Second grade students at Latham Ridge had a special visitor last week from the Irish American Heritage Museum. Museum Director Michael Clarke visited the school to talk about Irish immigration, including the Great Famine, push/pull factors, and Irish traditions. With his accordion, Clarke shared Irish music for the group as he talked about the history of the Irish and his own story. Students were quick to clap, tap their feet, and sing along to the music. Thank you for stopping by, Mr. Clarke!
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!
For the month of March, Latham Ridge will share one goal, called "One School, One Book." For the second year, students across all grade levels will read a book together, at school and at home from March 9 to 27. On Thursday, March 5, "The Water Horse" by Dick King-Smith was selected as the book of choice for this year. The announcement, which was made at a school-wide assembly, was met with applause and cheers by students. Prior to this, clues, such as bagpipes greeting them at arrival, had been placed throughout the school, inviting students to guess what the book would be. Following the announcement, a "water horse" walked through the aisles of the assembly, much to the students delight. Happy reading, Panthers!
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.
Tuesday, Feb. 24, North Colonie hosted an event titled “Paving Your Path in Education.” This event was designed for individuals interested in exploring a career in education. The evening consisted of networking, a panel discussion with district leaders, and one-on-one screening sessions. It was an informative experience for both current and future educators.
As we head into March, this event marks the first of many recruitment efforts. Jewelie Koutelis, our Recruitment and Retention Specialist, will be traveling from Plattsburgh to Niagara Falls in search of top teaching talent across New York State, along with some of our administrators. Part of their journey will consist of attending two Teacher Recruitment Days (TRD), during which they will meet with college students from a total of 18 colleges in NYS.
If you were unable to attend, but are interested in joining the North Colonie team, please visit northcolonie.org/recruitment to learn more.
February is American Heart Month! Join us on Wednesday, February 25 and go red to raise awareness! North Colonie students, staff, and community, wear red and show your support for heart health! ❤️
North Colonie Central School District is proud to celebrate Public Schools Week 2026. This week we honor the educators, staff, students, and families who are the very foundation of our schools. We recognize the dedication, passion, and collaboration that support our students every day, from exceptional teaching and strong leadership to family engagement and community partnerships. Join us in celebrating the people, practices, and pride that make public schools strong.
North Colonie CSD will operate on a two-hour delay today, Feb. 23. There will be no AM BOCES.
This week we recognize W. E. B. Du Bois, a sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist whose scholarship and leadership helped shape the fight for equality. As a co-founder of the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, and the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University, Du Bois championed full political, economic, and social rights for Black Americans. His work as editor of The Crisis and his lasting influence on civil rights thought continue to resonate today.
This week we honor Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator, civil rights leader, and founder of what became Bethune-Cookman University. As the founder of the National Council of Negro Women, she championed racial and gender equality and expanded opportunities for Black Americans through education and public service. Her legacy as a trusted advisor to U.S. presidents and a lifelong advocate for inclusion continues to inspire progress today.
On Monday afternoon, dozens of district students and families gathered to celebrate the artwork in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery. Superintendent Kathleen Skeals welcomed some of our young, aspiring student artists from Southgate, Latham Ridge and Forts Ferry, whose work was selected by their art teachers for display. The featured pieces have been showcased since the start of 2026 and will remain in the gallery through the end February. Congratulations to our talented student artists!
This Black History Month marks 100 years of Black history and this year’s theme is A Century of Black History Commemorations. As part of our Black History Month celebration, we will highlight influential Black leaders whose impact spans from the past to the present every week. This week we are honoring the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week in 1926 and the Father of Black History. His work led to the official recognition of Black History Month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, and continues to ensure that the contributions, struggles, and achievements of Black Americans are included in our shared history.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the War of 1812 Museum traveled from Plattsburgh, NY to Latham Ridge Elementary. As a follow up to the third grade War of 1812 CKLA Unit, Assistant Museum Director Joy Demarse brought the museum with her to the school. Demarse, a retired educator, focused on sharing the Battle of Plattsburgh with the third graders. She told the stories of Commodore Macdonough (the naval commander) and General Alexander Macomb (the land commander) and how these two encounters ended the war and led to the signing of the peace treaty on Dec. 24. She also showcased artifacts from the museum, offering a "show and tell" of items used during that time, such as writing desks while on a horse, quills, bonnets, lanterns, and more. Thank you for stopping by, Ms. Demarse!
It's National School Counseling Week! Thank you for your their tireless commitment to our North Colonie students! Be sure to take a moment this week to show your appreciation for all the amazing work your school counselors do.
#nationalschoolcounselingweek
#nationalschoolcounselingweek
Running Club is back at Latham Ridge! The club, which started last year, takes place every Friday, with grades K-2 and 3-5 alternating which Friday they run. Since starting up again at the beginning of the school year, on the K-2 Fridays, members of the club from grades 3-5 help out at the event, handing out popsicle sticks for tracking laps and helping students count up their sticks at the end. Great teamwork, Latham Ridge!
