Highlights from the HACTC - Dec. 5

Student Supports at the HACTC

I wanted to share a little bit of information with you about some of the staff that support students.

Jason Finley is our school counselor. If a student is having a tough day, they often feel better by taking some time talking with him. One of his other major roles is working with students on planning for life after high school. He is incredibly knowledgeable about options for students for further training and ways to pay for that. Later in the year, he’ll be offering many scholarship opportunities for our seniors. If a student is feeling a little bit lost about their plans, encourage them to spend some time with Mr. Finley.

Dan Anderson and Kara Hall are our Special Needs Coordinators. Dan works with our Building Trades, Cosmetology, Natural Resources, STEM, and DIMA programs. Kara Hall works with our Auto Tech, Auto Body, Industrial Mechanics and Welding, Business, Health Sciences, and Medical Assistant programs. Although their title is special needs coordinator, they do a lot of work to support all students. One example of this is their fall Respect and Responsibility session, where they talk with every class about how to be respectful. Additionally, they each work with individual students who may need some extra support.

Thanks for the Feedback

Thanks to all the parents and guardians who took our recent survey. I wanted to share just a few highlights from that survey.

The survey also indicates some places where there are next steps for us to take. One theme was that parents would like to hear more from their child’s program instructor and more about their child’s progress. This is something we can work on. A few folks also noted that they wanted access to their child’s grades. The easiest way to see this is to have your child log in to their Canvas account: hactc.instructure.com and show you their in-progress grade.

December 12 - New Student Applications open for the 2026-2027 school year

December 22-January 2 - No School, Winter Break

Hartford Schools are partnering with the Upper Valley Haven to ensure that families have enough food for their families over the two week winter break in December. If your family needs food support for the winter break please let your school's administrator(s) know or reach out directly to Carrie Russell, District Social Worker, russellc@hartfordschools.net or 802-359-4769.

In Autobody, Motorsports, and Customs (AMC), level I students have been busy learning the stages of bodywork. The first project they focus on is fender repair, bumping out dents, cutting, grinding the paint and primer, and basic welding. Students are currently working on using oxy fuel cutting torches and a painting project.

Level II students kicked off the year with a 3-color design project and learning plastic repair. Some students are now getting ready to go out on Co-operative Education experiences.

Both classes are also preparing for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams. AMC students have to opportunity to earn certifications in Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair, Painting and Refinishing, and Mechanical & Electrical Components. They also recently visited Nashua Community College to check out their Collision Repair program and had a visit from a recent alum, sharing her experience working for a local autobody shop.

Tenth graders in Career & Technology Exploration (CTE) spend a lot of time learning about different career options, both in class and around the center. Students spend three days exploring hands-on projects in each of our programs to help them find career options that may be a good fit for their interests and decide which program(s) to apply to for next year.

When not visiting other programs, CTE students spend time on lessons in math, English, and art. Recently, they've been working on multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals, and they'll soon be moving on to linear equations. They're deep into the WWI historical fiction All Quiet on the Western Front. In art, they're creating watercolor cards for veterans. Students will also be starting on budgeting and financial literacy, a new component to the CTE program this year.

In Introduction to Engineering Design (IED), students started out the year learning how to create concept sketches and use 3D modeling software and exploring careers in engineering. Students visited the Vermont State University Career Fair to learn more about local career opportunities. Next, they practiced the engineering design process by learning about a partner's interests and designing backpack charms they thought their partner would like, ultimately 3D printing the final models and calculating their costs based on time and materials. For their next project, IED students designed and built carnival games, including prototyping and market testing, projecting profits, and creating a brief marketing pitch.

Principles of Engineering (PoE), students began with mechanical engineering, learning about simple machines like levers and pulleys and culminating with the creation of Rube Goldberg machines. They also took part in career exploration and visiting the VTSU Career Fair. PoE then moved on to choosing a pest problem plaguing "Fran's Farm" and designing potential products to solve the problems. Next, they learned about basic computer coding, sensors, and robots. They're now wrapping up a project where they chose an animal and then created a robot that mimics an aspect of the animal's behavior. Below is a picture of a tortoise robot that "headbutts" if it senses dark colors nearby and a llama robot that "spits" if you get too close.

HACTC Adult Ed offers enrichment classes, too! Join us next Thursday, 12/11/2025, 5-7pm for a delicious culinary adventure of sweet and savory dumplings with Chef Jessica Williams.

This class will be held at 27 Farmvu Drive. Open to anyone 12 years old and up. Space is still available. Registration closes on 12/9/2025. REGISTER for DUMPLINGS

To browse and register for all of our upcoming classes:

• Facebook
• Instagram @HACTCAdultEd
• www.hactc.com/adult-ed

Director of Adult Education: Jennifer Opalinski · adulted@hartfordschools.net · (802)295-8630 x2504

A Hartford High School graduate, Dan Gibson spent much of his career as an arborist or doing stone work before becoming an instructor here at the HACTC in 2024. “I found the right spot here at the HACTC, combining my passion for working outside and with Natural Resources, and sharing that interest with students." Fun fact: "Gibby" enjoys being creative as an artist, making time for environmental sculpture and stone work, and has recently been perfecting his skills with chainsaw carving and whittling.