Category: Harry Hoag News
Message from Mrs. Crisman to 6th grade families
Dear Sixth Grade Families,
On Friday, June 24th, at 8:30 a.m., Harry Hoag will celebrate the Sixth Graders in a Moving Up Ceremony. This culminating event will include student recognition and fond farewell remarks. We welcome families to attend the ceremony. Sixth Graders will have the option to leave school after the ceremony with a parent/guardian, or they can remain on campus until 10:00 a.m. to take the bus home.
I must share with you that I have mixed feelings about this event. On one hand, I’m excited to advance this exceptional group of students to the Jr./Sr. High School. They have demonstrated time and time again that collectively, they are responsible, respectful and highly motivated. Thus, they are ready to transition to the secondary building. On the other hand, selfishly, I will miss seeing their faces and enjoying their wonderful personalities every day.
Details:
Moving Up Ceremony, June 25th at 8:30 a.m. in the Harry Hoag Gym
*Guests may plan to arrive anytime after 8:10 a.m.
I am truly happy to have been a part of their learning journey thus far and I look forward to supporting their continued growth in my new role as the Superintendent of Schools.
Proud to be your Principal,
Mrs. Crisman
End of year activities and schedule for Harry Hoag School
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Here we are at the beginning of June with only one month of school left until summer vacation.
I am always surprised at how fast the school year passes by. Our students came back in September ready to soak up all that we had to offer. They had an appetite for normalcy and eagerness to engage in active learning. I have enjoyed watching each student mature throughout the year. I’d like to thank the amazing teachers for providing our students with meaningful experiences. Learning does not end when the school year ends. I hope you find time as families to explore nature, read a good book and enjoy fun summer adventures.
Upcoming Events:
- Harry Hoag Field Day is scheduled for June 10th (Rain date of June 17th).
- The Prekindergarten Moving Up Ceremony is scheduled for June 23rd at 8:30 am. (This is the last day of school for Pre-k.)
- The Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for June 24th at 8:30 am.
- Moving Up Day for Grades K-5 and the last day of school is also on June 24th.
* In addition, over the next few weeks, many classrooms have planned to do some special culminating activities.
Final week schedule:
- Monday, 6/20, Juneteenth, No School
- Tuesday, 6/21, Full Day of School
- Wednesday- Thursday, 6/22-6/23, 11:30 am Dismissal
- Friday, 6/24, 10:00 am Dismissal
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. I thank you for your ongoing support of the Fort Plain Central School District.
Be well today and always,
Mrs. Crisman
Grade 4 Fables project teaches many skills, shares lessons
Every picture might tell a story, but a fable teaches a life lesson – and presenting it showcases many skills. Harry Hoag fourth graders capped off their study of traditional literature by developing a readers’ theatre production to demonstrate their comprehension of the fables genre.
Fables feature talking animals who tell a story that teaches a life lesson, and the fables project provides a great opportunity for students to work together.
After learning about different fables and their morals, the students worked as a group to write a screenplay, create and decorate a colorful set, and build puppets and props. They then performed their fables live, in front of their classmates and teachers.
Their presentations were very impressive. View their video and learn the moral of their stories!
Book-inspired tree blooms in elementary office
There’s a tree in the main office at Harry Hoag School that is rooted in kindness and blooming with wishes.
Amanda Faitell’s and Eileen Kretser’s 5th grade guided reading students are enjoying the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate. The story is narrated by Red, a large, ancient red oak tree who lives near an elementary school. Red, who observes all that goes on in the neighborhood, serves as a “wish tree,” where people can leave their wishes to be fulfilled. Red’s own wish is for kindness and understanding to prevail.
On the branches of Harry Hoag’s own tree, wishes of all kinds have been sprouting over the past few weeks, written on colorful paper tags. The wishes, which are all anonymous, are touching, telling, and, most importantly, full of kindness and compassion.
Some wishes are for pets or toys, others are for love, respect and acceptance, and yet others wish to see family members who have passed away. There are wishes to adopt all of the cats in town, play in the NFL and become rich, to have gas and food be less expensive, to get along with siblings, and even to have dinosaurs be alive again.
“The book ‘Wishtree’ inspired me to put up a wish tree for everyone – students and staff – to make wishes on,” said Kretser. “Wish trees are typically done in May. We provided wish tags in the main office and posted information about the wish tree on the office windows near the tree, and the wishes have been coming in.
“We hope all will be inspired to add wishes to our school tree.”
Lauren Crisman named Fort Plain superintendent
[Updated May 5, 2022]
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education, at their May 4, 2022, meeting, appointed Lauren Crisman to the position of Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2022, contingent upon successful contract negotiations.
Crisman, who has been the principal of the Harry Hoag Elementary School since 2016, will replace current Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.
“We cast a wide net during the search process to ensure we found the best fit possible for Fort Plain,” Board of Education President Mary Beth Hudyncia said. “The ideal candidate was already here in our district. As our elementary principal, Lauren Crisman has served the district and the community exceptionally well, and we look forward to her leadership as superintendent.”
“It is an honor to be offered the opportunity to serve as the superintendent of schools for Fort Plain Central School District. I have enjoyed being a part of so many Hilltopper traditions for the past six years while serving as the elementary principal, and I am deeply proud of our school community,” Crisman said.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the board, faculty and staff, students and families to ensure that each student reaches their fullest potential. We will be a school district where success is experienced often and celebrated frequently. I thank everyone for the support that I’ve been given thus far and for letting me be a part of your children’s lives. I am excited to continue supporting the development of our district as we plan for the infinite possibilities of the future in education.”
Before coming to Fort Plain, Crisman served as the elementary principal and K-12 curriculum coordinator in the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School for five years. Also at Cherry Valley-Springfield, Crisman worked as an English Language Arts coordinator, reading coach and elementary teacher. She also has teaching experience at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Little Falls, and North Colonie. In addition to her duties as the Harry Hoag principal, Crisman has been serving as a student teacher supervisor at the State University of New York at Oneonta for the last three years.
Crisman has a bachelor’s in Elementary Education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s in Literacy from SUNY Albany. She also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Cortland.
Harry Hoag School students achieve Honor Roll and Principal’s List
Harry Hoag School is proud to announce the 2021-22 third 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 5
Daniel Bowley
Aiden Cruger
Conner Hearn
Hattie Hogan
Isaac Passero
Cameron Cristman
Alexzandriah Clapper
Jessie Fink
Sophia Shutter
Tahli Davis
Grade 6
Alexis Bowley
Richardson Gilot Jr.
Jasmine Rumrill
Andrew MacNeill
Sawyer Raymond
David Hillsgrove Jr.
Gabriella Kellogg
Xavier Rodriguez
Adrian Brown
Principal’s List
Grade 5
Justin Hisert
Lainie McDuffee
Asher Barber
Alyvia Castellano
Alexandra Hinkle
Khloe Hisert
McKenna Hisert
David Jones
Madden Lathers
Joshua LaQuee
Jazmain Leonard
Hailee Moore
Zoe Paul
Mary Pomatto
Braddock Putnam
Trent Richards
Sequoia Robarge
Molly Shults
Jaymes Smith
Makenna Sweet
Issac Tompkins
Kiana Tyler
Jordan Williams II
Anna-Belle Snyder
Gavin Souza
Karson Rhodes
Giavanna Suiter
Lexis Downes
Jack Parkinson
Anthony Polidori
Kinley Trumbull
Halleli Brackett
Carl Reese III
Dylan Salerno
Connor Lochner
Kenyan Leverock
Lilly St. Pierre
Grade 6
Sean McGuire
Joseph Barr
Caleigh Bartholomew
Blake Battisti
Sophia Brownell
Alexa Conley
Emma Dillenbeck
Mason Dunbar-Eller
Sedona Horning
Lincoln Kretser
Blake Lapi
George Mang
Cristopher Quiroz-Romero
AshLyn Lewis
Gabreilla Steinhauer
Daija Suits
Evan Weaver
E’nyjah Oldick
Evalyn Ballmes
Jordan Gallt
Brianne Gallt
Ava Brown
Dorian Tracki
Dio Callan
Eliyahna Brackett
Violet Handy
Brianna Hisert
Paige Lochner
Elijah Muha
Camden Smith
Charlotte Sherwood
Zachary Walsh
Peyton Dillenbeck
No school May 26, 27, 31 due to unused snow days
Fort Plain Central School will be closed on Thursday, May 26, Friday, May 27, and Tuesday, May 31, due to unused snow days. This is a change from the printed calendar mailed late last summer. On Monday, May 30, school is closed for the Memorial Day holiday.
Acclaimed author honors student’s writing with autographed book
A Harry Hoag student’s own writing has been recognized by the author of a nationally acclaimed book about 9/11.
“Our fifth grade Guided Reading class read the book ‘Ground Zero’ by Alan Gratz,” said Paula Colvin. “The students learned a lot about 9/11. Kinley Trumbull then wrote her own story about 9/11. When she gave me her story to read, I was so impressed with what she had written, I wrote to Alan Gratz and asked if I could send it to him.
“In return, Alan Gratz wrote back to Kinley and sent her an autographed copy of ‘Ground Zero’ and some autographed bookmarks. She was so excited when I presented her with the package from him,” Colvin said. “I am very proud of Kinley!”
Harry Hoag Principal Lauren Crisman said, “I’ve been reading Kinley’s stories for years. In fourth grade, she wrote so many stories, her teacher provided her with a classroom library space where she could publish them. I borrowed them to read as bedtime stories for my own daughter. Her writing is exceptional and I’m so proud of effort. Great job Kinley!”
For more information about “Ground Zero,” visit Alan Gratz’s webpage.
Elementary, Jr. HS students to take grades 3-8 state tests
Students in grades 3 through 8 will be taking New York State assessments in math, English/Language Arts and science. Fort Plain’s principals shared the following information with their families.
Grades 3-6: Harry Hoag Principal Lauren Crisman has shared the following information with elementary families.
Greetings Harry Hoag Parents and Caregivers,
In the approaching months, the New York State Grades 3-8 Assessments will be administered.
Your child’s participation in the New York State Testing Program ensures that the professional community of FPCSD is able to assess the effectiveness of our teaching methods. We use the assessment data to examine student progress towards meeting the state standards for academic achievement.
Test & Harry Hoag Administration Dates:
Grades 3-5 ELA: March 29 and March 30
Grade 6 ELA: March 31 and April 1
Grades 3-5 Math: April 26 and April 27
Grade 6 Math: April 28 and April 29
Grade 4 Science Written: June 6
Details:
- Both the ELA and Mathematics exams have two parts (Day 1 and Day 2).
- The testing sessions remain untimed.
- Exams will be administered in the morning whenever possible.
- Sixth Grade will take the exams using a computer-based format.
I have every confidence that our faculty members have successfully prepared our learners for the upcoming assessments.
Please feel free to call me at (518) 993-4000, ext. 3059, to discuss any questions that you may have related to our testing procedures.
Proud to be Your Principal,
Lauren Crisman
Grades 7 and 8: Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Principal Dr. Deborah Larrabee has shared the following information with 7th and 8th grade families
March 2022
Dear Parents and Caregivers of 7th and 8th Grade Students,
I am writing to provide you with information regarding the New York State Assessments for students in grades 7 and 8. Assessments are key to helping us determine where our students are and how we should adjust learning as we move forward. Your child’s participation in New York State’s testing program is one way for us to assess the effectiveness of our teaching methods.
Our 7th and 8th grade students will take assessments in English and mathematics using a computer-based testing format. Students in grade 8 will also be taking a science assessment. This year we return to a two-day testing model for all subjects. All testing sessions will remain untimed.
Test and Date/Time:
- 7 and 8 ELA – Session I: Wednesday, March 30 at 8 a.m.
- 7 and 8 ELA – Session II: Thursday, March 31 at 8 a.m.
- 7 and 8 Math – Session I: Wednesday, April 27 at 8 a.m.
- 7 and 8 Math – Session II: Thursday, April 28 at 8 a.m.
- 8 Science Performance: Tuesday, May 24, beginning at 8:15 a.m.
- 8 Science Written: Monday, June 6 at 8 a.m.
I am confident that our teachers have prepared our students well for the upcoming assessments. Please have your child get plenty of sleep before test days and encourage them to do their very best. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at (518) 993-4000 ext. 2124.
Best,
Deborah Larrabee, Ed.D.
Principal
Comic strip myths illustrate serious knowledge
As part of their social studies unit about ancient Greece, 6th grade students at Harry Hoag School illustrated classic Greek myths. More than a social studies lesson, the project tapped the students’ research, writing and creative skills while showing what they learned in their classes.
The projects are displayed throughout the school. In addition to the photos below, please visit our Facebook album.
