Category: Harry Hoag News

Harry Hoag students learned valuable lessons about fire safety when the Fort Plain Fire Department visited their school on Oct. 12, during Fire Prevention Week.

They learned that firefighters are helpers who keep them safe, what to do if a smoke detector sounds, and what to do in the event of a fire. The students also got to turn on and hold a working fire hose and ride in a fire truck, and at the end of the presentations, each received their own fire hat.

Thank you to our local heroes – and school community members – who visited with our students and staff and shared their knowledge, including Fort Plain Fire Chief Bill Ehrenreich, Captain and Fort Plain Central School Transportation Supervisor Gary Ruszkowski, President Joe Hanifan, Vice President and Fort Plain Board of Education Member Jeff Jones, and Firefighters and Fort Plain High School Class of 2022 Alumni Jayden Sackett and Jonathan Williams.

Fire Prevention Week comes once a year, but the lessons learned last a lifetime.

Visit our photo gallery on Facebook.

Due to the generosity of Dr. Rao, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has donated 20 backpacks (absolutely stuffed with school supplies!) to Harry Hoag Elementary School. “We truly appreciate this amazing gift for our students,” said Principal Jodi Coppolo.

Principal  Jodi Coppolo with Sheriff Jeff Smith

Greetings Families of Harry Hoag Elementary,

As the new principal of Harry Hoag, it is my pleasure to welcome new and returning families to an exciting school year. We will continue to foster positive, productive relationships within our school. I look forward to getting to know the Fort Plain community, our students, our families, and the team of professionals who work tirelessly to create a learning environment that supports each student.

This year marks my 21st year in education. As a parent, I understand the aspiration of families: that their children are provided with a safe, equitable, and positive learning environment. As an educator, I understand the desire to ensure that every child makes academic and social-emotional growth. I was an elementary teacher for 19 years before I began my journey in administration. As a leader, collaboration and clear communication is essential. My goal is to continue to enhance the growth of all students and propel the school forward to increase long lasting achievement.

This letter includes updates regarding the schedule and school related procedures. Please take time to read it carefully.

Harry Hoag School Day
● 7:30-7:40 Bus Drop Off only
● 7:30-7:40 Parent Drop Off and Walkers are welcome
● 7:50-2:30 Instructional Day
● 2:30 Bus Dismissal only
● 2:35 Parent Pick Up begins

Use of School Transportation
Please be sure to review the Ride with Pride and Code of Conduct documents with your children before the first day of school. An electronic copy will be sent this year.

Self-Transportation
A traffic enforcer will manage traffic flow through the bus loop to the main entry. If you are early for Drop Off or Parent Pick Up, please park in Wiles Park. For Parent Drop Off and Pick Up, please remain in your car. A staff member will greet you at both times. If you pick up your child on foot, please report to the Main Entry.

Technology
Students in PK – Kindergarten will be offered an iPad to use for the school year. Students in Grades 1-6 will be offered a Chromebook to use for the school year. Older students will be able to bring their devices to and from school per their teacher’s directions. Caregivers and students (Gr 1 and above) will be asked to sign a Technology User Agreement.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Teachers will escort Parent Pick Up students to the library. All others will be escorted to the buses.

After the buses depart, Parent Pick Up will begin.

We kindly request that you update any forms related to your child’s residency and/or health needs. A form will be sent home with your child at the beginning of school. We appreciate any effort to return updated forms to the Main Office as soon as possible.

To stay abreast of all that is taking place at Harry Hoag, please be sure to have an updated cell phone number and email address to receive information via our ParentSquare messaging system. Also, remember to visit our website and social media platforms regularly for current news and upcoming events.

I am honored to serve as the new building principal. It is wonderful to be a part of a community where students, teachers, and families care for each other and strive to build meaningful relationships that support academic and social-emotional growth.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel to reach me in the Main Office at (518) 993-4000, ext. 3059 or via email at jodi.coppolo@fortplain.org.

Hilltoppers let’s make it a fantastic year!

Jodi Coppolo

Lots of learning, creativity and engaging activities were the features of this year’s math, literacy and technology summer camps at Harry Hoag School. Students enjoyed a variety of hands-on projects and challenges that taught them new skills, built upon their knowledge and provided some great opportunities for teamwork and growth.

Here are just a few highlights.

A closeup view of another part of our world: Math & literacy summer campers used Virtual Reality viewers to explore the Amazon rainforest and other environments, and they were joined in their adventures by K-1st grade and 5th grade students.

Soon to be 3rd graders put together a 500-piece puzzle from Roald Dahl’s book, “The BFG” at summer literacy camp. They also read the book and compared it to the Disney movie.

Math & literacy campers practiced making 2D and 3D shapes with marshmallows and toothpicks, reported Tayah Simmons. “Then for fun we got creative to see what we could build. Some built pools, campfires and houses!”

When these math & literacy summer campers head into 4th grade in September, they’ll bring with them skills they learned this week while journal writing, sketching, building with popsicle sticks, doing guided reading, using math manipulatives and having some crafting fun!

And more camping coolness from our summer math & literacy camp.

Matt Heiser’s Summer Tech campers created personalized movie promos using Adobe Express, a graphic design program.

One camper connected tech camp with her involvement in the summer musical: She created a promo for the Fort Plain/Canajoharie drama club production of “Holiday Inn.”

View more photos  and our summer Team Tech News video on our Facebook page.

July 6, 2022 – Jodi Coppolo has been named principal of Harry Hoag Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, 2022. She was appointed at the July 5, 2022, Board of Education meeting and fills a vacancy created when Lauren Crisman was appointed Fort Plain superintendent of schools.

Superintendent Crisman will continue to supervise elementary programming until Coppolo begins. Coppolo comes to Fort Plain from South Kortright Central School, where she served as pre-K-12 building principal. She also served as elementary lead teacher, mentor, RtI coordinator, after school program site coordinator, pre-K-6 science coordinator, and teacher.

“I am excited to welcome Ms. Coppolo to our school community!” Crisman said. “She brings with her a variety of teaching experiences and has served in several leadership capacities in recent years. During the interview process, it became very evident that Ms. Coppolo is a thoughtful leader who cares deeply about the well being of all of her students and staff members. She stood out from the beginning of the process due to her preparedness for each interview.”

“It is my pleasure to serve as the next Harry Hoag School principal!” Coppolo said. “Prior to this position, I’ve had many leadership experiences, and even though my professional assignments evolved, I will always consider myself a teacher at heart. Before becoming an administrator, I spent 19 years in the classroom, teaching at a variety of grade levels.”

Coppolo holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from SUNY Oneonta, a Master of Science in Special Education and Literacy from the University at Albany, and a Certificate in School Building Leadership and Certificate in School District Leadership from the College of Saint Rose. “By pursuing lifelong learning,” she said, “I intend to be an example to students and teachers that we should never stop investing in a growth mindset.”

Coppolo and her family have lived in Cobleskill for the past eight years. She has two children, a daughter who will be a freshman in high school and a son who is going into seventh grade. “I have the same expectations for them as I do for Fort Plain’s children: I want to see them excel and become productive beings, who have ample opportunities to become whatever they want when they grow up,” Coppolo said.

“It is my privilege to lead Harry Hoag Elementary and the many talented staff and students here. My goal is to continue to provide a supportive climate and culture that is conducive to teaching and learning. By doing so, each individual student and staff member can experience growth to their highest potential. I look forward to interacting with all in our school community this year.”