Category: District News
Proud to be a Hilltopper: Evan Weaver
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: Evan Weaver, 7th grade student
Evan is a 7th grade student at Fort Plain Jr./Sr High School. Here is why he is proud to be a Topper:
Proud to be a Hilltopper: Sonja Purinton
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: Sonja Purinton, Special Education Teacher
Sonja joined the Harry Hoag faculty in fall 2022. An experienced educator who lives with her family at their working farm, she loves her new teaching position with Fort Plain. Here are Sonja’s reasons why she is proud to be a Topper:
Local heroes teach about 2- and 4-legged law enforcement
More local heroes visited Harry Hoag School on Oct. 21, when Sergeant Smith and K9 Officer Bud presented to students and staff during morning program. Sergeant Smith talked about his job and what Bud does as a K9 officer. Teacher Ashley Bargstedt introduced our visitors.
Village Board meeting provides authentic learning for Student Council
Members of Harry Hoag Elementary School’s Student Council experienced local government operations in real time, outside their school, on Oct. 18, when they participated in a meeting of the Fort Plain Village Board.
“FPCSD thanks Mr. Hanifin and the Village Board for extending an invitation for the elementary student government leaders to attend their most recent meeting,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “This authentic learning opportunity provided them with a chance to see how a local governance team functions, and I know that they each felt very special to be personally invited to attend the meeting. We appreciate the village support to help us grow future leaders!”
“Our Student Council members met their local officials, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed the Village Board meeting. They received an excellent introduction to government and school and community partnership,” said Student Council Advisor Michelle Hext. “We thank the Village Board for welcoming our group.”
After the Oct. 18 meeting, Fort Plain Mayor and Harry Hoag Elementary Teacher Patrick Hanifin said, “At tonight’s Village Board meeting, we were visited by the newly elected Fort Plain Elementary School Student Council members. They had the opportunity to meet many of the Village officials and take part in the meeting. Thank you to Student Council Advisor Michelle Looman Hext for helping to coordinate their participation tonight.”
In the photo above: Student Council members with Mrs. Hext.
In the photo at the top of the page: Student Council members with Village Board members and Mayor Hanifin.
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!