School Committee approves program‑of‑studies updates, club integrations and routine field trips
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Summary
On Jan. 26 the School Committee approved revisions to middle‑ and high‑school programs of study, integrated piloted student clubs into the collective bargaining agreement, authorized temporary PTO naming fundraisers for bus loops, and approved HHS robotics competition trips.
The Hingham School Committee voted Jan. 26 to approve updates to the 2026 program of studies for Hingham Middle School and Hingham High School and to authorize several routine extracurricular items brought forward by administrators.
Program changes: Middle‑school principal Derek Smith described modest edits to the middle‑school program of studies, including pausing grade‑6 exploratory Family & Consumer Science and Drama for 2026‑27 and reinstating a Chinese 1A offering for rising grade‑7 students. Interim high‑school principal Dr. John Buckey outlined numerous high‑school updates: a new AP personal‑finance/business offering, a senior seminar elective focused on fantasy and imaginative worlds, new science electives (oceanography, botany), horticulture/agriscience coursework, and a 10–12 strength‑training PE elective.
The committee moved and approved the 2026 program of studies by roll call; recorded ayes carried the motion.
Clubs and MOA changes: The administration recommended permanently integrating two piloted high‑school clubs (the Jewish Student Union and Mindfulness Club) and formalizing the middle‑school art club as a Schedule C activity under the HEA collective‑bargaining agreement. Administrators explained the high‑school drama roles and club definitions were clarified in contract language; the committee approved the memorandum of agreement unanimously.
Fundraisers and naming: Foster and East PTOs sought to temporarily name bus loops as a fundraiser. The committee discussed the naming policy and moved to approve the temporary namings (Foster — "Bravo family" loop; East — "Moore Avenue" loop) by unanimous roll call.
Field trips and grants: The committee approved out‑of‑state travel for the Hingham High School robotics team to compete at University of Rhode Island (March) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (early April) and conditionally to attend New England District Championships in Springfield if qualified. The committee also accepted a Cape Cod 5 mini‑grant (about $370) for middle‑school science materials.
Why it matters: The program updates shape course offerings for the coming school year; the club integrations and Schedule C changes recognize student interest and formalize previously piloted activities. The robotics approvals remove scheduling uncertainty for coaches and families ahead of competition season.
Next steps: Administrators will post the revised program of studies and supporting documents online; routine implementation (course scheduling, club integration, trip logistics) will proceed under approved MOA and field‑trip authorization.