July 24, 2020 Dear Friends,  I hope you are enjoying the summer and finding time to relax with your family. I have several items I’d like to share with you. The uncertainty around what the fall semester will bring for Pre-K to Grade 12 schools is on all our minds. Will distance learning become the norm or will students of all ages be allowed back on campus? As I have shared earlier, The Albany Academies’ Emergency Response Team has been working on our reopening plan for several months now. The plan outlines guidelines and practices designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission within our community. Our plan, which involves bringing students back to campus safely and in a healthy manner in the fall, has been vetted by our professional community, the Board of Trustees, and the Parents’ Association. It will be submitted to the New York State Education Department and Department of Health for approval and shared with our community soon.

Obviously, in addition to wearing face coverings and implementing physical distancing, cleaning and sanitization procedures will play a significant role in keeping our community safe. Every high-contact surface must be cleaned several times a day, every day, and all faculty, staff, and administrators will be participating in those efforts. To hear Head of School Chris Lauricella talk about those measures in an interview recently aired on WTEN News 10, click here.

Despite the open questions about how schools in New York State, and around the country, will conduct classes next semester, our Admissions activities have been strong. We are offering in-person campus tours to groups of four or less, and we also can provide virtual tours. Our “Asked & Answered” series of informational sessions has been very well received and has generated interest from several prospective Academies families. The next session, to be held on July 29, will focus on affordability. If you know of a family that would like to learn more about enrolling a student in the school or who might be interested in the Asked & Answered series, please let me know.

Each year, we publish a report of giving; this year it will take a different form. We’ll include more detailed information about how we use our donors’ investments in the school and how donations help us provide an outstanding education for our students. Your generosity this past fiscal year was extraordinary and we are so grateful. Please watch for the report soon.

Finally, here’s the last reminder to share your news and any class notes you may have by July 31 for inclusion in the next edition of A2, The Albany Academies magazine. Please submit your class notes here . Be well,

Ann Wendth Chief Advancement Officer