William S. Hackett Middle School

Grades 6-8

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45 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY 12202 (click here for directions)

Phone: (518) 475-6475

Fax: (518) 475-6477

Website: https://hackett.albany.k12.ny.us

Michael Paolino, Principal

Email: mpaolino@albany.k12.ny.us

Judith Collins, Assistant Principal

Email: jcollins@albany.k12.ny.us

Lawrence Moultrie, Assistant Principal

Email: lmoultrie@albany.k12.ny.us

A letter from the principal

I am deeply saddened to let you know that one of our eighth-grade students, Justin Finkel, died in a traffic accident Sunday afternoon, June 2. Justin was hit by a motorist while walking on the side of the road in Sullivan County.

We mobilized our crisis response team at school Monday to provide additional support for our students and staff. We met with all of our students to tell them about the accident and answer their questions. Along with teachers and administrators, we also had school counselors, social workers and school psychologists available in our counseling center to provide additional support for students and staff members. We will maintain additional counseling staff for as long as needed.

Children often react to traumatic events differently. We also are providing additional information for you to share at home if your child would like to talk more about this loss. If you have any questions, please call our student counseling center at (518) 475-6475, ext. 4.

School times

• Building opens -- 7:25 a.m. for breakfast ; 7:30 a.m. for students not having breakfast

• Breakfast begins -- 7:40 a.m.; enter through rear entrance

• Main entrance opens -- 7:30 a.m.

• School day begins -- 8 a.m.

• School day ends -- 3 p.m.

• After-school clubs and sports programs end -- 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., depending on the program (some athletic activities may end later than 5 p.m.)

Upcoming events

2018-19 news and information

• 'Disney's Little Mermaid Jr.' -- Hackett students wowed audience members with their school musical on March 1. Click here to see a Facebook photo album from the ceremony. (You don't need a Facebook account to view the pictures. A window may display the text, “To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log in or create an account,” but you can dismiss the message by clicking “not now.”)

• Science fair showcases student knowledge -- How does music affect concentration? Do layers add to the load-bearing capacity when replicating the post and lintel system? Is there a difference in the impurity levels of tap and bottled water? These are just a handful of the questions and problems budding seventh-grade scientists at William S. Hackett Middle School posed and answered at the school’s 2019 science fair, held Feb. 26 in the library. Click here to see a Facebook photo collection from the science fair. (You don't need a Facebook account to view the pictures. A window may display the text, “To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log in or create an account,” but you can dismiss the message by clicking “not now.”) 

• Honor roll students celebrated -- Kudos to the 301 William S. Hackett Middle School students who made second-quarter honor roll! These academic high-flyers were recognized Feb. 26 at an Honor Roll Ceremony. Each student’s name was announced, and he or she received a certificate and walked across the stage in Hackett’s magnificent auditorium. Click here to see a Facebook photo album from the ceremony. (You don't need a Facebook account to view the pictures. A window may display the text, “To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log in or create an account,” but you can dismiss the message by clicking “not now.”)

• Surprise reunion for Hackett cousins -- Army National Guard sisters Jessica and Erica Gonzalez, just finishing up a tour in Kuwait, came straight from the airport on Feb. 1 to William S. Hackett Middle School, where their kids are sixth-graders. Staff Sgt. Jessica and Specialist Erica both were both deployed in March 2018 and hadn’t seen hadn’t seen Breannie Jackson, Jessica’s daughter, and Christopher Sang, Erica’s son, since. (MORE)

• Goldstein wins school bee -- After surviving 18 rounds of words – including stumpers like “tergiversation” and “balustrade” – eighth-grader Hannah Goldstein on Dec. 14 won the William S. Hackett Middle School spelling bee. One of 24 of Hackett’s top spellers competing for the school title, Goldstein faced tough competition in the last two rounds from Madge Penna (who correctly spelled tergiversation!). Click here to see a Facebook photo album from the spelling bee. (You don't need a Facebook account to view the pictures. A window may display the text, “To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log in or create an account,” but you can dismiss the message by clicking “not now.”)

• Hackett chills with therapy dog -- William S. Hackett Middle School choral students rehearsing on Dec. 7 for their winter concert next week showed no signs of the jitters, thanks in part to the presence of one Stella Louise McWrinkleson. Stella, a 2-year old bloodhound, is a certified therapy dog belonging to Hackett and music teacher Frances DelSignore. (MORE)

• Sixth-graders to see schedule change -- Starting Nov. 13, sixth-grade students will see a change in their schedules. The change involves the Computer-Assisted Instruction Class currently offered each day. Click here for more information from Principal Michael Paolino.

• Friday "clap-in" - Students return the favor to students and staff.  Check out a Facebook photo album from the morning. You don't need a Facebook account to view the pictures: A window may display the text "To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log in or create an account," but you can dismiss it by clicking "not now."

Curriculum guide for middle school

As we start the 2018-19 school year, check out the City School District of Albany’s new middle-school curriculum guide. It’s a comprehensive overview of what students and families can expect in each grade at Edmund J. O’Neal Middle School of Excellence, Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School and William S. Hackett Middle School.

The district has aligned its curriculum and course offerings at all three schools this year. If you were not able to attend the recent orientation programs at each middle school, you can download a guide here or pick one up from your child’s guidance counselor at school.

If you have any questions about the middle-school curriculum or experience, please contact your building principal. You also can contact Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction Lori McKenna at (518) 475-6012 or lmckenna@albany.k12.ny.us.

About Hackett Middle School

Built in 1926 and named after Albany’s 67^th mayor, William S. Hackett Junior High School was one of the first junior high schools in the United States that served grades 7-9. The school became a middle school in 1974 with grades 7-8, and grade 6 was added in 2000.

Hackett was extensively renovated starting in 2005. The building reopened in September 2008. In addition to a restoration of the building's exterior, ceramic tiles and windows in the school’s magnificent foyer were restored to their original glory, and every floor and wing was overhauled and updated with state-of-the-art technology.

Check out a Photo Gallery highlighting many features of the spectacular facility.

Absence from school
If your child is absent from school for any reason, call the school nurse at (518) 475-6475 during the morning and provide a written excuse when your child returns to school.

Middle-school enrollment

The City School District of Albany uses a feeder enrollment model for students at William S. Hackett Middle School, Edmund J. O'Neal Middle School of Excellence and Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School.

Students who move up from the following elementary schools will attend Hackett Middle School for the 2018-19 school year:

• Delaware Community School

• Eagle Point Elementary School

• New Scotland Elementary School

• Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST)