Dear North Colonie Families,
Welcome back! It’s hard to believe that a new school year is upon us once again. I hope you’ve all had the opportunity to relax and enjoy quality time with your family and friends this summer. As we prepare for the first day of school, I hope that the break has given you all the chance to hit the reset button… to move past any of the challenges of last year and forge ahead into this year with a clean slate.
Personally, I’m grateful to have had the chance to recharge and enjoy time with my family, but also to work with our staff and administration over the summer to prepare for this upcoming school year. As a district, we have taken the necessary steps to improve from one school year to the next. That process starts with the incredible faculty and staff members we have here in North Colonie. From the moment your child steps onto the bus in the morning until he or she walks in the door in the afternoon, our goal is to make their educational experience a positive and enjoyable one. While we will challenge our students academically, our aim is to help them become the best versions of themselves, starting in the classroom but extending far beyond it. We want our students to grow socially and emotionally and to feel supported along every step of their academic journey, from our incoming preschoolers and kindergarteners, to those getting ready to embark on their senior year at Shaker High School.
Plutarch once said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” We hope that each and every one of our students has that moment when a fire is lit in their minds, allowing them to discover and build on their passions. Beyond our core academic subjects, expanding pathways are creating more and more opportunities for students to further explore their interests in music, art, technology and more. We are preparing our students to succeed in an ever-changing world.
There are so many exciting things happening here in North Colonie. In May, the voters approved a Capital Project along with some Transfer to Capital work, some of which has already been completed in the high school. You will see H-Gym with a brand new floor and lighting, as well as a renovated kitchen in K-wing that is now accessible to all students for learning. Additional Transfer to Capital work will be completed around the district and our goal is that our Capital Project plans will be approved by New York State during the school year, so we can get work underway next summer. This project will bring much needed and long overdue improvements to North Colonie, greatly enhancing the overall experience for our students.
While there is certainly a lot to look forward to here in North Colonie, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. Right now, we’re eager to welcome our students and families back to school and to welcome our new families into the district for the first time. Every year, I am amazed by our students’ ability to overcome challenges and to push the boundaries of learning even further than I thought possible. I know this year will be no different. As your Superintendent, I look forward to witnessing these achievements across the district and we will be there to celebrate those milestones along with you. I wish you a happy, healthy and successful start to the new school year. I’ll see you soon!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Skeals
North Colonie Superintendent