As North Colonie CSD celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Shaker Loudonville Fire Department’s Explorer Post is celebrating 50 years. Shaker High School students Brayden Blanchard and Jack Monette are proud members of the Explorer Post and are gaining real-world experience while continuing their family traditions in service. To learn more about Explorer Post 475, go to the link in our bio.
On Monday night, recent Shaker High School graduate Mira Ginsburg was honored as one of 10 high school recipients in the 2025 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Class, recognized for her outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. Mira has gone above and beyond to promote inclusivity at Shaker. She founded the Include the Blue Club as a sophomore and served as its President. She is also heavily involved with Special Olympics NY and has raised thousands of dollars for that organization. Her impact will continue to shape a more inclusive school culture for years to come. Congratulations Mira on this well-deserved honor!
Congratulations are also in order for Kayla Beaudoin, daughter of Loudonville Elementary PE teacher Ron Beaudoin, on her recognition!
Summer Seminar is helping SHS students grow—both academically and personally! The Summer Seminar class is taking learning outside the classroom and into the sunshine, where students will spend the day building a vertical garden, planting pumpkins, and even starting the day with yoga.
Shaker High School has officially been named a NYSPHSAA School of Excellence for the 2024–2025 school year! This incredible achievement means that over 75% of our varsity teams earned the Scholar-Athlete Team Award. This honor is a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and balance shown by our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff. Let’s keep raising the bar!
We're turning 75! The 2025-26 school year marks the 75th anniversary of the North Colonie CSD and we're inviting you to join us in celebrating! We’re collecting photos from years past and we’d love your help. Whether it’s a snapshot from a school play, a pep rally, graduation, or just a favorite moment in the halls, your photos are part of our shared history. Please send any old school photos (with the year and a brief description if possible) to NC75@nccsk12.org. Your memories will help us create a special anniversary display and possibly be featured in our digital and printed celebrations.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Stay tuned for more information on how we plan to celebrate this exciting milestone. Here’s to the next 75 years!
Thank you for being part of our journey. Stay tuned for more information on how we plan to celebrate this exciting milestone. Here’s to the next 75 years!
Congratulations to our nine SHS seniors—Kate C., Meg C., Alana D., Elizabeth H., Alex J., Samatha S., Yusra T., and Alan Y., —who fulfilled the training requirements and passed the Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills test (ATAS)! Thank you to English teacher, Rebekah Wilson and special education teacher, Paige Prehoda for leading the way with this new initiative!
A total of 16 students enrolled in Literacy and Education, a new full year English course intended for seniors interested in the field of education, or looking to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. During this time, students worked toward a Level 1 Teaching Assistant certification, which provides the foundation to work in public and private schools. Thank you to Wilson and Prehoda for their work with our students, teachers, and administrators to make this course happen!
A total of 16 students enrolled in Literacy and Education, a new full year English course intended for seniors interested in the field of education, or looking to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. During this time, students worked toward a Level 1 Teaching Assistant certification, which provides the foundation to work in public and private schools. Thank you to Wilson and Prehoda for their work with our students, teachers, and administrators to make this course happen!
Mark your calendars! North Colonie CSD will be at the Capital Region Virtual Career Fair this Wednesday, July 9. The event will feature a variety of open positions in the district, including teachers, keyboard specialist, aides, bus drivers, and more. Pre-register and learn more here: https://nysdolvirtual4.easyvirtualfair.com/. Find open positions at North Colonie at NorthColonie.org/Employment. Be sure to stop by the North Colonie virtual booth and say hello!
Congratulations to the Shaker Writing Center (SWC) for being recognized as a New York State English Council (NYSEC) 2025 Program of Excellence! And congratulations to Siobhan Matrose for being named the NYSEC Educator of Excellence (Secondary School) for her work with the SWC. Starting the SCW in 2014, Matrose has promoted writing as a way of thinking, connecting, and being. Her work with the SWC has guided students to become leaders and in turn, writing consultants.
"For over a decade Ms. Matrose has quietly grown an enduring, brave space within which students don’t just develop a piece of writing, but grow as writers, learners, and citizens," said NYSEC Past President Christopher Mazura.
Through her guidance, students who work in the SWC are empowered to support their peers, focusing on the writer and the story, versus the pressure of perfection and the writing itself. For each 30 minute session, the writing consultants dedicate their time and efforts to help their peers craft their voice and the success speaks for itself.
Congratulations to Siohban Matrose, the writing consultants of the SWC, and the North Colonie community on this amazing accomplishment!
So, about yesterday... how much fun was that??? Congratulations again to the Class of 2025! We wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. We can't wait to see what's next! Once a Bison, always a Bison. #classof2025
Cheering for change. Earlier this year, four Shaker High School juniors proposed a Unified Cheer Team and turned it into a reality. Ava Lindley, Isabella Valentine, Nevaeh Harrison and Carly Darmetko created a place for everyone! For their remarkable work they were chosen as this month’s North Colonie Kids Care Recipients! For more on their remarkable journey, go to the link in our bio!
The final stop on this year’s Senior Walk Throughs took place at Menands School Wednesday. Lined with cheering students and staff, the hallways came alive with celebration and pride. After the walk, seniors got to relive memories before moving on to new adventures. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
The Latham Ridge Senior Walk Through was Wednesday morning! The halls were filled with students and staff cheering on the seniors as they walked through their former elementary school. After the walk, the seniors gathered on the playground for a group photo!
Another day, another Senior Walk Through! Wednesday morning, graduating Shaker seniors strolled the halls of Forts Ferry, where they attended elementary school. The Lions threw quite the celebration! There was a bubble machine, streamers and signs galore to go along with congratulatory signs and cheers from current students and teachers. At the end of it all, the graduates took a group photo on the playground and some took one last ride on the swings.
The Blue Creek Bulldogs finalize our 2025 Senior Walk Throughs for the day. They celebrated with warm hearts and even warmer weather and cooled down with ice pops outside afterward! Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
The Boght Hills Senior Walk Through was Tuesday as well! The halls were lined with students and staff, cheering on the seniors as they walked through their old elementary school. Following the walk, graduating seniors gathered outside for refreshments and took a class photo on the old playground one last time! Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Another day, another North Colonie CSD Transportation award! Congratulations to Melisa Glodich, who has been named the New York Association of Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) School Bus Attendant of the Year for 2025! A bus aide with the district since 2018, Melisa will receive the award on July 15 at the NYAPT Summer Conference in Saratoga Springs. "Melisa exemplifies all the good qualities of being a bus aide. She has terrific attendance. She is kind, caring, attentive, and compassionate," said NCCSD Director of Transportation Denise Towne.
A Waterford native, Glodich says she has always loved children. “Forming strong, trusting relationships with special needs children and their families is incredibly rewarding. I love being a supportive presence in their lives and journey. Interacting with children with diverse needs and learning about their unique characteristics can be a valuable and enriching experience,” she said. Congratulations Melisa and thank you for your service to our students here in North Colonie!
Monday was the final day of classes for Shaker High School students and it ended with a roar! The annual Dino and Friends Parade brought big smiles as teachers from every department (Social Studies, English, Math, Science, Special Education, ENL, Guidance, and Administration) dressed in inflatable costumes to cheer on students wrapping up the school year and heading into exams. Thank you to our incredible staff for making the day so memorable. And to the Class of 2025, congratulations! Soon, we will be celebrating your graduation!
Congratulations to North Colonie Bus Driver Marsha Bejian! Marsha has been named the 2025 AAA Hudson Valley Safe School Bus Driver for the district. The award is given to a school bus driver from each school district throughout the Capital Region by the AAA Hudson Valley. The Safe School Bus Driver award recognizes drivers who present themselves in a positive and safe manner, while following all regulations set forth by the agencies that govern transportation. Marsha was given her award during the award ceremony on Wednesday, June 18. Congratulations, Marsha! Thank you for all you do to keep our students safe!
Congratulations to the Shaker High School Hall of Fame Class of 2025! On Monday, June 16, seven new members were inducted into the SHS Alumni Hall of Fame. SHS student government members Pranjal Yadav and Regan Morrissey read the biography of each of the inducted alumni, sharing with the audience their accomplishments. Following this, each member offered some brief remarks on their time at Shaker. Read their remarks on our website here: https://www.northcolonie.org/article/2274095
View the alumni bios here: https://www.northcolonie.org/halloffame
On May 18, Alex Doering, Dante Gonzalez and Nazir King received a Certificate of Completion from the North Colonie-Siena College Transition Program at the Siena College Commencement. We are all so proud of their accomplishments and success that they have achieved while attending the program. Congratulations to Alex who will be working at the North Colonie Bus Garage, Nazir who will be working at Hoffman's Car Wash and Dante who will be attending the Living Resources Adult Program.
