Category: District News
STEM isn’t scary, but it can trap a monster
They read, they planned, they designed and they crafted: Fort Plain first graders used lots of their STEM skills to create monster traps just in time for Halloween.
Led by teachers Caitlin Baker, Ashley Bargstedt, Stephanie Boyer and Ashley Searles, the classes first read the stories “Monster Trouble” and “How to Catch a Monster.”
“Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, the students devised a plan for their project,” Baker said. “We talked about how engineers make up a plan before they invent something, and then follow through with testing out lots of different materials. There were no rules except to share and try to trap the monsters. We talked about things that would not work to trap the monsters.”
On Wednesday and Thursday, the first grade classrooms were a whirlwind of creative activity as the students worked on their projects. Scissors snipped and glue flowed as they transformed boxes and paper, pipe cleaners and cotton, tape and tongue depressors into detailed monster traps bedecked with glitter, decals, ribbons, googly eyes and original artwork.
On Friday, Oct. 29, the traps will go home for a real Halloween road test.
Building a monster trap taps into STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills, plus reading and communicating, sharing and problem-solving, creating and presenting, and working as a team.
Sixth graders present anti-bullying play for their younger peers
In honor of October as Anti-Bullying Month, sixth grade students at Harry Hoag School performed the play “Cars in Conflict or Is It Bullying” for the Oct. 22, 2021, Morning Program.
“Under the direction of School Counselor Mrs. Macherone, the older students did a beautiful job of teaching their younger peers about bullying behaviors and what to do when faced with those situations,” said Principal Lauren Crisman. “We are very proud of our sixth graders for promoting a positive school culture.”
View more photos on the Fort Plain Facebook page.
Congratulations 7th grade Most Valuable Students
Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School’s 7th Grade Team has developed a monthly award 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.”
September 2021’s award winner is Faith Narzymski. October 2021’s award winner is Aubry Brant. Congratulations!
Faith Narzymski
Aubry Brant
Fort Plain begins superintendent search
October 25, 2021
Dear Community:
The Fort Plain Central School District will launch its search for a new and highly qualified superintendent to guide our students and staff into the future. To begin this process, the Fort Plain Board of Education has tapped into the resources and expertise of HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin. HFM BOCES provides superintendent recruitment services to all of its component districts.
The district will work with HFM BOCES to develop and distribute a job vacancy announcement and application in its national search for the best and most suitable superintendent candidates. The district will also work with HFM BOCES to create a recruitment brochure that highlights the many positive attributes of our district, including its rich history and exceptional opportunities for students.
Overall, we expect this search to take approximately six months, with the goal of conducting final interviews in April and having the new candidate begin his/her post on or about July 1.
The BOE feels that it is critical to obtain community input about the desired characteristics of the next superintendent as well as the challenges and opportunities that they will encounter. We are committed to seeking input from all stakeholder groups as we move forward with the search as we value the importance of community involvement to influence the kind of leader we look for as we approach the interview process and the ultimate selection of a new superintendent.
In the coming months, we will be dedicating a page on our website to the superintendent search process. This will include a timeline, process for community/stakeholder involvement, and selection process.
Thank you for your time, input and support as we embark on this important task.
Sincerely,
Marybeth Hudyncia
President, Fort Plain Board of Education
Superintendent Search
Lauren Crisman appointed Superintendent of Schools
May 5, 2022
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education, at their May 4, 2022, meeting, appointed Lauren Crisman to the position of Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2022, contingent upon successful contract negotiations.
Crisman, who has been the principal of the Harry Hoag Elementary School since 2016, will replace current Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.
“We cast a wide net during the search process to ensure we found the best fit possible for Fort Plain,” Board of Education President Mary Beth Hudyncia said. “The ideal candidate was already here in our district. As our elementary principal, Lauren Crisman has served the district and the community exceptionally well, and we look forward to her leadership as superintendent.”
“It is an honor to be offered the opportunity to serve as the superintendent of schools for Fort Plain Central School District. I have enjoyed being a part of so many Hilltopper traditions for the past six years while serving as the elementary principal, and I am deeply proud of our school community,” Crisman said.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the board, faculty and staff, students and families to ensure that each student reaches their fullest potential. We will be a school district where success is experienced often and celebrated frequently. I thank everyone for the support that I’ve been given thus far and for letting me be a part of your children’s lives. I am excited to continue supporting the development of our district as we plan for the infinite possibilities of the future in education.”
Before coming to Fort Plain, Crisman served as the elementary principal and K-12 curriculum coordinator in the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School for five years. Also at Cherry Valley-Springfield, Crisman worked as an English Language Arts coordinator, reading coach and elementary teacher. She also has teaching experience at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Little Falls, and North Colonie. In addition to her duties as the Harry Hoag principal, Crisman has been serving as a student teacher supervisor at the State University of New York at Oneonta for the last three years.
Crisman has a bachelor’s in Elementary Education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s in Literacy from SUNY Albany. She also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Cortland.
Superintendent Search Listening Session slated; position is posted for applications due by Feb. 21
Jan. 24, 2022
Fort Plain families and community members are invited to participate in a Community Listening Session on Wednesday, Feb. 2, to share feedback concerning the search for a new Superintendent of Schools.
Participants will be asked to provide input regarding the characteristics and attributes desired of the next superintendent and what opportunities and challenges they will face. The meeting will be held in a small-group format with sessions scheduled every 20 minutes beginning at 4 p.m. Advance registration is required. Call Becky Smith at 518-993-4000, ext. #1000 for more information and to sign up for a time slot.
The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking a new district leader to replace Interim Superintendent of Schools Jeffery Ziegler.
The position is now posted on several education job boards with professional organizations including the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS), the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and OLAS, the On-line Application System for Educators. The posting can also be found at: http://www.hfmboces.org/FortPlainSearch.
The application deadline is Feb. 21. The Board of Education’s goal is to have the next superintendent in place by July 2022.
Superintendent search launched
[updated Jan. 20, 2022]
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education has officially launched the search for a new superintendent of schools.
The position is now posted on several education job boards with professional organizations including the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS), the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and OLAS, the On-line Application System for Educators. The posting can also be found at: http://www.hfmboces.org/FortPlainSearch.
HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin is working with the Fort Plain Board of Education as a consultant during the search process. As part of their statutory duties, BOCES district superintendents may be asked by component school boards to act as consultants during superintendent searches. Dr. Ziskin will work with the board to create recruitment material and assist with the development of selection criteria and a process for interviews.
The deadline to apply for the position is Feb. 21, 2022. The Board of Education’s goal is to have the next superintendent in place by July 2022.
The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking a new district leader to replace Interim Superintendent of Schools Jeffery Ziegler.
Community survey launched for Fort Plain superintendent search
[updated Jan. 14, 2022]
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education is seeking public input through an online survey to help inform the upcoming search for a new superintendent of schools.
The brief, anonymous survey seeks feedback regarding the characteristics and personal attributes desired of the next superintendent and what opportunities and challenges they will face. The survey was open until Jan. 12 and was accessible via a link previously posted on this webpage and shared via ParentSquare.
Thank you to all who took the time to complete the survey. Stakeholder focus groups are also being tapped for their input.
The Fort Plain Board of Education has selected HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin to serve as a consultant during the search process.
As part of their statutory duties, BOCES district superintendents may be asked by component school boards to act as consultants during superintendent searches. Dr. Ziskin will work with the board to create recruitment material, assist with the development of selection criteria and a process for interviews. He will serve as the search consultant at no charge.
Following the community survey, BOCES will begin advertising the position in in mid-January with interviews expected to begin in March. The Board of Education’s goal is to have the next superintendent start work by the start of the 2022-23 school year.
The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking a new district leader to replace Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.
Oct. 25, 2021 Message from Board of Education President Mary Beth Hudyncia
Dear Community:
The Fort Plain Central School District will launch its search for a new and highly qualified superintendent to guide our students and staff into the future. To begin this process, the Fort Plain Board of Education has tapped into the resources and expertise of HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin. HFM BOCES provides superintendent recruitment services to all of its component districts.
The district will work with HFM BOCES to develop and distribute a job vacancy announcement and application in its national search for the best and most suitable superintendent candidates. The district will also work with HFM BOCES to create a recruitment brochure that highlights the many positive attributes of our district, including its rich history and exceptional opportunities for students.
Overall, we expect this search to take approximately six months, with the goal of conducting final interviews in April and having the new candidate begin his/her post on or about July 1.
The BOE feels that it is critical to obtain community input about the desired characteristics of the next superintendent as well as the challenges and opportunities that they will encounter. We are committed to seeking input from all stakeholder groups as we move forward with the search as we value the importance of community involvement to influence the kind of leader we look for as we approach the interview process and the ultimate selection of a new superintendent.
In the coming months, we will be dedicating this webpage to the superintendent search process. We will be including a timeline, process for community/stakeholder involvement, and selection process.
Thank you for your time, input and support as we embark on this important task.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Hudyncia
President, Fort Plain Board of Education
Students, teacher do 20,636 push-ups for veterans – with more to come
Fort Plain Physical Education teacher Casey Russom is leading all 7-12th grade students in doing 22 push-ups for 22 consecutive school days as part of the 22Challenge, which raises awareness of veteran suicide and supports projects to assist veterans.
They’ve teamed with Fort Plain VFW Commander Tom Ellwood on the challenge, which culminates on Nov. 10, just before Veterans Day. Ellwood sends daily video clips to the students, and he and another veteran will be visiting FPHS.
“The student feedback has been great,” Russom said. “Some students do regular push-ups, some do modified, some do more than 22.” Russom does 22 with every class – and he’s doing great, too, even if he might get a little tired at times!
Their push-ups tally to-date: 20,636!
Students find utopia to be elusive – or impossible
Imagine creating a perfect society where everyone is happy and no one would want to leave. This was the challenge issued by Fort Plain English Language Arts teacher Louise Clute to her 7th grade class, as a pre-reading assignment for the novel, “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry.
“At first, the students thought it would be simple to create a utopia everyone would want to live in,” said Clute, “and then they learned how difficult it actually is. They did an amazing job on their Utopia Project.”
Utopias can quickly deteriorate into dystopian societies full of injustice and suffering, like the one described in “The Giver.”
“A utopia is a perfect place, but it will turn into dystopia, because everybody’s idea of perfect is different,” said Lilly, a student who worked on the project and who had already read the novel on her own. “I’m reading another book about utopias, and it’s pretty cool,” she added. “I like reading books like this.”
“The students worked hard on the project and learned a lot about utopias,” said Clute. “They found that a utopia can’t be maintained, as we are all imperfect, and that societies are not utopian when everything is done for you and no one has to make any of their own decisions.
“I give the students a shout out for a job well done,” she added. “I am very proud of the work they’ve done, and they are equally proud of themselves.”
Students and staff alike can explore the Utopia Project through the students’ hallway display outside high school room 210.
Photo at top and above: Students point to their Utopia Projects, which are displayed outside their classroom.
Ms. Clute and Lilly
Design project pulls many skills
When students in Kreig Heroth’s Technology and Design class at Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School were challenged to design a product to assist individuals with operating a zipper, their project pulled in a lot more skills than the device itself.
The central task was to design and fabricate a product that makes it easier to pull a zipper for individuals affected by arthritis or other factors that could make using a standard zipper difficult. The students created their assistive zipper pulls from wood, wire, and even a magnetic hook and handle design.
Then they went further. Considering their potential customers and their needs, the students named their products, created logos and branding, and designed packaging to hold and market their creations, using recycled computer boxes. A student also crafted a wooden display box for his product.
“They had a lot of creative ideas, not only for their zipper pulls, but for their product packaging and marketing,” Heroth said. “The class is really enjoying this project.”
View our complete photo album on Facebook
Celebrating National Heroes Week with Sergeant Smith and K9 Bud
Harry Hoag Elementary students enjoyed an extra-special morning program on October 8, when they celebrated National Heroes Week. Teacher Ashley Bargstedt introduced Sergeant Smith with K9 Bud to the students. Sergeant Smith then showed them what Bud can do and talked about Bud’s role in police work. Thank you to our local heroes!
Fire Prevention Day teaches important lessons to Harry Hoag students
You are never too young to learn about fire prevention. Thank you to our local Fort Plain firefighters for teaching important lessons to Harry Hoag students on Tuesday, Oct. 5. It was a great day for all, including these Pre-K students.
