Have you seen Wicked at Proctors Theatre? If the answer is yes, then you heard Shaker Middle School Band teacher Omar Williams playing trumpet in the pit orchestra! Mr. Williams is one of the most sought-after trumpeters in the Capital Region, and as a member of the Schenectady-Amsterdam Musical Union, he got the call to play the touring production of Wicked at Proctors. Mr. Williams is doing double-duty for the two-week run - teaching by day and playing in the pit orchestra each night. If you're catching the show this weekend, listen for the trumpet player!
"Not Sorry to Be Me" was inspired by Isla's experiences with autism and ADHD, tells the tale of a cockatoo called Sorry who is different from the other birds in the forest because he sees the world in color, while the rest only see in black, white, and grey. This sensory overwhelm can cause Sorry to react in ways that irritate or seem strange to the other birds, causing them to miss out on the unique perspective he has to offer. One day, Sorry meets a kind, curious bird who asks to see Sorry's world through his eyes. From this shared understanding, a friendship is forged, and two lives are forever changed.
Isla and Vicki will also be doing a book signing at Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The book may be purchased at that time or on Amazon or Barnes and Noble online. Congratulations to Isla and Vicki on this exciting accomplishment!
Happy Thankful Thursday! Each Thursday in November, we’re showing our gratitude to all the people who have helped make North Colonie CSD special through the years. From past to present, our incredible instructional staff members have shaped North Colonie into the strong, caring, and inspiring community it is today. Thank you to all of our employees from across the years for your dedication, service, and heart!
#ThankfulThursday #thankyounorthcolonie #nccsd75 #throwbackthursday
On Wednesday, eight Shaker seniors officially signed to continue their athletic and academic careers at Division I and II institutions.
Family, friends, and teammates gathered to celebrate these student-athletes as they made their commitments official.
Congratulations to our signees:
Tessa Carroll – Iona University, Lacrosse
Peyton Hoblock – Dartmouth College, Basketball
Peyton Cerrone – Saint Anselm College, Lacrosse
Emma Davis – Newberry College, Lacrosse
Elisabeth Gialanella – Mercer University, Lacrosse
Sean Hurley – University of North Carolina, Baseball
Talyn Chernosky – Caldwell University, Softball
Jason Bailey – Stonehill College, Baseball
Another signing day will be held in May for seniors still finalizing their decisions.
*Renee Bates – First Place in both Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking E (Half Bids)
*Ella Bagchi – First Place in Original Oratory (Half Bid)
*Izzy Blanchard – Third Place in Original Oratory (Half Bid)
*Pragna Obiddi – Fourth Place in Original Oratory (Half Bid)
*Gianna Zhang – First Place in Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate (Half Bid)
*Aleena Saleem / Evelyn Lu – Second Place in Varsity Public Forum Debate (Half Bid)
*Sharvi Gawad / Chloe Li – First Place in Novice Public Forum Debate (Half Bid)
*Zahra Shaikh / Saila Sagiraju – Third Place in Novice Public Forum Debate
In Unified P.E., the class is split into two groups, “athletes” (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and “partners” (individuals without intellectual disabilities) to explore a wide variety of activities. Additionally, the class supports the development of leadership skills for all students, and the empowerment of ALL students to foster an inclusive class and school-wide environment.
Congratulations to Shaker High School Sophomore Simon Faseun! Simon recently signed on for the Biotechnology pathway offered at the Questar III & HVCC STEM High School. The STEM High School is located at the HVCC College Campus in Troy and allows students to experience the best aspects of high school and college learning through workplace learning, internships, community partnerships, and more. The Biotechnology pathway is a combination of biology, chemistry, and math and is a part of the P-TECH program, which allows students to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and at least 24 college credits at no cost to families. Great job, Simon!
The event drew more than 160 clubs and 1,600 athletes from across the Northeast. Congratulations to Joey Guzda and Henry Michaels for their outstanding performance and to Coach Brody DeLorenzo for his support. Way to go!
Each year, ESPN and Special Olympics North America recognize one school in every state for their commitment to inclusion, and this year, New York’s honor goes to Shaker High.
The ESPN Honor Roll celebrates Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (Shaker earned that distinction on September 15, 2025) that demonstrate exceptional dedication to creating inclusive environments. These schools successfully integrate Unified Champion Schools programming into daily life, ensuring that students with and without intellectual disabilities learn, play, and grow together.
Unified Sports at Shaker began with Unified Bowling and have continued to expand. The school now offers four Unified Sports across all three athletic seasons, open to all students.
We’re proud of the students and staff who make Shaker a place where everyone belongs.
North Colonie is celebrating 75 years this school year and we have exciting events planned! We’ll be naming our Bison and hosting a special spring celebration where the winning name will be revealed! Would you like to be part of the festivities? We are looking for NCCSD teachers, staff, parents, Shaker High School students and community members to sign up for our 75th Anniversary Planning Committee. Complete the form through the link in our bio.
#nametheshakerbison #NC75
You can drop off your clothing and/or sports gear in the library before Wednesday and then on Wednesday, come browse the donated items and take home some new spring pieces. Snacks will be provided! If you have any questions, please email Nancy Chandra at nchandra@nccsk12.org.
October is National Principals Month! We’re celebrating and thanking our eight incredible principals for their leadership, dedication, and the countless ways they support our students, staff, and the entire district every day. We appreciate all that you do!
It’s time! The Bison is finally getting a name and we need your help to make history! For 75 years our Bison mascot has gone without a name, and now you get to be part of this milestone moment. Submit your name nomination using this link or by scanning the QR code in the video.
Nominations are open from Thursday, Oct. 23 through Tuesday, Nov. 18. Once submissions close, the Bison will pick out the top five names.All North Colonie students will then have the chance to cast their votes for the final decision.
Which name will rise to the top? The choice is yours, North Colonie!
#nametheshakerbison #nccsd75
