Category: District News
Students teach students about proper dental care
From two college students to a roomful of younger learners, good dental care was the lesson of the day on March 2 at Harry Hoag School.
The children learned how to take care of their teeth from guest speaker Danielle Alkinburgh, who visited Michelle Searles’ class, where her son is a student.
Danielle, who is studying to be a dental hygienist, was accompanied by co-presenter and fellow HVCC student Katelyn Roser, and they provided an interactive oral hygiene presentation to the children as part of their dental hygiene coursework.
“Danielle and Katelyn planned some fun, hands-on experiences for the kids, including an activity for brushing (painting) the mouth on paper with a toothbrush for two minutes, and using mega blocks with playdough in between the spaces to simulate flossing for two minutes,” Michelle Searles said. “Danielle’s son is very proud of his mom, and the students enjoyed a great learning experience!”
Mask mandate and COVID-19 protocols update
March 2, 2022
Dear Fort Plain Central School Community,
As you are aware, the statewide universal mask mandate for schools was lifted as of today, March 2, 2022. This means that the majority of students, staff and school visitors are no longer required to wear a mask in our school buildings or school buses. Mask wearing, however, continues to be optional for everyone.
As you also know, health and safety guidance from the state and local health departments related to COVID-19 continues to evolve. While the latest state guidance removes the mask requirement, the following health and safety protocols remain in place:
- Regardless of vaccination status, if a student tests positive for COVID-19 they must isolate for a full five days. Students may return to school after day five if they are asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving. For days 6-10 following a positive test, students are required to wear a mask in school, including on the school bus.
- If a student has been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, it is highly recommended they wear a mask for a full 10 days following that exposure.
- State and local health officials continue to recommend testing for COVID-19 following a possible exposure. COVID-19 tests are available at school to anyone who wants one. If you need a test, please contact Keri Constable, LPN, at 518-993-4000.
- Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home from school, regardless of vaccination status or recent infection, until tested and/or isolate for five days. If your student has symptoms and you aren’t sure what to do, or if you need a COVID-19 test kit, contact Keri Constable, LPN, at 518-993-4000.
We remain committed to keeping our students in school, while providing a safe learning environment for all. We will continue to follow a tiered mitigation strategy to prevent the spread of illness in our schools and on our buses. This includes enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures and improved ventilation, in addition to providing free at-home COVID-19 testing kits to our families and staff.
We will also continue our due diligence with regard to notifying impacted staff and families if we learn about a positive case. In some situations, this will involve a general notification alerting staff and families that there was a positive case in a particular class or school. In other cases, the identification of close contacts may be warranted. In these cases, we will provide the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19 testing, quarantine and isolation.
We will continue to work with our local health department as we move forward to follow the metrics as they relate to cases, infection rates and hospitalizations, and we will keep you updated as information is shared.
I thank you again for your patience, resolve and commitment to ensuring that we followed the plan and in turn, made sure people were safe.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent
Boys basketball team wins varsity sectionals, to compete for Class C title
Our boys basketball team won last night’s varsity sectional competition vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo by a score of 72-56 in the Section 2 Class C semifinals at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, with standout performances turned in by many a player.
The team moves on to play Maple Hill for the Class C championship on Friday, March 4 at 5 p.m. at the Cool Insuring Arena. Tickets are available at the arena. The game also will be livestreamed on the NFHS subscription service.
Fort Plain last won the Class C championship in 2001. The Hilltoppers’ expert playing has attracted the attention of local media, including the Daily Gazette:
Go Hilltoppers!
Harry Hoag students enjoy learning a lifetime sport
Michael Meier’s and Mark Hitchcock’s physical education classes at Harry Hoag School had a great time learning how to snowshoe just before their winter break, a fun outdoor activity they can enjoy for years to come.
“Late this past fall, we were lucky to be able to place an order for snowshoes for Harry Hoag,” Meier said. “Just before February break, we received the order and quickly took advantage of the snow still left on the ground. Our second through sixth grade students took to the fields behind the school and learned a valuable lifetime skill that promotes outdoor health and fitness.
“The students gave the new snow shoes a try during our phys ed classes and overall, had a great time!”
View more photos in our Facebook album.
FPHS Department Spotlight: Math
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students have many opportunities to learn and grow through our many course offerings. Our Department Spotlight provides an insider’s view of these experiences.
This week, we are spotlighting the Math department at FPHS. Enjoy “The Maze of Mathematics” video below as you learn a bit about the coursework and opportunities provided to our students.
Masks are optional starting Wednesday
February 27, 2022
Dear Fort Plain Central School Community,
At 2 p.m. today, Governor Hochul held a press conference regarding the state mask mandate. She said that as of March 2, the mandate will be lifted. Masks will be optional starting Wednesday.
As we gather additional information from the state, we will send out a letter to everyone making sure we have all of the details. We will continue to work with the local health department as we move forward to follow the metrics as they relate to cases, infection rates and hospitalizations.
As we all know, this has been a long journey, and I would like to personally thank everyone for their patience, resolve and commitment to ensuring that we followed the plan and in turn, made sure people were safe.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent
Superintendents call on governor, health commissioner to act on masks
The following letter has been sent to the Governor and Health Commissioner on behalf of school superintendents in the HFM BOCES region
February 26, 2022
Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12203
Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett,
As you are aware, on Friday, February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for masking, and in particular, updated guidelines for masking in schools.
As you may recall, on January 28, the school superintendents of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery area endorsed a letter written by our colleagues in the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex region entitled “Pathway to Normalcy.” That letter asked for information and metrics to allow our students and staff to have a roadmap to move away from the current masking requirements.
We write you today with a sense of urgency asking you to implement the following measures, before students return from vacation on Monday, February 28:
● In compliance with the new CDC recommendations, remove the mandate for masking for school facilities and on school busses in counties identified by the CDC at low or medium levels of risk.,
● Provide guidance to school districts, parents, and staff about the factors that would trigger the reintroduction of masks, and;
● Provide guidance to school districts on changes to other mitigation layers including social distancing.
Sincerely,
The Superintendents of Schools in the HFM BOCES region:
Richard Ruberti, Greater Amsterdam
Stephen Tomlinson, Broadalbin-Perth
Dr. Nick Fitzgerald, Canajoharie
Michelle Ellis, Edinburg Common
Thomas Ciaccio, Fonda-Fultonville
Jeffery Ziegler, Fort Plain
David Halloran, Gloversville Enlarged
Dr. William Crankshaw, Greater Johnstown
Heather Philo, Lake Pleasant
Christopher Harper, Mayfield
Dr. Leslie Ford, Northville
Richard Rose, Piseco
Adam Heroth, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville
Thomas Sincavage, Wells
Nicole Dettenrieder, Wheelerville
CC:
New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara
New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey
New York State Senator James Tedisco
Laurel Headwell, Fulton County Public Health
Erica Mahoney, Hamilton County Public Health
Sara Boerenko, Montgomery County Public Health
David Ziskin, District Superintendent, HFM BOCES
Forensics and Criminology class hosts SWAT demonstration
Fort Plain High School’s forensics and criminology class hosted SWAT Commander Torrey Sitterly and the Herkimer SWAT team on Friday, Feb. 18, for a demonstration in the high school cafeteria.
“They were gracious enough to bring in some really cool gadgets, like thermal imaging drones and bomb-diffusing robots. Students also were able to try on and touch the very heavy gear that SWAT members use in the line of duty,” said teacher Kevin Bogus.
“Officer James Burns discussed the importance of new technologies in police work and then took a lightweight, half-pound drone on an aerial spin for the students to see.
“Officer Robert Holt demonstrated the accuracy of his robot that uses four cameras to see by picking up a water bottle off a table with relative ease. It was a very fun experience.”
Commander Sitterly is a Fort Plain alumnus.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Bogus and their class thank the Herkimer SWAT team for visiting Fort Plain and teaching them so much.
FPHS Department Spotlight: Social Studies
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students have many opportunities to learn and grow through our many course offerings. Our Department Spotlight provides an insider’s view of these experiences.
This week, we are spotlighting the Social Studies department at FPHS. Enjoy the video below as you learn a bit about the coursework and opportunities provided to our students.
Ethan Kilmartin achieves rank of Eagle Scout
Friendship, leadership and experiencing the outdoors: all are benefits of achieving the highest rank in scouting, according to Eagle Scout Ethan Kilmartin. Ethan, a Fort Plain High School junior, officially became an Eagle Scout in December, 2021, capping more than 125 hours of planning, paperwork and hands-on community service that began during the summer of 2019.
For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan designed, built and installed new recycling bins in Haslett Park in Fort Plain and reconstructed the park’s flower bed framing with upgraded timbers. “I knew I wanted to build the recycling bins since I was in Cub Scouts,” Ethan said. “I saw a need for bigger bins and better placement in the park. For the flower beds, I tore out the old timbers and built a new frame on-site, with pressure-treated timbers. It’s a good addition to the park and looks better.”
Ethan will have been active in scouting for six years as of March, 2022, and is a member of Canajoharie Troop 5081. One of Ethan’s favorite troop activities is summer camping at Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation in Brant Lake, NY, and he speaks highly of the overall scouting experience. Ethan also enjoys hiking, soccer and “is a big fisherman.” His other hobbies include welding and woodworking.
As for future plans, Ethan is looking at colleges and plans to study environmental science, with a career goal of becoming a state environmental conservation officer. “It’s interesting, it’s not at a desk and I excel in the sciences,” he said. “I’m very outdoors-oriented.”
Congratulations Ethan!
Ethan and friends work in his grandfather’s shop in 2019
Above and below: Recycling bins built by Ethan for Haslett Park
