Category: Archive
FPHS Department Spotlight: Math
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students have many opportunities to learn and grow through our many course offerings. Our Department Spotlight provides an insider’s view of these experiences.
This week, we are spotlighting the Math department at FPHS. Enjoy “The Maze of Mathematics” video below as you learn a bit about the coursework and opportunities provided to our students.
Masks are optional starting Wednesday
February 27, 2022
Dear Fort Plain Central School Community,
At 2 p.m. today, Governor Hochul held a press conference regarding the state mask mandate. She said that as of March 2, the mandate will be lifted. Masks will be optional starting Wednesday.
As we gather additional information from the state, we will send out a letter to everyone making sure we have all of the details. We will continue to work with the local health department as we move forward to follow the metrics as they relate to cases, infection rates and hospitalizations.
As we all know, this has been a long journey, and I would like to personally thank everyone for their patience, resolve and commitment to ensuring that we followed the plan and in turn, made sure people were safe.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent
Superintendents call on governor, health commissioner to act on masks
The following letter has been sent to the Governor and Health Commissioner on behalf of school superintendents in the HFM BOCES region
February 26, 2022
Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12203
Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett,
As you are aware, on Friday, February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for masking, and in particular, updated guidelines for masking in schools.
As you may recall, on January 28, the school superintendents of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery area endorsed a letter written by our colleagues in the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex region entitled “Pathway to Normalcy.” That letter asked for information and metrics to allow our students and staff to have a roadmap to move away from the current masking requirements.
We write you today with a sense of urgency asking you to implement the following measures, before students return from vacation on Monday, February 28:
● In compliance with the new CDC recommendations, remove the mandate for masking for school facilities and on school busses in counties identified by the CDC at low or medium levels of risk.,
● Provide guidance to school districts, parents, and staff about the factors that would trigger the reintroduction of masks, and;
● Provide guidance to school districts on changes to other mitigation layers including social distancing.
Sincerely,
The Superintendents of Schools in the HFM BOCES region:
Richard Ruberti, Greater Amsterdam
Stephen Tomlinson, Broadalbin-Perth
Dr. Nick Fitzgerald, Canajoharie
Michelle Ellis, Edinburg Common
Thomas Ciaccio, Fonda-Fultonville
Jeffery Ziegler, Fort Plain
David Halloran, Gloversville Enlarged
Dr. William Crankshaw, Greater Johnstown
Heather Philo, Lake Pleasant
Christopher Harper, Mayfield
Dr. Leslie Ford, Northville
Richard Rose, Piseco
Adam Heroth, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville
Thomas Sincavage, Wells
Nicole Dettenrieder, Wheelerville
CC:
New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara
New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey
New York State Senator James Tedisco
Laurel Headwell, Fulton County Public Health
Erica Mahoney, Hamilton County Public Health
Sara Boerenko, Montgomery County Public Health
David Ziskin, District Superintendent, HFM BOCES
Board to meet with District Superintendent on Feb. 28
The Fort Plain Board of Education will meet with the HFM BOCES District Superintendent regarding the superintendent search on Monday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room.
Purchase Basketball Sectionals tickets online
A message from the Athletic Director:
Those wishing to attend the Boys Basketball Sectionals at Shenendehowa on Saturday, Feb. 26, should purchase tickets online in advance via GoFan through the Section 2 Athletics website.
According to Section 2 Athletics, tickets for other competitions are also available online via GoFan, including:
Boys Basketball: Quarterfinals
Girls Basketball: All Quarterfinals, Semis & Finals
Wrestling: Dual Meet & Class Sectionals
Bowling: Sectional Championships
Cheerleading: Sectional Championships
Gymnastics: Sectional Championships
Boys Volleyball: All Quarterfinals, Semis & Finals
Ice Hockey: All Quarterfinals, Semis & Finals
Boys Swimming & Diving: Prelims & Finals
State mask mandate remains in effect
Dear Fort Plain Central School District families,
The emergency regulation requiring face coverings in public school settings has been renewed and now extends through April 22, 2022. The Department of Health filed the renewal of the emergency action with the Department of State on Feb. 21, making the regulation effective.
Face coverings will continue to be required in public schools through April 22, 2022, unless the emergency regulation is discontinued or amended prior to this date.
Our next update with respect to this matter will likely be on or about March 2, 2022, when the Appellate Court reviews the Stay Order issued in the Nassau County case, Demetrious, etc. v. NYS Department of Health, et al.
Schools across the state, including those in our region, have called on the governor and state health commissioner for a clear “Pathway to Normalcy” regarding masking and COVID-19-related regulations. We will continue to keep our families updated on the progress of this request and any information shared by state officials.
Forensics and Criminology class hosts SWAT demonstration
Fort Plain High School’s forensics and criminology class hosted SWAT Commander Torrey Sitterly and the Herkimer SWAT team on Friday, Feb. 18, for a demonstration in the high school cafeteria.
“They were gracious enough to bring in some really cool gadgets, like thermal imaging drones and bomb-diffusing robots. Students also were able to try on and touch the very heavy gear that SWAT members use in the line of duty,” said teacher Kevin Bogus.
“Officer James Burns discussed the importance of new technologies in police work and then took a lightweight, half-pound drone on an aerial spin for the students to see.
“Officer Robert Holt demonstrated the accuracy of his robot that uses four cameras to see by picking up a water bottle off a table with relative ease. It was a very fun experience.”
Commander Sitterly is a Fort Plain alumnus.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Bogus and their class thank the Herkimer SWAT team for visiting Fort Plain and teaching them so much.
Region’s school superintendents support “Pathway to Normalcy”
The following letter was sent to Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett on behalf of the superintendents of schools in the HFM BOCES region.
January 28, 2022
HFM BOCES school superintendents support “Pathway to Normalcy.”
Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
New York State Department of Health
Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett,
The superintendents of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES fully endorse the letter released by our colleagues in the WSWHE BOCES on January 27, 2022. (View Pathway to Normalcy letter here)
We support the two main points cited in their letter – creating a Roadmap on Masking and Seeing the Whole Student when considering mitigation restrictions currently in place.
We urge state leaders to consider these points and work with us to ensure the physical and social-emotional health of all our students.
Sincerely,
The Superintendents of Schools in the HFM BOCES region:
Richard Ruberti, Greater Amsterdam
Stephen Tomlinson, Broadalbin-Perth
Dr. Nick Fitzgerald, Canajoharie
Michelle Ellis, Edinburg Common
Thomas Ciaccio, Fonda-Fultonville
Jeffery Ziegler, Fort Plain
David Halloran, Gloversville Enlarged
Dr. William Crankshaw, Greater Johnstown
Heather Philo, Lake Pleasant
Christopher Harper, Mayfield
Dr. Leslie Ford, Northville
Adam Heroth, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville
Richard Rose, Piseco
Thomas Sincavage, Wells
Nicole Dettenrieder, Wheelerville
cc:
New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara
New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey
New York State Senator James Tedisco
Laurel Headwell, Fulton County Public Health
Erica Mahoney, Hamilton County Public Health
Sara Boerenko, Montgomery County Public Health
Daniel Kuhles, Saratoga County Public Health
David Ziskin, District Superintendent, HFM BOCES
FPHS Department Spotlight: Social Studies
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students have many opportunities to learn and grow through our many course offerings. Our Department Spotlight provides an insider’s view of these experiences.
This week, we are spotlighting the Social Studies department at FPHS. Enjoy the video below as you learn a bit about the coursework and opportunities provided to our students.
Ethan Kilmartin achieves rank of Eagle Scout
Friendship, leadership and experiencing the outdoors: all are benefits of achieving the highest rank in scouting, according to Eagle Scout Ethan Kilmartin. Ethan, a Fort Plain High School junior, officially became an Eagle Scout in December, 2021, capping more than 125 hours of planning, paperwork and hands-on community service that began during the summer of 2019.
For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan designed, built and installed new recycling bins in Haslett Park in Fort Plain and reconstructed the park’s flower bed framing with upgraded timbers. “I knew I wanted to build the recycling bins since I was in Cub Scouts,” Ethan said. “I saw a need for bigger bins and better placement in the park. For the flower beds, I tore out the old timbers and built a new frame on-site, with pressure-treated timbers. It’s a good addition to the park and looks better.”
Ethan will have been active in scouting for six years as of March, 2022, and is a member of Canajoharie Troop 5081. One of Ethan’s favorite troop activities is summer camping at Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation in Brant Lake, NY, and he speaks highly of the overall scouting experience. Ethan also enjoys hiking, soccer and “is a big fisherman.” His other hobbies include welding and woodworking.
As for future plans, Ethan is looking at colleges and plans to study environmental science, with a career goal of becoming a state environmental conservation officer. “It’s interesting, it’s not at a desk and I excel in the sciences,” he said. “I’m very outdoors-oriented.”
Congratulations Ethan!
Ethan and friends work in his grandfather’s shop in 2019
Above and below: Recycling bins built by Ethan for Haslett Park
