Significant progress made during first year of construction
With the one-year mark drawing near, Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education members viewed the progress made on the district’s extensive $94.5 million building project. The project architect and members of Sano-Rubin's project management team joined district officials on a walking tour of the new construction and renovations at Niskayuna High School on Tuesday, May 6, prior to the district’s public budget hearing and regular board meeting. Read more

Hillside Elementary School students "on board" with walking to school
Dozens of Niskayuna students are literally making strides toward better health by choosing to board the "Walking School Bus" every Wednesday in May.
Hillside Elementary School has partnered with Schenectady County Traffic Safety Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension to pilot this new program designed to increase physical activity and promote fitness among young students.
Under the watchful eye of adults, students from kindergarten through grade 5 have been walking to school in small groups each Wednesday morning. Read more

Helping hands needed to build Rosendale Playground
Community service project at Rosendale Elementary School on May 3-4
Attention High School Students: If you are looking to fulfill community service hours, sign up today to be a part of the Playground Build at Rosendale Elementary School. You will work in teams of 3-4, lead by a skilled Team Leader assembling components of the playground. Great way to log some hours, meet people, learn to work as a team and with tools. Food and beverages provided. Contact: Judy McDonald 381-9683. Four-hour shifts start Saturday at 7a.m. Come be a part of a great experience!

Meet the Candidates Night is Monday, May 5
The PTO Council is hosting "Meeting the Candidates Night" on Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Van Antwerp Middle School auditorium. All are welcome to stop by to meet and ask questions of the candidates for the Board of Education. Learn more about the candidates running for election to your school board.

Questions about the proposed 2008-09 school budget?
District residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed $70.1 million budget and ask questions during a Public Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in Niskayuna High School's Little Theater. The regular Board of Education meeting will follow the hearing.

Niskayuna Girls' Lacrosse Senior Night dedicated to Kathy Plakas
Faculty, family and friends of Niskayuna Girls' Lacrosse gathered to celebrate Senior Night and to pay special tribute to Kathy Plakas. Kathy is the mother of the Johnny Plakas, the varsity girls' lacrosse team manager. She passed away more than a year ago from breast cancer. On Friday, May 9, the Niskayuna Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team chose to show their support by opting for pink balloons in honor of Woman’s Cancer Awareness, Mother’s Day (May 11), and in memory of Kathy. The entire team also wore Breast Cancer Awareness headbands during the game. A donation of over $300, raised by the girl’s varsity and junior varsity lacrosse teams, was made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Kathy. Johnny will attend The College of Saint Rose on full scholarship this fall. The event was covered extensively on local TV stations, Channel 6, Channel 13 and FOX News.

Niskayuna High School Junior Prom is May 10
Students planning to attend the prom on Saturday, May 10, must sign a Contract for Safety before purchasing tickets. Contracts will be made available in the high school beginning April 18. More information about the prom and after-prom party is available here, including a link to download a copy of the contract.

Advanced Placement exams schedule
All morning exams, with the exception of Spanish, German and Music Theory, will be given at Iroquois Middle School. Room assignments will be posted on the exterior doors at Iroquois. Buses will be available, leaving the NHS bus area at 7:15 a.m. Buses will return to NHS at the completion of the morning exams (11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.). Seniors with parking passes may drive to and park in the Iroquois parking lots. All afternoon exams are given at NHS. View the schedule

Hillside fifth-grader's essay wins $1,000 toward purchase of computer equipment
Thanks to the accomplished writing of a fifth-grade student, Hillside Elementary School has received additional funds for the purchase of new technology. An essay written by Lauren Juliana Litz was among four winning entries selected from approximately 400 submitted to a contest sponsored by First Niagara Bank. Litz and three other fifth-graders from across the state won an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to help ring the opening bell at the NASDAQ Stock Market with First Niagara Bank's CEO in April. During a Hello Hillside school assembly in May, First Niagara Bank Regional President Thomas L. Amell presented Litz and Principal Shireen Fasciglione with a check for $1,000 toward the purchase of computer equipment. Read more including Lauren’s essay

Saturday is Niska-Day 2008!
Craig Elementary School to host festivities this year
The theme for Niska-Day 2008 is "We're Under Construction." As a result of the construction at the High School, festivities will be held at Craig Elementary School on Saturday, May 17. The format of the day will remain much the same. For more information about the parade and the day's other activities, please visit the Niska-Day Web site at www.niskaday.org

Board of Education appoints new principals at two Niskayuna  schools
On May 19, the Board of Education unanimously appointed new principals to lead Iroquois Middle School and Rosendale Elementary School.
Victoria L. Palmer will serve as principal of Iroquois Middle School beginning July 1. Last August, she was appointed assistant principal for Niskayuna’s two middle schools and she also serves as director of grades 6-8 English Language Arts.
“During the past year, Vicki has proven to be a capable and enthusiastic leader in our district,” said Superintendent of Schools Kevin Baughman. “She has a strong background in middle-level literacy and is a highly-motivated and caring educator.” Read more
Lauren J. Gemmill will become principal of Rosendale Elementary School on July 1. For the past two years, Gemmill has served as the academic administrator for English Language Arts and Social Studies for grades K-5 in the Shenendehowa Central School District.
“Lauren is a highly-talented and dynamic educator who received the highest recommendation from our interview committee,” Baughman said. “She has a strong background in literacy and curriculum development, and will be a great asset to our administrative team.” Read more

Residents to vote on 2008-09 school budget TODAY
Polls open from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. in the Niskayuna High School gym
Residents of the Niskayuna Central School District will vote on a proposed $70,086,240 budget for the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Niskayuna High School. Seventy parking spaces outside the entrance to the polls have been reserved for voters. No pre-registration is required. Quick facts about the proposed school budget are available here. For more detailed information, download the May edition of Your Schools.

Learn more about candidates running for the Niskayuna Board of Education
Five Niskayuna residents are vying for two seats on the Board of Education. The two candidates receiving the highest votes on May 20 will be elected to serve three-year terms beginning July 1. Terry Weiner and Deb Oriola are seeking re-election, while Ronald Anzalone, Robert Gardner and Peter Glaser are seeking first terms. Learn more about the five candidates.

Thank you voters!
Niskayuna Central School District residents approve 2008-09 school budget
Voters in the Niskayuna Central School District approved the district's proposed $70,086,240 budget for the 2008-09 school year. The final tally for Tuesday's vote was 1,392 yes to 1,050 no votes. Results were announced after polls at the high school closed at 9 p.m.
The school budget for next year is expected to increase the tax levy by an estimated 3.48 percent, the lowest increase in five years, for residents in Niskayuna. Voters also approved a bus proposition to purchase four full-size buses and five smaller buses. That vote total was 1,581 yes to 850 no votes. Read more
In the Board of Education race, incumbents Deb Oriola and Terry Weiner were re-elected to three-year terms, beginning July 1. Board candidate vote tallies were as follows:

• Deb Oriola — 1,116
• Terry Weiner — 1,008
• Peter Glaser — 870
• Robert Gardner — 853
• Ronald Anzalone — 480

Friends exhibit brings sobering message to Niskayuna High School
During the next few weeks, high school students will have an opportunity to view “Friends: One Day, One Wrong Turn,” a memorial to four college students who lost their lives in a tragic DWI car accident near Colgate University in 2000. Every high school student will view the exhibit at least once either during physical education or health class.
"We have many activities planned for our health classes," said teacher Lonnie Wilson. "We are using the exhibit as a learning experience for our students and also a service project." 
Middle school health teachers have planned a field trip for all Grade 8 students during which high school health students and a Niskayuna police officer will conduct workshops for them to attend in addition to viewing the exhibit.
The Friends exhibit remains on display at Niskayuna High School through May 23. Download a schedule of dates and times when it will be open for public viewing.

VOTE ON-LINE FOR “NISKY SPIRIT”
Niskayuna High School students compete in Time Warner Cable’s “How Cool Is Your School” video contest
A production team from Steve Honicki’s Studio Video II class, including students Nicholas Batson, Nicholas Collisson, Stephen Gemmiti, Paul Lyons, Christopher Murphy, Keenan Roberts, and David Stopera, recently participated in the “How Cool is Your School” Video Production Contest sponsored by Time Warner Cable. The competition was designed to encourage and challenge local students to use their creativity to promote their school’s unique spirit while also developing their video production skills. The production will be judged on its relevance, effectiveness, production technique, creativity and marketing. The winning school will be featured in a Capital News 9 story and will receive a $1,000 gift card to use to purchase new video/editing equipment. The winning team will also receive a tour of CNN’s New York City studio. The video can be viewed on News 9 ON Demand, digital cable channel 1009 starting May 8.
Viewers are encouraged to VOTE online at coolschool.twalbany.com from May 8–21. Twenty percent of the production team’s score is based upon online votes!

Short Cuts 7: A Video Celebration
Niskayuna High School’s annual student film festival finds a new home at the G.E. Theater at Proctor’s in downtown Schenectady
The Niskayuna High School Art Department presents Short Cuts 7: a video celebration showcasing outstanding student productions from the 2007-2008 school year on Thursday, May 22 at 7 PM at the G.E. Theater at Proctor’s.
Over 20 short films from students in Steve Honicki's Studio in Video program will be screened as part of this 7th annual event—including award-winning entries from the Reel Teens USA Festival. Rod Serling Film Festival, Capital Region Media Arts Festival, and Westport Youth Film Festival. Read more

NHS Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorale to perform "Carmina Burana" on May 29
The Niskayuna High School Music Department is proud to present Carl Orff’s masterpiece Carmina Burana in concert on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The NHS Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorale will be joined by a special Children’s Chorus and guest soloists Elissa Premerlani (Class of 1999), Jesse Conti (Class of 2005) and Eric Rubinstein in a Gala Concert to benefit the Niskayuna Friends of Music Scholarship Fund. Tickets are now available by mail order. The high school Box Office will be open May 27, 28 and 29 from 10:45a to 1:15p and one hour prior to the performance. All seating is general admission and there are no refunds. Download a ticket order form

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