September 2, 2021
 
Hello, Friends,

As the academic year is about to begin, there is a great deal happening here at The Albany Academies.
 
The new academic year begins
The 2021-2022 academic year officially begins on Friday, September 10. Although new students will participate in orientations the previous days, September 10 is the first day of classes. Our Emergency Response Team has been meeting regularly to assess health and safety matters for our students and professional community and to plan for our reopening. We have several robust protocols and plans in place to ensure that our entire school community remains healthy. Rest assured that we will follow all health and hygiene guidelines and requirements from guiding health authorities. I’m sure you join me in hoping for a successful and healthy year for all our students, faculty, and professional staff!
Join us at First Chapel
Alumni are invited to join us for the traditional First Chapel at 8:30 a.m. on September 10. If you plan to attend, please sit in the balcony area of Caird Chapel. Due to restrictions in place to ensure everyone’s good health, only seniors and advisors will be in attendance this year.
Early Childhood Center almost complete
As I mentioned in our last newsletter, our new Early Childhood Center, which will house our preschool, pre-K, and kindergarten programs, is nearly complete and will be ready for the first day of school. We are certain that our youngest students will delight in this new space!
Admissions office keeping busy
Despite the fact that the start of the new school year is just days away, our admissions office is keeping busy enrolling new students for the fall semester. If you know of someone who might be interested in The Albany Academies for their student, please refer them to our Admissions Office.
Welcome new trustees
I am pleased to announce the addition of an alumna and alumnus to our Board of Trustees – Nicole Borisenok ’08 and Marcus Cavanaugh ’68.
 
Nikki operates her family’s thoroughbred breeding farm, Old Tavern Farm, in Saratoga Springs and has expanded the business to include a boutique winery, Old Tavern Farm Winery. Well known for her entrepreneurship and philanthropy, Nikki has co-chaired the Travers Wine Tasting Event, a premier fundraiser held in Saratoga Springs that benefits LifePath, for the past three years. She is also a member of the Saratoga Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.
 
As part of his long and impressive career, Marc most recently worked as a vice president in investment banking, primarily with mergers and acquisitions for non-profit health care systems, for Paine Webber Healthcare Funding Group in New York. He previously worked at the Rockefeller School of Public Affairs and Policy in the doctoral in organizational design program and for the U.S. Army, Europe, Civilian Command in its Wurzburg, Germany personnel office.
Affinity Groups gather together
On August 31, our Alumni of Color, Alumnae of Color, and Parents of Students of Color affinity groups met for an informal gathering in the backyard of Leonard House as they continue to work to understand how to best meet the needs of students and families and to develop stronger mentoring opportunities for students. We look forward to continuing to work with these groups in partnership with the Parents Association, and the Alumni and Alumnae Associations. Thank you to alumna Jeannine Blanco ’89 and alumnus Evril Clayton ‘00 for their leadership. Pictured are Anthony Owens ‘85, Tony Gaddy ‘85, and George Timmons P’23.
Tom Flynn’s Bikeman to be presented in honor of 9/11
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is offering a free presentation of journalist, writer, and TV producer Thomas F. Flynn ‘70’s epic poem Bikeman on Friday, September 10. Narrated by Tony-nominated multi-award-winning actor Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), the profoundly affecting piece, first published in 2008, chronicles Tom’s experience of riding his bike quickly towards the World Trade Center’s blazing site after the North Tower was hit, not knowing that a second attack was imminent or that total chaos would ensue.
Legacy of Dreams is set for September 17
We hope you will consider joining us for our Legacy of Dreams event on Friday, September 17 at 7 p.m. at Frog Alley Brewing Company, 108 State Street in Schenectady. The event will help raise funds to support our student-athletes and athletic programs. For more information, contact Special Events Coordinator Sarah Adamowski at adamowskis@albanyacademies.org. Thank you to Andy Safranko ‘91 P’23, ’26 for chairing this event.
Hall of Famers videos being prepared for reunion
We spent time last week and this week videotaping alumni and alumnae to speak on behalf of our most recent Hall of Fame inductees for the recognition ceremony that will take place during Reunion weekend on Saturday, October 2 at 9 a.m. in The Stevens Center at AAG. The event recognizes and honors alumni, alumnae, coaches, and teams for outstanding contributions to athletics and their dedication to the ideals of The Albany Academy and Albany Academy for Girls, including the highest level of sportsmanship. Congratulations again to our Class of 2021 AA Hall of Fame honorees: David Martin ’61 (posthumously), John Rich ’61, Jay Peacock ’71, Robert Helm ’76, Gerald Kyo Jeaong ’91, Agean Robinson ’01, Oliver Tassinari ’01, Jak Bestle (coach), and the 1961 Swimming Team, and to the AAG Hall of Fame honorees: Allison Stefanelli '16, Nicole Van Slyke ‘03, MaryBeth Davis '88, and Sarah Kandath '11. To register to attend, please visit albanyacademies.org.
Alumni and alumna stop by for an unexpected visit
It’s always a treat when an alumnus or alumna stops by unexpectedly at the Schellenberger Alumni/ae Center. That’s exactly what happened last week when John Jones ’68 made a visit to campus while he was in the Capital Region. He had not been back since celebrating his 50th reunion in 2018. We also were pleased to enjoy a visit with Pat Rubenstein ’53, who brought by some items to add to the AAG archive. Finally, we were happy to tour the grounds with Cameron Walker ’14 who ran into Coach Collett and reminisced about his time on the soccer team and running with Coach Poole and Coach Gueye.
Reunion is just weeks away
Have you made your reservation yet for Reunion weekend on Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2? We have a full schedule of events planned and we know you’ll enjoy catching up with friends and classmates. Be sure to check out the schedule of events and register to attend in the next few days by visiting
Please be sure to follow us on social media for regular updates on all that is happening at The Albany Academies!
 
Stay safe and be well,
Ann Wendth
Chief Advancement Officer