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Welcome to 2025-2026!

Dear Hazen Families and Students,

As we open our doors for a new school year, I want to recognize and remind us of what makes Hazen Union special. We are a community with proud traditions, and we love our school. When each student shows up, on time and ready to learn, they’re investing in themselves and also contributing to the strength of this community.

Being here matters. Every class, every conversation, every shared experience is a building block that contributes to student and human growth. Even a few missed days can add-up and make it harder to stay connected. When students are present, they have more opportunities to learn, to ask questions, and to be part of the experience here.

Being on time matters. Each day has a rhythm, and arriving ready helps students feel settled and engaged. Timeliness is a habit that shows respect for teachers, classmates, and ourselves. It’s a life skill that will carry far beyond Hazen and our towns.

Being in community matters most of all. School is about more than academics. It’s also about friendships, mentorships, and the sense of belonging that comes from showing-up for one another. When we are all present and engaged, we create the kind of environment where students thrive, teachers are energized, and families feel proud to call Hazen their school.

This year, let’s commit together to be here, to be on time, and to be present for one another.

Students, when you arrive, we’ll head into our opening assembly. There, we’ll welcome the new seniors, meet advisors, and hear about the new year. Then, we’ll have an abbreviated class schedule for the rest of the day. I’m sure there will be some joy, and some bumps, as we move through our new student schedules.

Thank you for trusting us with your students, and thank you for being partners in this work. I look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, August 25. For those of you who are new to Hazen, we are offering a Step-Up Night on 20 August, from 5-6:30 PM. Please stop for a visit, if you can!

We’ll see you all next week, so please enjoy the rest of the summer.

Jason Di Giulio, Ed.D.

Staff Members
About Dr. Di Giulio

Principal Jason Di Giulio came to Hazen in 2020. Before engaging in education, he served as an Army officer, learning about leadership, focus, and accomplishing things according to the standard. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry from Goddard College, which helped him see that while the standard is constant, there can be many paths to accomplishing it. Just like in writing, there are more ways than one to be ‘right’.

Dr. Di Giulio has served as an English, Latin, and history teacher at the Cornerstone School, King George School, and taught English at Canaan Memorial High School and Lyndon Institute. He served as a Career Technical Education Director at Lyndon Institute before taking the principalship of Hazen Union.

Dr. Di Giulio, for his dissertation, studied safe schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. During the study, he found that there are many factors that contribute to a sense of safety, and one of them is a strong, vibrant community.

Jason Di Giulio lives in Barton, Vermont, with his husband, dogs, and way too many dairy goats.