From pencils and paper in 2006 to a classroom full of curious minds in 2025, learning has always been at the heart of our schools. We’re proud to look back at the students who filled our classrooms years ago and just as proud of the learners continuing that tradition today!
Have photos from the last 75 years? Send them to us at communications@nccsk12.org. We’d love to see them! #NC75 #ThrowbackThursday
Shaker High School’s World Language Department celebrated the 3rd annual induction ceremony of the Felipe VI Chapter of La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica!
A total of 91 students were honored for their dedication to Spanish language and culture, showcasing excellence in academics and a passion for global connections.
Congratulations to our newest members, and thank you to the families who joined us to celebrate this special milestone!
Blue Creek Elementary third, fourth, and fifth graders welcomed visitors from IBM Research, on Wednesday, March 11. The researchers introduced students to exciting STEM careers and showed them how various topics they learn in school connects to real-world innovation. Students learned about conductors, semiconductors, insulators, computer chips, nanos, and nanometers while taking part in hands-on activities like transferring patterns using light, examining samples, and even trying on a cleanroom suit just like real researchers. Thank you to IBM Research for inspiring our future scientists, engineers, and innovators!
Lose your blues and kick off your Sunday shoes at Shaker Theatre's production of Footloose! The show will take place on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are now available! Visit https://shsnccs.booktix.com to purchase tickets for any show. Tickets have been selling quickly - don't miss out!
March 4 to 6, marked the 62nd Annual New York State DECA State Competition in Rochester. In just their third year as a DECA charter, this was the first time Shaker qualified for states. The team, consisting of juniors Adithya Thumila and Ansh Maurya and sophomore Srivar Gillela, represented Shaker High School while competing against over 3,500 students from across New York State. Adithya and Ansh earned medals in their events, marking a memorable achievement. Special thanks to senior and outgoing president Naisha Majmudar for establishing DECA at Shaker High School. DECA provides students with opportunities in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through competitions, leadership development, and real-world experience.
Shaker High School band teacher Samantha Baldwin has been nominated for the Manilow Music Teacher Award! This national award honors outstanding music educators, and the winner receives a prize of $5,000 for classroom instruments to support their students and music program. The winner will receive VIP tickets to Barry Manilow’s concert and will be presented their award in person during a special backstage ceremony with Mr. Manilow. Please vote daily and share to help support Samantha and the Shaker High School music program! Congratulations Samantha! Vote daily here: https://on.barrymanilow.com/trk/mmpalbany
SOLD OUT! We're not the only ones excited about Shaker Middle School's performance of the "Descendants: The Musical." Our students and staff are putting the finishing touches on the show, which will take place on Friday, March 13 & Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. Best of luck to the cast and crew, it's sure to be a wickedly fun show!
On Thursday, March 5, Mr. Sam Halpern’s health class took a field trip to the Albany Capital Center for the Northeastern Community Action Partnership (NECAP)’s Eighth Annual Youth Summit. Mr. Halpern was accompanied by fellow health educators Mr. Dave Stadtlander, Mr. Ryan Deguire, and Mr. Tyler Catalfamo.
For the past four years, Shaker High School has been among the many schools attending this health and safety summit. This year, students focused on learning about the dangers of various addictions. Mr. Deguire reflected on a presentation by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Dewey, explaining that “it gives them the foundation to go out and make informed, educated decisions about their health down the road.”
Students and faculty also had the opportunity to hear from multiple speakers and participate in interactive activities. One activity, the Hand Release Challenge, was run by the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. Sophomores Mikayla Wilson and Andrew Gecewicz represented Shaker in the challenge, where participants had two minutes to complete as many hand-release pushups as possible. Wilson placed third with 55 pushups.
Wilson and Gecewicz first joined Mr. Halpern’s health class as freshmen and have continued with it since. Both students left the summit with new knowledge about addiction, including ways to recognize it and strategies for prevention. By the end of the day, students returned to Shaker not only with new experiences, but also with valuable lessons about making healthy choices and looking out for themselves and others.
Louis Jin
Yiming Chen
Claire Qiu
Isa Wang
Aiden Li
Aana Pradham
Aaron Yu
Adri Dutta
Tanmay Prasad
Yathin Jakkanna
Livia Lu
William Ni
Four of the top 12 students in attendance who made it to the final Countdown round were from Shaker. Those students were Louis Jin, Claire Qiu, Yiming Chen and Isa Wang. Louis Jin ended up being our top finisher, coming in third place overall. A big shout to the team on a wonderful accomplishment. Special thanks goes out to the Math club advisor at SMS, Mrs. Jenn Garnett, for supporting our students.
In mid-February, 22 SHS students traveled to Saabruecken, Germany to stay with their exchange students for 10 days. This was the 20th anniversary of the exchange program between SHS and the partner school Ludwigsgymnasium. Having hosted the German students in October 2025, it was SHS's turn to experience German culture and language firsthand! The students attended classes and took day trips to cities nearby, including historic Heidelberg and the former Roman city of Trier. Some students traveled to nearby France or Luxembourg and spent a day in Paris or Strasbourg. The trip ended with a four day stay in Berlin, Germany’s capital. Students explored the rich history of the city at the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center, and a tour of the Reichstag. The two week trip was an unforgettable immersion into the target language and culture, and life-long friendships and connections were formed. Thank you to our chaperones (Melissa Brandt, Robert Pollaro, and Christine Connor) for helping to make this trip a success. On to the next 20 years!
Lose your blues and kick off your Sunday shoes at Shaker Theatre's production of Footloose! The show will take place on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are now available! Visit https://shsnccs.booktix.com to purchase tickets for any show. Tickets have been selling quickly - don't miss out!
For the fourth straight year, Ms. Vanessa Fulmore's fourth graders at Southgate presented Our History, Our Heroes: Black History Living Wax Museum. As part of their studies during Black History Month in February, each student in Ms. Fulmore’s class selected an influential Black figure in history for a research project. Each student created an informational report, as well as a visual presentation, and the project culminated with the living wax museum.
On Thursday, February 26, students dressed up and transformed into their influential individual, bringing that person's story to life with a biographical reading when prompted with the touch of a button. Some students read off an index card, while others chose to memorize their subject's story. Students had posterboards with photos and information to go along with their live presentation and written report. For the full story, go to news stories.
