THE NAVIGATOR
October 28, 2022
Newsletter
MCAS Presentation during the November 2 School Committee Meeting
Images of the Week
Osgood and Deer Hill Fun Run
Click on the link below to see a video of the action!
CEF FALL FESTIVAL
Congratulations to Caroline B who was selected to receive "Lunch on the Superintendent" as part of the CEF Fundraising Efforts. I hope you enjoyed the lunch, Caroline!
Thank you, Ashley Bendiksen, for delivering such important and inspiring presentations at Cohasset High School this week regarding resilience and managing challenges. Thank you to the CEF for bringing this important presentation to CHS.
CMS Principal John Mills Analyzing the MCAS Assessment Results with Staff
Great Reading Instruction and Professional Development at Osgood
This past week Osgood had their second O So Good Call Home. This student was recommended because of his hard work and kind ways. Congratulations!
Thank you, Cohasset PSO, for an energizing anti-bullying assembly. The laser lights and radio tunes were a hit!
Mrs. Holland’s class lit up with joy as they celebrated Diwali by making traditional lanterns. Thank you to Mrs. Stevenson for teaching students about this festive holiday!
Our community partner CSCR hosted Cohasset students / marine scientists who are testing water samples for enterococci. Meaningful watershed experiences in action. Each student experience in the field that explores authentic inquiry strengthens school-student-community capacity to “rethink what where how when why” we teach and learn. Thank you, CSCR.
Great happenings at CHS this week...Excellent teaching and learning...and nice to see students participating in spirit week.
Safety is paramount at CPS. In addition to the social-emotional supports and programming we offer students, all staff and students at all of our schools engage in safety drills throughout the year. At CMS last Friday, students and teachers exited the building to locate the school's rally points that would be used in the event of an evacuation where we had to move quickly away from the school. (see pictures below)
CMS Hosts First X-Country Meet
"Under a deep blue sky on Wednesday, the CMS Cross-Country team hosted their first home meet. CMS XC runners faced off against Norwell and Whitman-Hanson. Whitman-Hanson did not travel to CMS but competed virtually. CMS runners had another great day and look forward to next Wednesday's home meet."
Sophomore Leading the "Make a Difference Campaign"
Trunk or Treat
CHS Athletic Complex Update
We are excited for the new track. Here are some pictures showing the finished product!
Turf Renovation to Begin on November 7
The turf replacement project at Alumni Stadium is set to begin on Monday, November 7, 2022, at which time access to the turf and track will be prohibited until further notice. This turf replacement project, along with the recently completed track, is a welcomed improvement to our athletic facilities. We are thankful for the school community and town support and understanding, as we work to provide the best facilities possible for our students and town.
Athletic Director Steve Rotondi and Principal Brian Scott recently sent a message to families of fall sports athletes to outline the potential adjustments to the fall schedule. We plan on maximizing our home facility use, including preserving some home playoff games at Alumni Stadium before the work begins on November 7. Information will be forthcoming about specific sports calendar adjustments in conjunction with this project.
Superintendent's Goals for 2022 - 2023
Budget Calendar and Budget Priorities Approved by School Committee
Budget Calendar for 2022-2023
Budget Priorities
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Please see below for a wonderful bulletin board and video created by Sarah Davis and others regarding Dyslexia Awareness Month and "Extraordinary People Made by Dyslexia." Thank you to everyone who is helping to raise Dyslexia awareness.
Please see below for a wonderful newsletter regarding Dyslexia Awareness Month:
Osgood students learning about Dyslexia as part of Dyslexia Awareness Month
School Facilities Condition Study & "Senior Study" Visit
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"
"
October is National Principals' Month
We are fortunate to have four wonderful principals leading our amazing schools. Thank you, Principal Farrell, Principal Sullivan, Principal Mills, and Principal Scott for all you do for Cohasset staff, students, and families.
Excessive Student Absence Notification
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 76 requires that each school notify parents and guardians if their student has five (5) or more unexcused school absences. Parents and guardians will receive a letter when their child has 5, 10, and/or 15+ days of unexcused absences. The letter will also include the number of unexcused tardies and unexcused early dismissals.
Absences will be excused under the following circumstances:
After a medical appointment documented with a note from the medical office
Illness or quarantine with a note from the appropriate medical office
Observance of a religious holiday
Bereavement or serious illness in family
Court appearance
A child may also be excused for other exceptional reasons with approval of the Principal or designee in accordance with the school committee policy and the regulations set in Chapter 76
Daily attendance is essential to a student's success. Missing a significant number of days of school has a detrimental effect on academic and social development. Therefore, each school will work with individual families to support student attendance.
Volunteers Needed
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Curriculum Updates
Curriculum Review Process
The Cohasset Public School District will begin a formalized five-year curriculum review cycle this year. Development of a curriculum review process is an essential component to maintaining a focus on continuous improvement of student learning. The curriculum review cycle consists of four phases:
- Self-Study: Analysis of the current curriculum and development of action plan
- Develop/Redesign: Development and revision of curriculum
- Implement/Monitor: Implementation and monitoring of curriculum (2 years)
- Evaluate: Evaluation of data/outcomes
The rationale for a Curriculum Review Process:
- Ensures that the district has clearly articulated curriculum that is well coordinated through PreK-12
- Provides for an ongoing review and revision of curriculum
- Supports the ongoing use of assessment data to inform and improve curriculum and instructional practices
- Ensures that revisions and updates to curriculum, instruction, and assessment take place to maintain adherence to changes in state and federal mandates, as well as MA Curriculum Frameworks
- Ensures that curriculum is culturally responsive, unbiased, and inclusive
- Outlines a planned approach towards researching and budgeting for expenditures in curricular materials and professional development
- Evaluates potential needs for curricular or programmatic changes to support student learning
This process of curriculum design and revision is based on the process of backwards design. The foundation of backwards design of curriculum is to determine first, based on our state curriculum standards, what students will know and be able to do and clarify these expectations in a written and communicated curriculum map.
This year Math and Music/Art will be in Phase 1 of the Curriculum Review Process. Please see the Curriculum Review Calendar.
Each content area will involve the creation of a steering committee which will have representatives from district and building leadership, department chairs, and teachers PrK-12. There will be opportunities for family input throughout the process.
Curriculum Initatives
Professional Development
Data Analysis
Elementary Literacy
Please see the professional development calendar below for more information about the professional development that is planned for the year.
Assessment
MCAS 2022 Results
Cohasset High School Vision of the Graduate
Student Opportunity Act (SOA)
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.
District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) Revised
Sports Information
Dan Leahy Photos / Collage
Cohasset Field Hockey Wins on Senior Night, 6 -0 on a foggy evening over Carver (William Wassersug Photo)
Great work, Cohasset Girls Soccer in raising funds for the Emma Ryan Memorial Scholarship Fund. Cohasset Soccer Boosters graciously donated $250.00 to support the wonderful work EM20 does to continue to enrich the Hull community.
Cohasset GSOCCER (D4, 10-1-3) played Silver Lake (D2, 6-2-7) to a 0-0 tie on 10/22/22. (Dan Leahy Photo and Graphic)
A fun day for @cohassetxc working a water station at the Womp Romp 50k/10m Trail Race, at Wompatuck State Park on Saturday.
Cohasset Boys Soccer Wind Against Mashpee
We are excited for tonight's Homecoming Game vs. East Bridgewater at 6:00PM on Alumni Field. GO BLUE!!! (Patriot Ledger Photo)
Cohasset Public Schools' Strategic Plan for 2021- 2024
Please Click on the Link Below to Access the Entire Strategic Plan
A Downloadable Version of the Calendar Can Be Found Below
School Improvement Plans for 2022-2023
From Commissioner of Education Riley’s memo to Superintendents sent on August 15, 2022:
“The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. Districts and schools are reminded that there is no longer any statewide masking mandate in schools (other than school health offices) and there is no testing requirement for schools.” We will continue to respect the right of individuals to wear masks at any time during the school day.
“Effective August 15, 2022, all students and staff in childcare, school in grades K-12, or participating in out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the updated isolation and exposure guidance issued by DPH, in alignment with recently issued guidance from CDC. No asymptomatic person should be excluded from school as a result of exposure, regardless of vaccination status or exposure setting.”
An additional link on isolation and exposure guidance can be found here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-exposure-guidance-for-the-general-public
First of Two METCO Bus Stop Block Parties...more to come on second party!
We are a proud METCO District!
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 PSO Happenings
Cohasset Education Foundation (CEF)
RISE Program
Office of Student Services
UPDATES
Opening Letters and Information Regarding Multi-Tiered Student System of Supports (MTSS)
Multi-Tiered System of Supports
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 and instruction. 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- As the largest tier, and the foundation for the entire framework, Tier 1 encompasses the entire school with core instruction and basic interventions. This structure helps to build positive relationships between staff and students. It includes proactive classroom strategies aimed at creating a supportive learning atmosphere. Teachers will use different strategies as universal supports within the core curriculum and instruction to address all student educational needs. These supports include but are not limited to items identified within the District Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and/or the School Accommodation Plans.
● 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 Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) 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 individualized interventions at this level. Parents/guardians will be notified of these supports and 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 School is 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.
Respectfully,
___________________________
Barbara Cerwonka, M.Ed.
Director of Student Services
Child Find Notification
Be Sure to View the Information on the Student Services Web Page
SAFE HARBORS UPDATES
Teen Mindfulness Class
Most Recent Safe Harbors Newsletter
Thank you to all of our counselors for their caring and selfless work throughout the District!
Osgood: Dave Vinton dvinton@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill: Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill and Osgood: Maeve Dulles mdulles@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)
Deer Hill and Osgood: Alyson Doyle adoyle@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)
CMS: Emily Manewal emanewal@cohassetk12.org (adjustment Counselor)
Allison Pearce apearce@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)
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)
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
You can also follow the entire leadership team on Twitter to see real-time updates.
Assistant Superintendent: @CPSAssistantSup
Joseph Osgood School: @JOsgoodppal
Deer Hill School: @DeerHillSchool
Cohasset Middle School: @comsprincipal
Cohasset High School: @CoHSPrincipal
We utilize both Aspen and Blackboard communications to inform families of important events, cancellations, and happenings.