Category: Harry Hoag News
Principal Jodi Coppolo’s 2023 – 24 Pre-K Welcome Letter
August 2023
Welcome Families!
Harry Hoag is very excited to welcome your children as members of our Prekindergarten Program! Our program aims to support the students to develop school readiness skills. Your child will be in an environment that is supportive, nurturing and rich in hands-on learning opportunities.
Preparing your child for a successful start to school:
1. Please be sure to establish a reasonable bedtime routine the last week of August.
2. Establish a place where he/she can be responsible to store a backpack daily.
3. Develop a routine to check for notes, papers, and communications daily.
The first day of school for the Prekindergarten Program is Thursday, September 7, 2023.
We will host a Prekindergarten Visitation Day on September 6, 2023. The visitation is meant to be a casual experience and typically lasts about 15 minutes. During the visitation, students can drop off their school supplies, view the classroom and meet the teacher.
Students with last names beginning with the letters A-K are invited to visit anytime between 9-9:30 a.m. Students with last names beginning with the letters L-Z are invited to visit anytime from 9:30-10 a.m.
Harry Hoag School Day
7:30 -7:40 a.m. — Bus drop off
7:30 -7:40 a.m. — Parent drop off and walkers are welcome
7:50 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Instructional day
2:30 p.m. — Bus dismissal only
2:35 p.m. — Parent pick up begins
Again this year, parents will be asked to stay in their vehicles. A traffic enforcer will manage traffic flow through the bus loop to the main entry. If you are early for Drop Off or Parent Pick Up, please park in Wiles Park.
For Parent Drop Off and Pick Up, please remain in your car. A staff member will greet you at both times. If you pick up your child on foot, please also report to the Main Entry.
Transportation to and from school will be provided by the school bus for any students who are 4 years of age. If your child begins the school year as a 3 year old, he/she must be transported by an adult until he/she comes of age to be eligible to ride the bus per New York State Law.
Please be sure to watch the website (fortplain.org) for information related to safety and wellness procedures for the upcoming school year.
Supply List
Please label personal items with your child’s name such as the clothes, blanket and backpack.
- Backpack
- Blanket
- Change of clothes
- Optional items to donate to the classroom: Kleenex, gallon Ziploc bags and paper towels, glue sticks, folder.
I look forward to meeting our youngest learners soon! Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Proud to be your principal,
Jodi Coppolo
Harry Hoag Principal Jodi Coppolo’s 2023 – 24 Welcome Letter
Greetings Families of Harry Hoag Elementary,
It is that time of year, where we begin to think about the start of a new school year! I would like to welcome new and returning families back to Harry Hoag. Let’s gear up to have a blast this school year. We look forward to providing our students with an enriching experience learning new things.
Students will be provided with the support they need to help them reach their fullest potential.
A ParentSquare was sent out a few weeks ago regarding the review of our policies. Attached was an electronic signature link, this would allow you to sign necessary forms online. Please read these over and complete the signature portion as soon as possible. Below is information regarding procedure here at Harry Hoag.
Harry Hoag School Day
- 7:30-7:40 a.m. — Bus drop off only
- 7:30-7:40 a.m. — Parent drop off and walkers are welcome
- 7:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Instructional day
- 2:30 p.m. — Bus dismissal only
- 2:35 p.m. — Parent pick up begins
Fifth and Sixth Grade
Fifth and sixth grades at Harry Hoag Elementary use a departmentalized model to provide instruction. Homeroom groups travel to different classrooms to receive instruction in the core subjects each school day.
The following welcome letters from Harry Hoag Elementary School Principal Jodi Coppolo include grade-level information for fifth and sixth grade:
View the Fifth Grade Welcome Letter from Principal Coppolo
View the Sixth Grade Welcome Letter from Principal Coppolo
Use of School Transportation
Please be sure to review the Ride with Pride and Code of Conduct documents with your children before the first day of school.
Self -Transportation
A traffic enforcer will manage traffic flow through the bus loop to the main entry. If you are early for Drop Off or Parent Pick Up, please park in Wiles Park. For Parent Drop Off and Pick Up, please remain in your car. A staff member will greet you at both times. If you pick up your child on foot, please report to the Main Entry.
Technology
Students in PK – Kindergarten will be offered an iPad to use for the school year. Students in Grades 1-6 will be offered a Chromebook to use for the school year. Older students will be able to bring their devices to and from school per their teacher’s directions. Caregivers and students (Gr 1 and above) will be asked to sign a Technology User Agreement.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Teachers will escort Parent Pick Up students to the library. All others will be escorted to the buses. After the buses depart, Parent Pick Up will begin.
We kindly request that you update any forms related to your child’s residency and/or health needs. A demographics form has been mailed out. We appreciate any effort to return updated forms to the Main Office as soon as possible, upon students returning in September.
To stay abreast of all that is taking place at Harry Hoag, please be sure to have an updated cell phone number and email address to receive information via our ParentSquare messaging system. Also, remember to visit our website and social media platforms regularly for current news and
upcoming events.
I am honored to continue to serve as the building principal. It is wonderful to be a part of a community where students, teachers, and families care for each other and strive to build meaningful relationships that support academic and social-emotional growth.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel to reach me in the Main Office at (518) 993-4000 ext. 3059 or via email at jodi.coppolo@fortplain.org.
Hilltoppers—let’s make it a fantastic year!
Jodi Coppolo
Learning and growing this summer
Harry Hoag School is buzzing with activity during Summer Math and Literacy Camp, which offers grades K-5 learners lots of opportunities to learn and grow while reinforcing and building upon skills gained during the school year.
Campers engage in literacy and math activities that deepen their understanding of core grade-level concepts. Science, math, English, technology and more come to life through educational – and fun – days at camp. Social skills grow, friendships are formed, and learning earns a top spot during school vacation.
The free camp meets mornings in July and August, with meals provided, and many students also sign up to spend the afternoon in the Fort Plain Summer Recreation Program, also located at Harry Hoag School. There’s a lot to do at our school!
Kindergarten and 1st grade Math & Literacy Campers observing, experiencing and learning hands-on.
Summer STEM Campers: When you ask Google Translate to speak your name in another language.
Summer Math & Literacy Campers play The Prime and Composite Game.
4th & 5th grade Summer Campers finish their week with a STEAM activity: making the longest paper chain links from just one piece of paper.
The Fort Plain Summer Recreation program, also based at Harry Hoag School, offers arts and craft activities such as decorating your own backpack.
View more photos in our Facebook album.
Topper Pride! 2022-23 school year compilation video
Hilltopper pride is strong in Fort Plain. Our Topper Pride video series explores the many reasons why members of the Fort Plain school community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators, are proud of their experiences, knowledge and friendships gained here.
View a compilation of our first year’s videos below.
If you would like to be featured in a Topper Pride video, please email communications@fortplain.org. #TopperPride!
Topper Pride: 2022-23 School Year compilation video
Fort Plain honors the memory of Becky Carpenter
Fort Plain Central School District honors the memory of long-time food services team member and Fort Plain resident Rebecca (Becky) Carpenter, who passed away on July 18.
“Becky worked in our kitchens for 20 years and was a wonderful woman and a friend to all,” said FPCSD School Nutrition Director Lauri Broady. “She truly will be missed by her work family and friends.”
FPCSD remembers Becky fondly and sends condolences to her family, friends and all whose lives she touched.
Visit this link for Becky’s obituary, including calling hours and funeral arrangements.
FPCSD is hiring cleaners, aides & regular run bus drivers
Good schools make good communities – and are great places to work! Join our awesome team!
Fort Plain Central School District is hiring:
- Cleaners
- Aides
- Regular Run Bus Drivers
Interested? Call the district office at (518) 993-4000.
Applications are being accepted for our Pre-K program
Fort Plain CSD is currently accepting applications for Pre-Kindergarten.
Students must be residents of Fort Plain Central School District and turn 4 years old on or before December 1 in order to be eligible.
The district did not conduct a lottery for placement today because current interest has not exceeded the Pre-K enrollment capacity.
Please contact Jen Weaver at jennifer.weaver@fortplain.org to register your child.
Harnessing solar and wind energy to cook and race
Meagan Heiser’s fourth grade students at Harry Hoag School recently learned about using the sun’s energy by creating a solar oven and using it to roast s’mores.
“We also learned about energy in motion by creating balloon-powered cars and raced them down the hallway,” Heiser said.
Students have been involved in lots of innovative learning projects this year in our schools.
Free summer meals for all students in our community
Free breakfast and lunch will be available for students through age 18 Mondays through Thursdays this summer at Fort Plain schools.
Meals will be available from June 28 through Aug. 10 at Harry Hoag Elementary School, and from July 10 through Aug. 3 at Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School.
Both sites are open to all area children and teens.
Breakfast will be available at Harry Hoag from 7:45-9:15 a.m., and at FPHS from 7:30-9 a.m.
Lunch will be available at Harry Hoag and FPHS from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Join us for nutritious and free meals. Just stop in!
To view more USDA free summer meal sites, visit
https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
[posted 6/12/23; reposted 6/23/23]
6th grade students scope out FPHS
Fort Plain’s 6th grade students enjoyed a preview of their upcoming junior/senior high school days when they toured and explored FPHS on June 14. Their insider’s view came with lunch and a Q&A session with upperclassmen.
Grades 7-9 school counselor Mrs. Kayla Mahoney coordinated the event to support the students’ transition to junior high school in the fall. Grades 10-12 school counselor Elliott Cohen also guided students at the event.
Eleventh grade students volunteered as tour guides and panel participants. Tour stops included each 7th grade core classroom as well as the cafeteria, auditorium, library, gym and various offices in the high school.
“The students also practiced what their lunchtime routine would be like and enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the high school cafeteria staff,” Mahoney said.
“In the auditorium, students heard from Mr. Bertram, athletic director, about opportunities in athletics at the 7th grade level. Then, they had the opportunity to ask questions about 7th grade and the junior/senior high school to the panel of juniors.”
Welcome to FPHS, rising seventh graders!
