukrainian refugees at the End Hunger NE warehouse this past week. 💙🥎💙
Annual Girls' Tennis Jamboree with Rockland
South Shore Girls' Lacrosse Rankings
Congratulations to the Cohassett/Hull Track Team, the 4 x 400 finished 5th overall at the MSTCA Division 5 State Relays meet in Sandwich.
MIAA Boys' Lacrosse Power Rankings
RISE Program
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Summer 2022 Learning Program
The District is happy to announce that the Summer Learning Program will be offered again this summer. The Summer Learning Program is a free 2-week in-person program for students in grades 1-12 who are enrolled in the Cohasset Public Schools in the Fall of 2022. The program runs August 1 through August 11, Monday through Thursday. Students is grades 1-5 will attend from 9:00-11:30am. The program for students in grades 6-12 will be 50 minute tutoring sessions in ELA and/or Math from 8:30-11:30. Priority will be given to students with special needs who are not participating in the ESY program, students who are new to the district, students identified for ELL support, students identified as needing reading and/or math support, or qualified for Title I Reading support in the 2021-2022 school year.
Please complete and submit this application by May 6. We kindly request that you only apply for the program if you are able to commit to having your child attend the full session. You will be notified of the status of your child's application by Mid-June. If applying for more than one child please fill out a form for each child.
Please contact the Summer Learning Program Administrator, Principal Lisa Farrell at lfarrell@cohassetk12.org or Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Leslie Scollins at lscollins@cohassetk12.org.
Assessment
Elementary Literacy
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
UPDATES
A few updates from the Director of Student Services:
Our parent surveys connected to IEPs continue to come in. We appreciate your feedback, both the positive comments and the areas in which we need to improve. Keep them coming!
We had an independent evaluation of our social emotional programming for students. We received commendations on our growth since 2018, our use of specific tools to measure student status and need, our developing MTSS system, our guidance and counselor staffing, and our addition of a social worker. Ongoing development will continue in differentiating instruction and accommodations.
Julie Evans from DESE conducted on site building tours for our Tiered Focused Monitoring. All districts participate in this process every three years. It is a six year cycle, with Years 1-3 considered Group A and Years 4-6 considered Group B. We are currently in Year 5 this year. A report will come out in 60 days.
As part of the process, we updated the Student Family Handbook. Please refer to pages 44-48 in the handbook on our website.
Be Sure to View the Information on the Student Services Web Page
Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Cohasset Public Schools
During the week of February 28, 2022 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Cohasset Public Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring reviews each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
Parent outreach is an important part of the review process. Prior to the review, the chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send an online survey to all parents of students with disabilities receiving services. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the activities of the onsite review and the development of the final report.
During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations. After the conclusion of the review, the public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports.
Parents and other individuals may call Julie Evans, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3754 to request additional information, or contact the district coordinators Dr. Leslie Scollins at (781) 383-4210 or Mrs. Barbara Cerwonka at (781) 383-6104.
Child Find Public Notice
Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Information
A Message from our Director of Student Services, Barbara Cerwonka
To Parents/Guardians of Cohasset Public Schools :
The Cohasset Public Schools believes in providing the highest quality of education for our students. This letter is to provide you with information about a three-tiered instructional approach we use to meet this goal, referred to as Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
For MTSS, all students will participate in the core curriculum, with three levels (tiers) of interventions for students who demonstrate at-risk skills in general academics or behavior/social emotional areas. Each tier provides additional support beyond the core curriculum. All students receive formal and informal checks to measure their progress to determine if they are performing at an expected level. Behavioral and social emotional impacts are also monitored on a regular basis through the year.
Tier One- Teachers will use different strategies as universal supports within the core curriculum to address all student educational needs.
Tier Two- Based on progress data, students who require more support than Tier One will be provided targeted interventions matched to their needs within the general classroom by the classroom teacher and/or support staff in the classroom. The Tiered Support Team will track the student’s progress, and parents/guardians will receive ongoing progress data.
Tier Three- Students who continue to require measures beyond Tier Two will receive more intensive interventions at this level. Parents/guardians will receive ongoing progress data. After Tier Three implementation, students who continue to display limited progress may then be considered for further evaluation and services.
Our schools are excited to take part in this process to improve educational outcomes for all students. As always, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Barbara Cerwonka, Director of Student Services
Office of Student Services
143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA 02025-1999
Telephone 781-383-6104
Please see the Basic Rights in Special Education Presentation by Director of Student Services Barbara Cerwonka below
SAFE HARBORS UPDATES
Most Recent Safe Harbors Newsletter
The Important Role Families Play In Stopping the Spread of COVID-19
Families play an important role in helping to create a culture that prioritizes health and safety. Families should check their children daily for signs of COVID-19 and should keep them home from school if they are not feeling well or if they have been in close contact with a person who has been recently diagnosed with COVID-19. It is also important that families support students wearing masks in school and on the bus. We are strongest when we work together to stop the spread (Initial Fall School Re-entry Guidance, 2020).
CPS Pledge: Healthy and Responsible Behaviors Regarding COVID-19
By coming into Cohasset Public Schools, I pledge I am following:
State expectations for social and physical distancing
Regulations regarding the wearing of facial coverings
Quarantine directives put forth by the Massachusetts Department of Health and the Cohasset Department of Health
Guidance that has students and staff stay home from school / work if they are experiencing symptoms of fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, or dry cough or if they have exhibited any symptoms relating to COVID-19
Thank you to all of our counselors for their caring and selfless work throughout the District!
Osgood: Dave Vinton dvinton@cohassetk12.org (adjistment counselor)
Deer Hill: Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org
Deer Hill and Osgood: Laurie Dolan ldolan@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Alyson Doyle adoyle@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist, Osgood and Deer Hill)
CMS: Emily Manewal emanewal@cohassetk12.org
Allison Pearce apearce@cohassetk12.org
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)
Stephanie Gertz sgertz@cohassetk12.org (ESP: BRYT Program...Middle and High School)
Happy Mother's Day!
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