Dear Friends,

Happy Friday! It has been another dynamic week on campus, ending with our fall dress-down day.

We are also observing National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. 

To do this, students provide daily facts about Hispanic heritage during our morning meetings. This week, among other things, we learned that Spanish has the second largest population of native speakers in the world (behind Mandarin), that it is the second most spoken language in the United States after English, and that one in three Americans will speak Spanish by 2050.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Legacy of Dreams event tonight at the Crowne Plaza-Desmond Hotel and want to remind you again about Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, October 8th, which kicks off with an AAG Varsity Soccer home game on Holbritter Field at 11:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity to come on out and celebrate our community.

Shana Tovah to all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah!

Warmly,

Chris Lauricella

Head of School

Important Blackbaud Update - Action Required

Blackbaud, our learning management system, has made changes to the way users' login and access it's various platforms. Blackbaud is requiring all users including faculty, students and parents to register and connect to Blackbaud ID before September 27.

Please click on the following to view instructions:

• Instructions for students and faculty
• Instructions for parents

If you have any questions or need further assistance please contact Mr. Alusi at techhelp@albanyacademies.org 

Upper School Parent Night

We look forward to seeing parents on campus for Upper School Parent Night!

• Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Location: The Albany Academy
• The program will begin in the Caird Chapel
• Parents will follow their students' Day 6 schedule.

Attendance Reminder

Families should make sure they are communicating all late arrivals, early dismissals, and absences to attendance@albanyacademies.org

A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms

The First Grade celebrated National Talk Like a Pirate Day by dressing up, singing sea shanties, and going on a treasure hunt. It was a jolly good time!

AP US history students engaging effectively in a fascinating Socratic seminar about the Columbian Exchange.  

Pre-School movers had fun exploring size and shape in dance class. In the picture provided students explore shapes that are small, medium and large with a little help from our dancing dragon friends.

"Upper School dance students went on a field trip to the SUNY Albany Performing Arts Center to see the modern dance company Urban Bush Women perform "Legacy + Lineage + Liberation". The performance included iconic works (Women’s Resistance, Give Your Hands to Struggle) that are inspired by history and current events that reflect on equity and justice."

AAG Second Grade visited our Me Museum this week as a way to build classroom community by learning more about the members of our class. 

The AAG Fourth graders are learning about USA geography. 

This week in middle school Physical Education we introduced a brand new unit, BIRDIE BALL! We are learning the basic skills of golf through Birdie Ball which we will continue to work on in the near future. We all worked on our grip and the essentials of hitting a chip shot. We are excited to work through golf skills using Birdie Ball and we are hoping to end our unit with a golf tournament outside on a 9 hole course across the campus!

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.

Amazon Smile Benefits the Academies

Did you know The Albany Academies are set up as a charity at Amazon Smile?

Join AmazonSmile

If you are not already an AmazonSmile member, simply sign up at smile.amazon.com and select your favorite charity to start generating donations, at no cost to you.

Turn on AmazonSmile in the Amazon app on your Smartphone

Open the app and find ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.

September 26, 2022

Rosh Hashanah - School Closed

September 27, 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. Lower School Assembly (AAG Auditorium)

10:30 a.m. Clarkson University (College Counseling Office)

12:45 a.m. Marist College (College Counseling Office)

1:30a.m. Binghamton University (College Counseling Office)

2:15 p.m. SUNY College at Oswego (College Counseling Office)

September 28, 2022

Day 6

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

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

8:15 a.m. Boston College (College Counseling Office)

9:00 a.m. Bucknell University (College Counseling Office)

1:00 p.m. The University of Tampa (College Counseling Office)

2:20 p.m. Upper School Assembly (Caird Chapel)

5:30 p.m. Upper School Parent Night 

*Program begins in Caird Chapel

September 29, 2022

Day 1

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

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

8:15 a.m. Providence College (College Counseling Office)

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

9:45 a.m. Bard College (College Counseling Office)

10:30 a.m. University of Rochester (College Counseling Office)

11:30 a.m. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (College Counseling Office)

11:30 a.m. Upper School Advisory - Advisory Lunch & Club Sign-Up

1:00 p.m. Castleton University (College Counseling Office)

2:15 p.m. Roger Williams University (College Counseling Office)

September 30, 2022

Day 2

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

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

9:00 a.m. Quinnipiac University (College Counseling Office)

9:45 a.m. University of New Haven (College Counseling Office)

12:15 p.m. Lafayette College (College Counseling Office)

1:35 p.m. Saint Anselm College (College Counseling Office)

October 3 - Spirit Day

October 4 - Spirit Day

October 5 - Yom Kippur (School Closed)

October 6 - AAPA Meeting (Schellenberger Alumni/ae Center)

October 6 - Spirit Day

October 6 - Alumni & Alumnae Speed Mentoring Program for Upper School Students

October 7 - Homecoming Pep Rally (Modified Schedule)

October 8 - Homecoming Tailgate and Athletic Competitions

October 10 - Columbus Day & Indigenous People Day (School Closed)

October 11 - Professional Development Day (No Classes)

October 12 - PSAT Test

October 12 - Lunch on Us Admissions Event

October 17 - Fall Pictures Make-Up Day

October 18 - Lower School Coffee Break (Zoom)

October 21 - Bacon Bat & House Day

October 28 - Fall Community Service Day

October 30 - November 2 - NYSAIS Accreditation Visiting Committee on Campus

October 31 - Track or Treat (AA Track)