Nardolillo was given the Excellence in School Board Service Award for her time on the North Colonie Board of Education and her dedication to creating opportunities and positive outcomes for students. Smollin was given the Friends of Education award for her unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of students and strengthening the North Colonie community.
During the evening, it was noted that both Nardolillo and Smollin have worked tirelessly - often behind the scenes - to support our district and ensure our students thrive. Congratulations Ms. Nardolillo and Ms. Smollin! North Colonie is lucky to have you!
Monday, May 11 was an evening of celebration, as North Colonie CSD awarded tenure to 43 employees. The evening also celebrated over 80 faculty and staff members who reached milestone anniversaries of 20, 25, 30, 35, and 41 years of service. Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, honorees were recognized during a ceremony featuring remarks from Board of Education President Linda Harrison and Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Skeals. Please join us in celebrating these remarkable educators and staff members for their commitment and contributions to the district!
Dear North Colonie Community,
This year I went on a very special journey to find my name. We invited our wonderful community to share suggestions and you truly delivered with over 1,000 ideas.
We narrowed them down to the top six suggestions and I traveled through the buildings, visiting each elementary school along the way. Every student had the chance to vote. After months of visits, it was time for the middle and high school to vote.
Once all the votes were in, my work began quietly behind the scenes as I counted every last one. I kept the results a secret until the big moment finally arrived at my birthday bash and North Colonie's 75th Anniversary Celebration!
Even the rain could not stop the celebration; we simply moved inside and kept the joy going. Thank you to everyone who attended, voted, and contributed name ideas! A special thank you to the students, staff, and alumni who suggested the name I will now proudly carry. This name was suggested by many of you in our North Colonie community, so it means everything to me that it was then selected by our students!
I am grateful for this community and all the care that went into this process. I cannot wait to see you all again soon.
Sincerely,
Bryson the Bison
We are pleased to share that all planned activities will continue as scheduled. Guests can look forward to booths, food, Kona Ice, the official Bison name reveal, student performances, games, and plenty of exciting surprises throughout the event. We hope to see everyone tomorrow (Saturday, May 9), from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For entry, please use either the H-Gym entrance or the Main Office entrance at Shaker High School. Student and staff volunteers will be available throughout the event to assist and provide directions to help ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all attendees.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone together indoors and making it a memorable day for the entire North Colonie community.
Jeff Coffin told SMS band director Omar Williams that the group was his favorite band he heard all day. SMS 7th grader Elise Sanderl won "Outstanding MS Musician" and was awarded a $50 gift card to John Keal Music.
The first cupcake design was painted by Shaker High School art teacher Genevieve Chornyak, followed by eight additional creations from her talented students: Qwin Liquigan, William Powell, Anu Thennarasu, Tessa Travers, Zariya Ahmed, Maya Aguirre Mucia, and Raegan Murphy.
Pictured are our elementary art teachers preparing for the recent art show at the William K Sanford Town Library in Colonie. Have a fun story or photo of a North Colonie teacher to share? Email us at communications@nccsk12.org!
It was an incredible celebration at the Boght Hills International Festival on April 25! It was the eighth year of the festival, which features delicious foods, vibrant performances, and the sharing of traditions from around the world. Thank you to everyone who participated, performed, volunteered, and attended-we couldn’t have done it without you!
Congratulations to ninth grade art accelerated student Sofia Kennedy, who was recently announced as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Contest! Sofia's work, a 18x24 charcoal self portrait is titled "Composed," will represent the 20th Congressional District and will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Sofia was named the winner of the contest by Congressman Tonko on Friday, May 1. Along with Sofia and her extended family, her art teacher Kimberley Case was on hand to celebrate this accomplishment. This is the ninth time the Shaker High School Art Department has achieved this top award. Sofia and her family have been invited to a national ceremony in Washington in June to celebrate this honor.
Have a fun story or photo of a North Colonie teacher to share? Email us at communications@nccsk12.org!
Maya leads by example as the president of the Cooking and Culture Club, co-president of the Psychology Club, and a founding leader of the Pre-Law Society. From the very beginning, she demonstrated professionalism, organization, and drive, reaching out to coordinate meetings and helping establish the Pre-Law Society in its first year. Ms. Leach praised Maya’s maturity and dedication, noting how seamlessly she stepped into a leadership role.
Maya has also played a key role in bringing the school community together through meaningful events. She helped lead the return of the Shaker High School Multicultural Festival, a district-wide celebration featuring food, music, and traditions from around the world that drew hundreds of attendees. She also contributed to organizing a Holidays Around the World event, always ensuring inclusivity and representation are at the forefront.
We are proud to recognize Maya for her commitment to leadership, cultural awareness, and community engagement. Congratulations, Maya!
¡Felicitaciones! Shaker High School sophomore Carolina Donati has been awarded the 2026 Cynthia K. Hoetzer Spanish Speaking Award! The purpose of this award is to promote the further development of oral Spanish language proficiency beyond current levels. Carol, a Spanish Honors Society member, can choose to use the award towards a language immersion program of her choice. Additionally, Carol scored a silver medal on the National Spanish Exam, scoring in the 90% percentile of achievement when compared to Spanish students nationwide. Congratulations to Carol on her amazing achievements!
