A Note From Your Principals...

October 2026

Dear Forts Families,

October has been a wonderful month, and we are so proud of the great start our students and staff have made to the school year! Our classrooms are filled with learning, excitement, and new opportunities, and it has been a joy to see our students settling into their routines, building friendships, and growing each day.

As we move further into fall, we are looking forward to watching the leaves change into beautiful autumn colors. With the change in seasons comes cooler weather, especially in the mornings. Please remember to send your child to school dressed appropriately for the colder temperatures. Jackets, sweatshirts, and other layers will help keep everyone comfortable as we begin our school day.

We recently wrapped up our exciting Spirit Week, and it was wonderful to see so much school pride and enthusiasm throughout the building! Our week ended with a fantastic pep rally on Friday, giving students a chance to come together, celebrate our school community, and show their spirit. Thank you to everyone who helped make the week such a success!

We are also looking forward to one of the most exciting events of the season—our Halloween Trunk or Treat on October 29! We can't wait to celebrate with our students and families and enjoy an afternoon filled with festive fun, costumes, and Halloween excitement.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. It takes a strong school community to make a successful school year, and we are grateful to work alongside such wonderful students, families, and staff. We look forward to all the learning, laughter, and special memories that the fall season will bring!!

Respectfully,

Mr. Culnan & Mrs. Smatko

Fort Edward School Principals

Spirit Week is always one of the best weeks of the school year. Last week students in pK-12th grade celebrated school pride throughout the week with 'Merica Monday, Jersey Day, Beach Party, Color Wars by Grade and Blue and White School Pride Day!

Last week, our Pre-K through 5th-grade students participated in hands-on bus safety training with our dedicated Transportation Department.

As part of the experience, students had the opportunity to board a school bus, learn about essential safety signs, and practice a simulated bus evacuation drill. These interactive lessons help ensure our students feel confident and prepared every time they step onto a bus.

A huge thank you to our bus drivers and transportation team! They do an amazing job taking care of our students and keeping them safe on the road every single day.

Bus Safety Resources for Families

Safety doesn't end at school! Here are a few quick reminders and official resources to review with your child at home:

• The 10-Foot "Danger Zone": Remind children to stay at least 10 feet (about 5 giant steps) away from the front, sides, and back of the bus so the driver can always see them.

• Wait for the Signal: Students should wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and for the driver to signal that it is safe before approaching or crossing.

• Never Reach Under the Bus: If a child drops something near or under the bus, they should never pick it up. Instead, teach them to tell the bus driver immediately.

Each October, we are thrilled to welcome our local heroes from the Fort Edward Fire Department (FEFD) to our school! Firefighters took time out of their schedules to visit classrooms in grades PK–6 to share vital fire safety lessons.

Students learned key fire safety concepts—including how to plan emergency meeting spots—and even got the exciting opportunity to climb inside a real fire truck!

A huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers from the FEFD for dedication, community spirit, and making Fire Prevention Month such an engaging and memorable experience for our students.

Fire Safety Tips for the Home

Help keep the momentum going by reviewing these simple, essential fire safety practices with your family:

• Designate an Outside Meeting Place: Pick a clear, safe spot a safe distance in front of your home (such as a specific tree, mailbox, or neighborhood light pole) where everyone agrees to meet if the alarm sounds.

• Test Smoke Alarms Monthly: Ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace batteries at least once a year.

• Practice Your Escape Plan: Walk through your home with your children and identify two ways out of every room (doors and windows). Practice a home fire drill twice a year.

• Get Out and Stay Out: Remind children that if a fire occurs, they should get out immediately and never go back inside for pets, toys, or personal items. Teach them to call 911 from a neighbor's phone or cell phone once outside.

Helpful Resources for Families

Explore additional guides, interactive games, and printable safety activities with your children at home:

• Sparky’s Schoolhouse (NFPA): Games, videos, and activities designed to make learning fire safety fun for young children.

• USFA Home Fire Safety Guides: Comprehensive guides from the U.S. Fire Administration on smoke alarms and home exit drills.

Fall Sports is winding down and it has been a great fall season for the Forts. Girls Volleyball is heading into sectionals and will play their opening round quarterfinal match at Argyle on Friday, October 30th at 5 pm. The highlight of the girls season was an epic five set comeback versus rival Hartford. Down 14-8 in the deciding fifth set, Kaelyn Nichols served out to help the Forts secure the victory with a 16-14 final set win. The HF/FE Football team is rolling into playoffs with a 6-2 record. Senior Joey Gardner was selected as a nominee for the "Heart of Giant" award presented by USA Football. You can vote Joey at this USA Football site. Boys golf finished their season strong and Lucas Guay led the team in scoring average. Unified Bocce captured their third straight Northern Division championship at the culminating event in Guilderland!

On October 2nd, our school gathered for our monthly Positivity Project (P2) assembly to celebrate student achievement, growth, and the "Other People Mindset" (OPM).

• Attendance All-Stars: We recognized our daily learners with an interactive character strength game. A big shout-out to our Second Graders for leading the school with an incredible 97.45% attendance rate!

• "Out of This World" Behavior: Mrs. Condon’s first graders and Miss Godfrey’s class earned the Principal's Challenge Award for stellar cafeteria manners and teamwork. Both classes will get a visit from the P2 Cart!

• P2 Strengths in Action: Selected by Mr. Cassel, our fourth graders performed "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars. Audience members praised their peers for demonstrating BRAVERY, TEAMWORK, and OPM during the show.

Thank you to our students and staff for continuing to show that character matters!

Dear Flying Fort Families,

We have some fun Halloween-themed activities planned at Fort Edward UFSD! Here’s a reminder of what’s happening:

🎃 Thursday, October 29th: 1st Annual Community Trunk-or-Treat & Halloween Parade

• Time: 4:30–5:30 PM (Gates open at 4:30 PM)

• Location: Fort Edward UFSD Back Track Area

• Parking: Please use the main campus parking lots and walk to the back track area.

Students and families are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and enjoy a fun, safe evening of parading and trick-or-treating with over 25 community partners!

Our schoolwide Halloween Parade will be part of this after-school event rather than during the school day, allowing working families and others who may not be available during the day to participate.

🎃 Friday, October 30th: Annual PTO Pumpkin Patch & Classroom Celebrations

All PK–6th grade students will visit the football field to pick their own pumpkin during our annual PTO Pumpkin Patch!

Students are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween T-shirt or cozy Halloween-themed pajamas to school.

Classrooms may also hold individual celebrations. Please check with your child's teacher for details about classroom parties and activities.

We look forward to celebrating with our Flying Forts! A special thank you to our PTO, staff, and community partners for making these events possible!

Sincerely,

Jessica Smatko

Elementary Principal/ School Improvement Coordinator

https://www.fortedward.org/

Here is a look at some important dates. For a full listing of events happening around the FORT, please check out our website.

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• 10/29: First Annual Fort Edward Community Trunk-or-Treat Event* 4:30PM - 5:30PM
• 11/4: School Picture Day
• 11/10: Emergency Release Day - 2:15PM Dismissal
• 11/11: No school, Veterans Day
• 11/14: Girls on the Run 5K - Albany
• 11/16: Winter Sports Starts
• 11/17: Parent Academy Night 5:00PM - 6:30PM
• 11/20, 11/23, 11/24: Parent/Teacher Conferences - PK-6 Early Dismissal @ 11:00AM