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

Congratulations to our graduates! We could not be more proud of them, and we are thankful for the support of everyone who helped make our celebrations a great success. On Thursday evening, we recognized the achievements of the Class of 2021 at our Graduation, which was held on Alumni Field. It was a fantastic evening, and a big thank you goes out to Principal Scott and team, to our facilities crew and custodians, to technology, to the Cohasset Police, to Cohasset 143, to staff, to leadership, to Cohasset families, and of course, to our graduates for making this a memorable event. We wish the Class of 2021 good luck in all of their future endeavors!

https://www.facebook.com/cohassetlivestreaming/videos/1882334658593555/

On Friday, May 21, seniors participated in a wonderful Prom under the stars on our Alumni Field. This event was preceded by community sponsored red carpet events, highlighting the students' achievements and celebrating them as they dressed up for the Prom. Thank you to Principal Scott, Assistant Principal Noyes, Mrs. Moriarty, Mrs. Berkowitz, the Cohasset Sailing Club, Cohasset families, the Cohasset Police, our bus drivers (who helped shuttle the students between the red carpet events and the Prom), and to everyone who helped make the Prom a tremendous success. Below, is a wonderful photo album from the event. Thank you, Ms. Anthony for your photography.

https://sarahanthonyphotography.pixieset.com/cohassetprom2021/

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WiFk5MfTSc6qnCK77

At the Graduation several of our retirees were acknowledged. Thank you, All for inspiring the dreams of Cohasset students:

Mark Craig

Julia DeWaal (pictured below...Robin Chan photo)

Cynthia Gordon

Lucia Grande

Mark Kelly

Brenda Regan

Heidi Salerno

Please see this message from Felicia Frank, Osgood Art Teacher. Thank you to the entire Osgood team, students, and of course Ms. Frank for your wonderful work.

"Dear Osgood Families,

This year we are virtually celebrating our Osgood Art Show. To fully experience these videos, please view them with the sound on in full screen. Each grade has its own video, but we welcome and encourage you to support all of our Osgood artists by watching all three grades!

https://youtu.be/QwZCzkT86io Tie Dye Entrance

https://youtu.be/yEHUNJiZbQ0 Kindergarten

https://youtu.be/bPtizTlxPdg First Grade

https://youtu.be/wD-VXq19QhE Second Grade

Felicia Frank

Art Educator

Joseph Osgood School"

Cohasset public schools is proud to celebrate Pride Month. One show of our support is the adorning of the crosswalks on our school property with the Pride colors. We support LGBQT voices and rights. We are excited for future celebrations that support diversity. Thank you to all who helped with this most recent effort.

At an emergency Cohasset School Committee Meeting that took place Tuesday afternoon, the Cohasset School Committee voted to suspend the face covering policy in so much as it conflicts with the relaxed guidance regarding the wearing of masks and face coverings by students that was sent out yesterday by Governor Baker and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and today by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). Effective Tuesday, May 17, the school committee vote rescinds the requirement for students in grades PK- 12 to wear masks / face coverings outdoors, including in outdoor physical education classes, in outdoor learning environments, and during recess. The vote also allows all students playing a spring sport that takes place outdoors to play and practice without a mask or face covering. In short, students no longer have to wear masks outdoors, even if distance cannot be maintained. Students can still maintain wearing a mask / face covering outdoors if they wish to do so. It is important to note that, at this time, all adults and students must continue to wear masks inside all school buildings and on the bus.

Operationally, we are immediately also following the guidance regarding shared materials, and we will be lifting the gathering limits for school activities (when applicable) beginning on May 29, 2021, as advised. However, we will continue our current successful cleaning routines and practices throughout the remainder of the school year. Here is the DESE Frequently Asked Question Document, which highlights the change in guidance that impact schools.

Below, please find the revised Cohasset School Committee Face Covering Policy, which was officially revised on 5/19/2021.

Please see the guidance (attached below), which came out yesterday. It covers the guidance that will be expected to follow for the remainder of the year (which is essentially exactly what we are doing currently indoors and outdoors). The guidance also provides some information regarding expectations during our summer learning opportunities and in the fall.

In summary, here are the major points provided in the guidance:

• Through the end of the 2020-21 school year: The core mitigation strategies that districts and schools have used all year will remain in place through the end of the school year, except for outdoor masking. Most other guidance also remains in place with a few exceptions. The graduation guidance has been updated to reduce restrictions in line with the Commonwealth’s updates. In addition, there are other instances where guidance issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) relies on state-wide guidance that will be rescinded on May 29. In these instances, we recommend but do not require that districts and schools continue to follow the practices they currently have in place to minimize changes to school operations so close to the end of the school year.
• Summer school and other summer programs: DESE will not issue separate guidance for summer school programs. For summer programs, districts and schools are encouraged to follow the health and safety guidance from DESE currently in place for in-person learning this spring.
• Fall 2021 school reopening: For the fall, all districts and schools will be required to be in-person, full-time, five days a week, and all DESE health and safety requirements will be lifted. This includes all physical distancing requirements. We will collaborate with the Department of Public Health (DPH) to issue any additional health and safety recommendations over the summer (e.g., masks for elementary school students). We will provide any updates to districts and schools as we receive them.

Recently, the FDA and the CDC approved vaccination of individuals 12 - 15 to join the other ages previously approved to receive vaccination for COVID-19. I am happy to report that we have secured 100 vaccination appointments (Pfizer vaccine) at the Marshfield Fair Grounds. Please see the link below to access an appointment reserved for Cohasset Public Schools. 100 appointments for Cohasset Public Schools. These appointments are spread out from Wednesday / Thursday / Friday (today) and Saturday this week.

https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/marshfield

If a patient is under 18 they must fill out the attached form and have a parent or guardian accompany them to site the day of vaccination.

It is important to realize that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if they are close contacts. If your child has been vaccinated for COVID-19 we request that you notify your school nurse, so they are aware in the event of any possible close contact situations. Information regarding vaccinations, including how to sign up for a vaccine, can be found here

Please see the information below regarding the town of Cohasset’s positive COVID 19 rate and case count over the past 14 days.

Community Report:

As of May 27, 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 0.22%, with 1 positive case out of 460 tests reported. Under the DPH metrics, the town of Cohasset is in the "Grey" category for communities who have a population of under 10,000 who have less than or equal to 10 positive cases over the last 14 days. Here is the complete report issued on May 27, 2021.

For your information, please find below a summary table of all confirmed positive COVID cases in the District as of today, Friday, May 28, 2021.

Confirmed Positive Cases as of Friday, May 28, 2021

During the 4/28/2021 School Committee Meeting, the Cohasset School Committee voted to adjust the 2021 – 2022 Cohasset School District Calendar to show the first day for all students as Wednesday, September 8 due to the Rosh Hashanah Holiday. Also, as Juneteenth falls on a Sunday next year, we will have no school per state law on Monday, June 20, 2022 (observed day). I have attached the revised calendar. Please note that these changes move the opening for Kindergarten to September 9, 2021 and make the last day of school June 23, 2022 (half day).

The dismissal schedule for the last day of school for the 2020 - 2021 school year, which is June 23, 2021, is as follows. No lunch will be served in our buildings on June 23:

Cohasset High School & Cohasset Middle School: 11:30AM

Deer Hill School: 12:15PM

Joseph Osgood School: 12:20PM

Please see the updates on our websites regarding bus information for the 2021 -2022 School Year

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).

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 competency.

Why not enroll your child(ren) in RISE? The Cohasset Public Schools and the Cohasset Recreation Department provide before and after school care for our students at Osgood and Deer Hill Elementary Schools all five days. Brett Youmans, DHS PE Teacher, is the director of the program. For more information about the program and how to register follow this link.

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

Please follow the link below to access our COVID-19 protocols

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. Below are some additional resources that you or a friend may find helpful. Please remember that our schools are a resource and our adjustment counselors can support you and your child.

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

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

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.

Email: psullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Phone: 781 383 6111
Twitter: @SuperCohasset