Parent Evenings

Within the first three weeks of the school year, parents of seniors are invited to attend a discussion regarding post-high school plans for their children.  Parents meet in small groups directly with their son or daughter’s counselor.  Approximate attendance:  175 parents.  Topics covered include alternatives to college, the college search process, the college application process, SAT Reasoning Test & SAT Subject Tests, teacher recommendations, service academies, financial aid, valuable websites, the common application, student transcript, campus visits, open houses, college fairs, college representatives visiting Hingham High School, interviews with admissions representatives, the Career Center, and the college essay.

All parents of juniors are invited to attend Junior Parent Night in January.  The highlight of the night is a panel discussion led by a group of admissions representatives from various area colleges, followed by a question and answer session.  The panel will discuss the entire process of college admissions, including standardized testing, college visits, interviews, applications, etc.  The program typically runs approximately one to two hours in order to thoroughly cover all necessary topics.  Approximate attendance:  125 - 150 parents.

To assist parents in applying for financial aid, the School Counseling Department hosts Betsy Scola, Associate Director of Financial Assistance at Providence College, every December.  Ms. Scola has been a prominent figure in the field of financial aid.  She discusses all areas of financial aid and reviews the method of completing financial aid forms such as the FAFSA, the CSS/Profile, and the Hingham High School Scholarship Application.  The evening explains exactly how financial aid works and what steps parents must take right away for assistance from many different sources.  Approximate attendance:  125 parents.

In November, the School Counseling Department hosts Sophomore Parent Night, a night to discuss the many issues in a teenager’s life.  A panel of current Hingham High School students take part in an interactive discussion on high school life, and the challenges and triumphs they have had at HHS.  Among various topics, students talk about the stress associated with teenage life and various ways in which they deal with the pressures of balancing friends, academics, co-curricular activities and family.  Approximate attendance:  75 parents.

In September, within the first two weeks of school, the School Counseling Department invites parents of freshmen to meet with the counseling staff and administration of Hingham High School to find out about about daily life at Hingham High and learn about the rules and regulations of the school.  Parents have the opportunity to see the freshman year video, which is produced by Hingham High School students and shown to incoming freshman during their orientation.  Parents are introduced to the building administration and the school counselors in a group setting.  Topics of the night include the high school’s policies and procedures related to graduation requirements, course levels, honor roll, GPA, class rank, credits, school records, attendance, standardized testing, co-curricular activities, athletics, etc.  Approximate attendance:  150 – 175 parents.

In March, parents of seniors who will be heading to college in the fall are invited to attend a second Senior Parent Night of the year.  As more and more seniors hear good news from colleges, a new challenge looms—what should parents expect over the course of the next year when their sons and daughters transition to college?  The Spring Senior Parent will be an opportunity to explore parents’ concerns with a lively panel discussion.  Approximate attendance:  90 parents.  This year’s panel includes:

• Mr. Brian Murphy, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Services at Stonehill College:  Mr. Murphy addresses parents’ concerns related to college acceptances and financial aid including now that my son or daughter has received acceptances from the colleges, how do help him or her make the decision to attend the ‘right’ school?  How should we compare financial aid packages from different colleges?  What do I do with all of the paperwork I have received from the college?  What are my responsibilities to the colleges that my child has decided not to attend?  What if my son or daughter is on the wait-list at their first-choice school?

• Mr. Jack Fitzmaurice, parent of three former Hingham High School students:  Mr. Fitzmaurice shares his varied experiences related to his three children as they prepared to enter college.  What is the interaction between parents and their son or daughter during the remainder of senior year?  What does it feel like when dropping off your son or daughter at college?  How often should I call or email?  Why does my son or daughter seem so grown up after only a few months at college?

• Dr. Barbara Green, therapist:  Dr. Green addresses the changes that take place in the family.  How should I expect my younger son or daughter to respond to the absence of an older sibling?  What do my spouse and I do now that we have the house all to ourselves?  Is it normal to feel like you can’t wait until your son or daughter leaves for college?