The Cohasset Compass

May 8, 2026

Dear Cohasset Public Schools Community,

May is a month that reminds us to pause and say thank you as our school year starts to come to a close and we have so much to be grateful for in our school community.

First and foremost: this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and I want to say with complete sincerity that Cohasset Public Schools is home to some of the finest educators anywhere. Our teachers are the backbone of everything we do and everything we achieve. Their dedication, creativity, and care for students drive our success day in and day out. To every teacher reading this — thank you. Your work matters more than words can adequately express.

May has also gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate others who are essential to our schools. In recent weeks, we marked Administrative Professionals' Day, National Principals' Day, School Lunch Hero Day, and Bus Driver Appreciation Day and each of these occasions is a meaningful reminder of how many people it truly takes to support children well.

Our administrative assistants keep our schools running smoothly, often behind the scenes and without fanfare. Our principals lead with vision and heart, setting the tone for the learning environments our students experience every day. Our school lunch staff do far more than serve a meal — they offer a smile, a moment of connection, and a sense of belonging that students carry with them into the afternoon. And our bus drivers do something that deserves far more recognition than it typically receives: they are the first school employees our students see each morning and the last ones they see each afternoon. They set the tone for the day and bring our children home safely — and that is no small thing.

It takes a village to raise children. We are fortunate that our village includes such remarkable people.

To every teacher, administrative and educational support professional, principal, school lunch hero, and bus driver who is part of the Cohasset Public Schools community ~ we see you, we value you, and we are deeply grateful you are here.

Ever Onward,

Sarah

As the school year draws to a close, I'm pleased to share our 2025–2026 End-of-Year District Goals Report with the Cohasset community. This report, presented to the School Committee on May 6th, reflects the work our students, staff, and leaders have engaged in across six district goals.

This was a year of building. We built a foundation that helps to create the conditions for lasting change. We built stronger systems to support students who need extra help. We built a curriculum that is now visible and accessible to every family. We began building a shared vision for what great teaching looks like in Cohasset. We deepened our understanding of student wellness. We took an honest look at how we communicate. And we laid the financial groundwork for the next five years.

None of this work is finished. Some of it has just begun. When we look at all of the goals, however, I am proud to be in a district where we are asking the right questions, doing work with integrity, and placing students first.

I encourage you to read the full report, linked below. Thank you for your continued trust, your engagement, and your investment in the Cohasset Public Schools.

This week, I was invited to attend an event at Deer Hill that is, without a doubt, the highlight of my week. As part of the 5th grade ELA curriculum, students at Deer Hill engage in reading and writing nonfiction. In this particular unit, they explored the topic of homework — researching the debate, weighing the pros and cons, and developing and defending their own evidence-based positions. The work reflects strong curriculum design and connects directly to Deer Hill's school improvement goals.

This morning, ten students — two from each classroom — presented their findings to a panel that included Dr. Scollins, Principal Scopelleti, members of the Deer Hill School Council, and me. What followed was one of the most impressive student showcases I have witnessed.

These fifth graders were extraordinary. They articulated the research they had studied with clarity and confidence, engaged thoughtfully with the nuance and complexity of the homework debate, supported their arguments with evidence, and — perhaps most impressively — demonstrated genuine empathy for perspectives different from their own. They were knowledgeable, well-prepared, and given the autonomy to pursue their individual interests within the topic. In doing so, they learned not only about homework, but also about themselves.

This showcase was the culmination of a project-based literacy unit, and it was a powerful example of what deeper learning can look like when it is done well. Just two weeks ago, Dr. Wiley from Challenge Success spoke with our community about the importance of designing learning experiences that engage students academically, behaviorally, and emotionally. This unit did all three and every student in that room showed it.

To our fifth grade students and their teachers: thank you for creating something so meaningful and so inspiring. You reminded all of us why this work matters.

Congratulations to Ms. Tammy Helveston at Osgood, Ms. Ann Berman at Deer Hill, and all of our elementary students for putting together two successful art showcases.

This Wednesday, the School Committee recognized and thanked Cohasset alumni and recent Northeastern graduate, Jake Squatrito for his service to our district as a member of the School Committee for the last year. Jake applied for and was chosen to fill a vacant committee seat. It was wonderful to have Jake's voice as a recent CHS graduate to inform the conversations and decisions that were made this year. We wish him well as he ventures into the next stage of his life.

Mass Partnership for Youth (MPY): Parenting Solutions at Your Finger Tips

MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students' families thrive. Explore this curated collection of quick videos and informative handouts thoughtfully grouped by relevant topics. Each segment below is filled with proven, practical, and easy-to-implement video solutions on a wide range of parenting challenges.

Some offerings include: