Category: Jr./Sr. High News

Kolbe Gray’s History of Sports class has created a cool Athlete Spotlight featuring FPHS students. View their project below to learn more about our talented Hilltoppers. The class has also created a website to provide some great info about Hilltopper sports.

Fort Plain Athlete Spotlight

Throughout the week of Dec. 6-11, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School celebrated Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) by participating in the international Hour of Code.

CSEdWeek was founded as an international call to action to raise awareness of the need to elevate computer science education at all levels and to underscore the critical role of computing in all careers.

Fort Plain High School’s Toppers participated in Hour of Code activities with teachers Kevin Bogus, Laurie Capece, Louise Clute, Kreig Heroth, Kajee Quick, Lucas Santiago, Wendy Stokna, Susan Summerfield and Lisa Trembley. Teachers worked with Educational Technology Specialist Rachel Heroth and Library Media Specialist Tariyka Chaulk to integrate coding into their curriculum, and students enjoyed accessing content through a computer science lens.

Hour of Code activities included various hands-on coding, robotics, and computational thinking lessons. Students in Materials Processing, Keyboarding, and Math used Ozobot and Cubelet robots to understand how mechatronics is utilized in manufacturing, how to write and transfer code to robots through multiple sensors and channels, and how robots can be used to solve and illustrate mathematical equations.

In English, students learned how to code a program using block and JavaScript languages to animate poems to convey mood, and how to code a storyboard. In Science, students wrote programs to create a solar system, illustrate the importance of recycling, and create a tether game to simulate the principles of physics.

Students also had some fun writing code to create their own video games and complete challenges based on popular video games and pop culture characters.

CSEdWeek is just the beginning of what the future holds for FPHS students as the district implements new Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards adopted by the state last December. The district will work toward full implementation of the new standards, with three years to build awareness and capacity.

Events like the Hour of Code are great opportunities for introducing computer science skills into our classrooms and getting students excited about learning how to code. Computer science and digital fluency are being further integrated into existing courses and curriculum, and computer science is being developed into future course offerings.

More information about the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards can be found at http://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/computer-science-and-digital-fluency.

Article submitted by Rachel Heroth, educational technology specialist

In the photos:
At top: Student working with Cubelet robots
Middle photo: Students coding Ozobots
Bottom photo: Rachel Heroth teaches about Cubelet robots with Kreig Heroth

Congratulations to Taylor Potter on winning the Patriot’s Pen essay contest through VFW Post 3275. Forty-two 8th grade students submitted an essay on the topic, “How to be A Good American” to our local VFW Post for review.

Taylor’s essay will advance to the VFW District 3 regional competition. Best of luck, Taylor!

In the photo at top: Fort Plain VFW Jr. Vice Commander Laurence Maynard, Taylor, and Fort Plain VFW Commander Tom Ellwood.

Attention Fort Plain High School families: Lifetouch school picture retake day for the high school is Monday, Dec. 20.

Picture envelopes are available in the main office. Parents can also visit mylifetouch.com and enter picture day ID: EVT3CN8WG

Please contact Mrs. Linda Cole with any questions at linda.cole@fortplain.org.

Attention Hilltopper fans: Fort Plain student-athletes are being provided with passes for spectators at this season’s home games per guidelines issued by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Each Fort Plain athlete will receive four (4) spectator passes for home games, and two (2) spectator passes for away games. Home passes are white, and away passes are purple. Please present passes and check in at the table in the lobby by the Harry Hoag gym.

Limited seating will be available on the bleachers behind the players’ benches. Home fans may also sit in the bleachers by the cheerleaders. Guests will be seated on the bleachers opposite the home team. Chaperones will be available to guide spectators to proper seats.

As a reminder, masks must be worn properly at all on-campus activities. Masks will be available at the front table. Anyone refusing to wear a mask will be asked to leave. Please practice social distancing (3 feet) when around non-family members.

Fort Plain cheerleaders will be performing at home games only.

There will be no admission charge and no concession stand. Food or drink is not allowed in the gym except for players and coaches.

For Hilltopper fans who would like to view virtually, links to live streams and recordings of home games are posted on this website’s View Sports Online page. Check the WAC website for other schools’ streaming links.

For WAC events held at other schools, please check with the host’s school’s website or athletic office regarding their spectator policy. Passes must be presented for entry to sporting events at any school.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to provide opportunities for students and their families to continue to safely enjoy athletics and other activities at our schools.

Please direct any questions to Athletic Director Charlie Karker at charlie.karker@fortplain.org, (518) 993-4000, ext. #2134.

The FPHS Topper Store popcorn machine is back in business, thanks to some Hilltopper teamwork and very talented students.

“Our popcorn machine was in need of a cart,” said Wendy Stokna, business education teacher and work-based learning coordinator. “We had the machine, but no safe way to transport or display merchandise.

“Students from Mr. Heroth’s Tech and Design class solved that problem by designing and creating a cart for the popcorn machine. After listening to design requests, his students went to work developing the design, submitting the design for approval, and then putting the design into production,” Stokna said.

“We are now thrilled to have the machine back at the Topper Store!”

The Tech and Design students built the cart from the ground up – fabricating it from raw materials and finishing it with bright red paint. The completed, custom-designed cart holds the popcorn machine securely, can be moved easily and features fitted, on-board sliding trays and a storage cabinet for displaying the popcorn and storing supplies.

Stokna noted that Work-Based Learning students benefit from working at the Topper Store when it is open and from working on all of the behind-the-scenes activities, including making and bagging popcorn, cleaning the machine, staffing, tracking sales, keeping store records, and promoting sales.

“Thank you Mr. Heroth and Tech and Design Students – great job!”

Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School is proud to announce that 89 students were named to the Honor Roll and 111 students were named to the Principal’s List for the first quarter of the 2021-22 school year. To achieve Principal’s List, a student must earn an average of 89.445 or higher. To achieve Honor Roll, a student must earn an average between 84.445 and 89.444.

Congratulations to all of the students listed below.

Honor Roll

Grade 7
Ziva Barber
Kayden Battisti
Trinity Belliveau
Faith Clark
Keagan Dodson
Nathalieann Hisert
Landon Kretser
Karissa Lambert
Shawn Madden
Kaylee Minckler
Brodie Poultney
Trent Reynolds
Heather Rulison
Sage Smith
Brady Spaulding
Peyton Spicci
Riley Spraker
Jordan Thackrah

Grade 8
Ezra Brown
NyKisha Brown
Logan Burgess
Isaac Clark
Madison Clayburn
Breyanna Gilot
Isis Hammond
Devon Lambert
Daniel Lancaster
Grace McFee
Liberty Pipero
Bradley Rumrill
Nicholas Skiffington

Grade 9
Kaylie Field
Cris-John Fuhs
Serenity Johnson
Morgan McArthur
Emily Rood
Chloee St.Louis
Madison Stuart
Calen Van Alstine
Breidyn Wall
Dustin Welch

Grade 10
Carter Baldwin
Karissa Battisti
Kelsey Buley
Kaeden David
Courtney Euler
Jordan Hillsgrove
Ethan Hubbard
Monika Kulczynski
Sadie Mollel
Darius Priddle
Gracelynn Rice
Joseph Sherman
Payton Skiffington
Breanna Steinhauer
Delana Tracki
Marissa Wilder

Grade 11
Adrian Benson
Americus Cotton
Madison Delgado
Alexis Euler
Andra Fuhs
Iyanna Gilot
Jacen Grassel
Alexandra Handy
Madeline Heroth
Vivian Nunez
Kaitlyn Parker
Gavin Richards
Raul Rivera III
Kristin Sanders
Alyza Scott
Gavin Smith
Page Stone
Savonna Tyler
Aleigha Van Alstine
Phoebe Wagner-Gollinger
Jeffrey Wilday

Grade 12
McKenzie Battisti
Nicholas Blowers
Laura Chambers
Dakota Cresong
Emma Karker
Patrick LeMoine
Hunter Lounsberry
Morgan Morey
Bradyn Myers
Clayton Welch
Johnathan Williams

Principal’s List

Grade 7
Jordyn Best
Gamliel Brackett
Aubry Brant
Kala Clapper
Bryellah D’Arcangelis
Aaliyah Delgado
Deegan Fountain
Jeremy Gebhardt
Mason Gray
Jansheen Haider
Brayden Hakes
Lyllie Handy
Hailey Hayes
Levi Hext
Brooke Jones
Jay Kwasny
Lilly Lapi
Madison Lewis
Gavin Massie
Elle Nare
Faith Narzymski
Alexis Palmeri
Jonathan Palmeri
Zionna Robarge
Kendra Sackett
Larry Sanders III
Silas Smith
Olivia Sweet
Landon VanGorder
Cheyanne Wall

Grade 8
Ian Burns
Josephia Carcasole
Owen Castellano
Emma Cook
Reanna Germond
Koby Herron
McKenna Karker
Dylan Keane
Alexander Lamphere
Kyera Murray
Constance Narzymski
Taylor Potter
Bailie Richardson
Morgan Stock
Jayde TenEyck
Dawson Tracki

Grade 9
Nathan Benson
Zachary Briggs
Jordan Brown
Dakota Cooper
Kaedence David
Yunus Demir
Dakota Dodson
James Douglas
Alexander Ellis
Ashlynn Hart
Vienna Jackson
Payton Landry
Jasmine Lapi
Damien Massie
Asaiah Muha
Xavier Rivera
Nevaeh Rivers
Adriyanna Rouse
Brandon Schuyler

Grade 10
Mason Cook
Aidan Guile
Vandwane Hisert
Brady Keane
Michael Palmeri
Matthew Paul
Devan Sanders
Alex Smith
James Thomas
Austin VanGorder

Grade 11
Cameron David
Stephen Gray
Rylee Herron
Ethan Kilmartin
Brianna Krutz
Anthony Paradiso
Mayreni Quiroz-Romero
Alex Rivkowich
Joseph Stinebrickner III
Natalie Thibodeau

Grade 12
Bryce Anderson
Monique Cool
Erin Crouse
Jacob Curtis
Brandon Dygert
Sarah Florian
Keagen Ford
Michael Harris Jr.
Jaden Hillsgrove
Hailey Hogan
Kerri Johnson
Tucker Jones
Robert Jordan
Shantel Kretser
Owin Landry
Griffin MaGinnis
Tyrell Martin
Braeden Mosher
Talia Narzymski
Emma Oldick
Kasidy Rouse
Lawrence Sinisi
Estee Smith
Levi Thomas
Robert Trumbull
Cheyanne Wahl

Corporal Richards from the Fort Plain Police Department gave an engaging demonstration of his crime technician skills in Dale Smith’s and Kevin Bogus’ Forensics and Criminology class. Corporal Richards showed students how crime techs in the field lift prints off everyday items like windows, water bottles and even dust.

“The students learned it is not as easy as it looks on TV, but it is a very important duty in catching the bad guys,” Bogus said.

Congratulations to Canajoharie-Fort Plain cross country team member Olivia Schaffer, who finished third in the Class D race at the Sectional Meet in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Nov. 5, and then went on to place 13th at the Class D State Meet at Chenango Valley State Park on Saturday, Nov. 13. Olivia is a junior from Canajoharie.

Fort Plain High School Class of 2011 graduate Chelsea Koch has a lot to share with the current students of her alma mater. A microbiologist with New York State by day, she is also the author of “Creatures Most Vile,” a novel for young adults.

Chelsea, who writes under the name Chelsea Lauren, visited with students in Lisa Trembley’s English classes at Fort Plain High School on Nov. 12, including the English 11 Honors class, where she once was a student. She talked with the students about writing, publishing and what she likes to read herself, as well as sharing a bit about her background.

Chelsea talked to the morning classes, reading part of her novel to each class, and answered questions posed by the students. Four students won signed copies of her novel: Natalie Thibodeau, Bree Cassanova, Vincent Lince and Isaac Paul, and all of the students received bookmarks.

“Seeing our students succeed is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a teacher,” Trembley said. “Today, I got to share that reward with my current students when one of my talented former students came in to share her debut novel called ‘Creatures Most Vile’. Through her strong anti-hero, Anora, and through her own experiences, Chelsea encouraged the students to be true to themselves and to fight for what they want in their own lives.”

Chelsea has fond memories of her high school classes, particularly English, which prepared her well for college and beyond.

“As a former student in Mrs. Trembley’s English class, what I remember most is her enthusiasm and encouragement of creative writing,” Chelsea said. “The writing skills she taught provided a great foundation going into college English courses.”

After graduating from Fort Plain, Chelsea attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, where she double-majored in biology and chemistry. Hartwick is a liberal arts college, which means students must take courses in a wide variety of subjects for a well-rounded education. Chelsea took an introduction to creative writing course for this requirement, and that is where she developed her love for writing.

Professionally, Chelsea is a food microbiologist with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, where she analyzes various food and dairy products for food-borne pathogens such as e. coli and salmonella. Her work has contributed to recalls and helps keep food on the shelves safe for consumers.

In addition to writing, Chelsea enjoys crafting and watching monster movies, the latter of which inspired her novel. She is working on a second book of “Creatures Most Vile” and a science fiction project for middle grade readers.

Chelsea lives in Fort Plain.