Category: District News
Fort Plain grad, published author and microbiologist shares with students
Fort Plain Class of 2011 graduate Chelsea Koch Ross is a microbiologist by day, but at night and in her free time, she writes – and gets published. The author of “Creatures Most Vile,” a novel for young adults, Chelsea recently shared her experiences with fifth and sixth grade students.
Chelsea writes under the pen name Chelsea Lauren. She met with the students at Harry Hoag School to talk about being a writer and having her novel published.
“The students were given the opportunity to ask questions. They were very excited to hear about her book and the experience she had writing it,” said Eileen Kretser, guided reading teaching assistant. “She writes as a hobby, and is a microbiologist with New York State.”
Chelsea has also shared her knowledge and experiences with high school students. Last school year, she visited with English classes at FPHS, including the English 11 Honors class where she once was a student.
After graduating from Fort Plain, Chelsea attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, where she double-majored in biology and chemistry. Chelsea developed her love for writing after taking a college creative writing course.
Fort Plain partners with Montgomery County’s “Pastport” to History program
Fort Plain Central School District is proud to partner with Montgomery County Tourism for the “Pastport” to History program, a fun and engaging way for students and their families to learn and explore our extraordinary past.
“The ‘Pastport’ is a gateway to 17 historic sites, all located right here in our own community and perfect for a family-friendly, fun experience,” said Montgomery County Executive Mattew L. Ossenfort. “Through this special program, every child that brings their ‘Pastport’ to a Mongomery County historic site will receive FREE admission and a special ‘entry stamp.’ Students who collect at least 10 stamps will be entered in a special contest to receive a historic Montgomery County prize pack.”
The “Pastport” will be available in the elementary and high school entrance kiosks, or may be downloaded as a pdf here.
The county historian will be visiting schools next year to hear what students learned while exploring Montgomery County and to talk about the county’s rich history.
Gr. 9-12 exams and Chromebook collection schedule
The following grades 9-12 June 2023 exams and Chromebook collection schedule has been shared via ParentSquare with high school families. Best of luck to all of our students on your exams and thank you for returning your Chromebooks.
VFW honors winning student essay authors, teachers
VFW Post 3275 Commander Thomas Elwood recently visited FPHS to honor the winners of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen and Voices of Democracy essay contests. Commander Elwood also presented two Teacher of the Year awards to Fort Plain educators.
Congratulations to our student essay winners:
Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest- Theme: My Pledge to Our Veterans
1st place – Lilly Lapi
2nd place – Levi Hext
3rd place – Silas Smith
(All are 8th grade students)
Voices of Democracy Essay Contest – Theme: Why is the Veteran Important?
1st place – Alex Smith (11th grade)
The winning essay writers read their essays in front of the entire 8th grade.
Kolbe Gray was honored as the 6th-8th grade VFW Teacher of the Year, and Casey Russom was honored as the 9th-12th grade VFW Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to all!
5k fun for Girls on the Run
Our Girls on the Run team finished their 10-week program with a fun-filled 5K race in Oneonta on Sunday, June 4. It was a beautiful day, and the venue was filled with music, prizes, fun activities and lots of camaraderie.
“It was a day overflowing with girl empowerment!” said Girls on the Run volunteer Meagan Heiser. “We’re looking forward to another exciting season of learning and growing next spring with GOTR. Great job girls! We are so proud of you!”
See how our Girls on the Run program is about much more than miles.
Read about how our team helped others and supported each other.
Girls on the Run is a twice-weekly, afterschool program for 5th and 6th grade students where trained volunteers lead girls through interactive lessons and movement activities, that culminates in a celebratory 5K in June.
HS yearbooks available
There are still some high school yearbooks available for purchase, beginning the week of June 12.
The books are $40. To purchase, see Mrs. Summerfield or Mrs. Cole in the high school.
A positive learning paws when Cooper comes to campus
Harry Hoag students had a few very special guests at their recent Morning Program. Therapy dog Cooper and Detective PJ and Lieutenant Ryan from the Schenectady Police Department presented to students in the gym and also visited some of their classrooms.
Cooper is a two-year-old labradoodle who was donated to the Schenectady Police Department. He began training as a puppy to become a therapy dog. Cooper provides people with affection, comfort and support. On the job, he helps police officers, community members and children cope with stress, anxiety and other big emotions.
Cooper is nonjudgmental and assists people in recognizing their own fears and issues. He creates a more relaxed environment where both children and adults feel more comfortable sharing their feelings.
A therapy dog has positive effects on a person’s mental and physical health by:
- Lowering heart rate
- Reducing anxiety
- Increasing self-esteem
- Helping regulate emotions and behavior
- Helping form healthy relationships
- Decreasing distractibility
- Improving appropriate tone of voice
- Lowing behavioral, emotional and verbal distress
After working with Detective PJ during the day, Cooper is part of his family at home.
Race horses provide lessons, opportunity to help
Students in Kolbe Gray’s and Lucas Santiago’s History of Sports/Sports Statistics class culminated their study of horse racing with a field trip in May to Saratoga Springs to learn more about the horse racing industry, horse breeding and thoroughbred retirement.
At the Oklahoma Training Track in Saratoga Springs, the students watched practice sessions, learning about the different exercises and workouts performed by horses based on their racing schedule.
During a barn visit, the students got a behind-the-scenes look at where workers and horses stay and live when they are not working. They met a pony rider, Mary Keiser, who has worked for many years at the Oklahoma Track, and learned about ponies and their role at the track. Santiago noted, “The students were able to get up close with some of the horses and even got to feed them!”
At Sugar Plum Farm, the students saw where the process all begins. They learned about the breeding industry and a typical day in the life of a breeding farm worker.
At the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the students were given a guided tour of the history of horse racing as it pertains to American history. They also had a special guest appearance by famed jockey Ramon Dominguez, who has ridden more than 21,000 horses, won close to 5,000 races and made almost $200,000,000 in his career.
At 18 Karat Farm, as a culminating activity, the students learned about the start of the charity, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, or TRF. TRF helps owners of thoroughbred horses, providing a farm where retired racehorses can live out their rest of their lives.
The students had the following thoughts about their field trip:
Stephen Gray said, “The Oklahoma Track was my favorite place because we got to actually see them run. It was cool to see the future of the sport at the beginning of their racing careers and we also got to see some pretty good trainers. I didn’t know that they had a logo type on their silks to identify the trainer of the horse.”
Ezekiel Brown added, “It was awesome to see the horses and the jockeys warm up. I have never seen an animal run that fast in my life. It was awesome. There’s a lot of rich history behind the Oklahoma Track and the history we learned that was behind Saratoga was also awesome.”
Vivian Nunez said, “I enjoyed hearing the story of how the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm came to be. The walk throughout the horse paddocks and getting to pet the horses was really fun. They were so sweet.”
Anthony Paradiso added, “I really enjoyed the breeding farm to see how the racing bloodline is done. I think it is always nice to see the origin of where everyone’s stories begin. Personally, that is why it was my favorite because it’s the start of something amazing. Some of those horses can be future winners.”
Alex Smith said, “I enjoyed the museum tour and the video that was played in the theater box. It was a very cool video with very fun presentation. It was very informative and interesting.”
“On the behalf of our class and Fort Plain School District, we want to thank our hosts at TRF and NYRA – Kim Weir, Sharon Dominguez, Maude Walsh, Keith McCalmont, Stephanie Cowser and Stephen Geissler – for making this field trip possible and giving our students a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Santiago and Gray. “Our class was able to donate $500 to the TRF as a thank you for hosting us!”
At the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with jockey Ramon Dominguez
Learning about horses, barns and the racing industry
Group photo!
For more photos, visit our Facebook album.
Girls on the Run support others – and each other
Fort Plain’s Girls on the Run team’s theme on Friday, May 19, was supporting others in the community. In view of this theme, they created cheerful and colorful placemats for an area nursing home.
Girls on the Run members also participated in a team-building activity (pictured below) that showed how they support one another.
How did it go? Watch this video:
Participants and volunteers agree: Girls on the Run is so much fun!
Girls on the Run is a twice-weekly, afterschool program for 5th and 6th grade students where trained volunteers lead girls through interactive lessons and movement activities, culminating in a celebratory 5K in June.
Congratulations to our 2023 National Honor Society inductees
Five Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society at a May 17 ceremony, in recognition of their scholarship, leadership, service and character.
Congratulations to the following students on their induction:
- Madeline Heroth
- Ethan Hubbard
- Brady Keane
- Monika Kuczynski
- Matthew Paul
Senior National Honor Society Members for 2023 are:
- Americus Cotton
- Andra Fuhs
- Stephen Gray
- Rylee Herron
- Ethan Kilmartin
- Anthony Paradiso
- Natalie Thibodeau
The chapter’s officers and senior members led the ceremony, for which National Honor Society advisor Kolbe Gray provided an introduction.
Serving as this year’s National Honor Society officers are Anthony Paradiso, president; Stephen Gray, vice president; Ethan Kilmartin, treasurer; Andra Fuhs, secretary; and Natalie Thibodeau, public relations.
Fort Plain’s chapter of the National Honor Society was chartered in 1954.
