Highlights from the HACTC - Nov. 8

Hello,

Every year our staff participates in what we call Outservice Days. Instead of having training in our building, staff go out to visit local businesses and other schools.

On Tuesday, five of us went further afield and visited a CTE center in Massachusetts. This school was incredibly different from ours- they serve students in grades 9-12, have 1400 students, and have students all day. Being in a completely different environment gave us some good ideas to bring back to the HACTC. For example, we learned about connections with the New England Carpenter's Union and the possibilities there. Being in a different environment was also a nice reminder of how special the work we do here is. Students were actively learning in their programs at the school we visited, but we didn't feel the sense of family that you feel when you walk into our programs.

Warmly,

Erika Schneider

Report cards were mailed home this week. If you don't have a report card by the middle of next week, please contact us so we can check that we have the correct address.

November 11 - No School, Veterans' Day

November 27-29 - No School, Thanksgiving Break

December 13 - New Student Application Opens for 2025-2026

Our Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) recently elected these new officers for the 24-25 school year.

Future Farmers of America (FFA):

• President: Randy Laird
• Vice President: Kyle Spaulding
• Secretary: Gavin Martin
• Treasurer: Avery McDermott
• Historian: Niles Harris

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA):

• Co-Presidents: Riley Naylor and Lucca Callnan
• Co-Vice Presidents: Alice Cayer and Liam Mangieri
• Secretary: Arrow Hines
• Treasurer: Martha Crapser
• Parliamentarian: Anna McSherry
• Historian: Harvey Brown
• Member at Large: Walden Bunzey

Future Health Professionals (HOSA):

Level II:

• State Officer, Director of Chapter Relations: Simon Nichols
• Class Representatives: Jasper Fabisiak, Summer Davis, Niko Sanville, and Brooklyn Currie

• Class Representatives: Zoe Zanleoni, Hannah Barton, Jaskirat Kaur, Maddie MacDonald, Olivia Judd, Ari Hilliker, Kaine Frost

Hospitality Club:

Level II:

• President: Greyson Renninger
• Secretary: Shay Johnson
• Treasurer: Andrew Singleton

Level I:

• Vice President: Shaylynn Herrell
• Secretary: Tori Glennon
• Treasurer: Juniper Gallagher

The HACTC Cosmetology program is a rigorous blend of hands-on practice and college-level academic work. Students complete the 1,000 clinic hours and topics required to be eligible for cosmetologist certification in Vermont. In addition to haircutting and styling, makeup application, and nailcare, students learn about the business side of cosmetology and earn certifications in topics like infection control and domestic violence awareness. They also run the HACTC Salon, which is open four days a week - email hactcsalon@hartfordschools.net to make your appointment!

Level I students began the year discussing workplace attire, behavior, and communication. From there, they dove into microbiology and anatomy and physiology, as well as practicing different kinds of braids and rollers. They're also getting hands-on experience in running a salon, as they learn the scheduling and point of sale software and take turns running reception and completing various clean up duties to close the HACTC Salon each day. Students have enjoyed practicing on one another and getting to volunteer to help with hair and makeup for the Revolution fashion show last weekend. They are looking forward to being able to start taking clients in the Salon.

In level II, students started the year focusing on haircutting and coloring techniques. Written reflection on their work is a regular part of class, and students say that extra step helps them to really improve. A few favorite activities so far include field trips to FBLA conferences, where students are gently pushed beyond their usual comfort zone to learn more and grow as professionals, and the Halloween competition. For this, students had to use a mannequin head and create a full Halloween look, including hair and makeup. Students got really creative, fashioning looks from cute to creepy. They have also been busy serving Salon clients and preparing for job shadows with local businesses.

In Principles of Engineering, students have been practicing the engineering design process to complete projects - defining the problem, generating concepts, using decision matrices to evaluate concepts, and then designing, developing, and evaluating solutions. A favorite activity so far was creating motorized tractors to win a tug-of-war, trying various gear configurations, tires, and weight distributions. This helped them learn about the relationships between torque, speed, and traction as well as practicing teamwork. Now, they've begun work on devising creative solutions to problems encountered on a fictional farm, from "salt guns" to kill bugs to critter traps.

Both classes, along with the Information Technology and Software Development students, also recently visited the Community College of Vermont's Upper Valley center to learn more about summer classes, degree pathways, and earning credit for existing knowledge through ACT's WorkKeys testing.

Aerospace manufacturer BETA Technologies brought their flight simulator to the HACTC on October 31, allowing students to experience one of their new electric plane prototypes. Classes also got to learn about engineering and producing planes, see some of the materials, and try out tools. Representatives shared information about BETA's internship program, which is open to high school students.