The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers. |
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The Skim
- Whom to see or call list
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Webinar: “Is it Safe to Reopen Schools in the Capital Region?”
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REMINDER: Families who would like to enroll students in remote learning should contact Dr. Scott Milliken by August 31, 2020
- Athletics
- Technology Survey Coming Next Week
- Food Service Plan
- Visitor and Guest Policy
- Latin Award
- Message from the Health Office
- Yearbooks
- AAPA Uniform Exchange
- Host Families for Hockey Players Needed
- Legacy of Dreams
- Run-up to Reopening
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Dear Friends,
We continue to prepare for the reopening of school in three weeks. Our teams are pacing the frequency and content of communications about our planning to provide a steady and hopefully manageable flow of relevant information.
Families and guardians should be receiving an email on Wednesdays from our Academic Team, and students should be receiving one on Thursdays from the Deans of Students. Head Lines is sent each Friday to families, students, the professional community, and the Board of Trustees.
And if you have a question that has gone unanswered, we are only an email away.
Warmly,
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Whom to See or Call List
As we prepare for the fall, we have published this year’s “Whom to See or Call List” to the reopening page. This contact list provides an organizational overview of our professional community that will allow you to reach out directly to the appropriate person on campus with specific questions that you might have about school programs and operations.
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Webinar: “Is it Safe to Reopen Schools in the Capital Region?”
A conversation between Chris Lauricella and Ferdinand J. Venditti, Jr., MD.
Designed to help Albany Academies’ parents make an informed decision about school reopening, Mr. Lauricella and Dr. Venditti will discuss regional metrics related to COVID-19, risk factors in returning to school, how to mitigate them, and possible future scenarios for fall and beyond.
Dr. Venditti is the Executive Vice President for System Care Delivery, the AMCH Hospital General Director, and the vice dean for Clinical Affairs at Albany Medical College. He has been leading the team managing Albany Medical Center’s COVID response since the virus first emerged in the region, and continues to do so at both the hospital and the college.
If you have questions for Dr. Venditti, please send them to reidm@albanyacademies.org prior to the Webinar, and we will address as many as we can.
This Webinar will be recorded and posted to the School’s reopening page for those who cannot view it live.
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m.
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REMINDER: Families who would like to enroll students in remote learning should contact Dr. Scott Milliken by August 31, 2020.
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Athletics
We are awaiting guidance from New York State regarding what interscholastic athletics might look like in the fall. Once this guidance is released (possibly today), we anticipate that the NYSPHSAA task force studying reopening issues will meet immediately, make sense of how the guidance impacts the league, and communicate this information with schools. In the meantime, we have developed an athletics plan that will allow student-athletes to pursue various forms of sport-specific activities while adhering to State health and hygiene guidelines. This plan was shared on Wednesday and is on the reopening page.
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Technology Survey Coming Next Week
Next week we will be sending a technology survey to all families. The survey assesses students’ access to the internet and internet-enabled devices, should we need to rely on this access for distance or remote learning. You may recall that we sent a similar survey last year, which allowed us to provide support to those students who needed it.
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Food Service Plan
- Our dining vendor (Flik) follows an additional layer of hygiene protocols and procedures specific to food preparation.
- Students will be separated by 6 feet of physical distance while eating lunch OR use tables equipped with physical dividers.
- All individuals are required to wash their hands before and after eating.
- Daily verbal and visual reminders (signage) will be used to enforce this behavior.
- Students and employees may remove masks when seated to eat as long as they maintain six feet of physical distance or remain seated behind a table divider.
- There will be no buffet or self-serve cafeteria dining for students.
- Students and families will use a phone application (app) to order lunch a week in advance.
- Lunch orders will be prepared ahead of time and will either be “grab and go” or delivered to classrooms, depending on division.
- The lunch menu will offer a range of choices and nutritional options for all students.
- All FLIK boxed meals and nutritional offerings will be allergy aware, and options for students and employees with food allergies or special diets will continue to be available.
- Snacks will be delivered to middle and lower school classrooms.
- Upper school students may bring snacks that do not pose an allergy risk.
- Sharing of food and beverages will not be allowed.
- Breakfast will not be available.
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Visitor/Drop-in Policies
- Visitors are expected to schedule their campus visits.
- Drop-in visitors will not be allowed to enter the School.
- Each visitor must affirm COVID screening questions prior to arrival.
- Visitors must wear a mask before entering campus buildings and throughout their visit.
- Visitors must follow all posted health and hygiene guidelines.
- Visitor appointments will be staggered.
- Visitor contact information will be gathered and retained should follow-up be needed.
We ask that parents follow these same guidelines, as practicable, so that we can limit campus interactions and keep accurate records, should they be necessary for contact tracing.
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Latin Award
Alex Li '21 has been awarded the Maureen O'Donnell Oxford Classical Dictionary Award, granted by the National Latin Exam committee in recognition of four years of gold medals on the National Latin Exam. This award is an outstanding achievement and represents many years of hard work and dedication. We will be presenting Alex with his award in person in the Fall. Congratulations, Alex!
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Message from the Health Office
Please remember to submit your child's health information to the Health Office prior to the start of the school year. Physicals need to be completed within a year of the start of school for new students, PreK, K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, & 7th-12th. Please let the Health Office know if you are having trouble scheduling your child's appointment. Up-to-date immunization records also need to be submitted.
NYS requires up-to-date immunization records for all students, including students that have opted to participate in remote learning. Medication drop-off needs to be by appointment. Please contact your campus nurse via email to schedule an appointment for medication drop-off or if you have any questions.
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Yearbooks Now Available
The yearbooks have arrived and are available to be picked up from school. If you ordered a yearbook, please contact Katie Conroy for AAG yearbooks or Dodie Motley for AA yearbooks to arrange for a time to pick yours up.
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AAPA Uniform Exchange
Due to the current COVID situation we are not accepting donations at this time and apologize for any inconveniences. However, if you are in need of an item, below is the process:
- Parents complete request/order form.
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Click here for the AAG Uniform request form
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Click here for the AA Uniform request form
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Completed forms should be emailed to uniform@albanyacademies.org
- Request /order is received.
- Items are picked from inventory.
- Academies personnel will confirm availability of items.
- Pick-up scheduled from the front offices on either campus.
- Checks should be made payable to: The Albany Academies, attn: AAPA Uniform Sale.
Schedule for pick-up and drop off of payments:
- Requests received by Sunday at midnight will be processed on Monday and ready for pick-up on Tuesday between 8:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m.
- Requests received by Tuesday at midnight will be processed on Wednesday and ready for pick-up on Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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Host Families for Hockey Players Needed
As we approach the new academic year, we are seeking host families for our hockey players in the prep league. New hockey coach Steven Mallaro has done a wonderful job encouraging exceptional student-athletes to join our community and the program, and housing is needed for some of the players.
A host family provides a safe, caring, and friendly home atmosphere and serves as a role model and extended family to the players. If you are interested in learning more about how to participate, please contact Director of Admissions Nicholas Forcier at forciern@albanyacademies.org.
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Legacy of Dreams Going Virtual |
We have made the decision to transition Legacy of Dreams, a fundraising event to support athletics, to a virtual event on Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 pm and live-stream it via The Albany Academies Facebook page. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!
Please consider joining our Legacy of Dreams Honorary Committee and/or becoming an event sponsor on the event page on our website here, or contact Special Events Coordinator Sarah Adamowski at adamowskis@albanyacademies.org. Your support is greatly appreciated!
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RUN-UP TO REOPENING
The following is a timeline of events and activities leading up to opening day. We will be preparing videos over the next few weeks to show you signage and other cues being displayed throughout the campuses.
Week of August 17 to 21
- Existing furniture moved out of classrooms
- Teacher-designated items either discarded or stored per teacher requests
- Physical distancing cues installed in classrooms
- New classroom furniture put in place and physically distanced
August 24
- Teachers can return to campus to prep classrooms
- Signage cues installed in campus public spaces
August 24, 25, & 26
- Remote learning training and technology
- Intended for faculty only
August 27
- Orientation for all new faculty and staff
- Intended for NEW faculty and staff only
September 2
- Orientation for all new faculty and staff
- Intended for NEW faculty and staff only
September 8 & 9
- On-site Pre-service Training
- Intended for Professional Community (faculty and staff) Only
September 10
- Remote Orientation on Zoom
- Intended for ALL Students & Parents
- Details TBA
September 11
- On-campus Orientation for New Students
- 8:00 – 11:00 am
- Intended for:
- All Grade 5 Students
- All NEW Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)
- All Grade 9/Form III Students
- All NEW Upper School Students (Grades 10-12/Forms IV-VI)
September 14
- Opening Day On Campus
- Full school day on campus
- Extended time for arrival processes
- VIRTUAL First Chapel and Opening Assembly
- In-person and remote learners participate via Zoom
- Modified academic schedule to acclimate to new procedures
- Extended lunch periods
- Extended time for dismissal processes
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Coming August 28, 2020
Information on:
Daily Symptom Survey
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Early Bird & Extended Day
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