An image of Shaker Middle School Principal Mr. Chamberlain speaking to an auditorium full of students.

Excitement and New Beginnings: 5th Grade Orientation at Shaker

North Colonie Communications

June 18, 2025

Welcome to Middle School: 5th Grade Orientation at SMS

The start of something new is always exciting—and on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Shaker Middle School opened its doors to our elementary school students, ready to begin their next chapter.

From 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., our incoming fifth graders got their first real taste of life at Shaker Middle School. Led by SMS administrator Mrs. MacFawn, the orientation was a full-team effort that brought together administrators, school counselors, psychologists, fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade homeroom teachers, support staff, and our incredible student volunteers.

The day kicked off with a "Meet & Greet" and Admin Welcome Presentation held in both the cafeteria and auditorium. Students were introduced to Shaker Middle School's core values, academic courses, extracurricular clubs, and support systems—setting a strong and supportive tone for the years ahead.

An image of the Shaker Middle School Principal Mr. Chamberlain standing and speaking to an auditorium full of students.

Next, students broke off into small groups and rotated through three engaging sessions:

Q&A Student Panel – Our expert 6th-grade panelists shared first-hand experiences and answered some of the most common (and important!) questions about SMS life. A huge shoutout to our 6th Grade Q&A Panelists for their leadership and poise:

Two teachers standing behind a panel of eight sixth grade students who are seated at a table.An image of eight students sitting on a stage with their legs hanging off.

Schedule Tutorial – Led by our SMS teachers, fifth grade students learned to read and navigate a sample middle school schedule.

School Tour - Guided walkthroughs of the building, also led by our amazing SMS teachers, helped students feel confident and familiar with their future school space.

Lunch was a hit! Students enjoyed their first middle school lunch and received a real-life cafeteria preview and “how to.”

Having an all-hands-on-deck approach creates a welcoming, meaningful, and engaging orientation experience for our fifth graders as they prepare to join SMS. This experience helps build connections, boost confidence, and spark excitement for what lies ahead.

Here’s to new beginnings and all the possibilities the 2025–2026 school year holds as we welcome our rising sixth graders on their journey to middle school!