Highlights from the HACTC - Oct. 9
October 9, 2026
October 9, 2026
Note from the Director
I recently had a chance to visit our Natural Resources students at their outdoor learning space. Parents and guardians, we often get brief answers from teenagers about their day at school. I bet that if you had asked a student, “What did you do in school today?” they likely would have said something like, “I dug a hole.” Yes, they were digging holes, but this leaves out so much detail about the learning that was happening.
What I saw was students learning about soil types and soil layers. Students had already done some classroom learning about soil types and then were applying that knowledge. Measurement was another key component of the learning as their holes needed to be a specific dimension.
I also saw students learning some important life lessons. The instructor explained, “If you make your hole too small, we can make it bigger, but if you just go in without a plan and make a hole that is too big, it’s going to be really hard to get it to be the right size.” I’ve seen a similar lesson in Culinary, “You can add some spice, but do it a little at a time, because you can’t take it back out if you go overboard.” I also saw some great learning about perseverance. It’s one thing to tell a teenager, “Even when it’s hard, just keep trying.” It’s another thing for a teenager to vividly experience a challenging situation and see what happens as they keep trying. Growth is a key aspect of our mission at the HACTC. Students grow as they work through things that they didn’t think they were capable of. Getting to watch this learning every day is a great joy for all of our staff; I hope your student is sharing at least a tidbit about the depth of the learning they are doing at the HACTC.
-Erika Schneider
HACTC Director
Dates to Remember
October 12 - No School, Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 30 - End of Quarter 1
Working in the bake shop in Culinary Arts.
Building bridges in Introduction to Engineering Design.
Working on a panel project in Autobody, Motorsports, and Customs.
Learning proper EKG lead placement in Medical Assisting & Phlebotomy.
Video game level Art of the Week in Design, Illustration, and Media Arts.
Studying for OSHA 10 certifications in Industrial Mechanics & Welding.
Level I:
- "I love working on cars, and I'm a hands-on person."
- "I'm most excited to learn how to repair my vehicle, and I'd like to work in a garage when I'm older."
- "Hoping for this to lead me to be an army mechanic."
- "I am looking forward to learning how to fix/repair vehicles and to be able to leave here and get a good paying position in a shop."
- "I'm really excited to learn about suspension. It would allow me to rebuild old luxury cars."
Level II:
- "I am really looking forward to learning about automatic and manual transmissions. Also I'm excited about co-ops."
- "I'm planning to use my knowledge here to try and expand what I know and get into a trade school for diesel mechanics."
- "Learning little new things as we go and getting better at diagnosing problems."
- "A/C work, it seems interesting and complex."
Level I:
- "I'm looking forward to learning everything I need to know to start my own business."
- "I really just want to test my skills and try something new. This program offers a very different spectrum of learning from my sending school. The challenge really intrigued me when applying. The college credits will also help me get farther in my degree."
- "I want to learn how to balance a checkbook."
- "Getting to know people and getting connections."
- "I am looking forward to learning about accounting as I'm sure that will be important in the future. I am hoping that I can learn to be more charismatic and gain connections."
- "I'm looking forward to earning the credentials and experience that I will put toward getting a degree in business with a finance minor, which I will hopefully use to start my own business."
Level II:
- "I'm looking forward to exploring job opportunities and improving my resume."
- "I am looking forward to starting job shadows and learning more about the different fields in business and how they work."
- "I'm looking forward to going out on a co-op. I believe I'm going to Golf and Ski, and I love golfing, and I love skiing, so it's going to be a perfect fit. I'm excited to learn what goes on behind the scenes in all these businesses, which is awesome."
- "I really enjoy the simulations we do in Knowledge Matters."
- "FLBA."
- "This year I hope to both learn and pass QuickBooks."
Level I:
- "I am looking forward to helping people feel like their best self, and blondes. I am hoping this leads me to opening my own salon that specializes in blondes."
- "I can't wait to learn how to do a cut crease makeup look. I would love to add makeup to my professional skills."
- "I am truly excited to learn more about color. I love having colored hair and giving my friends what makes them happy and feel beautiful."
- "Learning all different cuts and updo styles! I really want to maybe specialize in doing updos and styles for events like weddings, proms, photos, etc."
Level II:
- "I'm so excited for a deeper dive into color and blonding."
- "I am most looking forward to co-ops and getting more practice taking nail clients."
- "I'm excited to learn more about highlighting and to get clients."
- "I'm looking forward to co-oping at a spa so I can learn more about skin and a spa environment rather than a salon."
- "I'm looking forward to highlighting. Later in the future, I want to specialize in blonding services and so learning the basic techniques of highlighting will help to get a start into my career."
Level I:
- "I am looking forward to go to different job sites and using unique skills at each site. I hope my time at the tech center leads to a job in the National Parks."
- "Identifying trees, using saws, learning to cut trees."
- "Climbing trees. I chose this so I can get more familiar and better at it."
- "I'm mostly looking forward to learning how to fell trees properly and safely."
- "I'm looking forward to running equipment as that may lead to me getting my CDL to improve me getting a good job."
- "I'm most excited to get outside and cut trees, run equipment, and climb. I think this program will boost my chances at getting a leg up in the workforce."
Level II:
- "I want to learn more about chainsaw carvings, learn rock wall building, and to be able to name trees better."
- "I am mostly looking forward to going out on more live sites and actually working in and out of the classroom."
- "Building a parking lot at our work site on Christian St."
- "Learning to tap a tree. I am looking forward to doing this because it takes great skill."
Adult Education at the HACTC
Learn More
To browse and register for all of our upcoming classes:
- Instagram @HACTCAdultEd
- www.hactc.com/adult-ed
Director of Adult Education: Jennifer Opalinski · adulted@hartfordschools.net · (802) 295-8630 x2504