Eight Niskayuna High School seniors named 2009 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Eight Niskayuna High School  students have been named 2009 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Congratulations to Michael Shanahan, Bryan Chow, Tyler Hardy, Sara Koste, Kevin Whitaker, April Zhang, Daniel Claridge and Daniel  Kwiatkoski.

Congratulations to Bryan Chow, Daniel Claridge, Tyler Hardy, Sara Koste, Daniel Kwiatkowski, Michale Shanahan, Kevin Whitaker and April Zhang who are among the approximately 16,000 high school seniors nationwide to be named semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. More than 1.5 million juniors from more than 21,000 high schools entered the 2009 National Merit Program by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. The semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about participation and leadership in school and community activities. Some 8,200 scholarships National Merit Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

Ceremonies mark two phases of construction
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 19, officially marked the opening of four new classrooms at one Niskayuna school, while a groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction at another school.
Nearly two dozen students joined district officials, Board of Education members, faculty, staff and parents in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Craig Elementary School’s new classroom addition. The new wing, which features four classrooms, opened to first- and second-grade classes at the beginning of the school year.
Students and their teachers are excited about the new learning spaces. One second-grader declared that his classroom “is the best in the whole school!” First-grade teacher Amy Morgan said the new classrooms, which offer plenty of storage space and natural light, are “top-notch.”
District officials then headed to Hillside Elementary School for a ceremony with a different purpose. Students, equipped with hard hats and shovels, helped faculty members, staff, parents and Board of Education members break ground―officially marking the beginning of construction at the school. Work at Hillside includes the construction of five classrooms, renovations to existing classrooms—two of which will be converted for educational services such as tutoring, speech, counseling and testing—and replacing the building’s old heating system with a more energy-efficient one.
The $94.5 million project, which encompasses all of the district's eight buildings, began last year and will be completed in 2010.

The Best of Nisk-Art Show now open at Niskayuna High School
The Best of Nisk-Art Show features a selection of artwork created by Niskayuna students in grades 1-11 during the 2007-08 school year. The show opened earlier this month and runs through October 21. An artist’s reception will be held in the Nisk-Art Gallery at Niskayuna High School on Tuesday, October 14, from 6:30–8 p.m. All are welcome to view the exhibit, which showcases some of the finest artwork from last year, such as Daffodils, the painting shown here, created by Brianna Conley, Grade 9.

Calling all scientists: Retired or active in the field
Niskayuna High School needs your expertise!
The Science Research in the High School (SRHS) program at Niskayuna High School is currently seeking scientists, either retired or active in the field, to meet once a week with students who are doing independent research. This course is an outreach program of the State University of New York at Albany, which offers students the opportunity to conduct original scientific research. Students actively engage in the scientific community of experimentation, learning the process, protocols and regulatory parameters surrounding the world of research and development. In addition, students experience and learn the intricate details involved in the development, critique/review, and subsequent publication/presentation of scientific findings. Volunteers would help guide students in narrowing their topics of study, finding and reviewing appropriate research articles, finding mentors, and developing/writing a scientific research paper. In addition, volunteers would serve on our local Science Review Committee (SRC) to analyze and approve student research for entrance into regional science competitions/venues, and for formal presentations. The SRC members would be invited to attend our annual Niskayuna SRHS Symposium at the end of the school year. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Director of Science K-12 Jackie Carrese, at 382-2511, ext. 4315 or email jcarrese@niskyschools.org.

Niskayuna football and cheerleading teams organize food drive to tackle hunger
Attention football fans, you can help Niskayuna’s football team and cheerleaders tackle hunger this season. Team members are asking fans to donate one non-perishable food item during each home game. The food collected benefits Northeast Parent and Child Society, which will use the items to create Thanksgiving food baskets for local families and children in need. The teams are collecting non-perishable items such as pasta, sauce, canned meats, vegetables or fruit, and peanut butter and jelly. At the end of the food drive, team representatives will deliver the donated food items to Northeast’s headquarters. The food drive kicks off at Niskayuna’s first home game on Friday, September 19.

Welcome back students!
Niskayuna Central School District students headed to class on Wednesday, Sept. 3 – the first day of the 2008-09 school year. Kindergarten classes begin Friday, Sept. 5.

With book bags, backpacks and lunch boxes in hand, students make their way inside Hillside Elementary School for the first day of classes.	Students enthusiastically begin the new school year with a "thumbs up" at Van Antwerp Middle School.

Fall Continuing Education catalogs available
Continuing Education catalogs for Fall 2008 have been mailed to all district residents. The catalog can also be downloaded from the Web site. (PDF document)

Niskayuna school community welcomes new faculty and staff for 2008-09 school year
During the summer, approximately 50 new faculty and staff members joined Niskayuna schools, including 32 teachers and seven administrators. Three of the new administrators joined the district’s leadership team just as the school year kicked off. Read their biographies: Imran Abbasi, Assistant Middle Schools Principal; Lynne Rutnik, Administrator for Student Support Services; and Regina (Jean) Winkler, Director of Grades K-8 English Language Arts.

Educators, staff members celebrate career milestones
During the 2008-09 Opening Day for faculty and staff on Tuesday, Sept. 2, five Niskayuna Central School District staffers were recognized for a quarter century of service to the district. Congratulations to secretary Debbie Houlihan, elementary teacher Carole Van Alstyne, school counselor David Motta, and maintenance workers Thomas Quinlan and James Vincent (missing from above photo) for 25 years of service and dedication to the school district and its students.

Niskayuna's e-Community Bulletin Board provides 24-7 access to information about upcoming community events
Looking for information about local events? Learn more about fall programs such as Capital Youth Hockey's Learn to Skate program, or find out how to register your child for the Niskayuna Girls Basketball League. You can find this and more information about community events on Niskayuna Central School District's e-Community Bulletin Board. Read more about this community resource.

Class reunion news
The Class of 1993 will host its 15th reunion in November. The Class of 1969 is planning its 40th reunion in October 2009. For more information about these events, click the "Alumni" button on the upper left side of this page. If you are planning a class reunion, e-mail jfrost@niskyschools.org to have the information posted on the Alumni Reunions page. For current news about your former classmates, register and search Niskayuna's Alumni Database.

Traffic patterns to change slightly at Niskayuna High School for 2008-09 school year
New student parking lot available
Beginning Friday, August 22, faculty, staff, coaches, student athletes and other visitors to the Niskayuna High School campus should park in the new parking lot to the right of the Balltown Road entrance. The parking area adjacent to the high school pool entrance will no longer be available after Thursday, August 21. Traffic patterns (resembling final traffic patterns once the building project is complete in 2010) and parking arrangements will change slightly for the 2008-09 school year. For safety reasons, specific areas will be limited to one-way traffic. More information

Niskayuna 2008-09 school district calendar available online
The 2008-09 calendar was mailed to residences of parents of Niskayuna students in August. A PDF of the calendar may be downloaded and printed from the Web site. Dates in the printed calendar are subject to change. The district also maintains online calendars by month, which are updated throughout the year to reflect any change in the dates of district events.

Summer provides time and opportunity for building project progress
Seven of the Niskayuna's eight buildings are currently under construction. While preliminary work began this summer at Birchwood, Hillside and Rosendale elementary schools, construction and renovations are winding down at Glencliff and Craig elementary schools. Crews have made much progress on construction and renovations at the high school and at Van Antwerp Middle School. “At this point, the building project is roughly 40 percent complete, is within budget and remains on an approximate timeline for completion in 2010," said Superintendent of Schools Kevin Baughman. Read more

Summary available of 2008 survey on student perceptions of drug and alcohol abuse
During the 2007-08 school year, Schenectady's Promise—The Alliance for Youth conducted a survey of Niskayuna students to determine the attitudes and perceptions of students regarding substance abuse, as well as the contributing factors and risk and prevention factors for substance abuse. This recent survey follows up on a Prevention Needs Assessment Survey of students in grades 6-12 in Schenectady County schools that was administered in 2006. Results of the 2008 survey revealed some positive trends in student behaviors and perceptions, while other trends remain a cause for concern. View a comparison of the data from the two surveys
The school district's Health Advisory Committee, comprised of teachers, health professionals, board members, parents and community, will consider the results of the surveys as part of its review of school district health curriculum and program. For further information contact: Dr. Deborah Shea, Asst. Supt. for Instruction and Programs, 377-4666 ext. 50714, or Larry Gillooley, 382-2511 ext. 4361

Niskayuna schools follow precautions to guard against drug-resistant "Staph" infection
This past year, attention has been focused on an infection caused by a strain of bacteria known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA originated in hospitals more than a decade ago, but has since been found in the general population. This form is commonly referred to as community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or CA-MRSA. Isolated cases of this infection have been reported in virtually every area school district, including Niskayuna schools. Upon the advice of the Schenectady County Health Department, the district is required to monitor cases and report only if there is a cluster of this infection in a school building. More information

Scholarship fund established in memory of Susan Burke
The Scholarship Committee of the Niskayuna Teachers Association has established a college scholarship in memory of middle school social studies teacher Susan Burke who passed away in January 2008. More information

Niskayuna school community honors those who serve
A group of Niskayuna teachers, students and staff have united to recognize and honor all Niskayuna graduates who have served in the armed forces since September 11, 2001. The group is planning a series of events and activities — including a permanent display in the high school listing the names, pictures and service information of these exemplary graduates and community members. More information

*What is a PDF document? A PDF document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed, which can be downloaded for free off the Adobe Acrobat Web site.

top of page

This page was last updated October 7, 2008