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October 15, 2021
Newsletter
Teen Truth Programming at Cohasset High School and Cohasset Middle School
Please see the message sent to the CMS community by Principal John Mills regarding the Teen Truth presentation that took place earlier this week at Cohasset Middle School. Cohasset High School is engaged in this initiative, as well. This program, which advocates for student agency and voice, ties closely into our District-Wide Strategic Plan. Thank you, PSO for bringing this important program to CHS and CMS.
"Through the generosity of the PSO, we were able to invite JC Pohl, a special guest speaker from TEEN TRUTH, a company focused on empowering student voice in every aspect of education. In addition to his work in schools, he is an award-winning producer who has worked on film content for companies such as Warner Brothers, ESPN, and Disney. He is also a licensed counselor who specializes in adolescence. Through his work with TEEN TRUTH he has reached over 10 million people around the world.
JC’s address focused on several important points. The first was the value of student voice and perspective which has been a defining feature in his film projects. He shared short clips of two of his projects with the students. The first was on the importance of family and relationships while the second was about wresting control of one’s emotions from social media.
He asked students about the things that create stress in their own lives. The pressure to be successful, schoolwork, and their relationships were volunteered by our students as examples of stressors. JC pointed out that rather than relying on others to accept us with all of our stress and worries, we often wear a mask of invulnerability which makes us feel worse. He discussed the importance of being the kind of individuals who are there to pick each other up and accept others for who they are as it makes it easier to take off our “masks” and feel good about ourselves and others.
Our students were an engaged and enthusiastic audience. We plan on sustaining his positive message through our Peer Leadership program. JC held a Leadership Training Summit after lunch with 8th graders who volunteered to be Peer Leaders. Throughout the year, these Peer Leaders will meet with groups of younger students to support them in their continued development into responsible and kind members of our community." - CMS Principal John Mills
Here are some images from the Teen Truth presentations and break-out groups at both CMS & CHS
Safety Measures and Considerations
Please click on the link to access the Review of Fall School Safety Measures Presentation from last Wednesday's Cohasset School Committee Meeting. Thank you to all who contributed voice during the meeting and in the meetings preceding the presentation. More discussions will take place regarding safety at the upcoming school committee meetings on October 20 and November 3.
Pictured below our some of our safety measures including tracking our cleaning and Portable Air Cleaner (PAC) filter replacements, spacing in our classrooms and indoor dining areas, hand sanitizing / hand cleaning, and outdoor learning spaces.
UPDATED CORONAVIRUS PROCEDURES
Cohasset Community Health Update
Community Report:
Below please find the Cohasset Community Health Update as of October 14, 2021.
As of October 14, 2021, the Department of Public Health (DPH) reports that the town of Cohasset’s positive COVID-19 test rate over the past 14 days is 2.1% with 687 tests reported. The town of Cohasset has 14 positive cases reported over the past two weeks. Currently, 83% of eligible Cohasset residents are fully vaccinated with 8% of eligible residents partially vaccinated. Under the DPH metrics, the town of Cohasset is in the "Green" category for communities who have a population of under 10,000 who have less than or equal to 15 positive cases over the last 14 days. Here is the complete report issued on October 14, 2021.
To date, since the start of the pandemic, we have had no know transmission of COVID-19 in our schools. Here is the Confirmed Positive COVID Cases Weekly Update Spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is also found on the district website under COVID-19 information. As always, all close contacts of COVID-19 positive individuals will be informed in a separate communication. When a positive case occurs, anyone who is determined to be a close contact is provided with specific instructions regarding testing and quarantining (if there is a need for them to test and quarantine).
School Travel Safety Reminder
As we are in full-swing on a new school year, it is a good time to remind all of the importance of driving carefully and to update you on efforts to ensure that all are safe while traveling to and from our schools. The town is working diligently to improve the travel throughout town, and we are thankful for the collaboration with the town to improve the safety of our school travel. Here are some of the improvements and plans:
* The Select Board has undertaken a multi-phased approach to traffic calming over the past 12-months:
1) Updates to traffic pattern at Cohasset Common/Master Plan Implementation Group;
2) Town-wide reduction of speed limit (from 30 --> 25)
3) Installation of School Zone signs along Common
4) LED RADAR signs on Forest Ave
5) Pedestrian signage on crosswalks in Village
6) Repaint and re-sign crosswalks at Little League Field
7) Installed stop sign and repainted pavement markings on Atlantic Avenue
8) Blind Driveway and Caution Signs along low numbers of Atlantic Avenue
9) Ordered brush cutback from homes along Atlantic Ave, Margin Street, and Stockbridge Streeet
10) Replaced stop signs on Howard Gleason and Stockbridge Street
11) New LED message board trailers purchased via grant/CARES funds. Both have RADAR capability12) Pursuing bike safety programs with MassBike (principals and School Resource Officer Taylor focus on bike safety each year with students, as well)
13) The formation of other transportation groups consistent with the Town's Master Plan
15) New sidewalks on Sohier Street between Fair Oaks and 3A are funded and designed
As a school district, we have improved the drop-off and pick-up protocols over the past few years (also a collaboration with the town), and we have a crossing guard working at drop-off and pick-up for each school. We realize there is work to do to continue to improve, and we look forward to the continued collaboration with the town on safety.
Images from the Week
Images from the Fun Run
Student Council Assembly at CMS
Continued Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
Cohasset High School Students Visit Black Heritage Trail in Boston
Reading Rovers, Yoga, and Gardening at Deer Hill. Deer Hill's Community Partners in Full Collaboration with Deer Hill. Thank you!
Excellent Embedded Professional Development: "Teachers Teaching Teachers"
GO BLUE!
Sports Information
Please Click on the Link Below to Access Schedules and Other Sports Information
A Message from Department of Children and Families (DCF) Looking for Foster Families
"Is there room in your home and heart for a foster child? The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is actively recruiting foster parents for children in Cohassset coming into care. We are searching for individuals or families with the love and patience to help foster children. You can be single, married, partnered, divorced or widowed. You can own your home or rent.
We need homes for children aged 0 to 22 which include sibling groups, children with special needs, medically involved children, and infants born exposed to drugs and older teens. We are looking for long-term foster homes but also have a need for emergency and respite homes which involve a shorter time commitment on the part of a foster family.
Our goal is to provide our foster children with a supportive and healing environment in a home in their own community until they can be reunited with their families or another plan can be made on their behalf. The rewards of providing daily care, guidance and acceptance are immeasurable.
If you are thinking about becoming a foster parent, you can learn more about the application process and the supports provided by the Department by attending an information meeting.
Please contact Jahnea.Johnson@mass.gov or by phone (857)295-0162." - DCF
October is National Principals Month! We are so fortunate to have such tremendous principals in our district. Thank you to Principal Farrell, Principal Sullivan, Principal Mills, and Principal Scott for providing such strong leadership for the district.
October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. At the beginning of the year, all of our elementary staff received Dyslexia Screening Training through Pearson. Please click on the links below for some excellent information and resources regarding dyslexia.
Cohasset PSO Happenings
Donations for the Fun Run are still Open. Please see the link below to contribute. Thank you!
Cohasset Education Foundation (CEF) Happenings
METCO UPDATE
I was honored to be a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony and so thankful for the leadership of our METCO Director Aleisa Gittens-Carle who led the prayer at the opening. Aleisa has served as a wonderful leader in Cohasset for 21 years, and we are very fortunate to have her on the team. Please see below for a presentation highlighting the new space and the leaders who were there to celebrate the opening of such a wonderful building.
Cohasset Public Schools Launches Strategic Plan for 2021- 2024
Cohasset Public Schools Vision of Equity
BE THE CHANGE
Please visit our website for resources regarding the promotion of diversity.
2021 - 2022 Cohasset School District Calendar
RISE Program
Food Services
October Food Services Update
Food Service Department October Update
We are off to a busy start of the school year and are very happy to see all the students back in the cafeteria. A reminder that breakfast and lunch are free again this year through the Federal Government. Second meals and A la carte items will be charged to student accounts in Mosaic as we have done in past years. Parents/guardians can check student lunch account balances and add money on myschoolbucks.com.
Menus are posted on our website cohassetk12.org each month under the nutrition page. You can also pre-order meals using the “online ordering” button located at the top of each menu. Free and reduced lunch forms are also available on our site and can be filled out at any time throughout the year to qualify for EBT benefits through the state.
Like many other school districts and businesses, we are currently experiencing food and paper product inventory and delivery issues from the nationwide shortage of workers. We may need to make menu substitutions as needed in the coming months. We will update menus on our site if changes occur and Elementary schools will announce menu changes so that students know what is being offered that day. We are working to minimize disruptions and we are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
We are also seeking one individual to join our cafeteria workers team. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30-1:30 during the school year. Interested candidates can find the posting on our website cohassetk12.org or check out SchoolSpring and Indeed for more details.
Thank you,
Marilyn Haraden
Director of Food Services
Continuation of Universal Free School Meals:
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended school meal waivers through the end of the 2021-2022 school year, allowing the continuation of universal free school meals at any school district throughout the state for the rest of this school year, through the summer, and through next school year. Schools nationwide will be allowed to serve meals through USDA’s National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option, which is typically only available during the summer months and which allows schools to serve free meals to all children. More information is available online.” (Commissioner Riley’s Update, April 20, 2021).
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
Assessment
MCAS
The State released information regarding MCAS results from last spring. Student reports were sent home on October 8. The assessment was one session vs two sessions per content area therefore DESE has changed the format of the scoring to show the range a child's score falls.
When reviewing student scores, students, families, guardians, and educators should keep in mind that:
- This is one data point that a school uses to support student learning. Schools use multiple measures to look at the whole student and determine individualized instructional support for your child.
- The district is using the overall MCAS data to create strong-grade appropriate instruction with just-in-time scaffolds when they are needed.
To learn more about the 2021 MCAS go to:
https://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/results.html and http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/
There will be a presentation about the MCAS at the October 20th School Committee Meeting.
I-Ready
Professional Development
Office of Student Services
Please see the Basic Rights in Special Education Presentation by Director of Student Services Barbara Cerwonka below
Dear Cohasset SEPAC Community,
Cohasset SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) will have its October general meeting on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 10:00 am. Catherine Breen, Elementary Team Chair, will present on special education in the elementary schools.
To keep our discussion within the meeting time limits, we are requesting that proposed agenda items or questions for the Director of Student Services be submitted by noon on Monday, October 18, to cohassetsepac@gmail.com. The draft agenda is attached. Also attached are the minutes from the last meeting.
We will meet in person in the Community Use Room at 143 Pond Street. Please consider attending!
Thank you,
Cohasset SEPAC
MAMA MIA THE MUSICAL IS COMING TO CHS
Cohasset High School is excited to announce Mamma Mia as our fall musical!
Thank you to everyone who auditioned.
SAFE HARBORS UPDATES
Back to School Resources from Safe Harbors
The Important Role Families Play In Stopping the Spread of COVID-19
Families play an important role in helping to create a culture that prioritizes health and safety. Families should check their children daily for signs of COVID-19 and should keep them home from school if they are not feeling well or if they have been in close contact with a person who has been recently diagnosed with COVID-19. It is also important that families support students wearing masks in school and on the bus. We are strongest when we work together to stop the spread (Initial Fall School Re-entry Guidance, 2020).
CPS Pledge: Healthy and Responsible Behaviors Regarding COVID-19
By coming into Cohasset Public Schools, I pledge I am following:
State expectations for social and physical distancing
Regulations regarding the wearing of facial coverings
Quarantine directives put forth by the Massachusetts Department of Health and the Cohasset Department of Health
Guidance that has students and staff stay home from school / work if they are experiencing symptoms of fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, or dry cough or if they have exhibited any symptoms relating to COVID-19
Osgood: Dave Vinton dvinton@cohassetk12.org
Deer Hill: Laurie Dolan ldolan@cohassetk12.org
Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org
CMS: Emily Manewal emanewal@cohassetk12.org
CHS: Leanne McCarthy lmccarthy@cohassetk12.org
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