Dear Friends,

What a great week!

We hosted a New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) accreditation committee through Wednesday afternoon. Ten educators from across the state spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday observing the various aspects of our educational and co-curricular programs. They then assessed what they saw using our self-study and over a hundred standards for state accreditations.

We will soon receive a draft of their accreditation report, including commendations for the exemplary aspects of our work and recommendations for improvement. Before the visiting team left, they pointed out that our culture was one in which students are nurtured and challenged “to become their best and truest selves” and that the teaching they saw “was of the highest caliber.” Thank you to all who gave your time and energy to this important process!

One of the events that we were happy to share with the NYSAIS Committee was “Track or Treat” on Halloween. It was a lovely example of our community coming together across divisions to create a memorable event.

The AAPA met yesterday morning with a featured presentation from LS Director Hilary King on the state of the Lower School. She gave a lively talk on the Lower School's past, present, and possible future, followed by a robust question-and-answer session. A video can be found here if you could not attend the meeting.

On Thursday afternoon, we officially dedicated our new Trackman golf simulator. This incredible training aid will allow our golf teams to practice year-round while providing significant information they can use for game improvement. We are very grateful for all of the generous donors who made such a thoughtful investment in these scholar-athletes.

Tonight, I am looking forward to the fall play Passage. The play is a fantasia on Passage to India that chronicles the experience of someone emigrating from a colonized country to the country that colonized it. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Chris Lauricella

Head of School

The Risk of COVID Transmission remains HIGH

The community level of COVID-19 infection in Albany County is High, per CDC standards. The CDC recommends the following precautions during periods of high transmission:

• Wear a mask indoors in public
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms
• Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness

Thank you for an AWESOME Parent Giving Week!

Current Parent Giving Week was AMAZING! Thank you to everyone who made a gift or pledge to The Academies Fund. Please click the link to see our Student Thank You video.

Because the average class sizes in Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School are different we have decided to award a Pizza Party to the class with the highest participation rate in each division!

Upper School - Grade 9 with 33%

Middle School - Grade 6 with 41%

Lower School - Grade 3 with 55%

If your donation was $250 or more please come to the Office of Institutional Advancement (93 Academy Road) November 7-10 to pick up your Academies Spirit bag.

“We are Academies Strong!”

Mission Moment

Congratulations to our Visual Art Teacher Mr. Martinez who was at the Yager Museum last week as an artist in residence and Indigenous storyteller. During the weeklong residency, Mr. Martinez transformed the Museum's Herzog gallery with three-dimensional objects of his own construction as well as created a mural on the circular walls making it into a version of the Pueblo Kiva, filtered through his own personal and artistic sensibilities, and engaging with the concepts of duality and hybridity in the harried and material focused world we live in today. The installation process allowed students and patrons of the museum to observe his art making process through an interactive installation in full progress.  

"I am honored to have been invited to show my work at the Yager Museum of Art and Culture in Oneonta NY. My time here has given me the unique opportunity to paint a mural in the space while interacting with the wonderful student and faculty population at Hartwick College. Moments of lecture and engaging discourse about my art has opened many personal and professional doors. Education is at the core of my life. The ability to share my art with all of my students is my passion. The lifetime understanding and love of art I give, is my legacy." - Mr. Martinez

https://www.hartwick.edu/events/artist-in-residence-jason-medicine-eagle-martinez/

Upper School Fall Play

The Albany Academies Fine Arts Department is proud to announce the 2022 Fall Play. The performances will be held in the Caird Chapel at 7pm on November 4, 2022 (Senior Night) and November 5, 2022.

PASSAGE by Christopher Chen

A fantasia inspired by E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India, PASSAGE is a meditation on how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics across a spectrum of situations and is set in the fictional Country X, which is a neocolonial client of Country Y. B, a local doctor, and F, an expat teacher, begin to forge a friendship that is challenged after a fateful trip to a local attraction.

Suggested Rating: PG-13

Admissions Open House

The Office of Admissions will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, November 19! There are many ways you can help ensure our Open House is a huge success:

1. We welcome parent volunteers, please complete this form to sign up!
2. Spread the word! Tell your friends and neighbors about the Open House and encourage them to attend! Your referrals could lead to a shout out in Head Lines or some Academy swag!
3. Post flyers and post cards in your community – ask your child to pick up a stack of post cards or flyers in the Main Office or reception desk. 

Questions? Contact The Office of Admission at Admissions@albanyacademies.org or call 518-429-2348.

From the AAPA

We would like to thank Hilary King for presenting at this week’s AAPA meeting on the future of the lower school. For anyone who could not make the meeting, the recording of the meeting can be found on the AAPA page of the school’s website. 

The AAPA Wreath & Poinsettia sale starts today! All funds raised will go to support the students and faculty. Flyers were sent home with all students, but you are welcome to buy online with the link or QR code below (which can also be found on the AAPA page of the school’s website). Orders must be placed by December 12th. The vouchers to be redeemed at any Hewitts will be sent home with the students as orders are received. Any questions please reach out to Cara Milde at carasofia@yahoo.com. CLICK HERE to order online.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon - Please be on the lookout for a sign-up in the next few weeks for the teacher appreciation luncheon happening on December 14th. This is a tradition at The Academies and a great way to thank our amazing educators. 

Trackman Golf Simulator Ribbon Cutting



Today we officially dedicated the Trackman Golf Simulator at The Albany Academies. Thank you to the many donors who helped make this possible for our student-athletes.

Join our planning committees for these upcoming events

The Institutional Advancement office has a few event committee meetings coming up. Spring Gathering will be held on Friday, November 18 at 8:00 am. The Golf Outing meeting will be held on Monday, November 21 at 9:00 am. If anyone is interested in joining our committees, please contact Layne Avveduti at Avvedutil@albanyacadmies.org or 518-429-2397. 

AAG Key Club News

AAG "End Hunger" Games

We are collecting nonperishable food items until Friday, November 18th.  Collection bins are in each ECA and Lower School classroom as well as the classrooms of Middle and Upper School Deans. ​ ​Each pair of sister classes will work together towards collecting the most combined donations (measured in pounds). While keeping the focus on helping others who are less fortunate, winning Lower School, Middle School and Upper School sister combinations will be awarded a dress down (date TBD). Suggested items: Canned goods: tuna, salmon, chicken, beans, vegetables, fruit, sauce, soup, spaghetti-os, ravioli, chili, etc. Dry Goods: Rice, pasta, cereals (whole grain), oatmeal, pancake mix, baking mixes. NO LIQUIDS or GLASS, please! This is a FOOD drive. Cases of water will not count toward the competition. Thanks in advance for your support.

A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms

The AAG students had a sister class mixer last Friday afternoon, which kicked off with an epic Rock Paper Scissors tournament.

These 7th grade superheroes, dinosaurs, Care Bears, and an assortment of monsters in STEM are putting the final touches on their Project Lead The Way Gateway ankle and foot orthosis projects where they are learning the steps of the design process and how to work effectively as a team.

"El día de los muertos". Students in Spanish III learned t about the culture and traditions of this day. It combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with "All souls Day, a holiday that Spanish brought to Mexico. This holiday is mostly celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2.

Students also learned that in other countries of Latin America the day of the day people mourn remembering their loved ones. Students made a display resembling an Altar and students enjoyed some candy. 

On Halloween, Mrs. Loya's 5th grade boys learned about the "Science of Slime," as they practiced their measurement skills to create their own slime.

AP Photography students were putting their skills to use taking photos of Halloween fun at Track or Treat.

Our upper school students hosted themed tables at Track or Treat, including a neuroscience table where the “trick” was a science demonstration! One of the hallmarks of our leadership program is giving upper school students the opportunity to provide programming for and positive interactions with our lower school students.

Second graders shared projects they made from nature.

This week Grade 6 students in Ms. Anetzberger's Science Class worked on making models of popular landforms.

Athletics

Congratulations to the AA Varsity Cross Country Team for winning the Colonial Council Championship! The team beat Schalmont for the win by 1 point.

Ten members of the team will move on to represent The Albany Academy at Sectionals on Saturday. Good luck!

Congratulations to the A AG Varsity Cross Country Team for taking 4th place in the Colonial Council Championship! Senior Aoife C. set a personal best, and Senior Erin B. won the individual championship.

Ten members of the team will move on to represent Albany Academy for Girls at Sectionals on Saturday. Good luck!

Congratulations to the AA Modified Cross Country Team for winning the Colonial Council Championship. They finished their season undefeated. It was truly a team effort!

Spirit Store

Looking for new spirit wear? The Sideline Store hosted by BSN Sports is now live. Customize the design on apparel and gear and show your school spirit! Check out the selection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more!

Click here to visit our the Sideline Store.

November 7, 2022

Day 3

8:00 a.m. Upper School Chapel (Caird Chapel)

8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG Auditorium)

12:45 p.m. Syracuse University (College Counseling Office)

November 8, 2022

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences (No Classes)

November 9, 2022

Day 4

8:00 a.m. Upper School Chapel (Caird Chapel)

8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG Auditorium)

3:00 p.m. No Place for Hate Meeting (Mrs. Marchetti's Classroom)

November 10, 2022

Day 5

8:00 a.m. Upper School Chapel (Caird Chapel)

8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG Auditorium)

8:20 a.m. AA Lower School Chapel (Caird Chapel)

10:00 a.m. Hartwick College (College Counseling Office)

November 11, 2022

Veterans Day - School Closed

November 14 - Professional Development Day (No Classes)

November 17 - Red Cross Blood Drive

November 19 - Admissions Open House

November 22 - Athletics D1 Signing Day (Assembly)

November 22 - Thanksgiving Feast

November 23 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break (School Closed)

December 1 - AAPA Meeting

December 2 - Fall Trimester Ends

December 7 - Admissions Lunch on Us Information Session

December 7 - Winter Arts Festival for Middle & Upper School

December 9 - Winter Arts Festival for ECA & Lower School

December 9 - 11 - Rider Cup Hockey Tournament

December 19 - January 2 - Winter Break

January 3 - Classes resume