The Central Connection
HCRHS District Newsletter - February 2026
Check out our website calendar to stay up to date on the latest events and important dates!
DATES TO NOTE:
February 11 - Parent Engagement Committee Meeting (open to any HC parent or guardian), 6:30PM in the IMC
February 16 - School Closed for Presidents Day
February 17 - Strategic Planning Meeting #1, 6:00-8:00PM in the Commons
February 19 - Virtual College Admissions Panel, 6:30PM
February 23 - Board of Educatioin Meeting, 7:00PM in IMC
February 25 - Deadline to drop dual enrollment course with RVCC without payment required
February 26 - Board of Education Budget Retreat, 6:00PM in IMC
To Senior Olivia Silber
For breaking a school record in the pole vault, making a 12’ jump! Impressive!
To Senior Lucas Reed
For launching Hunterdon Central's first podcast as part of his independent study! Click here to see the episodes.
To Seniors Ethan Martinez & Kieran Gohil
For securing 2 out of only 5 starter spots statewide for Valorant at the Garden State eSports College Recruitment Combine! Over 20 colleges and universities will be in attendance and nearly $1.5 million in merit-based and eSports scholarships will be represented.
As we move into February, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the snow, cold temperatures, and winter weather that often impact our routines at this time of year. First, thank you for your patience and for pivoting as we monitored the recent winter storm, which resulted in a school closure and delayed opening. Second, I want to remind families that our school calendar includes two built-in emergency closing days. We used one of those days on January 26th, which means we still have one remaining day in the calendar before any adjustments would need to be taken. Any additional closures beyond the two built-in days would need to be to made up during scheduled breaks later in the year. We will continue to communicate clearly and promptly should additional weather-related closures become necessary.
February also marks an important midpoint in the school year, as we began the second semester on January 30th. This is a natural time for students—and all of us—to reset, reflect, and recalibrate our habits and routines. Whether it’s recommitting to organization, strengthening study practices, or setting new academic and personal goals, this is a great opportunity to start fresh and finish the year strong.
I recently shared a mid-year report on our district goals, and I encourage our families, staff, and community members to take a few moments to review it. This update highlights the progress we have made so far and the work that remains as we continue to focus on student learning, student wellness and counseling, and continuous improvements across the district.
As we begin to wrap up the winter months, I hope to see many of you at an upcoming strategic planning session, athletic competition, or school activity this February. Your presence and partnership make a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our school community. Stay warm, and thank you for being an important part of our district.
- Jessica Cangelosi-Hade, HCRHSD Superintendent
The first Strategic Planning session will take place on February 17 at 6:00PM in the Commons, with two more to follow on March 11 and April 14. We are still accepting volunteers to participate!
We invite students, parents, community members, staff members and elected officials to be a part of the Strategic Planning process to help Hunterdon Central set goals for the next five years. You can attend one, two or all three meetings - any time you can volunteer is greatly appreciated!
Attendees will work together in both small and large groups to create a shared vision for the district, identify both the strengths of the school district (those special attributes that we can build on as we move into the future) and the critical issues that we will face (the challenges that the district must be prepared for in the future), and finally, draft goals for the next five years.
If you would like to be a part of the Strategic Planning process, please RSVP. After each meeting, we will post notes on our website here so you can follow along with our progress if you are unable to attend our planning meetings.
The strategic planning process will be facilitated by the New Jersey School Boards Association. The Board of Education will use the consensus document developed after all three sessions are complete to help shape future goals for the district as we move forward.
We hope you can join us for one, two or all three Strategic Planning meetings. This is an exciting opportunity to have students, staff, parents, community members and leaders assist in shaping the future of the Hunterdon Central Regional School District.
Teachers of the TEAM Good Eats class and TEAM Art class joined their students together for an end of semester celebration on January 23rd in the Commons, along with parents and guardians. Together the students celebrated the culmination of their semester class, their accomplishments, and each other, complete with an impromptu dance off!
"It's always incredible to watch the relationships between our diverse group of students develop throughout the course, as well as see their confidence grow. I'm so grateful to everyone who helped make this celebration with family, staff and students come to life, and I hope it encourages others to join us in future years to come!," said Lindsay Hopkins, teacher of the TEAM Art course.
At Hunterdon Central, TEAM classes join students with and without disabilities to learn alongside each other in different subject areas. One of the projects in TEAM Art was for students to create "wings of gratitude", with each student creating feathers representing what they are thankful for, and putting them together in wing structured murals in the Commons. In TEAM Good Eats, students made a variety of snacks and entrees this semester and put them into a keepsake recipe book. For the end of semester celebration, they made homemade chex mix for attendees.
"The gala was heartwarming, filled with smiles, stories, and a true sense of community, something Hunterdon Central prides itself on. TEAM Good Eats holds a special place in my heart, and it was an honor to represent the class alongside Lindsey Hopkins," said Gina Santora, teacher of the TEAM Good Eats course.
This month we highlight our Fine Arts Department!
Whether you are a budding painter, expert crafter, or dedicated musician, Central’s Fine Arts Department has courses to help you unlock your creative potential!
🎨Art Highlights
Our Visual Arts department offers an incredible range of courses designed to meet you exactly where you are and take your skills to the next level.
If you enjoy working with your hands, Craft and Design or Ceramics 1 allow you to transform raw materials like clay and paper into beautiful, functional 3D objects. For those who prefer capturing the world through a lens or a pencil, Art 1, Art 2, and Digital Photography provide the foundational skills needed to master composition, lighting, and color theory. In Honors Art 1, students participate in the Memory Project creating self portraits of students in other countries - check out the video of Armenian students receiving their portraits this year! Also new for the 2026-2027 school year, Art 2 will now run as a semester course.
The Gifted and Talented Program is now accepting new applicants. We offer three levels of Gifted and Talented Art, designed to help students find their own personal voice as an artist. AP Art & Design and AP Art History are also available if students want to extend their artistic studies into college credits. Students can submit their application using these Google Forms:
🎶Music Highlights
For those who play wind, brass, or percussion instruments, Freshman Concert Band, Freshman Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band provide a professional environment to sharpen musicianship during the school day. String players can find their home in the Freshman String Orchestra and the Symphonic String Orchestra, where the focus is on mastering both individual technique and ensemble proficiency across traditional and contemporary repertoires. As students move through their sophomore, junior, and senior years, we offer additional levels to refine their musical skills. Our Wind Symphony and Advanced String Orchestra will have Honors Weighting next year, as these are auditioned ensembles.
If ensemble work is not your preference, the Music Department also hosts Piano 1, Piano 2, and Music Theory courses. These offer a traditional classroom experience - no concert performances required!
Our choral program focuses on healthy vocal production and stage presence. Freshmen start with Freshmen Choir. Treble Choir and Concert Choir are also available starting sophomore year.
Beyond the classroom, being part of these ensembles opens doors to prestigious opportunities and community involvement. Students are eligible to audition for regional and all-state bands and orchestras, and those looking for a high-energy experience can join the Marching Band to perform at football games and parades.
Next year is the opening cohort of our Performing Arts Magnet Academy! Check out the course sequencing on our Magnet Program website.
(Pictured below: Students from Hunterdon Central, East Amwell, Delaware Township, JP Case, and Readington joined together in song for the 2026 District Choral Festival on January 14th.)
Baptism by the Puddle
Where do I go? Where do I got back to?
The month of January saw us welcome 2026 while we also brought a close to the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year. Our student attendance rate over the first semester was a fantastic 94.9%. Students are coming to school, learning, growing, and becoming active members of the thriving school community. Here are just a few of my observations from the month of January:
The students and staff in our music department hosted its annual Choral Festival with future HC students from the sending districts attending as well. It was a wonderful combination of a celebration of the music curriculum and community building.
The HC staff welcomed current and future families at the January 15th Open House and Scheduling Information Night. The turnout of current 8th grade students and parents was energizing as we work to build the school community beyond current families.
On a daily basis, students and staff are collaborating in classrooms, shared spaces like the IMC and cafeterias, on stage, in gyms, etc…as students engage in their learning. Many fall semester courses that came to a close had culminating experiences for students to showcase their learning and accomplishments. Seeing the pride on the students’ faces as they exhibit their growth is wonderful, reassuring evidence that good things are happening at HC.
As we head into February, I look forward to the learning and growing to build momentum. I am also excited for the Class of 2026 as they embark on the last semester of their high school careers…towards graduation…and on to whatever is next in their journeys.
- Edward C. Brandt, HCRHS Principal
Harlem Wizards in 2025
Central's staff team at last year's charity game
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Contact Us
Looking for the house office or a specific staff member? Access our staff directory on our website:
https://www.hcrhs.org/contact-information.
General Email: communications@hcrhs.org
Website: https://www.hcrhs.org/
Location: 84 Route 31, Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (908) 782-5727