Each spring, the Hingham High School senior class takes a break from their usual academic routine to participate in a beloved tradition known as Harbormen Helping Hingham Day, Held this year on Thursday, April 17, 2025, the event marked yet another successful opportunity for the Class of 2025 to step out into the community and give back in a hands-on, meaningful way.
This annual day of service has become a hallmark of the senior experience at Hingham High as well as the matching red shirts received at the beginning of the year. With over a dozen service sites spread throughout our community, students spent the day volunteering at local schools, nonprofit organizations, historical sites, and more. This year, Mrs. Shinney organized the event working tirelessly to ensure that every senior finds a role suited to their interests.
“Yes, it was difficult to organize,” Mrs. Shinney admitted. “But I am happy to do it for this group of seniors. I think it is a really special day for them to come together and do something to help their community. It’s such an important part of helping others, but it’s also a nice feeling to give back to the people who have helped them through their journey in Hingham.”
And that is exactly what the seniors did – giving their time, energy, and enthusiasm to projects both big and small.
Many students chose to volunteer at the elementary schools they once attended, making the day even more meaningful. Maddie Cusack, for example, returned to Plymouth River Elementary School to work in a second-grade classroom. “I signed up for PRS at the beginning of the school year. I was really excited to be at PRS but I was originally on grounds crew,” she said. “Mrs. Shinney is amazing and she allowed me to switch to be inside and be a teacher’s assistant.”
Similarly, Helen Concannon spent the day at South Elementary School. “I’m going to South, which is my old elementary school, and I’m really excited to get to go back there,” she said. “I’m going to be a teacher’s assistant in the third grade. I’m with Ms. Blasetti, whom I know personally, so I’m really excited to get to spend the day with her and help her out!”
The feeling of nostalgia was a common thread among many seniors who chose to return to familiar hallways and classrooms.
For some, like me, the experience was both reflective and rewarding.
We began the day gathering as an entire grade in the High School cafeteria. Here we indulged in a large spread of breakfast food organized by the PTO and were given instructions for our tasks.
After this, I spent the day as a teacher’s assistant in Mrs, Eikinas’s first-grade class at South Elementary School. We began the morning by sorting books and putting them into boxes for possible donation. After that, we cut out colorful construction paper shapes for an upcoming classroom activity. Around lunchtime, the seniors gathered in the teacher’s lounge, where pizza was generously provided for the volunteers. The rest of the day was spent working with students – helping them with classroom tasks, joining in their activities, and reminiscing about our own elementary school memories.
Some students pursued unique opportunities in creative or community-focused roles. Nate Antoine, for instance, spent his service day at Harbor Media alongside classmates Alana Marsden, Daniel Davis, Matty Cummings, and Tanner Whitehouse. “I am going to Harbor Media and making a skit,” Nate explained. “I’m so excited to be with my best friend Daniel, and working with Mrs. Shinney has been so amazing.”
The range of service sites showcased the diverse ways in which students were able to contribute. Here’s a list of the main service locations where seniors volunteered.
- Music Teacher’s Assistant
- Plymouth River Elementary School
- East Elementary School
- South Elementary School
- Foster Elementary School
- Hingham Middle School
- HHS Greenhouse
- Hingham CARES
- Hingham Rec
- Hingham Downtown Association
- Bathing Beach
- Holly Hill Farm
- Girl Scout House
- Hingham Historical Society
- Cemetery Clean-up
Each student’s experience looked a little different, but the spirit of the day remained the same: gratitude, community, and service. For many, it was a reminder of how far they’ve come, and how much the town of HIngham has shaped their journeys.
As seniors prepare to leave Hingham High behind and move on to the next chapter of their lives, Harborwomen Helping Hingham Day serves as a heartfelt farewell to the community that supported them. It’s a day of reflection, reconnection, and responsibility – a day when students give back not because they have to, but because they want to.
In a world where it’s easy to get caught up in the next big step, this tradition stands as a powerful reminder to pause, look around, and lend a hand.
