• Recycling Program

• New Teachers

• PBIS begins fifth year

• Spanish cooking at afterschool program

• Art class makes character dolls

• School business helps third world businesses

Successful Recycling Program Continues (Sept.)

     A successful paper recycling program begun last school year at the Junior / Senior High School is in full swing again this fall. ..
     The program began in March, 2008 as a community service project and fund-raiser for the class of 2010. Each Wednesday before classes begin, ten student volunteers empty recycling boxes - half of which were donated by Home Depot - from each classroom into bins. In turn, the bins are emptied by Green Fibre, a company that recycles the material into insulation. The class receives $25 per ton for its work, collecting $300 for the last completed quarter. Money received will help finance the class’ senior trip. Paper products collected are books, cardboard, magazines, office paper, telephone books, newspapers, and beverage cartons.
 Class advisor Melanie Pombrio credited the students’ hard work for making the program a success. “The kids really do a great job. They’re always ready to work on Wednesday mornings with no complaints. The program is both raising money for the class and helping the school to go green.” When the class graduates, Pombrio said, the plan is to hand off the program to the incoming freshman class.

New Teachers  (Sept.)

    Ninth and twelfth grade English teacher Tammy Keene, an Attleboro, Mass. native, graduated from Attleboro High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, and a master’s degree from Lesley College, Boston. Before accepting her new position in Fort Plain, she taught eighth grade English in Boston. “Everyone is very friendly, very welcoming,” Keene said of her first week in Fort Plain. “I like the small school environment and small class sizes.” She lives in Gloversville.

      Social Studies teacher Kolbe Gray grew up in Ephratah and graduated from Johnstown High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and is working on-line for her master’s degree through the University of Phoenix. During the 2007-08 school year, she was a long-term substitute Social Studies teacher in Fort Plain. This year she is teaching Global Studies to students in grades 9 and 10. “The kids are great and the staff is very professional and welcoming,” she said. Gray lives in Ephratah with her husband and son.      

      First-grade teacher Melanie Perry is a Johnstown native and a graduate of Johnstown High School. After graduating from Fulton Montgomery Community College, she earned her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and a master’s degree from California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, Calif. She began her career teaching pre-school in Hollywood, Calif. and then taught first grade in Redondo Beach, Calif. before moving back to New York state. She is a long-term substitute for Diane Reynolds, who is on sabbatical until January. Perry said she would love to continue her career as an elementary school teacher. Of her first week at Harry Hoag, she said: “I love it. The kids are great and the staff is wonderful. Everything is going smoothly.” Perry, her husband, and their two daughters live near Johnstown.
       Reading Teacher Amanda Manieri grew up in Scotia and graduated from Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree from SUNY Albany. Manieri taught in Cohoes City Schools before coming to Fort Plain as reading teacher for students in grades 1-6. “It’s exciting to start a new position. I really like teaching here,” she said. “Fort Plain is different from Cohoes, in a good way.” Manieri lives in Cohoes.

      Physical Education teacher Katie Heimer grew up in Johnstown and is a graduate of Gloversville High School. A graduate of Fulton Montgomery Community College and SUNY Brockport, Heimer was a student teacher at Fonda-Fultonville Central School before attaining her first full-time teaching position in Fort Plain. She teaches physical education at all grade levels, coaches modified girls’ soccer; will coach girls’ junior varsity basketball in the winter; and will co-coach girls’ varsity softball in the spring. ”I feel very lucky to be here at Fort Plain Central School. I couldn’t have asked for a better school to begin my teaching career,” she said. Heimer, who will be married in March, lives in Johnstown.

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PBIS Begins Fifth Year (Sept.)

      A national initiative that uses a positive approach to school-wide discipline has begun its fifth year at Harry Hoag.
         Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) encourages good behavior through positive reinforcement and consistency. The first few weeks of school are dedicated to teaching students rules and expectations or “Topper Traits:” be safe, be responsible, be respectful, and be prepared. Students learn how these traits apply in the classroom, in the cafeteria, on the school bus, and in all other parts of their school day.
         “Since the start of this program, discipline referrals have declined steadily at Harry Hoag,” said Counselor Colleen Conti.
       Throughout the school year, students who are “caught” following the Topper Traits are rewarded with Topper Bucks. They can spend these “bucks” at the PBIS school store  for toys, books, and school supplies (grades K-3 only); on monthly raffles; or for special school events such as dances.
         Conti said program evaluation is one key to the success of PBIS. “Each year the code of conduct and PBIS program are reviewed and revamped to fit the needs of the student and staff. Without this annual evaluation, the program would not be as successful as it has become,” she said.

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Spanish cooking comes to afterschool (October)

       Spanish teacher Sara Ackroyd has introduced Spanish cooking and culture to the afterschool program at Fort Plain Junior High School this year. The Tortilla Espanola shown here is an omelet made of eggs, onions and potatoes, cooked in olive oil.   Ackroyd aligns activities in the afterschool program with the curriculum in her classes. The after school program not only gives Ackroyd the chance to do many things there is no time for during the regular school day, but it gives students who are not taking Spanish a “taste” of Spanish culture and language.

Doll makers (October)

     Students in Diane D’Allessandro’s Fiber Arts class at Fort Plain High School made old fashioned character dolls.  The dolls are made of wood, clay, and fabric. Each doll takes about four weeks to make.  Click here for photos of character dolls

School business helps third world business (October)

     The school store at Fort Plain Junior / Senior High school recently held its grand opening for the 2008-09 school year. This school year, store proceeds will go to Kiva.org, which loans funds to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals and organizations to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
      “This effort will help Fort Plain High School students connect with people in developing countries and help alleviate poverty,” said faculty advisor Kathie Dekalb.  The store, operated by student volunteers in grades 7-12, sells healthy snacks and a few school supplies.

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