Family Buzz
March 22, 2024
Dear South School Community,
We had another amazing week at South! Thank you for continuing to send your children to school ready to learn with smiles on their faces. Grades 3-5 are gearing up for MCAS which we call, My Chance At Shining. This will start for grades four and then three the week of April 1, and grade five the week of April 8. (see DATES Section for more information) The first series of tests is in English/Language Arts. We are so grateful to all of you and all of the staff who have worked so hard to make sure that our students are learning so much on a daily basis. They are READY to take this on, and we wish them well!!!
School Year: 2024-2025
On another note, this is the time of the year when we start to think about the coming school year of 2024--2025. Please encourage any neighbors/friends to register their children for kindergarten or any other grade if they haven’t already done so... It is important that children be registered so we can plan space and staff. Thank you for spreading the word in the village! We sent out the Placement Parent Input Form for students entering grades 1-5 last Monday March 18. Below, you will find a reprint of that email:
Placement Input: You only need to fill in a form for each of your children in grades K-4 (as they will be moving to grades 1-5 in September) if you have pertinent information you need to share with us. Simply click on the link of your child’s current grade and read the letter, then click to complete your entry if you wish. There is no need to send a response if you do not have any pertinent placement information to share with us for placement.
Special note:Since fifth graders are moving to sixth grade in September, their families will receive a Course Selection Sheet from Mr. Smith, the principal of Hingham Middle School, in the next few weeks.
Current Kindergarten: https://forms.gle/sSDRnvayk7HujiM17
Current 1st Grade: https://forms.gle/9iGA5byK3w5Zih3p8
Current 2nd Grade: https://forms.gle/3Bw5tJrnqEtwg9eVA
Current 3rd Grade: https://forms.gle/T7y5jhaKLB2PRwxMA
Current 4th Grade: https://forms.gle/46geMkLJSDMAkX7f9
Quote of the Week for 3/25/23:It’s incredible to think that Communication is 55 % Body Language; 38% Tone and 7% the words we say
Staff News
NONE THIS WEEK
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PTO NEWS/Thank You :
Dismissal Notes: The Change of Dismissal Note Pads are BACK!!! We have them for sale in the Main Office. $5.00 each. The Main Office loves these types of dismissal notes. Easy & Clear. They are always available in the Main Office. Families may also send in $5.00 in an envelope addressed to the Main Office (marked attendance pad), we will make sure a dismissal pad is placed in your child’s mailbox.
Charity Backpack Collection: The PTO has partnered with School on Wheels to collect gently-used or new backpacks and totes for school-aged children in the greater Boston area. Perhaps surprisingly, children in every town in the state are now experiencing some degree of homelessness, extreme poverty or temporary shelter situations. A clean backpack can make a huge difference. You can include any or all of the following items with your donation, but the bags alone are fine too: NEW single subject notebooks, pocket folders, pens, pencils, markers or crayons. The backpacks will go to preK through high school age children, and new or gently-used book(s) would be most welcome!
The drive runs from Feb 26 until April 12, and donations can be dropped in a marked bin in the school’s main lobby or at 6 Volunteer Rd. Please contact marianne.telenko@gmail.com with questions, and unfortunately monogrammed packs cannot be accepted. With nearly 25,000 kids in the state facing homeless circumstances, any and all of the named donations will be directly used and appreciated!
Math Olympics: South School PTO is excited to offer this voluntary “Math Olympics” program which started on March 4th! The program is designed to be a fun, “extra-challenge” that will enhance the development of your student’s problem-solving skills. There are 5 sheets per pack for each grade and the program runs for 5 weeks. Students can download the pack for their grade level, complete the activities and then submit them to their teacher each week to be graded. Students can work at their own pace and turn in the pack each week. They should write their complete name and grade level at the top of the front page. We are so grateful to the PTO and especially Amber Gladeau and her army of volunteers for making Math Olympics happen! We are grateful to the following volunteers who have agreed to be correctors each week: Sara Gordon (Kg.); Amanda Parker (1); Meredith Reydel (2B amd 2Mc); Rachael Staab (2 M and 2 Y); Elizabeth and Gregory Malecha; Chelsey Sorensen (4G and 4W); Fabiana Ribeiro (4D and 4N); Isabel and Ryan Klein (5)
Queen Elizabeth II: AKA Sheryl Faye, paid a visit to SES on Friday, March 22. It was so much fun to see students in their finery to greet her! There were even some tiara spotted in the crowd! Students were extremely well-behaved for both performances which is a real credit to ALL in the village!!! We thank the PTO for sponsoring this wonderful visit!!! We all learned so much about the life and dedication of this remarkable woman and queen!!!
OTHER NEWS AND REMINDERS:
March is Reading Incentive Month!
As part of our spring reading incentive we would like to encourage students to share books with others and read books they might not normally choose. Please bring in a book from home to swap with classmates this month (please remember to write your name inside the front cover). Also, students brought home bingo cards, and they are welcome to more. After completing five squares, they can turn in their sheets for a chance to win a book prize.
KIA NEWS: Enrollment for next year's K-5 KIA has begun... See link for information.
Mid-Term Check Ins grades 3-5: These mid-term reports will come home as paper copies in envelopes in backpacks on this Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Behaviorial Health Help Line LINK-Please Share
Wellness Wednesdays: See this flyer from the town on Wellness Wednesdays.
· Neurodiversity Awareness Month: We will recognize and celebrate all the learning styles of our students throughout Neurodiversity Awareness Month. We are choosing to celebrate from Monday, March 18--Friday, April 12th! There will be many links and activites as well as book suggestions shared with staff and students throughout the month. All may join in by choosing to do the following:
- Every Thursday wear Kindness or Neurodiversity affirming shirts (e.g. "infinity logo" shirts)
- Thursday, March 21, was Rock Your Socks for Down Syndrome Day
- April 2, is Autism Acceptance Day= some may wear blue and use puzzle pieces but neutral colors are now encouraged as well as the infinity symbol...
New Assistant Principal: We will start the formal search and hiring process for a new assistant principal later in the Spring.
Cafeteria Accounts: Please take a moment to check your child's (ren's) account(s) to make sure there is not a balance. Even though lunch is free, there is a charge for a la carte items (like Thursday ice cream), therefore, your child may have a balance. Thank you for taking care of that!
Items for Buzz:
Parent/ Caregiver Resource: A new, free resource for families- MPY Parenting Solutions Library. Learn more about how to inspire your child or support your anxious child. Gain more knowledge about menthol health and our youth. Help your neurodiverse child thrive. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions empowers parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections and safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library may easily be accessed using the link. No login or passcode is needed.
Special NOTE: Kindergarten Orientation and Screening will take place on Thursday, May 23 (note date change). Time Invitations will be sent out to all families of students who are registered.
Noon Release Reminder: Wednesday, April 3, 2024- Noon Release for Conferences. Please contact lbarry@hinghamschools.org or your child's teacher for an appointment. The next/last one will be June 5 (Professional Development) and possibly, June 14, the last day of school (TBD)
. There is NO EARLY RELEASE IN MAY as we did an extra one in September due to the adoption of the new reading program.
Fifth Grade vs. Staff Floor Hockey Game: ALL are invited to this game on Wednesday, April 3 @ 5 PM at Hingham High School. Grade 1 students will provide half-time entertainment. Proceeds will go to the Adelia, the Wonder Girl Fund!!!
First Grade Musical Tour of the World: This will take place on Thursday, June 6 @ 1:30 PM in the SES Cafeteria. Parents/Caregivers/Grandparents are welcome to attend.
On that Note: With so many end of year activites happening at each grade level, thank you for understanding that is it our practice to NOT dismiss children from other grade levels to attend activities of siblings as the year ends as this would be extremely disruptive to teaching in the other grade levels. The only exception to this is the Fifth Grade Farewell Ceremony which takes place on the second to last day of school...
Special Additional Note: In the case of the First Grade Musical, all students will attend the Dress Rehearsal on June 5...
Quick Reminder: PLEASE do not make two lines in the driveway...if you cannot get in in the single line; please drive past and come back...we will NEVER leave your child alone while they wait for you.
Bike Riding: Many students are asking about the Spring start up for bike riding. Due to the fact that we are looking like we could be getting antoher blast of somewhat cold weather the next couple of weeks, we are going to set our sights on April 1 (hopefully!) Please stay tuned!
Absent Letters: It is our responsibility to send letters to students who have excessive absences per DESE. If you receive one about your child, please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns. We like to encourage all stduents (unless ill) to attend school on a daily basis as it makes such a difference to their education over many years! It's also very important to help them access the curriculum and build confidence and independence for adulthood!
Bus Reminder: We need your help! We have had some reports of unkindness on our buses. Thank you for working with us to remind students that they should be kind at all times, even when no one is looking...and to treat others as they would like to be treated...and it might also be worth reminding them that we do have cameras on all of our buses...
Some Tips About Pick-Up and Drop-Off:
· If you are the first car, please pull up to the red sign across from the fire station as this gets more cars off of Main St.
· If you are walking to pick up your child, please stand on the larger/grassy area at the end of the school by the OT Room as this will help to clear the small sidewalk.
· Please do not stand in the driveway!
· If you are also riding a bike to/from school; please do not ride it on school property during arrival/dismissal for safety reasons and also to be an example to students who are trained to walk their bikes on school property at these times.
· We also do not allow scooter riding on school property during arrival/dismissal for safety reasons; thank you for walking them as well.
Calling all CORIs: We love to have you all volunteer either at school or on a field trip. Don’t forget that ALL need to be CORIed for these activities. This has to be newly done each school year. Please drop in with you driver’s license and fill out a form should you wish to be CORIed. The turn-around takes about two weeks. Kudos to those of you who already came in
Subscribe to the 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.
Some Important Links and Still Relevant Reprints from Past Newsletters:
Fast Facts: The Fast Facts would be a wonderful thing to keep on your refrigerator or someplace handy in your home as it answers many of the often asked questions about school life/year. Here is the link to Fast Facts (a summary of the SES Handbook)
Care Solace: As we start the new school year, we want to remind you of the invaluable resources available to our community:
· Aspire Health Alliance To Make an appointment 617.847.1914 In a Crisis 800.528.4890
· Quincy Family Resource Center 617.481.7227
· Plymouth Family Resource Center 774.283.6531 aarcuri@baystatecs.org
· South Shore Coalition of Independent Therapists Find a licensed mental health provider near you
· The Baker Center for Children and Families 617.232.8390
· Boston Child Study Center 617.800.9610
In addition, Care Solace offers mental health care coordination services and can help connect you and your child with appropriate community-based providers. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or other mental health services, Care Solace can assist you in finding the support your family may need.
To access Care Solace's coordination services, simply reach out using the following options:
Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.
Visit www.caresolace.com/hinghamschools: On their website, you can explore mental health providers independently or click "Book Appointment" for personalized assistance through video chat, email, or phone.
By joining hands and working together as a community, we can provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that supports the mental health and well-being of our youth. Let's continue to prioritize their emotional growth, and together, we can create a brighter future for our children.
Thank you for being caring and involved parents and guardians in the Hingham Public Schools. Your dedication to supporting our youth is truly commendable.
Most current DESE COVID guidance is as follows:
Important Dates
Friday, March 29 - School closed for Good Friday
Wednesday, April 3 - Noon Release for Conferences
Wednesday, April 3 @ 5 PM @ Hingham High School: Fifth Grade vs, Staff Floor Hockey Game: First Graders will provide the half-time show and proceeds will go to Adelia the Wonder Girl Fund...
Monday, April 15-Friday, April 19- School Closed for April Break
Thursday, May 23 (note date change) - Kindergarten Orientations and Screening; Personal Invitation to Follow
Thursday, May 23 - Fourth Grade States' Fair @ 1-2 PM; SES Cafeteria
Monday, May 27- School Closed in recognition of Memorial Day
Thursday, May 30 - Fifth Grade Spring Concert @ 9:10 AM/ SES Cafeteria (parents and caregivers welcome)
Wednesday, June 5 - Noon Release for Professional Development
Thursday, June 6 - First Grade Musical @ 1:30 in the SES Cafe; Parents/Caregivers Welcome
MCAS DATES:
ELA
Grade 4: April 1,2
Grade 3: April 4,5
Grade 5: April 8,9
Last day for make-ups is April 26
Math
Grade 5: May 1.2
Grade 4: May 6,7
Grade 3: May 8,9
Science/Technology and Engineering:
Grade 5 ONLY: May 14/16
Last date for make-ups = May 24
More Dates to Follow in the weekly “Buzz”
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions.
Sincerely,
Mary M. Eastwood (: and Lori A. Jacobs (: