Family Buzz
August 26, 2022
Dear South School Community,
Happy New Year! School is fast approaching! We are getting so excited about meeting our new friends and welcoming back our old ones! Just a reminder that we have a Walk-Through for all next Thursday, September 1, from 2-3. New families are welcome to come to our gym at 1:45 to get an assigned tour guide from the Fifth Grade Leadership Club. All others may enter the building at 2 PM on self-guided tours. Thank you for understanding that we are a work in progress getting ready for day one and that this is simply just a building walk-through for familiarization, not a time for parent/caregiver conferences. Some teachers may even be at other meetings or trainings at this time. See below for more logistical details. The walk through will culminate at 3 PM on the playground. We are grateful for the PTO as they are putting together the tour guides and the refreshments for this occasion!
PTO Gratitude: We are also so grateful to the PTO for all they have been doing to add to our start of school. We LOVE our beautiful new sign that hangs proudly out front! The playground has had many enhancements including a stage and some wonderful tables! Please see PTO Communications or click here (https://www.fundraisingbrick.com/online-orders/southschoolpto/) for the “Buy a Brick” program to help fund all of these wonderful upgrades to the playground which is still a work in progress! The Garden Committee has made some wonderful plans in tandem with Holly Hill Farms. The playground recess bins have been refilled thanks to Kristin Souza, and they are all busy planning for the Walk Through on Thursday, September 1. They are also already planning some wonderful activities for the entire year!
Cradles to Crayons: We are also grateful to the PTO Community Outreach Committee for planning this collection for September. Stay tuned for more details.
Music Teacher Update: As you know, our amazing music teacher, Mrs. Cheung, will be taking the year off to welcome her second baby. I know you will join us in welcoming Mr. Steven Aitchinson who will be joining us as a long term substitute for the entire year! Mr. Aitchinson earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Studies/Education from the University of Lowell and has experience working with students in the music field.
Mentor Program: Did you know that we have a very well run, amazing Mentoring Program for all new staff? It follows new staff for the first three years here in the HPS.
Kindergarten Parent Letter Update: Kindergarten Families received a separate communication with more details about kindergarten on 8/12. Today (8/26) they received an email with a Google Document so they could sign up for one of the times for the Meet and Greet on Wednesday, September 7 for their child’s class. If you did not receive that, contact Pam Graham, our Administrative Assistant @pgraham@hinghamschools.org.
Breakfast/Lunch: News from the Food Services Director, Kim Smyth (reprinted from her newsletter):
“BIG NEWS!!!!! All school meals, breakfast and lunch, are FREE in Massachusetts once again this year. We will again offer breakfast at all of our schools. We encourage all students to participate. Our breakfasts are ready to travel and are set up to be eaten on the go. Forgot a snack? No worries, grab a breakfast. Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families to still complete the household Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals for the 2022-2023 school year. You can complete applications online on schoolcafe.com. If you prefer a hard copy, they are posted on our site, https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1506533013953&page=lunchapps. Applications will also be available in the principal’s offices. If you would like an application mailed to you please reach out to Kimberly Smyth at ksmyth@hinghamschools.org.”
Summer Assignments Friendly Reminder: Below you will find a link to the required summer reading for students in grades 4-6 and also reading logs for younger children. This was sent home in the spring and is also on the PTS website.
https://hinghamschools.org/programs/departments/english-language-arts/summer-assignments/
Some Important Links and Reprints from 8/12/22:
Welcome Back Letter from 8/12/22: https://www.smore.com/paxbh
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):
https://hinghamschools.org/south-elementary-school/files/2022/08/Copy-of-Fast-Facts-22-23-SES.pdf
HPS Elementary Marking and Conference Schedule Link
https://hinghamschools.org/south-elementary-school/files/2022/08/Elementary-Term-Dates-2022-2023.pdf
COVID UPDATE: Below you will find the link to a communication that was sent out from the HPS Central Office earlier this week. Part of it states that masks will not be required as was true in the Spring, but we also want you to know that we will support personal choice on this matter…
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QxrZpXYsOmvfhcWz1wGq3EnRDJH0rPXst37yMpjMY6o/edit
Important Dates to Remember:
Thursday, September 1 – New Families Gather @ 1:45 (begins in gym where you will be paired up with a tour guide)/Walk-About Tour for ALL Families at 2:00 P.M.
Please RSVP to Mrs. Graham, our Administrative Assistant, by Tuesday, August 30, @ 781-741-1540 ext. 1 or pgraham@hinghamschools.org, if you plan to attend as refreshments will be served on the playground (thanks to the PTO) at the end of the tour at 3 PM.
Other Days to Walk Through: No worries if you cannot make this day; we are happy to let you walk through on another day on a self-guided tour. PLEASE just contact us to make sure that the custodians are not cleaning hallways and that someone will be here to let you in.
Tuesday, September 6 – First Day of School for grades 1-5. All children will meet their teachers on the playground, weather permitting. If it is raining, grades 1-3 will meet in the cafeteria and 4 and 5 in the gym. There will be many staff members at all drop off points and on the playground to help children find their teachers who will have signs with their names on them.
Wednesday, September 7 - Kindergarten Meet and Greet and Group Conferences/ Bus Orientation. This will take place between the hours of 9:30 and 11:30 with hour long slots for each group. You will receive a Gooogle Doc to sign up for one of the time slots in the near future. Please check in at the office first. (Be aware that parking may be difficult, so you may want to walk or park at the Lutheran Church.) Parents will attend the Meet and Greet with their child in the classroom and then wait in the library when students are receiving bus orientation. We encourage all students (even walkers) to go on the bus orientation.
Thursday, September 8 – First Day of School for Kindergarten. Children who take buses will be met at the bus loop and those who walk or get dropped off will be met at the front of the school on the playground driveway at the rainbow. Parents/guardians should meet children who are walking home at the playground entrance at the end of the day. Thank you for staying on the grass to the right/left of the rainbow so as not to block the flow of students! All others will be brought to designated dismissal spots. There should also be a designated adult to meet all kindergarten bus students at their stops at the end of the day.
Friday, September 16- Third Grade Bike Rodeo. This is a bike safety program held for third graders organized by the third grade team and our safety officers. Third graders will need to bring their bikes and helmets to school that day. After this day, with parent permission, third graders are allowed to ride their bikes to school without an adult. Please be aware that a note must be sent in to the teacher as this is a change in dismissal. More information to come from the grade 3 team ASAP.
Wednesday, September 21 – Back to School Night for grades 2, 4, 5 from 5:30-8 p.m. This is a combination of Curriculum Night and Open House, grade level times vary, so please watch for a flyer to come home in September with specific information about your grade level (s).
Friday, September 23- School Picture Day
Wednesday, September 28 – Back to School Night for grade 1 and 3 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. This is a combination of Curriculum Night and Open House, grade level times vary, so please watch for a flyer to come home in September with specific information about your grade level (s).
*By having two nights, we are trying to alleviate parking issues and back log in the use of the cafeteria. It would be wonderful if those of you who live close could walk to save on parking. Carpooling with others would also help. We are also allowed to park in the Lutheran Church parking lot which is just diagonally across the street. We are grateful to them for allowing this for all SES functions.
Kindergarten- As a reminder, Kindergarten Curriculum Night took place in May. There will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer in kindergarten and therefore visit the classrooms throughout the year.
Saturday, November 5- PTO Social for parents/caregivers. It will be held from 7-10 PM at the Hingham Community Center. Come and meet some new friends!
Saturday, November 19- PTO Fun Run, Bare Cove Park @ 9 AM
More Dates to Follow in the weekly “Buzz”
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions. We look forward to seeing you all soon! Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Sincerely,
Mary M. Eastwood (: and Lori A. Jacobs (:
New/Still Relevant News
Staff News:
None this week…
Other News:
- Father’s Day: Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads in our village. To those of you whose dads are no longer with you, you are in our thoughts…
- Monday, June 20: This is the Federal Day of Observance for the Juneteenth Holiday, therefore, there is no school. Enjoy the day as it looks to be a nice one!
Invitations are in the works for the SAA…. (see below)
- Summer Acceleration Academy Week of August 15 and 22: (Monday-Thursday 8:30-11:30). This is a summer program to help shore up ELA and Math in children who need it before the school year officially begins. It will take place at Foster (FES and EES) and here at South (PRS and SES). There will be about 20 seats per grade level shared between two schools. The program will be by invitation with many assessment factors considered (including teacher recommendation). Invitations will be sent on a revolving basis as seats are available. Many students in grades K-4 will receive invitations to this by email soon. Grade 5 (soon to be grade 6) will receive invitations to the middle school program from the Middle School. Dr. LaBillois, our Assistant Superintendent, presented the plan for this at School Committee last year (2021) and it was a huge success in year one. You may access his presentation on the HPS Website or clicking this link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h8TAIu0KtXIhJMTa6rL6hK-o5xBi30dHLUsFnp5YOYI/edit?ts=605ce327#slide=id.gbec5334d29_0_2
- Arrival at School: We know all of our students love to come to school and therefore, sometimes come a little too early before the staff/crossing guard are on duty ….Please remind your child that arrival is at 8:40…thank you!!!
- Move-Up Day: Grade 5 traveled to HMS on May 27 to experience move-up day…all other grade levels are also doing various activities to acclimate to the new grade…we are grateful to all of our teachers who are organizing this over these last two weeks.
- Town-wide Summer Reading: See the following list:
- Grade 3-4: Frindle by Andrew Clements
- Grade 4-5: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegat
- Grade 5-6: Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj
- Talent Show: A huge thank you to Mrs. Jacobs and Mrs. B. and parent volunteers for bringing back this wonderful SES tradition which will take place on June 24. Students in grades K-4 will attend the show on Friday, June 24. Grade 5 has a memory book day planned…
- Calling ALL BOOKS: Please return all South School Library Books as well as any classroom books and textbooks that you may have in your house. Even if you find them in the summer, we appreciate a drop off…Thank you!!!
- Safety: Thank you for reminding children who ride bikes and cross Main St. that they need to go to the crossing guard with Mrs. Hanlon at the end of the day. Also, we ask that children do not ride any motorized scooters (etc…) to/from school…With over 500 students leaving daily, it is just too dangerous…THANK YOU!!!
- · Reminder: Be sure to bring an ID with you when you come to ring the doorbell. You will be asked to produce it if our front office staff does not know you…
- Last Day of School: June 24 will be the last day of school for students. Dismissal will be at noon. First day of school for grades 1-5 is Tuesday, September 6 and kindergarten will have Meet and Greet that morning from 9-11. First Day for kindergarten is Thursday, September 8.
Old News
- End of Year Activities: We are starting to plan end of the year activities (specific dates below)…thank you for understanding that we have a policy that children only attend the events in their grade level (during the day). It would be very difficult for the classroom teachers to teach on grade level event days if siblings of children involved were constantly being pulled to attend events. Please rest assured that all SES children will experience all events when they get to each grade level. The only exception to this is the Fifth Grade Farewell Ceremony on the second to last day of school on June 23.
Standard Special Notes:
- Communication: Thank you for your patience at all times and for remembering our “aviate, navigate, communicate” adage when it comes to news about school. We always want to make sure that we have completely vetted an idea or solution to a particular problem before communicating it to the community. We have a large number of children and people to consider with every decision we make, and thank you for knowing that this does take time. We really try to look for the Goldilocks solution at all times!
- Reporting an Absence: Thank you for letting us know when your child is out of school. The easiest way to notify us is to email at southattendance@hinghamschools.org or you can call us 781-741-1540.
· If you want to receive the “What’s the Buzz?” from our PTO, you need to email Brindey Marine or Faith Peak, our PTO Presidents, at brindeymarine@gmail.com or faith_peak@yahoo.com . One of them will add you to the email list.
Important Dates
- Monday, June 20- School closed for Public Holiday Date for Juneteenth
- Thursday, June 23 – Grade 5 Farewell Ceremony @ 1 PM; Families Invited; This is the one even where students in K-4 may be dismissed from class to attend the ceremony as this is indeed a milestone…
- Friday, June 24 – Noon Release /Last Day for students