REMINDER for Elementary Families - Thursday, Oct. 22 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 will both be half days for all K-5 students for parent-teacher conferences.
"Register to vote so the decisions being made today reflect the generation that will live with them tomorrow!" The slogan was the theme of the day on Thursday, Oct. 15, as students from the Shaker High School Civic Engagement and Leadership class coordinated with the League of Women Voters to organize a voter registration drive. The drive was an immense success, with over 125 SHS students registered and pre-registered to vote. Students and community members can check their voter registration or their polling place by going to the League of Women Voters nonpartisan website Vote411.org. Great job to our Civic Engagement and Leadership class!
Ready? Set? Read!
Shaker High School junior Michael Banson brought his self-published debut book, The Panda, the Lion, and the Magic Kazoo, to life for a second grade class at Latham Ridge Elementary School on Monday!
Michael first wrote the story in eighth grade and recently revamped it with a rhyming pattern and refined illustrations. Now, he’s sharing his love of writing with the next generation, working alongside his former eighth grade English teacher, Christina Froehlich, and middle school students through a Young Authors Club. His book is also available on Amazon. His next stop is Loudonville Elementary School in November.
Shaker High School junior Michael Banson brought his self-published debut book, The Panda, the Lion, and the Magic Kazoo, to life for a second grade class at Latham Ridge Elementary School on Monday!
Michael first wrote the story in eighth grade and recently revamped it with a rhyming pattern and refined illustrations. Now, he’s sharing his love of writing with the next generation, working alongside his former eighth grade English teacher, Christina Froehlich, and middle school students through a Young Authors Club. His book is also available on Amazon. His next stop is Loudonville Elementary School in November.
Shaker High School senior Tyler Jourdanais recently attended a different kind of open house with his parents, Theresa and Floyd Jourdanais, at the the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center - Albany Campus. Instead of hearing from just his teacher, Tyler was given the chance to show his parents what he has learned at the Welding and Metal Fabrication program at BOCES. The CTE Open House was well attended, with hundreds of family and friends learning more about BOCES CTE programs, viewing equipment demonstrations, and showcasing skills.
On Friday, October 23, we’re going PINK! In partnership with Real Kids Wear Pink and the American Cancer Society, we’re coming together as a school community to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Show your support, spread awareness and help us turn the school PINK by wearing pink on October 23!
It's School Board Recognition Week and we want to say THANK YOU to our board for all they do to support our students! Thank you to our dedicated board members - Linda Harrison (President), Matthew Cannon (Vice President), Mary Alber, Janet Appe, Dr. Nicholas Comproski, Michelle Dischiavo, Ayesha Geter, Samuel Johnson, and Dr. Melissa Veino - for their leadership, commitment, and continued support of our students, staff, and community.
We’re partnering with Hatsgiving once again to spread warmth and kindness to children battling cancer and survivors!
Founded 14 years ago by North Colonie alum Jeremy Wernick, Hatsgiving collects thousands of winter hats each year and distributes them to children’s hospitals across the country, including right here in our local community.
Help us make a difference by donating new winter hats at collection boxes located in our school buildings. Every hat helps bring a little extra warmth and comfort to a child in need.
The final day to donate is Thursday, November 12!
Reminder: No school on Monday, Oct. 12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day.
Records are made to be broken! This year, Shaker High School is honored to have 15 students chosen as a performer or alternate in the 2026 NYSSMA All-State Festival. This is a new record for North Colonie CSD! Additionally, this is the highest number of students accepted from any Suburban Council district. Congratulations to the following students:
Luqman Ahmed (11) - Trombone in Symphonic Band
Manna Alemu (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Jenna Cannistraci (12) - Alto in Mixed Chorus
Mykael Corniel (11) - Bass in Mixed Chorus
Miltiadis (Miltos) Hamilton (11) - Clarinet in Wind Ensemble
Nafiza Ilma (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Adam Judson (12) - Oboe in Symphony Orchestra
Lauren Lee-Chung (12) - Viola in String Orchestra
Isabella Monaco (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Giuliana Palmieri (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Bella Pelton (12) - Soprano in Mixed Chorus
Emily Tribou (11) - Violin in String Orchestra
Alexander King (11) - Alternate on Bass
Gio Ok (12) - Alternate on Cello
Christina Zhang (11) - Alternate on Flute and Piccolo
The NYSSMA All-State Festival will be held in Rochester, NY from December 3-6, 2026.
Luqman Ahmed (11) - Trombone in Symphonic Band
Manna Alemu (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Jenna Cannistraci (12) - Alto in Mixed Chorus
Mykael Corniel (11) - Bass in Mixed Chorus
Miltiadis (Miltos) Hamilton (11) - Clarinet in Wind Ensemble
Nafiza Ilma (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Adam Judson (12) - Oboe in Symphony Orchestra
Lauren Lee-Chung (12) - Viola in String Orchestra
Isabella Monaco (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Giuliana Palmieri (12) - Alto in Treble Chorus
Bella Pelton (12) - Soprano in Mixed Chorus
Emily Tribou (11) - Violin in String Orchestra
Alexander King (11) - Alternate on Bass
Gio Ok (12) - Alternate on Cello
Christina Zhang (11) - Alternate on Flute and Piccolo
The NYSSMA All-State Festival will be held in Rochester, NY from December 3-6, 2026.
On Sept. 30, over 25 vendors stopped by the 2026-2027 Transition Fair at Shaker High School. The fair offered a chance for community members to learn about college, day programs, research employment options, independent living, and more. Thank you to everyone who attended the event!
Stop and smell the kale! Loudonville now has a "Mobile Sensory Garden," allowing students to take a break and touch and smell a small variety of plants. The cart also has a feelings chart, utilizing fruits and vegetables, to help students identify how they are feeling. The mobile garden has been a success in the school so far, with hopes to expand to other schools across the district soon.
Congratulations to our first Kids Care recipient of the new school year, Shaker High School junior Mia Thomas! Mia was recognized as the September Kids Care honoree at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, September 28. Over the summer, Mia made dozens of handmade cards for cancer patients at New York Oncology and Hematology. She made the cards in honor of her grandmother, who passed away from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back in May. The cards provided comfort, hope, validation and a reminder to patients that they are not alone. Congratulations Mia!
Bryson is walking with NAMI - and you're invited! Join the Shaker NAMI On Campus Team at the Capital Region NAMIWalks this Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Washington Park.
Come together with friends and family to raise awareness for mental health, show your support, and advocate for mental wellness. Our Bison mascot, Bryson, will be there too! Wear blue to show your Shaker NAMI spirit!
Join our team and walk with us: https://www.namiwalks.org/teams/82889
Come together with friends and family to raise awareness for mental health, show your support, and advocate for mental wellness. Our Bison mascot, Bryson, will be there too! Wear blue to show your Shaker NAMI spirit!
Join our team and walk with us: https://www.namiwalks.org/teams/82889
Friday, October 2, is School Custodial Workers Recognition Day! Today, we celebrate the dedicated custodial workers who help keep our schools clean, safe, welcoming, and ready for learning every day. Thank you for all that you do!
*Reminder: Early Release Drill on Friday, October 2, 2026*
North Colonie CSD will carry out a practice Early Release Drill by dismissing all students fifteen minutes before the normal dismissal time on Friday, October 2, 2026.
North Colonie CSD will carry out a practice Early Release Drill by dismissing all students fifteen minutes before the normal dismissal time on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Join us tonight for North Colonie’s Fourth Annual Fall Family Festival from 5–7 p.m. in Shaker High School’s Lower Courtyard! Enjoy music, food, activities and plenty of fall fun with family and friends. With the SMS Open House this evening, please park at Shaker High School. We can’t wait to see you there!
North Colonie CSD is pleased to announce the return of a familiar face to Shaker High School. Mrs. Nicky Bogert will be coming back to SHS as the new LaFollette Hall Principal. Mrs. Bogert has spent most of her career in North Colonie, first as a health teacher for 23 years and then as the Taft Hall Dean from 2021-2024. For the past two years, Mrs. Bogert has served as the South Glens Falls High School Principal, gaining valuable experience that will serve her well in her new role.
"Mrs. Bogert’s wealth of experience both as a teacher and an administrator, as well as her familiarity with the district and the high school, make her the right person for the job," said North Colonie Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Skeals. "She has already established relationships with many of the faculty and staff at the high school and will no doubt hit the ground running when she returns."
Her first day with SHS will be Monday, November 2. Please join us in welcoming back Mrs. Bogert!
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!
