Tickets for the Shaker Middle School fall play, "Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine," are on sale now! Tickets are $10 and will be on sale today, Saturday, Oct. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. in the SMS lobby. The show will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
The sun came out just in time for the 23rd annual Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor! This annual event allows for fifth grade LEP students from across the district to get hands on experience, travelling to the Hudson Shores Park to use nets, minnow pots, and water-testing gear. The group aims to catch and release many of the Hudson’s 200-plus species of fish throughout the day, while also tracking the river’s tides and currents and examined water chemistry and quality. Great job on another successful year, fifth graders!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
Shaker High School freshman Sharvesh Srinivasan is being honored for some of the work he did as an eighth grader last school year! Sharvesh was named one of the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC). Additionally, his science fair project titled, “Reaction Time of Nickel-Titanium Artificial 'Muscles' from 0.5 Amperes to 5.0 Amperes,” won first place in the Junior Division at the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair in March and earned him an invitation to the STANYS State Science Congress. Congratulations Sharvesh! Go to the link in our bio for the full story.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
October is National Principals Month! We’re celebrating and thanking our eight incredible principals for their leadership, dedication, and the countless ways they support our students, staff, and the entire district every day. We appreciate all that you do!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
Look how much the Bison has changed! Over the years, the Bison has come a long way!
Have any other photos from the last 75 years? Send them to us at communications@nccsk12.org. We love to see them! #NC75 #throwbackthursday
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
It’s time! The Bison is finally getting a name and we need your help to make history! For 75 years our Bison mascot has gone without a name, and now you get to be part of this milestone moment. Submit your name nomination using this link or by scanning the QR code in the video.
Nominations are open from Thursday, Oct. 23 through Tuesday, Nov. 18. Once submissions close, the Bison will pick out the top five names.All North Colonie students will then have the chance to cast their votes for the final decision.
Which name will rise to the top? The choice is yours, North Colonie!
#nametheshakerbison #nccsd75
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
Please join us in congratulating Shaker High School freshman Shubhika Garg, who was recently invited to participate in the Diwali Celebration at the New York State Education Building. On Wednesday afternoon, Shubhika not only read Governor Kathy Hochul's proclamation during the program, but also spoke to attendees about the significance of Diwali. While she was in middle school, Shubhika met with administrators in North Colonie and presented on the importance of having Diwali recognized as a district holiday. There is no doubt Shubhika will continue to be a driver of positive change in her school community and beyond!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
Reminder: No school on Monday, Oct. 20 for K-12 Superintendent’s Conference Day and in Observance of Diwali.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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!
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
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.
3 months ago, North Colonie Communications
