Hancock Middle/High School

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Hancock Central School would like to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms, grandmothers, guardians, and mother figures in our school community! Thank you for your love, guidance, and endless support. Your strength and care help shape the lives of our students and inspire all of us every day. We appreciate you—today and always.

THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTODIAL AND TRANSPORTATION STAFFS! This Staff Appreciation Week, we proudly recognize the hardworking custodial and transportation teams at Hancock Central School—true unsung heroes who help keep our school running every single day. To our custodians: You are the first ones in and the last ones out—cleaning, fixing, setting up, and making sure our buildings are safe, welcoming, and ready for learning. Your work behind the scenes makes a big difference, and we are so grateful for your dedication and attention to detail. From snow removal to sanitizing classrooms, you do it all with pride and care. To our transportation staff: You are the trusted hands behind the wheel, ensuring our students get to and from school safely each day. Rain, snow, or shine—you show up with a smile, a warm greeting, and a commitment to safety. Your calm presence and dependability make you an important part of each student's daily experience. Your work may often happen early in the morning or late at night, but please know that your impact is felt around the clock. Thank you for your reliability, hard work, and the care you bring to the HCS community.

HCS STUDENT ARTISTS SHINE! We are thrilled to announce that several talented Hancock Central School students have had their artwork selected for publication in the 2024-2025 editions of the Catskill Review and Kites and Kings! These prestigious publications showcase exceptional student creativity from across the region, and our students' inclusion is a testament to their hard work, talent, and artistic vision. We would like to recognize the following students on being selected: Kites and Kings – Maci Berlingeri, Nicholas Picozzi, Emerson Rinn, Mia Cotza Catskill Review – Madelyn Feller, Carter Fineout, John D’Elia, Emma Tice, Amadalee Rodriguez, Addison Makowski Congratulations to all of our student artists for this outstanding achievement — we are so proud of you!

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING AIDES & MONITORS! This Staff Appreciation Week, we want to give a big shout-out to our dedicated aides and monitors at Hancock Central School! From classroom support to hallway supervision and everything in between, your hard work, patience, and care make a huge difference in the daily lives of our students and staff. We truly appreciate all that you do to keep HCS running smoothly and our students safe, supported, and ready to learn!

HAPPY SCHOOL NURSE DAY! During Staff Appreciation Week, we want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing nurses— Ms. Ahearn, Ms. Alderman and Mrs. Hunt—for their constant care, compassion, and dedication. Whether it’s a scraped knee, a fever, or just a kind word, our nurses are always there to support the health and well-being of our students. Hancock Central School is lucky to have such incredible people watching over us every day! Thank you for all you do!

IMPORTANT DATES See the graphic below for important dates for the Month of May here at HCS!

HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY This week, Hancock Central School proudly recognizes and thanks our dedicated teachers for their outstanding work and unwavering commitment to our students. Our teachers give their time, energy, and expertise every day to provide the best possible education and support for our students. Their dedication makes a lasting impact in the classroom and throughout our school community. Thank you for everything you do. We appreciate you—this week and always!

Thank You to Our School Lunch Heroes! This past Friday was School Lunch Hero Day, and we want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing Food Service Team at Hancock Central School! From preparing nutritious meals to serving them with a smile, you make a difference in our students' lives every single day. Your hard work, care, and dedication do not go unnoticed—and we appreciate you more than words can express. As we continue to celebrate Staff Appreciation Week, we’re proud to recognize our food service staff as essential members of the HCS family. Thank you for keeping us fueled, supported, and smiling!

Celebrating Principal Durkot for Principal Appreciation Day and Staff Appreciation Week! This past Thursday was Principal Appreciation Day, and we want to give a huge THANK YOU to our very own Mr. Durkot for everything he does for our Elementary and Middle-High Schools here at Hancock Central School. His dedication, leadership, and unwavering support make a lasting impact on our students, staff, and school community every single day. As we kick off Staff Appreciation Week, we also extend our gratitude to all of our incredible teachers, aides, counselors, custodians, office staff, food service workers, and everyone who helps make HCS such a special place. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you! Thank you, Mr. Durkot, and thank you to our entire HCS team—you are appreciated more than words can say!

HAPPY EASTER & ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK! Hancock Central School wishes all our students, staff, and families a happy, healthy, and safe Easter filled with joy and relaxation! You’ve earned a well-deserved break—Spring Recess runs from Thursday, April 17 through Monday, April 28. We’ll see everyone back in class on Tuesday, April 29 refreshed and ready to finish the school year strong! Enjoy the time off and take care!

EASTER EGG-CITEMENT AT HCS! Today’s Easter Egg Hunt was a blast! Despite the chilly weather, our students had a fantastic time searching for eggs, collecting goodies, and even getting a visit from the Easter Bunny! A huge thank you to our amazing Student Council for organizing such a fun event, and to all the staff members who donated and contributed to the treats hidden inside the eggs. Your support made this a truly special day for our students! Smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of eggs—what more could we ask for?

5TH-6TH GRADERS CREATE SPRING-THEMED BOOKMARKS Thank you to Mrs. Dufton for sending in pictures of our 5th and 6th graders, as they created beautiful spring-themed bookmarks today! Nice job, students, you all really did an amazing job with your bookmarks!

SPRING VACATION INFORMATION We hope you all have a happy and healthy spring recess! Spring recess will begin this Thursday, April 17th, through Monday, April 28th. Students will return on Tuesday, April 29th. Also, there will be NO extended day this Wednesday, April 16th. Thank you!

IN THE SPIRIT!! We have some more spirit week pictures to share with you, today was 'Jersey vs Jersey Shore' day! Thank you to all of our students and staff that participated this week, way to show off your school spirit!!

KEEPING UP THE SPIRIT Today is 'Country vs Country Club' day during our Spring Spirit Week, see some pictures of our students and staff below! Way to keep up the school spirit, everyone! Tomorrow is 'Jersey vs Jersey Shore' day!

TEACHER-STUDENT SWAP PICS! Bravo to our students and staff for continuing the spring spirit for teacher-student swap today! Take a look at the photos below, nice job, everyone!

SPRING SPIRIT WEEK Get ready, Wildcats—Spring Spirit Week kicks off next week! Show your school spirit and join the fun by dressing up each day. Monday is Pajama Day, roll out of bed and come to school in your coziest PJs! Let’s make this a fun and spirited week—can’t wait to see all the creative outfits!

Important Update: School Vacation Days Added Due to Unused Snow Days Greetings Wildcat Families! We hope this message finds you well. As a result of unused snow days this school year, we are pleased to inform you that additional vacation days have been added to the school calendar. The following changes will take effect: Spring Recess will now begin on Thursday, April 17th and continue through Monday, April 28th. Memorial Day Weekend Break will be extended to include Friday, May 23rd through Monday, May 26th. These adjustments provide an opportunity for students and staff to enjoy a longer break this spring and early summer. We hope this will be a welcomed change for all! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification. Thank you for your continued support!

ALL SCHOOL PLAY – DAYTIME PERFORMANCE A big thank you to our HCS students for being such a respectful and supportive audience as the cast of Wildcat Katie Brown performed for the school earlier today! Your encouragement meant the world to our performers. Here’s a sneak peek at some moments from the show to get you excited for tonight’s public performance! Wildcat Katie Brown - Tonight at 7:00 p.m. - MS-HS Auditorium We can't wait to see you there for an evening of laughter, talent, and Wildcat pride!

HAPPY NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARIAN DAY! Today we celebrate Mrs. Phyllis Sanford, our incredible Library Media Specialist who is in her 30th year of teaching! Mrs. Sanford splits her time between Deposit and Hancock Central Schools, and we are very fortunate to have her as part of our HCS family. Reflecting on her first year shared between both schools, Mrs. Sanford shared: "This is the first year we are shared with library between Deposit and Hancock, and I must say that Hancock Central School has been very welcoming throughout the entire process. It has been really nice." Beyond her work in the library, Mrs. Sanford wears many hats: • Advisor for the National Junior Honor Society in Deposit • Co-chair of the Author Visit at DCS Elementary • Scorekeeper for the DH Eagles boys’ and girls’ basketball teams Outside of school, she’s an avid bicyclist, a passionate gardener, and a proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren! She’s also never far from her very devoted German Shepherd. One of her favorite quotes is by C.S. Lewis: “Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” Thank you, Mrs. Sanford, for inspiring our students, supporting our schools, and bringing such joy and dedication to everything you do. We appreciate you today and every day!