The Compass Rose
Principal's Message
To the East Elementary School community:
Thank you to the many families that attended our Curriculum Night! It was wonderful to see so many parents show out to learn about the happenings in their student's classroom. For those that attended, please take a moment to fill out this short, 6-question survey. Your feedback will allow us to reflect and shape next year's event:
https://forms.gle/UhJuXBmVAJxFYduv9
This past Monday, I presented an update on our School Improvement Plan to the School Committee. We touched upon the progress being made within each of our goals. Those slides can be found HERE.
Lastly, our educators participated in Professional Development on Wednesday. The focus for this session was to explore and identify the resources available to them within the new Into Reading program. Our educators are using this program each day as the foundation of our Reading instruction.
- Mr. Hawes
Kindness Ninja!
Last Thursday, East Elementary was joined by Brian Williams, aka the Kindness Ninja! Brian got us amped up for a kindness challenge that is already spreading throughout our school in the form of signs, notes on lockers, conscious check-ins and kind words, etc.
Check out the videos below:
East Newspaper Club
The East Newspaper Club is meeting soon! The first meeting will be on Wednesday October 11th (3:15-4:00 PM) in the East Library.
For those interested in joining the East Elementary Newspaper Club, please sign up in the Main Office. Our office staff will assist you in signing up.
Students MUST sign up ahead so that we can confirm details with parents.
School Council
The East Elementary School Council is seeking additional parent representatives! If you're interested, please reach out to us. If we have multiple parents interested, ballots will be sent home in backpacks for vote.
Interested parents can provide the following information: Name, connection to East (which grade(s) your student(s) is in, work you've done in our schools), what your goal may be in volunteering for our council.
Please email Principal Hawes (jhawes@hinghamschools.org)
East Explorers
Our after-school Explorers program is up and running for the Fall session. Please ensure that you're updating PickUp Patrol and identifying that your student will be participating in Explorers on their given day.
Sports/Pokemon Card Drive
We are starting up a Card Drive next week, with donations going towards a great cause! Students can donate any cards that they don't want to our school card drive. These donations will be brought to South Shore Hospital to be used and enjoyed by children who need to stay at the hospital.
Flyers and posters were put up throughout the school, a big shout-out to Jack O'Connor and Rory O'Brien for their work getting this up and running!
Holly Hill Garden Volunteers Needed!
The Green Team is looking for volunteers to come help fill the new raised garden beds that Holly Hill Farm is building in our school garden for us! The event is on Saturday, 10/14 from 9-10:30 AM at the school veggie garden and we welcome all helpers (and garden tools if you have an extra wheelbarrow, or shovel to bring along).
Please sign up for a volunteer spot below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F49A4AD2DA3FC1-44941493-east
Cellphones & Smartwatches
Parents, please partner with us in upholding the expectations for the use of electronic devices throughout the school day. Over the first few weeks of school, we have been aware of instances in which students are using cell phones or smartwatches to speak directly with parents about the status of their day or how they're feeling.
While understandably comforting for some, it is not an opportunity that all students have and is not in line with our expectations outlined in our Student Handbook (Pg 24: https://hinghamschools.org/east-elementary-school/files/2022/09/Elementary-Handbook-2022-2023.pdf)
If student concerns require immediate adult attention, students should utilize the staff available to them and we'll ensure they get the help/support they need.
MCAS Reports
Parent reports for the Spring 2023 MCAS results will be mailed home next week (you should anticipate receipt by the week of October 16-20). Please be on the lookout for these! As always, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us.
HPS Events Calendar
Want to have all school events downloaded to your phone? Click this link to find step-by-step instructions on how to subscribe to calendars. Get started at hinghamschools.org/calendar.
We have also introduced an Athletics Calendar and Fine Arts Calendar. You can subscribe to these the same way as the schools by going to hinghamschools.org/calendar.
Parent Portal Workflows
IMPORTANT: Families, please take a moment as soon as possible to complete important beginning of year documents via the Aspen Family Portal. These documents include the following:
- Review of Contact Information
- School Handbook Acknowledgement
- Technology Acceptable Use
- Student Photo Release Opt Out
- Release of Student Data Notice
Save The Date ✔️ 📅
Indigenous Peoples Day- NO SCHOOL
Monday, Oct 9, 2023, 07:00 AM
PTO Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023, 09:30 AM
East MPR
Contact Us:
Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us!
Jonathan Hawes, Principal: jhawes@hinghamschools.org
Dr. Amanda Donovan, Assistant Principal: adonovan@hinghamschools.org
Karen Mariani, Administrative Assistant: kmariani@hinghamschools.org
Elisa Nelson, Administrative Assistant: enelson@hinghamschools.org
Tel: (781) 741-1570