Tuesday night, district students and families visited Central Office to view their artwork in the Superintendent's Art Gallery. Superintendent Kathleen Skeals was on hand to greet the artists in grades K-12 who had art chosen for the gallery which has been up since the beginning of the school year. The pieces were selected from last school year and will remain on display through the end of October. Congratulations to all!
The Shaker Middle School fall play is here! On Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m., SMS will host "Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine," a one act murder mystery that will leave audiences howling with laughter.
Tickets are $10 and will be go on sale this Saturday, Oct. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. in the SMS lobby. Tickets will also be sold in the SMS cafeteria the week of Oct. 27 after school from 3-3:30 p.m.
"Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine" is also collaborating with the SMS Food Pantry for donations. On the night of the show, the audience is encouraged to bring a cereal box or cash donation to the SMS Food Pantry program. Anyone who donates will be entered into a raffle to win a prize basket. We hope to see you at the show!
Tickets are $10 and will be go on sale this Saturday, Oct. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. in the SMS lobby. Tickets will also be sold in the SMS cafeteria the week of Oct. 27 after school from 3-3:30 p.m.
"Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine" is also collaborating with the SMS Food Pantry for donations. On the night of the show, the audience is encouraged to bring a cereal box or cash donation to the SMS Food Pantry program. Anyone who donates will be entered into a raffle to win a prize basket. We hope to see you at the show!
Unified Bocce celebrated their first Senior Night on Tuesday! They recognized the hard work and dedication of their three seniors.
Bolaji Owodunni has been part of Unified Sports for one year and is involved with Include the Blue. Bolaji plans to attend HVCC or UAlbany and says, “It’s fun playing the games with teammates.”
Kendra Growick has participated in Unified Sports for three years and is also involved in Include the Blue, Unified Basketball, Unified Bowling, and Bison Buddies. Kendra plans to attend college and continue working, sharing, “I like to help out other kids and it is a lot of fun.”
Shannon O’Neill has been a member of Unified Sports for two years and is involved with Include the Blue, Bison Buddies, and Varsity Softball. She plans to study psychology to become an occupational therapist, saying, “I wanted to be part of something that brings people of all abilities together while being positive and supportive.”
Congratulations to these seniors who embody teamwork, inclusivity, and Shaker pride both on and off the court.
Bolaji Owodunni has been part of Unified Sports for one year and is involved with Include the Blue. Bolaji plans to attend HVCC or UAlbany and says, “It’s fun playing the games with teammates.”
Kendra Growick has participated in Unified Sports for three years and is also involved in Include the Blue, Unified Basketball, Unified Bowling, and Bison Buddies. Kendra plans to attend college and continue working, sharing, “I like to help out other kids and it is a lot of fun.”
Shannon O’Neill has been a member of Unified Sports for two years and is involved with Include the Blue, Bison Buddies, and Varsity Softball. She plans to study psychology to become an occupational therapist, saying, “I wanted to be part of something that brings people of all abilities together while being positive and supportive.”
Congratulations to these seniors who embody teamwork, inclusivity, and Shaker pride both on and off the court.
Loudonville fifth graders in Ms. Stinney's class recently learned all about Diwali, thanks to fifth grader Niam Parikh. Niam gave a short presentation on what Diwali is, how to celebrate, the history behind it, and more. The class participated in a stencil activity to make rangoli, a traditional Indian art form where intricate patterns are created on the floor using materials like colored sand, flower petals, rice flour, or colored rocks. At the conclusion of the activity, students received diyas, which are small lamps that are lit during Diwali to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. Thank you to Niam for sharing the history of Diwali with us!
Leaves are falling, making it the perfect time to learn about trees! On Friday morning, Blue Creek first and second graders discovered the differences between maple, oak, and evergreen trees. Farm to School Facilitator Ms. Cost led the lesson alongside High School Environmental Science teacher Mr. Rodewald and his eleventh and twelfth graders. Together, they explored the Blue Creek grounds, identifying trees in real time! Elementary students practiced telling the maples apart, while the high schoolers worked to name each specific species.
Reminder: No school on Monday, Oct. 20 for K-12 Superintendent’s Conference Day and in Observance of Diwali.
Welcome to our exchange students from Costa Rica! The group of students from Humboldt High School arrived on Monday, October 13 to a welcome from Shaker High School students and host families.
This week, the group took a trip to Albany to visit the Capitol building, NYS Museum and the Corning Tower. They also took a day trip to Lake Placid to see the Olympic Center and High Falls Gorge on a beautiful fall day. On Friday, students attended SHS Spanish classes during the day before heading the varsity football game as part of "The Barn" student section at night. Pura vida!
This week, the group took a trip to Albany to visit the Capitol building, NYS Museum and the Corning Tower. They also took a day trip to Lake Placid to see the Olympic Center and High Falls Gorge on a beautiful fall day. On Friday, students attended SHS Spanish classes during the day before heading the varsity football game as part of "The Barn" student section at night. Pura vida!
The competition was fierce between Unified Bocce and the Shaker High School faculty Friday afternoon! Our Unified athletes, in their home blues, showed their teachers and administrators a thing or two about the sport. With four matches taking place simultaneously, there was plenty for students and staff in the crowd to cheer about!
Thursday afternoon at Forts Ferry, second graders got their hands dirty learning how to plant garlic, just in time for spooky season! With help from Innovation Lab teacher Ms. Park, Farm to School Facilitator Ms. Cost, and Jamie from Forts Ferry Farm, students learned how food grows from the ground up. The district’s six gardens continue to bring lessons in sustainability, nutrition, and community to life, one clove at a time.
It’s National School Lunch Week! Over the last 75 years, our Food and Nutrition Services team has been nourishing generations of students. Thank you for all that you do!
Have any other photos from the last 75 years? Send them to us at communications@nccsk12.org. We love to see them! #NC75 #throwbackthursday
Have any other photos from the last 75 years? Send them to us at communications@nccsk12.org. We love to see them! #NC75 #throwbackthursday
Spot the Bison! The Bison’s been busy brewing something big! Keep an eye out on our socials… soon, you’ll have a chance to help decide what we’ll be calling our Bison!
What a day at the Districtwide 4th & 5th Grade Cross Country Meet at Colonie Town Park! Students tackled the one mile course with determination, cheered on by families, friends, staff, and members of the boys and girls Shaker varsity cross country teams. And a special highlight, Mr. Austin came out of retirement to emcee the meet, keeping the energy high from start to finish!
Get ready to “Taste the World” during National School Lunch Week, October 13–17, 2025. Join us in celebrating global flavors and nutritious meals served right in our school cafeterias.
This week we celebrate Board of Education Recognition Week! Thank you to our dedicated board members, Linda Harrison (President), Matthew Cannon (Vice President), Nicholas Comproski, Michelle Dischiavo, Ayesha Geter, Samuel Johnson, Mary Nardolillo, and Melissa Veino, for their leadership, commitment, and continued support of our students, staff, and community.
Shaker Middle School eighth grade student Livia Lu was invited to perform at the Colonie Town Board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2. Livia played the piano at the meeting as a part of a new initiative, introduced by Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey, to showcase outstanding student musicians. Livia was the first student this year to be recognized. Great job representing SMS and the district, Livia!
Hooked on learning and fishing! Just last year, five students asked Shaker Middle School Principal Mr. Chamberlain if they could start a fishing club. One year later, that idea has grown into a group of nearly 80 students, many of whom had never even held a fishing pole before. The club enjoys catch and release trips each season, and on Wednesday afternoon, they cast their lines at the Town Hall pond. This marks the final trip of the fall, but they’re already reeling in excitement for spring!
Reminder: No school on Monday, Oct. 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day.
Fall Family Festival is just hours away! Join us tonight from 5-7 p.m. at the Shaker High School inner courtyard for fall related fun, crafts, music, art and more!
Earlier this week, Blue Creek kicked off the fall festivities with the Inaugural Apple Festival & Cookout! It included plenty of food, fun and fall related activities just outside of the Blue Creek Garden and Apple Orchard. Thank you to everyone who came out for the event! We hope to see you at SHS tonight!
Earlier this week, Blue Creek kicked off the fall festivities with the Inaugural Apple Festival & Cookout! It included plenty of food, fun and fall related activities just outside of the Blue Creek Garden and Apple Orchard. Thank you to everyone who came out for the event! We hope to see you at SHS tonight!
Shaker High School German Club celebrated Oktoberfest today, but this year the event was extra special as our German exchange students were there to celebrate with us! Danke schön to all who joined us for the celebration! The festivities included plenty of delicious food, a donut eating contest, fun crafts, and (of course) plenty of music and dance with a few rounds of musical chairs. Prost to new friendships, shared cultures, and great memories!
Congratulations to Shaker High School alum ('71) and former Athletic Director Dave Herman on his induction into the Capital Region Track, Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame this past weekend! Herman was celebrated among 10 athletes and coaches in the eighth class of inductees on Saturday, October 4, at the Albany Marriott in Colonie.
Herman established 12 school records in his time at Shaker and dominated Section 2 in his signature event, the low hurdles. In his senior year, he was selected as New York State Indoor Track Athlete of the Year (1971). Herman received a full scholarship to the University of Florida and during his freshman year, set a school record for the indoor 70-yard low hurdles and placed fifth in the outdoor 440-yard intermediates at the Southeast Conference Championships.
Herman established 12 school records in his time at Shaker and dominated Section 2 in his signature event, the low hurdles. In his senior year, he was selected as New York State Indoor Track Athlete of the Year (1971). Herman received a full scholarship to the University of Florida and during his freshman year, set a school record for the indoor 70-yard low hurdles and placed fifth in the outdoor 440-yard intermediates at the Southeast Conference Championships.
