Twice a week, 25 Hudson Falls students come to school at 6:40 AM to participate in the Zero Block Strength & Conditioning PE class in the fitness center. This program – newly started for the 2022-2023 school year – is a class that teaches strength, mobility, and body-composition training, and has also helped to build a positive school culture.  It is taught by physical education teacher Chris Doody, and has the full support of Athletic Director Ryan Carpenter.  

Carpenter is pleased to have the opportunity to expand the physical education program available in the Hudson Falls Schools: “We’ve seen other schools implement this program and have success with it, and we wanted to build not just a zero block, but a whole strength and conditioning program. It integrates a number of dimensions into our physical education curriculum. We are seeing improvements in our students’ physical and mental well-being. They are developing lifelong knowledge and skills and recognizing the value it has for not only their athletics, but their overall health” he said.

Chris Doody is a Hudson Falls Alumni. His goals for strength and conditioning align with the district’s mission to provide broad opportunities for students to grow and reach their potential: “This class is for students with an above average interest in fitness” Doody said. 

Zero Block offers students a new dimension to their physical education, and students have a variety of motivations for participating in the program – students who had previously been reluctant in the standard PE class have now found success in the weight room, and students who play sports participate to improve their competitiveness.

Senior Chris Simmons’ motivation was to get to gym more often, and Zero Block created the perfect opportunity: “It’s worth it … but, you’ve got to have discipline to get to it” Simmons said; he has lost 20 pounds since starting the class. Junior Seneca Williamson – a three sport athlete who runs cross-country, and plays basketball and lacrosse – is taking the class to improve her performance. She has found that since starting in September, she is stronger and “more explosive” as an athlete.

Each class starts with some type of multidirectional speed work – the students have sprint races, and play mini-games of tag. “We start each class with competitive mini games that not only get us warmed up, but also help us become more explosive in our athletic events.” Doody said. 

A.D Carpenter is pleased with the program: “Chris has done a good job getting kids to buy into his program and the philosophy around strength training and conditioning” Carpenter said.

Hudson Falls is also dedicated to helping the community become more physically fit – the fitness center is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday nights, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. 

For more information, please visit hfcsd.org.

The NYSED has ordered all school districts in the state to remove the “Indian” mascot and associated icons – arrowhead included – from the public school system by the end of the school year. The penalty for not complying with the order includes removal of school officers, and the withholding of state aid. 

The Glens Falls Indian was chosen for the athletic teams in 1941, and the Indian was the theme of the 1943 yearbook… Since this time, additional icons have been added and the Indian symbol became expressive of all the activities in the school. In 1970, there was a dedication to the artist “Tom Two-Arrows – Iroquois, Onondaga Nation”, who sketched the classic Iroquois Chieftain’s head; also in 1970, the arrowhead icon was added. The most recently used arrowhead icons have the GF initials inside of the arrowhead. 

The Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs have long held that the mascots are offensive, and this position is supported by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe: “We adamantly object to the ongoing practice of using Native images, names, likenesses – including in the form of caricatures and logos – and view their continued usage as offensive and a form of institutional racism; particularly by educational institutions and systems that should strive to be supportive environments for inclusiveness and diversity”  The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe said in a statement.  

The National Congress of American Indians responded to an inquiry regarding the harm that the mascot is causing: “ ‘Native American sports mascots, logos, or symbols perpetuate stereotypes of American Indians that are very harmful. The ‘warrior savage’ myth has plagued this country’s relationship with the Indian people, as it reinforces the racist view that Indians are uncivilized and uneducated, and it has been used to justify policies that forced assimilation and destruction” The National Congress of American Indians stated in response.   

Glens Falls intends to create a framework of compliance with the NYSED; their goals include to keep the community connected, to get input from students, staff, families, the school community and alumni, and to have the student cabinet lead the process and make the final recommendation to the Board of Education.

It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the April 2023 Regents meeting. If that happens, then the proposed amendment will become effective as a permanent rule on May 3, 2023.