Category: Harry Hoag News
A message from the superintendent
December 9, 2022
Dear Students, Parents, Colleagues and Community Members,
From my family to yours, wishing everyone joy and happiness during the holiday season! May you take time this month to enjoy those you cherish most while making wonderful memories. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for as a community!
The early 2020s brought extraordinary challenges to all families, staff, teachers, school leaders and communities as a whole. With the pandemic complications behind us, it feels good to have a renewed focus on the District vision, to prepare all students for success beyond graduation.
The first half of the 2022-2023 school year was a productive time and as we approach the December vacation, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported FPCSD to make our many successes possible.
Throughout the fall, school teams regularly met to discuss teaching, learning and best practices to support student achievement. The administrators had thoughtful planning sessions dedicated to improving academic and social-emotional learning. The students had full access to learning and participation in co-curricular activities and athletic competitions.
Our long-standing FPCSD traditions resumed. Fifth graders hiked Kane Mountain and the National Honor Society was able to run a Blood Drive for community service. Student athletes felt support from live spectators. School visitors returned to enjoy activities like the Kindergarten Finger Food Feast, Morning Program and the Pacers Program. It was a rejuvenating feeling to see the campus buzzing once more with traffic from school-related and community-affiliated events.
As we continue to make plans for the future, we will keep our focus on what is most essential, the wellbeing of our school community members and our commitment to deliver robust instruction that prepares all students for success in whatever path their future holds.
If you wish to be part of conversations about FPCSD’s mission and vision and related action plans, I invite you to join me on January 11th at 5:00 p.m. in the Harry Hoag Library for another Community Conversation. The focus topic will be The Student Experience: Engagement and Advancement.
Again, I am truly honored to serve as your superintendent. I remain committed to shaping a future where our students prosper.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Crisman
Guided reading students find sinking a foul shot is no easy task
A boy named Eddie Ball has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win a million dollars. All he has to do is sink one foul shot during half time at the NBA finals. Eileen Kretser’s 5th grade guided reading class recently discovered that this is no easy task.
The students are currently reading the book, “The Million Dollar Shot,” written by Dan Gutman. This week, they tried their hand at sinking a shot in a basketball hoop in the Harry Hoag gym.
“The students had fun taking foul shots to understand and connect with Eddie Ball,” Kretser said. “They quickly learned it wasn’t easy. They find out this week whether he sinks the shot and wins the million dollars.
“It’s a great book. Check it out for yourself!”
Is it bullying or is it conflict?
Is it bullying or is it conflict? How do you tell the difference and what do you do? Harry Hoag students recently learned about this important topic from their 6th grade peers at the Dec. 2 Morning Program.
The 6th grade students wrote, produced and presented an original, role-play skit that involved their audience in determining, “Is it bullying or is it conflict?” They were introduced by School Counselor Stephanie Macherone, who also participated in the role play and moderated the discussion.
View a video of the presentation below.
Upcoming December events & important dates
Please note the following upcoming events and important dates:
- December 9: Yearbook Dance for the High School, 7 p.m.
- December 19: DARE Graduation, 2 p.m. at Harry Hoag
- December 20: Winter Concert, 6 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School
- December 22: Special Visitors at Morning Program at Harry Hoag
*Note: Morning Program will be held on Thursday, Dec. 22, for the last week of December. - December 23, 26-30: No school – vacation
*Offices will be closed on December 26 in observance of Christmas. - Athletic Events can be found on the athletics webpage.
Student Council joins seniors for Kindness Month breakfast and bingo
In support of Kindness Month, the Harry Hoag Student Council visited their community’s Senior Center for a morning of breakfast and bingo. A great time was had by all!
Harry Hoag students achieve 1st Q Honor Roll or Principal’s List
Harry Hoag School is proud to announce the 2022-23 first 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
Rylee Stone
Aiden Cruger
Hattie Hogan
Issac Tompkins
Cameron Cristman
Alexzandriah Clapper
Carl Reese III
Dylan Salerno
Sterling Edick
Christopher Compton Jr.
Brian Madden
Grade 5
Kayden Rouse
Joseph Sweet II
Christopher Cook
Elijah Shostek
Carl Morrell
Jaxon Best
Aubree Childs
Dohnivan Dodson
Kendrik Thackrah
Maicee Thomas
Angela Abe-Callan
Rosabella Smith
Tahli Davis
Olivia Jones
Principal’s List
Grade 6:
Justin Hisert
Lainie McDuffee
Asher Barber
Alyvia Castellano
Conner Hearn
Alexandra Hinkle
Khloe Hisert
McKenna Hisert
Madden Lathers
Joshua LaQuee
Jazmain Leonard
Aishwarya Murray
Hailee Moore
Isaac Passero
Zoe Paul
Mary Pomatto
Braddock Putnam
Trent Richards
Sequoia Robarge
Molly Shults
Jaymes Smith
Makenna Sweet
Kiana Tyler
Jordan Williams II
Anna-Belle Snyder
Gavin Souza
Karson Rhodes
Giavanna Suiter
Lexis Downes
Jack Parkinson
Anthony Polidori
Kinley Trumbull
Halleli Brackett
Connor Lochner
Jessie Fink
Kenyan Leverock
Lilly St. Pierre
Gabriella Peters
Isabella McGuire
Dillan Harris Jr
Grade 5
Ethan Shostek
Fiona Brown
Brantlee Brownell
Bently Dodson
Sienna Dean
Laura Flynn
Raelynn Fournier
Laylah Hardnett
Isabella Hearn
Amarha Herring
Timothy Keane
Piper Kretser
Jacob LaQuee
Isabella Palmeri
Mara Poultney
Claudia Maring
Noah Smith
Gavin Smith
Booker Tarica
Adalay Webb
McKenzie Jones
Milo Clark
Arianna Eells
Alana Candido
Russhell Leverock
Jake Fountain
Owen Charboneau
Honoring our veterans
Fort Plain Central School recognized those who served our country in honor of Veterans Day during the week of the holiday, with an assembly and special classroom activities.
In Sonja Purinton’s class at Harry Hoag Elementary, students honored veterans by making handprint flags with a poem and a handwritten “Thank You.”
They presented Fort Plain Detective Mereness with one of the projects they made, to honor him and thank him for his service.
On Thursday, Harry Hoag students and staff gathered for an assembly to honor those who’ve served in observance of Veterans Day.
Harry Hoag’s annual Halloween celebrations
Harry Hoag Elementary School has scheduled some great Halloween celebrations for our students and their families:
Pre-K – 3rd Grade Students: Halloween Parade
When: The Annual Halloween Parade will be held on Monday, October 31st, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: The FPCSD Track
In the event of inclement weather, students will parade through the hallways of the building.
Arrival: Guests may arrive starting at 1:15 p.m., not before.
Parking: Guests must park in marked parking spots or in Wiles Park.
Expectations for participation: All students in Grades Pre-K-3 may wear a costume of their choosing for the parade. Costumes should be school appropriate, please no gore. The end of October can be chilly; please make sure that layers of clothing can be worn under the costumes.
4th – 6th Grade Students: Halloween Dance
When: The Annual Halloween Dance will be held on Monday, October 31st.
Where: The dance will be held in the gym so that all students in grades 4-6 may attend for an hour.
In the event of inclement weather, the dance will be held in the cafeteria. Grades 4 & 5 will be held from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. and Grade 6 will attend from 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Expectations for participation: All students in Grades 4-6 may wear a costume of their choosing for the dance. Costumes should be school appropriate, please no gore.
Please note
Students will NOT be dismissed early on this day. Students must return to their classroom after the parade and/or dance for a typical school day dismissal.
We look forward to celebrating the spirit of Halloween with our students!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at (518) 993-4000. If you do not want your child to participate in the parade, please notify your child’s teacher. We will gladly make special accommodations for any students who do not participate.
Proud to be your Principal,
Mrs. Coppolo
Posted 10/18 & 10/24
Local heroes teach about 2- and 4-legged law enforcement
More local heroes visited Harry Hoag School on Oct. 21, when Sergeant Smith and K9 Officer Bud presented to students and staff during morning program. Sergeant Smith talked about his job and what Bud does as a K9 officer. Teacher Ashley Bargstedt introduced our visitors.
Village Board meeting provides authentic learning for Student Council
Members of Harry Hoag Elementary School’s Student Council experienced local government operations in real time, outside their school, on Oct. 18, when they participated in a meeting of the Fort Plain Village Board.
“FPCSD thanks Mr. Hanifin and the Village Board for extending an invitation for the elementary student government leaders to attend their most recent meeting,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “This authentic learning opportunity provided them with a chance to see how a local governance team functions, and I know that they each felt very special to be personally invited to attend the meeting. We appreciate the village support to help us grow future leaders!”
“Our Student Council members met their local officials, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed the Village Board meeting. They received an excellent introduction to government and school and community partnership,” said Student Council Advisor Michelle Hext. “We thank the Village Board for welcoming our group.”
After the Oct. 18 meeting, Fort Plain Mayor and Harry Hoag Elementary Teacher Patrick Hanifin said, “At tonight’s Village Board meeting, we were visited by the newly elected Fort Plain Elementary School Student Council members. They had the opportunity to meet many of the Village officials and take part in the meeting. Thank you to Student Council Advisor Michelle Looman Hext for helping to coordinate their participation tonight.”
In the photo above: Student Council members with Mrs. Hext.
In the photo at the top of the page: Student Council members with Village Board members and Mayor Hanifin.