The following Shaker High School students were recently recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English. Earlier this year, the Shaker Writing Center sponsored workshops to encourage students to submit their writing in response to the 2026 NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing topic: the Joy and Power of Reading.
A panel of Shaker High School English teachers read through all submissions and nominated these four students’ work to be considered by the national committee. All four of Shaker’s nominees were recognized at the national level.
Simrah Ahmed - First Class (Highest National Honor)
Ella Bagchi - Superior
Evelyn Lu - Superior
Shreya Rozario - Superior
The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students to write and to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. 689 sophomores and juniors were nominated from across the country and around the world. Independent judges evaluated each submission holistically on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style. Congratulations to all of our winners from SHS!
A panel of Shaker High School English teachers read through all submissions and nominated these four students’ work to be considered by the national committee. All four of Shaker’s nominees were recognized at the national level.
Simrah Ahmed - First Class (Highest National Honor)
Ella Bagchi - Superior
Evelyn Lu - Superior
Shreya Rozario - Superior
The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students to write and to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. 689 sophomores and juniors were nominated from across the country and around the world. Independent judges evaluated each submission holistically on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style. Congratulations to all of our winners from SHS!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Join us in spreading awareness by wearing green on Thursday, May 21. Let’s show our support!
Budget voting day is here! Our annual North Colonie CSD school budget and Board of Education election vote will take place today, Tuesday, May 19, until 9 p.m. Voting will take place at Central Office (91 Fiddlers Lane, Latham, NY 12110).
Please note that all mail-in ballots must be received by the school district clerk by 5 p.m. today in order to be canvassed.
The Shaker Chess Club, led by Advisor Mr. Rodriguez and President Nirvana Monsur, hosted the Inaugural Shaker High School Chess Tournament in collaboration with The Right Move on Saturday, May 9. Nearly 100 players from across the Capital Region joined us for a full day of strategy, competition, and community.
Congratulations to freshman Ethan Chen, who achieved a perfect 4–0 score to win 1st place in the Knight (K–12) Section, and to sophomore Jiashen Li, who secured 2nd place. Junior Jiayi Chen also represented Shaker as a competitor, while junior Nirvana Monsur served as the Chief Assistant Tournament Director and Event Organizer.
Congratulations to freshman Ethan Chen, who achieved a perfect 4–0 score to win 1st place in the Knight (K–12) Section, and to sophomore Jiashen Li, who secured 2nd place. Junior Jiayi Chen also represented Shaker as a competitor, while junior Nirvana Monsur served as the Chief Assistant Tournament Director and Event Organizer.
North Colonie CSD and the Shaker High School Business Education Department would like to congratulate Arianna Hoffman and Gabriel Sericolo for being recognized as the 2025-2026 Outstanding Business Education students of the year. This honor was awarded to both students for their academic achievements, outstanding citizenship and positive attitudes in their business courses.
In May, Arianna and Gabriel attended an awards dinner at The Holiday Inn Express in Latham, joined by their parents and teachers Antoinette Randall and Lauren Squadere. Arianna and Gabriel were among students from 16 area schools who were recognized as outstanding business students for the 2025-2026 school year. This event was hosted by the Business and Marketing Educators' Association of the Capital District (BMEA). Congratulations, Arianna and Gabriel!
In May, Arianna and Gabriel attended an awards dinner at The Holiday Inn Express in Latham, joined by their parents and teachers Antoinette Randall and Lauren Squadere. Arianna and Gabriel were among students from 16 area schools who were recognized as outstanding business students for the 2025-2026 school year. This event was hosted by the Business and Marketing Educators' Association of the Capital District (BMEA). Congratulations, Arianna and Gabriel!
Shaker High School is home to one of this year's Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award recipients! Senior Joelle Hannoush was honored at the Pruyn House on Tuesday, May 12, along with a recipient from Colonie High School. The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest was created in 1934, to encourage and recognizes high school seniors who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities.
Joelle was chosen for this award by her teachers for her activism and involvement in the school community and beyond. The President of SOS (Students Organized for Service), Joelle helped grow club membership from 12 students to more than 120. She organized two Red Cross blood drives a year, and coordinated student volunteers for the Northeast Regional Food Bank and Bring on the Spectrum (BOTS). As class president the last two years, Joelle has worked hard to foster a sense of community among her fellow Class of 2026 graduates. In 2025, Joelle organized and led a team of 12 students in raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, personally raising $87,000 by soliciting donations from local businesses, holding a girls lacrosse clinic and collecting gift cards and items for raffles and auctions. Her teachers and club advisors call Joelle a natural leader and now she is also a Good Citizen Award recipient! Congratulations Joelle!
We have some amazing artists here at North Colonie CSD! From the art show at the Town of Colonie Library to our Advanced Senior Art Reception and Secondary Art Reception at NYSUT, North Colonie student artwork has been on display across the town! Thank you to Omar Williams and the Shaker Middle School Jazz Ensemble for their performance during the NYSUT event. For more photos and student artwork, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthColonieCSD
Before the Class of 2026 calls it a career here in North Colonie, we celebrated the Senior Awards Program on Thursday, May 14. Hundreds of students were honored with awards and scholarships for their academic achievements in all subject areas, athletic achievements, community service, and extracurricular activities.
Toward the end of the program, the National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation students and National Merit Scholarship Finalists were called on stage as well as our 2026 Honor Graduates and National Honor Society inductees.
The night ended with the dedication of the 2026 Shaker High School yearbook to Assistant Director of Pupil Services Mrs. Crystal Fox, who has worked in North Colonie for more than 16 years.
Congratulations to all of the seniors and the teachers, staff, family members and friends that have helped them along the way! View the program from the event on our website at https://aptg.co/35vCNj.
This month, Shaker High School junior Shreya Sharath is being recognized as the May North Colonie Kids Care recipient. Shreya was nominated by Shaker High School Student Assistance Counselor, Mrs. Stacey Angell, for her work as the founder of GleeBoxx.
Gleebox is a youth-led nonprofit initiative, grounded in the belief that small acts of kindness can create powerful change. Guided by the idea that no individual should feel defined or diminished by their circumstances, GleeBoxx creates thoughtfully curated care packages that combine essential items with personalized touches such as handwritten notes and small, joyful additions. Through this work, Shreya not only addresses immediate needs, but also fosters a sense of dignity, connection, and belonging among recipients. Shreya is currently organizing a large-scale drive to distribute 240 GleeBoxx care packages to elementary school children here in North Colonie. It’s an effort that reflects both her organizational skills and her unwavering dedication to serving others.
Shreya’s work through GleeBoxx is not only changing lives in our school community, but also reshaping how people think about giving—emphasizing empathy, dignity, and human connection. We are proud and honored to call Shreya one of our own here in North Colonie. Congratulations Shreya, you are so very deserving of this honor as a North Colonie Kids Care recipient.
Gleebox is a youth-led nonprofit initiative, grounded in the belief that small acts of kindness can create powerful change. Guided by the idea that no individual should feel defined or diminished by their circumstances, GleeBoxx creates thoughtfully curated care packages that combine essential items with personalized touches such as handwritten notes and small, joyful additions. Through this work, Shreya not only addresses immediate needs, but also fosters a sense of dignity, connection, and belonging among recipients. Shreya is currently organizing a large-scale drive to distribute 240 GleeBoxx care packages to elementary school children here in North Colonie. It’s an effort that reflects both her organizational skills and her unwavering dedication to serving others.
Shreya’s work through GleeBoxx is not only changing lives in our school community, but also reshaping how people think about giving—emphasizing empathy, dignity, and human connection. We are proud and honored to call Shreya one of our own here in North Colonie. Congratulations Shreya, you are so very deserving of this honor as a North Colonie Kids Care recipient.
You're invited! Shaker High School is holding Senior Award Night TONIGHT (Thursday, May 14) at 7 p.m. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/G-kwZJY0cUo?feature=share
There was plenty of sunshine and lots of smiles at Unified Field Day last week! Unified athletes from Shaker High School visited the @ShenendehowaCSD campus for a day filled with games, friendly competition, and lots of cheers.
Please join us in congratulating North Colonie CSD Board Member Mary Nardolillo and Shaker High School Hall Monitor Mary Kay Smollin on receiving awards from the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA)! On April 30, the two were among those honored at the CASDA Annual Awards and Friends of Education Dinner.
Nardolillo was given the Excellence in School Board Service Award for her time on the North Colonie Board of Education and her dedication to creating opportunities and positive outcomes for students. Smollin was given the Friends of Education award for her unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of students and strengthening the North Colonie community.
During the evening, it was noted that both Nardolillo and Smollin have worked tirelessly - often behind the scenes - to support our district and ensure our students thrive. Congratulations Ms. Nardolillo and Ms. Smollin! North Colonie is lucky to have you!
Nardolillo was given the Excellence in School Board Service Award for her time on the North Colonie Board of Education and her dedication to creating opportunities and positive outcomes for students. Smollin was given the Friends of Education award for her unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of students and strengthening the North Colonie community.
During the evening, it was noted that both Nardolillo and Smollin have worked tirelessly - often behind the scenes - to support our district and ensure our students thrive. Congratulations Ms. Nardolillo and Ms. Smollin! North Colonie is lucky to have you!
Our new bison has found its permanent home! Thank you to the Class of 2026 for this incredible gift which you can now see as you walk up the center sidewalk at Shaker High School. Huge thanks to Mr. Jim Perry and several of our art teachers who spent time making Bryson's new best friend look so lifelike. Stop by and see it!
Monday, May 11 was an evening of celebration, as North Colonie CSD awarded tenure to 43 employees. The evening also celebrated over 80 faculty and staff members who reached milestone anniversaries of 20, 25, 30, 35, and 41 years of service. Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, honorees were recognized during a ceremony featuring remarks from Board of Education President Linda Harrison and Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Skeals. Please join us in celebrating these remarkable educators and staff members for their commitment and contributions to the district!
Due to anticipated weather conditions, the Bison Birthday Bash and 75th Anniversary Celebration will now be held indoors at Shaker High School's H-Gym.
We are pleased to share that all planned activities will continue as scheduled. Guests can look forward to booths, food, Kona Ice, the official Bison name reveal, student performances, games, and plenty of exciting surprises throughout the event. We hope to see everyone tomorrow (Saturday, May 9), from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For entry, please use either the H-Gym entrance or the Main Office entrance at Shaker High School. Student and staff volunteers will be available throughout the event to assist and provide directions to help ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all attendees.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone together indoors and making it a memorable day for the entire North Colonie community.
We are pleased to share that all planned activities will continue as scheduled. Guests can look forward to booths, food, Kona Ice, the official Bison name reveal, student performances, games, and plenty of exciting surprises throughout the event. We hope to see everyone tomorrow (Saturday, May 9), from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For entry, please use either the H-Gym entrance or the Main Office entrance at Shaker High School. Student and staff volunteers will be available throughout the event to assist and provide directions to help ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all attendees.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone together indoors and making it a memorable day for the entire North Colonie community.
We are excited to announce the opening of North Colonie's 75th Anniversary branded apparel webstore! The webstore will be open until Tuesday, May 19. The store can be found through the QR code or through the link in our bio! Items may be shipped to your address or picked up at Central Office or your school by selecting third party pick up. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at the 75th Anniversary and Bison Birthday Bash!
It’s National School Nurse Day! Join us in celebrating our incredible school nurses, we are so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for your care, compassion, and dedication to keeping our students healthy and supported every day!
It’s time to celebrate! We’re counting down to the North Colonie Bison Birthday Bash & 75th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday, May 9. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone, and neither can the Bison! The day will be packed with games, performances, food, and plenty of special surprises, including the Bison’s name reveal. And of course, there will be cupcakes, because it wouldn’t be a birthday party without them!
The first cupcake design was painted by Shaker High School art teacher Genevieve Chornyak, followed by eight additional creations from her talented students: Qwin Liquigan, William Powell, Anu Thennarasu, Tessa Travers, Zariya Ahmed, Maya Aguirre Mucia, and Raegan Murphy.
The first cupcake design was painted by Shaker High School art teacher Genevieve Chornyak, followed by eight additional creations from her talented students: Qwin Liquigan, William Powell, Anu Thennarasu, Tessa Travers, Zariya Ahmed, Maya Aguirre Mucia, and Raegan Murphy.
Teacher Appreciation Week continues! Today, we’re celebrating the heart, patience, and creativity our teachers bring to their classrooms each day. Thank you for the little moments that make a big difference. Your impact matters more than words can say!
Pictured are our elementary art teachers preparing for the recent art show at the William K Sanford Town Library in Colonie. Have a fun story or photo of a North Colonie teacher to share? Email us at communications@nccsk12.org!
Pictured are our elementary art teachers preparing for the recent art show at the William K Sanford Town Library in Colonie. Have a fun story or photo of a North Colonie teacher to share? Email us at communications@nccsk12.org!
Congratulations to ninth grade art accelerated student Sofia Kennedy, who was recently announced as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Contest! Sofia's work, a 18x24 charcoal self portrait is titled "Composed," will represent the 20th Congressional District and will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Sofia was named the winner of the contest by Congressman Tonko on Friday, May 1. Along with Sofia and her extended family, her art teacher Kimberley Case was on hand to celebrate this accomplishment. This is the ninth time the Shaker High School Art Department has achieved this top award. Sofia and her family have been invited to a national ceremony in Washington in June to celebrate this honor.
