Category: Harry Hoag News
Fort Plain grad, published author and microbiologist shares with students
Fort Plain Class of 2011 graduate Chelsea Koch Ross is a microbiologist by day, but at night and in her free time, she writes – and gets published. The author of “Creatures Most Vile,” a novel for young adults, Chelsea recently shared her experiences with fifth and sixth grade students.
Chelsea writes under the pen name Chelsea Lauren. She met with the students at Harry Hoag School to talk about being a writer and having her novel published.
“The students were given the opportunity to ask questions. They were very excited to hear about her book and the experience she had writing it,” said Eileen Kretser, guided reading teaching assistant. “She writes as a hobby, and is a microbiologist with New York State.”
Chelsea has also shared her knowledge and experiences with high school students. Last school year, she visited with English classes at FPHS, including the English 11 Honors class where she once was a student.
After graduating from Fort Plain, Chelsea attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, where she double-majored in biology and chemistry. Chelsea developed her love for writing after taking a college creative writing course.
5k fun for Girls on the Run
Our Girls on the Run team finished their 10-week program with a fun-filled 5K race in Oneonta on Sunday, June 4. It was a beautiful day, and the venue was filled with music, prizes, fun activities and lots of camaraderie.
“It was a day overflowing with girl empowerment!” said Girls on the Run volunteer Meagan Heiser. “We’re looking forward to another exciting season of learning and growing next spring with GOTR. Great job girls! We are so proud of you!”
See how our Girls on the Run program is about much more than miles.
Read about how our team helped others and supported each other.
Girls on the Run is a twice-weekly, afterschool program for 5th and 6th grade students where trained volunteers lead girls through interactive lessons and movement activities, that culminates in a celebratory 5K in June.
A positive learning paws when Cooper comes to campus
Harry Hoag students had a few very special guests at their recent Morning Program. Therapy dog Cooper and Detective PJ and Lieutenant Ryan from the Schenectady Police Department presented to students in the gym and also visited some of their classrooms.
Cooper is a two-year-old labradoodle who was donated to the Schenectady Police Department. He began training as a puppy to become a therapy dog. Cooper provides people with affection, comfort and support. On the job, he helps police officers, community members and children cope with stress, anxiety and other big emotions.
Cooper is nonjudgmental and assists people in recognizing their own fears and issues. He creates a more relaxed environment where both children and adults feel more comfortable sharing their feelings.
A therapy dog has positive effects on a person’s mental and physical health by:
- Lowering heart rate
- Reducing anxiety
- Increasing self-esteem
- Helping regulate emotions and behavior
- Helping form healthy relationships
- Decreasing distractibility
- Improving appropriate tone of voice
- Lowing behavioral, emotional and verbal distress
After working with Detective PJ during the day, Cooper is part of his family at home.
Girls on the Run support others – and each other
Fort Plain’s Girls on the Run team’s theme on Friday, May 19, was supporting others in the community. In view of this theme, they created cheerful and colorful placemats for an area nursing home.
Girls on the Run members also participated in a team-building activity (pictured below) that showed how they support one another.
How did it go? Watch this video:
Participants and volunteers agree: Girls on the Run is so much fun!
Girls on the Run is a twice-weekly, afterschool program for 5th and 6th grade students where trained volunteers lead girls through interactive lessons and movement activities, culminating in a celebratory 5K in June.
A positive, wellness-centered approach to mental health awareness
Just like physical health, promoting one’s emotional well-being takes skill, resources and knowledge. Fort Plain Central School is observing Mental Health Awareness Month in May with a proactive approach to support community wellness.
At Harry Hoag, students and staff are observing Mental Health Awareness Week from May 15-19 with themed days that offer positive coping tips and tools.
- Mellow Monday’s tip was to wear your pajamas to relieve stress. The hallways were colorful and relaxing!
- Twin Tuesday advised students and staff to team up against stress by dressing like a friend or someone in their house, because they are not alone.
- Be Someone’s Superhero Wednesday encouraged dressing like a superhero, because in someone’s eyes you are their hero.
- Tie Dye Thursday will have students and staff wearing tie-dye colors to represent a range of emotions, and it’s okay to feel them.
- On Friday, all are encouraged to wear green for mental health awareness.
The Jr./Sr. High School has been observing Mental Health Awareness Month using a host of daily activities meant to deepen each student’s personal set of skills. Each week features Mindfulness Monday, Thankful Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thursday Tips and Feel Good Friday. Activities range from learning about self-care tips and sleep resources, to practicing mindfulness and deep breathing, understanding the importance of developing resilience and relationships, and many other exploratory activities aimed to deepen our understanding of how to promote mental health.
The Jr./Sr. High School Counseling Office offers daily tips during announcements and coordinates each day’s activities. Students can participate in activities during their lunch periods and via the Counseling Office’s Google Classroom links to reliable resources.
The Montgomery County Public Health Department teamed up with the school on a mental-health-themed poster contest and the lunch-time activity on May 25 will feature visits and information by community partners including Catholic Charities, Family Counseling, Domestic Violence/Human Trafficking Prevention, the Mental Health Alliance and the HFM Prevention Council.
All are invited to an evening of wonderful music at Fort Plain Central School’s Spring Concert
All in the community are invited to enjoy a Spring Concert musical spectacular on Wednesday, May 24, when Fort Plain’s talented grades 5-12 students will perform music of many styles, from popular pieces to traditional ensemble music, beginning at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Performances will feature the 5th Grade Chorus, 5th and 6th Grade Band, the Jr./Sr. High School Chorus, and the Jr./Sr. High School Band. Highlights will include featured soloists and a duet at the Jr./Sr. level for both band and chorus. The band and chorus will each perform selections from classic Disney movies.
“All are welcome to attend our spring concert, including families, friends and members of our community,” said music teachers Dalton Burrello and Julieanne Sincavage. “This will be our last performance of the school year, so we hope everyone can come and enjoy the music.”
Harry Hoag announces grades K-4 Summer Math and Literacy Camp
Greetings Families of Harry Hoag First- Fourth Graders,
Harry Hoag is excited to offer Summer Math and Literacy Camp to support our learners who are currently in Grades K-4. Students who attend our camp will have the opportunity to do fun literacy and math activities to deepen their understanding of core grade level concepts.
Camp Details
- Dates: (Start date is a Monday) July 10- August 3 (Mondays – Thursdays only)
- Hours: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- Place: Harry Hoag School
- Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Arrival/Free Breakfast is available
9:00-11:00 Math and Literacy Camp experiences
11:00-11:30 Recess and/or Computer Lab
11:30 Dismissal/Free Lunch is available
If you are interested in having your child attend Summer Math and Literacy Camp, please fill out this linked form.
You will receive an enrollment confirmation letter in early June.
I encourage you to take advantage of this free opportunity to enrich your child’s summer vacation. Students who participate in our morning camp will be able to sign in to the Fort Plain Summer Recreation Program in the afternoon. Registration for Summer Recreation is a separate process.
If you have any questions, please call me at (518) 993-4000, ext. 3059.
Proud to be your Principal,
Mrs. Coppolo
Girls on the Run program is more than miles
Fort Plain’s Girls on the Run team has been working hard to prepare for a 5K race in early June, but they are building more than athletic skills.
The team’s practices have been filled with life lessons, fun talks, friendship building and empowerment. They are excited to enter the second half of the season and looking forward to their race.
Girls on the Run is a twice-weekly, afterschool program for 5th and 6th grade students where trained volunteers lead girls through interactive lessons and movement activities, culminating in a celebratory 5K in June.
Glow week and trashketball: no boring test reviews for these students
Who said that getting ready for state testing had to be boring? As students across the state prepared for the New York State English Language Arts (ELA) assessments, the students in Mrs. Amy Bartholomew’s 6th grade ELA classes were doing the same . . . sort of.
And in Abigail Gorinshek’s 5th grade ELA classes, students were surprised with a basketball theme review day, featuring trashketball, as they prepared for the 5th grade NYS ELA assessment.
Mrs. Bartholomew’s students spent last week 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 Week,” 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 me for their week of test prep!” Mrs. Bartholomew said. “I’m incredibly proud of our 6th graders and all of the hard work they’ve put in during the test preparation week, as well as throughout this entire school year.”
Meanwhile, in Ms. Gorinshek’s 5th grade ELA classes last week, it was game time! “In preparation for the 5th grade NYS ELA assessment, my students were surprised with a basketball theme review day where they got to play trashketball!” Ms. Gorinshek said.
“In teams, the students worked together to answer questions and when they answered them correctly, their team had a chance to shoot a mini basketball into a trash can to earn points. “The students worked hard, embraced some friendly competition and even found some fun in test prep: who knew!? I am so proud of all of my students for ‘shooting for success on the state test’!”
Visit our Facebook page for more photos.
Harry Hoag students achieve 3rd Q Honor Roll or Principal’s List
Harry Hoag School is proud to announce the 2022-23 third quarter Honor Roll and Principal’s List. The Honor Roll and Principal’s List recognize outstanding achievement and effort.
Congratulations to the following students:
Honor Roll
Grade 6
Alyvia Castellano
Alexzandriah Clapper
Jessie Fink
Conner Hearn
Alexandra Hinkle
Hailee Moore
Isaac Passero
Gabriella Peters
Carl Reese III
Dylan Salerno
Rylee Stone
Makenna Sweet
Issac Tompkins
Grade 5
Angela Abe-Callan
Jaxon Best
Aubree Childs
Christopher Compton Jr.
Ziva Dimon
McKenzie Jones
Olivia Jones
Jacob LaQuee
Brian Madden
Amaya Rivera
Aleeya Rodriguez
Joseph Sweet II
Booker Tarica
Kendrik Thackrah
Maicee Thomas
Adalay Webb
Principal’s List
Grade 6
Laura Atkins
Asher Barber
Halleli Brackett
Lexis Downes
Dillan Harris Jr
Justin Hisert
Khloe Hisert
McKenna Hisert
Madden Lathers
Jazmain Leonard
Connor Lochner
Lainie McDuffee
Isabella McGuire
Jack Parkinson
Zoe Paul
Mary Pomatto
Braddock Putnam
Trent Richards
Sequoia Robarge
Molly Shults
Jaymes Smith
Anna-Belle Snyder
Gavin Souza
Giavanna Suiter
Kinley Trumbull
Kiana Tyler
Jordan Williams II
Grade 5
Fiona Brown
Brantlee Brownell
Alana Candido
Owen Charboneau
Milo Clark
Christopher Cook
Sienna Dean
Bently Dodson
Sterling Edick
Arianna Eells
Laura Flynn
Jake Fountain
Raelynn Fournier
Laylah Hardnett
Isabella Hearn
Amarha Herring
Timothy Keane
Piper Kretser
Claudia Maring
Carl Morrell
Aishwarya Murray
Isabella Palmeri
Mara Poultney
Ethan Shostek
Gavin Smith
Noah Smith