Charlie and Johnny teamed up for Friday's Forts Ferry Staff Appreciation Breakfast! Farm to School Facilitator Mrs. Amber Cost and second grade teacher Mrs. Guba used a griddle on the Charlie Cart to cook johnnycakes for this morning's festivities. There was jam and honey to add to the small cornmeal flatbreads. In addition, North Colonie Food Services provided a yogurt parfait bar, muffins and coffee. What a great event for the last school day before February break!
This week we honor Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator, civil rights leader, and founder of what became Bethune-Cookman University. As the founder of the National Council of Negro Women, she championed racial and gender equality and expanded opportunities for Black Americans through education and public service. Her legacy as a trusted advisor to U.S. presidents and a lifelong advocate for inclusion continues to inspire progress today.
Forts Ferry Principal Dr. Casey Parker liked it! And a surprising number of students said they loved it! February's Harvest of the Month was roasted Brussels sprouts with NY maple syrup and balsamic and the Lions had the chance to sample the dish during lunch on Wednesday, February 11. The Brussels sprouts certainly weren't for everyone, but we had a good number of students come back up for seconds! "I can't believe how much I like these!" exclaimed one student.
Two representatives from the New York State Education Department's Office of Child Nutrition were on hand to check out our Harvest of the Month. Thank you to North Colonie Food Services for another successful tasting!
Two representatives from the New York State Education Department's Office of Child Nutrition were on hand to check out our Harvest of the Month. Thank you to North Colonie Food Services for another successful tasting!
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, members of the Parliament of Uzbekistan visited Shaker High School to meet with students from AP Government, Civic Engagement, and Gender in Politics classes. Representing a young democracy less than 30 years removed from the Soviet Union, the parliamentarians discussed topics such as modernization, civil rights, youth engagement, and women’s participation in government. The five members were accompanied by two translators, one speaking Russian and the other Uzbek, the country’s primary language. As a recently independent nation, the parliamentarians main goal for this visit was to learn about the structure and workings of the United States government, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of American culture. Their trip was supported by the International Center of the Capital Region (ICCR) and the Congressional Office for International Leadership.
On Monday afternoon, dozens of district students and families gathered to celebrate the artwork in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery. Superintendent Kathleen Skeals welcomed some of our young, aspiring student artists from Southgate, Latham Ridge and Forts Ferry, whose work was selected by their art teachers for display. The featured pieces have been showcased since the start of 2026 and will remain in the gallery through the end February. Congratulations to our talented student artists!
On Thursday, Feb. 5, Mrs. Parks’ Innovation Lab students enjoyed a tasty change of pace with help from the Charlie Cart, a fully equipped mobile kitchen that rolled into school for a Farm to School learning experience. Students tackled hands on tasks like crushing dried parsley with a mortar and pestle, zesting lemons, chopping broccoli and cauliflower, peeling Brussels sprouts, and making breadcrumbs, all while learning knife safety, nutrition, and where food comes from. After discovering that these veggies are all part of the Brassica oleracea family, students watched their dish roast in the Charlie Cart’s convection oven, and, best of all, got to taste their delicious creation!
Classes begin Monday, Feb. 23 and offer opportunities to learn new skills, explore hobbies, and grow personally and professionally. There’s truly something for everyone! In-person registration will be available on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 3–5 p.m. (snow date Feb. 12) at the Central Office, 91 Fiddlers Lane, Latham, NY. Please note that in-person or phone registrations must be paid by check. Kick-off spring with learning and visit our website to register online today!
Crêpes, culture, and a whole lot of fun! On Feb. 4, Shaker Middle School students from French Club and FACS Club teamed up to celebrate La Chandeleur with a hands-on crêpe-making party. Flipping skills were tested, laughs were shared, and delicious memories were made!
Order in the courtroom! Loudonville fifth graders recently took a field trip to the U.S. courthouse in Albany to hold their own mock trial. The classes worked with Judge Nardacci to hold the trial, as a part of their social studies unit featuring Don Quixote. Students played the roles of judge, jury, prosecutors, defendant, and the defense team, in a real courtroom. It was a great day of learning and history!
This Black History Month marks 100 years of Black history and this year’s theme is A Century of Black History Commemorations. As part of our Black History Month celebration, we will highlight influential Black leaders whose impact spans from the past to the present every week. This week we are honoring the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week in 1926 and the Father of Black History. His work led to the official recognition of Black History Month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, and continues to ensure that the contributions, struggles, and achievements of Black Americans are included in our shared history.
Congratulations to the Shaker Science Olympiad team! On Saturday, Jan. 31, Shaker made history at Ballston Spa High School, coming out with a First Place trophy at the Science Olympiad Capital Region Regionals Tournament.
Shaker's Blue Team and White Team, composed of 15 students each, battled it out with 18 other competitive teams from the Capital District in 23 different science events, ranging from builds like Boomilever to labs like Forensics. The Blue Team came out on top, while the White Team placed 8th. The teams received a combined 23 medals—15 of which were top three placements. Not only was it the first time the team has qualified for States in 15 years and only the third time in Shaker history, but it was their best ever performance at a regionals competition.
Shaker's Blue Team and White Team, composed of 15 students each, battled it out with 18 other competitive teams from the Capital District in 23 different science events, ranging from builds like Boomilever to labs like Forensics. The Blue Team came out on top, while the White Team placed 8th. The teams received a combined 23 medals—15 of which were top three placements. Not only was it the first time the team has qualified for States in 15 years and only the third time in Shaker history, but it was their best ever performance at a regionals competition.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the War of 1812 Museum traveled from Plattsburgh, NY to Latham Ridge Elementary. As a follow up to the third grade War of 1812 CKLA Unit, Assistant Museum Director Joy Demarse brought the museum with her to the school. Demarse, a retired educator, focused on sharing the Battle of Plattsburgh with the third graders. She told the stories of Commodore Macdonough (the naval commander) and General Alexander Macomb (the land commander) and how these two encounters ended the war and led to the signing of the peace treaty on Dec. 24. She also showcased artifacts from the museum, offering a "show and tell" of items used during that time, such as writing desks while on a horse, quills, bonnets, lanterns, and more. Thank you for stopping by, Ms. Demarse!
Thank you to the Chinese Community Center for bringing the spirit of Lunar New Year to Boght Hills!
The performance kicked off by teaching students how to say “Happy New Year” in Chinese, along with the proper hand gestures. From there, students were treated to a vibrant celebration of Chinese culture through food, traditions, and incredible performances.
Highlights included a lively dragon dance, unicycling, juggling, and impressive tricks, with two students even joining in on the performance! Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 17, 2026, welcoming the Year of the Horse.
Congratulations to Microsoft Office Certification student Boshra Benantar! Boshra has placed first in New York State and earned a spot to compete this June at the National Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. Boshra achieved this honor by earning a perfect score on her certification exam.
Shaker High School also had two other Microsoft Office Certification students place at the state level. Alex Mahan earned second place, while Aiden Brady earned third place, both with perfect scores as well. The final placements were determined by a tiebreaker based on exam completion time. Great job to our SHS students!
Shaker High School also had two other Microsoft Office Certification students place at the state level. Alex Mahan earned second place, while Aiden Brady earned third place, both with perfect scores as well. The final placements were determined by a tiebreaker based on exam completion time. Great job to our SHS students!
Southgate's 3rd Annual Multicultural Festival was bustling with activity on Friday night, January 30, as students and their families traveled around the world. Students had their passports stamped as they traveled to various countries in the gymnasium, experiencing the many cultural intricacies as they went. In the cafetorium, people sampled a variety of different cuisines while also watching student performances on the stage. It was a fun night had by all!
It's National School Counseling Week! Thank you for your their tireless commitment to our North Colonie students! Be sure to take a moment this week to show your appreciation for all the amazing work your school counselors do.
#nationalschoolcounselingweek
#nationalschoolcounselingweek
Running Club is back at Latham Ridge! The club, which started last year, takes place every Friday, with grades K-2 and 3-5 alternating which Friday they run. Since starting up again at the beginning of the school year, on the K-2 Fridays, members of the club from grades 3-5 help out at the event, handing out popsicle sticks for tracking laps and helping students count up their sticks at the end. Great teamwork, Latham Ridge!
Leave your troubles outside! The Shaker High LaFollette Cafeteria was transformed into a 1920s-style jazz club on Friday night, Jan. 30, for the North Colonie Friends of Music annual Jazzart showcase and fundraiser. More than 30 Shaker Middle and High School students filled the night with vibrant jazz, while eighth-grade chorus students served as wait staff, completing the speakeasy vibe. A special shoutout to Mr. Suzuki, who is retiring after 30 years as a Shaker High School music teacher. This marked his final Jazzart, but his influence will always be an essential note in the ensemble. All proceeds from the evening support future Friends of Music events, celebrating music, students, and community.
The doctors are in at Lansley Hospital! Students in Mrs. Lansley's kindergarten class recently stepped into the operating room, finding missing vowels to finish the letters in their patient's chart. Each kindergarten doctor was scrubbed in, ready to complete the task to help diagnose their patient. Great job to our kindergarten doctors!
Library Trivia is back at Shaker Middle School! On Tuesday, Jan. 20, nine teams gathered in the SMS Media Center for Library Trivia, hosted by SMS Music Teacher Mark Lewis. The event featured questions about popular culture (with an appearance from 6 and 7), all things library, and books that have been turned into movies and TV shows. In the end, "Houston, We Have an Answer!" walked away as the winning team, taking home the (literal) treasure chest of prizes. Great job to all our teams for participating! Thank you to Mr. Lewis for hosting, for the SMS library team for bringing back this event, and to all the teams for giving their best effort!
