Principal's Message

Thomas S. Hart Middle School, a California Distinguished School, is an exciting place to learn. When students enter Hart Middle School, they find beautiful state-of-the-art classrooms and a warm welcoming staff eager to use both in-class and out-of-class opportunities to develop a sense of community and to make sure every student feels important and connected to the school.

Set in the thriving Hacienda business park, Hart’s architecturally award-winning design is uniquely suitable to the environment. The central quad area allows for students to gather in a safe, supervised area containing sturdy benches and picnic tables with colorful umbrellas for student use before, during and after school. A 20-foot by 30-foot shade structure is also in the quad area. Other facilities include sports fields, a track and a 17,000-square-foot gymnasium — the center of our wide-ranging athletic program.

Our excellent staff is known for their desire to teach middle school students and for their high degree of expertise and professionalism. Hart staff eagerly takes on the challenge of creating a community of learners. Our API, CST and STAR scores are indications that Hart students are on the road to success. As in past years, the school’s API report shows Hart continues to make steady and sustained growth in student achievement. As the data show, Hart has much to celebrate, validated not only by the significant increase in scores throughout its history, but the consistency with which those increases have been achieved. Clearly, Hart staff and students strive for continuous improvement.

Hart Middle School has a shared decision-making process that includes staff, parents and students. School-wide information is distributed through the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA), school site council, student council, back-to-school night, parent/student handbook, phone calls, Hart website, email, teacher websites, Q Connection, principal's coffees and the school newsletter. Parents are invited to become active members of Hart by participating in school site council, PTSA and many other volunteer opportunities. Active parent participation and positive support of the programs and teachers at Hart create a more successful experience for all students.

Character education is embedded in all of our daily activities of classroom curriculum and extracurricular activities. Our curriculum reflects our dedication to teaching our students that caring for each other and our community are part of becoming a responsible young adults.

Since its inception in 2000, Hart has always been a special place to be. Our standards are high, not only for the students, but for ourselves as educators. We constantly strive to provide an atmosphere of academic excellence and civic responsibility for our students each and every day.

Caroline Fields
Principal