HINGHAM HIGHway :::: HHS Newsletter
January 06, 2023
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As we returned from winter break…
The HHS boys’ hockey team joined with friendly rivals from Marshfield High School to raise more than $30,000 for Hockey Fights Cancer last weekend.
The head coach of our boys’ varsity basketball team, Bob Kniffen, reached a major milestone with his 200th career victory on Tuesday night.
Registration opened for the preschool program run by the HHS Child Development classes at HHS. We still have a few open spots, but they won’t last long!
Looking ahead…
HHS small musical ensembles will deliver a concert in the Hingham Middle School auditorium at 7 PM on Thursday 1/12.
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.
HHS will deliver its annual “Program of Studies Night” on Monday 2/13 at 7 PM. After introductory remarks about course selection in the auditorium, parents will have an opportunity to meet with department directors and coordinators in the school cafeteria. Student volunteers will provide building tours for any interested parents.
Also: As announced previously, HHS introduced an automated email system this week 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 aims to 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.
Happy New Year!
Principal Swanson
Child Development
The start of a new year means that registration is open for the preschool program run by the HHS Child Development classes. We still have a few openings, but they won't last long!
How To Handle Anxiety, Depression & Your Kids
Parents: Mark your calendars for 1/17. Thanks to generous support from SEPAC and the all-town PTOs, Dr. Nadja Reilly will address urgent and timely topics in the HHS auditorium.
Making History
HHS juniors Vaughan Sellers, Owen Gaul, and Sarah Burke have done terrific work as interns at the Hingham Historical Society this semester. With help from community partners like The Historical Society, HHS students don't just STUDY history; they get to DO history!
Hockey Team Scores
This looks like a team that could win state titles in hockey and recycling in the same season. In the HHS cafeteria, slashing earns rewards instead of time in the penalty box. Kudos to the boys' hockey team for a stellar performance in the "Slash the Trash" contest at lunch on the last day before winter break.