The CMS Tide Weekly Newsletter

The CMS administration and faculty communicate with our families using many digital and traditional means. Our weekly newsletter, the CMS Tide, is emailed to families and students every week. It is also posted on our school website .

We call it the CMS Tide because just as the tide brings to us treasures from the deep and leaves them on the beach for us to discover, The CMS Tide brings to our community the news, images, and stories about life at CMS each week,

We hope you enjoy each issue this year!

• 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:

• Physical Address Change

• Emergency Contact changes (add/delete/change)

• Handbook Acknowledgement

• Can student be photographed

• Can the district share information with PSO/CEF

• Military Status

Please follow the steps provided in these instructions to learn how to verify and update your child's contact information in Aspen.

CMS students attended an assembly on Friday during utility in which Principal Mills outlined expectations and supports for student success at CMS. The entire slide deck is attached below--parents are encouraged to review it and discuss it with their children. Topics included:

• CMS core beliefs and vision
• expectations for student behavior (academically and towards others)
• importance of academic honesty and consequences for cheating, plagiarism, etc.
• role of technology and inappropriate uses of technology (cell phones are "away for the day" and consequences for sending/receiving texts on cellphones, MacBooks, iWatches, etc. during school was discussed)
• introduction of CMS counselors
• school protocols for encouraging regular and punctual school attendance
• CMS practices to maximize time in class (such as requiring students to have a pass from a teacher to go to the Health Office unless student is experiencing a medical emergency)

We believe it is important for students to clearly understand what is expected of them in order for them to be able to successfully meet school expectations. We maintain high expectations for student behavior at CMS and are consistently impressed with how regularly students meet and exceed our expectations.

Buses: The 2023-2024 bus route schedules are available here as well as lots of important information from our Transportation Department. Buses drop students off before school and pick up after school in the horseshoe driveway in front of CMS and CHS. Parents are asked to not use this driveway between 8:00-8:15AM and 2:45-3:00PM when school is in session.

Family Drop-Off/Pick-Up: Middle and High School parents drop-off and pick-up their children at the rear traffic circle (see picture below). When in traffic circle, parents are asked to have students get out when their cars are in between the orange cones to keep traffic moving rather than waiting until the car is directly in front of the door as this slows traffic down for everyone.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

Parent traffic can back up onto Pond Street in the morning which often results in students getting into class late and stressed while parents begin their morning harried and behind schedule as well. To avoid this consider the following:

• Get to School Early: We watch traffic back up every day and its is always the same--there are no parents dropping off between 8:00 and 8:07AM and from 8:07-8:15AM there is along line of traffic stretching down Pond St. Drop your child off at 8:05AM and you'll avoid all traffic and your child can enjoy a relaxing and nutritious breakfast in the cafeteria with friends!!

• Bus: Have your child take the bus. Students on the bus can talk to friends, listen to music using phone/earbuds, play games, and never have to worry about tardiness!

Bike Riders

CMS students who ride their bikes to school are asked to walk their bikes when they get onto school property as there are many pedestrians and cars at drop off and pick-up times. We are committed to ensuring the safety of our students and walking bikes during these busy times helps maintain a safe campus. Thank you!

As you know, Wednesday August 30 was a Picture Day at CMS. To order pictures go to: https://my.lifetouch.com or use the QR code. Enter EVTG4WNPT for our Picture Day ID, and then enter student information to get to your pictures. You can order online and your pictures will be shipped directly to you!

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 76 requires that each school notify parents and guardians if their student has five (5) or more unexcused school absences. Parents and guardians will receive a letter when their child has 5, 10, and/or 15+ days of unexcused absences. The letter will also include the number of unexcused tardies and unexcused early dismissals.

Absences will be excused under the following circumstances:

• After a medical appointment documented with a note from the medical office

• Illness or quarantine with a note from the appropriate medical office

• Observance of a religious holiday

• Bereavement or serious illness in family

• Court appearance

• A child may also be excused for other exceptional reasons with approval of the Principal or designee in accordance with the school committee policy and the regulations set in Chapter 76

Daily attendance is essential to a student's success. Missing a significant number of days of school has a detrimental effect on academic and social development. Therefore, each school will work with individual families to support student attendance.

Please download and complete the confidential health form below and return it to CMS one of the following ways:

• mailing it to Attention of Nurse Kalberer, CMS (address below)
• scan/photo and email the image to ekalberer@cohassetk12.org
• complete it online and email the image to ekalberer@cohassetk12.org
• drop off a signed hardcopy at the office

Thank you!

Nurse Erin Kalberer

Since July 2014, Safe Harbor Cohasset has been working to promote awareness and implement resources to help make an impact on the substance use in the community. The group has members from across the spectrum in the community, including, but not limited to, Paul Pratt Memorial Library, Cohasset Recreation Department, Cohasset Police Department, Cohasset Public Schools, Second Congregational Church, town leaders, health professionals, parents, youth, fire personnel, and concerned citizens. In September 2017, Safe Harbor was awarded a federal Drug- Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant, which focuses on preventing substance use among youth ages 12-17.

Since then, the group has worked to foster a strong and inclusive community that allows youth to strive and encourages healthy, educated and responsible choices about drug and alcohol use. The mission is supported by evidenced based, prevention focused, sustainable policies and youth- focused programs, such as Ground Level Café and the Safe Harbor Youth Ambassador Program. To learn more, and to find resources for both parents and teens, visit the Safe Harbor website at safeharborcohasset.org. Keep up to date on the latest news and trends by following Safe Harbor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/safeharborcohasset, on Twitter @cohsafeharbor, and on Instagram @safeharborcohasset.

Oftentimes when dealing with personal or family issues, we feel overwhelmed because we lack experience and expertise with handling these issues. We want to be sure our families know that they are not alone--there are many resources on the South Shore that can help.

Community Resources

Wellspring Multi Service

Website: wellspringmultiservice.org

Address: 814 Nantasket Ave Hull, MA 02045

Phone: 781-925-3211

Contact: Jenny Gerbis, Community Outreach, ext. 127, jenny@wellspringmultiservice.org

Baystate Community Services

Website: baystatecs.org

Address: 1120 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169

Phone: 617-471-8400

Email: info@baystatecs.org

Cohasset Food Pantry

Address: 129 So. Main Street, Cohasset, MA 02025

Phone: 781-383-0219 ext. 25

Cohasset Rotary Club

Website: cohassetrotary.org

Email: cohassetrotaryclub@gmail.com or pwmcohassetrotary@gmail.com

Interfaith Social Services

Website: interfaithsocialservices.org

Address: 105 Adams Street, Quincy MA 02169

Phone: 617-773-6203

Email: info@interfaithsocialservices.org

Safe Harbor Coalition Cohasset

Website: safeharborcohasset.org

Address: 35 Ripley Road, Cohasset, MA 02025

Phone: 781-783-5293

Contact: Nicole Balaschi, Program Director,

Email: safeharborcohasset@gmail.com

Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu observed "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."

These are certainly difficult times and many parents and families are experiencing great stress. Our ability to cope is regularly challenged and, understandably, there may be times when individuals can no longer manage their emotions. It is important to know where to turn when we reach that point.

To help our families, we share this contact list of support providers--Mental Health and Crisis Contacts These support providers offer great opportunities to help receive help when those we love are struggling to manage.

The Cohasset Middle School is a grade 6-8 school dedicated to the development of the whole child. We are an inclusive, supportive, and safe learning environment committed to excellence and growth. Our community values experiential, collaborative, active learning that is rigorous and relevant, and fosters creative, responsible contributors to a global society.

Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/Domain/9
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781.383.6100
Twitter: @comsprincipal