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
- March 11 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
- National Merit Scholarship
- Cum Laude Society
- Robotics
- Science Bowl
- Bender Summer Writing Class
- Vocal/Instrumental NYSSMA Festival 2022
- Dance Award
- Book Fair
- Spring Gathering
- Mid-Winter Dinner
- Yearbooks
- Athletics
- A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
- Summer Camps
- Hannaford Helps Schools
- Week at a Glance
- Looking Ahead
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Dear Friends,
It seems like we have moved, seemingly overnight, from worrying about a global pandemic to worrying about the war in Ukraine and its global implications.
For many of our children, the news out of Eastern Europe is coming at a time when their emotional reserves may be depleted by the challenges of the last two years. In addition, some of them are likely watching the war unfold on social media, given how digitally connected we are. This immediacy may add a layer of empathy to their feelings and also evoke the same sense of uncertainty and helplessness they had during the height of their COVID experiences.
Most kids want to talk about what they see and how they feel about it and need the guidance of the trusted adults in their lives to help them navigate their emotions in healthy, safe, and productive ways. Given this, here is a curated list of resources that may help you frame developmentally appropriate conversations with your children:
I hope you find these articles useful. If you need additional support, our school counselors are always available for a consultation at 518-429-2301.
I wish you and your family a lovely weekend!
Sincerely,
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CDC Risk Assessment
The Centers for Disease Control has introduced a new webpage to assess the risk of the introduction and transmission of COVID-19 within a county. According to CDC metrics, the current risk level for Albany County is:
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National Merit Scholarship
Congratulations to Peter B. and Colton P. who have been named Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Program. High school seniors entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Students advanced to Finalist standing by demonstrating thorough distinguished performance and high potential for future academic accomplishment.
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Cum Laude Society
Six members of The Albany Academy Class of 2022 were inducted into The Albany Academies Chapter of the Cum Laude Society on Tuesday, March 8, and joined the four young men inducted in September. New inductees are Nate B., Harry H., Connor M., Nicholas D., Abrar Z., and William L.
Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. The society's motto is Areté, Diké, Timé, which translates from Greek into "Excellence, Justice, Honor". Inductees will be honored at a special event in April.
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Robotics
The robotics team competed in the state championships on Sunday at Mohawk Valley Community College. This tournament consisted of the best teams in New York State. Of the 300 teams who competed this season, only 28 advanced to the competition. The Academies' robot performed well and ranked 20th. Most importantly, our team earned the "Think Award," an honor given to the team that best documents the design process they followed to build their robot.
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Science Bowl
The Upper School Science Bowl team competed at the regional competition hosted by GE Global Research Center in Niskayuna on Saturday, March 5. The competition was run virtually again this year. This fast paced competition involves students answering questions in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, energy and math.
Congratulations to the team who were successful in advancing to the quarterfinals of the competition! Students who competed were: Colton P. '22, Peter B. '22, Sia S. '22, Jake F. '22 and Steven H. '22
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Bender Summer Writing Class
Once again we will be offering the two-week Bender Summer Writing Course. This class is open to Academy students entering grades nine through twelve next year. In this class students work on the fundamental components of essay writing in a workshop format. Because the course is highly individualized, students of all levels of proficiency can benefit. Eleventh and twelfth graders work on college essay topics in the second week. The course will run via Zoom. There is no fee for the course.
Dates: The first session will be held the weeks of June 20 and 27. The second session will run the weeks of August 8 and 15.
Times: 40-minute classes of 4 or 5 students.
Grade 9: 8:30am - 9:10am
Grade 10: 9:20am - 10:00am
Grade 11: 10:20am - 11:00am
Grade 12: 11:10am - 11:50am
These times are subject to change depending on the number of students that enroll in each grade level. Grades 9 and 10 can be scheduled together, as can grades 11 and 12. The maximum number of students enrolled in each session is 20.
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Vocal/Instrumental NYSSMA Festival 2022
This year The Albany Academies will be participating in the NYSSMA Festival held at Shenendehowa High School on May 20 and 21 . If you are interested in participating please either pick up a form in the Band room or email Ms. Alex Kouloriotis with the following information:
- Student Name and Grade
- Instrument/Voice Range
- NYSSMA Level
- Composition Title
- Required Movements
- Composer/Arranger
- Preferred Day/Time (Fri PM, Sat AM or Sat PM)
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Dance Award
Congratulations to Senior dancers Lilly C. and Ursula W. on having their self-choreographed duet “Gold Slumbers” selected for SPAC’s Festival for Young Artists and being awarded Runner Up for the Outstanding Artist Award! Their dance will be featured on SPAC’s Festival for Young Artist Online Gallery and will be performed live at SPAC on June 5th. Please click here to visit SPAC’s Festival for Young Artists website and click here to view a recording of the dance.
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Spring Book Fair
This week, Lower and Middle School are ecstatic about AAG's Spring 2022 Scholastic Book Fair! The last day of the fair is Monday, March 14. Parents are invited to shop online by clicking here.
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Spring Gathering is back! After two long years, we are ready to come together once again in person and support our school. Spring Gathering directly benefits financial aid and scholarships at The Albany Academies. The night promises fun, food, music and more, so mark your calendar now for April 30!
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Alumni Association Mid-Winter Dinner
The annual Mid-Winter Dinner – sponsored by the Alumni Association – was held on March 10 in Caird Chapel and featured Dr. Robert Higgins II from the Class of 1977. Dr. Higgins is the President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Executive Vice President of Mass General Brigham, roles he assumed in December of 2021. A distinguished academic and clinical physician, Dr. Higgins was previously the Director of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has been honored by the Academies as a Distinguished Alumnus and has also served as a Commencement Speaker. We are always so pleased to welcome back such incredibly talented and accomplished alumni to our school, and they always enjoy walking the halls again of their alma mater! Proceeds from last night’s event support initiatives that directly benefit our students at AA.
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Yearbooks
It is time to place your yearbook order! Click here to order a yearbook for your child.
The deadline to place your order is May 9, 2022.
- To order a yearbook for AA enter passcode: 10131170417192
- To order a yearbook for AAG enter passcode: 101411068383919
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Brayden H. '23 placed 2nd in the 50m freestyle and is now the New York State and Federation Champion in the 100m breaststroke. His breaststroke time of 54.88 is a new Section 2 record, Albany Academy school record, and automatic All-American, US Open, and Summer Junior National-Qualifying time. Congratulations Brayden! |
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Andrew C. '23 finished 17th in the NYSPHSAA State Diving Championships and 16th in the Federation Championships. Congratulations, Andrew! |
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Bashir P. '23 placed 3rd in the 55m hurdles and 7th in the long jump at the NYSPHSAA State Indoor Track & Field Championships. Congratulations, Bashir! |
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The MARY ANN SMITH MEMORIAL AWARD, given by her family and friends, is awarded annually by a committee including the Director of Athletics, Head Hockey Coach, and the hockey staff, to that student in FORM V, VI, or PG who shall be judged to best exemplify the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Awarded to: Connor M. '22
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The annual FREDERICK A. PLUNKETT ’68 AWARD is given by his friends in his memory to the hockey player, who, in the opinion of the committee, has best shown by his sacrifice the most improvement in team play and dedication to the development of hockey skills.
Awarded to: Nicholas D. '22
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A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms |
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Every AAG senior is matched with a “ring sister” in the sophomore class, building community across grades and celebrating the talents and identities of each of our 10th graders. Last week, seniors started “proposing” to their sophomore ring sisters, and they will all celebrate together at our Ring Dinner on March 17.
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Dr. Jason Olsen, a Principal with Disability Research Specialists Ltd. in the United Kingdom was a guest speaker today for AAG Grade 10 students. Dr. Olsen is a former Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Researcher at Ulster University. He shared his expertise and experience with students who asked thoughtful questions. The Grade 10 students |
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In Spanish II classes students prepared themselves to compete for the best pronunciation in singing in Spanish. Rubric was based on best pronunciation and creativity. Students won extra points for a quiz, test, or cultural day. |
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Senor Conway and Ms. McNulty presented to the AAG Middle School about WASH. |
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Students in Preschool and AAG Grade 5 recently practiced yoga. They have been learning about different ways to develop fitness. |
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"I CAN" is how the AA 4th Graders defined Resiliency and Optimism, our core values for the month. Using figurative language, they creatively described the two core values in their Definition Poems.
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Students in Ms. Tomson's Grade 8 advising group had fun playing a rousing card game of "Spoons!" |
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The fourth grade girls are excited to be presenting their play to live audiences next week!! It is called Cinderella! Cinderella! by Edith Weiss.
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AA Grade 2 students are drawing details on different size stones as they begin their pebble, sand, and silt unit. |
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Camp Spotlight
Upper School Theatre Camp
Theatre Camp: 10 Ways to Survive the End of the World
Entering Grades 9-12
Welcome to the inaugural summer of the upper level of our Albany Academies Theatre Camp for both student actors and student crew. The play we will work on is “10 Ways to Survive the End of the World” by the renowned playwright Don Zolidis, whose works had over 4,000 performances this past year alone.
Over the two weeks, students will work on the play, improv, theatre games, and learn several skills in both performance and technical aspects of theater. Participants must be registered by Friday, June 3rd. Auditions (a 60 second monologue reading) for the cast and interviews with the crew will be held over Zoom on Saturday, June 4th. There are limited spots available for both cast and crew (sound, lighting, backstage) and a minimum of 16 total participants needed to run the program. Every student cast member will be guaranteed a speaking role and will be given their role(s) and a script (or information to review for crew) in advance so that they have time to prepare.
10 Ways to Survive the End of the World
This comedy by Don Zolidis is a series of vignettes perfect for flexible casting which make it an ideal vehicle for our summer show.
About the play: “These days, it feels like the end of the world could happen any minute. But are the machines or the apes going to be the first to rise up against us? Are we looking at a killer asteroid or a killer virus here? Better get ready for them all! Any way the end times arrive, you just might have a shot at survival with this hilarious new how-to guide from the author of 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse.”
Director: Rich Johnson
Two Week Session: July 11- July 22 lunch & snack included
Camp registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis and many camps and LEAP blocks are at capacity or filling quickly. Please click here for more details and to register.
Refer a family and receive $25 toward your summer 2022 registration fee!
Registration is now open for virtual MS/US English and Math Skills, and in person Upper School Math for credit classes.
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Hannaford Helps Schools
The Albany Academies can earn money from the Hannaford Helps Schools program from March 13 - May 28 by shopping at the Hannaford store at 183 Delaware Avenue in Delmar. If you purchase four participating Hannaford Helps Schools items, you will receive a receipt for three School Dollars at the register. Please place that printout in our school's slot in the Hannaford Helps Schools collection tower at the front of the store. Customers who shop with Hannaford To Go can give their School Dollar printouts to the associate handling their groceries and let them know which school slot to place them in.
Hannaford is in the process of launching an app and website to redeem school dollars, so as more information comes out we'll add that to the information in Head Lines.
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Monday, March 14
Day 4
Spring Sports Begin
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Chapel (AA)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG)
8:00 a.m. Lower School Morning Webinar (Zoom)
12:00 p.m. AA Middle School Chapel
12:15 p.m. Upper School Deans Lunch (AAG Drawing Room)
Tuesday, March 15
Day 5
7:20 a.m. AA Middle School Deans Meeting (AA 3-16)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Chapel (AA)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG)
11:30 a.m. AAG Middle School Deans Meeting (AAG Drawing Room)
6:00 p.m. AAG Grade 8 Parent Night - Upper School Information (AAG Auditorium)
6:30 p.m. AA Grade 8 Parent Night - Upper School Information (AA Caird Chapel)
Wednesday, March 16
Day 6
7:25 a.m. AA Middle School Faculty Meeting (AA 3-26)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Chapel (AA)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG)
11:30 a.m. Upper School Advising
12:00 p.m. AAG Middle School Meeting
2:00 p.m. AAG Grade 4 Play Cinderella! Cinderella! (AAG Auditorium)
4:00 p.m. DEI Forum (Zoom)
Thursday, March 17
Day 1
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Chapel (AA)
8:00 a.m. Upper School Morning Meeting (AAG)
8:15 a.m. AA Lower School Chapel
12:15 p.m. AA Upper School Deans Lunch (AA Trustees Room)
1:30 p.m. AAG Grade 3 Wax Museum (AAG Auditorium)
2:20 p.m. Ring Dares (AAG Stevens Center)
6:00 p.m. AAG Ring Dinner
Friday, March 18
Day 2
8:00 a.m. All-school Morning Webinar
3:00 p.m. Senior Speeches
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March 21 - 25 Spring Break
March 28 - April 1 Spring Break
April 12 AAPA Meeting (in person and remote)
April 15 School Closed (Good Friday Observed/Passover Begins)
April 18 Professional Development Day (No Classes)
April 19 - 21 Admissions Visiting Days
April 22 Community Service Day
April 28 The Arts Spring Festival
- Upper School: Music, Dance, Theatre, Filmmaking, & Visual Art
April 30 Spring Gathering
May 11 The Arts Spring Music Recital
May 14 Admissions Lower School Open House
May 19 The Arts Spring Festival
- Middle School: Choral, Band, & Dance
May 24 AAPA Meeting
May 25 AAG Grade 8 Play
May 30 School Closed (Memorial Day Observed)
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