Category: District News
Glow Day lights up learning excitement
Who said that getting ready for state testing had to be boring?
As children across the state have been preparing for the NYS ELA assessments that will take place this week, the students in Mrs. Amy Bartholomew’s 6th grade English Language Arts classes have been doing the same . . . sort of.
Students spent all last week in her class reading incredibly challenging text passages and then analyzing and answering multiple choice questions. But since she was asking for so much effort and focus from them, Mrs. Bartholomew decided to reward her students and their hard work by making the experience as fun as possible.
They call these days “Glow Day,” and students spend their ELA class in complete darkness with blacklights, glowsticks, glow in the dark balloons, and highlighters to light their way as they work. When students completed test questions accurately, they were allowed to play glow-in-the-dark bowling, ring toss, tic-tac-toe, and basketball as a reward.
It is one of the most fun weeks in 6th grade ELA and students were actually THANKING her for their week of test prep! Mrs. Bartholomew shared that she is incredibly proud of her 6th graders and all of the hard work they’ve put in this past week, as well as throughout this entire school year.
Seth Wintermute, Patti Jarabek honored with CASDA Scholars Recognition awards
Fort Plain senior Seth Wintermute and Spanish teacher Patti Jarabek have been honored with 2021 Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) Scholars Recognition awards.
Seth was nominated for the award by Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School counselor Colleen Cushing. He was then asked to nominate a teacher and selected Mrs. Jarabek.
A CASDA website article about the awards said this about Seth’s nomination: “Seth is an outstanding student who will be attending Syracuse University in the fall. A recipient of Syracuse’s Leadership Scholars Award, Seth will be studying Political Philosophy and Political Science.
“While a student at Fort Plain, Seth participated in Track and Field and Cross Country, and held leadership roles on both teams. Seth received the Rensselaer Medal, The Julia Innella Memorial Award, and the Bausch and Lomb Science Award.”
About Patti Jarabek, CASDA said, “Mrs. Jarabek has been teaching Spanish for the Fort Plain Central School District for 29 years, influencing the lives of hundreds of students. Seth chose to recognize Mrs. Jarabek as the teacher that has had the most significant influence on his education because, in his words, ‘her class and guidance has helped me immensely through my career in high school and I would like the opportunity to thank her for that.’”
Congratulations Seth and Mrs. Jarabek!
Senior’s graphic project educates classmates about careers
A Fort Plain High School senior’s creative and information-packed graphic display project is serving as a resource to educate fellow students about more than a dozen career clusters and the job opportunities they offer.
Justin Schumacher, a student in the high school’s work-based learning program, produced the educational graphics as part of his work-based learning project as a teaching assistant.
“Justin used skills learned in school and applied them to a work setting,” teacher Wendy Stokna said. “His focus on quality work and patience was a top priority in this experience.”
The graphics are displayed in Mrs. Stokna’s classroom to remind all students about the 16 career clusters and types of work that each contains. Justin researched the careers using the O*Net resource and decided on the career image that he thought would best represent each cluster.
“In this experience,” Mrs. Stokna said, “he learned about editing and proofing his work to produce the best result. He has a natural talent for using technology and remembering facts that served him well throughout this learning experience.”
Thank you Fort Plain True Value!
Fort Plain True Value has honored their community’s educators, staff and students by donating to Fort Plain Central School several boxes and bottles of health and safety supplies, including hand sanitizer, germicidal cleaner, masks, a spray bottle, pumps and blue painter’s tape for marking social distancing.
Fort Plain True Value owners Tanya and Shawn Kilmartin presented the donation to Matt Hearn of Fort Plain Central School at their store on Wednesday morning, April 21. The donated items took up a good portion of the district’s pickup truck bed and will be used to help keep students, staff and visitors safe and healthy.
The Kilmartins made the donation as part of the True Value Educational Heroes Safety Campaign. Last fall, they donated items including soap and masks to Fort Plain Central School.
Board adopts proposed $21.8 million budget with no tax levy increase
The Fort Plain Board of Education adopted a proposed $21,875,000 budget for the 2021-22 school year at their April 14 meeting. The proposed budget would maintain all academic programming with no increase in the tax levy.
The proposed budget is an increase of $500,000, or 2.34%, over the current-year budget, but does not raise the tax levy, as funds would be allocated from increased state aid to cover school faculty and staffing costs, as well as adding offerings such as summer and after-school enrichment.
When district residents vote on the proposed budget on May 18, they will also consider a referendum authorizing the district to acquire school vehicles at a maximum cost of $275,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund. The purchase would not have an impact on the tax levy, and would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.
Voters will also elect two members of the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, to succeed Mary Beth Hudyncia and Kimberly Keane, whose terms expire on June 30, 2021. Petitions to run for the Board can be picked up at the District Office and must be returned by April 19.
“Our goal is to always put forward a responsible budget that maintains high quality programming. This year, we can achieve this with zero impact on the tax levy,” Superintendent John Bishop said.
Student-crafted Kachina Masks display learning, creativity
While some masks obscure things, those crafted by students in Patrick Hanifin’s 5th grade social studies class at Harry Hoag School provide a big, bright display – of learning, knowledge and creativity.
The students recently studied the Pueblo people. Then, each of the students created a Kachina Mask.
“The Hopi tribe used Kachina Masks in dance ceremonies to become the spirit their mask represents,” Mr. Hanifin said. “The students were very creative with their mask designs.”
He added, “The Hopi, native to Arizona, look to the Kachina spirits to renew the land each year and guarantee water for another season. Ceremonies honoring the Kachina take place from the winter solstice until July.”
Now live online: Fort Plain-Canajoharie Drama Club presents “On Broadway: Directors’ Choice!”
UPDATES April 6: Act 2 link updated, 2:21 p.m.
April 5: Links to view online – Act 1 link updated 4:50 p.m.:
- Act 1:
https://youtu.be/HKjVtsIiLb8 - Act 2:
https://youtu.be/o0ca9kEWNNA
The Fort Plain-Canajoharie Drama Club is proud to announce an online performance of “On Broadway: Directors’ Choice!” This musical review will include 21 songs from famous Broadway shows. The production includes full costumes, lights, sound and sets. Meet the cast.
Performances will include numbers from Broadway favorites such as “RENT,” “Chicago,” “Spring Awakening,” “A Chorus Line,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “Lion King,” “Wicked,” “West Side Story,” “Into the Woods,” and more. The production will also include four songs from “Les Miserables,” which the drama club was scheduled to perform during the spring of 2020 and had to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This year’s show features eight solo songs, performed by Sarah Paradiso, Faith Clark, Tori Rocas, Howie Kelley, Macenzie (Max) Richtmyer, Chiarra Morris, Michael Palmeri and Caleigh Bartholomew. Other featured soloists include Dawson Sweet, Avery Merchant, Alex Gyurik and Chad Rogers. Completing the ensemble are Anthony Paradiso, Hannah Briggs, Matthew Travis, Emery Frew, Grace McFee, Lily Lapi, Jayden Bentz, and Jasmine Lapi. There will be special cameos by Mr. Will Ryan, Mrs. Lauri Broady and recent Canajoharie graduate Vicente Nunez.
The production is directed by Mr. Will Ryan and Mrs. Lauri Broady, with musical direction by Mrs. Norma Bowley. Technical direction is provided by Mr. Mike Broady and costuming is by Mrs. Lisa Hill and Miss Autumn Dodson. Student crew includes Noah Ehle on sound, Matthew Ehle and Clayton Welch on lights, and Tucker Jones and Anthony Paradiso on stage crew.
“On Broadway: Director’s Choice” will be taped for home viewing and posted on the YouTube channels of both school districts. The performance will be available beginning on April 5.
For more show details, please visit the Drama Club website.
More photos are posted in our Facebook album.
FPHS names students of the month
Six Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School students have been named Student of the Month in honor of their accomplishments. They received certificates on March 31.
Congratulations to:
- 7th Grade- McKenna Karker
- 8th Grade- Hannah French
- 9th Grade- Matthew Paul
- 10th Grade- Ethan Kilmartin
- 11th Grade- Talia Narzymski
- 12th Grade- Sarah Paradiso
The students were nominated by their teachers for the award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in academics, athletics, character, community service, hard work, kindness, leadership, positive attitude, and responsibility.
Above from left: McKenna Karker, Hannah French, Matthew Paul
Above from left, Talia Narzymski and Sarah Paradiso
Not pictured: Ethan Kilmartin
Spring sports sign-up
The spring sports season is scheduled for April 25, 2021 to June 15, 2021, as of now.
Students: Please fill out the following form to indicate your interest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfU2-8EyGyr8tBNQ3oCLItuTD4saqYdUqMge11KYo1EkkAKdw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628
Sports physicals are required prior to first practice. Check with the nurse to see if you are approved to play.
Petitions to seek Board of Education seats are due by April 19, 5 p.m.
A nominating petition to seek one of the two available seats on the Fort Plain Central School Board of Education can be picked up from District Clerk Rebecca J. Smith in the District Office at 25 High Street during school hours.
The seats that are currently held by Mary Beth Hudyncia and Kimberly Keane are expiring June 30, 2021.
The petitions, with at least 25 signatures, are due back to the District Clerk on April 19 by 5 p.m.
The district election is scheduled for May 18.