Friday Update

Hello Foster’s Finest,

I hope the New Year has been off to a great start for our families. The building project is progressing: the tree removal is almost complete, most of the playground equipment has been placed into their footings and the hard top basketball, foursquare, and hopscotch lines have been drawn; we are waiting on the basketball hoops, the sod for the play area, and two new pieces of equipment to arrive. We are very close to being ready to open the playground! Finally, the new access road to the back has been completed so there is no more traffic driving through our parking lot.

We will be sending out this month's attendance letters soon. The school district is held accountable for student attendance and it does impact the school's report card from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The main reason I am writing this is because the impact of students missing more than a tenth of the school year is detrimental to their education. Please understand that chronic absenteeism in the early years has a negative impact on child's learning; it also creates future attendance problems in the later grades. We do not want sick children sent to school, but when vacations are taken outside of the scheduled school breaks and then a child misses for being sick, this compounds the problem. Thank you for taking these things into consideration.

We are looking to open a Pre-School Spanish Immersion Classroom run by Kids in Action at Foster next year. The information is below. This is a super opportunity for us to launch this program prior to our occupancy of the new school, which will have pre-school classrooms when we open in September 2024. If you know of anyone with a pre-school aged student, please pass the information included below along to them.

Next Friday I will be having another "Coffee with the Principal" . I will gladly answer any questions that you may have around the construction project, as well as the school budget. Our budget meetings have begin with the School Committee and our first formal presentation to the public is next Thursday night. Please sign-up here so I know how much coffee to bring.

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Scheufele

Kids In Action Beginning String Classes

Registration opens tomorrow for this wonderful opportunity. Please take a look at the attached flyer for information about the strings program being offered after school. It is a first come first serve registration process and space is limited.

Pre-School Spanish Immersion Classroom

HPS is excited to announce the opening of the Spanish Immersion PreK pilot program coming this fall. This is a full day program running 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM from September 2023 to June 2024. The program will operate under KIA (Kids in Action).

There are two information sessions this month:

1. In Person - Thursday, January 19, 2023, 7:00 - 8:00 PM @ Foster Elementary School,

55 Downer Ave. Hingham, MA 02043.

2. Virtual - Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 7:00 - 8:00 PM Via Zoom. The Zoom link will be

posted on our website.

For more information on the program, visit: https://hinghamschools.org/spanish-immersion-prek/

Registration for the program opens on Monday, January 23, 2023. The enrollment deadline for the program is February 15, 2023.

Preschool Registration

HPS INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR!

HPS Integrated Preschool program is looking for children who will work, play, and learn alongside children with special needs in our integrated preschool settings. If you are interested, please return the application (linked below) by January 27th. Parents/Guardians of applicants will be called with an appointment time for our placement screening on 2/7/23. If you have any questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Costanza at ecostanza@hinghamschools.org

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

Kindergarten Registration

Families who have incoming kindergarten students next September should mark their calendars: on January 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall, there will be a forum about the kindergarten registration process. This will be a great event designed to inform you about the events coming from registration through screening and orientation.

Save The Date:

Our next PTO Meeting is Thursday February 2nd 6pm-7pm @ Foster School Library. Join us for a HPS budget update & discussion from our Superintendent Dr. Margaret Adams. The HPS School budget is at the forefront of all upcoming School Committee meetings. This year there will be discussion on the need for an Operational Override to be voted on at the Spring Town Meeting. Show up & stay informed! RSVP via text or email to Missy Sadler @508-380-1536 / sadler.melissa@icloud.com.

Yearbook Committee Needs Your Help:

Are you looking for a way to volunteer for the Foster community at a time & place that’s convenient for you? Join the yearbook committee! We are looking for help from parents in ALL grades. There are many ways to be involved. Please check out the sign up genius Yearbook Sign Up

& contact Denise Dockrey for more information at dsdock@gmail.com.

Scholastic Book Fair Save the Dates: March 13th – 17th

We are planning to bring back Family Night as well as the Used Book Store…Stay tuned for more info. If you’re looking to volunteer to help with this great event please reach out to Ally Forrest @ forrae01@yahoo.com

Boosterthon Glow Run

Save The Dates: March 22nd – 31st

For our spring fundraiser the PTO is partnering with Boosterthon to transform Fosters gym into a glowing, neon racetrack with rope lights, disco balls, tents, flags, cones, and tunnels. During the week leading up to the run students will learn & focus on a different theme each day (Gratitude, Stewardship, Bravery, Perseverance & Wonder). Students who wish to participate can work to get pledges for how many laps they can run and receive awards/prizes for achieving milestones. At the end of the week students who want to participate will run up to 35 glowing laps to fun, high-energy music. Special accommodations will be made for any student that may require them. We are looking for volunteers. Please contact Meg Tomasello for more info: mgrier77@yahoo.com

Check out: Glow Run Video

We are bringing back the K-5 Foster Talent Show:

Save The Dates: Dress Rehearsal Fri. May 5th & Talent Show Sat. May 6th Location: @ Hingham High School Auditorium

Please email kellyhoppe@gmail.com if you would like to help be a part of the planning committee.

Upcoming Community Events:

January 11th: 6:30pm – Kindergarten Information Session @ Town Hall

Forum will be held on 2nd floor in North/South room & include enrollment guidelines, timelines & program overview.

January 17th, 7pm – Hingham Highschool Auditorium: How to handle anxiety, depression & your kids – Parents & Caregivers please join us for a discussion with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nadja Reilly who will cover general topics about anxiety/depression/self harm - What to look for, coping mechanisms. Discuss grief and suicide - how to talk to children about this and answer questions from the audience. Heather Rodriguez, Director of HPS School Counseling, will cover Care Solace & discuss services offered in Hingham Public Schools. This presentation is being Sponsored by SEPAC & HPS PTO’s

Spring Softball Clinics – Grades 2-8

Sign up for Spring Training Clinics to get ready for the 2023 Spring HGS Softball Season! Open to girls grades 2-8. These clinics focus on hitting, fielding, throwing, and getting ready for the spring season! $180 for 4 sessions in February and March at the Dome at Union Point Sports Complex @ 170 Memorial Grove Ave., South Weymouth. More info at www.hinghamgirlssoftball.com