By Carol Britton Meyer
The School Committee recently approved proposals for two new Kids in Action programs -- a Pre-K Spanish immersion offering at Foster School and an elementary strings pilot at South School. The strings pilot will feature an after-school program from January through May 2023, consisting of 45-minute beginner group lessons for about 10 third- and fourth-graders. Three time slots will be offered. Ultimately, the pilot is contingent on finding staff willing to serve as instructors. Kids in Action Director Jackie Sansone and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Joann Bellis will collaborate in this pilot to determine the viability of extending it further next year. The other new offering will feature a partial Spanish immersion program, with a literacy block focusing on English instruction. The remainder of the day will be in Spanish and include math, science, and social studies. Immersion programs are beneficial for students’ cognitive growth and for their English and second language development as well as helping them gain cross-cultural understanding, research indicates. By Carol Britton Meyer
In partnership with The City of Quincy/South Shore MassHire and, the South Shore Workforce Board, Hingham Public Schools plans to implement a "Connecting Activities" initiative during the current school year thanks to a $7,000 Department of Elementary & Secondary Education grant. This partnership will offer career development education activities that support college and career readiness for HPS students, including awareness, exploration, and immersion. A number of different activities have been identified as goals, including a job fair for students; a career exploration event for grades 9-12 -- with speakers providing an overview of their professions, including pathways and the necessary education or training; a Hingham Community Service Day to connect students with local businesses through service opportunities; job readiness skills workshops focusing on problem-solving and interview skills; resume building; learning the importance of attendance and punctuality, motivation and initiative; and good communication. "Connecting Activities" funds may be used for employer outreach and student work readiness and career development. |
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Articles
March 2024
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