Category: District News
Lights, camera, action!
Students share the news of the week on the new Fort Plain Network
New this school year, students in the high school’s Multi-Media Production class have been honing their skills while reporting and sharing school news and happenings in a weekly broadcast on the in-house Fort Plain Network (FPN).
“The idea for these broadcasts has been a couple of years in the works,” said teacher and Educational Technology Specialist Rachel Heroth. “Last year we offered a Video Production class that the students really enjoyed. The Multi-Media class, which is new this school year, and the FPN project have expanded on that. They include so many hands-on and authentic ways for the students to learn new skills, to try new things and be creative. It is also a good way to serve our school community.”
Gimme a beat!
Many of this year’s FPN news team caught the news “bug” early on while producing the sixth grade Hilltopper Herald school newspaper with Harry Hoag teacher Matt Heiser. Trying their hand at broadcast news was a logical next step.
Though members of the school news team say it can be a challenge to be “camera ready” so early in the morning (class is the first period of each school day) and meeting weekly deadlines takes dedicated effort and organization (often free periods and evenings, too!), all say they are enjoying the FPN experience and positive feedback their efforts have received.
Broadcasts are planned, written and produced each week by the students in the Multi-Media Production class. And while students are gravitating to roles they most enjoy, they are also given regular opportunities to try new parts of the production and develop skills with these, too.
“This is about student learning, so I really try to keep the entire production in their hands,” said Heroth.
Junior Jordan Brown, who along with sophomore Emma Cook research and write each week’s script, chose this class to fill an elective requirement but is finding the experience fun and satisfying.
“I like writing and English is one of my favorite classes. I took a turn as anchor one week, but like writing the script most,” Brown said. “I like the creative aspect of putting together the news because every video is different, but there is still a sameness to what we do each week.”
On-camera personalities Sean Gutermuth, Jacob Herringshaw and Madison Stuart say they weren’t comfortable immediately with being in front of the camera, but are settling into and enjoying the role of being the ones who deliver the week’s news
Great things from humble beginnings
Like many great productions, the Fort Plain Network (FPN) has had humble and homespun beginnings. The studio is in a high school classroom. The “green screen” that students deliver the broadcast in front of was hand painted this past summer by Heroth and her family. Even the episode “clapper” and teleprompter were produced in-house by students in the school’s Technology and Design class.
That said, production values are high and the news is of-the-moment. The team takes care to include content that will matter to their peers and the larger school community. Along with the week’s regular news, recent special segments have focused on such topics as mental health and wellness, clubs, activities and volunteer opportunities.
“Part of the process involves planning a week ahead or sometimes more for the content we want each episode to include. But, just like network news, we are sometimes tweaking our script the day of filming depending on when we get submissions or if there is something ‘late breaking’ that we need to be sure to add,” Heroth said. “We are always learning how we can do more and do better.”
Behind the scenes: Meet the FPN Team
Jordan Brown – screenwriter, anchor, editor
Madison Clayburn – stage manager, cinematographer, graphic designer, editor
Emma Cook – screenwriter, anchor, graphic designer, teleprompter operator, editor
Shawn Gutermuth – anchor, animator, graphic designer
Jacob Herringshaw – anchor, editor
Vandwane Hisert – graphic designer
Hunter Palmeri – graphic designer
Kendra Sackett – teleprompter operator, graphic designer
Peyton Spicci – graphic designer, special reporter anchor, graphic designer
Madison Stuart – anchor, editor, graphic designer
Watch the Fort Plain Network (FPN)
View current episodes of the Fort Plain Network broadcasts on our school channel.
With gratitude: a message from District Superintendent Lauren Crisman
Dear Fort Plain CSD Families and School Team Members,
It’s that time of year again when we reflect on the blessings that have been bestowed upon us and show gratitude for them.
As I have traveled throughout our buildings during the fall, I’ve been amazed by the work that we do to support the development of our youth and to promote positivity in the community. FPCSD is a place where we help each other in big and little ways and care for each other daily. I am grateful to serve this community.
For our students and families, may this Thanksgiving recess be a well-deserved break where you can be joyful and laugh in good company.
For the school team, I hope that you are able to rest, rejuvenate and enjoy time with your loved ones.
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Best,
Mrs. Crisman
Service and work-based learning—a win for students and the school community
Kevin Bogus Memorial Garden beautified – check. Weekend snack bags prepped for peers – check. Coffee served and Kristy’s Closet stocked – check and check.
Thanks for these and many other activities that support and enhance our school community go out to the learners in the Jr./Sr. High School Life Skills classroom of Dorene Goodwin.
“Our curriculum is designed to support the students in gaining essential academics and life skills. With all the activities we do throughout the school and to support the community, the students are learning by doing,” explained Goodwin.
Consider an activity such as preparing weekend snack bags for peers. Steps such as taking inventory, grocery shopping for essentials, preparing and then delivering the completed bags to each school site further the weekly project. They also offer students hands-on practice with subjects such as math and English Language Arts (ELA) and with practical life and workplace skills such as problem solving, teamwork, collaboration, customer service, perseverance and much more.
“What I like about the students participating in all of these projects around the school, is that it gives them a chance to build their own skills. It also allows them to give back to our community in ways that really matter,” Goodwin said.
November menus, new Fresh Bar option
This week, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School debuted its new Fresh Bar. Now, along with our daily lunch offerings, Jr./Sr. High School students can build-their-own-lunch from the Fresh Bar items.
With lighter options such as sandwiches and salad, yogurt, hummus, veggies, fruit and more, this addition to our jr/sr. high school lunch offering is already a big hit with students!
View the November breakfast and lunch menus for all students, k-12.
Enriching student learning—in and outside our classrooms
Throughout the school year, a host of fun field trips and enrichment activities help deepen our students’ learning. These hands-on and multi-sensory (learning with all the senses) experiences help bring classroom lessons to life… and may even inspire a passion or future career path!
Here are just a few fun examples of the enriched learning happening for students this fall:
- Kindergarteners recently donned their own helmets and climbed aboard a big red Fort Plain fire truck to learn about fire safety and the important job firefighters play in our community. This annual visit from the fire company helped mark Fire Safety Awareness Month and is just one of many ways our first responders and community helpers expand students’ learning throughout the year.
- Fall wouldn’t be the same without a trip to the orchard for apples and a wagon ride. After learning about the season and how apples grow, first graders visited Bellinger’s Apple Orchard for some apple picking, tasting and lots of other seasonal fun.
- The sweet smell of pumpkin spice filled the air as learners in our third-grade classrooms made (and got to sample!) fresh butter, pumpkin pie and homemade whipped cream. Thank you educator Wendy Richardson and the Cornell Cooperative Extension/Herkimer County for leading us in this fun and delicious culinary exploration.
- Meanwhile at the high school, youth participating in the OK2XL gifted and talented program shared lots of laughs and took in the beauty of the historic Proctors Theatre in Schenectady while watching the stage production of Mrs. Doubtfire. “This was a cool opportunity for students who would not otherwise get to see these shows,” said High School Junior Jasmine Lapi. “It is important for students to be exposed to these cultural events.” District and grant funding makes these and other types of dance, music, drama, media and visual arts experiences a possibility for students across the grades, in and outside of our classrooms.
We are so grateful for our many community partners, educators and area venues that help expand our students’ learning and help them grow in new and creative ways by sharing their knowledge and expertise.
Help Fort Plain NHS build a Field of Flags
Fly a flag, honor a veteran
The Fort Plain chapter of the National Honor Society is hosting a fundraiser in honor of our veterans.
For a $10 donation, your flag will be added to the Fort Plain Field of Flags, on display at the Jr./Sr. High School from Nov. 10 – 17, 2023.
Each flag dispalyed will represent one veteran—and our school community’s unwavering commitment to honoring those who have served our country.
Visit this site to donate a flag.
Questions about this fundraiser? Please email NHS & NJHS Advisor Kolbe Gray at kolbe.gray@fortplain.org.
Thank you!
Fifth grade team climbs to new heights on annual ADK trek
This September, Harry Hoag fifth graders took their turn with an annual outing to Kane Mountain/Kane Mountain Fire Observation Station in Caroga N.Y. This nearly 50 year old district tradition was, by all accounts, a fan-favorite for the fifth graders new to the trek and for our teaching team who lead this hike each year.
“This is such a great way for the students to get to know each other outside of the classroom early in the school year,” said fifth grade teacher Patrick Hanifin, who has been leading the outing for the past 25 years. “The experience is all about sharing the joys of hiking with the kids and being able to mix in history, geography and physical education.”
Making memories for generations of Fort Plain students
While Hanifin said he just missed the opportunity to take the hike while a student at Fort Plain (the tradition didn’t begin until he was in seventh grade), it is often mentioned fondly in graduation speeches and many of the parents and family members of current fifth graders also had their turn with the trip when they were Fort Plain students.
“It meant a lot to me to get to take this hike,” said fifth grader Colton White. “My dad went when he was in fifth grade, but he said he was too scared to go up into the fire tower. He was impressed when he found out I had climbed up into the tower!”
Along with the fire tower, students mentioned the many different types of rocks they saw along the trail (“Some were shiny, some were smooth, some were rough but they all were so pretty,” said Isabella Shibley), the great view (“It was awesome. I never saw a better view than when we went up the fire tower,” said Preston Spraker) and the icing (or ice cream!) on the cake: a stop on the way back to school for ice cream at Grannies.
“A former fifth grade colleague, Barry Kahn, who was actually my fifth grade teacher, used to say that it’s not just a great way to show the kids the many joys of hiking but to also show them how fortunate we are to live so close to the Adirondack Mountains,” said Hanifin. “His hope, and mine, too, was that after we hiked some of the families would make a return trip to Kane Mountain or explore other hiking trails. It’s certainly been my favorite field trip every year!”
A welcome message from Superintendent Lauren Crisman
Dear Fort Plain Central School District Community Members,
I wish to take this opportunity to warmly welcome everyone back to school for the 2023-2024 school year!
The first day of school for students kindergarten through grade 12 is Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
While you were away, the summer teams remained busy preparing for your return. I extend a deep notion of gratitude to all summer employees.
In addition, many stakeholder groups including administrators, teachers, parents and community leaders spent time identifying the types of skills and knowledge that we believe will best prepare our students for success beyond graduation. The summer conversations helped begin our process of long term planning. As adults, we passionately agreed that school should be a safe place where students can explore their interests and aspirations, thoroughly enjoy their school day experience, and be held accountable to display self worth and good character. During the fall, student stakeholder groups will be consulted to learn more about their very important perspectives on these topics and more.
Last year, the Board of Education identified five enduring goals:
- Improve safety in our schools.
- Improve student learning outcomes.
- Build and maintain trusting relationships with students and their families.
- Support social and emotional wellness for all school community members.
- Ensure responsible and strategic use of fiscal and human resources to best support the needs of our students.
In alignment with our enduring goals, the leadership team has prioritized the development of a comprehensive, Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Plan as a necessary project for the upcoming year. When completed, the plan will be a resource for both professionals and parents that can be used to address questions related to academic and social-emotional intervention services.
A second priority for both buildings will be to ensure that every student attends school regularly. We will do a comprehensive review of our local attendance policy and delve deeply into attendance data to analyze the excuses associated with high rates of absenteeism specific to Fort Plain CSD. Students who miss more than 10 days of school are at risk for failure related to learning milestones and often become disengaged with the school process in general. Our teachers and leaders believe in the promise of education and we feel strongly that being in school daily guarantees each student the opportunity to get what they need from us in order to pursue a life filled with success and enduring happiness.
I’m excited for what’s to come and, again, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your children’s education and well being.
Take good care and see you soon,
Lauren Crisman
Superintendent of Schools
Program helps families pay for internet service
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps New York State families pay for internet service.
Under this program, households are eligible to receive $30 per month assistance toward internet/broadband service if they are enrolled in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
Visit the Affordable Connectivity Program website for more information.
View a flyer with more information about this program.
If you are not able to access the information in this flyer and need it in another format, please contact the Fort Plain CSD district office at 518-993-4000 ext. 1000.
Questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program?
If you have questions or need to know if you are eligible for this program, please contact the Fort Plain CSD district office at 518-993-4000, ext. 1000.
Fort Plain mourns the passing of Cheryl Ann Phillips
Fort Plain Central School District mourns the passing of Cheryl Ann Phillips, a longtime supporter of the Fort Plain community and member of our teaching staff.
Most recently, Mrs. Phillips had worked as a Speech Therapist, a position she held for over 25 years.
“Mrs. Phillips had a true love for the Fort Plain community and an unwavering sense of Topper Pride. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting and loving not only her own children but many other student athletes who became family. She supported her husband while he more publicly helped an endless number of student athletes obtain otherwise unobtainable goals,” reads a tribute, in part, to Cheryl Ann Phillips.
View the tribute to Mrs. Phillips and learn about her many interests and life experiences.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends.