Highlights from the HACTC - Oct. 31

November 3 - Early Release

November 4 - No School, teacher in-service day

November 11 - No School, Veterans Day

Dear Families,

Due to the current government shutdown, we have been told that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will not be issued to families starting in November. We realize this may impact some of you directly. We are a community; please reach out if your family is in need and we are happy to help. Here are some additional food resources:

The Upper Valley Haven's Community Market is open Mon-Thu: 10:00am-4:30pm & Fri: 10:00am-3:00pm. All are welcome, no appointments are necessary. The Haven offers the following:

• Monthly Food Order: Visit once a month for a full order of groceries including dairy, eggs (if available), meat, non-perishable food, and personal care items. (Quick registration)
• Daily Food Order: Visit as needed for produce, bread, desserts, specialty items, and prepared foods. (Quick registration)

• Turkey Day distribution will include: One turkey, one box of stuffing, one can of jellied cranberry, one packet of gravy, two cans of green beans, one bag of potatoes, one bag of carrots, one bag of onions, one can of pumpkin, one crust mix.
• Attendees walking to the event are encouraged to bring a cart or wagon to help carry their items.
• Please Note: The Haven will be accepting turkey and turkey breast donations during the first two weeks of November, during regular business hours.

Listen Community Dining Hall: Dinners are served in the Dining Hall and on a “to go” basis from 4:30pm-5:30pm Monday - Friday. Lunch is served Monday - Friday from 11:30 AM - 12:30PM. Visit https://www.listencs.org/community-dining-hall for more information.

Students in Health & Human Sciences and Medical Assisting & Phlebotomy attended the HOSA (Future Health Professionals) VT Fall Leadership Conference at Norwich University. There, they participated in workshops led by Norwich professors and DHMC Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Educator, Taylor Del Monte, on a variety of topics, including sheep brain dissection, triage, criminology, and virtual reality training tools. Both programs also have students serving on the VT HOSA board!

Auto Tech students began the year with safety training, ensuring everyone is prepared to work in the shop. Now, level I students have moved on to learning about steering and suspension systems, including learning how to identify and use different tools and topics like mounting and balancing tires, alignments, and shocks and struts. Level II students have been learning about climate control systems, including inspecting and diagnosing issues with ducts, hoses, compressors, belts, etc. They've also spent time completing ASE exams and working on their own vehicles.

Both classes get hands-on practice with the shop vehicles and take turns playing different roles in the shop: shop manager, parts, tool specialist, customer service, and service advisor. They will soon start having work days on HACTC staff's vehicles, performing tire changes. The two levels also recently visited the Hartford Fire Department to learn from their public safety mechanic.

Time is flying in cosmetology! Recently, level I students have been working on creative braiding projects and thermal and wet styling. They're also studying domestic violence awareness, social media marketing, life skills, basic anatomy & physiology, and electricity in cosmetology applications.

In level II, students have started job shadowing, having researched different local salons over the summer to find options that fit their preferred work atmosphere. They've also been practicing and building on their level I skills, adding in hair cutting techniques and coloring in preparation for opening the HACTC Salon to customers on November 7. They've also been learning various business principles.

Both levels also participated in the Haunted Hair contest, using mini mannequins to create spooky and/or magical looks.

In Natural Resources level I, students started out the year learning basic safety skills, chainsaw handling, tree ID, and knot tying. In addition, they participated in team-building activities and hikes. Once they passed their safety tests and earned their chains, they began working on basic chainsaw cuts and felling techniques. They've also learned about local glacial history, watershed, and assessing the health of bodies of water. This week, they participated in the Game of Logging, each felling their first trees!

Level II students have been building on skills they learned last year, participating in chainsaw competitions, learning about sawmilling, and operating heavy equipment like excavators and tractors to move rocks and logs. They've also been practicing creating estimates for live jobs. In preparation for building a real log cabin, they've begun learning about notching techniques and practiced with cutting their own Lincoln logs, building mini cabins. Level II participated in Game of Logging levels 3 and 4.

HACTC Adult Education is launching its first ever Electrical Level 1 program. This program is perfect for anyone 17+ who is interested in earning their level one credential in just three months! This credential counts as year one on your four-year adventure toward your journeyman's license. We offer a supportive, hands-on, in-person approach, and you start reaching your career goals right away. We will help you connect with an electrician who can take you under their wing, and you can start earning on-the job-hours needed to become a journeyman. Reserve your spot - register today! Tuition assistance available.

To browse and register for all of our upcoming classes:

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

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

Fun fact: In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and baking.