HMMS Newsletter

Dear HMMS Families,

On behalf of everyone at Hartford Memorial Middle School, we want to extend our warmest congratulations to Caty Van Eyck-Sutton on her appointment as the next Superintendent of Schools for the Hartford School District!

We are thrilled to continue working with a leader who brings deep knowledge of our district, a collaborative spirit, and a clear commitment to both staff and students. Caty’s leadership as Interim Superintendent this year, combined with her experience as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has already made a meaningful impact. We look forward to the future under her guidance—congratulations, Caty!

Recently, HMMS hosted an incredibly successful Marathon Dance, led by Brycen Nardone, Kristen Chapman, and many others. Over 30 HMMS staff volunteered their time to make this event a reality, and our students raised nearly $12,000 to donate to various causes! You can read more details in the newsletter below.

Our 8th-grade students completed their course sign-ups for freshman year—a day filled with mixed emotions as they take their next big step. While we support our outgoing students in their transition, we are also focusing on welcoming our incoming 6th graders.

HMMS staff will be visiting our three elementary schools to observe teaching strategies, transitions, schedules, and school-wide systems. This will help us create a smooth and supportive transition for our newest HMMS Students.

While we prepare for both our departing and incoming students, we remain committed to providing a high-quality experience for all HMMS students.

Please take note of the important dates listed below in the newsletter, and as always, thank you for your continued support!

• 8th Grade Course Sign-Ups -Parents, please review, sign, and return your student’s course sign-up form to Deb Wagar in the office as soon as possible.

• Wednesday, June 4th: 8th grade step up day in the afternoon

• 8th Grade Graduation: Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 pm start

• • Thursday, April 3rd: Vermont Prevention Day training at Capitol Plaza Hotel. Email Mrs. Potter with any questions at potterj@hartfordschools.net

  • Friday, April 4: Quarter 4 ends. New Related Arts rotations begin.

  • Tuesday, April 8th: EARLY RELEASE (12:30pm)

  • Friday, April 11th: Alcohol Awareness Lunches with OVX group and Hartford Community Coalition

  • Monday, April 14th-Friday, April 18th NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK!

  • Friday, May 9th: Mental Health Awareness Month lunches with Hope Happens Here & Hartford Community Coalition

  • Tuesday, May 20th: EARLY RELEASE (12:30pm)

  • Monday, May 26th: NO SCHOOL

  • Wednesday, June 4th: 8th grade step up day in the afternoon

  • Friday, June 6th: “Staying Safe and Healthy Over the Summer” lunches with Hartford Parks and Recreation, Hartford Community Coalition, and HMMS prevention groups

  • Friday, June 13th: 8th grade field trip to Canobie Lake Park (tentative - waiting on bus confirmation)

  • 8th Grade Graduation: Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 pm start

  • LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Thursday, June 18 (assuming no more snow days)

  • Friday, June 20th: High School Graduation.

Apologies for the delay in getting this to you! For those who couldn’t attend our in-person meeting on 3/14, we’ve put together a document with key talking points from our discussion.

We hope to hold another session before the end of the year and will keep you posted on details.

Here is the Doc!

Dear HMMS Families,

• PTO is looking for board members for the 2025-2026 school year. We will be in need of a President, Vice President, Secretary and two Volunteer Coordinators. Please join us at our next meeting on Thursday, April 24th at 6:30 pm in the HMMS library if you are interested in one of these positions.

• Spring sports are under way! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the HMMS Athletic Director, Nichole Vielleux, at hmmsad@hartfordschools.net

We need Sports photos for our yearbook! if you have any please email to topolewskie@hartfordschools.net.

As we enter the last quarter of the school year, we are in the beginning stages of placing incoming students on teams. For those of you that have 5th graders coming to the middle school next year, we are offering you the opportunity to provide feedback on team placement. If you so choose, please fill out the form at this LINK to provide us with feedback on whether your incoming student should be placed on the same or different teams of your older student(s). Please note that we will do our best to accommodate requests, but cannot guarantee placement.

Please check out the regularly updated Student Assistance Program newsletter, click here– SAP Newsletter for information on prevention, substance misuse, bullying and wellness

• Vaping in 2025: What’s Changed & What Parents Need to Know

• Host: Operation Parent

• Date: Recorded Webinar (from 2/19 event) | Watch

• Location: online

• Description: The face of vaping has changed significantly since they first emerged about a decade ago: vapes are bigger, stronger, and distributors have developed new methods to appeal to youth and evade FDA regulations. Join Dr. Weiner for an in-depth look at the evolving vaping landscape, the hidden risks to physical and mental health, and practical tips to help you have informed, impactful conversations with your child.

• Hartford Parks & Recreation is looking for ideas for the future possibilities of Lyman Point Park, including how to make it more accessible. If you have a chance, please fill out the survey

Please check out the Hartford Parks and Recreation offerings for the Summer and Fall: https://hartfordvt.myrec.com/info/default.aspx

• • Atlas 8th graders are writing beautiful poetry incorporating similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification

  • Atlas 7th graders are writing amazing short stories that include the use of symbolism

  • Atlas 6th graders are having fun, lively conversations about The LightningThief by Rick Riordan

  • Ruby Puls competed at the Vermont Gymnastics State Championship on March 22nd and 23rd. She took 3rd place on beam and 4th place overall! Way to go Ruby! We are proud of your accomplishments!

  • HMMD was an amazing success! Sincere “Thank you’s” go out to everyone who participated, donated, volunteered, or otherwise supported our students in raising money for our community partners and local family. We appreciated getting the opportunity to give back to our community! Students raised $11,603!!! See this Video from WCAX: Upper Valley middle school students to dance the night away, as well as the article in the Valley News!

This spring, students at Hartford Memorial Middle School will participate in the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP) provided by Cognia. These assessments measure students’ mastery of academic standards in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science and are administered annually to students in grades 3–9.

Testing Details at HMMS

📅 Testing Window: March 10 – May 2, 2025
📍 Location: Hartford Memorial Middle School (During the School Day)

HMMS Testing Schedule

GradeDateTest SubjectEstimated Length

Understanding the VTCAP

• Who Takes the Test?

  • ELA & Mathematics: Students in Grades 3–9

  • Science: Students in Grades 5, 8, and 11

• How is the Test Administered?

  • The assessments are computer-adaptive and include accessibility features for students.

• Purpose of the Test:

  • To provide families and school leaders with insights into teaching, learning, and student progress in relation to statewide academic standards.

• Student Privacy & Security:

  • Vermont’s test system follows strict security measures to ensure student privacy and compliance with all federal and state confidentiality regulations.

Receiving Test Results

Once students complete their assessments, Individual Student Reports will be sent to families as soon as they become available. These reports will help parents understand their child’s learning progress.

Additional Information

For more details, visit Vermont Help & Support (Cognia).

If you have any questions, please contact HMMS at 802-295-8640.

Cody TanCreti

Principal HMMS

tancretic@hartfordschools.net