September to December, 2008 (this page)

• Recycling Program

• New Teachers

• PBIS begins fifth year

• Spanish cooking at afterschool program

• School business helps third world businesses

• Students cast ballots in mock elections

• SADD Wreath sale a success

• Students prepare meal at local church

• Snowplow Safety

• Holiday fund-raisers a big success

• Transportation department recognized for vehicle maintenance

      January to July, 2009 (new page)
      September to December, 2009 (new page)
      January to July, 2010 (new page)
      September to December, 2010 (new page)
      January to June, 2011 (new page)

Successful Recycling Program Continues (September)

     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  (September)

    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.

top

PBIS Begins Fifth Year (September)

      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.

top

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.

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.

top

Students cast ballots in mock election  (November)  

    Every student in  Junior/ Senior High School had the opportunity to cast an unofficial vote for President and the House of Representatives in the school’s National Mock Election. Along the way, they learned about the voting process and if their opinions matched those of  fellow students and the general public. Some Harry Hoag elementary students also voted for president.  STORIES AND PHOTO..

SADD Wreath Sale a success (November)

      The annual Students Against Destructive Decisions Christmas wreath sale at the Junior / Senior High School came to a successful close Nov. 25 with about 130 wreaths sold.  Proceeds from the sale help finance the post prom party in May. Purpose of SADD is to make students aware of consequences of drinking and driving, taking drugs, or any destructive decision.

Students prepare meal at local church (December)

      On Dec. 6, seventh grade students  used their cooking skills and their energy to give something back to the community. Fifteen volunteers prepared and served a ham and scalped potato dinner at Manna House at the Fort Plain Reformed Church.
       Using measuring and baking skills taught in Maria Burton’s Home and Career Skills class, they also prepared pumpkin bread to serve at the meal and made an additional 80 mini-loaves for people to take home with them.
        “Students worked very diligently on this project and were excellent representatives of Fort Plain school. They remembered the ‘golden rule’ and treated everyone with respect. They learned about giving of themselves to the community, enjoyed the work, and are willing to provide this service again,” Burton said.  Class co-advisors Louise Clute and Burton assisted the students.

top

Snowplow safety (December)

       On Dec. 10, all third and fifth grade students  listened to a presentation about snowplow safety by Larry Carpenter,  New York State Department of Transportation highway maintenance supervisor.
       Carpenter told the students it is not safe to stand next to the road when a snowplow is passing by, because they could be hit by ice, stones, other objects in the road, pieces of the vehicle or plow that have come loose, plus a whole lot of snow. Also, Carpenter said, it is very unsafe to build a snow fort or tunnel near the road. He also talked about how snowplows operate, how trucks are loaded with salt, the different types of plows, work the DOT performs in the summer, how to read highway reference markers, and some of the difficulties DOT workers encounter.
          Other advice Carpenter gave included always wear a seatbelt; watch, but don’t walk or bike into a work zone; and don’t ever play in pipes or culverts.
        Following the talk, students had a chance to sit in a  snowplow, blow the horn, and ask DOT worker Matt LaCoppola about the operation of the plow.

Holiday fund-raisers very successful (December)

     Fort Plain students and staff held their annual “Elf Auction” Dec. 17 to raise money for the Salvation Army. Student Council members and others were auctioned to other students, faculty, and staff. On Dec. 18, the elves performed tasks such as cleaning lockers, carrying books, wrapping Christmas presents, etc. for the winning bidders. The elves raised more than $1,500 for the cause. Combined with bell-ringing at area businesses and collections in schools, Fort Plain students and staff helped contribute more $4,000 to the Salvation Army, easily topping last year’s total. Auctioneer Justin Smith is shown asking for bids on Julia Jackson and Marie Sinchak.
      “With the economy the way it is, to be able to raise $4,000 is a real tribute to the students. I’m extremely happy with their effort and for the tremendous support we received from the Fort Plain community,” said Coach Craig Phillips, who helps organize holiday fund-raisers at the school.    
      In addition to funds collected for the Salvation Army, students collected thousands of non-perishable food items for Fulmont Community Development Agency’s food bank. PHOTOS

 Transportation department recognized for vehicle maintenance

      The New York State Department of Transportation has again recognized the Fort Plain Central School Transportation Department for having exceeded DOT goal of having at least 90 percent of vehicles pass semi-annual bus safety inspections during the 2008-09 fiscal year.
       Of 42 vehicles inspected during the year, 41, or 97.6 percent of the district’s vehicles passed the inspection. The statewide average for similarly-sized carriers for this period was 91.7 percent. Fort Plain was one of 761 of 1,136 similarly-sized carriers to exceed the 90 percent goal.
        “Your commendable performance indicates a strong dedication to safety and a commitment to sound maintenance standards and practices. I encourage you to keep up the good work,” said Donald A. Baker, director of the DOT Office of Modal Safety and Security, in a letter announcing the recognition.
      “This recognition is a tribute to the hard work of chief mechanic Chaz Ruszkowski and everyone in our transportation department,” said head bus driver Gordon Eggleston.
     “This is one of the safest bus fleets in New York State. This means that each and every department employee did what it takes to achieve these results. The administration school board, and students appreciate it,” said Superintendent of Schools Douglas Burton.
       The district’s transportation department also achieved this recognition for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Besides its own fleet, Fort Plain maintains several vehicles for St. Johnsville Central School.
     Department employees include Head Bus Driver Gordon Eggleston, Tom Hajczewski, Roger McDuffee, Kermit Mosher, Guy Barton, Ed Whiteman, Ron Petit Jr., Thaddeus Pyzik, Chaz Ruszkowski, Jerry Fox, Mike Cardamone, Scott Crewell, Sarah Christman, Jerry Vandewerker, Gert Johnson, Bill Bailey, Anna Weaver, Heather Crewell,  Ron Petit Sr., Jack Calbet, Paul Villeneuve, Loren Miller, Paul VanAvery, Doug Simmons, Mark Saltsman, Mike Surnear, Jeffrey Ruszkowski, and Chris Mayton.

top