This Newsletter updates on all matters connected to Cohasset Public Schools. This letter is sent as part of a District initiative focusing on communication.

The new year always gives us the opportunity to think about what has been and dream about what might be. Here is to 2023 and its endless possibilities!

The Credit for Life Fair is an opportunity for this year’s senior class to learn about the importance of credit, budgeting, and money management after high school and as a young professional.

The goal of the fair is for students to learn to avoid negative financial impulses and to make informed decisions that will benefit their futures. We are looking for volunteers to work at the booths and help empower students in identifying their wants vs. what they can afford. It only works if we can collaborate with our business community to provide real-world examples and advice.

Businesses of all types are welcome! All booth materials will be provided and reviewed prior to the event. See the booth descriptions, the primary duty of each booth, and the option to sign up at the link below.

Please consider lending your time for this fun event, we cannot do it without you! If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicole Fitzgerald at nfitzgerald@cohassetk12.org.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b48abaa2fa2fd0-credit#/

Dear Friends of Cohasset Diversity Committee,

Happy New Year 2023!

You are warmly invited to Cohasset’s upcoming 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast.

DATE: Monday, January 16, 2023
TIME: 9 - 11 a.m. (Breakfast served 9-10 a.m. with Program 10-11 a.m.)

PLACE: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Parish Hall
ADDRESS: 10 Summer St., Cohasset MA 02025
GUEST SPEAKER: Arthur Bembury, Executive Director of ‘Partakers’
PRICE: $5 per person / $15 per family / no one declined for lack of payment

The Cohasset Diversity Committee and the Cohasset Clergy are proud to sponsor the upcoming 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. This year’s honored speaker is Arthur Bembury, Executive Director of ‘Partakers’, an amazing organization that advances the education of men and women in prison, helping to bridge the divide that separates those inside and outside of prison.

In conjunction with the 18th Annual MLK Breakfast, Cohasset’s Paul Pratt Memorial Library is sponsoring a town-wide read of “The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose’ by Chris Wilson, published in 2/5/2019. Copies of this illuminating book are available to borrow, prior or post the MLK Breakfast, to better understand the amazing good works of the ‘Partakers’ organization.

Are you an experienced RN licensed in the state of MA, current on CPR and AED training? Cohasset Public Schools is looking to expand its call list of nurses who can substitute if needed. If interested and would like more information, please contact Kelli Gildea at kgildea@cohassetk12.org.

Preschool Lottery 2023-2024 which is now accepting online submissions until January 31, 2023.

Child Find Notice

Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 School Year for children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023. Kindergarten registration packets are available online at the Cohasset Public Schools website www.cohassetk12.org under the Osgood News section or may be picked up at the Joseph Osgood School. For more information, please call Joseph Osgood School at 781-383-6117.

There will be a Zoom Informational session for parents/ guardians on Tuesday, January 17, 2023@ 6:00pm

Zoom ID: 960 574 0738

Password: : 210soh

Kindergarten Registration will be held at the Joseph Osgood Elementary School, 210 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA on:

Tuesday, January 24th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Wednesday, January 25th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Thursday,January 26th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Friday, January 27th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Thursday, February 2rd from 4:00pm -7:00pm

In order to register for kindergarten, please complete the following steps:

Step 1: Sign up for a registration time.

Please click HERE to sign up for a time to bring in your registration paperwork

Step 2: Please fill out the registration forms.

Step 3: Bring the completed registration forms with you to the Kindergarten Registration, along with the required documents listed below:

Birth Certificate

Proof of Residency

Immunizations/Most Recent Physical

Deposit of $500 for the full-day program made payable to: Cohasset Public Schools

Whether you are a new or returning family, we are excited to begin this journey with you and look forward to welcoming you to our Cohasset Public Schools family.

Like weather forecasting, the school closing decision process is not a perfect science. However, I believe it is important for students and families to understand how it works. I hope this FAQ document answers your questions.

Who makes the decision about whether or not to close school?

As Superintendent, I am responsible for the final decision. I work with District staff to monitor state and local weather forecasts and consult with officials from the Department of Public Works, Cohasset Police, and Cohasset Fire who provide updates to me on snow removal operations, neighborhood road conditions, and any power outages.

What time do I make the call?

My goal is to make the decision to open, close, or delay by 5:45 A.M. or earlier if possible. I try not to wait any longer as families then have little time to make arrangements for childcare, and some of our staff may have already left for work. Also, while I know there is often an interest in having a decision the night before, a lot can change overnight. I will try my best to make a decision as early as possible.

What information is gathered to aid in the decision?

There are multiple factors used in deciding whether or not to close school. Information on road conditions, snow accumulation predictions, building conditions such as electricity and heat, parking lot conditions, air temperature and wind chill, and estimated times from the Department of Public Works and Cohasset Police as to when roads, walkways, and parking lots will be cleared of snow and ice are all considered. I also consider the number of children who walk to school and student drivers.

Are Remote Days a Possibility this Year?

Remote days are not currently permitted as a substitution for in-person days by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

What is a delayed opening?

Rather than close school for a whole day due to short-term weather situations, there may be days when the beginning of school will be delayed one hour, ninety minutes, or two hours. School will simply start later by the length of the delay. Bus pickup, therefore, will also occur later. For example, if your child is normally picked up at 6:55 A.M., during a two-hour delayed opening, your child will be picked up at 8:55 A. M. Lunch will still be available, and dismissal will be at the regularly scheduled times.

What happens to Pre School and Half Day Kindergarten during a delayed opening?

When a delayed opening is called, the Pre School and Half Day Kindergarten classes are cancelled.

What are parents’ / guardians' responsibilities?

The safety of your child is paramount. On days when weather conditions are questionable, but school remains open, parents are free to exercise discretion and keep children home from school. Parents of young drivers are asked to reinforce winter weather driving skills: allowing

extra travel time, reducing speed, and not worrying about being late.

How are days made up?

As per State regulations, students must attend school for a minimum of 180 days and the school year must end by June 30. If school is closed due to weather, the day will be made up at the end of the school year.

How do power outages affect the decision?

Inclement weather can affect the timeline for utility companies to restore electricity. If all school buildings have electricity, the goal will be to open school. Other factors also influence the decision, including whether a large number of neighborhoods are without power.

How is the public notified?

Announcements about school closings and delays are posted as outlined below. Please be advised that, depending upon the severity of the storm, school and district administration offices may also be closed in addition to cancelling classes for students.

· District website (www.cohassetk12.org)

· Twitter @SuperCohasset (I will usually tweet the cancelation first…so follow me If you want the early scoop)

· Black Board Connect Automated Telephone Notification Service (if operational)

· WBZ TV and Radio (Channel 4)

· WATD 95.9

· WHDH Channel 7 and 56

· WCVB Fox 25 and Channel 5

I will try to send periodic updates via Black Board Connect messages whenever possible should the storm extend for any period of time beyond the day or should the storm result in continued questionable community conditions.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Please see the letter below, which DESE has asked all superintendents to share with families.

Thank you,

Patrick Sullivan, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Cohasset Public Schools

Recently, Dr. Scollins, Mrs. Cerwonka, and Dr. Sullivan presented the District MCAS Action Plan as a follow-up to the November 2 MCAS Data Review Presentation. Thank you to everyone who is working so hard to address the scores and to ensure that our students are receiving the most effective interventions and actions. Please see below for the Action Plan presentation.

We apologize and appreciate your patience as we work through the recent driver absences. We also understand that these obstacles have created a difficult situation for many families. It is our hope that with two recently trained drivers scheduled for bus driving tests in the upcoming days, that we will have more depth in numbers to our team beginning in early January. We will continue to update families on the progress.

We are excited for the new track. Here are some pictures showing the finished product!

The turf replacement project at Alumni Stadium is underway! Access to the turf and track will be prohibited until further notice. This turf replacement project, along with the recently completed track, and stadium lights is a welcomed improvement to our athletic facilities. We are thankful for the school community and town support and understanding, as we work to provide the best facilities possible for our students and town.

Here are some pictures showing the progress.

Unusually warm weather has allowed more work to be done on the turf.

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.

The Volunteer Process Review Committee will be meeting on January 18 at 4:00pm at the Deer Hill Library.

The Wellness Committee met on November 2. The committee is made up of district and school leaders, teachers, students and family members. The committee meets four times a year as a whole group and subcommittees meet through out the year to work on the goals chosen by the committee. Please see the minutes from the November 2, 2022 meeting. The next meeting is January 25th.

The Arts Curriculum Review Committee will meet on January 12th to continue its work with the Curriculum Review Process. Both Math and the Arts are in Phase 1 of the review process which includes a review of current materials and practices, the most up to date research in math curriculum and brain research, as well as making recommendations to inform Phase 2 of the process.

Both Osgood and Deer Hill staff will participate in professional development focused on literacy with Teaching and Learning Alliance (TLA) consultants.

CMS staff will continue their collaboration in creating culturally responsive teaching and the science department will focus on the implementation of the new curriculum OpenSciEd.

CHS is involved in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Accreditation process.

Please see the professional development calendar below for more information about the professional development that is planned for the year.

Please see the graphic below, which was established through the collaborative work of the Cohasset High School Community as part of their accreditation process with NEASC. This work also helped to set our District theme for the year, "Find Your Compass."

The Student Opportunity Act (SOA) implements the recommendations of the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission and includes other provisions to benefit our public schools.

As part of the SOA, districts are required to submit three-year, evidence-based plans aimed at closing persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups. The District submitted the SOA Plan in January 2021 and then sent the amended plan in March 2022. Please see the presentation below.

Student Opportunity Act Presentation March 2022

Thank you to Director of Student Services, Barbara Cerwonka, and to all the educators who helped work on the revision of our District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP), which is now posted on the District webpage. As articulated in the DCAP, "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 38Q1/2 states that a school district shall adopt and implement a curriculum accommodation plan to assist principals in ensuring that all efforts have been made to meet the students' needs in regular education. The plan shall be designed to assist the regular classroom teacher in analyzing and accommodating diverse learning styles of all children in the regular education programming, including, but not limited to, direct and systematic instruction in reading and provisions of services to address the needs of children whose behavior may interfere with learning, or who do not qualify for special education services under chapter 71B. The curriculum accommodation plan shall include provisions encouraging teacher mentoring and collaboration and parental involvement."

Please see below for a link to download the District and School Calendars

From Commissioner of Education Riley’s memo to Superintendents sent on August 15, 2022:

“The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. Districts and schools are reminded that there is no longer any statewide masking mandate in schools (other than school health offices) and there is no testing requirement for schools.” We will continue to respect the right of individuals to wear masks at any time during the school day.

“Effective August 15, 2022, all students and staff in childcare, school in grades K-12, or participating in out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the updated isolation and exposure guidance issued by DPH, in alignment with recently issued guidance from CDC. No asymptomatic person should be excluded from school as a result of exposure, regardless of vaccination status or exposure setting.”

An additional link on isolation and exposure guidance can be found here:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-exposure-guidance-for-the-general-public

Please see the METCO webpage on our District website for important information regarding our METCO program.

We will continue to engage students and staff in the meaningful discussions necessary to promote change. We are committed to promoting anti-racism and cultural responsive teaching and learning.

CPS is pleased to continue its partnership with the Cohasset Recreation Department by providing before and after school care for our elementary students. We have an amazing staff that provides wonderful opportunities for our students through the RISE program. Please see this link for more information.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports

To Parents/Guardians of Cohasset Public Schools :

The Cohasset Public Schools believes in providing the highest quality of education for our students. This letter is to provide you with information about a three-tiered instructional approach we use to meet this goal, referred to as Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

For MTSS, all students will participate in the core curriculum, with three levels (tiers) of interventions for students who demonstrate at-risk skills in general academics or behavior/social emotional areas. Each tier provides additional support beyond the core curriculum and instruction. All students receive formal and informal checks to measure their progress to determine if they are performing at an expected level. Behavioral and social emotional impacts are also monitored on a regular basis through the year.

● Tier One- As the largest tier, and the foundation for the entire framework, Tier 1 encompasses the entire school with core instruction and basic interventions. This structure helps to build positive relationships between staff and students. It includes proactive classroom strategies aimed at creating a supportive learning atmosphere. Teachers will use different strategies as universal supports within the core curriculum and instruction to address all student educational needs. These supports include but are not limited to items identified within the District Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and/or the School Accommodation Plans.

● Tier Two- Based on progress data, students who require more support than Tier One will be provided targeted interventions matched to their needs within the general classroom by the classroom teacher and/or support staff in the classroom. The Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Team will track the student’s progress, and parents/guardians will receive ongoing progress data.

● Tier Three- Students who continue to require measures beyond Tier Two will receive more intensive individualized interventions at this level. Parents/guardians will be notified of these supports and receive ongoing progress data. After Tier Three implementation, students who continue to display limited progress may then be considered for further evaluation and services.

Our School is excited to take part in this process to improve educational outcomes for all students. As always, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

___________________________

Barbara Cerwonka, M.Ed.

Director of Student Services

“Nine Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try”

There are many stressors to our day-to-day lives; however, there are many resources available. The District Website has a page dedicated to Social Emotional Learning and Wellness. Please remember that our schools are a resource, and that our counselors, school psychologists, and social workers can support you and your child.

Thank you to all of our counselors for their caring and selfless work throughout the District!

Osgood: Dave Vinton dvinton@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)

Deer Hill: Robyn Costa rcosta@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)

Deer Hill and Osgood: Maeve Dullea mdullea@cohassetk12.org (adjustment counselor)

Deer Hill and Osgood: Alyson Doyle adoyle@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)

CMS: Emily Manewal emanewal@cohassetk12.org (adjustment Counselor)

Allison Pearce apearce@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)

CHS: Laura Struzziery lstruzziery@cohassetk12.org (lead counselor)

Leanne McCarthy lmccarthy@cohassetk12.org (high school adjustment counselor)

Kevin McGowan kmcgowan@cohassetk12.org (high school counselor)

Allison Battista abattista@cohassetk12.org (high school counselor)

Catlin Stromberg cstromberg@cohassetk12.org (school psychologist)

Robert Collins rcollins@cohassetk12.org (middle and high school social worker)

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can do anything to help your student or your family during this difficult time. Most important is the physical and mental health of everyone, and we will stay focused on making that a priority. Please take good care.

Email: psullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Phone: 781 383 6111
Twitter: @SuperCohasset

You can also follow the entire leadership team on Twitter to see real-time updates.

Assistant Superintendent: @CPSAssistantSup

Joseph Osgood School: @JOsgoodppal

Deer Hill School: @DeerHillSchool

Cohasset Middle School: @comsprincipal

Cohasset High School: @CoHSPrincipal

We utilize both Aspen and Blackboard communications to inform families of important events, cancellations, and happenings.