The Central Connection

Check out our website calendar to stay up to date on the latest events and important dates!

DATES TO NOTE:

March 3 - Shannon Daley Charity Basketball Game with Harlem Wizards, 7:00pm in Fieldhouse

March 5 - First Responders Fair for Students, 11:30am-1:30pm in the Commons

March 5, 6, 7 - Spring Musical, 7:00pm in Auditorium

March 11 - Strategic Planning Session #2, 6:00pm in the Commons

March 17-19 - NJ Graduation Proficiency Assessment for Grade 11 (more information to be emailed soon)

March 17 - College Fair, 6:00-8:00pm in the Commons (here is College Fair Guide)

March 19 - Orchestra Concert, 7:00pm in Auditorium

March 20 - Deadline for Class of 2027 to submit paperwork and ticket payment for Junior Prom

March 23 - Board of Education Meeting, Adopt Preliminary 2026-27 Budget, 7:00pm in IMC

March 23 - Deadline for payment for RVCC's spring dual enrollment courses (contact Christine Santangelo with questions)

March 25 - Parent Engagement Committee Meeting & Special Presentation from Hunterdon Prevention Resources on Vaping, 6:30pm in IMC

March 26 - Early Dismissal for Students at 12pm, PM Staff In-Service

March 26 - Band Concert, 7:00pm in Auditorium

March 27 - Thespians Showcase, 7:00pm in Little Theater

📆 25-26 Calendar

🕢 Bell Schedules

🥪 Cafeteria Menu

🏈 Sports Schedule

💻 Genesis

👪 Counseling

🏫 Board of Education

📱 Contact Us

In case you missed our posts online - check out our latest news!

• Hunterdon Central and RVCC have expanded their dual enrollment opportunities with a new 1:1 Dual Enrollment Partnership for students in the biomedical science academy, starting with the Class of 2030. Students can obtain college credit through RVCC for all biomedical science courses at Central and then can obtain their Associates degree in Health Science in as little as one year at RVCC. Learn more on our website under latest news.
• HCRHS Athletics Department hosted a sending district all star basketball game on February 19th. Middle schools nominated players to participate and our HC basketball players served as coaches. Great joint event with our local school districts!
• Congratulations to Central's Mock Trial team who won the 2026 county final competition! Anaya Anand was named as best overall attorney and Isabella Alvarez was named as best overall witness.
• Congratulations to the Boys Basketball team who beat Phillipsburg High School to compete in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tri-county final!
• Congratulations to senior Carly Perrine and sophomore Devon Reed who were selected for the NJ All-State Treble Choir! They rehearsed in Atlantic for two days and performed a concert on Saturday, February 21st. They were selected to sing in this ensemble from hundreds of auditions all over New Jersey!
• Congratulations to Biology Club members, Vivaan Baru and Jiaa Parikh, who have qualified for the USA Biology Olympiad Semifinals! This is a massive achievement—out of nearly 10,000 students nationwide who took the Open Exam, only the top 500-600 (about 10%) qualify for this round. Vivaan and Jiaa will be competing in the 2-hour Semifinal exam on March 4th and we wish them much luck!

The first strategic planning session took place on February 17 with 83 volunteers in attendance. During this first session, Superintendent Jessica Cangelosi-Hade provided a state of the schools presentation and then volunteers broke up into groups to discuss the strenths and challenges of the district. Notes from the first meeting and the state of the schools presentation have been posted on the HCRHS website so you can follow along with the process.

There are two more meetings for strategic planning on March 11 and April 14, both at 6:00PM in the Commons. If you would like to be a part of the strategic planning process, please RSVP. Strategic planning will help the district set goals for the next five years.

The strategic planning process is 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.

Time flies when you’re making memories! From Spirit Week laughs, pep rally energy, performances, big wins, and everyday moments in the halls — the 2025 Hunterdon Central Yearbook captures it all in one place! This isn’t just a book — it’s a time capsule. Years from now, it’ll be filled with “remember when…” moments, inside jokes, friendships, and milestones your student will never forget.

CLICK HERE 2025 Yearbook Pre-Order: $100

We strongly encourage families to pre-order. Yearbooks are printed based on interest, and while we hope to have extras available in June, we can’t guarantee there will be copies left. Pre-ordering is the best way to make sure your student has one waiting for them on distribution day.

The Class of 2027 Junior Prom will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026 from 6:00-10:00pm at The Fuge. Juniors can now submit forms to reserve their spot. Forms were emailed to all juniors and parents and packets are also available in the 11/12 House Office. Forms and payment must be turned in by March 20th in order to reserve your spot for Prom. Any questions, contact class advisors Trini Pulak or Megan Massimi.

The Mathematics Department is dedicated to equipping students with essential, real-world skills for academic and career success. We seek to promote a growth mindset that allows students to experience mathematics not as right and wrong answers, but as powerfully interconnected ideas.

Our Mathematics Department is led by a team of highly skilled and enthusiastic educators who bring a unique wealth of professional experience to the classroom. Many of our teachers previously held rewarding careers in industry-relevant fields such as engineering, data science, and finance. This expertise allows them to provide instruction that is grounded in real-world application.

Through a variety of pathways, students practice advanced techniques and apply mathematical reasoning. We offer a rigorous sequence of advanced courses, which is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of STEM professionals. Students have the chance to earn college credits through dual enrollment partnerships, giving them a significant advantage before entering a university setting. As part of the HC Magnet Program, we offer a Computer Science Academy, which includes AP coursework and electives such as Cybersecurity.

Students must earn at least 15 credits in mathematics to graduate, which must include Algebra I, Geometry, and a third year of math that builds on these concepts to prepare for college and careers. Students must also pass the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) for math, or fulfill requirements through substitute assessments or a portfolio appeal.

As part of NJ STEM Month (March), we enjoy celebrating Pi Day (3/14) and bringing attention to the magic and mystery of mathematical discovery and invention!

(Photos below: Students in geometry class design weight-bearing structures based on their understanding of parallel transversals.)

• Scheduling meetings are in the final stretch as we enter March. Counselors hold individual meetings to finalize schedules for each student on their caseload. This amounts to countless hours of meeting with students, time that is well spent to help them review and finalize their requests to build next year's schedule.
• This year, high school counselors visited each of our sending districts to work with eighth graders who are preparing their schedule requests for next year. This was a great opportunity to meet our soon-to-be HC Red Devils, and support remains in place to help our students and families prepare for ninth grade.
• National School Counseling Week (Feb. 2-6) was both a celebration of school counseling staff and an opportunity for Counseling Services to interact with all other departments, sharing strategies that can help students and also advising departments about the services offered in the counseling suites that are located in the 9/10 House Office, Mid-Campus, and the 11/12 House Office.
• Counseling staff also received individualized book selections to continue professional development across the extensive skill set required to be an effective school counselor. Counselors are reading about a variety of topics: motivational interviewing for school counselors, high performing minds, executive functioning, financially smart career planning, highly effective habits of teens, and more.
• Due to snow, NJ4S moved their information table event for teen dating violence awareness month to March 3rd--flyers are posted throughout the building.

From our College and Career Counselor, Mrs. Jennifer Nuechterlein -

• February was a productive month in the College & Career Center! Many seniors are hearing back from colleges and meeting to discuss results, and juniors are getting underway with the college and career planning process.
• The First Responder Fair will be held on Thursday, March 5 from 11:30-1:30 in the Commons. All students have been notified and we expect a great turnout! More information can be found on this flyer.
• The Hunterdon County College Fair is coming up on Tuesday, March 17 from 6:00-8:00 pm. We anticipate 130+ colleges, trade/technical schools, military recruiters, and organizations. Visit our College Fair Guide for all information.
• The 2026 Local Scholarship program is still open for seniors. Information can be found here. All applications are due by 2:00 pm on Friday, March 20.
• College & Career Connection Sessions for juniors are continuing into March, with a new lineup posting here on March 2.

While the month of February may be the shortest month of the year, it certainly had some impactful moments. Here are just some of the happenings that are examples of good things happening within our school community:

• About a dozen students representing each of the grade levels worked collaboratively and effectively in vetting the student version of the annual climate and culture survey.

• Our mock trial won the Hunterdon County competition at the historic courthouse in Flemington.

• Our dance team won the state championship for Jazz. Our girls winter track team won the group 4 state championship, along with two individual state champions.

• Two of our seniors were named National Merit Finalists.

• And the theater arts and music programs have been working together for months in preparation for the musical, Wonderful Town, with shows running from March 4th through the 7th.

We look forward to the upcoming month of March when the learning continues strong in the classrooms, spring sports get underway, and students’ experiences on campus and throughout the community support their growth.

- Edward C. Brandt, HCRHS Principal

On February 19th, the Hunterdon Central athletics department hosted a Sending District All Star Basketball Game, which included all of our four K-8 sending school districts. Middle schools nominated players to participate and our current HC basketball players served as coaches, supporting and encouraging their young players throughout the games. Girls game was held at 5:30pm and boys game was held at 7:00pm. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event! We look forward to hosting it again as an annual event and seeing these young players in Red Devils uniforms in the future!

As the winter season begins to wind down, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of our winter student-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and commitment throughout the season. Their effort, resilience, and school pride have been on full display, and we are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.

Girls Basketball – State Tournament Run

The Girls Basketball team is advancing to the Quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA State Tournament. Their determination, teamwork, and competitive spirit have propelled them forward as they continue their postseason journey. We wish them the best as they continue to compete.

Ice Hockey – Advancing in States

Ice Hockey has also earned a spot in the Quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Tournament. The team has shown tremendous grit and perseverance all season long, and their postseason run continues as they compete against Bridgewater.

Winter Track – Records & Championships Ahead

Winter Track headed into the Group Championships, building strong momentum at the right time.

A special congratulations to Kasey Kinsley, who has set four school records this season and is looking to make it five at Groups. His commitment to excellence continues to raise the bar for our program. Update from February 28 NJSIAA Group Final - Girls Winter Track are Group 4 State Champions! And Olivia Silber and Ryan Shalley are both Group 4 Pole Vault Champions!

Boys Bowling – Perfect 300

Congratulations to Lucas Reed of Boys Bowling for achieving a remarkable perfect score of 300 this season — an extraordinary accomplishment that highlights his focus, precision, and consistency. A perfect game is a rare feat, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone achievement.

As we close out the winter season, we thank our athletes, coaches, families, and fans for their continued support of Hunterdon Central Athletics. The pride, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence displayed this winter truly represent what it means to be a Red Devil.

We look forward to finishing strong and celebrating even more success in the weeks ahead.

Come out and support our athletes! Click here for our sports schedule. Go Red Devils! Follow Hunterdon Central Athletics on Instagram @hc_athletics20.

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A reminder that the Shannon Daley Memorial Fund will hold its 25th Annual Charity Basketball Event on March 3rd at 7:00PM in the Hunterdon Central Fieldhouse. Readington Township teachers and Hunterdon Central teachers will once again take on the world-renowned Harlem Wizards. The Harlem Wizards are one of the greatest basketball show-team organizations to ever "lace it up and let 'em fly." The Harlem Wizards’ performance offers a rare combination of individual athleticism, teamwork, and entertainment to delight fans of all ages.

The Shannon Daley Memorial Fund mission is to assist local families facing financial hardship due to a child battling a serious illness. You can learn more about the three recipients receiving funds this year on shannonfund.org.

Advance tickets for the game are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. All tickets are $10 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Darrow’s Sporting Edge and Sneakers Plus. Hope you can come out for this fun event to raise money for a great cause!

🩰Dance Team had some stellar performances at the NJ State Championships! They came home with:

• 2nd Place in JV Hip Hop & JV Jazz

• 3rd Place in Varsity Hip Hop

AND FIRST PLACE IN VARSITY JAZZ - MAKING THEM STATE CHAMPIONS 🎉 Congratulations to our fantastic dancers & our dance coach, Carly Toth!

🎷Jazz Band is back on the competitive circuit and received a Silver Rating & Outstanding Rhythm Section at their most recent competition. Jimmy Casey won an award as an outstanding rhythm soloist. You can listen to a short section of their performance here.

🚩Indoor Guard

• At Hillsborough’s competition, they placed 3rd out of 13 guards in their division.

• At Madison, they placed 1st out of 4 guards in their division, as well as receiving the highest score out of all other guards in attendance.

• At the Winter Guard International Regional Competition and took home 5th place.

💬The Speech and Debate continues to thrive in its competitive circuit. At the Montville Invitational this weekend, some highlights included:

• Arth Chopra and Zoey Calderon came in second in Novice Parliamentary Debate

• Shelby Manning came in sixth in Original Oratory

• Lhian De Vera came in fifth in Extemporaneous Speaking

Hunterdon Central will host the State Championship for Speech and Debate the weekend of March 21st!

🧑‍⚖️The Mock Trial team won the county final! Anaya Anand, who is a freshman, received the recognition of Best Attorney and Isabella Alvarez, a sophomore, was recognized as Best Witness. Special shout out to Seniors Eva Graziano and Meagan Kemunto (who were both first-time attorneys) and Raychel Khusid, who took on a role in the last few weeks. They all did an amazing job. Eva was a lead attorney for both sides of the case which is an incredible feat.

March Performances

🎭On March 5, 6, and 7, our auditorium fills with big dreams, big laughs, and big Broadway sound with the production of Wonderful Town! See details below.

Orchestra Concert - March 19 at 7pm in auditorium

Band Concert - March 26 at 7pm in auditorium

Thespian Event - March 27 at 7pm in Little Theater

It's never too late to join! All clubs are listed on our website.

Get ready for big dreams, big laughs, and big Broadway sound! Hunterdon Central’s Theatre Department is proud to present Wonderful Town! This classic, Tony award winning musical about two small town sisters chasing success in New York City is filled with toe-tapping music, hilarious characters, and plenty of heart.

Tickets are now on sale for performances on March 5, 6 & 7 at 7:00PM! Dress rehearsal and senior citizens performance will be on March 4th at 3:30PM and is free for seniors.

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