A Note From Your Principals...

Dear Fort Edward School Community,

It is hard to believe that we have already rounded the halfway mark of the school year. With the second quarter now behind us and our students having celebrated their 100th day of school, Spirit Week, and the much needed Winter Break, we are energized for the months ahead.

We are also incredibly proud to officially announce the top two scholars for the Class of 2026:

Gabrielle Durkee has been named Valedictorian, and Rue Quarters has been named Salutatorian. Both students have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their studies, and we celebrate this significant milestone with them.

March is a wonderful stretch of time for students to "hunker down" and keep their academic goals at the forefront. While much of the year is behind us, there is still a great deal of meaningful work to do. This month, we also celebrate our P2 (Positivity Project) character strength of "Love of Learning" through our PK-12 PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) program. This year’s theme is the "Reading Olympics."

A major highlight of this month is our goal for every PK-5 classroom to be visited by our 6-12th grade students for "Buddy Reading" sessions. This cross-age connection is truly what makes Fort Edward special; it is a powerful way for us to gather as a full school community and put our "Other People Matter" mindset into practice. Seeing our older students mentor and read with our younger students perfectly embodies the spirit of the P2 lessons we have been working on together all year. Please see the article below for more details on these Olympic-themed activities.

As we eagerly await warmer weather, we would like to remind families that daily school attendance remains critical to student success. Consistency in the classroom is the foundation for the academic and social progress we see in our students every day.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such a vital part of our school family.

Respectfully,

Mr. Culnan and Mrs. Smatko
Fort Edward School Principals

Celebrating Character and Growth: February’s P2 Assembly

On February 6th, our school community gathered for our monthly Positivity Project (P2) assembly—a high-energy event dedicated to celebrating the students, classrooms, and grade levels that embody our core values. This month’s assembly was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the hard work of our learners and reinforce the "Other People Mindset" (OPM).

Spotlighting Attendance All-Stars

Attendance is a vital part of student success, and we were thrilled to honor those who show up ready to learn every day. We reviewed our P2 character strengths through a fun, interactive review game that put our Attendance All-Stars in the spotlight.

We are incredibly proud to announce that, year to date, 18 students have maintained PERFECT ATTENDANCE! A special shout-out goes to our Third Graders, who led the school last month with an impressive 94.83% overall attendance rate.

Academic Achievements and Growth

The celebration continued as we recognized academic milestones. Our 5th graders truly "knocked it out of the park" by winning the Principal’s Challenge for iReady Growth. Their dedication to personal and academic improvement is a shining example for the entire school.

"Out of This World" Behavior

Good character extends beyond the classroom and into the cafeteria! We are proud to announce that Mrs. Suprenant's kindergarteners and Ms. Brewer's fifth graders received the Principal's Challenge Award for "Out of this World" lunch behavior. As a reward for their stellar manners and teamwork, both classes will enjoy a special visit from the P2 Cart.

Living the Other People Mindset

Beyond the numbers and awards, the assembly served as a vital check-in on the Other People Mindset (OPM). By recognizing classrooms and grade levels that prioritize kindness, teamwork, and support for one another, we continue to strengthen the Positivity Project pillar that makes our school a great place to be.

Congratulations to all our recognized students and classrooms! Let’s keep that momentum going as we head into the next month.

The Middle High School recently gathered to celebrate academic achievements and the "Other People Mindset." Students were recognized for their academic success and strong character. At the end of the assembly, Principal Culnan announced the winners of Mid-Year Incentive Challenge, who then had a special morning with games, activities and snacks.

A reminder that the end of year incentive started on March 2nd and goes through May! No more than 2 absences and zero referrals to qualify!

Here is a link to all of the assembly pictures.

Fort Edward UFSD Hosts Inaugural Parent Academy Night

On Tuesday, January 27th, Fort Edward UFSD held its first-ever Parent Academy Night. In partnership with BHSN, the event provided a platform for over 20 parents to discuss navigating the challenges facing today’s youth, with a primary focus on encouraging attendance and addressing school refusal.

A Community Effort

The evening featured:

• Family Dinner: A delicious free meal catered by our own Food Service crew.
• Supervised Fun: While parents attended the meeting, nearly 30 children were entertained by staff and student volunteers with crafts, face painting, and gym activities.
• Thrift Store: Ms. Westad concluded the night by opening our school Thrift Store for all to enjoy.

Parent Feedback

Families appreciated the "real scenarios" and practical mental health insights shared. One parent noted, "It was helpful to identify how a lack of a solid morning routine can be problematic," while another felt reassured learning their child is "more like other children than I thought."

Resources & Feedback

If you missed the session, you can access the BHSN Parent Academy Presentation here.

We want to hear from you! What topics would you like to see featured in our next Parent Academy? Please take a moment to fill out our Parent Academy Feedback Google Form. https://forms.gle/Vg3U2PgYA5ZY33r19

A special thank you to our BHSN partners: Meghan Mitchell, Amber Wall, Dawn Green, Lauren Waters, and Gabby Grogan.

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.

• 3/2 - 3/30 PARP Month (Pick a Reading Partner
• 3/4 - PK and K Registration 2PM - 6PM
• 3/9 - Spring Sports Starts (Varsity and JV)
• 3/10 - Battle of the Books Finals: SUNY Adirondack
• 3/13 - Drama Club Presents - Shrek the Musical 7PM
• 3/14 - Drama Club Presents - Shrek the Musical 2PM
• 3/16 - Superintendent Conference Day - No school for students!
• 3/18 - Brooks BBQ Event - Sponsored by the International Club 3PM - 7PM - Tickets Needed
• 3/19 - PTO Meeting @ 5PM, Booster Club Meeting @ 6PM
• 3/21 - Family Fun Day - 9AM - 11AM
• 3/20 - 3/27 - Scholastic Book Fair
• 3/23 - Modified Sports Starts
• 3/26 - McTeacher Night - Fort Edward McDonalds 4PM - 6PM
• 3/27 - Assembly: Saratoga Opera performs Stone Soup
• 4/2 - Annual PE Show - Grades PK - 5 @ 1:30PM
• 4/3 - 4/10 - Spring Break - No school
• 4/5 - 4/13 - International Club goes to Ireland!
• 4/21 - 4/22 - Grades 3-8 NYS Testing: ELA

Dear K-5 Families,

With recent report cards, you received an i-Ready Diagnostic report. We want to help you understand how to use this data to support your child's learning.

What is i-Ready?
It is an adaptive assessment—not a grade. It identifies exactly what your child knows and what they still need to learn. This helps teachers personalize instruction for every student.

Helpful Links:

• How to read the results? PDF resource
• [Short Video] Understanding the data.

Top 3 Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What if my child is below grade level? Don't worry. This helps us create a plan to accelerate their learning. It’s a starting point, not a final result.
2. Why did their score go down? Scores can fluctuate due to stress, focus, or fatigue. We look at i-Ready as just one of many tools to measure progress.
3. How can I help? Review the report and talk with your child about their strengths.

If you have questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. We are here to support you!

Respectfully,

Jessica Smatko

Elementary Principal