Hartford School District Newsletter

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”

– Sam Keen

😎 Reminder: last day of school is Wednesday, 6/17 (early release) 😎

June 5, 2026

Dear Hartford School District Learning Community,

The last several weeks have truly been INCREDIBLE!

Just yesterday, and to name a few of countless examples, I bounced from school to school to witness the beautiful articulation of student leaders who addressed their peers to commence the HSD PRIDE Parade, to STEM students at the middle school who explained the careful, thoughtful decisions they made to create soaps and scrubs, and makeup, to the unbelievable demonstration of learning that is the HHS Exhibition Night!

Our students deserve to be so proud of the work they accomplished this year, not only in highlighting their expansive growth and learning in core content areas such as reading, writing, math, and science, but in their creation of masterful pieces of artwork and music and project-based products that demonstrated their ability to effectively work with their peers, persevere through adversity when the best laid plans do not go their way, and engage in their work with others with respect and inclusivity.

All of these opportunities to celebrate culminating learning experiences has been a wonderful reminder that learning is not always linear. Much like the lead up to a powerful storm, when the clouds gather and darken and collect and curate the energy to build toward reaching an electric conclusion, there are flashes of brilliance, then pauses for reflection to build again, until realizing potential and beginning all over again. It is so exciting, and so magical to behold.

I hope you all enjoy the photos below, which capture just a glimmer of the collective brilliance of our learners and educators, and that you experience the joy of celebrating our students as they experience the culminating and precious events that honor their passage to the next phase of learning, whether it be from Pre-K to K, K to 1st grade, 5th to 6th grade, 8th to 9th grade, or graduating to life beyond high school.

Have a wonderful, joyful summer, filled with learning (and let us know if we can provide you with any resources to keep everyone reading and writing and calculating and discovering!).

Thank you all for a bountiful school year!!

Warmly,

Caty Sutton

Superintendent

Hartford School District

suttonc@hartfordschools.net

Please review the attached articles and video for more detail, but to provide you with a brief update that we will be sure to expand upon through board meetings and communications, the session ended with the legislature agreeing upon "voluntary school mergers."

What does this mean?

There will be studies conducted to determine the feasibility of larger districts, with districts voting on potential mergers on Town Meeting Day in 2028, and once those larger districts are in place, the state will move toward a "funding formula" that will determine how much funding each school district will receive. This will transfer the authority to determine how much a district spends on education from local voters to the state.

In the meantime, this legislation lowers what is called the "excess spending threshold" from 18% above average spending per student to 15.5%. How does this impact the HSD budget?

The short answer is that this will have a very significant impact on our budget next year, which will be very challenging.

The other aspect of the legislation that we will need to move forward with is the development of CESAs, or Cooperative Education Service Agencies, that are intended to help school districts collaborate to share costs and resources. Right now, the map that was passed with the legislation places the HSD in the Northeast region, which spans all the way up to the Northeast Kingdom.

We will be working on changing our placement to the Vermont Learning Collaborative (VTLC), where most of the Southeast region is currently placed and will make more sense for us.

Please stay tuned, and we will be iun touch with more updates!

"It is the policy of the Hartford School District to maintain a cell phone-free school environment to promote focus, improved mental health, and increased social cohesion among our students. The goal of this policy is to enable both students and teachers to work free from distractions that impact learning by prohibiting student use of and access to cell phones and other prohibited devices during the academic day from arrival to dismissal"

Principals will be in touch as we get closer to the start of school with more specific information and details, but please discuss this topic with your students in advance of the start of school and let us know if you have any questions.

Dear Hartford Families,

The Hartford School District has started the registration process for the 2026/2027 kindergarten class. Early enrollment is important because it gives the schools time to prepare for your child’s kindergarten experience.

If you have a child who is 5 years old on or before August 31, 2026, they are eligible to enroll.

• Children who are currently enrolled in a Hartford School District Pre-K program do not need to complete the registration process.

• Families who already have a child who is actively enrolled within the Hartford School District go to https://hsdvt.com/enroll-new-student and scroll down to the section entitled Existing Families-Pre-K to 12th Grade.

• Families who do not have an actively enrolled child, go to the section entitled New Families-Pre-K to 12th Grade

If you are not able to complete the registration process online, please contact one of the schools. We are happy to help you complete the process.

The Hartford School District assigns students to a school based on your family’s physical address. The district’s catchment area map is available on the right hand side of the Hartford School District’s website (hsdvt.com).

For planning purposes, note the following important dates:

• Prior to May 8th–Registration Completed Online

• May 15th–School Placement & Kindergarten Orientation Times Emailed

• May 26th–Incoming Kindergarten Orientation. Your family will receive a time slot that will occur between 8:30 and 2:00.

If you have a friend or neighbor with a child in this age range, please share this information or have them call their local elementary school.

Thank you for your assistance and please feel free to contact the school with any questions.

Sincerely Yours,

Patrick Peters, Dothan Brook School - 295-8647

Amelia Donahey, Ottauquechee School - 295-8654

Doug Kussius, White River School - 295-8650

Dothan Brook Otters enjoyed a full school recess on a sunny almost summer day.

Fifth graders honored our fallen service members by placing flags on graves in the nearby cemetary.

Dothan Brook students, under the guidance of our wonderful music teacher, Mrs. Stein, put on wonderful spring concerts. Our K-2 Otters did an amazing job at their concert! The following week our 3-5 Otters did an amazing job at their concert in the evening sunshine! They have all worked so hard, and it truly showed in their performance. We are so proud of all their effort, enthusiasm, and teamwork. Wonderful job, Otters!

Our Pie A Teacher celebration was the highlight of the month, if not the whole school year! There was so much joy, laughter, and happiness in the gymnasium. The students spent the month voting for which teachers to get pied by putting their earned tokens for being responsible into a jar with our photos in the office. The "lucky" teachers entered the gym with entrance music and costumes, and a whole lot of whipped cream. The students cheered! Everyone had fun. It was a fantastic way to wrap up the school year. (PS. Idea credit goes to OQS! We totally stole it from them!)

"You Otter Know": June 5, 2026

Kindergarten at "All School Meeting"

The Howler: June 5, 2026

WRS closes out the year with a lot of fun and meaningful traditions.

Field day is always a big hit and this happens the day before school gets out.

On the last half day we have 5th grade Celebration, where the whole school celebrates our 5th graders and their move to the middle school. There is a step up day for the whole school on June 5th.

BATS (our finding our stride team) has their end of year whole school run event at the end of May.

And we had one of our big three whole school events in the spring. This year was a BOSTON year and the whole school went to Boston!

Weekly Review: May 28, 2026

HMMS’s first ever Day of Service happened on Friday May 29th, students and teachers volunteered at over 20 sites around the Upper Valley!

June 3rd marked the finale of our 2025–2026 Band and Chorus season. While the gym was certainly warm, it was a wonderful evening filled with outstanding performances that showcased the incredible growth of our students in the 6th–8th grade Band and Chorus programs, as well as Glee Club, Jazz Band, and our Jazz Improv Group.

A special highlight was the Jazz Improv Group, which grew out of a high school senior's vision and capstone project to introduce younger students to jazz and improvisation.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our musicians throughout the year. Most importantly, congratulations to our talented young performers, who absolutely knocked it out of the park!

Student awards from 5/18 Assembly!

Nebula seventh graders explored the intersection of art and math with their Fibonacci sequence projects at the beginning of May. Students had to apply their learning about circles to create a Fibonacci spiral or a set of Fibonacci circles, which they then turned into creative works of art using materials donated by local organization, RePlay Arts!

Our Annual Spring Musical 2026, Wonka Jr., played to a mostly sold-out crowd for all three performances! The kids outdid themselves! It was a fun, colorful, entertaining show, and we are very proud of the final outcome. Thank you to all who came to support us!

Several PLACE Students shared their experience in PLACE class this year with the School Board.

Atlas Trip to Montpelier to visit the State House, Supreme Court, and VHS Museum.

On May 20, Team Polaris proudly presented their final projects to family and friends. The projects culminated their learning about the American Revolution and Civil War by linking important people, events, and artifacts through an assigned relevant vocabulary word!

HMMS Newsletter: May 29, 2026

There is so much to celebrate as we approach the end of the school year. At the high school our students had a beautiful Prom at the Lebanon Hilton. This annual event never fails to impress as our students show up as their best selves and thoroughly enjoy a night of dancing and time spent with each other.

Our spring Exhibition Night took place on Thursday. As is always the case, the breadth of student projects and knowledge of their learning stood out. A conversation with our student presenters truly allows one to walk away with more knowledge about the students’ interests.

This spring saw the renewal of H-Term. H-Term was a three-day event that found our students learning in unique ways and places. H-Term was the culmination of months worth of planning on our staff and students’ part. By all accounts H-Term was a success. The following is a small sample of all that went on during H-Term.

Hartford High Lites: May 29, 2026

As we wrap up the year, it’s incredible to see the real impact that we have on students. The HACTC has around 300 students - to see that students earned over 600 credentials is fantastic. These credentials show employers that these students have the knowledge and skills to be ready for a career.

The HACTC held our senior celebration at the end of May. We recognized 136 seniors for their growth at the HACTC.

HACTC Seniors in their HACTC Alum Shirts

Drum roll please… On May 28th we celebrated the graduation of eight, great, Electrical 1 students. Over 75% of the graduates have plans to go on in the field of electrical trades. Congratulations everyone and thank you Matt Piper of Piper Electric for being our hero of a teacher. Well done!

Congratulations to Chelsea Gray who completed her customized, Microsoft Excel class on June 1st. Thank you Jeff Dumont for personalizing Chelsea’s Excel experience to fit her needs at work within the Hartford School District. Well done

Welcome “Trailblazers”! The Vermont Works for Women Trailblazers program is underway! Eighteen powerful women of all ages and backgrounds have joined this empowering class. HACTC Adult Ed is proud to support Vermont Works for Women and to host the Trailblazers this summer.

Note: the extensive, electrical wall in the background was built by the talented students in the recent electrical class. Special thanks to Lance Johnson, Building Trades Teacher who shared his space with Adult Ed. Great work Electrical 1!

Highlights from the HACTC: May 18, 2026

Please see the latest Equity Updates in the May 2026 Equity Newsletter!

After years of HMMS hosting the Pride Parade, the Hartford School District took the lead in this year’s celebration! This shift expands our reach to students in ALL the HSD schools’ PRIDE groups, Rainbow Clubs, and their allies.

For our school district, hosting this parade is an essential part of creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment. In addition to the parade, the HACTC ran Pride-themed activities for our elementary school Rainbow Club students. These gatherings provide a platform for our LGBTQ+ youth and allies to feel seen, heard, and valued. It also reminds us all of the ongoing journey toward equity and justice and the importance of fostering a community where everyone can be their authentic selves.

A link is here for your convenience!

Hartford Athletics

Jeff Moreno, CAA

Athletic Director

morenoj@hartfordschools.net

The Hartford Unified Bocce team competed at Brattleboro on June 4th and had a great day of bocce! The weather was perfect and the camaraderie and teamwork was on full display. Any Hartford student can become involved with Hartford Unified Sports…register in Infinite Campus for Unified Soccer (fall) or Unified Basketball (spring) or sign up for Unified Bocce in May. Unified sports is a great way to get involved in something awesome at HHS! We look forward to seeing our returning athletes and partners and some new faces next year!

The girls 4x800 meter relay team broke the school record and qualified for New England’s last weekend at Essex! Their time of 10:36.81 set a new standard for this grueling event and punched the girls ticket to the big meet in New Britain, Connecticut later this month. For context, 10 years ago the record for this event was 12:12.25. Every member of the relay team is an underclassmen and will be back next year…that record is likely to get broken again! Congratulations Scarlett Brooks, Tess Blake-D’Amato, Maddie Carbino, and Sylvia Johnson!

Scarlett Brooks (‘28), Tess Blake D’Amato (‘29), Maddie Carbino (‘28), Sylvia Johnson (‘26)

Dates to put on your calendars:

• Fall sports parent-coach-athlete orientation will be held on June 8th at 6:00. We will meet in the auditorium and then break out into rooms based on which program you are participating in (girls volleyball, soccer, football, cross country, golf, bass fishing, field hockey)
• The 10th annual Swirls athletic department award show will be held on June 8th at 7:00 at Alumni Athletic Complex (bring a lawn chair). For those new to the Swirls event…it is put on entirely by our Athletic Leadership Council and intends to highlight the athletic year that was through stories, awards, dedications, and more. The event is meant to be light and fun…but there’s usually a few tearjerking type moments too. Please come as you are…stay only as long as you want…and definitely bring a chair or a towel to sit on. If the weather is bad we will move into the gym.
• Fall sports start 8/10 (football) & 8/13 (all other teams). Summer offerings and fall sports information have started populating the HHS Athletics webpage with more added daily. Get those physicals scheduled!

43, 12, 6, 31

• 43 is the total number of banners the graduating seniors have been part of during their 4 years at HHS. This is the most all-time by a graduating class, beating the class of ‘25 by 2 banners
• 12 is the total number of state championships the graduating seniors have been part of during their 4 years at HHS. This is also the most all-time by a graduating class, beating the class of ‘25 by 1 state title. The 12 titles came in: boys golf, boys ice hockey, girls basketball, boys Indoor track (2), boys lacrosse (2), field hockey (2), and girls ice hockey (3)
• 6 is the total number of girls state championships won by the graduating class during their 4 years at HHS. This is also the most all-time by any graduating class, beating the class of ‘25 by 1 state title.
• 31 is the total number of league championships won by the graduating seniors during their 4 years at HHS. This is also the most all-time by a graduating class, beating the class of ‘25 by one league title.

Needless to say the current seniors have left their mark on the athletic department with historic levels of success (and the current spring tournaments are still happening…). They have done their part to fill up the gym walls and we are currently working on some additional trophy cases for the glass hallway because we are out of space. Well done Hurricanes!

In this final HSD newsletter of the academic year I would like to give a HUGE thank you to all of the folks who make the Hartford Athletic Department work! From the names and faces you know well (Maria, Gary, Burke, Robin) to the folks who do so much work behind the scenes with our athletes (Larissa, Jeni, Bob Miller, Coach Joe) to the game staff who make sure everything runs smoothly on gameday (clock operators, gate personnel, music, PA, book, parking, traffic, set up, break down, clean up, maintenance, mowing, painting). Thank you to the teaching staff for supporting our student-athletes throughout the season (late nights, early dismissals, changing schedules) and our administration for supporting what we are trying to accomplish each year. Thank you to our coaches (paid and volunteer!) and to our amazing Booster Club. Thank you to our parents and families for all the support. And thank you to our incredible student-athletes who represent our school, community, and the Swirl so well. What a great year!

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 meeting on June 3, please access this link.

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

Here is the link to apply: www.gobeacon.com/careers

http://www.gobeacon.com/careers

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)!