2024 – 25 pre-K welcome letter
A welcome-back message for Harry Hoag Elementary School pre-kindergarten families from Acting Principal Amy Bartholomew:
Welcome Families!
Harry Hoag is very excited to welcome your children as members of our pre-kindergarten program!
I would like to take this time to introduce myself as Harry Hoag’s new Acting Principal for this coming school year. Some of you already know me, as I have been a teacher in our district for 18 years, as well as being born and raised in Fort Plain as a Hilltopper myself!
This is my 23rd year in education and I am unbelievably excited to step into this new role and get to know all of our new and returning students. Fort Plain is a community unlike any other, filled with caring families and an exceptionally talented faculty and staff that provide incredible experiences for students each day.
Our Pre-kindergarten program is truly special, and 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 experiences.
The first day of school for the Pre-kindergarten program is Thursday, September 5. We will host a Pre-kindergarten Visitation Day on Wednesday, September 4. 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.
View and download a copy of the 2024-25 Pre-Kindergarten Handbook.
Preparing your child for a successful start to school
- Please be sure to establish a reasonable bedtime routine the last week of August.
- Talk to your child about what to expect in order to support them with the separation.
- Develop a routine to check for notes, papers and communications daily.
School schedule
7:30-7:40 a.m — Bus rider drop-off .
7:30-7:50 a.m. — Parent drop-off and walkers are welcome.
7:50 a.m. -2:30 p.m. — Instructional day.
2:30 p.m. — Bus rider dismissal.
2:35 p.m. — Dismissal for student with parent pick-up.
For morning arrival, you are welcome to park in the parking lot to walk your child into the building. You are also able to drive through the parent drop-off line to drop your child off. To drop off and pick up, please remain in your car. A staff member will be out in the parking lot to guide traffic and to let your child know when it is safe to cross. If you are early for drop-off or pick-up, please park along the road to Wiles Park. 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 NYS Law.
Supply List
Please label clothes, blanket and backpack with your child’s name.
- Backpack large enough to hold a folder
- Blanket for naptime
- Labeled baggie with 2 sets of clothes (it can be helpful to have one set for warm weather and one set for colder weather)
- Optional items to donate to the classroom: tissues, paper towels, glue sticks, dry-erase markers
I look forward to meeting our youngest learners soon. They will have the best time with the most loving teachers!
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Mrs. Bartholomew, Acting Principal
Harry Hoag Elementary