Cohasset High School Newsletter
News and Happenings at Cohasset High School
September 12, 2025
Dear Families,
Earlier in the week, sophomore Malone Yemini reached out to ask if she could lead the school in a moment of silence yesterday to honor and remember the victims and heroes of 9/11. With the events that transpired in the interim, it turned into a moment of silence, not just for those involved in 9/11, but for all of the victims of violence that have plagued our local and national communities lately, and ended with a call for all of us to engage each other with dignity and through our thoughts and words -- not our fists.
When we began the year, I noted to students that their efforts have resulted in a number of recent accolades, receiving high marks in publications like US News & and World Report and Boston Magazine, which rank Cohasset among the top schools in both greater Boston and around the country. Adding to this our athletic state championships and students recognized nationally for their artwork, we have a great deal to be proud of as a community.
But as nice as those accolades are, my plea to students was to strive for something greater. Their achievements and their abilities put them in a position to affect real change in the world, and the world badly needs it right now. I told them that what would make me really proud was to be first in compassion, to be first in welcoming others, to be first in service to those in need.
We introduced them to something called The Dignity Index, a model developed by Timothy Shriver which aims to educate and empower people to to resist using language that treats other people with contempt, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with a particular ideology. The ability to communicate with each other, to disagree on issues and debate the merits of a position without resorting to humiliation, mocking or violence and that truly engages the other person as a human being is perhaps the greatest skill they can bring into the world.
As I walked the halls during the opening weeks I saw evidence of modeling the Dignity Index in classroom practices. Students in a number of classes began with activities that weren't driven as much by the content as by getting to know the people within the learning environment. History teachers compelled students to search for the truth, regardless of whether it fit a particular narrative. English classes had students articulate their strengths and investigate ways to leverage those strengths in the learning process. Students in math read a book that discussed the learning struggles of a middle school student and asked how we could learn better if we functioned as a team, pulling on multiple strengths from multiple sources, establishing collaborative work strategies that could support this learning. Students in our AIMS program read and listened to an early 20th century short story to investigate the difference between what we think makes us happy and what really does promote fulfillment.
Even our guest presentation on the uses and limitations of Ai culminated with the message that a human centric approach to this and any technologies needs to be employed if we are going to actually grow as the result of the tools we have created.
As we embark on a strategic plan that envisions students improving communities and that emphasizes the importance of belonging and engagement, the cacophony of events that surround us entering the new school year should ground us that our direction is sound and indeed vital to the success of our future.
Sincerely,
Brian T. Scott
Principal
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.
Important! Please Complete
Please complete the Parent Portal Workflow in Aspen. The workflow is very brief and covers the following areas:
- Emergency Contact Information
- Do Not Photograph -- NOTE: DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH includes Yearbook photos.
- Handbook Acknowledgment
- Information Sharing with the PSO, CEF, and Military
Instructions on how to complete the workflow:
Congratulations to Our New Student Council Officers!!
Stu Co President Johnny Appleton
Stu Co VP Lennox Wrixon
Class of 2026
President Fiona Rennie
VP Mia Peeples
Secretary Emme Cunning
Treasurer Emma Lee
Tech Rep Jack Kearney
Class of 2027
President Grace Kiernan
VP Libby Struzziero
Secretary Max Ellinger
Treasurer Charlotte Gallagher
Tech Rep Molly Campbell
Class of 2028
President Joey Pannozzo
VP Stephanie Williams
Secretary Max Ly
Treasurer Malone Yemini
Tech Rep Keira Lynch
Class of 2029
President Alex Romano
VP Isaac Stevenson
Secretary Eddie Windham
Treasurer Christian Kondrat
Tech Rep Caroline McCallion
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.
Parent Drop Offs in the Main Office
We are seeing an alarming number of drop-offs in the main office since the beginning of school. While we can all appreciate the rush to get out of the house, we also want to promote solving the problem rather than enabling it. If that means a student goes without gym shoes for the day and needs to make up a class, it's a minor penalty to help build muscle memory not to leave the shoes the next time.
Dances, Social Events, and School Activities
Friday, September 19th will be our Homecoming Dance. As a reminder, students who attend any school dance, social event, or school activity will be required to observe the rules of behavior that are in effect during the school day. In order to participate in such activities, students must be in good behavioral standing as determined by the administration. In order to attend any dance, social event, or other school activity, students must be present in school for the full day (which is an early release professional day) unless otherwise determined by the administration.
Students will need their Student ID in order to enter the dance.
Cohasset High School dances and social activities are planned for members of our school. No guests are permitted for Homecoming. Students must remain for the entire dance unless previous arrangements have been made with the administration. Students will not be permitted to enter the dance or activity fifteen minutes after it has started.
Each student entering a school-sponsored dance may be required to submit to a breathalyzer test. A full copy of the Breathalyzer Protocol that is currently in effect can be found in this Handbook.
When possible, and at the discretion of the administration, a police officer will be present at school dances to assist the administration in the event of any law enforcement issues that may arise. A student whom the administration has determined to have violated the school’s alcohol and controlled substances policies will be sent home with a parent or turned over to the police for protective custody or arrest. School consequences may be applied subsequently.
MCLC Seeking Civics Fellows for the 2025-26 School Year
MCLC, a statewide group of non-profits, school districts, educators, and civic-minded organizations, is recruiting currently-enrolled high school students to serve as “Civic Fellows” in support of the Coalition’s mission to help prepare students to become more civically aware and engaged.
This fellowship opportunity, available to 8-10 applicants, will begin in late-September of 2025 and run through early May, 2026. During this approximately 8-month period, Civic Fellows will identify a public policy concern within the realm of the Coalition’s mission and goals and work to develop a strategy to address the issue. For 2025-26, the Coalition has identified high school voter registration as an urgent public policy need and students with a particular interest and/or experience in this regard are strongly encouraged to apply. The anticipated time commitment is 4 hours per month, largely remote, for a total of 20 hours over the 8-month fellowship period. This stipended position will pay $500.00.
Those interested in pursuing this opportunity should send an email expressing their interest to Ed O’Connell, MCLC’s Youth Initiative Leader, with the subject line “Civic Fellowship Opportunity.” Ed will also be happy to answer any questions you have! A "quick facts" sheet may be found here. A short application form may be found here. An informational flyer may be found here.
Cohasset High School
Website: www.cohassetk12.org
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781-383-6100
Twitter: @CoHSPrincipal