THE NAVIGATOR
June Edition: June 12, 2020
Newsletter
Cohasset Public Schools Timeline for Fall Re-Entry Road Map 2020 - 2021
KEEP THE JOY
"We Must Be The Change We Wish To See"
Dear Cohasset Families,
The actions resulting in the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and other recent events have caused sorrow, outrage, and frustration. In a time when the need for compassion and empathy is paramount, we will continue to promote diversity and cultural competency, to teach the importance of open discourse, and to inspire our students to end hate through kindness and compassion. We stand beside and support our students and families of color, in this case particularly students and families in the Black and African American communities, and we are committed to do our part to end systemic racism.
This tragedy and others like it, paired with the ongoing pandemic, have produced a difficult landscape for our students. We want to provide the highest level of social and emotional support possible for our students during this difficult time, so please reach out to your child’s principal or our METCO Director, if there is a need for support, and they will direct you to the appropriate resources.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan, Superintendent
Dr. Leslie Scollins, Assistant Superintendent
Michael MacMillan, Director of Finance and Operations
Mary Buchanan, Director of Student Services
Alesia Gittens-Carle, METCO Director
Brian Scott, CHS Principal
Tara Noyes, CHS Assistant Principal
Steve Rotondi, Athletic Director
Sandy Crough, Lead Nurse
John Mills, CMS Principal
Dr. Kate Salas, CMS Assistant Principal
Alexandra L. Sullivan, DHS Principal
Lisa Farrell, JOS Principal
WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
COHASSET STRONG!!!
WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THE DISCOURSE REGARDING RACE AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY
We will continue our focus on cultural competency professional development with all our staff. In addition to examining the diversity of our texts this past school year and immersing our students in more culturally proficient and culturally diverse readings at the elementary level, we had a comprehensive professional development planned for staff on March 20 regarding cultural proficiency and race that was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID -19 outbreak. This professional development, which comes to us through the outstanding efforts of Aleisa Gittens-Carle, our METCO Director, and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Leslie Scollins, and which is funded by the Cohasset Education Foundation (CEF), is now on our Professional Development Calendar for the 2020 – 2021 school year. We are appreciative to the CEF for this opportunity. I have attached our plans for this event below.
We Have a Long Way To Go...But Here is Some of What We Have Worked On Over the Past Two Years Regarding Diversity, Cultural Competency, and Anti-Racism
- Inclusion of a focus on Cultural Competency in the District Strategic Plan and in all School Improvement Plans
- Formation of an Inclusive Cultures Subcommittee of the Safe Schools Team (Parents, students, faculty, leadership)
- Reestablishment of a METCO office in the HS
- Establishment of the Institutional Climate and Inclusion Assessment
- Creation and dedicated resources to Diversity Club and Asian Culture Club
- Work with elementary schools to promote cultural competence
- Work within the HS community to prominently display and celebrate diversity (book fairs, religious celebrations, etc.)
- Work with the department chairs to voice concerns over some experiences over four years related to the curriculum.
- Revised Summer Reading working through PSO
- School-Wide Screening and panel discussion of The Hate You Give (thank you to Resource Officer Taylor and Detective Lopes, Boston Families, and METCO alumni for serving on the committee and for our Diversity Club for working with Aleisa Gittens-Carle and Principal Scott to organize this event)
- Targeted Professional Development for faculty and administrators that includes
- White Fragility book club
- Professional Development Planned for all staff regarding Cultural Competency as a major part of next year's Professional Development Plan (postponed due to pandemic until next fall)
- All-school anti-bullying workshop in partnership with the ADL and marines.
- Challenge Day to build empathy.
- Contract with One Love to provide work around sexual violence and healthy relationships
- Deliberate address of sexism, racism and white privilege in high school newsletters.
- All-School highs school read on the METCO experience of one student.
- Increased student voice and presence around:
- BLM protests and vigil
- Sexual violence (particularly in the form of the upper lobby healing wall at Cohasset High School)
- Multi-cultural "March Madness" literature imitative at Deer Hill
- Leadership Professional Development with Dr. Kalise Wornum and Manuel Fernandez regarding Cultural Competency
- Increased awareness of empathy, diversity, and consideration of differences through the adoption of Responsive Classroom at Osgood and Deer Hill
- Multi-cultural all school read selections planned for Osgood and Deer Hill
INTERFAITH VIGIL ON TOWN COMMON
METCO DIRECTORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS GATHER TO MAKE STATEMENT ABOUT THE NEED TO END SYSTEMIC RACISM
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr.
SENIOR CLASS NIGHT (Scholarship Awarding Ceremony)
Arts Virtual Celebration
Senior Diploma Awarding Ceremony
Thank You, All For Your Good Work Preparing and Implementing Student Belonging Pick Ups at Each School
Preschool and Kindergarten Last Day of School Motorcade Celebration
Town Meeting, Tuesday, Jun 16 at the Cohasset Music Circus
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Amazing Drive-In Celebration for the Cohasset Graduating Class of 2020
On Wednesday, May 27, the Cohasset Graduating Class of 2020 attended a drive-in movie celebration on the evening of their last day of school as seniors. This event was organized with permission from the Board of Health and Cohasset Police Department. All students arrived in their own cars, and only the immediate family members of each student were in each vehicle. Students were checked-in and provided with a mask if they did not bring one, and all students and family members remained in their cars throughout the event. All staff attending and supervising the event also wore masks.
The student created class video highlighted the social and academic accomplishments of the amazing class of 2020 and was displayed on a large screen in the Cohasset Music Circus parking lot. The audio of the film was broadcast through a radio channel that played in each vehicle. Thank you to the Cohasset Music Circus, Plymouth Flix, Cohasset Collision, Cohasset Police, Cohasset Board of Health, Stephanie Moriarty, Nina Berkowitz, and the Cohasset High School seniors and staff for helping this event be a successful example of a social distancing conscious celebration. We are so proud of our amazing graduates!
Central Office Open to Public Business Monday - Thursday from 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Central Office is now open for public business from Monday through Thursday from 9:00AM – 3:00PM. We will be following the guidelines to “stagger staff” within the office, so although not everyone will be there at once, there will be someone available should you need to go into central office during those times. Of course we are all still working each day, so feel free to contact any of us if you need assistance. When entering Central Office, we ask that you please wear a mask and that you follow social-distancing guidelines. The opening of Central Office will adhere to all regulations set out by Governor Baker’s team.
"Dear Students, We Miss You!...We Are Proud of You!"
Thank you to Principal Scott, Cohasset High School Families and Staff, Craig MacLellan, Ashley Colleary, and the entire School Committee, Chris Senior (Town Manager), Chief Quigley, and the Cohasset Police for the collaboration that allowed the beautiful banners of the Class of 2020 to proudly adorn the town common. This is a wonderful tribute to these amazing students.
OSGOOD PLAYGROUND PROGRESS! Oh So GOOD and Exciting!
Cross-Country Teams Raises Money for Local Food Pantries
The Cohasset Cross-country Team raised over $3,000 for two local Food Pantries (Cohasset Food Pantry and Wellspring Food Pantry in Hull). Great job, Coach Ford and team!
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Compass: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Elementary Math Textbook Adoption
The Elementary Math Textbook Adoption Process is in its final phases. Grade levels submitted their rubrics for each program and the Elementary Math Committee met today to review the data. A final decision will be made in the next week. I want to thank the teachers and the Math Committee for all their thoughtful work during this process.
Professional Development Update
Take Care of Yourself and Take Care of Each Other
Upcoming Senior Events
We are very much looking forward to the following events for seniors. We will provide more information regarding just what these events will look like in future communications.
- August 5th. Prom will be held at the Red Lion Inn from 7:00PM-10:30PM preceded by a red carpet event.
- August 6th. A class field day will be held at Miliken from 2:00PM-4:00PM.
- August 7th. Graduation will be held at 4:00PM on alumni field.
HAVE A FANTASTIC 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