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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

South Shore Charter Public School partners with local organizations throughout the South Shore in order to provide experiential learning opportunities to our students of all ages. These programs are an important part of our curriculum and offerings at SSCPS, giving students the chance to immerse themselves in new environments and learn about them firsthand, outside of the classroom and in real world circumstances.

CURRENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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Upcoming Community Events

HOLLY HILL FARM

One of our biggest lower-level Projects at SSCPS is our Farm Project, where students in Level I kick off each spring season by taking a trip to local Holly Hill Farm. Core activities for students at the farm include taking nature walks in the woods, planting and harvesting vegetables in the SSCPS raised garden beds,  learning about different aspects of animal care, and much more. Our students learn about composting, gardening, and different fields of science including biodiversity, ecosystems, agriculture, and various others.

The curriculum at the farm is designed to engage students in science practices in a hands-on way that makes science both relevant and exciting. Our teachers have worked closely with Holly Hill Farm educators to develop a curriculum that allows them to deliver the bulk of the standards outlined in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework during visits to the farm.

 

MCC Grant to SSCPS x Holly Hill Farm Partnership

  • In 2024, SSCPS received a $5,000 grant from the Mass Cultural Council to help fund our partnership with Holly Hill Farm.
  • The grant helps us continue to provide experiential learning opportunities at the farm for all of our Level I students.

COHASSET CENTER FOR STUDENT COASTAL RESEARCH

In our program with the Cohasset CSCR, students spend the summer exploring the vast and largely unexplored ocean, uncovering its mysteries and complexities. Through hands-on, field-based activities, they gain a deep understanding of how humans are connected to marine ecosystems and how each of us is linked to the global ocean. Students develop watershed awareness by studying the essential role of the ocean in sustaining life on Earth, from supporting diverse ecosystems to fostering coastal communities and marine biodiversity. They also witness firsthand how the health of our watersheds directly impacts the ocean and the species that depend on it.

This summer program is first-come, first-serve and tuition-free for students in Grades 7-12. The structure of the program follows alternating days of instruction, providing both on-site "Field Days" and indoor "Classroom Days" for students to receive both hands-on learning experiences as well as traditional classroom instruction.

2026 Oceans of Opportunity Summer Program with CSCR

Our 2026 Oceans of Opportunity Summer Program turned out to be an incredible four weeks! Students wasted no time becoming marine scientists as they explored the diverse coastal ecosystems surrounding the Cohasset shoreline. Each week, the program provided students with meaningful opportunities to think and work like scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards. Through field investigations, engineering challenges, and ecological exploration, students continued building a deeper understanding of how local actions influence the health of our watersheds and ultimately the ocean. 

Every year, Oceans of Opportunity turns out to be an incredible month of exploration, scientific inquiry, and hands-on learning. Throughout the program, students strengthen their understanding of coastal ecosystems while developing the skills of scientists through authentic field investigations and research experiences. Below, you can read an overview from each week of the 2026 program, along with photos, courtesy of Jamie Allen!

WEEK 1

Students had their first field experiences on the mud flats, observing the habitat while collecting and identifying different marine species. They learned proper clamming techniques, explored the salt marsh and its ecosystems, and collected eelgrass samples, and also gained a new perspective of our local coastal waters and ecosystems by boat. Back in the classroom, students built upon their field experiences by exploring ecosystem interactions. Through discussions and collaborative activities, they investigated food chains and food webs, examining how energy flows through an ecosystem and how organisms depend on one another for survival. Students also considered the various pressures that can impact these relationships, including pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change and discussed how disruptions to one part of an ecosystem can create ripple effects throughout the entire food web.

WEEK 2

Divided into two groups, students alternated between a land-based exploration and a boat-based field experience. During the boating excursion, students participated in an authentic eelgrass restoration project, designing and testing different methods for planting eelgrass on the ocean floor. Meanwhile, the land-based group explored the concept of watersheds by creating model elevation landscapes and hiking to a historic lightkeeper's house to observe how local watersheds connect to the ocean. Students also met with working lobstermen who shared insights into Massachusetts' lobster industry, sustainable fisheries, and the importance of healthy marine food webs. Classroom learning this week used demonstrations, videos, and documentary clips to expand upon previous watershed investigations in greater depth, and students ended the week with an engineering design challenge at Bassing Beach. 

WEEK 3

Students continued exploring the connections between our local watershed, coastal ecosystems, and the health of our surrounding marine environment through a combination of classroom discussions, field experiences, and observations. A major focus of the week centered on coastal resilience and the ways communities can prepare for and adapt to environmental change. Students investigated how natural features, such as salt marshes, eelgrass beds, dunes, and barrier beaches, help protect coastlines by absorbing wave energy, reducing erosion, improving water quality, and providing critical habitat. The week concluded with an exciting day on the water as students focused on water quality monitoring aboard the research vessel. Students measured pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, light availability, and water clarity, discussing how each parameter influences marine organisms and ecosystem function. By collecting and interpreting real-world scientific data, students experienced firsthand how environmental scientists assess water quality and use these measurements to better understand and protect our local marine environment.

WEEK 4

Students spent two days immersed in the field, continuing to build upon the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the summer, conducting another field investigation at the mudflats and also visiting Minot Beach, a nearby salt marsh, and a freshwater pond. Students made observations, compared environmental conditions, and discussed how freshwater and coastal habitats are connected. These experiences reinforced one of the central themes of the program: that every watershed ultimately connects to the ocean, and the health of our local environments directly influences the health of our coastal ecosystems. The final classroom session focused on reflection and looking ahead. Students completed a written reflection on their program experiences, considering how their understanding of marine science, watersheds, coastal resilience, and environmental stewardship has grown over the past four weeks. Students also began planning their capstone projects, which will showcase what they have learned while answering the program's essential question: How am I connected to the ocean, and what responsibility do I have to protect it?

 

Through field-based explorations, students learn to appreciate the largely unexplored depths of our marine environments.

 

Our students explore the vital role that the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth, as well as how humanity and the ocean are intertwined.

OUR FUNDING SOURCES

Two main sources of funding that support the SSCPS community and some specific educational programs are the South Shore Charter Educational Foundation and Mass Cultural Council.

The South Shore Charter Educational Foundation is the non-profit organization that supports SSCPS by holding its mortgage and granting funds not covered by per capita tuition. Donations to the Foundation are granted to the school annually. The SSCEF is a 501C(3) organization and monetary contributions are tax deductible. You can read more about our Educational Foundation and the Annual Fund here.

Mass Cultural Council is a state agency that works to elevate our rich cultural life in Massachusetts. They serve the Commonwealth and all who live, work, visit, and play here by amplifying creativity, providing resources, expanding relationships, and championing transformational changes that maintain and grow a thriving creative and cultural ecosystem. In 2024, SSCPS received a $5,000 grant from Mass Cultural Council to help fund our partnership with Holly Hill Farm. The grant helps us continue to provide experiential learning opportunities at the farm for all of our young students!