Cohasset High School Newsletter
News and Happenings at Cohasset High School
September 22, 2023
Dear Families,
On Tuesday, September 19th, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released composite MCAS scores and other data, and recognized Cohasset for demonstrating high achievement and strong growth under the state's accountability system, which takes into account MCAS scores and other measures including chronic absenteeism and graduation rates. At the high school, we were one of eighteen high schools recognized and one of only two on the South Shore. For some context, if you measure the percentage of students that meet or exceed expectations, Cohasset High School was:
- 5th in the state in ELA (1st on the South Shore)
- 17th in the state in Math (1st on the South Shore), and
- 14th in the state among schools who give the Physics exam (1st on the South Shore)
Beyond MCAS, school accountability measures individual schools and districts against growth targets across several different areas. For some perspective, the high school's accountability rating is 97. In 2019, it was 63. At the district level, the accountability rating is a 99. You can read more about accountability ratings here: https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/accountability/report/district.aspx?orgtypecode=5&linkid=30&fycode=2023&orgcode=00650000.
Data interpretation is always contextual, but this tells me several things that I think are worth sharing:
- First, our success is reflective of a district effort. The cohesiveness of the strategic plan, the consistency of district wide administration, and the support of the School Committee particularly regarding resources all align to drive improvement. Perhaps the most significant change for us is the logical separation of the middle school and the dedicated focus that's has been given to that level over the past five years. Their exponential growth fuels our success.
- Second, I think the attention that we have paid to school culture has and is in the process of developing a foundation where students are accessible to learning, and accessible to learning for the right reasons. PEAR data reflects that student trust remains high, we've created vehicles for more authentic and personalized learning opportunities with community partners, and have created opportunities for soliciting student voice, all with a focus on promoting personal integrity, purposeful individual growth, and scholarship serving the greater good.
- But the greatest asset that we have is our faculty. Throughout each of the last five years there was a dedicated attention to our students, a measured approach to understanding where they were and what they needed, and a collaborative plan to addressing those needs. And most of our data points including academic data (MCAS, AP scores, four year graduation rate, extended engagement rate, etc.) and SEL data (PEAR, YRBS, and CSCI surveys) are more than encouraging. Students are showing improved well-being and improved academic performance, and the two cannot be separated.
As we continue to expose our students to higher levels of academic rigor, we do so with an eye on continuing to foster positive relationships among students and between students and staff. As my daughter wades into middle school, the conversations are less about content and more about personalities that drive her experience, her confidence, and her effort. Because even if a student doesn't love a subject, they'll work for a teacher that they respect and that believes in them.
At a recent wedding I was at, the bride's father thanked a table of her soccer coaches that she had throughout the years, and her former athletic trainer officiated the wedding. At our boys' soccer preseason camp I received a text from coach Willis that my former middle school guidance counselor said to say hello (he was watching his grandkids play for Monomoy). There are some things that transcend the scores and classrooms, and I think we're making healthy strides in both.
If you'll excuse me I'm going to look into Trainer Budrick getting his Justice of the Peace.
Sincerely,
Brian T. Scott
Principal
Letters of Commendation
This year's recipients are:
- Laila Al Rashid
- Thomas Basile
- Nikhil Dutta, and
- Isabella Kearney
Congratulations!
AP Exams
AP Students and Families:
AP Exams will take place during the first two weeks of May. The complete schedule can be found here: 2024 AP Exam Schedule. The fee for AP exams this year is $98 per exam. AP Exams are ordered in November and the due date for the payment is November 1st. Students taking AP courses are required to take the exam in order to receive credit. If exam fees have not been paid by November 1st, we will be unable to include these courses on a studentās transcript. Payments should be made via MySchoolBucks. If you have any questions please follow up with your high school counselor.
Regards,
Cohasset High School Guidance Department
Lobby Makeover
Check out the some images from the student design pitches and some pictures of the finished product.
Alex Sturdy, Matthew Badia, and Aiden Pettie
Maddy Clark, Hannah Nicholls, Libby Schiffman, Annabelle Martin, Frankie Froio
Jack Mullaly, Ty Rudnick, Will Norgeot, and Blaine Basile
Marine Science
On September 13th, Dr. Blair Duncan and her Marine Science students visited CSCR to compliment classroom work with two days of field study and lab days. This is part of our collaborative year-round work with CSCR under a Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Grant in conjunction with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Under this grant, students are provided with Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) where students ask driving questions that seek to address community problems. On this particular visit, Alexia Tserelova raised the question immediately whether the recent rainfall had an impact on the water quality of the harbor.
Working with experts, students are challenged to articulate community problems in detail, develop hypotheses and present possible solutions.
Students Reading Directions and Playing French Games with Mr. Grasmann
Make it Crane!
JPH focuses on wellness and healing programs for the larger community. Their goal is to make 1000 cranes. Cohasset made well over 100 this morning. Scholarship serving the greater good.
2024 Cohasset High School Service Trip -April vacation -
Join Ms. Crimmins and SeƱora Nelson next April vacation in Guatemala! As part of the School the World's Service-Learning Program, Cohasset students will fundraise to build a school for children in need and travel to complete the build. Embark on a culturally rich learning experience while participating in meaningful service work.
To learn more, we will have an informational meeting for parents on October 5th at 6:00 pm in Room 177. Parents and students are welcome to attend in person or via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93806765754?pwd=YWZvVU5GM08xSlM5YllHR2J3ZkZMZz09
Meeting ID: 938 0676 5754
Passcode: 5USkCy
Upcoming College Visits
Mon September 25
- University of Maine at Farmington
- College of Charleston
- Emmanuel College
Tue September 26
- University of Connecticut
-Indiana University-Bloomington
Wed September 27
- The Catholic University of America
- Dartmouth College
- Fitchburg State University
- Washington & Jefferson College
Thu September 28
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
Fri September 29
- Saint Anselm College
- Stony Brook University
School Council Positions Open
The law outlines four major areas of responsibility for councils. Specifically, School Councils are to assist principals in:
Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
Reviewing the annual school building budget
Formulating a school improvement plan
Visits the CHS National Honors Society Website Below!
Yearbook Deadlines and Information
Class of 2024! Please complete your senior write-up for the yearbook.
November 17, 2023, Deadline for submission of Senior Portraits, Optional Baby Photo and Write Up
Senior portraits can be taken and submitted by a photographer of your choice. Lifetouch, our yearbook publisher, also arranges sittings for seniors. Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-426-9533.
Please contact the yearbook advisor, Mrs. Sugrue, if you have any further questions.
For a full listing of deadlines and procedures, please see the following link:
Technology Resources for Families
Please see the following list of technological resources and troubleshooting instructions for student technology:
Check out these photos from Mr. Leahy!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i4ZJqgLrgbVHmVJGA
Volleyball vs. Abington
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5EJGBVUqggEfxkV69
Field Hockey vs. Mashpee
https://photos.app.goo.gl/74aY5HiRgqeJJJht8
Girls' Soccer vs. Hull
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YXw7s5GfQLfYaLbH9
Football vs. Silver Lake
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6AbU2amBYte3UV9cA
Volleyball vs. Hanover
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NVbA75ZSk3S8Nw5W9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yajc9Tcnqe9rGAF66
Girls' Soccer vs. Bishop Stang
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YABobu3mVg8eLiWn9
Boys' Soccer vs. Martha's Vineyard
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KaXSxSvpnRpXFEMa9
Boys' Golf vs. Middleboro
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