This Newsletter updates on all matters connected to Cohasset Public Schools. This letter is sent as part of a District initiative focusing on communication.

Cohasset High School was recognized with a ranking of 672 out of nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to traditional high schools, the rankings encompass charter; magnet; and science, technology, engineering and math-focused schools. This ranking places Cohasset High School as the top ranked high school on the south shore. Congratulations to Principal Scott and team on this honor.

Here is Cohasset's Profile

• The 2023-2024 edition of Best High Schools includes a numerical ranking of nearly all public high schools nationwide – almost 18,000 of them – based on multiple sources of objective data.

Greetings Cohasset Families,

We are excited to welcome everyone back to what promises to be a wonderful school year. This year we will continue to focus our efforts as a school community on the implementation of the third and final year of the Cohasset Public Schools Strategic Plan 2021- 2024, which was created collaboratively by the entire Cohasset School Community.

We will strive to create an environment that is focused on the whole student, as we help students realize this year’s theme, “Follow Your Compass.” We are excited to help students achieve the gains that come from navigating their educational journey, as they understand their strengths and opportunities for growth.

Above all else, please know that we are here to support you and your child. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any staff member if we can help along this year’s journey.

Please click on the included links to access the Welcome Letter for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Sincerely,

Patrick Sullivan, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Cohasset Public Schools

All parent/guardians of CPS students are now able to verify and update their contact information in Aspen's Parent Portal.

The workflow is intended for a parent/guardian to electronically update (per student) the following information:

• Emergency Contact Information
• Do Not Photograph
• Handbook Acknowledgment
• Information Sharing with the PSO and CEF

Instructions on how to complete the workflow can be found here:

https://www.cohassetk12.org/cms/lib/MA01907530/Centricity/Domain/214/ASPEN%20PARENT%20CONTACT%20Workflow%202022.pdf

We will continue to engage our students with authentic audiences and to work in contexts that simulate real-world scenarios and conditions. Whether it is the Financial Literacy Fair at CHS, second graders investigating salt marsh minnows and intertidal life, Cohasset High School students presenting their civics action plan and analysis of local watershed data to determine water quality and the health of Cohasset Harbor, CMS French students using their language skills in real life by ordering treats in French at our local Cohasset bakery, French Memories, the amazing opportunities throughout the district provided through our partnership with Holly Hill Farm, our diversity fairs and mosaic initiatives, our collaboration with CEF, including Deer Hill physical education (PE) students learning about bike safety and maintenance in PE, our music students meeting with professional musicians, or our civics and sustainability seminar opportunities (just to name a few), We will continue to provide our students with inspiring and engaging experiences. This real-life and authentic teaching focus will be a major focus for us this upcoming year and will undoubtedly be a major component of our next strategic plan.

We are excited to welcome families to our upcoming Open Houses. Come meet leaders, teachers, and support personnel, while you learn about the goals and plans for the year. Specific information will be forthcoming from building principals. Principals will send out specific information ahead of each open house regarding times.

Joseph Osgood School Open House : September 19

Deer Hill Open House: September 21

Cohasset High School Open House: September 27

Cohasset Middle School Open House: September 28

All plans and handbooks for the 2023-2024 school year have been approved by the Cohasset School Committee. Thank you to Principal Farrell, Principal Sullivan, Principal Mills, Principal Scott, and to their School Councils for this excellent work. Please see below for the approved plans, which coincide with the Strategic Objectives of the Cohasset Public Schools Strategic Plan, 2021 - 2024.

Safety is a paramount for Cohasset Public Schools. This summer, Cohasset District Leadership worked collectively with Cohasset Police, Cohasset Fire, Emergency Management, Facilities, Technology, external safety plan advisors, and School Committee Safety Subcommittee members to refine, revise, and create safety protocols. Please be aware that we will not be providing entrance to our buildings to anyone who does not present a proper license, even if we are aware of who the person is. This is a standard protocol that is necessary to ensure safety. All visitors will continue to be screened via our Raptor or Lobby Guard technology through use of their license.

• As a District, we have developed an emergency preparedness plan for each of our buildings. These plans were created in coordination with local police, fire, and emergency management departments. We meet as a District Crisis Team each summer and periodically throughout the year to refine plans, and we are in constant collaboration and communication.

• In conjunction with the Cohasset Police Department, our district has fully implemented the ALICE protocol as a response to any potential armed intruder. "ALICE is designed to provide comprehensive preparedness in the event of an intruder in one of our schools. The goal is to utilize infrastructure, technology, and human action to increase overall student and staff safety" (Acton-Boxborough Superintendent Message). Our staff receives annual training in this protocol from members of the Cohasset Police Department, and we supplement this training with periodic drills and scenarios to further increase our preparedness. Each school has a Crisis Team, in addition to our District Crisis Team. Currently, more than 900 schools, businesses, universities, hospitals, and municipalities have adopted the ALICE protocol. A summary of our approach can be found on the District web-site.

• The protocols we updated this year are all available on the District Web-site under "Our District." Here are links to these important safety protocols:

1. Cohasset Public Schools Crisis Plan
2. Signed Memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding School Resource Officer (SRO) with Cohasset Police
3. Staff to Student Incident Procedure
4. Bullying Investigation Flowchart (that administrators follow)
5. Bullying Reporting Form
6. Handbook language regarding bullying, hazing, and harassment for those participating in after-school events and extra-curricular activities, which was approved at the 9/7/2022 School Committee Meeting.
7. Responding to a Potential Threat Protocol
8. Bus Accident Procedures and Protocols

In addition, we have many upgrades implemented and planned for our safety systems that were recommended as part of our recent facilities review.

The Cohasset Public School District is committed to providing a safe, positive, and productive educational environment where students can achieve the highest academic standards. No student shall be subjected to harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying.

"Bullying" is the repeated use by one or more students or school staff members of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:

• causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target's property;

• places the target in reasonable fear of harm to him/herself, or of damage to his/her property;

• creates a hostile environment at school for the target;

• infringes on the rights of the target at school; or

• materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

"Cyber-bullying" means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a: • wire • radio • electromagnetic • photo-electronic or photo-optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications.

Cyber-bullying shall also include the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or knowingly impersonates another person as author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying.

Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying.

Bullying and cyber-bullying may occur in and out of school, during and after school hours, at home and in locations outside of the home. When bullying and cyber-bullying are alleged, the full cooperation and assistance of parents and families are expected.

Bullying is prohibited:

• On school grounds;
• On property immediately adjacent to school grounds;
• At school-sponsored or school-related activities;
• At functions or programs whether on or off school grounds;
• At school bus stops;
• On school buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by the school district; or,
• Through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased or used by the school district.

Bullying and cyber-bullying are prohibited at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by the school district if the act or acts in question:

• create a hostile environment at school for the target;
• infringe on the rights of the target at school; and/or
• materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

Please see the link below for more information regarding bullying prevention and reporting.

We are committed to stopping bullying and working with our students to promote kindness and empathy towards all.

Each year all staff participate in trainings for safety. These trainings include:

Civil Rights:

• Overview of Laws and Regulations - State & Federal
• CPS Procedures for Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Complaints
• Section 504 Accommodation Plans
• Safe School- MA Anti-Bullying Law - CPS Policy
• Confidentiality of Information
• Confidentiality of Student Records
• Harassment in the Workplace
• Chapter 222 of the Acts of 2012 (Student Discipline)
• McKinney - Vento
• Foster Care
• Military Connected Students
• Physical Restraint Law - CPS Policy
• Right to Know Law
• Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect
• Employee Handbook
• CPS School Committee Policies

Special Education:

• Overview of Laws and Regulations - State and Federal
• FAPE in LRE
• IEP - Accommodations vs. Modifications

Cyber Safety:

• KnowBe4 Training

Health:

• ·Annual Health Training from Nurses for all staff

For Employees:

We continue to update our school website. Please visit the Human Resource page located within the Finance and Operations Department. There you will find lots of exciting information for staff including training videos for Aspen, Aesop as well as updated employee forms. If you have any ideas of what you would like to see on the HR page, please email jballard@cohassetk12.org

Finance and Operations News:

Cohasset Public Schools is Hiring:

We are looking for Educational Support Professionals, please visit www.schoolspring.com to apply

We are also looking for Café staff, please email your resume to Marilyn Haraden

Fitness Center and the Learning Commons are now open to the students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Transportation News:

BUS REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR IS UNDERWAY

Online payment is available through MySchoolBucks. Please visit our Transportation Tab on our school website for more information on registering and paying online. You can also complete the registration form, which can be found on our website, and mail it with your payment, if applicable, to: Cohasset Public Schools, Transportation Department at: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA 02025

If you have questions regarding transportation, please contact Ray Miscioscia, if you have questions regarding MySchoolBucks, please contact Jerilyn Ballard

We are excited to share with you that all bus passes will be available through your Aspen Parent Portal

Once bus passes are loaded into Aspen, these are the instructions for downloading the pass:

1) Log into Aspen: https://ma-cohasset.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do

2) Click on Family Tab at the top

3) Click on Child’s Name

4) Click on Documents Side Tab

5) Look for and download Bus Pass 2023-2024 document

Students with a smartphone can download or display a screenshot of the bus pass on their devices.

If you have any issues logging into your Aspen Parent Portal account, please submit an IT ticket to: helpdesk@cohassetma.org. Please put “Aspen Parent Portal” in the subject line to ensure a timely response

STOPFINDER

*Stopfinder invites have been emailed, please contact Jerilyn Ballard if you have not received your invite or have questions about the app.

Stopfinder is the all-in-one parent engagement app designed by parents for parents to keep you in the know. Receive bus location and messages, updates, and alerts in real-time. No other parent app provides this much information in real-time to parents and school transportation departments. Think of the peace of mind when parents and guardians know where their child’s bus is and when their student arrives at school or when dropped off at the bus stop.

In the Transportation tab on our website, you will find helpful tutorials on how the parent app works.

Please see the METCO webpage on our District website for important information regarding our METCO program.

We will continue to engage students and staff in the meaningful discussions necessary to promote change. We are committed to promoting anti-racism and cultural responsive teaching and learning.

CPS is pleased to continue its partnership with the Cohasset Recreation Department by providing before and after school care for our elementary students. We have an amazing staff that provides wonderful opportunities for our students through the RISE program. Please see this link for more information.

Friday, September 22 is a 1/2 day for professional development. The focus of the professional development with be on data analysis.

Please see the Professional Development Calendar below for more information about the professional development for this year.

Please see the graphic below, which was established through the collaborative work of the Cohasset High School Community as part of their accreditation process with NEASC. This work also helped to set our District theme for the year, "Follow Your Compass."

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.

Student Opportunity Act Presentation March 2022

Dear CPS Families,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

Please review our Tech For Families page on the Cohasset Public Schools web site for a list of links and Getting Started resources for CPS families, such as Aspen and Google.

LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4455

For Families in Grades 6-12, your child is a member of our BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program. Check out our recommended specifications to ensure that you purchase a device that will support their learning at CPS.
LINK:: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4454

Follow these steps to help your child install the BYOD certificate at home:
LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4470

Contact our IT Help Desk for help with your Aspen Family or Student Portal Account, a forgot/lost Cohasset K12 Google Account password, or for assistance with your child’s BYOD device.
LINK: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Page/4481

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. The Cohasset Public Schools Department of Food and Nutrition is excited to provide breakfast and lunches to all students in the district for free this year once again through the state of Massachusetts.

State officials have clarified that while school meals will be universally free for all students during SY 2023-2024, all school districts must continue to make school meal applications available to certify children for free and reduced price meals and that information may be used to qualify newly eligibly children for P-EBT.

Therefore, a new SY 2023-2024 meal household application must be filled out to qualify for these benefits.

If you already received a letter from the district do not fill out another application.

We will be sending forms out and they are also available on Please our website cohassetk12.org to fill out a SY 2023-2024 free and reduced application. Forms are available under the nutrition tab.

REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED:

Step 1: Child’s full legal name and school (no nicknames)

Step 2: Number is provided on your letter – not your card

Step 3. Name and income – (Weekly, Bi –Weekly, 2x Monthly or Monthly)

If you are a seasonal employee, please enter annual income

Step 4: Last 4 digits of Social Security and Signature are REQUIRED –If not received, applications will be denied automatically and will delay approval process.

• New form is required, status does not carry over from year to year.
• ONE form per family. Please make sure all children are included on the form that are in your household, including those that do not attend school
• Only one application is required. If an online application is completed, a paper application is not needed.
• If you have any questions, please contact food services at 781-383-6107 or email at mharaden@cohassetk12.org.

Thank you,

Marilyn Haraden, Director of Food Services

Cohasset Public Schools

“Nine Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try”

There are many stressors to our day-to-day lives; however, there are many resources available. The District Website has a page dedicated to Social Emotional Learning and Wellness. Please remember that our schools are a resource, and that our counselors, school psychologists, and social workers can support you and your child.

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)

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can do anything to help your student or your family during this difficult time. Most important is the physical and mental health of everyone, and we will stay focused on making that a priority. Please take good care.

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.