Dear North Colonie Families,
I would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable February break. If you are going out of state, please review the NYSDOH quarantine requirements and travel carefully. We are all instrumental in maintaining a healthy environment that allows our school buildings to be open for in-person learning.
Higher-Risk Sports
The Board of Education approved our plan to return to high-risk sports for winter and fall 2 seasons. The required attestations have been submitted to the Albany County Department of Health and we are proceeding with practice. All participants in the NCCS interscholastic athletic program will be required to sign a pledge acknowledging they have an important role in keeping students, opponents, and community members safe by doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following pandemic protocols.
In addition to the COVID-19 protocols which we are all following and requiring student athletes to sign the pledge, the North Colonie Athletics department has added extra measures to keep our athletes and community safe. Included among these protocols: mask wearing for practice and competition, daily attestations for coaches and athletes, ongoing sanitization of athletic equipment and facilities, and restricting spectators as we begin the season. Until the time when we can safely allow spectators, we will have live streaming available so our families and community can view sporting events. More information can be found on the athletics page of the district website.
Weekly Boost
- Twenty-nine Shaker High students have been recognized with honors in the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Shaker HS has a very impressive total of 39 artworks that were presented awards of Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention. The 13 Gold Key awarded artworks are now also being considered for national merit, with results of the adjudications revealed mid-March.Special applause goes out to Genevieve Chornyak, Carrie Lue, Lynn Marie Paris, and John Doolittle, who were the direct teachers of one or more of the award recipients. I encourage you to take time to look through this incredible work.
- Share Our Hearts — Blue Creek students have warmed our hearts. They sent out hundreds of Valentines to residents of nursing homes who are longing for personal interaction. It’s never too early to give our students the opportunity to learn the value of service to their community. Thank you to the PTA, Principal Trapini, art teacher Maya Trawinski, third grade teacher Beth Geragosian, school counselor Eileen Satterlee and all those who made this possible.
As always, thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe. Please continue to wear a mask, avoid social gatherings with those outside of your household, and social distance. Enjoy the break week ahead, get some rest, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday, February 22.
Sincerely,
D. Joseph Corr
Superintendent of Schools