Cohasset High School Newsletter

August 26, 2025

Dear Families,

The start of school in New England often feels a lot like that start of hurricane season that it parallels—both trigger the same frantic energy. Families stockpile supplies for storms that fizzle into minor weather events, leaving us drowning in having purchased far more milk than we need. Similarly, when class schedules drop, parents hunt frantically for that specific orange folder at Amazon while kids strategize cafeteria seating arrangements and jostle among classes.

Within days, the excitement settles and we're back to normal routines. But that initial anticipation matters. It shows how much students and families value the security of being well-prepared for the year ahead and recognize the importance of the social ecosystem of a school culture. And as much as I recognize it as an administrator, the importance of those social connections among students and between students and teachers is amplified as a parent. Know that the importance of these things for your child is not lost on me or our faculty, and it's with that focus that we begin 2025.

Under a new strategic plan, we're committed to the following big areas:

1. Deepening Student Engagement with Learning

Defining and engage in instructional excellence across all subjects
Increasing student agency
Promoting a love of learning
Creating a culture of deep learning and purpose for both students and adults

2. Increasing Well-Being Among Members of the School Community

Helping to articulate and perhaps redefine a narrow definition of success
Addressing student stress

and

3. Enhancing a Sense of Belonging

Expanding on a climate of caring
Deepening relationships among students and between students and adults

These aren't goals that you can get by implementing a specific curriculum or redoing an area of the building, but are present in all that we do -- in how we teach, in how we support, and in how we engage every day. We have an opportunity to make sure that every student feels seen and capable and has a defined sense of purpose coming here every day. It's my goal -- and our goal -- to help students and families realize that opportunity. Welcome to the new school year.

Sincerely,

Brian T. Scott

Principal

Opening Day Information

School begins on Tuesday, September 2nd. We try and get all of the administrative tasks done within the first day if not the first three. Several important points:

School begins at 8:15 and ends at 2:55. Note that there is still construction on 3A so please allow a little extra time.
All five classes will meet, beginning with period 1 on Tuesday. Schedules can be located on Aspen and faculty can assist students in finding rooms. The first day will consist of student pictures, assemblies, and other tasks, including the PEAR Survey (more information below).
On Wednesday, students will also meet with all five of their classes, in the same order (1-5). This time will be dedicated to classroom teachers. The rotation of periods for the month is below as is the master calendar.
There are no supply lists for the high school. Students should bring a charged Chromebook, a pen/pencil and a scratchpad. Everything they need for the year will be communicated by teachers.
Note that there are no cell phones, wireless earbuds, or smartwatches allowed this year per the recent School Committee vote. This will be reiterated to students on their first day.
Please adhere to the traffic pattern for drop off and pick up. No vehicles other than busses are allowed on the main driveway before 8:15. All bus traffic will use the main driveway. Student drivers and parents should proceed up the driveway along Alumni Field and use the student lot and the back loop for drop off. No students or parents should use the Central Office lot for parking or turning around.

Student Parking

Currently only accepting registration for rising seniors!

Seniors, please complete the following parking registration form here.

Parking fee is $180.00 flat rate. The fee must be paid before a parking space is assigned, via UNIPAY. (unipaygold.unibank.com/default.aspx)
Students must have a valid driver’s license.
Any outstanding student obligations must be cleared prior to receiving a parking space.
If you have any outstanding obligations, you received an email from Mrs. Tokarz on 6/11/25.
Parking lanyards will be distributed during the the first week of school. Stay tuned for dates in your Google Classroom.
All seniors will have an assigned space, with a valid drivers license. If the senior does not register by 10/1/2025 the space will be reassigned to a junior on a first come first served basis.
Students that do not have an assigned spot must park at Milliken Field. This will begin to be enforced on Monday, September 8th.

"Registering for parking will assume compliance with the standards outlined in the Family-Student Handbook"

• If you have more than one vehicle, please fill out the form twice. You will only get one spot.

Service Dog

This year we will have a service dog at Cohasset High School named Sonny. The service dog is assigned to the specific needs of one student. Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as working animals trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities and are allowed by law.

It is important to understand that the dog is on duty and working while at our school and only the student requiring the dog and the staff assisting the student may touch the service dog. We ask that you have a conversation with your student about the role of the dog while it is in our building. Please discuss these three rules regarding service dogs: No Touching, No Talking, No Teasing of or to the dog. We realize these rules might be hard to follow and need every student and adult to understand them and comply accordingly.

The dog is well trained and has a specific job to do while at school. The dog will have limited contact with other students. Additionally, service dogs have grooming standards that alleviate their dander, thus reducing the probability of allergies. If you have specific questions about your student, please contact us.

We look forward to the addition of this individual service dog into our school community.

Service Dog Guidelines for Students and Teachers

Legal Foundation

Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as working animals trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities
Schools must allow service dogs to accompany their handlers in all areas where students and staff are normally permitted

What Students and Teachers CAN Do

Treat the service dog team (handler and dog) with respect and courtesy
Ask the handler general questions about their dog's training if they seem open to conversation
Allow the dog to work without interference or distraction
Report any concerns about the dog's behavior to administration through proper channels
Include the handler naturally in classroom activities and social interactions

What Students and Teachers CANNOT Do

Pet, feed, or play with the service dog without explicit permission from the handler
Call to, whistle at, or make noises to get the dog's attention
Ask about the handler's specific disability or medical condition
Request documentation or proof that the dog is a service animal
Separate the handler from their service dog
Assume the dog is "just a pet" or treat it as such
Take photos of the service dog without permission
Ask the handler to demonstrate the dog's tasks or training

The Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) Survey

We are very excited to partner with Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) in order to promote the positive social-emotional development of our students. There is increasing evidence that helping students feel good about themselves, their school and their relationships improves their learning. We will administer PEAR’s Holistic Student Assessment (HSA) to students in grades 9-12.

As part of this effort, your child will be asked to complete a brief survey about him or herself at the beginning and end of the year. Designated school staff will have access to these results. This information can help staff tailor teaching and support to your child’s unique strengths and needs. PEAR, conducts cutting edge research to improve the ways schools promote social-emotional development. PEAR will use data from our school for research and educational work. Your child’s name will never be used as part of this research. If you have any questions about this effort or would like to see a copy of this survey, please contact Mr. Scott.

Similarly, IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY, please email Mr. Scott. If you do not indicate this by September 2nd, we will assume that we have permission for your child to complete the survey at the beginning of the school year, for information to be given to designated staff to help them understand your child’s strengths, relationships, interests, and needs as well as to be used in the service of research.

School Council

CHS is looking for parent volunteers to serve on the School Council for 2025-2027. The role of the school council is to assist principals in:

Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
Reviewing the annual school building budget
Formulating a school improvement plan, and
Reviewing changes to the student handbook

Meetings are held every other month, beginning in September, on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 3:15 in person. If interested, please email Mr. Scott at bscott@cohassetk12.org.

CPS Summer Book Club: Never Enough

As we continue to talk about how to keep our children safe, happy, and healthy, we will keep talking about the impact of social media and need to add to that the achievement culture that exists in Cohasset. Throughout the strategic planning process we heard from our students though surveys, forums, and in one-on-one conversations that they feel an extreme pressure to achieve at high levels in all areas of their lives. What does this mean for them? What does it mean for us as parents and educators? They are asking us to talk about it, so we are. Join us in this important discussion and pick up your copy of Never Enough at Buttonwoods.

Realizing the Vision of the Graduate

Cohasset High School is committed to fostering an environment which allows students to thrive, providing students with opportunities to discover who they are beyond just exploring avenues for what they might do.

Our educational values are rooted in the Vision of the Graduate, which strives to instill students to develop inspiring character, acting with integrity, demonstrating respect for themselves and others, and identifying ethical solutions to problems that consider the personal, interpersonal, communal, and institutional impact of such solutions.

We wish for students to demonstrate meaningful and purposeful growth, recognizing that there is no one path to success and continuously engaging in a process of continuous self-reflection as students journey towards fulfillment. And we design learning so that students use their academic and social skills in pursuit of serving the greater good, promoting empathy and advancing global citizenship by using our skills to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable, and just.

Beyond traditional academic paths, Cohasset High School engages with community resources to create project-based learning opportunities that are grounded in scholarship but that address real-world challenges and offer real-world solutions. Our students are empowered to become agents of change.

The commitment to personalizing education promotes student voice and increases student engagement, which is reflected in student achievement. Cohasset High School has been recognized as a School of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, AP Platinum Honor Roll by the College Board, one of America’s Best High Schools by US News and World Report, and as one of the Best Public High Schools as ranked by Boston Magazine.

Calling All Student Photographers

Please see the following opportunity from the Boston Globe.

The Boston Globe's high school sports photography program is beginning its second full year -- and we want more of YOUR students to get involved!

SIGN UP: Interested students can fill out THIS FORM HERE

SEE: Check out the students' Best of 2024-25 HERE (and dozens of other photo galleries are down below).

John Vitti here from the Boston Globe sports department and the Headliners in Education journalism nonprofit with another realllllllllly cool opportunity for student photographers. (And it's free to join, too.)

The Boston Globe high schools sports department produces dozens of online stories each week during the school year. But there is no way to capture every game in the state and every deserving athlete (or coach or fan or cheerleader or band member ...)

This is where the student photographers come in!

As they are all shooting high school events for their newspapers, websites, yearbooks, and social media accounts anyway, the Boston Globe high schools sports department is once again inviting them to submit their BEST pics for inclusion in its sports coverage. If accepted, their pictures might be used in game stories, feature articles, weekly notebooks, and/or photo galleries. (Links to many many examples from 2023-24 and 2024-25 are down below)

NOTE 1: To be clear, pics are only shared with the Globe; the photographer/schools retain all copyrights/ownerships of the images.
NOTE 2: This is a free program to join, and photo submissions are purely voluntary.

Interested? Student photographers first need to fill out this simple sign-up form HERE. They will then receive a permission slip to be signed by a parent/guardian, then given to a high school employee (like a teacher, adviser, or coach) for them to send in to the Globe so the student can begin.

Some 250 students from 140 schools signed up in 2024-25, providing nearly 2,000 photos of an incredibly wide variety of sporting events. We can't wait to see who will join us this year!

If you have any questions in the meantime, please message John Vitti at john.vitti@globe.com or john.vitti@headlinersineducation.org.