The Compass Rose
January 5, 2024
Principal's Message:
To the East Elementary community:
We were ready to rock after the winter break, excited to see our friends and colleagues and get back into learning and routines! Your students will be taking mid-year assessments this week and next. These assessments (reading and mathematics, as well as writing in the upper grades) will help us determine growth and progress from our initial assessments in September. These results will be reviewed with grade level teams the week of January 15th and with help from our Reading and Math Specialists, we'll make decisions about the data (ex. which content areas/standards stand out in the data, how the results impacts in-class groupings and pacing, which students haven't shown the growth we'd expect to see and how will we support them, etc.)
Please review the items below, particularly the sections about the Aspen Parent Portal (Report Cards will be shared here in January), MCAS dates, and upcoming Kindergarten information sessions. Have a great weekend!
-Mr. Hawes
Report Cards via Aspen Family Portal
A reminder that we will be utilizing the Aspen Family Portal for the upcoming release of report cards (1/26). This means we will not be printing report cards for students. Instead, families will log on to the Aspen portal and will be able to download their student's report card from there.
Families will need to have an active Aspen Family Portal account (see here: https://hinghamschools.org/students-and-families/aspen-parent-portal/). To do this, please log in to the Aspen Family Portal and proceed through the parent permissions workflow.
You can find instructions for the workflow HERE.
Please reach out to us (administrators or administrative assistants) and we'll be able to help where we can!
2024-2025 Pre-School/Pre-K Applications
The newly-expanded Pre-School/Pre-K program is now accepting applications! We are excited to be bringing full-day programming to the district, as well as the existing options available to families here at East. All of these options are available to families, at prices competitive or better than many local private Pre-Schools/Pre-Ks.
**NOTE: families that are currently enrolled in the Integrated Pre-K will still need to indicate that they are interested in Pre-school/Pre-K next year using the form linked below.
Those seeking information & pricing can search here: https://hinghamschools.org/programs/preschool/
For interested parents, a link to a form to apply can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuE2jm7rNDJ6i5irKZcsvunxVTbntMfSrXhkDopYKFhsmoYg/viewform
Shoe Drive!
Our East Explorers are excited to kick off the New Year, with our biggest Kindness effort to date! Starting January 2nd and running through January 22nd we will be collecting gently used sneakers and cleats of all sizes. They will then be delivered to Moshi, Tanzania where children do not have the shoes they need to attend school.
Please check out the following link to a video from the Kindness Ninja, Brian Williams who first met with our students back in September. He gives some shout outs to students for some kind acts as well as some background on the new challenge! Ask your children about the challenge or watch the video again with them and encourage them to get creative about how they collect sneakers. All students are encouraged to collect beyond their own home whether it is neighborhoods, sports teams or other extended social circles!
Please remind your child of this awesome effort and send in any gently used sneakers today! There are collection bins throughout the school; we just ask that you tie the laces of the pair together!
Kindergarten Information Session
The Hingham Public Schools will host a Kindergarten Parent Information Night for parents of children who are eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2024. We especially welcome families new to Hingham or those who will have children in the HPS for the first time next fall.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17th at 6:30 PM in the auditorium at Hingham Middle School. Central Office and building administration will join HPS kindergarten teachers in a presentation that includes enrollment guidelines and timelines, an overview of the kindergarten program and curriculum topics, and a discussion of expected readiness skills.
Please share this notice with others you know who are parents of children who will turn five on or before August 31, 2024
Toolbox Tool of the Month
This month, East is highlighting the Toolbox tool of Empathy. Our messaging to students around the use of this tool is "I care for myself, and I care for others. I notice how other people are feeling and how that impacts them."
Classrooms will read stories that involve empathy, or empathetic characters, such as the one linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGAS_Aj85cA&t=1s
Connecting to the feelings of characters in books and stories is a common way to teach about empathy. When you read to your child or your child reads to you or tells you a story, ask "Have you ever felt that way?" or "I know just how they feel!" or "How do you think she feels right now?". When your children remind you to use your Empathy tool, they are asking to have their feelings acknowledged.
Winter Art Showcase
We are excited to be showcasing East student artwork at the Hingham Public Library throughout the month of January. These submissions can be viewed in the children's section, please check out the talents of our amazing artists!
South Shore Children's Chorus
The South Shore Children's Chorus is opening rehearsals for new singers this January! Please see the flyer below for details.
MCAS Dates (Spring 2024)
Parents, please see the breakdown of testing dates for MCAS below.
Grade 3: ELA- April 4 & 5, Math- May 8 & 9
Grade 4: ELA- April 1 & 2, Math- May 6 & 7
Grade 5: ELA- April 8 & 9, Math- May 1 & 2, Science- May 14 & 16
Save The Date ✔️ 📅
After-School Explorers Winter Session begins
Monday, Jan 8, 2024, 03:00 PM
PreK Information Session 1
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024, 01:00 PM
East MPR
PreK Information Session 2
Saturday, Jan 6, 2024, 06:00 PM
East MPR
PTO Meeting
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024, 07:00 PM
East MPR
Martin Luther King Day- No School
Monday, Jan 15, 2024, 07:00 AM
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