HINGHAM HIGHway :::: HHS Newsletter
December 23, 2022
HOME • NEWS • DEPARTMENTS & PROGRAMS • CALENDAR • COUNSELING • PotW VOTE
Among the many highlights of another busy week:
The winter concert season concluded with outstanding performances by our bands on Tuesday night and our orchestra groups on Thursday night.
A weeklong art show highlighted the work of our outstanding young artists.
Our Student Council delivered a fun Spirit Week with dress-up themes.
The Dance Team recorded a perfect score when leading “Slash the Trash” efforts in the school cafeteria on Wednesday. This means that our custodians did not find a single compostable or recyclable item in the trash after more than 1100 students had finished lunch. We can therefore be sure that, between 11 AM and 12:30 PM that day, there was no greener school in America!
Looking ahead…
We return from break on Tuesday 1/3.
All students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM on Wednesday 1/4 so teachers can spend the afternoon in professional development.
The HHS PTO will meet at 7 PM on Thursday 1/5.
Ninth Grade Advisory groups will meet during the second half of E Block on Friday 1/6.
Just announced: SEPAC and the Hingham PTOs will sponsor a presentation from clinical psychologist Dr. Nadja Reilly about “How to Handle Anxiety, Depression & Your Kids” on Tuesday 1/17 at 7 PM in the HHS auditorium.
Also: After the holiday break, HHS will begin to use an automated email system to notify parents if their child has been marked absent or tardy on that day and they have not already notified the school by phone. This new system will help parents and guardians to learn more quickly if their child is not present in school or was late arriving to school if a phone call was not received.
The HHS attendance policy can be found on page 17 of the Student Handbook. Absences, tardies, and dismissals may be excused for the reasons listed below with proper documentation that is delivered within 7 school days.
Students are allowed five non-exempt absences per term. No credit will be given on the sixth absence. The following absences will be exempt:
Medical (with a note from the student’s doctor)
Religious holidays
Funerals Bereavement for the death of an immediate family member
Legal (with documentation from a court, lawyer, etc.)
2 days for a school-sponsored field trips per term
College visits - 3 days during a student’s junior year and 3 days during a student’s senior year (advance consultation with the HHS counselor is necessary and documentation from the college on school stationery after the visit is required…)
Other exceptional reasons with approval of the Principal or designee
Finally: The following message from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), shared with all public schools earlier this week, is worth repeating here:
Across Massachusetts, schools are seeing a concerning increase in seasonal respiratory illnesses, particularly COVID-19 and influenza. The best guards against severe illness are vaccinations against both. The Department of Public Health recommends that every person over the age of 6 months get a flu shot annually, and DESE strongly encourages districts and schools to engage with school communities to ensure as many staff and students as possible receive a flu and a COVID-19 vaccination this school year.
The following resources may be helpful:
Staff and students should stay home if they are not feeling well, take a COVID-19 test and seek treatment if needed, wear a mask if desired, and wash their hands.
The daily notices, the full school calendar, and the student newspaper, can always be viewed on the HHS website. Look for details on the website and in our weekly PTO newsletter.
Have a great vacation, everybody!
Principal Swanson
Band Concert
Art Show
The work now on display at the HHS art show is nothing short of museum quality. This week, Room 103 could be mistaken for the MFA!
Lab Partners
There are no better partners than lab partners. In HHS science classrooms, teamwork makes the dream work.
Opry is ready for a break!
What's better than an Elf on a Shelf? A Comfort Dog on a Bench. Even if it doesn't rhyme, it's still pretty awesome.
Quiz Bowl
The FIFA World Cup was not the only source of exciting soccer headlines. Congratulations to Sophie Reale '23, who earned MVP honors while leading the East team to victory in the All American game!
Botelho Scores!
Congratulations to Bryce Botelho '23, whose stellar World Cup predictions earned him a Wahlburgers gift card and a new soccer ball. And special thanks to the HHS Unity Project members whose efforts generated lots of fun at our school.
Girls Basketball Slashes!
The girls' basketball team enlisted their friends, both human and canine, in leading "Slash the Trash" efforts at lunch this week.
9th Grade Chemists
These ninth grade chemists made plastic in class last week. At HHS, students don't just LEARN ABOUT science. They actually DO science.
Playing Games at SCHOOL?
Sure, it looks like they're just playing games, but these psychology students are actually studying spatial skills awareness, competitiveness, and gender. Who says sophisticated learning can't also be FUN?
Dance Team Slashes!
The dance team led "Slash the Trash" efforts at lunch today. Therefore, we can be sure that, for at least those 90 minutes, there was no greener school in America!
Thank You, Mrs. Black
For decades, Mrs. Black's positive impact on our school has been immeasurable. As she approaches her retirement, we can hear THOUSANDS of voices repeating these words in unison!
PTO
The HHS PTO goes above and beyond to lift the spirits of our staff. Not only for the holidays, but all year long!