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!
In mid-February, 22 SHS students traveled to Saabruecken, Germany to stay with their exchange students for 10 days. This was the 20th anniversary of the exchange program between SHS and the partner school Ludwigsgymnasium. Having hosted the German students in October 2025, it was SHS's turn to experience German culture and language firsthand! The students attended classes and took day trips to cities nearby, including historic Heidelberg and the former Roman city of Trier. Some students traveled to nearby France or Luxembourg and spent a day in Paris or Strasbourg. The trip ended with a four day stay in Berlin, Germany’s capital. Students explored the rich history of the city at the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center, and a tour of the Reichstag. The two week trip was an unforgettable immersion into the target language and culture, and life-long friendships and connections were formed. Thank you to our chaperones (Melissa Brandt, Robert Pollaro, and Christine Connor) for helping to make this trip a success. On to the next 20 years!
Lose your blues and kick off your Sunday shoes at Shaker Theatre's production of Footloose! The show will take place on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are now available! Visit https://shsnccs.booktix.com to purchase tickets for any show. Tickets have been selling quickly - don't miss out!
This month, two students from Shaker High School are being recognized as the February North Colonie Kids Care recipients. Senior Eveline Hanchett and sophomore Haitham Hussein have a very special relationship that was established during Unified Physical Education class, specifically the newly established swim unit. Both students were nominated by their Unified PE teachers, Coach Keith Bateman and Coach Sarah Bruno.
Initially fearful of the water, Haitham worked together with Evie for weeks, making small gains with her encouragement. The process took a lot of patience, communication, learning and trust on the part of both students. After five weeks, Haitham made it all the way into the pool, walking around the shallow end with confidence.
Thank you to both Haitham and Evie for their dedication, care and support for one another and congratulations on being our February Kids Care recipients! For the full story, head to our website or click the link in our bio.
Initially fearful of the water, Haitham worked together with Evie for weeks, making small gains with her encouragement. The process took a lot of patience, communication, learning and trust on the part of both students. After five weeks, Haitham made it all the way into the pool, walking around the shallow end with confidence.
Thank you to both Haitham and Evie for their dedication, care and support for one another and congratulations on being our February Kids Care recipients! For the full story, head to our website or click the link in our bio.
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.
Shaker High School students and their chaperones, Spanish teachers Jessie Morgan and Stephanie Majewski and LaFollette Hall principal Nikki Newidomy, spent 15 days in Costa Rica discovering the meaning of “Pura Vida” (Pure Life). From beaches and volcanoes to rainforests and coffee plantations, they immersed themselves in the culture and language while staying with host families and attending Colegio Humboldt in San José. The trip, part two of the exchange program, followed Costa Rican students’ visit to Shaker in October, and students described the experience as life-changing, with one saying, "this trip wasn’t just a trip. It taught me more about myself and changed the way I want to live the rest of my life."
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 Tuesday, Feb. 10, members of the Parliament of Uzbekistan visited Shaker High School to meet with students from AP Government, Civic Engagement, and Gender in Politics classes. Representing a young democracy less than 30 years removed from the Soviet Union, the parliamentarians discussed topics such as modernization, civil rights, youth engagement, and women’s participation in government. The five members were accompanied by two translators, one speaking Russian and the other Uzbek, the country’s primary language. As a recently independent nation, the parliamentarians main goal for this visit was to learn about the structure and workings of the United States government, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of American culture. Their trip was supported by the International Center of the Capital Region (ICCR) and the Congressional Office for International Leadership.
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.
Congratulations to the Shaker Science Olympiad team! On Saturday, Jan. 31, Shaker made history at Ballston Spa High School, coming out with a First Place trophy at the Science Olympiad Capital Region Regionals Tournament.
Shaker's Blue Team and White Team, composed of 15 students each, battled it out with 18 other competitive teams from the Capital District in 23 different science events, ranging from builds like Boomilever to labs like Forensics. The Blue Team came out on top, while the White Team placed 8th. The teams received a combined 23 medals—15 of which were top three placements. Not only was it the first time the team has qualified for States in 15 years and only the third time in Shaker history, but it was their best ever performance at a regionals competition.
Shaker's Blue Team and White Team, composed of 15 students each, battled it out with 18 other competitive teams from the Capital District in 23 different science events, ranging from builds like Boomilever to labs like Forensics. The Blue Team came out on top, while the White Team placed 8th. The teams received a combined 23 medals—15 of which were top three placements. Not only was it the first time the team has qualified for States in 15 years and only the third time in Shaker history, but it was their best ever performance at a regionals competition.
Congratulations to Microsoft Office Certification student Boshra Benantar! Boshra has placed first in New York State and earned a spot to compete this June at the National Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. Boshra achieved this honor by earning a perfect score on her certification exam.
Shaker High School also had two other Microsoft Office Certification students place at the state level. Alex Mahan earned second place, while Aiden Brady earned third place, both with perfect scores as well. The final placements were determined by a tiebreaker based on exam completion time. Great job to our SHS students!
Shaker High School also had two other Microsoft Office Certification students place at the state level. Alex Mahan earned second place, while Aiden Brady earned third place, both with perfect scores as well. The final placements were determined by a tiebreaker based on exam completion time. Great job to our SHS students!
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
Leave your troubles outside! The Shaker High LaFollette Cafeteria was transformed into a 1920s-style jazz club on Friday night, Jan. 30, for the North Colonie Friends of Music annual Jazzart showcase and fundraiser. More than 30 Shaker Middle and High School students filled the night with vibrant jazz, while eighth-grade chorus students served as wait staff, completing the speakeasy vibe. A special shoutout to Mr. Suzuki, who is retiring after 30 years as a Shaker High School music teacher. This marked his final Jazzart, but his influence will always be an essential note in the ensemble. All proceeds from the evening support future Friends of Music events, celebrating music, students, and community.
Congratulations to Shaker High School juniors Sam Syeda and Simran Nichani who have been named the North Colonie Kids Care recipients for January! Sam and Simran were nominated for their work to start a Science Olympiad at Shaker Middle School.
Both members of Science Olympiad at the high school, they recognized a need at the middle school level and took it upon themselves to find a faculty advisor, a space to meet and got the club started. Mr. Steadham, a science teacher at SMS, says Sam and Simran are kind and that they want everyone who comes out for Science Olympiad to feel welcome and like they have a role to play on the team... so much so that they even put together a second team to allow more students to participate. This is a wonderful example of students not only advocating for increased opportunities for other students, but also putting in the work to make it all happen. Congratulations Sam and Simran, and thank you for being kids who care here in North Colonie!
Both members of Science Olympiad at the high school, they recognized a need at the middle school level and took it upon themselves to find a faculty advisor, a space to meet and got the club started. Mr. Steadham, a science teacher at SMS, says Sam and Simran are kind and that they want everyone who comes out for Science Olympiad to feel welcome and like they have a role to play on the team... so much so that they even put together a second team to allow more students to participate. This is a wonderful example of students not only advocating for increased opportunities for other students, but also putting in the work to make it all happen. Congratulations Sam and Simran, and thank you for being kids who care here in North Colonie!
Shaker Speech and Debate takes home another win! On Saturday, January 24, the Shaker Speech and Debate Team finished first place overall in the Shenendehowa Invitational at Shenendehowa High School. This was the team's second first place finish this year. The following competitors won in various speech and debate events:
-1st Place Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate – Victoria Chung
-1st Place Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate – Gianna Zhang
-First Place Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate – Sima Amiri
-First Place Intermediate Public Forum Debate – Simran Nichani / Niharika Lumb
-Third Place Intermediate Public Forum Debate – Chloe Li / Sharvi Gawad
-Third Place Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking – Charita Devarampati
-First Place Original Oratory Speech – Pragna Obiddi
Prior to this success, the team had another first place win on January 17, when Aven Kilmer and Gianna Zhang competed in the Mt. Markham Invitational. Aven finished first place in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Oral Interpretation, while Gianna finished first place in Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate.
Great job to our Speech and Debate students on these wonderful accomplishments!
-1st Place Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate – Victoria Chung
-1st Place Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate – Gianna Zhang
-First Place Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate – Sima Amiri
-First Place Intermediate Public Forum Debate – Simran Nichani / Niharika Lumb
-Third Place Intermediate Public Forum Debate – Chloe Li / Sharvi Gawad
-Third Place Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking – Charita Devarampati
-First Place Original Oratory Speech – Pragna Obiddi
Prior to this success, the team had another first place win on January 17, when Aven Kilmer and Gianna Zhang competed in the Mt. Markham Invitational. Aven finished first place in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Oral Interpretation, while Gianna finished first place in Intermediate Lincoln Douglas Debate.
Great job to our Speech and Debate students on these wonderful accomplishments!
