Author: monique.jacobs
Protected: Interim Superintendent’s message about permission for student COVID-19 testing
Interim Superintendent: Our nurses follow established COVID-19 protocols
September 23, 2021
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Central School Community:
As we move into the fall season, Fort Plain remains committed to keeping our schools safe for in-person learning for all of our students, all of the time. To continue to meet this goal, we must protect the health and well-being of everyone on our campuses by limiting their exposure to possible illness, including COVID-19.
Our school nurses follow established COVID-19 protocols to determine whether a student or staff member needs to be sent home. If a student or staff member exhibits any of the symptoms or signs listed below with no other explanation for them, they will be sent to the health office for an assessment by the school nurse.
If the school nurse determines that the student or staff member exhibits the following symptoms indicative of the COVID-19 virus, they will be isolated from others and sent home immediately:
- Fever over 100 degrees
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Loss of smell or taste
- Persistent cough
- Headache, congestion, sore throat
Please be reminded to keep everyone safe and healthy, students or staff members should stay home when they have signs of any illness, and they should contact their healthcare provider if symptoms do not resolve after 48 hours. Individuals may be asked to provide a doctor’s note to return to school.
If a student or staff member has been tested for COVID-19, they should remain home until the test results are confirmed negative. If a student or staff member is diagnosed as being COVID-19 positive, before returning to school, they must satisfy isolation protocols (typically 10 days) and have improving symptoms. They also must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, per the New York State Department of Health.
Our goal remains to keep our schools open and safe places for teaching and learning. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Sept. 10 visit with “Ground Zero” author inspires and informs students
A virtual visit with an award-winning author has inspired Harry Hoag students to delve into a history-based novel. They also gained an insider’s view of how a book is researched, organized and written.
On Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, Mrs. Colvin’s fifth grade Guided Reading class participated in a virtual visit with Alan Gratz, the author of “Ground Zero.”
“We learned how long it took Mr. Gratz to research information to write this book,” Colvin said. “He also showed us how he separates all the information he collects and sorts it into the chapters of the book.
“He also talked about the storyline of the book. After Mr. Gratz’s presentation, my students are ready and very excited to start reading ‘Ground Zero’.”
Information about “Ground Zero” is posted on Alan Gratz’s webpage.
Meet Harry Hoag’s new teachers
New elementary school teachers are among the new staff at Fort Plain Central School District this fall. Harry Hoag School Principal Lauren Crisman and all at FPCSD extend a warm welcome to:
Stephanie Boyer
Harry Hoag welcomes Stephanie Boyer as a new first grade teacher. Mrs. Boyer earned her master’s degree in education from Utica College. Before joining FPCSD, Mrs. Boyer taught second grade in West Canada Valley CSD. When she’s not working, she enjoys going for a run, lifting weights or spending time with her husband and son.
Ashley Searles
Harry Hoag welcomes Ashley Searles as a new first grade teacher. Mrs. Searles earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from The College of St. Rose. Before joining FPCSD, Mrs. Searles taught kindergarten in Richfield Springs CSD and first grade at Cherry Valley- Springfield CSD. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Searles loves spending time with her three kids and husband while sipping on her favorite drink, iced coffee.
Miranda Dornburgh
Harry Hoag welcomes Miranda Dornburgh as a new music teacher. Ms. Dornburgh earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the College of St. Rose.
Ms. Dornburgh shared with us, “Last year, I filled a long-term music position at my alum where I taught general music. As a college student, you always hope to experience the light behind the student’s eyes when what you were teaching them finally clicks. I experienced that during a 6th grade general music lesson when a student finally got the concept I was teaching. He yelled ‘I love music!’ and jumped out of his seat and did a happy dance. This is why I teach. I want to share my love music and inspire others to love it too.”
Her passion for, and support of, music education made her the ideal candidate to join our FPCSD team.
Shannon Cechnicki
Harry Hoag welcomes Shannon Cechnicki to the team. Ms. Cechnicki has dual certifications in the area of Childhood Education 1-6 and Special Education 1-6. She became a teacher because she loves watching students learn and grow. Prior to joining FPCSD, she taught special education in Johnstown CSD. When she is at home, Ms. Cechnicki enjoys going on hiking trips and attending youth sports with her sons.
School menu items may change due to supply chain issues
September 16, 2021
To Our School District Families:
As many of you are already aware, our nation is experiencing major supply chain issues, especially in the food service industry. Most all of our local food distributors are also experiencing driver shortages, and have cut back their delivery routes drastically.
Because of this, only one food distributor is servicing our school district this year. That distributor is experiencing product shortages due to all of Fulton and Montgomery County schools getting their food from the one source, as well as the products not arriving from the manufacturers.
This is to let you know that due to these facts we are being shorted many products, and aren’t aware of it until the truck arrives. There are going to be frequent menu changes. Please know that students will not always be receiving the items that were published on the menus. Menu changes will be posted on our website weekly.
This is an unfortunate circumstance of these challenging times and I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you in advance for your understanding!
Sincerely,
Lauri Broady
Director of School Nutrition
Message from the Interim Superintendent
September 10, 2021
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Central School Community:
We were pleased to welcome back our students, faculty and staff for a new school year.
To keep everyone safe and healthy, please be reminded that students, faculty and staff should stay home when they have signs of any illness (cough, fever, loss of taste and smell, cold/flu symptoms, etc.), and they should contact their healthcare provider if symptoms do not resolve after 48 hours. Individuals may be asked to provide a doctor’s note to return to school.
If an individual has been tested for COVID-19, they should remain home until the test results are confirmed negative.
If a student, faculty, or staff is diagnosed as being COVID-19 positive, before returning to school, they must satisfy isolation protocols (typically 10 days) and have improving symptoms. They also must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, per the New York State Department of Health.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Welcome new staff!
Fort Plain Central School welcomes the following new staff to our campuses this school year.
- Jenna Barhydt, Teacher Aide, High School
- Stephanie Boyer, Elementary Teacher, 1st Grade, Harry Hoag School
- Shannon Cechnicki, Special Education Teacher, Harry Hoag School
- Tariyka Chaulk, Library Media Specialist, District-wide
- Samuel Cruger, Cleaner, Buildings & Grounds
- Miranda Dornburgh, Music Teacher, District-wide
- Kevin Florian, Bus Driver
- Kayleigh Grimm, Jr./Sr. High School ELA Teacher, High School
- Rachel Heroth, Educational Technology Specialist, High School
- Mark Hitchcock, Physical Education Teacher
- Tim Liebing, Cleaner, Buildings & Grounds
- Brittney McIntosh, Teacher Aide, High School
- Bradley Nichols, Bus Driver
- Eliza Putman, Bus Driver
- Allison Ramsey, Teacher Aide, High School
- Ashley Searles, Elementary Teacher, 1st Grade, Harry Hoag School
- Kimberly Skramko, Teacher Aide, Harry Hoag School
- Morgan VanAvery, Cleaner, Buildings & Grounds
Some of the staff joined our district during June and July. Additional staff members will be on the agenda for approval at the September Board of Education meeting. Welcome to all!
Updated School Reopening & Layered Mitigation Plan is posted
August 31, 2021/updated Sept. 2, 2021, Dec. 13, 2021, March 2, 2022
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Central School Community:
We are looking forward to welcoming back all of our students, faculty and staff next week for a new school year. We have updated our Fort Plain School Reopening & Layered Mitigation Plan for the 2021-2022 school year.
As you may be aware, effective August 27, in accordance with the NYS Commissioner of Health, any person over the age of 2 (including students, personnel, teachers, administrators, contractors, and visitors) must wear a mask at all times indoors in P-12 school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
On December 13, 2021, this plan was updated to reflect recently released requirements that masks must be worn in school facilities at all times. Although I realize this plan is more strict than the plan that was followed at the end of last school year, it is what is required of us to bring all students back to school, in-person, for 100% of the time.
On March 2, 2022, the plan was updated in accordance with regulations released by the state and effective March 2, that lift the universal mask mandate for the majority of students, staff and visitors inside school facilities and buses. Mask wearing continues to be optional for all. Health and safety protocols remain in place for individuals who test positive for COVID-19, have symptoms or have been exposed.
Please note that the reopening plan is subject to change based on further guidance from the NYS Department of Health. The plan applies to all faculty, staff, students and spectators at school athletic events, as well as during extracurricular activities, recess, physical education classes and athletics.
We will continue to keep you informed, and we again thank you for your patience and support.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Fort Plain School Reopening & Layered Mitigation Plan
View the plan as images below:
New online Hilltoppers spirit wear store is open!
Calling all Hilltoppers, alumni, fans and families: Check out our new online Sideline Sports spirit wear store! There’s lots of great gear to show your Topper Pride, including clothing, hats, mugs, wall decals and more.
Visit the online Fort Plain Hilltoppers Sideline Sports Store
Virtual 7th grade orientation is real fun – check it out!
As last school year came to a close, Fort Plain’s fall 2021 7th graders toured and talked, met their teachers and got to know their new school routine at the jr./sr. high school campus.
Our 7th grade orientation continues, virtually, via the links below:
- Check out our get-to-know you game show! Learn some trivia about your teachers and have some laughs, while they also share some really important info. It’s fun!: Fort Plain 7th Grade Presents: To Tell the Truth
- Have a virtual visit with Ms. Wendy Stokna, keyboarding teacher
- Have a virtual visit with Mrs. Palmeri, 7th grade co-teacher
- Have a virtual visit with Ms. Corey Cooley, Family & Consumer Sciences teacher
AND: Be sure to check back on this webpage as we may be adding more links!
We are looking forward to having you back, Hilltoppers! Enjoy the rest of your summer!