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
- September 3 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
- COVID Screening Testing
- COVID Reopening Plan
- Food Service Plan for 2021-2022
- Family Notification System
- Extended Day Registration
- Professional Development Days
- Thank You to our Maintenance Team!
- Welcome, New Trustees
- Track & Field Coach Recognized
- Host Families for Hockey Players Needed
- Mark Your Calendar for Legacy of Dreams
- Week at a Glance
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Dear Friends,
It has been wonderful having faculty back on campus this week as we prepare for the 2021-2022 academic year. Our theme for the year is building a community where we can all thrive, regardless of the challenges we may face.
In addition to the practical concerns of preparing for the year, we spent time exploring our philosophy of education, our commitment to understanding how our identities inform our work with others, and affirming the outsized role that attending to students’ physical and mental well-being will likely play in our work this year.
We are excited to families next Wednesday between 7:15 am and 2:00 pm as you drop off samples for COVID screening and be with students on Thursday for orientation.
Until then, best wishes for a great Labor Day weekend and shanah tovah to those celebrating Rosh Hashanah!
Warmly,
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September 3 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County. |
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The Centers for Disease Control uses several indicators and thresholds for the risk of introduction and transmission of COVID-19 in schools. We assess this risk weekly using county data and adjust our mitigation strategies accordingly.
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COVID Screening Testing
This week, The New York State Department of Health developed requirements for COVID screening testing in schools, affirming the importance of this mitigation effort during periods of high transmission risk. Per these requirements, we will be surveillance testing ALL students, regardless of vaccination status, next Wednesday, September 8. More information about this can be found here.
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Food Service Plan for 2021-2022
- 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 and/or use tables equipped with physical dividers.
- Outside dining spaces are also available and students are encouraged to make use of them.
- 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.
- We will no longer be using a smartphone application to preorder lunch
- The lunch menu will offer a range of choices and nutritional options for all students.
- Sandwiches and salads will be in pre-packaged containers.
- Hot entrees will be served.
- Breakfast items will be available.
- All FLIK boxed meals and nutritional offerings are 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.
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Family Notification System |
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This week we tested a new family notification system by sending an email, text, and phone call to the contact information available to us in Blackbaud. If you did not receive a test notification and would like to be served by this system, kindly update your information in Blackbaud, our student information system, as follows:
- Enter your username or email address.
- Enter your password.
- Once logged in, click on “profile” under your name in the upper right corner.
- Navigate to “Contact Card.”
- Check the information and update as necessary.
- Click on the “Children” icon on the upper left.
- Click on the contact card for your child(ren), review the information, and make necessary changes using the edit button.
- If you have not set up “Emergency Contacts,” please do so.
- Tour the rest of the site to familiarize yourself with how it works
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Extended Day Registration
Extended Day will be available for students in Early Childhood (Preschool, Pre-K, and K), Lower School, and Middle School daily 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. If you plan to utilize Extended Day for your student at any point this year, you must register.
In order to assist us with planning for proper staffing, please register by Tuesday, September 7. If you have any questions please contact Karin Epstein at (518) 429-2332 or epsteink@albanyacademies.org.
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Professional Development Days
Welcome back to our faculty! Our professional community spent time this week participating in professional development meetings, engaging in team-building exercises, and preparing classrooms for the start of the new year.
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Guest presenter, Mickey Bradley led a workshop today on Implicit Bias for our professional community. |
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Our professional community engaged in team building exercises. |
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Our thanks to iSmile Studios for taking the time to photograph our professional community this week! |
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Ms. See and Ms. Valentine spent time setting up the Lower School indoor sensory and play space. Ms. See was a recipient of the Gifford Faculty Innovation Awards through which the project was funded. |
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Members of our professional community spent time working in groups during one of the team- building exercises. |
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Powell Cucchiella and Meghan Holdsworth presented on CTL, SEL, Mental Health & Positive Education at the Academies. |
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Thank You to our Maintenance Team!
A special thank you to our maintenance team at the Academies. They have been busy this summer preparing the new Early Childhood Center space, renovating the faculty lounge at AAG as well as renovating locker space at The Albany Academy. These projects are in addition to all of their general maintenance work during the summer and their preparations for the start of school.
A huge shout-out to the entire team led by Scott McFarland. We are all very grateful for your efforts!
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Welcome New Trustees!
We are pleased to announce the addition of a current parent, an alumna, and an alumnus, to our Board of Trustees – Elissa Smith P'23, '25, '26, Nicole Borisenok ’08, and Marcus Cavanaugh ’68.
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Elissa oversees operations for SPEC Consulting, a multi-disciplined engineering and design firm specializing in petrochemicals, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and energy-related services for industrial clients. After spending nearly a decade in health care, Elissa welcomed the challenge of providing structure and growth to SPEC Consulting. A native of the Capital Region, Elissa is an active volunteer in the community. She serves on the advisory council of the Chingachgook YMCA, is a member of the SPAC Action Council, serves on the Board of Directors for the Sage Estate Homeowners Association, and is a member of the Marketing and Enrollment Committee for The Albany Academies. She and her husband, Justin ’96, have three children. Lorelai ‘23 and Evelyn ‘26 are in their eighth year at Albany Academy for Girls and Grant '25 will be starting at The Albany Academy this fall. Elissa attended Quinnipiac University where she earned a bachelor’s degree. |
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Nicole is a 2008 graduate of Albany Academy for Girls and earned her bachelor's degree from Ithaca College. She 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 has benefitted LifePath for the past three years. She is also a member of the Saratoga Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. Nicole resides in Saratoga Springs with her husband. |
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Marc retired in 2018 after a 35-year career in investment banking with a specialty in mergers and acquisitions for non-profit hospital systems. He began his career as a Vice President with Paine Webber in New York, later served as Managing Director of National City Corporation’s Health Care Finance Group and for the last ten years of his career was Managing Partner of Cavanagh, Hoyt and Associates based in Cleveland, Ohio. He received an MBA from The Wharton School with a dual major in Finance and Health Care Policy. Marc lives in South Dartmouth, MA with his spouse Dr. Anna M. Dempsey, Professor of Art History at the University of Massachusetts, College of Visual and Performing Arts. They have two sons who were “lifers” at the Columbus Academy and two grandsons. |
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Track & Field Coach Recognized
Peter Hansen has been named Times Union Track & Field All-Star Coach of the Year. Coach Hansen guided the Cadets to a Section II title in Group 2. Please click here to view the article. Congratulations, Coach Hansen!
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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. 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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Mark Your Calendar for Legacy of Dreams
Please plan to join us on September 17 at 7:00 p.m. on the outdoor patio of Frog Alley for Legacy of Dreams, our annual fundraising event to benefit athletic programs and the more than 50 athletic teams at the Academies. There are many ways to participate including: joining the honorary committee, becoming a sponsor, assisting with a team basket, or simply attending the event.
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Monday, September 6
Labor Day - School Closed
Tuesday, September 7
Rosh Hashanah - School Closed
Wednesday, September 8
7:15am - 2:30pm - Student COVID-19 Testing (AAG Parking lot)
5:30 pm - Early Childhood and Lower School Back-to-school Night
This is an opportunity for parents to meet the teachers, drop off supplies, and become familiar with daily expectations for learning and behavior, operations, and ask any questions for the classroom teachers
Thursday, September 9
8:00 am – 3:00 pm Upper School New Students and All Middle School Students Orientation Day (Please see Weekly Update email for more
Friday, September 10
8:00am - Homeroom
8:30am - AA First Chapel (Hybrid Chapel in-person & virtual)
9:30am - AAG Opening Assembly (Hybrid Assembly in-person & virtual)
Middle School Modified Schedule:
10:30am - 10:55am C Block
11:00am - 11:25am F Block
11:30am - 12:00pm Lunch
12:00pm - 12:15pm Homeroom
12:20pm - 12:45pm G Block
12:50pm - 1:15pm A Block
1:20pm - 1:45pm B Block
1:50pm - 2:15pm D Block
Grades 5 & 6
2:20pm - 2:45pm H Block
2:50pm - 3:25pm Closing Homeroom
Grades 7 & 8
2:20pm - 3:10pm Modified Sports
Upper School Modified Schedule:
10:30am - 10:55am C Block
11:00am - 11:25am F Block
11:30am - 11:55am G Block
12:00pm - 12:45pm Lunch
12:50pm - 1:15pm A Block
1:20pm - 1:45pm B Block
1:50pm - 2:15pm Closing Homeroom
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