Great Path Academy at CT State Manchester

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing our new faculty and staff at GPA!

New Staff Spotlight:
Hello GPA Community!

My name is Ms. Chelsey Hood, and I am so excited to be joining Great Path Academy this year as the Culinary Arts teacher. This is my 12th year in education, but my first year at GPA and my first year teaching culinary arts. My background is in Career and Technical Education, where I’ve taught courses in graphic design, digital media, and STEM. I love helping students discover their creativity, build confidence, and develop skills they can use far beyond the classroom.

Outside of school, I’m a proud mom of two wonderful kids. We love cooking together, trying out new recipes, and spending time outdoors. I look forward to bringing my passion for food, creativity, and hands-on learning into the kitchen here at GPA.

Good Afternoon Great Path Academy Families,

Please note that returning students and parents are welcome to collect their school issued devices as follows:
Wednesday, August 20th and Thursday, August 21st between 9am-1pm - Returning students and parents are required to come to GPA to pick up their laptop, charger and sign off on the Device Contract. There is no fee or deposit needed.

Students and parents new to Great Path Academy are required to attend the Mandatory Laptop night on Thursday, August, 28th,at 5:00 PM.
August 28th - New Student and Parent Mandatory Laptop Night at 5pm. We will review our Device Policy and new students will pick up their laptop, charger and sign off on the Device Contract. There is no fee or deposit needed.

Save the Date! Meet the Teacher Night will be Wednesday, September 10th from 5pm-7pm at GPA.

Get ready for back to school! We will be holding a GPA Back to School Social at Great Path Academy from 1pm-3pm. Come and enjoy lunch and a chance to re-connect with staff and students before the first day of school on Tuesday, August 26th.

Please join us for our BoE Regular Meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 5:30 PM at M.D. Fox School, 470 Maple Avenue Street in Hartford.
The Agenda is on BoardDocs: https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public
You may join the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/j9GtiUwA3Ig

Please join us for our BoE Regular Meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 5:30 PM at M.D. Fox School, 470 Maple Avenue Street in Hartford. The Agenda is on BoardDocs: https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public You may join the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WeMGCqrDcfU

Join us Wednesday, July 9 for a VIRTUAL Committee of the Whole Meeting. To view the agenda, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public and watch the livestream beginning at 5:00 on YouTube.

Please join us for a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM at the M.D. Fox School Auditorium, 470 Maple Ave., Hartford for the appointment of the new Hartford Public Schools Superintendent.
Find the Agenda on BoardDocs here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public
and live streaming, here: https://www.youtube.com/live/RZnlMUPWziM

Great Path Academy, CT State Manchester, and ReadyCT faculty and staff had an opportunity to attend the Middle College National Consortium Summer Institute in Jersey City, NJ Saturday, June 28th to Monday, June 30th to collaborate over 30 middle college high schools throughout the country. We had the chance to meet staff and faculty from New York, New Jersey, Michigan, California, Ohio, Maryland, and more about topics such as supporting student success in middle college, Generative AI to deepen student learning, and responding to our changing landscape in education! GPA also presented in collaboration with ReadyCT and CT State Manchester. On Saturday, June 28th, ReadyCT and GPA staff - Dr. Kate Darcy Hothenhal, Dr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Tatham, and Mrs. Heredia presented on "Education and Industry Interconnectedness: Collaborations For Positive Youth Workforce Development" and on Sunday, June 29th, CT State Manchester faculty member Mrs. Jennifer Sherman and Mrs. Laura Gray presented on "Bridging the Gap: How We Revolutionized College and Career Readiness at Great Path Academy" and Mrs. Gray presented on "Leveraging Collaborative Fine Arts to Lift and Empower Student Voice: A Case Study." Congrats to our staff for their presentations and collaboration this entire weekend to showcase the great programs at GPA and work with others to learn and grow together.

New to Hartford or Hartford Public Schools? Learn more and REGISTER TODAY! Summer is the perfect time to make sure your child is ready for the school year ahead at Hartford Public Schools. Is your child entering school for the first time? Are you new to Hartford? If so, register now for the 2025-26 school year at Hartford Public Schools. Visit the Hartford Public Schools’ Welcome Center at 280 Trumbull Street in Hartford or online at www.hartfordschools.org/enroll. School is out. Summer is in. Let school registration begin!

Congratulations to Class of 2025 Senior Class President Jaiden Ryans! Jaiden was this year's recipient of the Hartford Public School Administrators (HPSA) Principal's Scholarship as well as the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Student Leadership Award for his dedication to his school community. He had an opportunity to address the Class of 2025 for the final time and shared these words of inspiration: "Always remember that you can do anything you put your mind to. Push yourselves and explore the world— Know that the journey won’t be perfect or easy, nothing in life comes easy. There will be times we’ll struggle, stress, cry, or worry about our future— But always remember that we all have a calling and a purpose in this world. Mine ended up being Dance— so find it and do magical things with that gift. — maybe yours is music, coding, activism, entrepreneurship, nursing, a passion, or something the world hasn’t even seen yet. But whatever it is, chase it. " Congratulations Jaiden!

Great Path Academy was proud to have Co-Valedictorians from the Class of 2025! They represent a high standard of academic achievement. They have taken advantage of every opportunity that Great Path and more has had to offer them. From always being involved in the school as GPA ambassadors and supporting new families and students, to helping their peers with academic work and school work, applying for and attending a junior leadership field trip to Washington, DC. We are privileged to announce our co-Valedictorians - Mariah Burgos and Arianah Gonzalez. During their time here, they have been members of the GPA community that many could rely on for academic success, collaboration, support, and friendship. Respectively, Mariah has earned 15 college credits and Arianah has earned 15 college credits at CT State Manchester and they will be able to apply those at their new colleges in the fall - Mariah will be heading to the University of Southern California and Arianah to University of Central Florida! Here are some inspiring words from their joint speech: "I want the class of 2025 to take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate reaching the finish line. And to those graduates whose family and friends couldn’t be here today—take pride in how far you’ve come, and hold gratitude in your hearts for those who supported you from afar. Thank yourselves for your perseverance and resilience. And take a moment to honor those who’ve supported you along the way, near and far. This moment is yours — enjoy it, you’ve earned every bit of it!"

Please join us for the Board of Education Regular Meeting, being held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 5:30 p.m., at M.D. Fox Elementary School, 470 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114. Find the Agenda on BoardDocs here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public and the YouTube Link for live streaming, here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EJ4U24wmi3M

Congratulations to our Class of 2025 Salutatorian Isabelle Pastrana! She shared a heartfelt and inspiring speech to her fellow graduates. "I never once thought I would be up here making this speech, but here I am stepping out of my comfort zone and accepting this great honor I've earned over the past 4 years. Over the next 4 or 5 years as we embark in the beginning of adulthood, there will be points in our life where we are forced out of our comfort zones whether it be public speaking, job responsibilities or your own professional goals. Rather than pushing back and reimagining your comfort zone, I encourage you to step out and explore the opportunities that life has to offer you, you never know where they may take you." We are proud of you Isabelle!

Great Path Academy had the honor at graduation to acknowledge Mr. Brako-Frempong, parent of graduate Genelle Brako-Frempong, and member of the Great Path Academy School Governance Council and PTO. Thank you Mr. Brako-Frempong for your many years of service to support both of his children and the school from planning fundraisers to sharing in governance over Great Path Academy. The award reads: “Parent Appreciation Award: In recognition of your PTO leadership and dedication to both our students and school.” Congratulations!

Our annual Summer Bridge program begins Monday, June 23rd at 8am! Summer bridge is an amazing way for our new cougars to connect with staff, current students, and teachers. The week is full of team building activities to make new friends and start forming connections. We will be capping off the week with a field trip the UCONN Adventure Park. Our program is from 8am-12pm from June 23rd to June 27th. Look forward to meeting our new students soon! @hartfordpublic #summerbridge #middlecollege

Hats off to our grads! Congratulations to the Class of 2025! We celebrated their graduation on Friday, June 13th! Wishing our new graduates the best of luck in their bright future! We will be sharing a google drive of photos with our seniors and their families this week via ParentSquare.

Please join us this Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM for a VIRTUAL Finance Committee Meeting. To view the agenda, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/ct/hartford/Board.nsf/Public and then watch the livestream beginning at 8:30 AM on YouTube.

Celebrating our GPA Ambassadors! Congratulations to all of our new and graduating ambassadors. Our GPA Ambassador program has been an opportunity for students to engage in school leadership. We will miss our graduating seniors who have served the school for four years by being a welcoming face to new students and their families - they have led tours, conducted school fairs, hosted shadow visits, led open houses, and engaged in many ways with new families and we are so grateful to them! They also have organized many American Red Cross Blood Drives over the years and raised the most scholarship money! Congrats to our wonderful seniors and welcome to our newest group of ambassadors!