Newsletter 9/11

Foster School Weekly News September 11, 2026 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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It’s hard to believe this is only our second week of school! The Foster students are already impressing me with their ability to follow routines in the hallways and lunchroom. I know the teachers share my enthusiasm and often comment on what a great job the students are doing. Keep up the great work!

On the 25th anniversary of September 11, I want to take a moment to recognize those in the Foster community who were impacted by the events of that day. While many of our students were born long after 2001, this anniversary remains a meaningful opportunity to teach them about unity, resilience, and the power of helping others. As the familiar reminder to “look for the helpers” teaches us, we can always find hope in those who step forward to help. I want to thank everyone in our community who supports Hingham residents each day; our firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and everyday citizens who demonstrate immense courage and compassion. Their service is deeply appreciated and honored here at Foster School.

We have so many exciting events coming up in the next few weeks, including Curriculum Night and a Back-to-School event hosted by the PTO on the Foster playground. These will be wonderful opportunities to connect with the Foster community. See below for dates and times for these events and more information will be shared as we get closer.

Next Wednesday, September 16, is our first early-release day for all students. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m., and teachers will participate in professional development. Classroom teachers will focus on mathematics and the newly adopted Bridges Math program. Bridges is a student-centered, interactive math program that engages children through hands-on learning, visual models, and collaborative problem-solving. Specialists and support staff will collaborate with colleagues to plan and prepare for students.

REMINDER:

Please see the below instructions for completing your back to school forms in Aspen:

Student Beginning of the Year Forms (OLRR):

Families with students currently enrolled in Hingham Public Schools must complete the Online Re-Registration (OLRR) process each school year.

Instructions for Returning Student Re-Registration (OLRR): [View HERE]

Please complete this process by September 14th, 2026.

I was able to spend some time with Harbor Media before school started. If you would like to learn a bit more about me, watch the interview here: 5 Minutes with Heather Benner.

Traffic Pattern for Drop Off/Pick Up

Parent vehicles must use the Parent Entrance only. Cars may not use the bus loop at any time.
Once on school property, do not pass other vehicles. The driveway is two-way traffic.
Students should be seated on the passenger side so they can exit directly onto the school sidewalk, never into traffic.
Wait until the vehicle in front of you moves before proceeding. Do not pass other vehicles.
After drop-off or pick-up, circle around and exit to the right.
The Parent Entrance is open only during drop-off and pick-up times.
Always follow the directions of the staff and crossing guards.
Pay attention and drive slowly and safely at all times.

Each week I will share a topic that you can talk about at the dinner table or in the neighborhood. It is a fun way to come together as a community. The questions will not just be for students but for parents and teachers, too! The hope is that the conversation spills over into school and gets us all sharing stories on a similar topic. This week's question is:

"Would you rather live for a week in the past or the future?"

Let me know how this conversation goes with your family and friends. I would love to know!

The first Foster’s Finest winners for the 2026-2027 school year are Lilly Regan (2D), Drew Harrington (5K), Nolan Harding (2MU), and Matt Pellumbi (1BE). Way to go, kids!

A reminder that all medication orders, medical treatment plans, asthma action plans and allergy action plans must be renewed at the start of each school year, even if nothing has changed. Please send in these new orders and plans (signed by your child’s healthcare provider [MD, PA or NP] and a parent/guardian) as soon as possible. If your child needs epinephrine or an inhaler at school and you have not provided it yet, please get this to the nurse as soon as possible.

Dear Preschool Families,

We hope your children are settling in well and having a wonderful first week of preschool! We are excited for the year ahead and grateful to have your families as part of our preschool community.

Some important reminders:

Wednesdays are half days for all preschool students. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. at the front door. Please park in the parking lot and walk to the front door to pick up your child.
Preschool Playground: The preschool playground is closed from 8:15 a.m.–2:30 p.m. During this time, the KIA classrooms use the playground for morning drop-off, so our integrated preschool students should not be playing on the playground during these hours. Thank you for helping us keep this area safe and accessible for all students.
Pick Up Patrol is used for reporting all attendance issues including; absences, tardies, early dismissals, or dismissal changes. Be sure to register your student for a PickUp Patrol account! Invitations to register have gone out directly from PickUp Patrol but if you need another invite email Patricia Wanty, pwanty@hinghamschools.org, in the main office. Here's a PickUp Patrol User Guide to help you get started.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we get the school year underway. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and making memories together!

Warmly,
Sarah Chick

📣PTO News 📣

🛝Back to School Playground Party! Friday, September 18th 4:00-5:30

Join us for a fun afternoon celebrating the start of a new and exciting school year! We’ll have a DJ, pizza for sale, and an ice cream truck. Bring the whole family and come reconnect with old friends and make some new ones!

⛳ 4th Annual Foster’s Finest Golf Tournament | Monday, September 21st

Save the date! Registration is now open for players and sponsors. All proceeds directly support the teachers and students at Foster through the PTO. We welcome families, neighborhoods, local businesses, and large companies to sponsor the tournament. Interested in helping with planning? Reach out to Caitlin Riley (caitlinoriley@gmail.com).

📆First PTO Meeting of the year! Friday, September 25th at 9:00 in the MPR

Join us for the first meeting of the year! Meet our new Principal, Mrs. Benner, meet our PTO board and learn about all the exciting ways you can get involved at Foster this year. We’d love to see you there! Coffee, munchkins and a coloring table will be available for our littlest friends.

Looking for adventure and fun for your elementary schooler? Join Cub Scouts!

Pack 41 gives kids the chance to explore the outdoors, build lifelong friendships, and learn new skills through exciting activities all year long. Highlights include camping at Wompatuck, sleeping over on a naval vessel, ski trip, grade level den activities and the always-popular Pinewood Derby, where kids design, build, and race their own cars.

Cub Scouts is a great way for kids (and families!) to make memories that last a lifetime. Ready to join? Visit the sign up page. For more information, email us at pack41.outreach@gmail.com.