TODAY! Please join us for the 2026-2027 Transition Fair this evening (Wednesday, Sept. 30) from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Shaker High School Lafollette Dining Hall. Whether you are going to college, looking for a day program, researching employment options, considering independent living, or still deciding what your future will look like, we have a wonderful team of people ready to help you achieve your goals. We hope to see you there!
It’s World School Milk Day and North Colonie students celebrated in a delicious way!
At Shaker High School, the “Pink Drink” was a hot commodity, with all 200 cups selling out in just 40 minutes! Food service staff arrived at 5 a.m. to prepare the special drink, made with strawberry milk and strawberries. The Pink Drink counts as both a fruit and juice, making it easy for students to enjoy a complete meal!
At our middle and elementary schools, students celebrated with milk and oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast cookies, packed with the vitamins and nutrients they need to start the day.
A big thank you to our food service teams for making World School Milk Day extra special for our students!
At Shaker High School, the “Pink Drink” was a hot commodity, with all 200 cups selling out in just 40 minutes! Food service staff arrived at 5 a.m. to prepare the special drink, made with strawberry milk and strawberries. The Pink Drink counts as both a fruit and juice, making it easy for students to enjoy a complete meal!
At our middle and elementary schools, students celebrated with milk and oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast cookies, packed with the vitamins and nutrients they need to start the day.
A big thank you to our food service teams for making World School Milk Day extra special for our students!
It's World School Milk day and we're ready to celebrate! Shaker High School will start the day with a fun pink drink at breakfast. The celebration will continue at SMS and all of the elementary schools with milk and breakfast cookies, available for free for all students. Thanks for joining in on the fun, North Colonie!
Peace Day is back at Blue Creek! On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Blue Creek celebrated Peace Day, kicking the day off by gathering together to hear a special book about peace and kindness. Students then proudly pledged to be part of our peaceful school community. To make the celebration even more meaningful, each student added their handprint to our Peace Wall as a symbol of their commitment to kindness, respect, and peace. It was a wonderful day filled with reflection, connection, and a shared promise to make Blue Creek a peaceful place for everyone.
The school year is in full swing but your support is always needed! The North Colonie School Supply Drive is a way to support our students and families in need for the upcoming school year. It will help ensure all students have the school supplies they need to have a great school year! Go to the link in our bio to donate and learn more!
Happy Human Resources Professionals Day to the dedicated HR professionals who support our staff, strengthen our schools, and help keep North Colonie running smoothly. We appreciate all you do every day!
Today, September 22, marks the Fall Equinox, which means fall is officially here! What better way to celebrate than with North Colonie’s Fourth Annual Fall Family Festival? Join us Thursday, October 1, from 5–7 p.m. in Shaker High School’s Lower Courtyard for an evening filled with music, food, activities and plenty of fall fun. Gather the family and come celebrate the season with us!
Reminder: There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 21 in observance of Yom Kippur.
Shaker High School senior Rikhil Katpally currently holds two titles on the Shaker boys varsity soccer team - player and app developer. Having played soccer since he was young, Katpally has translated his love of the game into an app called FootyTactic. The app, which is used by soccer teams all over the world, helps creates training materials used by coaches. Read more about the Katpally and the positive impact the app has had here: https://www.timesunion.com/hssports/article/soccer-tactics-shaker-india-youth-academies-22410297.php
On September 17, the Class of 2027 woke up before the sun to gather on Hill Field and watch the sunrise on their senior year! Seniors enjoyed bagels, donuts, photos with friends, and showed off their custom senior sweatshirts. Just one of many senior traditions to look forward to this year. Enjoy every moment seniors!
Congratulations to Shaker Middle School eighth grader Vibhav Doppalapudi! After advancing through the regional competition of the National Civics Bee, Vibhav competed in the 2026 National Civics Bee New York State finals at the Albany Capital Center. His civic presentation focused on addressing excessive packaging waste, including ideas to reduce unnecessary packaging, encourage reusable and recyclable materials, and increase community awareness. Vibhav successfully competed through all rounds, finishing in the Top 5 finalists overall in New York State. Congratulations, Vibhav!
Happy IT Professionals Day to the dedicated IT professionals in every North Colonie building. Your expertise and support keep our district connected and running every day. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you!
AND WE'RE BACK!
North Colonie's first day of school is officially underway! Shaker High welcomed nearly 2,200 students this morning! The energy was high and the smiles were big as students entered the building for the 2026-2027 school year!
North Colonie's first day of school is officially underway! Shaker High welcomed nearly 2,200 students this morning! The energy was high and the smiles were big as students entered the building for the 2026-2027 school year!
Meet Leslie DiBianco, North Colonie’s newest Assistant Director of Pupil Services!
Originally from Neversink, NY, a small town nestled in the Catskills, Ms. DiBianco joins North Colonie’s district leadership team after most recently serving as a school psychologist at Shaker High School.
After two years in North Colonie, Ms. DiBianco knew this was a special community. “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the North Colonie community, and I knew it was somewhere I wanted to keep growing with,” Ms. DiBianco shared. “Stepping into the Assistant Director role felt like a natural next step, especially as the district rolls out the Together for Every Learner Plan. I’m excited to help bring that vision to life for our students with disabilities and make sure every learner is seen, supported, and set up to succeed.”
What excites Ms. DiBianco most about her new role is the opportunity to return to the world of elementary school. “The support we provide at the elementary level can have such a meaningful impact during a very formative stage in a student’s development,” she said. “Being part of that positive development is what I’m most excited about.”
Outside of school, Ms. DiBianco enjoys expressing her creativity in the kitchen. She makes custom cakes and sweet treats for friends and family, along with sourdough favorites like cinnamon rolls and bagels. What started almost by accident has grown into a fun and creative outlet outside of the school day!
More than anything, Ms. DiBianco loves spending time with her family and going on adventures with their sweet pup, Paco.
Please join us in welcoming Leslie DiBianco to her new role as North Colonie’s Assistant Director of Pupil Services!
For the 2026-27 school year, we are inviting North Colonie Central School District students, staff, and families to share their first day of school photos with us on Thursday, September 10. Photos can be shared with us through Facebook & Instagram (@NorthColonieCSD) or email (communications@nccsk12.org). This year, Bryson the Bison has joined in on the fun with a First Day of School coloring page sign! Access the signs on our website here: https://aptg.co/s_LQxc
Meet Maria Sime, North Colonie’s newest K-12 District Social Studies Supervisor!
Originally from New Lebanon, NY, Ms. Sime joins North Colonie after most recently serving as an Educational Technology Specialist at Middleburgh Central School District. In that role, she worked closely with teachers and students to help them get the most out of classroom technology, providing training and support while helping resolve day-to-day technology needs.
Ms. Sime chose North Colonie because of its well-earned reputation for high academic standards and strong, community-first culture. “I wanted to work in an environment where continuous growth is encouraged and where both staff and students have the support they need to succeed,” Ms. Sime shared.
What excites Ms. Sime most about her new role is the opportunity to make Social Studies engaging and meaningful for students in an ever-changing world. “I’m eager to build collaborative relationships across the district and broader community to foster critical thinking through relevant and meaningful learning experiences,” she said.
Outside of school, Ms. Sime is a passionate traveler. So far, she has visited 16 different countries, with plenty more destinations on the wish list. “My goal is to keep adding to that list whenever I have the opportunity!”
More than anything, Ms. Sime is excited to become part of the North Colonie community. Approachable, adaptable, and deeply committed to supporting both teachers and students, she looks forward to building relationships, learning more about the district, and getting started with the school year.
Please join us in welcoming Maria Sime to North Colonie!
Originally from New Lebanon, NY, Ms. Sime joins North Colonie after most recently serving as an Educational Technology Specialist at Middleburgh Central School District. In that role, she worked closely with teachers and students to help them get the most out of classroom technology, providing training and support while helping resolve day-to-day technology needs.
Ms. Sime chose North Colonie because of its well-earned reputation for high academic standards and strong, community-first culture. “I wanted to work in an environment where continuous growth is encouraged and where both staff and students have the support they need to succeed,” Ms. Sime shared.
What excites Ms. Sime most about her new role is the opportunity to make Social Studies engaging and meaningful for students in an ever-changing world. “I’m eager to build collaborative relationships across the district and broader community to foster critical thinking through relevant and meaningful learning experiences,” she said.
Outside of school, Ms. Sime is a passionate traveler. So far, she has visited 16 different countries, with plenty more destinations on the wish list. “My goal is to keep adding to that list whenever I have the opportunity!”
More than anything, Ms. Sime is excited to become part of the North Colonie community. Approachable, adaptable, and deeply committed to supporting both teachers and students, she looks forward to building relationships, learning more about the district, and getting started with the school year.
Please join us in welcoming Maria Sime to North Colonie!
North Colonie welcomed 25 new practitioners this week. They were introduced to our schools, community, and all the fun that comes with being a Bison! Welcome to the North Colonie family, we’re so happy you’re here!
We also welcomed our second year teachers back for a chance to reflect, share what they’ve learned in their first classrooms, and prepare for another great year!
We can’t wait to see everyone next week!
We also welcomed our second year teachers back for a chance to reflect, share what they’ve learned in their first classrooms, and prepare for another great year!
We can’t wait to see everyone next week!
Are you ready for the upcoming school year? The North Colonie School Supply Drive is a way to support our students and families in need for the upcoming school year. It will help ensure all students have the school supplies they need to start the year off right! Go to the link in our bio to donate and learn more!
Lavaughn Garland has built a career around helping others and it started with a simple realization: he enjoyed listening, connecting, and being there for kids. That discovery led him from youth programs to school counseling, and eventually to Shaker High School, where he now supports students both inside the counseling office and on the track. Whether guiding students through challenges or coaching athletes toward new goals, Mr. Garland believes the biggest impact often comes from the smallest moments of connection.
“At some point in time, they say thank you and then you think, maybe I really do have an impact on these students’ lives,” Mr. Garland said. “But it’s that simple thank you and kind gesture that keeps me going.”
Read more about Mr. Garland on our website: https://www.northcolonie.org/staffspotlight
Congratulations to our Shaker High School summer graduates, who received their diplomas in a ceremony on Monday, August 24. The ceremony included remarks from Summer School Principal Ms. Morgan Flynn, Shaker High School Principal Ms. Crystal Fox and Superintendent Ms. Kathleen Skeals, along with the presentation of diplomas. Isaiah and Assem were two of eight students who graduated. Congratulations to all of our graduates and thank you to our teachers and counselors for your support of our graduates and their families!
