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2024-25 sixth grade welcome letter

A welcome-back message for Harry Hoag Elementary School sixth graders and their families from Acting Principal Amy Bartholomew:

Summer 2024

Dear Families of Sixth Graders,

We look forward to the return of our students on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024!

Sixth grade uses a departmentalized model to provide instruction. Like they did last year in fifth grade, homeroom groups will travel to different classrooms to receive instruction in the core subjects as assigned below:

  • Mrs. Parker will teach English Language Arts.
  • Mrs. Bargstedt will teach Mathematics.
  • Mrs. Toomey will teach Social Studies/Science.
  • Mrs. Mellis-Passero will teach Special Education and Interventions

Grade 6 Schedule

7:50 – 8:05 a.m. – All students in their homeroom (Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Bargstedt, Mrs.Toomey)

8:05 – 9:18 a.m. – Math (Bargstedt HR),  ELA (Parker HR), Soc Studies/Science (Toomey HR)

9:20 – 10:33 a.m. –  Soc Studies/Science (Bargstedt HR),  Math (Parker HR),  ELA (Toomey’s HR)

10:36 – 11:47 a.m. – ELA (Bargstedt HR), Soc Studies/ Science (Parker HR),  Math (Toomey’s HR)

11:50 – 12:20 LUNCH

12:23 – 1:03 p.m.:

  • Toomey HR: Music (M), Technology (T,Th), Art (W), Library (F)
  • Bargstedt HR: PE (M), Library (T), Music (W), Art  (Th), Technology (F)
  • Parker HR: Technology (M, W), Art (T), Library (Th), Music (F)

1:06 – 1:46 p.m.:

  • Toomey HR: PE (M, T, W), Character Ed (Th), Technology (F)
  • Bargstedt HR: Technology (M, T), Character Ed (W), PE (Th, F)
  • Parker HR: PE (M, T, W), Technology (Th), Character Ed (F)

1:49 – 2:29 p.m. –  Tiered Intervention Time (small group work)

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Mrs. Bartholomew, Acting Principal

Harry Hoag Elementary School

2024-25 Fifth Grade Welcome Letter

A welcome-back message for Harry Hoag Elementary School fifth graders and their families from Acting Principal Amy Bartholomew:

Summer 2024

Dear Families of Fifth Graders,

We look forward to the return of our students on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024!

Fifth Grade uses a departmentalized model to provide instruction. Homeroom groups will travel to different classrooms to receive instruction in the core subjects as assigned below:

  • Ms. Gorinshek will teach English Language Arts.
  • Mr. DeRider will teach Mathematics.
  • Ms. Lacetera will teach Social Studies/Science.
  • Mr. A. Hanifin will work with students with interventions

Grade 5 Schedule

7:50 – 8:10 a.m. – All students in their homeroom (Mr. DeRider, Ms. Gorinshek, Ms. Lacetera)

8:10 – 9:15 a.m. – Math (DeRider’s HR),  ELA (Ms. Gorinshek’s HR), Soc Studies/Science (Ms. Lacetera’s HR)

9:18 – 10:23 a.m. –  Soc Studies/Science (Mr. DeRider’s HR),  Math (Ms. Gorinshek’s HR), ELA (Ms. Lacetera’s HR)

10:26 – 11:32 a.m. – ELA (DeRider’s HR), Soc Studies/ Science (Ms. Gorinshek’s HR),  Math (Ms. Lacetera’s HR)

11:35 – 12:05 LUNCH

12:05 – 12:20 RECESS

12:23 – 1:03 p.m.:

  • DeRider’s HR: Character Ed (M), Choir (T,Th), Library (W), PE (F)
  • Gorinshek’s HR: Library (M), Choir (T,Th), Character Ed (W), Art  (F)
  • Lacetera’s HR: Art (M), Choir (T,Th), PE (W), Character Ed (F)

1:06 – 1:46 p.m. – Tiered Intervention Time

1:49 – 2:29 p.m.:

  • DeRider’s HR: Technology (M,Th), PE (T, W), Art (F)
  • Gorinshek’s HR: PE (M, T, W), Library (Th), Technology (F)
  • Lacetera’s HR: Library (M), Technology (T, W), PE (Th, F)

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Mrs. Bartholomew, Acting Principal

Harry Hoag Elementary School

2024-25 fifth and sixth grade welcome letters

We look forward to the return of our students and start of school for the 2024-25 year on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.

Fifth and sixth grades at Harry Hoag Elementary School 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 Acting Principal Amy Bartholomew include grade-level information for fifth and sixth grade:

View the Fifth Grade Welcome Letter

View the Sixth Grade Welcome Letter

2024-25 welcome letters from our principals

We are looking forward to welcoming our learners back for the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Students kindergarten through Grade 12 will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 4; pre-K students will begin on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Read the 2024-25 welcome letters from Harry Hoag Elementary School’s Acting Principal Amy Bartholomew and Jr/Sr. High School Principal Nicholas Comproski:

Welcome Amy Bartholomew, Acting Principal of Harry Hoag

Harry Hoag Elementary School Acting Principal, Amy Bartholomew, who has long dark blond hair and is wearing a white top and blazer, looks at and smiles for the camera.
Harry Hoag Elementary School’s Acting Principal for 2024-25, Amy Bartholomew

On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Fort Plain Board of Education voted to appoint Amy Bartholomew to the position of Acting Principal of Harry Hoag Elementary for the 2024-25 school year.

A longtime teacher at Harry Hoag Elementary, graduate of Fort Plain schools and life-long resident of the community, Amy Bartholomew has a strong commitment to Fort Plain.

“Amy’s breadth of experience and commitment to ensuring that every learner thrives is sure to benefit the students and families in the Harry Hoag community,” said Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “We are pleased to welcome Amy into this new role and to offer this opportunity for her to learn with us and grow as a leader through this principalship.”

About Amy Bartholomew

Amy Bartholomew has taught for more than 22 years, 18 of which have been spent at Fort Plain’s Harry Hoag Elementary. She has taught students pre-K through grade 6, as well as those in special education.

This school year, Bartholomew and her sixth graders launched the “Our Words Matter” project at Harry Hoag Elementary. Students approached Bartholomew with the idea of learning to become strong advocates for their peers, particularly those who may be underrepresented or experiencing hurtful treatment from others. Together, the group worked toward being agents for positive change in the school.

Bartholomew has also lent her support and guidance as a mentor of new teachers for the past 12 years.

Bartholomew holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Reading from the University of Albany. She currently holds an internship certificate, which allows her to function in the capacity of school building leader through the end of the 2024-25 year.  Bartholomew is working toward a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from Binghamton University, which she will complete this December.

“When I began my transition into administration, my goal and dream was to one day become the principal at Harry Hoag Elementary School,” said Bartholomew. “I am sincerely honored by the opportunity to step into this role and serve the school community as we work together toward our shared goal of creating a safe, welcoming and enriching environment where all of our learners can shine.”

 

Thank you for your leadership of Harry Hoag, Mrs. Coppolo!

Dear Fort Plain CSD community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share an important update regarding the leadership of Harry Hoag Elementary School. Mrs. Coppolo, our building principal, has accepted a position in her hometown. I am grateful for her dedication and service to FPCSD. We wish her well in her new role.

I am working closely with the Board of Education to ensure that a strong leadership presence succeeds Mrs. Coppolo. We are developing a one year plan to hire a strong candidate who is dedicated to supporting student learning, advancing our district goals and fostering staff development, all in alignment with our district mission.

More information regarding the plan for Harry Hoag leadership will be shared prior to the end of July.

Thank you for your continued support.

Fondly,

Mrs. Crisman

4th grade musical instrument try-it and rental night – June 12

On Wednesday, June 12, our Music Department will host an Instrument Rental Night for fourth grade students interested in participating in band next year.

This event will take place at 6 p.m. in Music Suite of Harry Hoag Elementary School.

Students will have a chance to look over a range of elementary band instuments. A representative from John Keal Music will be on-hand to answer questions and discuss options for renting/purchasing an instrument.

Families who already own an instrument are invited to bring them for the school band director to look over.

A short musical performance and snacks will follow the presentation.

February 2024 Harry Hoag Roundup

Each month during the school year, Principal Coppolo shares news and information about what’s happening and upcoming at Harry Hoag Elementary School in Harry Hoag’s Monthly Roundup.

The February edition of the Roundup is now live. Read the February 2024 Harry Hoag Monthly Roundup. 

New! Read-alouds from the Harry Hoag students and teaching team

New this month, the Roundup features a video read-aloud of I Like Myself by author Karen Beaumont, as led by Harry Hoag’s School Counselor, Mrs. Macherone (with some special helpers!) Students in our Harry Hoag Technology Club provided the support with filming, editing and producing this video.

We hope you enjoy this read-aloud as much as we have.

We are excited to launch these video read-alouds this February and plan to feature other books read by Harry Hoag’s guest readers in future editions of the Roundup.

Fifth grade team climbs to new heights on annual ADK trek

A group photograph taken from above of the fifth grade team at Harry Hoag Elementary. Students and teachers are all wearing hiking clothing and standing on bright green grass with rocky patches.
The annual Harry Hoag fifth grade trip to Kane Mountain in the Adirondacks is a tradition that has been making fond memories students for nearly 50 years.

This September, Harry Hoag fifth graders took their turn with an annual outing to Kane Mountain/Kane Mountain Fire Observation Station in Caroga N.Y.  This nearly 50 year old district tradition was, by all accounts, a fan-favorite for the fifth graders new to the trek and for our teaching team who lead this hike each year.

“This is such a great way for the students to get to know each other outside of the classroom early in the school year,” said fifth grade teacher Patrick Hanifin, who has been leading the outing for the past 25 years. “The experience is all about sharing the joys of hiking with the kids and being able to mix in history, geography and physical education.”

Making memories for generations of Fort Plain students

While Hanifin said he just missed the opportunity to take the hike while a student at Fort Plain (the tradition didn’t begin until he was in seventh grade), it is often mentioned fondly in graduation speeches and many of the parents and family members of current fifth graders also had their turn with the trip when they were Fort Plain students.

“It meant a lot to me to get to take this hike,” said fifth grader Colton White. “My dad went when he was in fifth grade, but he said he was too scared to go up into the fire tower. He was impressed when he found out I had climbed up into the tower!”

Along with the fire tower, students mentioned the many different types of rocks they saw along the trail (“Some were shiny, some were smooth, some were rough but they all were so pretty,” said Isabella Shibley), the great view (“It was awesome. I never saw a better view than when we went up the fire tower,” said Preston Spraker) and the icing (or ice cream!) on the cake: a stop on the way back to school for ice cream at Grannies.

“A former fifth grade colleague, Barry Kahn, who was actually my fifth grade teacher, used to say that it’s not just a great way to show the kids the many joys of hiking but to also show them how fortunate we are to live so close to the Adirondack Mountains,” said Hanifin. “His hope, and mine, too, was that after we hiked some of the families would make a return trip to Kane Mountain or explore other hiking trails. It’s certainly been my favorite field trip every year!”

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