Shaker Middle School

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!

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!

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!

Nothing could stop these grads — not even the heat! Shaker Middle School held their 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony for the Class of 2029 on Wednesday, June 26. Almost 500 students were presented at the front of the gym, making the day a success. Congratulations to the Class of 2029!

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!

Shaker Middle School sixth grader Cam had an idea to make someone's day better and made it happen! Cam partnered with the SMS Latino Student Alliance to host a blanket drive, collecting blankets to donate to Albany Medical Center to help kids of all ages feel warm and comfortable. Cam and the Latino Student Alliance worked together to divide up tasks such as creating promotional materials, labeling collection boxes, and making announcements to the school. The assignment was a success, with the students collecting almost 80 blankets. Staff from Albany Medical Center stopped by SMS to pick up the blankets and thank the students for their hard work. Great job, students!

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

The North Colonie Teachers' Association hosted its annual retirement party to celebrate the outgoing class of teachers. Employees past and present gathered at The Barn at Power's to honor the 15 NCCSD teachers who are calling it a career. It was a night to reminisce on the years of hard work and dedication put in by so many. Thank you all for everything you have done for North Colonie and we wish you the best of luck in your retirement!

Dozens of eighth grade students in the Accelerated Studio Art and Design program were honored at a portfolio reception on Wednesday afternoon. Art District Supervisor Anne Manzella and members of the SMS art faculty took part in the reception. Over the school year, accelerated art students worked with paint, block print, pencil, pen, graphic design, ceramics and other media. This allows students to explore and experience the wide variety of media available to them and to potentially start to discover their passion. Alina Song and Nandi Htwe were selected by their teachers, Ms. Stanley and Mr. Haacker, to receive a special award for their performance in program. Congratulations to all students and best of luck next year at the high school!

Congratulations to Shaker Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Molly Jennes! Molly has been awarded the 2024-25 Capital District Teacher of the Year by the New York State Association of FACS Educators (NYSAFCSE). She is now in the running along with other region award recipients for the New York State FACS Teacher of the Year, which will be awarded this summer. Molly was nominated for the award by FACS teachers throughout the Capital District. She has worked at North Colonie for three years. She is an active member in NYSAFCSE, serving on the board and in multiple roles within the organization. The award serves as a recognition of the positive impact she has had on the lives of many students in SMS. Congratulations, Molly!

SMS has talent! The Communications classes at Shaker Middle School showed off their many talents on Thursday, May 29 in front of an auditorium or family, friends and faculty. Piano playing, joke telling, dancing, cup stacking, beat boxing, gymnastics, photography, drawing and fitness... these students did it all. There were live performances as well as recorded videos of various talents, all of which drew thunderous cheers and applause from the crowd. Thank you to our Communications teachers Ms. Cosgrove, Ms. Deierlein, Ms. Biviano, Ms. Alteri and Ms. Candelario for the time and effort they put into making sure every student was represented in the talent show. And a special thanks to SMS music teacher Ms. Greco for helping to facilitate the show!

The SHS Multicultural Festival was a resounding success on Friday night! Families from across the district turned out to celebrate the many cultures represented here in North Colonie. There was food from dozens of different countries for people to sample, along with dance, music and crafts from various cultures. The festival was put on by the SHS Cooking and Culture Club with the support of many other school clubs. We can't wait to do it again next year!

This week, Haystack Hall sixth graders are participating in mock Congressional Hearings as part of their social studies curriculum. Students presented prepared testimony as expert witnesses, comparing the structure and principles of the United States government with those of ancient Athens and the Roman Republic. They delivered their testimonies to a panel that included Mrs. Ackerly (Social Studies teacher), Ms. Phillips (Librarian), Mrs. French (Haystack Principal), and Mr. Pollaro (Social Studies Supervisor). The panel provided feedback and asked questions to help students improve their public speaking skills and build confidence.

Shaker Middle School is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month! Charles Rice from the New York State Office of Mental Health came in during lunches on Wednesday to share information on the 988 Lifeline and help spread awareness about mental health. Students and faculty members were encouraged to connect with their feelings. Students could grab stickers from a table and volunteers handed out fidget spinners, pens, bracelets, and other support goodies. Staff even received a special treat, a "You Matter" hat! #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #YouMatter #988Lifeline

Thank you to the North Colonie community for supporting the 2025-26 budget! North Colonie residents voted to approve the budget, 937 yes votes to 267 no votes. Linda Harrison and Samuel Johnson were both reelected to their seats on the Board of Education. Learn more on our website at northcolonie.org/news.

On Sunday, May 18, the Shaker Middle School Select Chorus took the field to sing the national anthem ahead of the Tri-City ValleyCats baseball game. Southpaw loved hanging out with our singing stars and some students even had the chance to participate in the games on the field in between innings. Everyone had a great time!

Shaker Middle School held its Day of Service on Saturday too! Students, parents and staff members helped install a new pollinator garden and cleaned up the current garden beds which will be planted later this spring.

North Colonie is once again teaming up with the United Way of the Greater Capital Region... this time for our Season of Service! Throughout the month of May, students from buildings around the district are holding days of service to give back to the community. While they're doing that, we want to help our own students in need. The money raised in this campaign will help provide students with food and other items during summer break and beyond. We are grateful for any and all donations!

Putting FACS skills to the test! Francis Estrella, a student from Morgan Armstrong's Textile & Design class, took what he learned in class and transformed it an official brand. For the class, students were tasked with creating a clothing company logo and one clothing item. Francis made a beanie hat lined with silk to accommodate people that struggle with frizzy hair. He then took the project a step further, pitching his brand, which he named "Director," to a clothing manufacturer. The slogan for Director is "Your Life Is Your Movie," which Francis says reminds us that we are the boss of our lives - no one but yourself can direct this movie, also known as your life. "I am beyond proud of him," said Armstrong. "This is exactly what it's all about!"