Dear Students, Families, Educators, Staff, and Administrators:

As we settle into the 25-26 School Year , I want to take an opportunity to share some thoughts with you. The Five Districts are a wonderful place to learn, work, and grow, and the towns in which we are located value education and community as foundations upon which to build for the future. In my second year as superintendent of schools, I recognize how fortunate and blessed I am to be a part of the Five Districts. As a father I know firsthand the excellent education our children receive because I saw the benefits my own children realized as students and graduates of the HRSD. As an educational leader I see the care, compassion, and professionalism of our educators, staff, and administrators, and I assure you that I know from shared experience that your children (our students) are in supremely capable hands! I spoke the other day at Hampshire Regional with the Class of ‘31, and I encouraged them to focus on those things that they are able to control: their responses within their spheres of influence and their interactions with their peers and educators. I gave them that encouragement since it is very easy to get distracted and disturbed by events on the news, across the nation, and around the world; of course, over those things they (and we) have no control, but over the following they do. My advice to them was a four-part challenge:

1. Own your learning;

2. Lead in a positive way;

3. Grow school spirit;

4. Serve in the community.

Reading those challenges, you may think I am setting the bar too high for twelve- and thirteen-year-olds, but I contend that they are ready; in fact, these students (and all of our students) are just what we need in these difficult times with an uncertain future ahead of us. Please know that it is our collective responsibility to prepare our students (your children) for what is next!

Thank you for this opportunity to lead and to grow with the students, educators, staff, administrators and stakeholders of our schools, and I ask you to partner with us, to stay engaged, and to be in communication as we support our students and each other during these challengingly difficult times in this truly special place, the Five Districts!

Sincerely,

Dr. Perrone (Dr. P or Vito)