Category: Archive
Proud to be Hilltoppers: The officers of the Harry Hoag Student Council
Hilltopper pride is strong in Fort Plain. Our Topper Pride video series explores the many reasons members of the Fort Plain school community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators, are proud of the experiences, knowledge and friendships they gained here.
Proud to be Toppers: The officers of the Harry Hoag Student Council
The Harry Hoag School Student Council is led by 6th grade students Molly, Lainie, Coco and Gavin, who serve as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, respectively. Listen to why our Student Council officers are proud to be Toppers!
FPCSD is closed Friday, Dec. 16
FPCSD is closed Friday, Dec. 16, due to inclement weather. All athletic events are canceled. Be safe everyone.
Welcome to the Fort Plain Free Library!
Harry Hoag first graders and their teachers toured the Fort Plain Free Library Monday morning, Dec. 12, before participating in a library scavenger hunt, snacking on popcorn and creating spiral snow people and paper tree ornaments. The collaborative program was the first in a series that will take place over the next few months.
Special Projects Library Assistant at the Fort Plain Free Library Linda Kellett said, “We are grateful to Fort Plain District Superintendent Lauren Crisman, the first-grade teachers and aides, and the staff at the bus garage who helped to make this inaugural program a reality!”
About the tour and program at the Fort Plain Free Library, Superintendent Crisman said, “Today was a dream come true! We thank the library for their efforts to provide our students with this enrichment. I hope this collaboration fosters new interest to engage with the library’s programming beyond the school day. I deeply appreciate their willingness to host us.”
All fall teams named NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athletes
All of Fort Plain’s fall teams have been named New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Scholar–Athlete teams, in honor of their achievements in both academics and athletics.
To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete team, a team’s grade point average (GPA) for 75 percent of the roster must be greater than or equal to 90. Congratulations to the following teams:
Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Volleyball
Football
Golf
According to NYSPHSAA, “At the end of each sports season, the NYSPHSAA honors those teams and individuals that excel in the classroom. Those student-athletes, teams, and schools work very hard throughout the year and deserve to be recognized for their academic success.”
Great work FPHS Student Council!
The FPHS Student Council finished Spirit Week with their annual food drive for the local church pantry. They delivered the food on Friday, Dec. 9.
Great work and great spirit!
A message from the superintendent
December 9, 2022
Dear Students, Parents, Colleagues and Community Members,
From my family to yours, wishing everyone joy and happiness during the holiday season! May you take time this month to enjoy those you cherish most while making wonderful memories. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for as a community!
The early 2020s brought extraordinary challenges to all families, staff, teachers, school leaders and communities as a whole. With the pandemic complications behind us, it feels good to have a renewed focus on the District vision, to prepare all students for success beyond graduation.
The first half of the 2022-2023 school year was a productive time and as we approach the December vacation, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported FPCSD to make our many successes possible.
Throughout the fall, school teams regularly met to discuss teaching, learning and best practices to support student achievement. The administrators had thoughtful planning sessions dedicated to improving academic and social-emotional learning. The students had full access to learning and participation in co-curricular activities and athletic competitions.
Our long-standing FPCSD traditions resumed. Fifth graders hiked Kane Mountain and the National Honor Society was able to run a Blood Drive for community service. Student athletes felt support from live spectators. School visitors returned to enjoy activities like the Kindergarten Finger Food Feast, Morning Program and the Pacers Program. It was a rejuvenating feeling to see the campus buzzing once more with traffic from school-related and community-affiliated events.
As we continue to make plans for the future, we will keep our focus on what is most essential, the wellbeing of our school community members and our commitment to deliver robust instruction that prepares all students for success in whatever path their future holds.
If you wish to be part of conversations about FPCSD’s mission and vision and related action plans, I invite you to join me on January 11th at 5:00 p.m. in the Harry Hoag Library for another Community Conversation. The focus topic will be The Student Experience: Engagement and Advancement.
Again, I am truly honored to serve as your superintendent. I remain committed to shaping a future where our students prosper.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Crisman
Olivia Sweet honored with NASA’s “You’ve Got Perseverance!” award
Fort Plain 8th grade student Olivia Sweet has been honored by NASA with a 2022 “You’ve Got Perseverance!” award.
On Dec. 6, she spoke with NASA engineers and scientists in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. She also received a personalized message from the Perseverance Rover that is currently on Mars.
Olivia was nominated for the award based on how she has demonstrated determination, grit and perseverance in her academics and personal life. She is listed on NASA’s award webpage.
Congratulations Olivia!
Guided reading students find sinking a foul shot is no easy task
A boy named Eddie Ball has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win a million dollars. All he has to do is sink one foul shot during half time at the NBA finals. Eileen Kretser’s 5th grade guided reading class recently discovered that this is no easy task.
The students are currently reading the book, “The Million Dollar Shot,” written by Dan Gutman. This week, they tried their hand at sinking a shot in a basketball hoop in the Harry Hoag gym.
“The students had fun taking foul shots to understand and connect with Eddie Ball,” Kretser said. “They quickly learned it wasn’t easy. They find out this week whether he sinks the shot and wins the million dollars.
“It’s a great book. Check it out for yourself!”
Is it bullying or is it conflict?
Is it bullying or is it conflict? How do you tell the difference and what do you do? Harry Hoag students recently learned about this important topic from their 6th grade peers at the Dec. 2 Morning Program.
The 6th grade students wrote, produced and presented an original, role-play skit that involved their audience in determining, “Is it bullying or is it conflict?” They were introduced by School Counselor Stephanie Macherone, who also participated in the role play and moderated the discussion.
View a video of the presentation below.
Refreshed HS library enhances student learning, collaboration
Visitors to Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School’s library media center will find a brighter, more welcoming and functional space for student learning, collaboration and meetings.
Tapping into American Rescue Plan funding, the district was able to purchase additional furniture for the library media center that is colorful, comfortable, lighter in weight and easily moved and combined to create a variety of learning, meeting and working spaces.
Existing furniture and shelving in the were rearranged to improve students’ access to library resources, provide space for both individual study and group learning, and – combined with the new furnishings – create an environment that is more attuned to how students learn today.
“We wanted to restructure the library media center to be a space designed to embrace 21st century learning,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “Education should be collaborative. We want our students to learn vital communication skills and use multiple forms of literacy (media, technology, information) to think constructively about the learning tasks that they are asked to complete.”
“Our library media center provides an inviting place for students to study, learn, read and explore,” said High School Librarian Tariyka Chaulk. “Last school year, we rearranged the library space to make it more student-centered. By putting the desk off to the side, students are the first thing you see when you walk into the library.
“Although the room is just a giant square, we tried to create little pockets for different student gatherings. Large groups and classes can gather in the back. Pairs or individual students can sit at the high-top tables near the windows.
“We even have small conversation areas where student groups have gathered to plan or brainstorm school events. And just like every library, we have open tables for students to work on assignments. I hope the new layout will help students we don’t see frequently feel more comfortable in the space.”
The updates and changes to the library media center are a hit with students, who find it to be a more engaging space that is better suited to their needs and learning styles. “I like the layout and color scheme,” said Kristin Sanders, a 12th grade student. “The chairs are a lot comfier, and the furniture looks more modern. I really like the tall tables by the window.”
“I really enjoy the new furniture in the library,” said fellow senior Madison Delgado. “Everything is comfy, yet still allows students to be productive. The tall table and chairs are my favorite so far.”
Tenth grade student Gracelynn Rice said, “The tables are smooth for writing and the chairs are colorful and comfy. There’s more space to work. The tall tables and chairs are cool, too.”
Cameron Mussey, a 10th grade student, added, “I like how you can move all the furniture easily, and the tables are nice. I like how they’re square, too, so you can fit more people. The new chairs are comfy, too.”
“It’s so fun! The chairs are very comfy and the desks are great for writing,” said Lyrique Busch, an 11th grade student.
The library media center is located just past the high school’s main entrance, with large windows that let in the sunlight, ample space and an extensive collection of books, reference materials and online resources for students and staff. For more information, visit the library and media center webpage.
Update Jan. 11, 2023
In the photos below: More furniture, including moveable tables with storage and cabinets have been added to the library.
