Cohasset High School Newsletter

May 22 , 2026

Dear Families,

One of the blessings — and sometimes challenges — of being a high school principal is the sheer volume of oral and written communication the role requires. Speeches at orientation, graduation, and induction ceremonies; communications about significant and not-so-significant events; writing newsletter introductions — all are part of the work.

While there is both privilege and responsibility in shaping those messages, it also means constantly searching for fresh material that resonates with people. Sometimes that leads you to find symbolism in the strangest places and at the strangest times.

Most days, you can find me in the senior cafeteria during lunch for a combination of supervisory duties and relationship-building. This week was no different. The unseasonable heat, the unmistakable smell of pizza, the buzz of conversations ranging from prom to signing day to Arts Night, and the steady flow of students moving in and out of the SRO’s office and over to the composting bins all felt typical for this time of year. We are simultaneously closing out the seniors’ final days while planning initiatives for next year while everyone is still together in the building.

And during one of those lunches, I made an observation I thought worth sharing.

At the northwest corner of the senior cafeteria sits a consistent group of students who have shared lunch together all year. Among them are some of our highest-achieving students academically alongside students whose accomplishments have come through tremendous struggle. Some commute from Boston and navigate the unique challenges that come with that experience. The group includes athletes, musicians, Green Team members, and students who have participated in service trips both domestically and abroad. They are bold personalities and quiet ones, students from varied economic backgrounds and family dynamics, yet they have shared each other’s company all year long — always smiling, laughing, and enjoying one another.

And I found myself thinking: that is the model we should strive for.

In a small school, our many talents and interests can sometimes unintentionally separate students into groups. It is natural for students with shared interests to gather together — teammates in sports, classmates, friend groups, students with similar schedules. There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with that. I, too, gravitated toward classmates and teammates whose interests mirrored my own.

But what sets this group apart are two things: first, the diversity of talents, achievements, and struggles each person brings to the table — literally and figuratively — and second, the authenticity of their relationships. Mentioning the group to the assistant principal, her immediate response was, “They are all SO nice.”

And they are.

They are kind to one another and to those around them. More importantly, each of them has made an effort — consciously or not — to give back to the larger community: helping underclass students struggling with homework, supporting teammates through disappointment, or extending kindness to peers they barely know. It is a form of servant leadership that is powerful in its humility — one that recognizes and celebrates the value of others without resentment or jealousy over what someone else may have achieved.

In a recent conversation with senior Ronan Carnes, he introduced me to the term “mudita” as a theme for the Class of 2026. Mudita is a Buddhist term referring to “the pure, unselfish happiness that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being, success, or good fortune, completely free of jealousy or envy.”

I think it is a beautiful and fitting image for the Class of 2026 — and, in many ways, perfectly embodied by our northwest table. More importantly, it is an image that can serve not only as a reflection of what our seniors have accomplished, but also as an aspiration for what our entire community can become when we are at our best.

Sincerely,

Brian T. Scott
Principal

Finals Schedule

For planning purposes, the end of year finals schedule will be as follows. We will follow up with our usual instructions and preparatory materials that you can use to help your students. But first . . . .the seniors.

Graduation

For any relatives or friends infirm or abroad who are unable to attend graduation, Cohasset 143 TV will be filming live from the Music Circus.

Cable Channels - Comcast 1073 - Verizon 2143

143tv.org website and our YouTube Channel 143tv CCTV.

Arts Night

In the kickoff event to our spring awards ceremonies, the community was treated to a marvelous display of visual and performing arts, capped off by awards for our seniors.

pdf

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Art Publication Noah Williams- Liverpool.pdf

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Minds Matter and Pep Rally

Thanks to Emily Ludwig, Safe Harbor Ambassadors and Student Council led by Ms. Norton and Ms. Reardon, for an excellent day celebrating mental health. Students participated in a variety of morning activities, there was a therapy chicken in attendance, and were treated to ice cream and waffles. Following Minds Matter students gathered for a Spring Pep Rally and then engaged in a campus-wide clean up. Thanks to all for a very smooth day!

Amanda Fox Named Semifinalist for the Presidential Scholars Program

Senior Amanda Fox has made it to the semifinalist round of the 2026 Presidential Scholars Program. From over 4 million American high school seniors, 5000 candidates are eligible for this award (a feat in itself!). Amanda has made the second round of 627 semifinalists en-route to the final 161 selections across the United States/

Do the math on that.

In the coming months, the United States Department of Education will announce the finalists. Good luck to Amanda!

North River Arts Society’s 49th Festival of the Arts Student Exhibition

Ava Carcio (ceramic: mushroom house), Taylor Sasso (yarn: owl) and Grace Higgins (mixed media: I am from..." have been selected to have their art North River Arts Society’s 49th Festival of the Arts Student Exhibition in Marshfield.

Ava Carcio

Ceramic: Mushroom House

Taylor Sasso

Yarn: Owl

Grace Higgins

Mixed Media: I am from . . .

Comfort Caps

As part of her Independent Service Project through National Honors Society, Maddy LeFevre and constituents delivered 44 "comfort caps to Dana-Farber Cancer Center at South Shore Health to donate 44 hats that we knit for my ISP. Volunteers included:

Saiya Stefan, Dominique Vecchiola, Sophia Fama, Caroline McCallion, Ella Griffin, Kelsey Simms, Lily Hampton, Adeline Hampton, Liv Appel, Charlotte Gallagher, Scarlett Crews, and Arlee Simmons

There is no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech -- Benjamin Franklin

Mr. Luvisi's Global Studies class invited Gregory Sullivan, legal free speech expert, partner at Malloy and Sullivan, Suffollk Law professor and grandfather of Miles Melanson, to present on the complexities and importance of maintaining free speech.

Thank You For Your Service

Thank you to the boys' and girls' lacrosse teams for assisting the Veteran's Services with putting flags on the gravestones of our Veterans in preparation for Memorial Day.

In addition, congratulations to Sam DeMello for creating the winning artwork for the healing fields. Second place was Reid Budington. Both students created their expressions in Ms. Sugrue's Digital Art.

Reid Budington

Sail On

Cohasset / Hull HS Nantasket Nor’easters Remain Unbeaten, Lead MBL Division B

The Cohasset / Hull HS sailing team known as the Nantasket Nor’easters have surged through the opening stretch of the season, remaining undefeated and firmly establishing themselves as a top contender to win Division B of the Massachusetts Bay League (MBL).

The season opened in dominant fashion with an undefeated showing at the Keel Boat Kickoff at the Courageous Sailing Center. The following weekend, the Nor’easters returned to the Courageous Sailing Center for a quad meet. Challenging conditions (high winds and big waves) kept host Boston Latin off the water, but the Nor'easters wasted no time, sweeping both Scituate and Brookline by identical three race wins to zero (3-0).

High wind postponed a scheduled showdown with Dover-Sherborne, but after April break the Nor’easters picked up right where they left off. Hosting a quad meet, they again defeated Scituate 3–0 and followed with another decisive 3–0 victory over Boston Latin. Light wind conditions prevented racing against Notre Dame Academy (NDA).

The team’s momentum carried into the Donald Greene Fleet Race, where the Nor’easters delivered additional standout performances. In Division A, Paul Chapman (skipper), and alternating crew Ava Joyce and Eren Tiryaki, all from Cohasset, captured first place overall with the lowest score of just four points (two firsts and a second-place finish). In Division B, JP Hnath (skipper - Hull) and Leah Frady (crew - Hull) claimed the win with five points across three races. In both fleets A and B they had 20+ competitors from across all of MBL Division B.

These highly consistent top place finishes have the Nantasket Nor’easters now leading the Massachusetts Bay League Division B standings. They remain undefeated as they head into the last two weeks of the season.

Cheer on our team as they look for a third MBL Division B title in three years.

All is Elwell

Congratulations to Nora Elwell, who qualified for regionals and represented MA competing against five other states. She placed second on bars and eighth all-around in her age group.

Cohasset Teachers to Present at States Best Practices in Teaching Fair

Two Cohasset Middle High School teachers presented at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Sharing for Success Dissemination Fair in Devens, MA on May 20th. DESE picked 77 teachers from across the State to share their best teaching practices with other teachers. Kathleen Cerruti, Cohasset Middle High School Librarian/Media Specialist and 8th grade Research teacher, and Dr. Blair Duncan, Cohasset High School Science teacher, presented “Strategies for Engaging Students in Civics Projects”. They are the only non-charter school teachers from the South Shore presenting at the conference.

Kathleen Cerruti focused on her popular “Sustainability Project”, a rite of passage for Cohasset Middle School’s 8th grade students, where students research a local topic of sustainability concern, interview local community experts, devise an action plan to help solve the identified issue, and present their research during a public-facing local showcase held three times per year. Kathy’s Sustainability Project is in its twelfth year and has been part of the State’s Civics Project Showcase since its inception four years ago (garnering multiple commendations along the way).

Dr. Blair Duncan presented her work with her High School Marine Science class and her extracurricular Marine Club, done in collaboration with the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research (CSCR). Dr. Duncan’s students design their own research project on harbor health, then visit local marine sites to collect data on water chemistry, bacteria levels, and animal populations. They analyze their data, connect it to topics of concern such as climate change and pollution, and present their results at a public-facing mock scientific conference. At last year’s State Civics Project Showcase, Dr. Duncan’s Marine Science team was commended by the State. Their commendation is currently listed on the DESE website under the Research and Investigation commendation category.

Both of these teachers will be sharing their experience and expertise with teachers across the state. We are proud to see them represent the Cohasset school district at this important conference.

PSA From Sam Soares, Maddux Gustafson and Thales Bowyer

📢 Stay Connected, Cohasset!

The High School Digital Leaders Club has launched the NEW official Cohasset Public Schools Instagram account. Follow for the latest news, student highlights, and district updates!

📸 Follow us here: @cohasset_public_schools

Go Skippers! ⚓️

Drivers Needed

Dear Cohasset Public Schools Families,

The Cohasset Public Schools Transportation Department is currently seeking qualified school bus drivers to join our team.

We are looking for dependable, safety-focused individuals who are interested in playing an important role in our school community. Our drivers are often the first and last school representatives our students see each day, and they help ensure a safe and positive start and end to every school day.

Applicants must hold a valid CDL with a school bus endorsement and have a clean driving record.

If you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity, please contact:

Kim Zitoli

Transportation Department

Cohasset Public Schools

781-383-6100 ext. 2308

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and for helping us keep our students safe.