High school students to present Disney's Beauty and the Beast
You won't have to travel to Broadway this spring to catch Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." Niskayuna High School students along with members of the music department will bring the popular musical to the stage this spring.
The high school will present this classic tale during four performances on March 1-3. Auditions will be held November 13-16 and production will begin following Thanksgiving break. Eric Hughes will direct the production, with assistance from music coordinator/producer Paula Brinkman and conductor Christopher Neubert. Debra Pigliavento will act as choreographer.
Tickets will go on sale at the high school box office in early February.

UPDATE: Hillside playground fundraiser sold out!
Tickets are sold out to the Hillside PTO playground fund-raiser, called “Moonlight at the Mohawk,” on Saturday, November 4.
The PTO is still accepting donations for its silent and live auctions. Guests will have an opportunity to bid on more than 230 items including restaurant gift certificates, sports equipment and tickets to sports events, artwork, family fun activities, spa treatments, handmade crafts, and 16 amazing gift baskets created by the classes at Hillside Elementary School. To donate an item, contact auction chairperson Debra Bachert at 393-6193.

Glencliff students honor military during Election Day Assembly
Glencliff Elementary School students were draped in the Stars and Stripes for an assembly on Election Day honoring the men and women serving in the U.S. military in Iraq, including one of their teacher's husbands, and one of their schoolmate’s fathers.
During the Nov. 7 Good Morning Glencliff assembly, students at the school in Rexford sang a variety of patriotic and other children's tunes, and also read heartfelt letters they had written to the soldiers. The letters will accompany the care packages students have been assembling throughout the past several weeks to send to local soldiers stationed in Iraq. Students collected snack food, toiletries, games and some small toys for soldiers to give to Iraqi children. Students also researched the Internet for pictures of New York State landmarks – such as the Statue of Liberty – to send to soldiers along with handmade cards and holiday ornaments.
Special guests at the assembly included Col. Karen Love and Joanna Pritchard, coordinator of the Wing Family Program, from the Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia. “This outpouring of love and support from children means a great deal to the air men and women serving from our area, especially when it comes from their local community,” Pritchard said. “It’s amazing.”
The care packages will be sent overseas in mid-November.

Go Home Drill scheduled for November 9
Niskayuna schools will dismiss 15 minutes early on Thursday, November 9 as part of the district’s annual Go Home Drill.
The drill is an opportunity to practice emergency preparedness. As part of the Go Home Drill, the district will also test a revised emergency dismissal contact procedure enacted this year. School staff will call parents or guardians of all elementary students, and those parents of middle school students who have opted to be called, using information listed on new emergency contact forms issued at the beginning of the school year.
Parents who have not completed a new emergency contact form or who have questions about the drill should contact their child’s building principal.
The Go Home Drill is a regulation of the Commissioner of Education that requires all school districts to conduct annual drills to practice their School Emergency Management Plan.

High school vocalists selected for Empire State Youth Chorale
Congratulations to four Niskayuna High School students who will perform with the Empire State Youth Chorale this year. Buddy Baglow, Ben Golub, Emma Ladouceur and Jennifer Lefsyk were among those selected from hundreds of area students who auditioned for the region’s premier youth vocal ensemble. The group performs with the Empire State Youth Orchestra during the annual “Melodies of Christmas” at Proctor’s Theatre in December.

Lady Silver Warriors capture first field hockey title
The Niskayuna High School field hockey team captured its first Section II A Field Hockey championship with a 1-0 win over Shenendehowa on Sunday at Skidmore College. This season, Niskayuna (15-6) has set team records for most wins and farthest advance in tournament play. Congratulations to all the players and Coach Carol Baldwin! 

Craig School Ski/Sport Sale is Saturday, November 18
Craig Elementary School is hosting its annual Ski/Sport Sale on Saturday, November 18 from 9 a.m.-noon. Items to sell may be dropped off Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The sale benefits Craig programs and activities.

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