THEEYEOFTHE HURRICANE
UPCOMINGEVENTS
Paeton Albano, Vanessa Biddy, Ella Bissaillon, Taylor Boulger, Austin Brazee, Kelsey Brown, Richard Carr, Kaydence Furrow, Tim Harrington, Chandler Herring, Cordaro Longino, Cameron Lovato, Levi Miller, Griffin Pytko, Kyle Scott,JaedynnSobieski,MichaelThayer, GracelynWright
AFAREWELLTOMR.WERT
byEllaBissaillon,GriffinPytko,RichardCarr,&LeviMiller
After 42 years in education, our school is saying goodbye to someone who’s becomeahugepartofeverydaylifehere,deanofstudentsMr Wert Ifyou’veever walked through the halls, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him dressed sharp, calm, cool and collected, and somehow everywhere at once Whether it was handling a tough situation or just checking in, Mr Wert has been a constant presenceinthebuilding Asastudent,oneofthethingsI’llremembermostishow welcoming he was every single day. Walking into school, Mr. Wert was always someone you could count on to say something that made you smile. Whether it wastalkingaboutourJeepsandtheduckswecollecttoputonthedashboard,or jokingaboutwhatIhadforlunchthatday,hemadeanefforttoconnectinsmall butmeaningfulways AsaseniorwhohasexperiencedmultipleDeansofStudents, I can honestly say Mr Wert made a huge impact on the Hoosac environment He helped create a space that felt more positive, more consistent, and more connected Before becoming an administrator, Mr Wert started out as a coach and Physical Education teacher, which explains a lot about his energy and connectionwithstudents Overtheyears,heworkedin10differentschoolsacross two states, eventually moving into leadership after earning his degree in Educational Administration. Now, after more than four decades, he’s ready for something new. One thing that really stands out about Mr. Wert is how he approaches discipline. Instead of just handing out consequences, he focuses on relationships He believes that trust and communication are what actually help studentsgrow Evenintoughsituations,hisgoalhasalwaysbeentofixwhatwent wrongandmoveforwardwithrespect Teachershaveseenthatimpactupclose Mrs Bennetsharedthatwheneverthingsgotintense,likestudentsleavingclassor evenbiggerdisruptions,Mr Wertwassomeoneshecouldcountontostepinand help He brought consistency, which made a big difference for both staff and students. Principal Mrs. Byrd described him as her “right-hand person,” someone who helped keep the school running smoothly every single day. She pointed out that he handled one of the hardest jobs in the building, but always did it with patience and professionalism. Even on long, stressful days, he showed up steady and reliable But beyond the job itself, people will remember how he made the schoolfeel Hiscalmattitude,hisabilitytoconnectwithstudents,andevenhisdry sense of humor all helped create a positive environment He wasn’t just an administratorbuthewassomeonepeoplerecognized,trusted,andrespected For Mr Wert, the most meaningful part of his career wasn’t just the job it was the relationships He talked about how, even after difficult situations, students would still come back, talk with him, and even joke around. That trust, he said, meant everything.Now,he’slookingaheadtoawellearnedretirement.Heplanstomove to Maine, live by the ocean, travel, and spend more time with family and friends. After years of strict schedules, he’s ready to enjoy life on his own time. While it’s exciting to see him start this new chapter, there’s no doubt our school will feel different without him Mr Wert has left a lasting mark here and he’s definitely not someonewe’llforgetanytimesoon
SeniorMuralUnderway
byVanessaBiddy
It's time! The class of 2026 has started planning their mural.Ifyoudon'tknowwhatthatis,it'sapaintingonthe school walls that the senior class plans and completes Theoldestmuraldatesbacktoclassof2013.Weaskedour senior advisor, Rebecca Koczela and the student that's planning it this year, Anna Thurston some important questionstogivemoredetail.ThequestionsweaskedMrs. Koczela were, what goes into planning a mural? How many students are allowed to work on the mural/ are there any requirements to be able to? These were her answers “At some point in late winter, early spring, the seniors suggest ideas for a mural. The suggestions are then put out to the seniors to vote on and the top pick is made into a draft, if it isn't already, and shared with Mrs Byrdforapproval.Then,aspotintheschoolischosen.We have many beautiful murals from years past, so a blank spotisgettingtrickytofind,butsomewhereischosenand approved. Then, a sketch is made on the wall using an overheadprojector Mrs Driscollisalwayshelpfulwiththis Typically, there are only a few students who work on the mural. You can't have too many people working at the same time, so there is a small group that works during a free period. Paint and supplies are purchased by the seniorclass Somemuralslistallthestudents'names,and some just have the year. Some classes have had seniors write their own names, and some don't to make it look uniform It is usually the week leading up to graduation that seniors are working hard trying to get it all finished. This year, we are hoping that it will be done early. The design has been chosen for the class of 2026 and the artists are already planning it out - stay tuned!” The questions we asked Anna were, how is the process going withthedrawingsofthemural?Isithardtocomeupwith ideasthatyouthinkeveryonewilllike?Doyouthinkwegot a good amount of input from the class? These were her answers in order. “The drawings of the mural are going great!ThethemewillbeCarsandthesketchisdoneand will be finalized when we come back from break I did not find it hard to come up with ideas, as many people from our class had a lot of input which factors into the design. The responses were somewhat low, however not too bad. Hopefullythisgivesyousomeinformationandstaytuned toseethefinalresult!
byCameronLovato
GirlsLacrosseShowsGrowth
This season, the girls lacrosse have shown remarkableimprovementsinbothoffenseand defense, led by their new dedicated coach Angela Quinto There was a rocky start to the season getting everyone on the same page due to the changes in schedule by moving up a league and training with new coaches Besides that, the girls persevere with their strong work ethic and sportsmanship, the teamcontinuestogrowasacompetitiveforce in their league Junior; Reagan Shea is one of the lead scorers, accomplishing her 100th point record During a deficient game Shea “focuses on the team and what needs to get done” SeniorKennedyWhitleyhasbeenonthe team since seventh grade, something she’d say to the younger girls is “to really cherish every moment of it and create good relationships You don't realize how fast it will goby,butthememoriesyoumakewillalways staywithyou”Whitleyfollowsupbyexpressing that “it may seem intimidating to start something new and unfamiliar but all of the girls are so kind and open minded to everyone”
One thing they all have in common is the connections they’ve made with their teammates No matter winning or losing, they arealwaysthereforeachother Whetherit'son or off the field the chemistry that we have is the best I've seen from any other team I've playedon
The Hoosac Valley girls' lacrosse team is not only striving for success but also fostering a positive environment where young athletes can learn valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance,andfriendship
Grade12
VanessaBiddy
EllaBissaillon
KelseyBrown
KylieClark
RichardColon
CashKolodziej
NathanLapinski
HannahLord
IyakxelMarquezCruz
AvaMcLear
NoahRehill
GracieRhinemiller
BradySherman
MacySprague
IzabelaTart
AnnaThurston
AlexisWarner
KennedyWhitley
GracelynWright
Grade12
VirginiaField
AlaynaShears
AdanWicks
HONOR ROLL
8TH-12TH
HIGH HONORS 90-100 HONORS 85-89.9999
AVERAGES
Grade11
HannaBorer
HailieCarpenter
McKenzeyGrogan
AnnaKemp
AbigailMartel
AlyssaMaselli
AxellSheerin
AlexandraSilvernail
OliviaSilvernail
SophiaSumner
Grade10
PaetonAlbano
AriannaBlake
AddisonColvin
ThomasKulzer
GenevieveLagess
DiegoLunaLuna
AndrewMach
NoahPellerin
SavannahWarner
Grade9
JaidaDavis
AshlenDelcroix
AniyahKastner
DylanKnysh
ElizabethKurley
NoahMaselli
LaylaPulley
AvaRossi
JacksonWeaver
GiannaWitek
Grade11
EvaAkroman
TimothyHarrington
IsabellaKlose
BenjaminPayton
AshPierce
Grade10
MackenzieBiros
KyleSharp
RyanStrek
AngelaWatts
Grade9
CarsonEllsworth
BentleyHunt
JanessaJangrow
BroganLarabee
JacksonLarabee
ZacharyMazzeo
Grade8
HarperBialas
KyraBoyles
PeytonCrane
NadineDaniels
AbigailDieterich
AriaDigirolamo
SkyanaField
ColeKalisz
JackLanski
AdilioMaldonado
KaitlynMcCarthy
SpencerMichalski
AliceMilne
AveryNadeau
EthanPoulton
CorrinScull
EverlyTodd
Grade8
ShelbyAdams
StevenBurdick
JacksonKirchner
RyderLutz
TylerMott
RhyleighWilliams
BradenWojieck
ChandlerZahensky
HVHSPreparestoCelebratetheClassof2026
byPaetonAlbano
OnFriday,June5at6:00p.m.,HoosacValleyHighSchoolwillcelebratetheClassof2026andalloftheiraccomplishments astheypreparetobeginthenextchapteroftheirlives.
Senior Noah Rehill was selected by his classmates to serve as the graduation speaker at commencement. During Class NightonJune4,EllaBissaillonwillspeakastheClassNightspeaker Bothstudentswerevotedintotheserolesbytheirpeers AnnaThurstonwasnamedvaledictorian,andAlexisWarnerwasnamedsalutatorian
To learn more about what goes into graduation week, I spoke with Ms Bennet and Mrs Koczela about the preparation, traditions,andadvicetheyhaveforseniorsandfamilies
Ms Bennet shared that one of the biggest mistakes students make on graduation morning is forgetting important items suchastheircapsorthecorrectshoes.Fortunately,parentsareoftenabletobringforgottenitemstotheschoolbeforethe ceremonybegins.
She also explained that there are strict guidelines for graduation attire and cap decorations. Decorations cannot include profanityorinappropriatelanguage.Traditionally,girlswearwhitedressestomatchtheirwhitegowns,whileboystypically wearformalattireforphotosandtheceremony.
When asked about “emergency plans” for graduation mishaps, Ms Bennet explained that staff members are prepared for almost anything If a gown zipper breaks, they can pin it to make it less noticeable, and if a student forgets a tassel, the schoolusuallyhasextrasavailable
Cellphonesareallowedduringgraduation,butstudentsmaynottakethemoutwhileonstage Studentscankeepphones intheirpocketsorhavefamilymembersholdthemduringtheceremony
Ms.Bennetalsosharedadviceforfamiliesattendinggraduation.Sherecommendedplanningaheadbyknowinghowmany people are in your group and deciding whether you would prefer floor seating or the bleachers. She also suggested aisle seatsforfamilieshopingtogetbetterpictures.
Mrs.Koczelaexplainedthatthereisatremendousamountofworkthathappensbehindthesceneslongbeforegraduation dayarrives.Earlyintheschoolyear,staffmembersbeginorderingcaps,gowns,anddiplomas.Mrs.Poultoncarefullychecks thediplomasbeforesendingthemtothesuperintendent’sofficeforsignatures,andthentoMrs Byrdforfinalapproval Sophomorestudentsalsoplayanimportantroleingraduationtraditions Thesophomoreclassisresponsiblefordecorating the gym, including creating the graduation banner, balloon arch, and other decorations According to Mrs Koczela, every classputsitsownspinonthedecorations,andtheyalwayslookgreat
During the week leading up to graduation, seniors attend rehearsals each morning for about two hours They practice everythingfromliningupwithpartnerstositting,standing,andmovingtasselsduringtheceremony.Thebandalsoattends severalrehearsalstopracticethemusic.
Mrs.Koczelajokedthatoneofthehardestpartseachyearisrememberingwhetherto“goleftorright”whilewalkingintothe ceremony.
Before graduation, staff members also organize diplomas in the exact order they will be handed out and practice pronouncing each graduate’s name correctly Students rehearse their speeches, sing the school song, and practice the diplomapresentationwiththechairmanoftheschoolcommittee
Mrs Koczelaexplainedthatseniorsvoteeachspringfortheclassmatestheywanttoserveasspeakersforgraduationand ClassNight Inaddition,thevaledictorianandsalutatorianeachwritespeechesthatmustbeapprovedbyMrs Byrdbefore beingpresented
Whenaskedaboutherfavoritegraduationtradition,Mrs Koczelasaidshelovesthesingingoftheschoolsongattheendof theceremonywhilethebandplays.Thisisoftenthemomentwhenseniorscelebratebytossingconfettiorstreamers. “It’sanexcitingmoment,”shesaid.“Ialsolovewhentheywalkoutafterthatandeveryoneissohappyandexcited.”
Mrs.Koczelasharedthatthisyear’sseniorclassisespeciallymeaningfultoherbecauseshetaughtmanyofthestudentsin Englishclassesthroughoutallfouryearsofhighschool.
“Ihavebeenabletoseethemgrowandmature,overcomeobstacles,pursuenewthings,andnowbereadytogoontheir ownpath,”shesaid “Iamreallygoingtomissthisclass” Althoughgraduationweekcanbeemotionalandstressful,Mrs Koczelasaidherfirstthoughtattheendoftheceremonyis always,“Wedidit!”
Sheendedwithonefinalpieceofadviceforstudents:“Workhard,keepyourconfidenceup,trynewthings,bekind,andkeep intouch”
SeniorTrip byGracelynWright
TheClassof2026isplanningaseniortriptoTheFun Hub in Hadley at Hampshire Mall, and we’re also going rollerblading afterward The trip is scheduled forWednesday,June3rdfrom11:00to1:00,butitmay goalittlelaterduetorollerblading.TheFunHubhas a lot of fun activities like VR arenas, bumper cars, climbing walls, ropes courses, ninja courses, trampolines, dodgeball, wipeout, zip lining, arcade games,andsomuchmore Theseniorclassisreally excitedtobondwitheachotherandmakesomefun memories before they officially become high school graduates.
BoysLacrosseUpdates
byEllaBissaillon&CameronLovato
FinalSpiritWeekIsHere!
byKaydenceFurrow&JaedynnSobieski
Springspiritweekthisyearinvolvesdecades day, anything but a backpack day, future day, and aloha. On monday we won’t be doing anything since it’s Memorial Day. Tuesday is Decades Day where each grade will be assigned a year. Wednesday is bring Anything But A Backpack where everyone bringssomethingtoreplacetheirbagforthe day. Thursday is Future Day where students can dress up as their future self and or seniors can wear their college merch. Friday is Aloha Day where everyone dresses up in colorful outfits and can wear anything Hawaiianthemed.
The Hoosac Valley boys lacrosse team isbuildingmomentumattherighttime, combiningstrongon-fieldperformance with a tight-knit team culture as it heads toward the postseason. Hoosac recently capped their regular season with a 13–9 win over Lenox, powered by five goals from Jayden Tatro and four from Cameron Odvar. After a brief comeback from Lenox tied the game late in the third quarter, Hoosac Valley respondedwithadecisiveruntosecure the victory. The game reflected the team’s ability to stay composed and respond under pressure, something players say comes from their connection as a group “I enjoy the privilege of being able to play with my friends and win big games together as ateam,”saiddefenderJonathanLyons. “We have a very close group of guys, andthatdefinitelyhelpsusplayashard as we do.” That chemistry has been a defining part of the boys lax season. Whether it’s offensive production or defensive stops, players consistently point to trust and communication as key factors in their success. Lyons pointed to an early matchup against Belchertown as a turning point.“We didn’t start great in that game, but we managed to come together and still win,” he said. That ability to adjust and respond has helped shape a team that believes it can make a deep postseason run. “I would describe the team’s relationship as close-knit, like a family,” said captain Cameron Odvar. “Our goals are to win a Western Mass championship and hopefully make a run in the state tournament. As a captain, I try to encourage my teammatestoworkashardastheycan no matter what.” Lyons shares that focus as the Hurricanes prepare for what’s next “My goal is to win another Western Mass title and hopefully our first state game,” he said. With a 9–5 recordandgrowingconfidence,Hoosac Valley now turns its attention to the postseason, where its combination of talent, resilience, and team chemistrycouldmakeitaseriouscontender.
SoftballContinuestoDominate
byEllaBissaillon&GracelynWright
The Hoosac Valley Hurricanes softball team is off to a dominant start this spring, combining explosive offense, dominant pitching, and a strong team culture that has fueled their success. Comingoffa20–4seasonandatriptothestatequarterfinals,theHurricaneshavepickedupright where they left off. With 7 seniors returning the team has shown both experience and depth in a seriesofimportantwins Theteam'soffensehasbeenrelentless Ina10–3winoverMountGreylock, Rachael Wnuk led the charge with two home runs and four RBIs, while Genevieve Lagess added a homerunofherown.IzzyTartwent3for3withthreeRBIs.
The Hurricanes followed that with a 12–0 shutout against Monument Mountain, highlighted by a five-inning no-hitter from pitcher Gracelyn Wright. Wnuk and Ashlyn Lamke each homered, while Wrightcontributedattheplateaswellwithtwodoubles.Theteamfinishedwith14hitsintherunrulevictory
Their discipline at the plate has also been key. In a 13–3 win over Taconic, Hoosac Valley drew 12 walksandcapitalizedonscoringopportunities.HeadcoachMikeAmeenemphasizedpatienceas a defining factor in the team’s offensive approach. “Ted Williams said, ‘To be a good hitter, you’ve gottoswingatgoodpitches,’”Ameensaid.“Theywerepatient,tookwhatthedefensegavethem, andmadesmartdecisions.”
Thatbalanceoftalentanddisciplinereflectsabroaderteamphilosophy “Wecomeinlikewecan get beat every day,” Ameen said. “Your talent is the floor, your character is the ceiling.” While the numbers are impressive, the Hurricanes’ success is equally rooted in their team chemistry and mindset. Eighth grader Harper Bialas has emerged as a key contributor despite being one of the youngest players on the roster. “My goals are to not let mistakes hold me back, not let being the youngest hold me back, and to hit my first career home run,” Bialas said. She credits her confidencetotheworkshe’sputinandthesupportofherteammates
“Beingakeyeighthgrader on a competitive team is a confidence booster,” she said. “This team is very supportive and understanding. Everyone shows up happy, and that energy spreads.” Bialas also pointed to leadership as a key factor in the team’s mental strength. “Having captains helps everyone. We all understandwe’reimprovingtogether,andoneperson’spositivitycanliftthewholeteam.”
Senior Hannah Lord has experienced that culture from both ends of her career. Now a leader, she reflectedonhowtheteamrespondstochallenges “Whenwefacesetbacks,wecangetfrustrated atfirst,”Lordsaid.“Butassoonassomethingpositivehappens,werallyandfightback.”Withgoals ofwinningaWesternMassachusettstitleandmakingadeepstatetournamentrun,theHurricanes are focused on maintaining that unity. “We’ve set a positive tone, supported each other, and worked together to reach milestones,” Lord said. Looking back, Lord sees just how much both she and the program have grown. “As a seventh grader, it was intimidating and I wasn’t sure if it was for me,” she said “Now as a senior, it’s heartwarming to see how successful we’ve become I’m proudofhowwe’vegrowntogether.”Withapowerfullineup,adominantpresenceinthecircle,and a strong team-first mentality, the Hoosac Valley Hurricanes are proving they are a force to be reckonedwiththisseasonandonethat’sbuiltnotjustontalent,butoncharacter.
HVHSStudentArtistsHaveWorkDisplayedatTheClark
The Clark Art Institute, Living the Change Berkshires, and Cooler Communities present the student art show,HowShallWeLive:BerkshireYouthArtistsExploreTheirRelationshipwiththeEarthintheTimeof ClimateChange,onviewattheClarkfromApril18–26.FollowingtheclosureoftheshowattheClark,it willbeonviewatPittsfield’sCityHallfromMay1(aligningwiththeMayFirstFridaysArtswalk)through June 8 and Sheffield’s Dewey Hall from June 12–21. A free, public reception celebrating the opening of the show and the work of participating artists takes place on April 18 from 2:30–5 pm in the Hunter StudioattheClark’sLunderCenter.
For the fourth year, Berkshire County high school students were invited to participate in a juried installationofstudentartaboutclimatechange.Submissionscouldbeindividualorcollaborativeand 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional. Students were asked to respond to one or more elements in the followingprompt:
Intheageofclimatechange, ·Whatdoesnatureprovide? ·Whataretheearth’sneeds?
·Whatmattersmost?
·Whatisresilience?
·Wheredoyoufindguidanceandinspiration?
In a time of climate uncertainty, this installation spotlights how high school students from across the county experience climate change and demonstrate resilience as they work together to protect the environment.
PaetonAlbano
VanessaBiddy
DanielCernik
ElaziaHebert
KaydenKellett
NathanLapinski
JohnathanLyons
ZoelizMarquezCruz
MaisieMcGinnis
AzaezelPanetti
AshPierce
AxellSheerin
AliSilvernail
OliviaSilvernail
DavonTarjick
EllaWhitley
HVHSPreparesForAnnualFieldDay
byCordaroLongino,ChandlerHerring,TaylorBoulger,andMichaelThayer
OnFriday,May29,HoosacValleyHighSchoolwillholditsannualhighschoolFieldDayevent Studentswill followahalf-dayschedulebeforeparticipatinginapeprallyandafternoonactivitiesoutside Field Day has become a long-standing tradition at Hoosac Valley and is designed to give students an opportunitytocometogetheroutsideoftheclassroomtoenjoygames,competitions,andteamactivities Throughout the afternoon, students from all grade levels will participate in events held around the school grounds.
Thisyear’sFieldDaywillfeatureavarietyofoutdooractivities,includingvolleyball,hackysack,spikeball,an inflatable obstacle course, a blow-up slide, water balloons, and a slip-and-slide. Most stations are organized and run by Student Council members, while teachers and volunteers help supervise activities andkeepeventsrunningsmoothly.
Because much of the event takes place outdoors, students are encouraged to prepare for warm weather conditions. Bringing sunscreen is recommended, especially since some activity areas may have limited shade. Students are also encouraged to bring water bottles to stay hydrated throughout the afternoon. Labelingwaterbottlesisrecommendedtoavoidlosingormixingupbelongingsduringtheevent.
Musicisalsoanimportantpartoftheday’satmosphere.Mr.Tetlowwillprovidemusicthroughouttheevent to help create a fun and energetic environment. Music has become a major part of school traditions at Hoosac Valley through pep rallies, dances, and other student activities Many students look forward to hearing music while participating in games, watching competitions, and spending time with classmates andteachers
Anothercommonquestionstudentshadinvolvedfoodduringtheevent Asnackandicecreambarwillbe availableduringFieldDay,butstudentsarestillencouragedtobringtheirownlunch Sincestudentswillbe active outdoors for several hours, bringing food and drinks ahead of time will help them stay prepared throughouttheday.
Students also asked where they should keep their belongings during activities. Bags may be stored in the gym while events are taking place outside. In previous years, some students chose to carry their belongings with them or leave them in the courtyard area during activities. Students are encouraged to keeptrackofpersonalitemsandavoidbringingvaluablesthatcouldbecomelostordamaged,especially nearwateractivities.
School spirit and grade-level competition are also major parts of Field Day. Students are encouraged to weartheirclasscolorsandsupporttheirclassmatesthroughoutthecompetitions.Schoolspirithasalways played an important role in the event because it creates a more exciting and competitive atmosphere whileallowingstudentstorepresenttheirgradelevels.
Students also had questions about the school phone policy during Field Day. Seniors will most likely be allowedtousetheirphonesforpicturesandvideosduringtheevent,whileunderclassmenwilllikelystillbe expectedtokeeptheirphonesinsidetheirYondrpouches
FieldDaycontinuestobeoneofthemostanticipatedtraditionsatHoosacValleybecauseitgivesstudents and staff the chance to spend time together in a more relaxed environment before the school year ends The combination of outdoor games, water activities, music, food, and school spirit helps create an event manystudentsrememberthroughouttheirhighschoolexperience.
With the pep rally, competitions, student involvement, and organized activities planned for this year’s celebration,studentsarelookingforwardtoanothersuccessfulandmemorableFieldDayatHoosacValley HighSchool.
HurricanesPrepareforEnchantedEveningatProm
byPaetonAlbano
Hoosac Valley High School will hold its annual prom on May 30 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at BerkshireHillsCountryClub.Studentsshouldarriveby5:30p.m.forthetraditionalwalkinbeforetheeventbegins.
This year’s prom theme is “Enchanted Evening.” The planning committee wanted to create a magical and elegant atmosphere that feels like stepping into a fairytale.
Decorationswillfeaturesoftlighting,sparklingaccents,romanticcolors,andenchanted garden-inspireddetailstobringthethemetolife.Musicfortheeveningwillbeprovided byeveryone’sfavoriteDJ,ReidTetlow.
Prom tickets were sold for $60 per person. In preparation for the event, tuxedo rentals were made available for students who wanted them. Students also had access to discounted nail services through Manisetgo, an online nail company. Nyla was able to secureadiscountforstudentsthroughherinternshipwiththecompany.
I also spoke with Ms. Lagess about several important prom rules and expectations. Students are allowed to bring guests from other schools, but all guests must have a completedguestformandacopyoftheirIDsubmittedaheadoftime.Guestsoverthe age of 20 are not permitted. If the guest attends another school, that school must confirmthatthestudentisingoodstanding.
Students also had questions about Prom Court eligibility and voting. To be eligible for Prom Court, students must be seniors enrolled at Hoosac Valley and demonstrate positiveschoolspiritandbehaviorthroughouttheevening.Everyseniorattendingprom will automatically appear on the ballot for Prom King, Queen, and Court. A QR code will beavailableateachtablesostudentscancasttheirvotesduringtheevent.
The planning committee emphasized that they hope students remember this prom as more than just a dance. Their goal is to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience where students can forget about stress, spend time together, and create memories that will lastlongafterhighschoolends.
Compared to previous years, the committee focused heavily on making the event feel personal, emotional, and unforgettable for every student attending. A great deal of planningandhardworkhasgoneintocreatingtheevening.
Thecommitteehopesthatwhenstudentswalkthroughthedoors,theyfeelcompletely transportedintoamagicalandenchantingworldforoneunforgettablenight.Theyalso hope students will appreciate the time, creativity, and care that went into making the eveningspecialforeveryoneattending.
Congratstooursoftballteam! WesternMassChamps&an undefeatedregularseason.Good luckinthestatetournament!
SeniorBand Member TimOlver, seenhereat theFall Foliage Parade, October5, 2025
HVHSBandPerformsSpringConcert
byGriffinPytko
Recently, the Hoosac Valley High School Band performeditsfinalconcertoftheschoolyear.This special performance was also a combined concertwiththemiddleschoolband,makingitan exciting and memorable evening for students, families,andaudiencemembersalike.
The concert featured several memorable pieces, including music inspired by Cirque du Soleil. Students from both the middle and high school bands worked hard to prepare for the performance and showcased their talent throughouttheevening.
IhadtheopportunitytoaskseniorTimOlverafew questions about his experience in band and preparingfortheconcert.
The first question I asked Tim was how he tries to be a positive role model for younger students in theprogram.
“I’mabletobethereforstudentswhentheyneed help and be sort of a guiding figure for them. I activelytrytopromotehowtobeabetterperson inbandandabetterstudentoverall.”
I also asked Tim what the most challenging part ofpreparingfortheconcertwas.
“Thehardestpartofgettingreadyforthisconcert wasdefinitelytheconflictswiththemiddleschool schedule. But besides that, I feel like we pulled together really well and were able to perform reallywell.”
Finally,IaskedTimhowmusichasaffectedhislife and how he hopes it will continue to impact his future.
“Iplanongoingtocollegeformusicaltheaterand expanding my abilities and skills. Later in my life, I’d like to perform on Broadway. Music has had someofthebiggestinfluencesonmylifeandhas alwaysbeentheretohelpme.”
This final concert marked an important moment for many students. For some eighth graders, it was their first opportunity to perform alongside the high school band, while for some middle school students, it was their very first band concertexperience.
Overall,theconcertwasawonderfulperformance from all members of the middle and high school bands,andtheschoolcommunityisveryproudof the hard work and dedication shown by all of the studentmusicians.