It's School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Let’s give a big thank you to the drivers who keep our school days running safely and smoothly. They are the first friendly face in the morning and the last one in the afternoon, making every ride a safe, welcoming, and dependable part of the day. Thank you bus drivers!
Join us in celebrating their hard work, care, and dedication on every route. Ready to make a difference in your community? Be a hero, drive a school bus.
Join us in celebrating their hard work, care, and dedication on every route. Ready to make a difference in your community? Be a hero, drive a school bus.
Only two weeks to go until the Bison Birthday Bash and North Colonie’s 75th Anniversary. Join us on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Arthur Walker Field for an action-packed celebration with food, music, games, a dance party, and the exciting moment we officially name our Bison!
Thursday, April 23, all eight schools gathered at Shaker Middle School for the annual Physical Education District Leadership Awards. Forty-six standout students in grades 5–12 were selected by their PE teachers for demonstrating exemplary leadership and effort. The Shaker Middle School Jazz Band, conducted by music teacher Omar Williams, provided musical accompaniment. Guest speaker Chris Landers, a Shaker High School Class of 2013 graduate and current assistant football coach, shared how physical education, along with his teachers and coaches, helped shape him into the person he is today. Senior students Gavin Bailie and Joelle Hannoush also spoke, sharing their experiences in PE and offering advice to younger students. Congratulations to all honorees!
Wednesday, April 22 marks Administrative Professionals Day! We’re proud to recognize the outstanding team members across our district who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything organized and running seamlessly. Their commitment, professionalism, and positive spirit make a lasting impact every day and we are truly grateful for all they do. Please join us in celebrating and thanking our amazing administrative professionals!
April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month! Let’s come together as a district and go blue on Friday, April 24 to raise awareness, show support, and celebrate inclusion for all. 💙
100%! The North Colonie CSD transportation mechanics received a perfect rating on their New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) inspection for the 2025-26 school year! Congratulations to our team of eight and thank you for your dedication to keeping our students safe on buses each and every day.
Today is the last day to nominate for the Shaker Alumni Hall of Fame! Do you know a Shaker alum making a difference or doing outstanding work in their career field? All nominations are due by Wednesday, April 15 by midnight! Don’t miss your chance to recognize someone deserving. You can find a link to the nomination in our bio. #alumnihalloffame
The North Colonie Central School District and Shaker High School are mourning the loss of longtime teacher and coach Ed Springstead. Coach Springstead passed away on Friday, April 10, at the age of 93.
A United States Army veteran, Coach Springstead spent more than 50 years as a physical education teacher and cross country and track coach at Shaker. In his decades as a coach, his cross country teams won two state championships, one at Colonie High in 1962 and another here at Shaker in 2010. His 2010 state championship team went on to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals and finished 13th in the country.
Mr. Springstead’s tenure as a coach lasted long beyond his retirement as a teacher in 1989. A member of the Shaker High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Capital Region Cross Country and Track and Field Hall of Fame, Coach Springstead impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes across the Capital District. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former athletes and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Coach Springstead during this difficult time.
A United States Army veteran, Coach Springstead spent more than 50 years as a physical education teacher and cross country and track coach at Shaker. In his decades as a coach, his cross country teams won two state championships, one at Colonie High in 1962 and another here at Shaker in 2010. His 2010 state championship team went on to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals and finished 13th in the country.
Mr. Springstead’s tenure as a coach lasted long beyond his retirement as a teacher in 1989. A member of the Shaker High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Capital Region Cross Country and Track and Field Hall of Fame, Coach Springstead impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes across the Capital District. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former athletes and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Coach Springstead during this difficult time.
Receiving SNAP secures kids free school meals. Together SNAP and school meals provide kids the food they need to learn. Learn more about how SNAP grocery benefits can support your child’s education: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/snap/
Happy Assistant Principals Week to our Shaker Shaker Middle and High School hall principals and deans! We appreciate everything you do for our students everyday! It may be spring break but be sure to show your appreciation when we come back next week! #assistantprincipalweek
The Bison is wishing everyone a great Spring Break! Don’t forget we are one month away from the Bison getting a name, and celebrating the 75th anniversary together!
You're Invited to Shaker Unified National Banner School Celebration on Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m. in the H-Gym at SHS. This celebration is to recognize our recent recognition as a National Unified Banner School. We would love to have the North Colonie community there to celebrate this milestone!
Blue Creek students used the book Stone Soup as their inspiration to make their own version of the delicious meal on Friday, March 27. A day after their Stone Soup assembly, students in Ms. Franke and Ms. Olszowy's communications classes dug for potatoes, cut vegetables and made the soup with the help of the district's Charlie Cart. Farm to School Facilitator Mrs. Amber Cost, helped students use the cart to create the finished product, which students really enjoyed! Some even had second and third helpings and asked for more veggies! In addition, students planted seeds that will be planted in the Blue Creek garden later this spring.
Families and students gathered at the Empire State Plaza K-8 Abstract Expressionism Art Show reception on Thursday, March 12 to celebrate the creativity of young artists from across the region. Students proudly shared their work while exploring inspiring pieces from the Rockefeller collection on the concourse. Local children’s book author and illustrator Liz Zunon delivered an engaging keynote, encouraging students to keep creating and expressing themselves through art. Congratulations to all the students who shared their work!
Have you seen the latest district newsletter? Featuring staff spotlights, Capital Project updates, district news, and more, find the digital version here: https://www.northcolonie.org/o/nccs/page/district-newsletters.
Stay tuned for more information about the Bison Birthday Bash on May 9, 2026!
Stay tuned for more information about the Bison Birthday Bash on May 9, 2026!
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
Nominations for the Shaker High School Alumni Hall of Fame 2026 Induction are now open! Do you know a Shaker alum making a difference or doing outstanding work in their career field? Nominate that person! All nominations are due by Wednesday, April 15. You can find a link to the nomination form in our bio. #alumnihalloffame
Have you supported your school today? Help your school knock out the competition this March! When you support your school, you’re also helping North Colonie students and families in need. Donate today and share your school spirit, submit your videos and photos through the link in our bio!
Read Across America! More than 200 Shaker High School students went around the district to visit students in all six of our elementary schools for National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2. To celebrate the day, high school students from the SHS Writing Center, Literature in Education classes and National English Honor Society did read alouds and facilitated other activities with more than 1,500 elementary students. Stations included bookmark creation, poster contribution, story in motion and question and answer panels. Thank you to our SHS and elementary libraries for collaborating to ensure that Read Across America Day was a success here in North Colonie!
This week we honor Septima Poinsette Clark, an educator and civil rights leader who used education as a powerful tool for change. Through the Citizenship Schools she developed, Clark helped African Americans gain literacy skills needed to register to vote and participate fully in democracy. Her work connected education to empowerment and earned her recognition as the Grandmother of the Civil Rights Movement.
