HMS Connection

A Message from Mr. Smith

Greetings from HMS!

I am very pleased to share with our families information about a very important upcoming presentation for parents and caregivers.

On January 17th, at 7:00 pm in the Hingham High School Auditorium you are invited to come hear Clinical Psychologist and author Dr. Nadja Reilly present: How to Handle Anxiety, Depression & Your Kids. Dr. Reilly will cover general topics about anxiety/depression/self harm, what to look for, coping mechanisms, and grief and loss. She will also discuss how to talk to children about these issues and answer questions from the audience.

Heather Rodriguez, Director of HPS School Counseling, will be on hand to cover our new partnership with Care Solace, and discuss services offered in Hingham Public Schools.

This presentation is being Sponsored by SEPAC & HPS PTO’s and we hope you can join us for this very important evening.

Seventh and Eight Grade STEM Projects

Students have been very busy in their STEM elective classes!

Seventh graders have been studying Mars and applying what they've learned to design a path on a paper topographical map of the Red Planet. This was then scaled up to a larger map. Next, they coded a Sphero to follow the path in order to get from one point on the planet to another. They also used a "Giant Mars Map" from Merrimack College to learn more about Mars' topography and practiced using Spheros to navigate it.

At the same time, eighth graders learned about different bridge types and then designed, built, and tested their own bridges to see which bridge could hold the most pennies. Putting the design process to the test makes the skills and concepts taught in this highly "hands-on" class feel very real!

We look forward to seeing what challenges these students tackle next!

Program of Studies Night

Mark your calendar for the annual “HHS 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.

A similar program will be planned for parents of current sixth and seventh grade students at HMS, so stay tuned!

Water for South Sudan

Six years ago, students at Hingham Middle School were inspired by a book. After the school read, A Long Walk to Water (our first One Book, One School selection), students and families were inspired to raise money to help a place in the world where water is scarce, South Sudan. Through their creative ideas and efforts, they raised enough money for the organization, Water For South Sudan, to build a well to bring fresh water to people who desperately need it. Those ambitious students are now seniors in high school. The current seventh graders started working on this last year, and the class of 2029 will continue in this tradition, with the hope of funding another well. We are selling student-designed stickers to support this cause ($5 each), and there is a donation page set up on the website for the annual "Iron Giraffe Challenge." Click this link to learn more. Thank you for helping students at Hingham Middle School change lives.

Weather Cancellations

The decision as to whether or not the schools will be closed or delayed is made by the Superintendent of Schools after consideration of available local weather reports and consultation with the Department of Public Works, other area school superintendents, and appropriate town officials. The decision is based on the practical considerations of the safe transportation of students and the accessibility of the schools to staff and students. Under normal circumstances, the decision is made before 5:30 a.m. and is based on the assessment of road conditions, communications with DPW, and predictions of general weather conditions at the time the children are scheduled to be transported. Anyone living in the Boston area knows that those predictions are often unreliable. Therefore, parents are encouraged to use their own judgment in deciding whether to send their child to school based on the actual conditions in their area of town at the time their children would be leaving for school.

For more information regarding school cancellations, delays, and dismissals, please click here.

A Commitment to Caring for Our Community

As you know, Hingham Middle School and the Hingham Public School system as a whole are committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment. In support of our ongoing commitment, we have partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our community.

Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community.

Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in two ways:

• Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion™ will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.

• For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at www.caresolace.com/hinghamschools.

Care Solace is now available for use at no cost to you. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance. All information entered on the Care Solace tool is completely confidential and securely stored.

Please note, this service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory to use. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline 9-8-8.

If you are interested in counseling-related services for your child, yourself, or another family member, please contact Care Solace for valuable assistance. This is a resource provided by Hingham Public Schools.

Additionally, the buttons below will connect you to related pages on our school and district websites.

January 12 - Small Ensembles Concert, 7:00 PM at HMS

January 16 - No School: Martin Luther King Day

January 19 - Coffee and Conversation with the Principal: 7:45 AM in the HMS Cafeteria

HMS PTO Meeting: 8:30 HMS Cafeteria

January 23 - HMS School Council Meeting: 2:30, Administrative Conference room

January 24 - Term II Ends

Week-at-a-Glance and After School Opportunities

Please take a look at the attached Week-at-a-Glance document to get an idea of what we have to offer next week, as well as our comprehensive list of activities, when they usually occur, and how to obtain additional information about them.

We also want to remind students and families that we provide late buses for students staying after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Please remember to pay your activity fee if your middle-schooler plans to take part in these programs.

We hope to see you after 2:00!!!

Internet Safety

The United States Attorney's Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Wednesday, January 18th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. We will be covering the following topics:

• Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint
• Cyberbullying
• Sexting
• Gaming
• Victim Support
• Protecting Against Online Predation

Who should attend: Parents, guardians, local police departments, school administrators, youth program leaders and anyone who would like to learn how to keep children safe from online dangers.

The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer and is also included here:

REGISTRATION DETAILS
Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser))
Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec3d8ccd61ccdd26ee39d8c6ffd5c57aa


Password: PSC1
Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact
Karen Legace @ USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

Karen Legace
Project Safe Childhood Program Specialist
Office of Public Affairs and External Engagement
United States Attorney's Office
Phone: (413) 785-0329
Email: karen.legace@usdoj.gov