Hartford Hurricanes 2026-2027

Dear Hartford High School Students, Faculty, Staff, Parents, Caregivers and Families,

There is so much positive energy moving through our halls as the school year gets into full swing! Everywhere you look, our students and staff are hard at work connecting, creating, and engaging.

It has been an incredible few weeks across the high school campus, our musical cast and crew are underway with rehearsals, our athletic teams are giving it their all in full competition mode, and our Link Crews have met to foster community and support our new students. A huge thank you as well to the Friends of Hartford Performing Arts for hosting such a wonderful Welcome Back BBQ last week!

You're Invited: HHS Open House – Wednesday, September 16th - 6:00pm.

We invite all parents and guardians to join us this Wednesday, September 16th, for our Open House. This event is a great opportunity to walk in your student’s shoes, meet our faculty, and learn more about our Fall 2026 curriculum across all content areas.

And before this year's open house, join your School Counselors and VSAC for College Planning Night where students and families will learn about the specific steps in the college selection and application process. 5:15PM to 6:00PM in the library.

Please take a few minutes to read through the rest of this week's newsletter to see all the amazing things happening at Hartford High School and stay updated on upcoming events. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

My best,

Amy Molina

Principal, Hartford High School

We are excited to highlight the incredible work of former Hartford High School educator and Rowland Fellow, Melissa Wyman! Over the past two years, Ms. Wyman dedicated her Rowland Fellowship to exploring, designing, and leading the implementation of Place-Based Learning (PBL) across HHS. By treating our local community as an active classroom, her initiative connects academic content to real-world experiences, empowering students through inquiry, relevance, and authentic hands-on learning.

We invite you to watch the video below to explore the project, learn more about how Place-Based Education is transforming learning at HHS, and see these experiences in action. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Wyman for her visionary leadership, hard work, and dedication to enriching our school and community!

This past Saturday night, we hosted the Flynn Playing Fields Project at Hartford High School. Playing Fields is a free back-to-school celebration touring Vermont schools and communities. We experienced an awe-inspiring evening of large-scale puppetry, featuring Sea Fantasy – The Pearl, created by Plasticiens Volants, an exciting and dynamic street theater troupe from France. Thanks to all who came to the show!

• College Planning Night - Wednesday, September 16th 5:15 to 6:00 in the Library

• Hartford High School Open House - Wednesday, September 16th at 6:00pm

• PSAT/NMSQT Testing Info: Wednesday, October 14th. Sophomores and juniors can sign up for $18. They will miss Blocks 1, 2 and part of 3. Students should see Mrs. Whitney in the Library to sign up.

• Picture Day - Thursday, September 24th - See below for details.

To Learn about clubs offered at Hartford High Schools during 5th block click here!
(List will be updated throughout the year)

The Student Leadership Committee (SLC) works to find and address issues present in Hartford High School through research-based solutions, collaboration across the student body, and the administrative body. Our focus is to advocate for important improvements that build a stronger educational environment and experience for all students in Hartford High School.

If you are a student that truly cares about the quality of your education, and the well being of yourself and your peers, if you are a student that loves to solve problems with real power to fix these issues, or someone who simply finds this interesting, please apply. Students, connect with senior Calvin Mills with questions or click here to apply. Application deadline is September 18.

The Vermont State Youth Council is now accepting applications from youth (ages 11-18) from Essex, Grand Isle, Rutland, and Windham counties to fill the Council’s current vacancies. These are 3-year terms during which youth meet regularly with the goal of crafting state policy recommendations they’ll present annually to the governor and Vermont Legislature.

Make sure the youth in your life know about this incredible opportunity to have their voices heard on matters important to youth, like climate change, education, equity and anti-racism, youth mental health, and youth voice. Visit the State Youth Council website for more info and the application.

Students who participate in a co/extra-curricular activity such as participating on a sports team or the musical are required to be on-time for school (and attend all classes) in order to be eligible to participate in after-school activities. Please help/encourage your student to be on-time EVERY day.

Vermont families are encouraged to complete the 2026-2027 Household Income Form, even though, thanks to Vermont’s Universal Meals law, all students have access to free meals regardless of household income. Information reported on the form helps determine eligibility for and access to important programs and funding to support students and families. These include Title I, E-rate, Early College benefits, and other educational resources.

By completing the confidential form, you help our school receive resources that support programs and services benefiting our entire school community. The form can be filled out online and it takes just a few minutes. Thank you for your time and willingness to help out. The form can be completed here

Hello Hurricane Families!

Fall teams are off and running and it looks like an exciting season is ahead of us! Please take a look at our rosters and make sure we have everything correct! We want to make sure we have names spelled right, nicknames accurate, etc. Please reach out to Jeff Moreno (morenoj@hartfordschools.net) with any corrections. Unified Soccer started this past week and Unified XC starts on 9/15. Unified Soccer hosts Otter Valley on October 2nd and Unified XC hosts a home race on October 4th. Come cheer on our Unified athletes!

We appreciate your patience as we work through some internet trouble at our Maxfield and Alumni locations. These issues are preventing us from livestreaming our soccer and football games on the NFHS Network but we should have them back up and running this week.

Mark your calendars for October 2nd at 7:30 (halftime of the football game) for our 2026 Homecoming celebration! We will honor our championship reunion teams and then enjoy a fireworks display. If you were a member of any of these teams please grab your championship jacket, spread the word with your teammates, and come join the festivities on October 2nd!

Reminder - The Maxfield Bus will depart at 3:10 daily from Barwood Arena. Due to a lack of drivers there will not be a Maxfield Bus after school on Tuesday (9/15) or Thursday (9/17). We apologize for the inconvenience.

Reminder - Fall fitness center hours are as follows:

• Monday: 3:00-5:30
• Tuesday: 3:00-5:30 & 7:00-9:30
• Wednesday: 3:00-5:30
• Thursday: 3:00-5:30 & 7:00-9:30
• Friday: 3:00-5:30
• Saturday: 10:00-11:30
• Sunday: CLOSED

The Booster Club needs your help!

Jeff Moreno

Athletic Director

Hartford High School

For more details about each scholarship and the eligibility requirements, read the details below carefully.

• Scholarships Available
• United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship (USSYP) - Due 10/20
• The Gates Scholarship - Due 9/16
• Distinguished Young Women
• Student Scholarships - rolling applications/deadlines. Always being updated

• Wednesday, September 16th 5:15PM to 6:00PM in the library - Before this year's open house, join your School Counselors and VSAC for College Planning Night where students and families will learn about the specific steps in the college selection and application process.

Wednesday, October 8th 8:25 to 2:45 - Juniors and Seniors are invited to join the counseling office for a college fair, campus tour, and lunch with admissions at Southern New Hampshire University. Permission slips are in the Counseling Office with Lauren Parker. We have 1 bus so get your seat now!!!!

Consider attending the Canada College Fair taking place at Hanover High School on September 21st from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

• Admissions Representatives from schools all over visit Hartford High School. This is a great time to learn about schools, show interest, and meet the people who read college applications. You MUST sign-up for each college visit ahead of time. You can sign up in Infinite Campus using Responsive Scheduler for the 5th block time slot or in the Counseling Office with Lauren for earlier day visits. Your name must be on the list to be excused from class for the visit. *** Students are responsible for make up work and notes if attending a college visit during class time. You may not miss a test for an on-campus college visit***

• Here is the list of scheduled visits and times!

• Senior Future Planning Meetings will start Monday, September 21st. Each student will be responsible for arranging their own meeting. Sign up with Lauren Parker in the Counseling Office.
• Common App Help - Want time, space and maybe help filling out your Common App? Set up an appointment during your free block with Lauren in the Counseling office or sign up to join during 5th block with responsive scheduler.

The United States Naval Academy Office of Admissions would like to invite you and your students to an upcoming information session. In this session we will cover the application process, our offered summer programs, and received benefits.

Event Details:

When: Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where: Shelburne Town Office, 5420 Shelburne Road Shelburne, Vermont 05482

Space: Meeting Room #1

The link to register for this event is listed below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2B949foKi_8QtQfQ8QbV2CTxTC6dU8_B_mH4Q8xgPKxEP_w/viewform

We’re kicking things off with a new lineup of healthcare career exploration opportunities at Dartmouth Health designed to spark curiosity, build connections, and give students a closer look at the incredible variety of careers available within healthcare.

Ways for students to explore:

• Youth Engagement Experiential Learning Days
  Take learning beyond the classroom! Students connect with healthcare professionals, explore different career areas, participate in interactive activities, ask questions, and hear firsthand career stories. These experiences are designed to help students discover careers they may not even know exist.
  • Career Exploration Events Listing (Registration can be found in the event listing)
• Under-18 Allied Health Shadowing
  Give students the opportunity to see healthcare careers in action through supervised observation experiences, including:
• Radiology – 8-hour observation
• Ultrasound – 4-hour observation
• Physical & Occupational Therapy – 4-hour observation
• These experiences provide students with a real-world glimpse into healthcare careers and what it’s like to work in these fields.
• Under-18 Job Shadow Program Interest Form

Stay Connected!

Be sure to check out our Center for Career Development website and events calendar for upcoming programming, registration information, and additional opportunities throughout the year.

• Center for Career Development-Student Career Exploration Portal
• Career Exploration Events Listing

The Mid-Autumn or Autumn Moon Festival is a traditional harvest celebration held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month—falling on Friday, September 25, 2026 this year. As the second-most important holiday in China after Lunar New Year, it centers on family reunions and giving thanks for the harvest under the year's roundest, brightest full moon. Families celebrate by gathering for reunion dinners, gazing at the moon, lighting colorful lanterns, and sharing round pastries called mooncakes. The 3,000-year-old holiday is deeply tied to the famous folklore of Chang'e, the moon goddess, and her husband Houyi, making the full moon a lasting symbol of completeness, unity, and togetherness.

Prejudice, xenophobia, and violence directed at people of Asian descent is rooted in a long history of institutional exclusion and scapegoating. In the United States, this bias dates back to the 19th century with discriminatory policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the first major law to ban immigration based on race and nationality, stopping Chinese laborers from entering the country for ten years and barring Chinese residents from U.S. citizenship. It was finally repealed in 1943. Anti-Asian hate has historically intensified during periods of economic or geopolitical tension.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rise of anti-Asian hate fueled by racist political rhetoric that scapegoated Asian communities for the spread of the virus. This backlash resulted in thousands of documented incidents of verbal harassment, shunning, and physical violence—particularly targeting vulnerable elderly individuals—which sparked widespread civil rights mobilization and federal hate crime legislation to address the ongoing crisis.

Ultimately, celebrating cultural traditions like the Mid-Autumn Festival serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the enduring strength of Asian communities. By honoring the values of unity, family, and togetherness embodied in the full moon while confronting the historical and modern realities of anti-Asian prejudice, we foster deeper empathy and solidarity. Preserving these vibrant customs not only protects rich heritage against hate, but also invites everyone to build a more inclusive society where all cultures are understood, valued, and safe.

Want to learn more about the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and mooncakes? Check out these videos:

• The Legend of Chang'e with Over the Moon's Phillipa Soo | Netflix After School
• Grace Lin reads Thanking the Moon
• How Mooncakes Are Made
• This Bakery Makes Thousands of Mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival Every Year | NYT Cooking

Julia Lau

Equity Coordinator

HSD

The Hartford High School National Honor Society, in partnership with HHS Staff members Robin Martin & Jamie Briggs, organizes the Hartford High School Food Shelf. The food shelf provides a variety of foods and hygienic products to student families in need. Currently we provide resources to 9 student families on a weekly basis. Every year it is uncertain how many people will be in need of our help.

• Ramen Packs

• Dry cereals

• Oatmeal

• Fruit Cups

• Pasta & Sauces

• Peanut Butter

• Jelly

• Canned tuna

• Canned chicken

• Macaroni & Cheese

• Granola Bars

• Canned soups

Thank you for your support.

The Hartford High School National Honor Society Students are participating in the CHaD Hero race on Sunday, October 18th. This is an awesome fundraiser for Dartmouth Health Children's. Our team is HURRICANE HONOR. We are encouraging all HHS Staff, students and families who are interested in participating to join us. For more information, click here.

The Class of 2028 is doing ANOTHER encore order of our super popular, subtle but spirited monochromatic sweatshirts. We have added another color option and, in addition to crewneck sweatshirts, we have both short and long sleeve t-shirts. To place an order, please either make a copy of the order form and send it to garrowk@hartfordschools.net or print it and have it turned into room 107 at HHS. Cash or checks to Hartford High School will be required before the order is placed. All orders are due by 10/1. Thank you for helping us fundraise for our prom!

Link Crews got together this week to talk about how school is going. To make it even sweeter, popsicles were provided!

Boom Boom!

Kara Garrow, Rebecca Whitney, and Hannah Romeo

HHS Link Crew Coordinators

Please visit the HHS Performing Arts Calendar of Events for all of our upcoming events!

PEP BAND SEASON IS HERE!

Pep Band Dates for Fall ‘26 (pizza for band members at 5:45 PM, game at 7 PM - except for 10/15 which is 4:45/6 PM): 9/25, 10/2, 10/15 (Thurs game), 10/23, and playoffs TBD.

Hartford School District has an annual tradition of recognizing those employees who have dedicated many years of employment to the Hartford School District at their annual welcome back celebration. This year the RRC rocked the awards by having 4 staff members recognized!!

Kim Carroll: 10 years of service.

Additionally, Hartford School District has a tradition of honoring employees who go above and beyond with an annual Employee of the Year Award. The RRC staff is thrilled that our very own special educator/case manager, Kim Carroll, was selected as this year's District Services Employee of the Year.

Kelly Mock: 25 years of services

Roisin Viens: 30 years of service

Steve Gagliardone: 35 years of services

These 4 staff members total 100 years of educational experience!

Sign Up for Unified Sports!!!

Unified Fall Sports start next week. If you haven't registered yet, now is the time. We are thrilled to offer two Unified Sports this fall: cross country and soccer. The best part is that students can participate in both! Practices are held from 2:05-2:53 with soccer on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and cross country on Wednesdays. You are responsible for arranging for transportation for your child at the end of each practice.

Special Education Parent Survey: Your Voice Matters

Are you a parent of a student who received special education services between July 1, 2025 to December 1, 2025? If so, please complete this Special Education Parent Involvement Survey. Your feedback helps to improve special education services and student outcomes in your supervisory union or district and is completely anonymous.

If you have not yet completed this survey, please submit your response by September 15, 2026.

If you need your unique survey identification code call: (802) 828-1256

For additional information about this survey visit: VT AOE Special Education Parent Survey Webpage

Hartford will host its 3rd Annual Styrofoam/EPS recycling collection

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 9-11 am

Mascoma Bank parking lot

243 Sykes Mountain Ave

White River Junction, VT 05001

If there is heavy rain or other inclement weather, the collection will be rescheduled to Oct. 17, at the same location and times.

Would you be willing to donate your time on the morning of October 3, 2026 (or Oct. 17, if needed)? Volunteers will be needed from 8:15 - 11:30. We have a variety of volunteering needs. We need both able-bodied people who will likely help with sorting, packing, and loading foam, and people with limited mobility who will likely help with collecting donations, handing out flyers, and checking in volunteers. Please contact Jen Durgin at jendurgin3@gmail.com by Sept. 15 to sign up. Learn what can and cannot be recycled in the Foam 101 flyer. NOTE: If you’re putting Styrofoam in your recycling bin, it’s going to the landfill. Styrofoam recycling needs a specialized facility.

Register to vote!

Youth Service America’s ServiceVote campaign asks young people to help register, educate, and get their peers out to vote; to connect their volunteering and service to voting and advocacy on the issues they care about; and to call on public officials to create spaces at every decision-making table for young voices.

Janet Potter,

Student Assistance Provider (SAP)

HMMS

The Public Health Council is pleased to announce 2026 Community Flu Vaccine Clinics. A full list of the clinics is below, and a poster is attached. As School Superintendents, I know you are concerned about the health of your students, staff, and their families. Whether you have options for offering flu vaccines in your school or not, we hope you will take the opportunity to share this information across your school community. Please help us spread the word about these free and easy flu vaccine clinics.

The text below provides all the details, so forwarding this email is a good way to spread the word. A full list of flu vaccine clinics is also available HERE.

Offered by the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley, in partnership with Dartmouth Health and the Geisel School of Medicine

• Walk-in vaccine clinic.
• All PHC clinics are free, open to the public, and do not require registration. If your insurance information is on file with Dartmouth Health, when vaccine records are stored. Your insurance will be billed as a preventive care service. There will never be an out-of-pocket cost to you.

• Clinics are open to all adults & children ages 10+.
• All PHC clinics offer both the regular dose vaccine and an enhanced dose formulation for people 65 years and older.
• All vaccines are preservative-free.

Vermont issued S-EBT benefits to over 38,000 school-aged children this summer, but some of these benefits are expiring soon. As of early September, more than 12,000 children have more than $20 left on their benefit cards. Over $1.4 million in Summer EBT Benefits will be returned to the federal government on Saturday, October 10, 2026 if they are not used.

Your Summer EBT Benefits Will Expire Soon!
Summer EBT benefits only last for 122 days (about 4 months) after you get them. If you received S-EBT benefits this summer, make sure to use them before they expire and are returned to the federal government. Once they expire, you can’t get them back. This year, most households need to use their benefits before Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Need Help?
If you need a new EBT card or want to know when your benefits expire, call 1-888-354-0012 and press Option 7.

ASL Classes are starting SOON!!

Classes are taught by Deaf instructors and held on Zoom. We meet one day/week for 1.5 hrs for 8 weeks total. These classes are appropriate for ages 14+. Class size is limited to 11 people, so register soon!

Beginner ASL:

• Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm from Sept. 24 - Nov. 12 (Instructor: Kiel Callahan)

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999792005722?aff=oddtdtcreator

  
  

• Thursdays 5:00-6:30pm from Sept. 24 - Nov. 12 (Instructor: Darcie Matthews)

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999792104016?aff=oddtdtcreator

Intermediate ASL:

• Mondays 6:00-7:30pm from Sept. 21 - Nov. 9 (Instructor: Lynn Poquette)

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999791393892?aff=oddtdtcreator

  (REQUIRED: completion of the Beginner level or permission from the instructor/coordinator)

Each session is $100 (+tax) per person for the full 8 weeks.

*REGISTRATION is REQUIRED to get all of the information, curriculum, and Zoom link.

Feel free to spread this far and wide to co-workers, family, friends, and beyond. People do not have to be in VT to attend - it's an online class.

Questions? Email Kris at kris.lemire@uvmhealth.org

Theater Performance: Telling the Story

Sundays, 12:00–1:30 PM, Ages 13+ , Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Nov.1, 8

This rehearsal-style class takes performance beyond learning the steps, notes, or lines and focuses on how we tell the story. Students will explore acting, character development, musical theater, dance, story-driven movement, choreography, ensemble connection, and the process of bringing a director’s vision to life. It’s a wonderful complement for dancers who want to become stronger storytellers and musical theater performers looking to deepen their stage presence.

Stage Combat: Heroes, Villains & Other Cool Stuff!
Sundays, 2:00–3:30 PM, Ages 13+, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Nov.1, 8
Learn how performers create the illusion of danger safely and convincingly on stage! Students will explore unarmed combat, sword and theatrical weapon techniques, slaps, punches, falls, reactions, fight choreography, timing, partner communication, and character-driven movement. It’s a fun opportunity to add an entirely new set of skills to your performance toolbox.

No previous stage combat experience is necessary.

Classes begin October 4, and registration is now open. The classes run for 6 consecutive sessions and each session costs $120 to participate. Register here: https://www.nesarts.org/nesaballet