Many Hingham High School students attended Foster School kindergarten through 5th grade, providing fond childhood memories on its grounds, as well as infamous tales of the building’s many antics.
On Friday, January 3rd, seven years of planning and construction, paired with 113.3 million dollars of funding, came to fruition with the opening of the new Foster Elementary School; beginning a new chapter for local education. The facility replaces the prior school of the same title, constructed in 1951. In the 74 years of the original Foster’s service, tens of thousands of grateful students were raised, developed, and educated. In recent years, the age of the building placed it in critical condition, creating a burden for the faculty and students. Hingham High School Junior Aiden Pulmonari recalls chaotic memories from his time there, “On a spring day, the heating broke, warming the school nonstop until each classroom was eighty degrees. On a winter day, the heating broke again, freezing the building and forcing an evacuation. On a rainy day, the lower level flooded”. The town’s website attributes the school’s “inconvenience to students and staff in recent years” and inability to “meet today’s building code requirements” as the motivators for the new construction. This is a necessity and relief to all involved with the original building. Third-grade teacher Courtney Stevenson expressed “As hard as it was to leave the “old Foster School” it truly was time, and the building is ready to be put to rest. That building served its purpose for many years and so many great memories were created there. Now we all look back on those fond memories we will treasure forever as we start a new adventure in our fabulous state-of-the-art Foster School.”
In its first month of service, the new Foster has delivered on its optimistic expectations. Building Committee Vice Chair Ray Estes proclaimed the school “one of the biggest construction projects in the town’s history.” In its expansive 126,385 square feet, the school boasts various lavish modern amenities; such as grade-level neighborhoods, an integrated preschool program, a wilderness classroom, special education services, a therapeutic learning center, a language-based classroom, and Kids in Action offices. These conveniences are life-altering for the young minds they nurture. Ecstatic and energetic 5th grader Nicholas Healey exclaimed,” The new school is gigantic, and the new stuff is very cool.”
The school’s benefits reach further than the student body. A gymnasium with adequate seating and a cafetorium provides space for schoolwide and community events to gather indoors, a luxury previously nonexistent in the smaller original Foster. A multi-purpose room hosts field science classes in session and provides further areas for after-school activities. Outside, forest paths and gardens encourage exploration and nature education, while playfields expand local athletics. When asked about her favorite of the many new features, second-grade teacher Sarah Vogel replied “We have spacious communal areas for each grade level, where students can work together in small groups. We have a Multipurpose Room, a beautiful cafeteria with a stage that connects to the gym (which is large enough for the whole school to gather), and a new chorus/band room. There is an outdoor learning deck off the second floor, which will be great once the weather is nice. We are also really excited about our brand-new playground and outdoor learning areas.”
An additional accomplishment of the project is achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. This rating recognizes the sustainability and health of Foster School for encouraging the well-being of its occupants and ecosystem. Notable LEED-supportive implementations include a solar-paneled roof, access to natural light for every room, energy-efficient insulation, electric charging stations, and ground-sourced temperature control.
The changes are big for the little kids, who school-wide are discovering the vast building. Courtney Stevenson stated that “The kids have adjusted very well. The size was overwhelming at first, but with a lot of practice with lines and a fun scavenger hunt the PTO provided on the first day they are getting their bearings.”
The town of Hingham is revered for its outstanding public education. Investing in youth is an investment in the future; Hingham marks its continued dedication to this belief with the incredible construction of the new Foster School. Generations of students for years to come will benefit from the thoughtful and innovative construction of this grand town project.
