June 6, 2025

Dear Hartford School District Learning Community,

It is truly unbelievable that we are already at the end of the school year!

The last couple of weeks and the couple of weeks to come will continue to be filled with the recognitions and events that celebrate the success and achievements of our students, faculty, and staff.

This time of year is a bright shooting star across an expansive and infinite sky of profundity; I hope you are able to be present in it and experience the joy of appreciation and gratitude- we are incredibly fortunate to witness the learning and growth of our students and to receive the support you have provided to all of us.

Please enjoy the images and text that attempts to capture just a glimmer of the gold that has been the conclusion of this school year.

Wishing you all a glowing gem of a summer!

Warmly,

Caty Sutton

Superintendent

Hartford School District

suttonc@hartfordschools.net

A big thank you to Eric Christie, HSD Director of Technology, for figuring out how individuals can subscribe to the HSD Newsletter!

To subscribe to be on our list of newsletter recipients, please access this link (the link is also on the front page of our website)!

As noted on a page dedicated to the Commission on the AOE website, "The Commission on the Future of Public Education, created per H.887, Sect. 1(a), shall study Vermont’s public education system and make recommendations to ensure all students are afforded quality educational opportunities in an efficient, sustainable, and equitable education system that will enable students to achieve the highest academic outcomes. The result of the Commission’s work shall be a recommendation for a statewide vision for Vermont’s public education system, with recommendations for the policy changes necessary to make Vermont’s educational vision a reality."

On Monday, June 2, from 1:00-4:00, the HSD hosted the Commission in the HACTC BEST room. During the meeting, the Commission discussed the status of H.454, as well as what they envision their role to be, particularly amidst the ever-evolving status of education transformation in the state.

For more information on the Commission's work and to review the minutes of the meeting we hosted, please access the link below.

Please consider reaching out to our local legislators with any concerns, questions, or statements to help to inform their work on H.454, as the most current news indicates that decisions on this incredibly significant and impactful bill will be made on or by June 16!

As noted in the articles and reports cited above, the last weeks of a legislative session can often include discussions among legislators that contain content that is not always shared with the public.This could lead to a version of education reform that we are unaware of and have no input or influence on.

With the stakes this high, it is critically important to remain as aware and as informed as possible, and to reach out to local legislators for information, updates, as well as to express your concerns, convey your perspective, and ask any questions you may have.

As a reminder, some of the concerns that have been raised that have been shared with you previously, and are ever-evolving, include the potential for:

1. Deep Education Cuts for Some, Large Tax Increases for Others: Depending on where the legislature lands on setting the base for a foundation formula, some districts could see significant reductions to current funding, and others significant increases, leading to large swings in tax rates across the state
2. No Measures to Address Cost Drivers (e.g. healthcare, housing shortages, outdated facilities, and growing student mental health needs)
3. Foundation Formula: Local taxpayers would no longer have influence on, or vote on, school district budgets
4. District Lines Task Force: It is still up in the air who will be determining district lines; the Senate version just included legislators, the House version included legislators and experts in education and members of the "Commission on the Future of Education in VT"; the composition of the task force is critically important in determining an evidence-based approach to how many districts we have in the state, where they begin and end, and what governance would look like

Hartford's local legislators and email addresses are:

Senator Alison Clarkson: aclarkson@leg.state.vt.us

Senator Joe Major: jmajor@leg.state.vt.us

Senator Becca White: rwhite@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Kevin "Coach" Christie: kchristie@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Esme Cole: ecole@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Heather Surprenant: hsurprenant@leg.state.vt.us

At Wednesday's Hartford Board of School Directors' meeting, Director of Facilities, Jonathan Garthwaite, shared the most up-to-date information regarding PCBs and abatement and remediation efforts in the district.

This update included what the state is requiring the district to do in order to be eligible for state funds to be used toward testing and remediation, and the impact that this process is having on our timeline toward planning our abatement project work.

Please see the links below for more information, including the page dedicated to updating you all on this situation on our website, the latest news, and a link to where you can find a recordings of our most recent board meetings where this topic has been discussed.

Please also do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have.

In order to determine our next steps in improving the user experience in accessing information on our website, we need to hear from you!

Please fill out the form below (there is also a QR code if that is more convenient for you) and let us know what we should be focusing on in order to provide you with the most helpful and productive experience as possible; we want you to be able to access the information you need as quickly and as simply as possible!

Please contact Sam Goveia (sgoveia@uvacswim.org) for more information!

The goal of this survey is to gather feedback that will help us better understand the needs, preferences, and satisfaction levels of our school community. The insights collected will be valuable in informing potential improvements to the food service offerings.

Vermont Parks Forever, the foundation for Vermont State Parks, is providing free state park entry for over 100,000 income eligible Vermonters this year!

Please see the poster and link below for more information!

Mr. Nick is working with Creating Habitats For Pollinators and the Dartmouth Class of '89 to build a pollinator garden next to the bike path.

• 6/10--Field Day
• 6/13–Ice Cream Social & 5th Grade Art Show
• 6/18--Last Day of School (12:35 Dismissal)

The photos below were featured in the New England Region's EL Education monthly newsletter this month. Fourth graders write in a variety of genres (personal letters and persuasive speeches), imitating authentic formats and representing a variety of perspectives. Third graders show complexity and craftsmanship in detailed group work about geometric shapes. Finally, the Wonder Wall highlights our older students' researched and illustrated answers to younger students' questions. That's a lot of High Quality Work!

For the rest of Better World Day, students participated in service-learning workshops both on and off campus, including building wind turbines with Vermont Energy Education Program, painting a new mural for our school, surveying salamanders at Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Park, creating wolf cartoons with Center for Cartoon Studies alum Wayne Carter, and a lot more!

Facilitated visits to see teaching and learning in action at other schools is a powerful way for teams of teachers to expand their professional knowledge and skills. Small groups of OQS teachers travel to other schools a few times per year, and we also host visitors. This spring, the Upper Valley Educators Institute teacher licensure cohort spent a morning in our classrooms. Here's what their director had to say after a day with the Wolves:

"Thanks to you and your teachers for opening your school and classrooms to us last week. I am still talking about the amazing lessons we had the opportunity to observe, and our candidates are reflecting about concrete strategies, routines, and learning activities they saw which they want to implement in their classrooms, this year and in the future. I know it's not always comfortable having groups of adults watching you teach, for the teachers and the students, but it was truly lovely to see the culture of learning and joy that permeates the school."

Three pages filled with the amazing experiences students have been engaging in during P.E., Library, Art, Music and STEAM! Click HERE for a full size version.

6/16: 5th Grade Celebration 1:30-2:30

6/17: Step Up Day

6/18: Field Day; Last Day of School for ALL grades; Early Release (12:45pm)

Post "Walk to School Dance" Party!!

Special Cartooning Lesson with Daryl Sheitchik

The 5th Grade gift to the school? New trees!

Classes cheering on the Special Olympics/ Law Enforcement Torch Run!

We collected 294 boxes of cereal to donate to the Sharing & Caring Food Pantry in WRJ! Thank you to everyone that supported the BATs Spring Cereal Drive and Fun Run/Walk.

Becky, Greg and Mary from "Finding Our Stride" attended and I wanted to share their thoughts:

"I'm still feeling so energized after this morning's incredible event hosted by the WRS BATS! The 'Finding Our Stride' runners and coaches truly embodied the spirit of the program: Fitness, Community Engagement, and Social-Emotional Learning. And it was inspiring to see that on full display for the school community and beyond."

Thank you for welcoming Greg, Mary, and me to be a part of it. We were genuinely blown away and couldn’t be more proud of what your team has accomplished!

• Thursday, June 12th-- K-2 Singing Concert @ 6 PM
• Tuesday, June 17th--Field Day (All day)
• Wednesday, June 18th-- Early Release (12:30 PreK; 12:45 K-5)
• 5th Grade Step Up Ceremony @ 9 AM

White River School: June 5, 2025

Big shout out to the performing arts department for creating such a vibrant program!

Some of our students are celebrating the end of a great learning year by spending time on overnight field trips. These students have built strong relationships within their community that are enhanced by the experience of being able to plan and participate in such a fun trip. Here are some students practicing setting up their tents!

Hartford Memorial Middle School’s Dean of Students, Patrick Lincoln, started a boys group this year. One of its members, Kai Snyder (an 8th grader) made a short movie about this group. Watch his powerful video and learn how having affinity spaces for students to be their authentic selves provides community, safety, joy, and acceptance.

What Happens When Boys Start a Feelings Group?

Please use this link to access the HMMS Athletics page.

6/5 - 6/6 - 🚃Field Trip: Polaris to Silver Lake

6/6 - 🚃Field Trip: Atlas to Storr’s Pond/

• “Staying Safe and Healthy Over the Summer” lunches with Hartford Parks and Recreation, Hartford Community Coalition, and HMMS prevention groups

6/10 - Tuesday - Rising 6th - Meet your teacher night, 6:00 - 7:00 pm

6/11 - 🚃Field Trip: Nebula

6/11 - 6/12 - 🚃Field Trip: Eclipse to Storr’s Pond

6/12 - Atlas Culminating Event 5:00 - 6:30 pm

6/13 - 🚃Field Trip: 8th grade class trip -5TH grade Step up Day 10-1 *** Change to original Date!

6/17 - 8th grade promotion ceremony (graduation) 6:30 start time: BBQ after

6/18 - Wednesday - Early Release / LAST STUDENT DAY / Field Day *Tentative

6/20 - HS Graduation

If you happened to be fortunate enough to visit the HHS Gymnasium late yesterday afternoon, you were in for a treat!

The Spring Exhibition Night, which featured the work of Student Created Independent Projects (SCIP), Work-Based Learning, Place-Based Learning, and World Language, to name some, but certainly not all, of the work that was featured, was a stunning display of student learning. Despite very hot temperatures, our students enthusiastically shared their learning with their peers, families, and members of the public. This was the largest number of presenters in recent memory!

A special thank you to Marc Bucklin, Trish Pfeiffer, and Skylar Aldrich for their monumental and tireless efforts to coordinate and organize such a wonderful event for our learning community!

Link Crew is a high school leadership program where upperclassmen mentor and support incoming freshmen to help them transition smoothly into high school. Leaders build connections through orientation, events, and ongoing check-ins throughout the year.

The program will go into effect beginning next Fall!

Please take the time to spend a few minutes to fill this out for Walker and the student committee!

DBS 1st graders from Ms. Taylor's class joined Ms. Stevens' AP Literature 12th graders for an afternoon of reading and recess! The 1st graders got to show off their reading skills to the 12th graders, and the big kids did so in return, especially with the whole group books where Nate Campbell, Harper Fallon, and Geneva Durgin read aloud, complete with authentic character voices.

Mr. Gardner was the surprise guest reader and made everyone laugh with his version of The Book With No Pictures.

Thank you to the 12th graders for modeling excitement for reading and leading a boisterous game of Sharks & Minnows.

Thank you to the 1st graders for reminding the big kids how fun it is to run around outside and what it is like to be so excited to learn new things.

Melissa has been updating her website to include the latest work happening through her Rowland Fellowship, including her work on the Hartford Community Connections and Applied Learning Pathway and how this embodies the Vision of a Graduate!

June 12 Senior Class Trip

June 15 Senior Awards Evening @ 6:00

June 20 Graduation @ 7:00

The following is our end-of-the-year schedule for all students:

Thursday, June 12 Senior Class Trip

Friday, June 13 Senior Awards Marching practice at 12:00 (seniors are released after practice)

Sunday, June 15 Senior Awards Ceremony at 6:00 in the Hartford High School Gym

Monday, June 16 3rd and 4th block exams / culminating projects (Seniors do not need to arrive until 3rd block)

Tuesday, June 17 All students take exams during 1st and 2nd block, we release at 11:00

Wednesday, June 18 Make-up exams grades 9 - 11 (only students needing to make up exams need

to be here and they need to schedule a time for their make-up exam)

Friday, June 20 Senior Graduation Marching Practice @ 12:00, Graduation at 7:00

Hartford High Lites: May 23, 2025

June 18 - Last day of school, half day

Schedules at the end of the year get a bit crazy with different special events and exams. We will do our best to communicate to each school about specific dates, but don't hesitate to call our front desk if you're unsure about a particular day. 802-295-8630

Highlights from the HACTC: May 29, 2025

The food was delicious and provided by the Culinary Arts program at the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center.

The students at The Wilder School received the yearbooks recently and loved them!

The yearbooks were created by Angie Terrill, the Reading Specialist, and are being enjoyed by all members of the TWS community

The Vermont Agency of Education (VTAOE) is preparing to mail out the Indicator 8: Parent Involvement Survey to parents of students with disabilities in Vermont during July–August 2025.

This federally required survey gathers input from families on key aspects of their involvement in their student’s special education experience. The data collected informs improvement efforts at both the state and district levels. The higher the response rate, the more meaningful and actionable the results—so the VTAOE deeply appreciates families taking the time to share their perspective. Translations and multiple response methods, including phone and electronic options, will be available.

All responses are completely anonymous and are never linked to individual students or families

Please enjoy the Equity Newsletter for May!

A link is here for your convenience!

Hartford Athletics

Jeff Moreno, CAA

Athletic Director

morenoj@hartfordschools.net

Lacrosse teams continue to roll! The Hurricane lacrosse teams have dominated in recent years posting perfect or near perfect regular season records and deep runs in the postseason. This year is no different as the girls team is undefeated (again) and seeded #1 (again) in the D-II tournament. They host a playoff game at Alumni on Saturday at 2:30. The boys are 2-time defending state champs and are the #3 seed in this year’s D-II tournament. They host a playoff game tomorrow at Alumni at 4:30. Good luck to the lacrosse teams and all of the Hurricane teams in action this spring!

Serenitee Martel and Wyatt Chambers have been DEALING for the softball and baseball teams this season! These underclass phenoms have been dominant in helping the Canes softball and baseball teams advance in the tournaments this spring. Both recently eclipsed the 100 strikeout mark and are primed for much more success in the future. Good pitching makes for quick clean games and it has been a real treat to watch the Canes at Maxfield this spring. Keep up the great work Ren, Wyatt, and the entire softball and baseball teams!

Fall sports registration is OPEN! Families may go on Infinite Campus to register for field hockey, football, girls volleyball, soccer, cross-country, Unified soccer, and bass fishing (if we have enough interest). Information and instructions can be found on the athletic webpage (https://hhsvt.com/athletics-2). Pre-season starts on August 11th (football) and 14th (everyone else). Please contact Burke Farrell (farrellb@hartfordschools.net) if you have any questions about your child’s physical. There will be a parent meeting on June 16th at 6:00 in the HHS gym. The 9th Annual SWIRLS athletic department awards presentation will take place at Alumni on June 16th at 7:00 (directly following the parent night). This event is student run and the purpose is to honor the moments, events, people, and milestones that helped write the athletic story that was 2024-25. Bring a lawn chair.

Did you know…the class of 2025 just broke the all-time record for most banners won over a 4-year span of time. The baseball team won the SVL-B league title last week and with it came banner #38 which surpassed the class of 2024 by 1 banner. And they’re not done yet…the girls lacrosse team won the NVAC-Mountain league title and claimed banner #39 and there are still multiple Hurricane teams alive and well in the postseason. Simply put, this is an unprecedented run of success for the Hurricane teams. Well done EVERYONE!

Passing along a HUGE thank you to all of the coaches and volunteers who make the athletic department what it is. Our coaches work extremely hard to provide a topnotch experience for our Hurricanes. For all the long hours prepping practice plans, the hours on the buses, the late night meals, for celebrating the thrilling victories and picking the kids up after the tough losses we thank you for what you do! The proud and smiling faces on our Hurricanes tell it all!

If you would like to contact the school board, please access their page on our website.

To watch recordings of past meetings, including our last and most recent meetng of the school year, please access this link.

We also created a new email address that will allow you to send one email that will go to all five board members (thank you again, to Eric Christie!):

To reach all members of the school board collectively, email schoolboard@hartfordschools.net

HSD budget materials and resources can be found here!

Vermont Public Radio provides a good explanation of how Vermont schools are funded in THIS piece. The article and the video work well to bring clarity to a confusing system.