Message from our Head of School

Hello Marblehead Charter Families,

Last night we hosted our Upper School Curriculum Night. This meeting is designed to provide parents with all the information they need to know about grades 7 and 8 at MCCPS. We have designed our program of study to be a five-year plan for students in grades 4-8. While we recognize that here in Marblehead the Veterans Middle School serves students in grades 7 & 8 and there may be some students who want to join friends at that school, we do not recommend making that change in school placement. Here is why:

Last night the most compelling speakers were students. Abby, a junior at MHS, spoke eloquently about how her Charter experience set her up for success in high school. She emphasized how well-prepared she was to succeed both academically and socially. One of her comments resonated with many in attendance. She spoke about her ability to self-advocate. She mentioned that all students from Charter leave here equipped with the skills they need to form positive, working relationships with teachers and ask for help as needed. This is a skill that is crucial for success at the high school level. By advocating for what you need as a student and also forming these relationships with teachers, you set yourself up for academic success and provide yourself with options for teachers that can write positive letters of recommendation for college or career applications post high school. Abby also shared success stories of many other Charter alums who are in leadership roles in high school and on track to be valedictorian or near the top of their class.

Emma, a current 8th grade student shared her experience and happiness with the decision to stay here through the end of 8th grade. Emma and her mother shared the growth that Emma has made as a student and as a person. This message was echoed by teachers who shared that at Charter, because of our close knit community, students cannot hide or slip through the cracks. Here students develop both the academic skills they need to be successful and they develop into outstanding citizens too. Students learn and grow their essential habits of leadership, perseverance, problem-solving, and initiative. I would also add integrity, kindness, and strong communication skills to this list. Our program is structured in a way that is unlike any other more traditional middle school. As someone who spent the last 24 years in a traditional middle school setting, I can say with confidence that Marblehead Community Charter Public School is the best 7th and 8th grade education available for students in these important years.

We have not had the typical incidents that occur in larger schools. Bullying, vaping, cell phone use, cliques, and all of the negative aspects that we think of in the middle school years are almost non-existent here.

We encourage parents to make the decision that is best for their child. Even if your child is saying that their good friend "Susie or Sally or Bobby" is going to go to another school for 7th grade, that is not a persuasive reason to follow. This is not intended to be a decision that is made by our 11 and 12 year old sixth graders. It is a parental decision. And there is simply no doubt that we offer the best program of study available in our area.

If you have any questions, please contact me or any of our educators here at MCCPS. We are happy to share more details of what we can offer, including accelerated math opportunities, field trips to Project Adventure and Washington, DC, and increasing leadership opportunities.

Please do let us know of your intent to return so we can properly plan our schedule for next year.

And let's not forget to highlight the incredible food. Today we celebrated the Chinese New Year with an outstanding feast. Kudos to our kitchen staff for making this happen.

Congratulations to 8th grader Ila for winning this year's spelling bee. Impressive!

Peter Cohen, Ed.D

Head of School