THE NAVIGATOR
January Edition, 2020
Newsletter
Important Upcoming Events
Osgood & Deer Hill Read A Thons: 1.10.20 - 1.31.20
1/10/20 - Winter Semi-Formal 8:00 PM Town Hall
1/13/20-- Screenagers: The Next Chapter movie and panel discussion (6:30PM in the Middle and High School Auditorium
1/20/19--Martin Luther King Day...NO SCHOOL
1/20/20-- MLK Breakfast (9:00AM-11:00AM at St. Stephens Church)
1/21/20 - 1/23/20 - Semester Exams (early release for the HS)
1/24/20--The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Day (Grade 6 Project-Based Learning Event)
1/24/20--Deck Out In Your Favorite Decade Spirit Day: Deer Hill
1/27/20 - 1/31/20 - Distractology (CHS)
School Start and Ending Times Confirmed for 2020 - 2021 School Year
News Release
Cohasset Public Schools Placed on the College Board’s 10th Annual AP® District Honor Roll for Significant Gains in Student Access and Success
Cohasset Public Schools is one of 250 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 10th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included on the 10th Annual Honor Roll, Cohasset Public Schools had to, since 2017, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.
“I am so proud of the staff and their hard work in preparing the students and even more impressed with the effort and perseverance of the students”, Cohasset Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan.
National data from 2019 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be opened equitably. Cohasset Public Schools are committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.
“With more students participating and succeeding in AP in this district, more students are getting a head start on college by earning college credit during high school,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. “We are pleased to honor the teachers and administrators who have worked to clear a path for more students of all backgrounds to advance through AP.”
Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.
In 2019, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admissions process. Inclusion in the 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2017 to 2019, looking across 38 AP Exams, including world language and culture.
For inclusion on the 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll, districts must meet the following criteria:
· Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4% in large districts, at least 6% in medium districts, and at least 11% in small districts;
· Increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students taking exams and increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students scoring 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and
· Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2019 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2017 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students earn a 3 or higher.
When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30% or more are underrepresented minority students (American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander) and/or 30% or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.
CONGRATULATIONS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND LEADERS!
December Recap
Grade 7 Hidden Figures PBL Unit
Just before winter break, Grade 7 hosted a Celebrating Hidden Figures Showcase. This was a culmination of a PBL unit which involved an interdisciplinary approach to Margot Lee Shetterly’s book, Hidden Figures. This unit began with a launch back in mid-November where students rotated through teach-lead workshops which were designed to deepen students’ learning and heighten engagement by helping students discover cross-curricular connections. The workshop topics included moon lander challenge, REAL moon rocks from NASA, evaluation of gender demographics in STEM-related fields, and creating history for the future, just to name a few.
The students showcased their research and knowledge by reporting out on an “unknown” person who has had an impacted in the world. Students Brennan and Oliver researched Uri Levine, the creator of WAZE and Maggie, Maddie and Grayson studied Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who wrote countless songs for some of the largest names in music such as Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. This was a wonderful teaching and learning experience for students, staff and families. Great job, staff and students!
COHASSET METCO /BOSTON STUDENT ACES CALCULUS PROJECT
A number of METCO districts partner with The Calculus Project, a program that provides Black, Hispanic, and low-income students with intensive summer math courses to ensure they are prepared for STEM careers. Recently, two students in its peer teacher program achieved a significant milestone when they passed the Massachusetts Teachers Test for middle school math. Aiko White (Cohasset High School, left) earned a qualifying scores (alongside only a third of African-American test-takers), clearing one hurdle to become certified math teachers if they choose to become educators. Meanwhile, they are using their deepened math knowledge to provide younger METCO students with the experience of learning from a math expert who looks like them. Congratulations on your accomplishment, Aiko! You can learn more about The Calculus Project and BU Leadership Academy, and its founder Dr. Adrian Mims by clicking on the link below.
METCO Directors Meeting Hosted by Cohasset and Aleisa-Gittens Carle
Student Council and National Honor Society Students raise $1,100 to benefit the Jimmy Fund by hosting a screening of Elf. Congratulations to the students and supportive adults who helped make this happen.
Thank you to high school students Kira Jameison and Evelyn Dickey for their work with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids!
THANK YOU, OSGOOD COMMUNITY FOR PARTNERING WITH COHASSET POLICE TO "FILL A CRUISER" WITH TOYS FOR TOYS FOR TOTS.
Fabulous Concerts Took Place just before winter break at Osgood, Deer Hill, CMS and CHS. Thank you to our amazing music and arts programs and to all who made these concerts special for the students.
"A Million Dreams"... Deer Hill Chorus
Here are a couple of the beautiful works of art displayed at the middle school art show and concert
Here is an encore performance from the over 200 middle school chorus students at last month's concert
Last month Our Deer Hill Lego Team Competed at UMASS Boston and our Middle and High School Robotics Teams Competed at WPI. Great job, students, Suzi Corkhum, Bob Erlandsen and everyone who helped out.
Middle School Math Competition with Scituate Middle School
Rosie's Place
Winter Sports Teams off to an amazing start, including Wrestling winning the Annual Cohasset Wrestling Tournament
Read-A-Thon Kickoff at Osgood & Deer Hill. Thank you, Students, Staff and PSO!
(In case you missed it) Challenge Day at Cohasset High School
Other Important Information
OSGOOD PLAYGROUND TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR (HOPEFULLY SOONER)
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Compass: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
MCAS Presentation
MCAS
Elementary Math Pilot Update
On January 8th there was a presentation to update the School Committee on the Elementary Math Pilot process. There will also be a presentation at the Deer Hill PSO meeting on January 14th at 9:30am.
From the Office of Mary Buchanan, Director of Student Services
Office of Student Service:
Peer Preschool Applications
Preschool Applications for morning and afternoon sessions are now available at the Office of Student Services or on Cohasset Public Schools website. There will be a lottery, if there are more students who register for preschool than seats available.
From the Director of Finance and Operations...Michael MacMillan
CAPITAL PROJECTS
The Special Town Meeting in November approved three school capital projects:
- - Upgrading the Middle School Entrance.
- - Purchasing a 7D vehicle for student transportation.
- - Replacing the Middle / High School Auditorium Projector
The work is now underway to select the vendors for these projects and to get the work done. However, we can’t rest on our laurels as the process for selecting the capital projects to be voted on in the Spring Town Meeting is now underway. We started work on list this by touring each building to review the condition of the building and it’s major components, we have created a comprehensive list of items which are now prioritizing before we submit our requests to the Town Capital Committee.
FY 21 BUDGET PROCESS
Work has begun on the school budget for next year. We presented a "first pass" of the budget to School Committee at the December 18 School Committee Meeting.
The presentation from our recent Fiscal Forum is now posted on the website along with other important budget information. Please see below link.
METCO UPDATE FROM METCO DIRECTOR MS. ALEISA GITTENS-CARLE
Save the Date:
Monday, January 20, 2020
9:00AM - 11:00AM
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
16 Highland Avenue
Cohasset, MA 02025
$5.00 per person & $15.00 per family
Feel free to contact Ms. Aleisa Gittens-Carle or Ms. Atisha Winslow at (781)383-6117 with any additional questions.
Holiday Fun
Cohasset High School Carolers
On Monday, January 13 at 6:30PM in the Middle and High School Auditorium, Safe Harbors and Cohasset PSO are collaborating to show ScreenAgers the Next Chapter. This film is shown in an effort to help students and parents of those students navigate the often stressful times in which we live. Please see the flyer below for information regarding tickets.
We are excited for Cohasset's 250th Celebration
Happy New Year! We are excited for the tremendous year ahead for Cohasset Public Schools!
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