File under bee. We had a cousin who died in charming Niskayuna, New York. Due to the current…read moreAdministration's total screw up of the airlines industry, we took Amtrak with its 10% Military / Veterans Discount, with a bus transfer from the Schenectady, NY train station, to and from for the funeral. While there, we visited the very high-quality ranked Niskayuna High School. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. -- Dr. Seuss Did you know that Niskayuna High School Library has honey bees that have made it their home since 2016? I didn't until my recent visit. This review focuses on my discovery of and visit to the Niskayuna High School Library Honey Bee Interpretive Center. Science teacher Paul Scott's first task was to get approval to bring a beehive into the school. "Make sure you start with the people who are most likely to be affected by it," advises Scott, who first consulted the school nurse about allergy concerns and the grounds crew before obtaining permission from the principal. Thousands of honeybees busy themselves inside the school's observation hive, built and installed by Scott and another teacher in 2016. People who don't want to interact with the bees aren't forced to as the location of the hive was no afterthought: The media center, with its large windows overlooking an enclosed courtyard, is a prime and safe location for students to watch bees exit and enter the hive through the pipe that connects the hive to the outdoors. And it's a hub of activity at the school. You might think, what do bees eat there? Don't worry, bees can fly up to 5 miles from their hive to collect food, but there are plenty of trees and other plants blooming throughout the city. Each beehive could have up to 60 thousand bees, and while many are out foraging for food, about 2/3 of the colony stays home to clean, care for the young, make honey, guard the hive, and take care of the queen bee. Donna McAndrews, the school's library media specialist, developed a "bee corner" around the hive, displaying books and informational posters related to bees. What happens when a bee moves to a new hive? They have a house-swarming party! That was proudly told to me by one of the students there. The library staff is friendly, professional, helpful, smart, family-friendly, and disabled-friendly. "What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." -Dr. Carl Sagan, Cosmos "I'm tired of that stupid phrase, "the birds and the bees" which is supposed to represent "the facts of life" or the beginnings of the sex instruction of the young. Why for heaven's sake, has anyone ever tried to explain sex by talking about the birds and the bees? What have the birds and the bees to do with it? IT'S THE BEES AND THE FLOWERS. Will you get that through your head? IT'S THE BEES AND THE FLOWERS. The bee travels to one flower and picks up pollen from the stamens. The pollen contains the male sex cells of the plant. The bee then travels to another flower (of the same species) and the pollen brushes off onto the pistil, which contains the female sex cells of the plant. ... Now in the human being ... we don't rely on bees to do it for us." -- Dr. Isaac Asimov, US Army Veteran, scientist and Grand Master science fiction author P.S. Don't message me because in spite of my several complaints to yelp, for years now I am unable to open up any messages in yelp to me :-(

It's that time of year... concerts!…read more All my kids went to Niskayuna Schools and now my grandkids are going here. Located in a small town/suburb of Schenectady New York and is ranked very high in the state. Go Niskayuna Warriors!

All my kids went to Niskayuna Schools and now my grandkids are going... Great school system ranks…read more137 in the state!

There was a time when this used to be a great school district but sadly the current superintendent…read morehas caused so many problems that teachers aren't happy and students are suffering as a result.

Why is this even a place? I dont like it here at all, see they dont even teach me how to spell…read more"dont"!

the school lunch tastes like a$$, my teacher always takes her shoes off and makes the class smell…read morelike feet, but good thing i stole her shoes and im selling them on ebay. (unfortunatly they were the backup pair) and did i mention i cant even describe what the food they serve us is? it looks like pig slop.

Please avoid this place for your kids' good, at least for the 3 years old class, 3A and 3B. Very…read morehigh teacher turnover rate. Within less than 1 year, 3 out of 4 was gone. Only an old "Witch" is still in 3B class. Her name is Brenda. The reason I'm calling her "witch" is because she never smile at you or kids. In stead, she will yell at your kids. She also doesn't like your kids to talk with their mother language. Gosh, they are only 3 years old and this is America. There were a couple of weeks that she is specially targeting my daughter (don't know why, the Witch was in bad mood?), making her really sad. I blame myself so much that I didn't realize earlier how bad the problem is. Otherwise, my kid would not suffer that much. She is such a nice and sweet girl that the teachers in another daycare want all the kids to be like her. And she is so happy now in the new school. I'm writing this review because I don't really want to see other kids to be trapped again (at least 3 years old class). Trust me, there are many other better daycares you can go.

My son has been going to Clifton kinder care since December 2015 and he loves it! The caretakers…read moreare very loving and helped a lot dealing with his separation anxiety. The facility was very flexible to adjust according to our schedule and very responsive in case of any emergencies. So far we had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend it to my family and friends, oh wait, I already did

The building is secure and you need to get permission to enter the building. I have been her in the…read morepast a few times, with the first time being to inquire about taxes and the next time to enroll my son to school. This time I Nneeded to get some books for my son who talkes virtual classes and this is where I was asked to go to. The lady at front desk was friendly.

the school lunch tastes like a$$, my teacher always takes her shoes off and makes the class smell…read morelike feet, but good thing i stole her shoes and im selling them on ebay. (unfortunatly they were the backup pair) and did i mention i cant even describe what the food they serve us is? it looks like pig slop. we have fire drills so much that kids dont take it seriously might not survive an actual emergency. this school sucks.

This program worked with my child for two months, and during that time we consistently received…read morepositive feedback. After every session, we were given a written summary stating that she was focused, persevered through challenges, and demonstrated independence in completing tasks. At no point were we told there were concerns about her participation in group sessions. On Saturday, the manager unexpectedly pulled me aside and informed me that my child was no longer welcome in group sessions because she required too much hands-on help and was taking away from the other students. This came as a complete shock. A decision like this -- especially in a program specifically designed to support children who are struggling in math -- should never feel sudden or unexplained. I would have understood if this had been an ongoing concern and we had been made aware earlier, with clear communication and an opportunity to problem-solve together. The owner did listen to our concerns and apologized, which I appreciate. However, as someone who works in education, I strongly value transparent and proactive communication. Being blindsided in this way is deeply disappointing and, in my opinion, unacceptable.

From the owner: We’re serious about making math fun. At Mathnasium, we believe that when kids enjoy learning, real…read moreprogress follows. That’s why we start with games, puzzles, hands-on learning, and math challenges that spark curiosity and build confidence — all while teaching the skills they need to succeed. Our team of expert instructors creates customized learning plans for each child, from those who need extra support to those ready for advanced challenges. Whether it’s elementary school foundations, Algebra and Geometry, Regents, or SAT prep, we’re here to help your child grow — and enjoy the journey. Parents love that Mathnasium feels less like tutoring and more like a math adventure. From fun warm-ups to monthly challenges and prizes, we make math exciting — and effective. Stop in today and see why kids at Mathnasium look forward to math!