Author: monique.jacobs

What is colorful, creative, has a bunch of wheels and rolls to student-performed marching music? Why, the Fort Plain 8th Grade Float Parade, of course!

Before leaving for the Thanksgiving break this year, 8th grade students took part in a grade-wide project where they were asked to design and build parade floats.

The students were placed in groups based on what they considered to be their strengths in school, as well as their interests. Once their groups were formed, they began to plan and build their design. Each group was randomly assigned rolling bases that they had to use for the base of their float. These items were things that you could find in school that rolled, such as laptop carts, rolling chairs, wheelbarrow, and other items.

Students were shown a video of Macy’s Day Parade floats to gain inspiration. Once their design was drawn up and a plan was put into place, students used materials from different classrooms to construct their floats. Their finished product needed to consist of a float that rolled and also represented the category they were given.

“The day before vacation, each group lined up in the gym and paraded their float around while Mr. Burrello and members of the high school band played ‘Mickey Mouse March’,” said teacher Adam Cutspec. “Several faculty and students took the time to come down and take a look at what the 8th graders had created.

“To celebrate all that they accomplished, the entire 8th grade class had a ‘Friendsgiving’ during their lunch period. They feasted on traditional Thanksgiving food that was provided by Mrs. Cooley and her 8th grade Home and Careers classes, as well as by the cafeteria staff.

“This was a new project put together by the 8th grade team that was meant to focus on creativity, teamwork, and problem solving, and the whole team was extremely proud of what the 8th graders created.”

The High School National Honor Society requires each member to complete a community service project sometime during the school year. November was senior Stephen Gray’s month and for his project, he wanted to provide families in need with Thanksgiving dinner.

Stephen worked with fellow NHS students, faculty and staff members, and the Loaves & Fishes Pantry at the Reformed Church of Fort Plain. Stephen and the team gathered enough donations to put together Thanksgiving dinner supplies for 25 families!

Stephen thanks all of those who generously supported his project.

In the photo: Andra Fuhs, Stephen Gray and Mason Gray deliver the donations to the Loaves & Fishes Pantry in Fort Plain.

– Article and photo submitted by Will Ryan

Fort Plain student-athletes are being recognized for their performance and sportsmanship.

Several Hilltoppers have been named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) All Stars, including Landon VanGorder, Austin VanGorder, Jordan Brown and Alexis Palmeri (Golf); Natalie Thibodeau, Grace McFee and Bailie Richardson (Cross Country); Stephen Gray, Rylee Herron, Ryleigh Hart and Cameron David (Soccer); and Vivian Nunez (Volleyball).

Fort Plain football team member Anthony Paradiso was voted to play in the Section 2 Senior Game on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College.

Congratulations to all!

Family Math Night is a long-standing program at Fort Plain Central School District that encourages parents and guardians to get involved in their students’ math education.

This year, eight 8th grade students and their families participated in an evening of fun activities and competition centered around math. The goal of the evening was to have fun with math and encourage parents/guardians to relay the importance of learning math.

Math-related activities included checkers, Battleship, Connect Four, and various logic games and problem-solving activities. The families were also provided with folders and bags to take home and use for additional math practice.

Family Math Night was organized by math teachers Sue Summerfield and Adam Wilson.

Fort Plain Central School mourns the passing of Paul Christman, who was retired from the district after teaching math for many years. Our thoughts are with his wife Sandi, also a retired Fort Plain teacher, and his family and friends.