Category: District News
Proud to be a Hilltopper: Jonathan Williams
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 their experiences, knowledge and friendships gained here.
Proud to be a Topper: Jonathan Williams, FPHS Class of 2022 & FPFD Volunteer Firefighter
Jonathan graduated from Fort Plain High School in June 2022 and serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Fort Plain Fire Department. He visited Harry Hoag Elementary with the FPFD in October 2022 to help teach fire safety to young students. As of that time, Jonathan was in the process of starting a new job in the area. Here are Jonathan’s reasons why he is proud to be a Topper:
Proud to be a Hilltopper: Jayden Sackett
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 their experiences, knowledge and friendships gained here.
Proud to be a Topper: Jayden Sackett, FPHS Class of 2022 & FPFD Volunteer Firefighter
Jayden graduated from Fort Plain High School in June 2022 and serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Fort Plain Fire Department. He visited Harry Hoag Elementary with the FPFD in October 2022 to help teach fire safety to young students. Jayden is training to become a professional firefighter at the Watervliet Arsenal. Here are Jayden’s reasons why he is proud to be a Topper.
Thank you to our Fort Plain Fire Department heroes
Harry Hoag students learned valuable lessons about fire safety when the Fort Plain Fire Department visited their school on Oct. 12, during Fire Prevention Week.
They learned that firefighters are helpers who keep them safe, what to do if a smoke detector sounds, and what to do in the event of a fire. The students also got to turn on and hold a working fire hose and ride in a fire truck, and at the end of the presentations, each received their own fire hat.
Thank you to our local heroes – and school community members – who visited with our students and staff and shared their knowledge, including Fort Plain Fire Chief Bill Ehrenreich, Captain and Fort Plain Central School Transportation Supervisor Gary Ruszkowski, President Joe Hanifan, Vice President and Fort Plain Board of Education Member Jeff Jones, and Firefighters and Fort Plain High School Class of 2022 Alumni Jayden Sackett and Jonathan Williams.
Fire Prevention Week comes once a year, but the lessons learned last a lifetime.
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All are welcome at Community Conversations with FPCSD leadership
Fort Plain Central School District will host a series of Community Conversations this school year to foster a dialogue between school community members and district leadership.
The first Community Conversation will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 5-6 p.m. in the Harry Hoag Library. Focus topics will be the FPCSD Vision and Communication Systems.
“Parents, guardians, families, students, community members and business owners are all welcome to participate in our Community Conversations,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “The goal is to foster a dialogue between our district’s leadership and our community related to matters of public interest. Questions, concerns and celebrations are all welcome for discussion.”
Please note that the superintendent and district leaders will not be able to discuss matters related to contractual negotiations or specific personnel.
Community Conversations also will be held on Jan. 11, 2023, with a focus topic of The Student Experience: Engagement and Advancement, and on May 3, 2023, with a focus topic of Improvement Priorities; both conversations will be held from 5-6 p.m. in the Harry Hoag Library.
Sign up is not required.
Board of Education sets goals and objectives
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education has identified five enduring goals and written objectives for the 2022-23 school year. For full details, please visit the Board of Education Goals webpage.
Welcome new faculty and staff
Fort Plain Central School welcomes new faculty and staff to our campuses this school year. Some started in their new positions with the district during the summer, while others came aboard this month.
Welcome to:
- Amanda Battisti, food service
- David Bertram, director of student engagement and athletics
- Dalton Burrello, music
- Lisa Clement-Adams, speech language pathologist
- Elliott Cohen, school counselor
- Carol Connelly, special education
- Jodi Coppolo, Pre K-6 principal
- Lauren Crisman, superintendent of schools
- Madison Crouse, long term substitute
- Colleen Cushing, new position: K-12 mental health counselor
- Emma DiDonna, English
- Abigail Gorinshek, Grade 5
- Andrew Hanifin, long term substitute
- Jessica Hecht, aide
- Matthew Holden, English
- Heather Hubbard, special education
- Lisa Lamphere, bus driver
- Rusty Mento, bus driver
- Jamie MacDougall, RN, elementary nurse
- Courtney Momberger, special education
- McKay Nare, physical education
- Sonja Purinton, special education
- Charles Schermerhorn, cleaner
- Kelly Thomas, aide
- Adam Wilson, math
All were recognized at the Sept. 1 Superintendent’s Conference Day, along with current faculty and staff, including many who have served the district for decades and continue to do so this school year.
Thank you to all!
Meals are still free for ALL Fort Plain Central School District students
Due to the district’s community eligibility status, all students in grades Pre-K through 12 will still receive free breakfast and lunch in Fort Plain Central Schools.
No forms are needed. To eat for free, students simply come through the cafeteria line.
Free backpacks at Harry Hoag, free hygiene supplies & new wardrobe items at HS
Attention Fort Plain families: Free backpacks are available in the Harry Hoag Elementary School main office from Monday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 31, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School, free hygiene supplies and new wardrobe items are available for students entering grades 7-12 at Kristy’s Closet, which will be open on Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m.
Kristy’s Closet has many supporters who donate items for our students throughout the year. Want to help? Contact dorene.goodwin@fortplain.org.
Above: Thank you to Hill & Markes for the generous backpack donations!
Above: Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Rao, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office donated 20 backpacks to Harry Hoag Elementary School
COVID-19 Update
Fort Plain Central School District is following the latest guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19. For more information, please review “What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year” (August 2022). In our schools:
- As with any infectious illness, students or staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance.
- Someone who tested positive and has no symptoms may return to school after day 5.
- Someone who is sick (has symptoms) may return to school after day 5 if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and their symptoms are improving.
- COVID-19 symptoms include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever (temperature of greater than 100.0° F in the last 14 days)
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Testing is recommended for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms as soon as possible after those symptoms begin. Free COVID-19 test kits continue to be available in our schools, and may be picked up in the main entryway kiosks in the elementary and high schools during school hours.
- Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 should follow the CDC’s Exposure Guidance. It is recommended that those exposed to COVID-19 wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days and get tested as soon as they show symptoms or at least 5 days after close contact, regardless of their vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection.
- Mask use continues to be optional in our school buildings and buses for students and staff; those choosing to wear a mask are welcome to do so. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a positive COVID test, or when ill with COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. For more information, visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.
- To prevent the spread of infectious diseases including COVID-19, regular hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer, and respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes), are strongly encouraged.
- Our district also will continue to follow regular health and safety measures including cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, offices, common spaces and high-touch surfaces.
If COVID-19 guidelines change, we will notify FPCSD families and staff as soon as possible via ParentSquare and our website.
Harry Hoag students to benefit from backpacks donation
Due to the generosity of Dr. Rao, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has donated 20 backpacks (absolutely stuffed with school supplies!) to Harry Hoag Elementary School. “We truly appreciate this amazing gift for our students,” said Principal Jodi Coppolo.
Principal Jodi Coppolo with Sheriff Jeff Smith