Superintendent's Spotlight

January 3, 2025

Dear HPS Community,

As we ring in a new year, our community has much to celebrate. This morning, we celebrated the official opening of the new Foster School and welcomed students into bright, modern and innovative learning spaces. Construction is also underway on the new HHS Wellness Center, known as “The DOCK,” and we look forward to welcoming students into that space later this year. Across the district, we continue to celebrate the collaborative work of our staff and families who in turn support the growth and accomplishments of HPS students. Wishing you a peaceful and happy new year!

Kathryn (Katie) Roberts, Superintendent

WELCOME TO THE NEW FOSTER SCHOOL!

On Friday, January 3rd, Foster School students were welcomed into their new learning space with an opening day celebration in the gym. Orientation activities continued throughout the day as students participated in a building-wide scavenger hunt and became accustomed to new school routines. The Foster building project has been an incredibly collaborative effort and has come to fruition through the time and talent of so many Hingham community members, including HPS and municipal staff, elected officials, the Hingham building committee, Foster students and families, and the broader community. Stay tuned for details on an official ribbon cutting ceremony to be held in the coming months, along with opportunities for community members to tour the new building.

HHS Wellness Center “The DOCK”

On December 7th, HPS officially broke ground on construction of “The DOCK” a 2,500 square foot wellness and fitness facility that will be located adjacent to the HHS track. The project is funded entirely by private donations and will provide an updated and inclusive setting for student wellness programming. Many thanks to the Hingham Sports Partnership for their on-going fundraising efforts and support of this project.

Adelia the Wonder Girl Day–January 7th

Earlier this year, the Hingham Select Board issued a proclamation declaring January 7th as Adelia the Wonder Girl Day to honor the legacy of beloved South School student Adelia Szklut. We continue to celebrate the spirit of kindness and bravery that Adelia instilled within our community and hope all will mark the day with a special act of kindness.

Save The Date–Author Lynn Lyons–March 4th

On Tuesday, March 4th, Lynn Lyons, author of The Anxiety Audit, will join us for a community event in support of the district’s wellness initiatives. We hope that parents/caregivers and the broader community will join us for Lynn’s timely and engaging presentation, which will be held in the HMS auditorium at 6:30 PM. Many thanks to the Hingham Health Department and Hingham CARES for collaborating with the HPS Wellness Committee on the event.

Patriot's Pen/Voice of Democracy Essay Contest

Congratulations to students from Hingham Middle School and Hingham High School who were celebrated at VFW Post 6053 for their thoughtful and inspiring essays for the annual Patriot's Pen/Voice of Democracy Essay Contest. The Patriot’s Pen/Voice of Democracy contest gives students a chance to reflect on what American democracy means to them and how they see their role in shaping its future. Excellent work to everyone who participated!

HMS/HHS Ensembles Concert

After a terrific round of winter concerts in December, next up for the Hingham Music Department will be the Small Ensembles Concert on Thursday, January 9th at 7PM in the HMS auditorium. Come and enjoy performances by the HMS/HHS Jazz Bands, Junior/HHS Chamber Players and HHS Chamber Winds. The event will be particularly inspiring for our younger musicians to see the talent of these auditioned groups.

HPS Staff Presentations

HPS History Department members present at the National Council for Social Studies conference.

HHS Spanish teacher Zachary Bagan presenting at MAFLA conference.

This fall, several HPS staff members were invited to present at regional and national conferences to highlight their innovative approaches to curriculum and instruction. In October, HHS Spanish Teacher Zachary Bagan was nominated for the award of best presentation at the annual Massachusetts Foreign Language Association conference. In November, HPS Social Studies Director Andrew Hoey, HHS History Teacher Christina O’Connor, and Hingham Historical Society Director Deidre Anderson co-presented at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference. Their presentation, Partnering With Your Local Historical Society: Student Engagement and Historical Thinking, explored how collaboration can bring history to life for students.