Category: Archive

Fort Plain Learning Expectations for in-person and remote learning have been designed to give students and families a clear vision for academic success.

Fort Plain students will be using Google Classroom as a consistent format to promote engagement and minimize confusion across all content areas.

It is important that students and families understand their responsibility and take ownership for their learning by engaging with academic routines on a daily basis. The expectations listed below expand on the expectations that are outlined in the Fort Plain Code of Conduct and the Attendance Policy.

Remote Learning Expectations:

• Create a quiet space to work at home.
• Follow your daily class schedule.
• Arrive on time to Google Meets.
• Camera should be set to “ON” and student should be in camera view.
• Microphone should be set to “mute” unless otherwise directed by faculty.
• Stay on topic (no side conversations).
• Type your questions in the chat box.
• Complete all assignments on time.
• Participate and be attentive.
• Practice appropriate online etiquette.
• Wear appropriate attire (Dress Code still applies).
• Exit Google Meets when dismissed.
• Do not hesitate to reach out to school staff for help to:
  • Teachers, Counselors, Principal, etc.
• Charge your school device nightly.
• Please adhere to the Code of Conduct for the 2020-2021 school year.

In-person Learning Expectations:

• Mask should be worn properly by covering the mouth and nose at all times when social distancing is not possible or when otherwise directed by your teachers.
• Be on time and prepared for in person instruction.
• Bring a fully charged school device everyday.
• Please adhere to the Code of Conduct for the 2020-2021 school year.

Attendance for the Hybrid Model:

• During this time of heightened awareness for wellness, we encourage families to keep children home if they are ill.
• Students with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will not be allowed to attend in -person learning.
• In order for students to be successful, it is important that they attend their classes whether in-person or remote following their hybrid schedule.
• NYSED mandates attendance to be taken daily whether in-person or remote. For remote learning days, teachers will take attendance via Google Meet. During in-person learning days, attendance will be taken as normal.
• If a student is sick or unable to attend their remote learning classes, an excuse or doctor’s note should be sent to the school just as you would for an absence during in-person learning.
  Please adhere to Board of Education approved Attendance Policy for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Fort Plain Central School District will begin using a new app called ParentSquare for parent notification calls and messages, to replace the district’s current emergency notification and information sharing system.

ParentSquare is a parent engagement tool that helps teachers and staff easily communicate and collaborate with parents. In the past, we have used Remind and a variety of other tools to communicate with school families.

ParentSquare will help align communications procedures from the district level to the classroom. It will give our families a single platform to receive information in their preferred method. We are excited to provide our families with a communications tool that has more robust engagement features, an app for mobile users, language translations, and more.

Families will receive a welcome text and email message from ParentSquare on Monday, Sept. 28. The message will direct users to download the FREE ParentSquare App and create an account. Once enrolled, your children will automatically be linked to your account, and you will be able to receive school communications that pertain to your children.

If you do not receive a ParentSquare welcome message by Tuesday, Sept.  29, please notify the main office at your child’s school:
Harry Hoag Elementary School 518-993-4000, ext. 3059
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School 518-993-4000, ext. 2124

During the 2020-2021 school year, ParentSquare will be used for communications from administrators, principals and teachers. We believe you will find ParentSquare to be an effective, user-friendly communication tool. Please stay tuned for those offerings as we begin using this service throughout the school district.

Resources for families
ParentSquare webpage
Parent 101 and video English/Spanish

September 24, 2020

Greetings Families of Harry Hoag,

I trust that my letter finds you and yours doing well this September! I want to thank each of you for your ongoing support of the reopening of Harry Hoag. Our team has truly enjoyed the reunion with our learners and I proudly report that our academic year is off to a great start!

As we continue to reflect on the many changes that we have made to our routines, I want to share with you some adjustments that we will make starting on Monday, 9/28.

Our students have adjusted well to the new ‘norms’, but we are seeing many tired faces each morning. I encourage you to remain committed to early bedtime routines to ensure that your child is well rested for the weekdays.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns, my door is always open!

Proud to be your Principal,
Mrs. Crisman

The Fort Plain Board of Education will next meet on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Board meetings are held at 6 p.m. in the Ronald H. Thibodeau Conference Room in the District Office, unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas and minutes are available on BoardDocs.

Fort Plain Junior-Senior High School and Harry Hoag Elementary School faculty, administration and staff welcomed back students on Monday, Sept. 14, and our students were happy to be here, too. In fact, before the new school year even started, many students said they were looking forward to returning to campus: A short survey of 7th-12th grade students on the Friday before the new school year found nearly all replying they wanted to be back. Here are just a few photos from the start of school. View more in our Facebook album.

The Western Athletic Conference  (WAC) has decided to move forward with the low risk sports of cross country, golf and tennis at the varsity level for the fall season.

The moderate risk sport of soccer will be moved to the Fall Sports Season II, which will begin in March and run through April. The Fall Sport Season II also includes high risk sports such as football, cheerleading and volleyball.

The decision to focus on low-risk play was made with the health and safety of students, staff and our school communities as our primary concern. In addition, logistical issues dealing with transportation, field maintenance, supervision and cleaning and disinfecting were taken into consideration.

After reviewing various sets of guidance and weighing the risks and benefits each sport presents, it was determined by the WAC that this decision was the most reasonable way for our schools to provide athletic opportunities to our students without jeopardizing the safe return of students to their respective schools.

This decision still allows all students a possible opportunity to participate in athletics during the school year. Finally, it allows each district to allocate as many resources as possible to ensure the reopening plans are being implemented with regard to the academic needs of our students. In closing, we hope that all of the sports teams are able to play this school year, but it is a very fluid and ever changing situation.