Kindergarten Registration

K-5 Schools:

Important Links

Options: Half & Full Day Programs

Half Day

The HPS half-day kindergarten program (3 hours, 5 minutes) is embedded in the full day program, with half-day kindergarten students finishing their day at the beginning of the lunch period.

Children attending half-day kindergarten participate in “morning meeting” each day to build their classroom community.

They are provided with daily mathematics and literacy instruction in both whole-class and small-group settings, where there is support from teachers, paraeducators, and parent volunteers. 

Children also receive Tiered Reading/Math Instruction (additional individualized literacy and math learning activities) for 30 minutes/day.

All kindergarten children enjoy a morning snack and social time with their classroom peers and have recess on the playground with opportunities for dramatic and free-play.

All kindergarten students have the chance to attend school-wide activities, school community events and special celebrations multiple times throughout the year.

Full Day

In addition to the activities included in the half-day program, students participating in the full-day kindergarten program (6 hours, 10 minutes) enjoy lunch in the cafeteria and have a second recess opportunity with the rest of the grade level.

In the afternoon, full-day K students have the opportunity to explore science concepts and social studies themes, as well as to participate in Buddy Centers. They may choose to engage in activities such as building with blocks and Legos, dramatic play in the house area, free art creation with various materials, technology exploration on the classroom iPads, or listening to books on tape.

Full-day K students will have one special subject each day. Kindergarten specialist classes include Art, Music, Library, Spanish, Computer Science, and Physical Education.

Additional Information:

Transportation & Lunch

Most kindergarten students will travel by bus to and from district schools, along with their siblings.

Midday transportation home will be provided for half-day students.

Walkers in each building are dismissed separately from the students who are bused.

Information about building-specific school hours and arrival and dismissal routines will be available to parents prior to the start of school. As well, the bus schedule is posted in the local press and on the school website just prior to the start of school.

Any special arrangements for children with disabilities should be discussed as part of the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) review process.

As with the other grades, kindergarten children may bring their own lunches or access the school lunches each day through the Hingham Public Schools Food Services program. Specific details about the latter option will be provided as the start of the school year approaches.

Kids in Action (KIA) and Child Care

Before and after school care is available through the Hingham Public Schools Kids in Action Program (KIA). This is a high quality, fee-based service. There is not a KIA “wraparound” component for half-day Kindergarten students.

Tuition

The half-day kindergarten option (a three-hour and 5 minute morning program) is free.

The 2023-2024 tuition rate is $2,950. A late fee will be charged for full day registrations received after March 1st. Depending upon documented family income and family size, waived and reduced tuitions are possible.

For families with more than one child in kindergarten, the family pays the full assessed tuition for the first child, using the sliding fee scale.  The family pays ½ of the assessed tuition for the second child, and ¼ of the assessed tuition for the third child.

For children with an existing Individualized Education Program (IEP), there is no charge for the full day program. Complete information about tuitions and the payment process is included as part of the kindergarten registration process. As well, Central Office and individual school building office staff welcome parents’ financial queries and other individual questions.

Tuition Sliding Scale

Special Needs & Other Student Support

Building educators make the final classroom assignments in each building. A variety of factors and sources of information may be taken into consideration. This includes information provided by parents, guidance from Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and education specialists, and knowledge of the child’s prior school experiences. As well, assignments reflect the needs of the school in terms of balance in gender, learning styles, and need for access to services and resources.

An intensive Kindergarten- Grade 2 Program is available at East School for children whose needs require higher levels of support.

Building-based special education teachers, tutors, and paraeducators provide student support and specialized instruction; and there is access to Occupational Therapy / Physical Therapy services and speech/ language instruction, as required.

A psychologist/team chair and an adjustment counselor (both full time) are assigned to each building.

Perhaps the best way to summarize how specialized services are delivered at the kindergarten level would be to compare it with what occurs at the other elementary grades. Some children need more support and specialized services than others; those services are delivered in a variety of ways, mostly within the regular classroom structure along with their typically developing peers, but sometimes outside the classroom, either individually or in small groups.

Special Needs Services  Pre-school contact: Elizabeth Costanza      ecostanza@hinghamschools.org     781-741-1570, option 4, then option 2

Special Needs Services Kindergarten contacts:

East: Katie Florek     kflorek@hinghamschools.org        781-741-1570
Foster: Elizabeth Curran     
ecurran@hinghamschools.org     781-741-1520 ext. 4808

PRS: Brett Bolger    bbolger@hinghamschools.org     781-741-1530

South: Kim Kerr     kkerr@hinghamschools.org     781-741-1540 ext. 4206

Health Services

The Hingham Public School Nurses are essential members of the educational team. Their mission is to foster the growth, development and educational achievement of all students by promoting health and wellness, in a safe and supportive environment. They are committed to meeting the health needs of individual students and through collaboration with public and private agencies and health care providers.  They advocate for students, their families and the school community.

Bus Routes