Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Steve Bradley
The Lady Panthers weren’t very gracious hostesses at their tournament. They did not allow their opponents to score. In the championship game, the Panthers barely allowed the opponent to step on the Panther end of the field.
[Read more…] about Panthers Dominate HFCS Field Hockey Tourney
by Steve Bradley
The HFCS Panther golf team rolled to two victories over the past week, defeating Tamarac and Mechanicville on the opponents’ home links.
Last Thursday, the Panthers defeated Tamarac 5 – 0. Senior Eric Bloomer shot a 41, making him the medalist and earning him his sixth sectional score. Andrew Hoag, Jake Nolan, Connor Smith and Hayden Smith all won their matches. Nolan also shot his second sectional score, a 44.
On Tuesday the team traveled to Mechanicville and came home with a 3½ to 1½ victory. Hoag shot a 43, earning him medalist for the match. Eric Bloomer, Nolan and Hayden Smith all tied their opponents. Hoag and Conner Smith earned wins.
This week the Panthers play Cambridge at HFCC on Thursday, September 11 and host Greenwich September 17. Matches begin at 4 pm.
An open house for Hoosick Falls High School will be held on September 25 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their child’s teacher and visit their classrooms.
by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls Central School Board presented its State of the Schools report at its August meeting. The District is improving in almost every measurement.
Hoosick Falls moved up in The Capital District Business Review rankings from number 34 to number 26.
The percentage of students earning a Regents diploma remained steady, from 87% last year to 86% this year, but the percentage earning an advanced Regents diploma went from 43% last year to 51% this year.
The graduation rate remained steady, from 93% last year to 92% this year. The number of course failures went down dramatically, from 178 last year to 79 this year. The Regents passing rate was very slightly up from 90% last year to 91% this year, but the Regents Mastery rate was down a bit from 39% last year to 35% this year.
Some Goals Exceeded, Some Not
The District had set goals for student performance for the 2013-2014 year. They exceeded the goal for Regents passing rate but fell short of the goal of 40% Regents mastery rate, achieving a 35% mastery rate.
The District exceeded its goal of 90% graduation rate and exceeded its goal of 50% advanced Regents diploma but missed the goal of 90% Regents diplomas, reaching just 86%. The District set a goal of 20% improvement in proficiency rates on the grades 3-8 Math and English Assessments. They actually improved 1.5% in English and 5.4% in Math on those tests.
Sports And Arts Excel
In addition to progress in academic performance, there was much to celebrate in sports and the arts. The District had multiple teams that were sectional champs and league champs, and nine of the school’s 13 sports teams were scholar-athlete teams. The Drama Department produced two very successful shows, the Choir performed in many prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, and many of the student musicians made the All-County band, and three made the All-State band.
The full State of the School Report is available from the District Office.
by Steve Bradley
Tickets for the Hoosick Falls Panther football team season opener are still available.
by Steve Bradley
The HFCS girls varsity soccer team started the season with a Friday evening under the lights game at Mt. Anthony High School in Bennington. Led by new head coach Brittany Pine, who has been an integral part of the HFCS soccer coaching staff for many years, the girls had their ups and downs throughout the game. With the loss of several key players due to graduation, many players were varsity starters for the first time.
by Steve Bradley
Last Friday, the Panther golfers hosted Stillwater at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. The Panthers scored 3½ points, with Stillwater gathering 1½. Andrew Hoag and Eric Bloomer shared the medalist position, each shooting a 39.
On Tuesday the Panthers traveled up to the Battenkill Country Club to play the Greenwich Witches. The Panthers suffered their first loss of the season, 0 – 5. Greenwich’s Kevin Williamson was medalist.
The Panthers record now stands at 5 – 1.
Next
Over the next week the Panthers will travel to Troy to play Tamarac at Frear Park on Thursday, September 4, at 4 pm. Tuesday, September 9, they play Mechanicville away at 4 pm. On Wednesday, September 10, the Panthers travel to Hoosic Valley for a 4 pm start.
by Steve Bradley
The HFCS golf team is off to a great start, going 4 – 0 and grabbing 18 out of a possible 20 points.
On Thursday, August 21, the team played its first match against Tamarac at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. The Panthers grabbed the five available points. Eric Bloomer was the medalist and also recorded his first sectional score. Andrew Hoag also shot a sectional score.
The next day the Panthers faced off against Mechanicville at the HFCC. The Panther team once again nabbed the five points. Hoag and Bloomer competed for the medalist position, with Hoag getting it with a 36, Eric Bloomer shot a 38. Hoag, Eric Bloomer and Ryan Bloomer, Eric’s younger brother, all shot a sectional score.
This past Monday the team played Hoosic Valley at the HFCC. Hoosick Falls grabbed four of the available five points. Medalist for the match was Ryan Bloomer, with a 41. Andrew Hoag and Jake Nolan each scored a 42, giving them a sectional score.
On Wednesday, the team gathered at 8:30 am at the HFCC to play Cambridge. The Panthers took four of five points. Andrew Hoag was medalist and was credited with a sectional score. Eric Bloomer was also credited with a sectional score, shooting a 40.
Coming up next week, the Panthers will face Greenwich at Battenkill CC on Tuesday, September 2, at 4 pm. Wednesday, September 3, will find the team traveling to Granville for a 2 pm start, and on September 4 they will face Tamarac at Frear Park in Troy, beginning at 4 pm.
submitted by Judy Frost, Public Information Specialist
A group of incoming Hoosick Falls eighth-graders spent a week in August exploring the great outdoors learning about the environment and a range of environmental careers.
