Welcome to the 2026–2027 School Year!

HCSS Welcome Letter — HTML

Dear HCSS Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope our community had a restful summer, and I'm excited about what lies ahead at Hampden Charter School of Science.

Last year gave us plenty to be proud of. Our students achieved at a high level, pushed themselves through advanced coursework and college-readiness opportunities, and represented HCSS with distinction in academics, robotics, science, technology, athletics, and beyond. Our graduating seniors continued our strong tradition of college acceptances, and students across both campuses showcased their learning through projects, presentations, competitions, and our growing Digital Portfolio initiative. None of that happens without our students, families, faculty, staff, and Board working toward shared goals, and it's a reminder that academic success is strongest when high expectations meet real relationships.

I'm also very pleased to welcome Mrs. Caroline Forni as our Middle School Director this year. Mrs. Forni is a familiar and respected face at HCSS. She's served our students and families as a teacher, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dean of Academics. She knows our school, our students, and our culture deeply, and I'm confident she'll bring strong leadership to our Middle School.

Our mission remains clear: we are preparing our students not only for college, but for life. This year, we're deepening that work through an increased focus on Durable Human Skills and AI Literacy.

Through the Pathsmith Durable Human Skills framework, we're building a common language around skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, adaptability, leadership, accountability, Mindfulness, Metacognition, and problem-solving. None of this is new. It's already woven into our project-based learning, presentations, accountable talk discussions, teamwork, and student leadership. What's new is being more intentional about helping students recognize, develop, and reflect on these skills as their own.

At the same time, AI is reshaping education and the workplace faster than most of us can keep up with. Our job isn't just to teach students how to use these tools. It's to help them understand when and how to use them responsibly, ethically, and effectively. The more powerful the technology gets, the more valuable distinctly human abilities become: thinking critically, communicating clearly, creating, collaborating, and exercising good judgment. Our goal is students who can use technology without becoming dependent on it and students who know that their own thinking, effort, character, and creativity are still what matter most.

None of this works without strong communication between home and school. We're asking families to stay connected, attend events and conferences, check in on progress, and reach out early with questions or concerns. We're asking the same of our faculty and staff: proactive, timely, meaningful communication all year long.

To our students: come back ready to learn, challenge yourselves, support one another, and take ownership of your growth. Success this year means more than grades and test scores. It's also about who you're becoming.

To our faculty and staff: thank you for the care and professionalism you bring every day. It makes a lasting difference.

To our families: thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us in their education.

Here's to another outstanding year at HCSS.

Warm regards,
Tarkan Topcuoglu
Superintendent/CEO
Hampden Charter School of Science

Video: Watch the Welcome Message