Author: monique.jacobs
Sign up for Fall 2 sports
Grades 9 through 12 students may sign up for the Fall 2 sports of girls and boys soccer, football, and girls volleyball. Complete the form posted on the Athletics webpage by Friday, Feb. 26, 2021.
Sports start March 7 and run through May 1, and students need a physical to participate.
Harry Hoag grades 1-6 to move to full-day, in-person instruction March 8; half-days on Feb. 23 & March 2 will allow school to prepare
At their meeting on February 10, the Fort Plain Board of Education approved plans to resume full-day, in-person instruction for grades 1-6 at Harry Hoag School, beginning on March 8. A remote-only option will remain available for families who need it.
“Our plan to resume full-day, in-person instruction at Harry Hoag aligns with our district’s Reopening Schools Guiding Principles,” said Superintendent of Schools John Bishop. “Those principles are to: Keep health & safety as a top priority. Maximize student – teacher contact time. Collect feedback from stakeholder groups. Use data to inform decisions.
“The revised reopening plan follows the guiding principles to: Engage through outreach to stakeholder groups, Inform by sharing current data and collected information, and Evolve by revising our instructional plan.”
The district has scheduled half-days of school at Harry Hoag for February 23, an A day, and March 2, a B day, to provide time for teacher and building preparation. The superintendent noted that the half-days were scheduled on an A and a B day to have the least impact on Harry Hoag families. Buses will depart at 12 p.m. on these days.
Fort Plain engaged Harry Hoag stakeholders by reaching out through a building survey, a hybrid learning feedback form, and faculty workshops and stakeholder meetings, all for the purpose of listening, learning, soliciting perspective and targeting areas for growth.
“We value and appreciate the partnership of our parents, families, faculty, staff and the community in our decision-making process, allowing us to provide this opportunity now that COVID-19 positivity rates are declining in our region,” said Bishop. “We look forward to bringing our Harry Hoag grades 1-6 students back together for the second half of the school year.”
The district informed stakeholders by sharing feedback about remote learning, both what has been working well for children, and challenges such as internet connectivity and parent schedules; data related to COVID-19 infection rates and concerns; and how to maintain a safe school environment that also maximizes the time students spend with teachers.
“When we examine our Reopening Plan and how we will educate our students for the balance of this school year and into the future, the decisions are guided by the Board-adopted improvement levers,” Bishop said. “They include safety and student social-emotional developmental health; family and community engagement; curriculum development and support; use of data to inform and improve instruction; and fiscal resources.
“We do this all to fulfill our mission: To prepare every student for success beyond graduation.”
Watch the Hilltoppers take on Amsterdam tonight, Feb. 10
Watch as our Hilltoppers will take to the basketball court tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 10, starting their season at home and in Amsterdam by viewing online at the following links:
- Watch the girls varsity basketball at 5 p.m. at home vs. Amsterdam at this link.
- Watch the boys JV basketball at 5 p.m. and boys varsity basketball at 6:30 p.m. vs. Amsterdam, away at this link. (Link provided by Amsterdam.)
A list of links for upcoming games can be found on our View Sports Online webpage.
The View Sports Online page will also provide a recordings archive of past games. Spectators will not be allowed at sports events due to the pandemic.
Fort Plain basketball season starts Feb. 10, watch games online
The Hilltoppers will take to the basketball court on Wednesday, Feb. 10, starting their season at home and in Amsterdam. Spectators will not be allowed, but the games will be streamed and recorded for viewing online.
On Feb. 10, Fort Plain will host Amsterdam for girls varsity basketball at 5:00 p.m., and Amsterdam will host Fort Plain for boys JV basketball at 5 p.m. and boys varsity basketball at 6:30 p.m.
Links for viewing games will be posted on our View Sports Online webpage , which is linked to the Athletics page. The View Sports Online page will also provide a recordings archive of past games.
At a Feb. 1 special meeting, the Fort Plain Board of Education approved the offering of higher risk winter sports in accordance with state and local Department of Health and athletic league requirements and as long as certain health and safety conditions are met. The meeting followed a Jan. 29 announcement by the Montgomery County Executive and Public Health Director that they’d approved schools within the county to offer higher risk winter sports, subject to certain requirements.
Superintendent’s message about COVID-19 case
February 8, 2021
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Schools Community:
Over the weekend, we learned that an individual in the high school community tested positive for COVID-19. The individual was last in school on Monday, February 1. Anyone identified as a close contact was contacted directly by the county health department.
The district is working closely with the Montgomery County Public Health Department, and they are advising on any necessary quarantine. Please note that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. We cannot identify anyone who has tested positive.
We will continue to work closely with the health department and keep you advised of any further information. Our goal remains to keep our schools open and safe for students and staff alike. Please contact my office with any questions. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John Bishop
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent’s message about COVID-19 case
February 4, 2021
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Schools Community:
We learned today, February 4, that an individual in the high school community tested positive for COVID-19. They were last in school on Monday, and while they did not have close contact with others, anyone impacted has been contacted directly.
The district continues to work closely with the Montgomery County Public Health Department, and they advise on any necessary quarantine. Please note that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. We cannot identify anyone who has tested positive.
We will continue to work closely with the health department and keep you advised of any further information. Our goal remains to keep our schools open and safe for students and staff alike. Please contact my office with any questions. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John Bishop
Superintendent of Schools
Board of Education approves winter sports
At a Feb. 1 special meeting, the Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education approved the offering of higher risk winter sports in accordance with state and local Department of Health and athletic league requirements and as long as certain health and safety conditions are met.
On Jan. 22, 2021, the Governor and New York State Department of Health (DOH) authorized schools to offer certain higher-risk winter sports effective Feb. 1, as permitted and authorized by local county health departments. DOH subsequently issued updated guidelines for such sports, and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and Section 2 issued revised “Return to Interscholastic Athletics [Guidelines] for the 2020-21 Season.”
[Note 3/9/2021: NYSPHSAA has updated their document.]
On Jan. 29, 2021, the Montgomery County Executive and Public Health Director announced that they had approved schools within the county to provide higher risk winter sports, subject to certain requirements.
Fort Plain Central School staff and leadership developed a plan to offer winter sports, including varsity girls and varsity boys basketball, junior varsity boys basketball and varsity cheerleading, in accordance with all applicable state DOH, county DOH, and league health and safety requirements, which will be implemented during all practices and games, and under the following conditions:
- Each parent/guardian must sign the district’s COVID-19 informed consent for athletic participation form;
- The County DOH approves the district’s plan containing the health and safety protocols in place to allow sports to safely occur;
- If, at any time, the high school hybrid learning model moves to remote-only learning, athletics, scrimmages, and practices will be temporarily suspended in their entirety and coaches shall not be required to engage in coaching responsibilities;
- No spectators will be allowed at any athletic contest – as stated by the Western Athletic Conference and Montgomery County; and,
- All practices and contests will occur in accordance with all guidelines issued by New York State, the County and NYSPHSAA/Section/League as such guidelines may be amended at any time.
District participation in the winter sports can be suspended if the Superintendent deems such action necessary. Contact the Superintendent’s office with any questions.
Resources & downloads:
NYSPHSAA: COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (8/22 note: documents no longer online)
NYSPHSAA Return to Interscholastic Athletics, January 2021
[Note 3/9/2021: NYSPHSAA has updated the above document.]
WAC Winter High Risk Sports Statement
School closed Feb. 2 due to winter storm
Fort Plain Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 2, due to the winter storm. Stay safe everyone!
Special Board meeting Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss high risk sports
A special meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. in the Harry Hoag cafeteria to discuss approval of high risk winter sports.
Superintendent’s message about COVID-19 case
February 1, 2021
Dear Members of the Fort Plain Schools Community:
We learned late on Sunday, January 31, that an individual in the high school community tested positive for COVID. They were last in school on January 28. As of this afternoon, all those impacted for contact tracing have been contacted directly.
The district is working closely with the Montgomery County Public Health Department, and they are advising on any necessary quarantine. Please note that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. We cannot identify anyone who has tested positive.
We will continue to work closely with the health department and keep you advised of any further information. Our goal remains to keep our schools open and safe for students and staff alike. Please contact my office with any questions. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John Bishop
Superintendent of Schools