Category: Jr./Sr. High News
Dr. Deborah Larrabee, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Principal, to retire
Please join us in wishing Dr. Deborah Larrabee well in her retirement.
Dr. Larrabee’s retirement, which will take effect on Jan. 3, was approved by our Board of Education at its Dec. 21, 2023 meeting.
Dr. Larrabee has served as an educator and leader in our Fort Plain schools for the past 22 years, as both a high school social studies teacher and class advisor and, since 2004, as the principal of the Jr./Sr. High School. Dr. Larrabee has had a significant and lasting impact on so many of our students and her colleagues across the district.
We are grateful for her service.
Next steps
The district is considering two options to best support the immediate needs of the Jr./Sr. High School students and staff, and allow us time to do a thorough search for the next principal.
A vacancy for an interim principal has been posted. View the posting and description of the Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal position.
If there are not any interim candidates, the district will develop an internal coverage plan to delegate the building level leadership duties to our existing administrative team.
More information about our move to fill the Jr./Sr. High School Principal position will be forthcoming early in the new year.
For questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Crisman at 518-993-4000 ext.1000.
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.
Students’ hard work revives HS garden and greenhouse
Thanks to the hard work of students in the Internship program and School Store, the FPHS greenhouse was put back into action and the community garden space is once again clean, green and productive.
“The community garden had been resting for several years and needed a lift,” said business teacher Wendy Stokna. “The students worked to clean the space and decided to donate proceeds from store activities to install a fresh weed barrier, a cedar raised bed and compost bin.
“These students hope that future students can get their hands a little dirty, learn about teamwork and gain the endless skill and knowledge that come from involvement in the management of the community garden.
“The special project also involved planting, growing and labeling plants and hosting a small plant sale,” she added. “The students worked very hard on all aspects of the garden project, pushing its completion to beyond the end of the school year. Thank you to all in our school community for your support.”
Celebrating the Class of 2023!
On June 24, members of the Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Class of 2023 received their diplomas, turned their tassels and walked across the graduation stage to the next exciting chapter in their lives.
We celebrate the Class of 2023 with our graduation photo album, Top 10 Students video, which premiered at graduation and may be viewed below, and Senior Spotlight, which was displayed in the high school lobby, shared with our families, highlighted on morning announcements and shared on social media.
Congratulations to all of our seniors. We’re proud of you, Hilltoppers!
View our graduation photo album on Facebook!
We celebrated our top 10 seniors with a video shown during graduation. View it below.
Congratulations to all of our seniors! Here’s our Senior Spotlight
[Posted 5/22/23; reposted 6/8; updated 6/23 & 6/26/23]
Congratulations to our Class of 2023 Top 10 students
Fort Plain High School has named the top 10 students of the Class of 2023. Congratulations to the seniors posted below.
To learn more about them, visit our Senior Spotlight webpage.
1. Alex Rivkowich, Valedictorian
2. Ethan Kilmartin, Salutatorian
3. Rylee Herron
4. Natalie Thibodeau
5. Anthony Paradiso
6. Stephen Gray
7. Joseph Stinebrickner III
8. Americus Cotton
9. Cameron David
10. Kristin Sanders
View our Top 10 video, first shown during graduation.
[Posted 6/8/23; reposted 6/23/23; updated 6/26/23]
Digital Fluency students celebrate great gains
Students in Wendy Stokna’s Digital Fluency class at Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School are celebrating great gains.
Student progress in keyboarding was tracked by looking at the Net Words Per Minute (NWPM) that adjusts speed for accuracy. Collectively the classes started the school year averaging 17 NWPM with a range of 1 to 53 NWPM, and they finished the year averaging 40 NWPM with a range of 21 to 83 NWPM!
“That is an average growth of 23 Net Words Per Minute in one year!” Stokna said. “In each class, students start with a small amount of time using best practices in keyboarding, most importantly trying not to look at their hands and developing muscle memory.
“Just the practice of 10 minutes per class every other day created this amazing result. I want to express to my students how proud I am of their growth of this necessary 21st Century skill!”
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!
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.