THE NAVIGATOR
School Edition: September 13, 2019
Weekly Newsletter
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.
Camp Wing Orientation for Sixth Grade Students
Happy Sixth Grade Students!
Positive Energy Continues Throughout the District
Credit for Life Fair at CHS!
“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! 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.
Back to School Nights Upcoming
Osgood: 9/17
CMS: 9/18
Deer Hill: 9/19
CHS: 9/24
Thank you for all you do to celebrate the teaching and learning throughout our District!
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Compass
Program Approval, Course Approval, Course Reimbursement and Column Change Process
Here are a few reminders regarding course approval, degree program approval, tuition reimbursement and column changes:
I. Any course taken for credit must be pre-approved by the superintendent before a course begins, if the course is to be considered as part of a column change. Please utilize the Course Request Form found on the district-website for pre-approval purposes for all courses…not just those courses you are requesting for reimbursement. This form requires you to gain signatures from your principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent for approval purposes.
II. All degree programs must be pre-approved by the superintendent before matriculating if the program is to be considered for column change purposes. These requests should be made by submitting a memo or letter to the superintendent accompanied by a full description of the courses involved in the program. Also, after the program is approved and before taking each course in the program, educators must attain pre-approval for each course evidenced by a Course Request Form signed by the principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent if the course is to be considered for column change.
III. In order to receive tuition reimbursement for a course you must:
1. Have received approval for tuition reimbursement for the course prior to taking the course.
2. Fill out the Request for Tuition Payment Form (found on the website), and attach proof of payment, a transcript showing successful completion of the course, and a signed copy (with signatures by principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent) of your Course Request Form indicating that reimbursement for the course was pre-approved.
Note: Monies must be available as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Please see information on page 18 of CBA.
IV. In order to receive a column change you must:
1. Have submitted a letter requesting a column change (see contract for appropriate dates).
2.Fill out a Column Change Documentation form (found on the website) and submit along with a copy of the request for column change letter, a copy of the signed Course Request Form (with signatures by principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent) for each course making up the column change, and proof of completion of each course making up the column change in the form of a transcript indicating successful completion of the courses. Please see your contract for the appropriate dates by which the Column Change Documentation form and appropriate accompanying materials must be submitted.
Note: All of the above forms can be located on the district web-site under “Our District” / “District Forms” / “Educator Forms.”
Evaluation Reminders
Evaluation Time-Line for 2019-2020
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...
What did one of the Production companies who filmed a famous movie in Cohasset provide the town? And what was the name of the movie?
Congratulations to Susan Barbuto, last edition's Lunch Winner!
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