Category: District News
Congratulations National Honor Society inductees
Eight Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society at a May 19 ceremony, in recognition of their scholarship, leadership, service and character.
Congratulations to the following students on their induction:
- Americus Cotton
- Madison Delgado
- Andra Fuhs
- Rylee Herron
- Ethan Kilmartin
- Anthony Paradiso
- Natalie Thibodeau
- Stephen Gray
Senior National Honor Society members for 2022 are:
- Erin Crouse
- Brandon Dygert
- Sarah Florian
- Keagen Ford
- Hailey Hogan
- Tucker Jones
- Robert Jordan
- Talia Narzymski
- Noah Norton
- Emma Oldick
- Seth Rivkowich
- Estee Smith
- Levi Thomas
Serving as this year’s National Honor Society officers are Robert Jordan, president; Erin Crouse, vice president; Levi Thomas, treasurer; Sarah Florian, secretary; and Hailey Hogan, public relations. Mrs. Kolbe Gray is the National Honor Society advisor.
End of year activities and schedule for Harry Hoag School
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Here we are at the beginning of June with only one month of school left until summer vacation.
I am always surprised at how fast the school year passes by. Our students came back in September ready to soak up all that we had to offer. They had an appetite for normalcy and eagerness to engage in active learning. I have enjoyed watching each student mature throughout the year. I’d like to thank the amazing teachers for providing our students with meaningful experiences. Learning does not end when the school year ends. I hope you find time as families to explore nature, read a good book and enjoy fun summer adventures.
Upcoming Events:
- Harry Hoag Field Day is scheduled for June 10th (Rain date of June 17th).
- The Prekindergarten Moving Up Ceremony is scheduled for June 23rd at 8:30 am. (This is the last day of school for Pre-k.)
- The Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for June 24th at 8:30 am.
- Moving Up Day for Grades K-5 and the last day of school is also on June 24th.
* In addition, over the next few weeks, many classrooms have planned to do some special culminating activities.
Final week schedule:
- Monday, 6/20, Juneteenth, No School
- Tuesday, 6/21, Full Day of School
- Wednesday- Thursday, 6/22-6/23, 11:30 am Dismissal
- Friday, 6/24, 10:00 am Dismissal
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. I thank you for your ongoing support of the Fort Plain Central School District.
Be well today and always,
Mrs. Crisman
Grade 4 Fables project teaches many skills, shares lessons
Every picture might tell a story, but a fable teaches a life lesson – and presenting it showcases many skills. Harry Hoag fourth graders capped off their study of traditional literature by developing a readers’ theatre production to demonstrate their comprehension of the fables genre.
Fables feature talking animals who tell a story that teaches a life lesson, and the fables project provides a great opportunity for students to work together.
After learning about different fables and their morals, the students worked as a group to write a screenplay, create and decorate a colorful set, and build puppets and props. They then performed their fables live, in front of their classmates and teachers.
Their presentations were very impressive. View their video and learn the moral of their stories!
Sectional and state qualifier tickets to be available online
NYSPHSAA Section 2 has moved to online ticket sales for sectional and qualifier competitions, including baseball and track and field.
Fort Plain is part of Section 2’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) View sports schedules.
According to Section 2:
- To purchase tickets online, visit NYSPHSAA’s GoFan website
- Baseball Semis & Finals
GoFan ticket prices: $7.30 Semis, $9.40 Finals - Track & Field Sectional Championships & State Qualifiers
GoFan ticket price: $7.30 - Children 12 & Under are free for Sectional contests
- Host schools may also offer tickets for sale at the door for slightly higher prices.
For questions about Fort Plain sports, contact Athletic Director Charlie Karker
Go Toppers!
Book-inspired tree blooms in elementary office
There’s a tree in the main office at Harry Hoag School that is rooted in kindness and blooming with wishes.
Amanda Faitell’s and Eileen Kretser’s 5th grade guided reading students are enjoying the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate. The story is narrated by Red, a large, ancient red oak tree who lives near an elementary school. Red, who observes all that goes on in the neighborhood, serves as a “wish tree,” where people can leave their wishes to be fulfilled. Red’s own wish is for kindness and understanding to prevail.
On the branches of Harry Hoag’s own tree, wishes of all kinds have been sprouting over the past few weeks, written on colorful paper tags. The wishes, which are all anonymous, are touching, telling, and, most importantly, full of kindness and compassion.
Some wishes are for pets or toys, others are for love, respect and acceptance, and yet others wish to see family members who have passed away. There are wishes to adopt all of the cats in town, play in the NFL and become rich, to have gas and food be less expensive, to get along with siblings, and even to have dinosaurs be alive again.
“The book ‘Wishtree’ inspired me to put up a wish tree for everyone – students and staff – to make wishes on,” said Kretser. “Wish trees are typically done in May. We provided wish tags in the main office and posted information about the wish tree on the office windows near the tree, and the wishes have been coming in.
“We hope all will be inspired to add wishes to our school tree.”
District residents approve proposed budget and propositions, elect 2 to Board of Education
Fort Plain Central School District residents approved a proposed $22,520,000 budget for the 2022-23 school year by a vote of 109 to 30 on May 17, 2022.
They also approved propositions to:
- Purchase four school vehicles at a maximum cost of $468,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs. – Approved by a vote of 111 to 28
- Increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund from $5,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $10,000,000. – Approved by a vote of 93 to 46
- Establish a new Repair Reserve Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, with a probable term of ten (10) years, for the purpose of financing the repair of various school district buildings, facilities, sites and equipment, to be funded from the district’s unappropriated fund balance and future budget surpluses. – Approved by a vote of 114 to 23
- Undertake an energy performance/savings project to allow the district to maximize state building aid, at an estimated maximum cost of $5,000,000 that would be covered by long-term energy cost savings achieved by the implementation of energy conservation measures.- Approved by a vote of 118 to 21
Voters also elected Kaitlyn Webb (93 votes) and Benjamin Trumbull (30 write-in votes) to the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
The 2022-23 budget preserves the district’s academic programming and services to meet student needs. It includes a 2.95% spending increase and a 1.44% tax levy increase.
“The district’s goal was to propose a responsible budget that supports high quality educational programs and services for our students,” said Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.
Detailed information is posted on the budget webpage.
Mr. A’s 10 Book Pizza Challenge creates an appetite for reading
Many things compete for our time and attention in today’s fast-paced world, yet one of the oldest forms of expression – books – can ignite the imagination, provide a unique experience for each person and open doors to unexplored worlds.
Back in September, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School teacher Ted Arndt challenged his students to read at least 10 books during the course of the school year and write a report about each one.
“I promised they would be rewarded with a pizza party if they accomplished this difficult task,” Arndt said. “Well, last week, they completed their tenth book, ‘Freak the Mighty,’ by Rodman Philbrick. Examples of other titles include John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Snitch,’ by Norah McClintock.
“The students’ collective work ethic during this year has been outstanding, and they are very proud of their reading accomplishments. I couldn’t be happier with them or their effort.”
The students will enjoy their Pizza Challenge party on May 13. But that’s not all that they and their teacher have to celebrate. “They are so excited that they are committed to reading an eleventh book before the year ends!” Arndt said. “They’re already deeply into it.”
Congratulations to our latest 7th grade Most Valuable Students
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School’s 7th Grade Team has announced the Most Valuable Students for February, March and April 2022. Congratulations to Alexis Palmeri, Kala Clapper and Trinity Belliveau, respectively.
Most Valuable Student is a monthly award that was developed for students who are caught “doing their job.” According to teacher Dale Smith, “Students who most demonstrate characteristics in one or more of the following categories will receive a Most Valuable Student award for the month:
- Responsibility/accountability
- Kindness
- Academics
- Good citizenship
- School pride
- Perseverance
- Self-control
- Helpful to peers/teachers, and
- Accepting of new challenges.”
Each monthly winner gets a Medal and Certificate congratulating them on their achievement.
Congratulations to the most recent Most Valuable Students:
February: Alexis Palmeri
March: Kala Clapper
April: Trinity Belliveau
Talia Narzymski pens winning essay
Senior Talia Narzymski won first place in the Frank S. Rice Memorial Family Life Contest sponsored by the Yahnundasis Bodies Valley Of Utica with her essay entitled, “The Positive Place the Pandemic Put Me In.” She was recognized at a dinner on Friday, May 6, 2022, at the Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro, where she read her essay and received a $250award. Congratulations Talia!
FPHS names Class of 2022 top 10 students
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School has named the top 10 students of the Class of 2022.
Congratulations to the following seniors:
1. Robert Jordan, Valedictorian
2. Erin Crouse, Salutatorian
3. Sarah Florian
4. Talia Narzymski
5. Emma Oldick
6. Levi Thomas
7. Seth Rivkowich
8. Hailey Hogan
9. Keagen Ford
10. Estee Smith