Dear Friends,

As evidenced by the “glimpse” below, many exciting things are happening in our classrooms even though it was a shortened week! We are ending on a high note, with a pep rally to kick off the Homecoming festivities this weekend. Many thanks to all the members of our Professional Community who help make this weekend special and to the AAPA for their ongoing support!

Speaking of the AAPA, we had a very informative meeting Thursday morning featuring Adam Collett P'32, Head of Middle School, who shared his thoughts on the past, present, and possible future of Middle School at The Albany Academies. A video of his presentation is available here for those who could not attend.

"Thank you," to the alumni and alumnae who returned to campus for speed mentoring yesterday! These accomplished professionals spent time with upper school students discussing their professional paths and offering advice on how they can find success in their future careers. Accessing our alumni and alumnae network is just one of the many benefits of an Academies' education. We will have more of these opportunities this year, and I encourage all families to have their students take advantage of them.

Finally, I hope you will all enjoy the long fall weekend! Faculty and staff will be attending a professional development day on Tuesday. Topics include our annual emergency preparedness briefing, health and safety training, and inclusive community practices. As always, we are very grateful that our parent community supports our professional community's continuous growth and improvement.

I hope to see you at Homecoming!

Sincerely,

Chris Lauricella

Head of School

The Risk of COVID Transmission is now HIGH

As of this morning, 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

Academies in the News

This week’s local news coverage focused on a tremendous couple of days for AAG Golf!

Albany Academy for Girls Sweeps the Podium at the Section 2 Girls Golf Individual Championship

Albany Academy for Girls’ Von Rohr celebrates birthday with a 71 and medalist honors in Section II golf individual championship

Times Union Girls' Athlete of the Week: Kennedy Swedick

Amsterdam native Marcus Jackson brings intensity, competitive fire to UAlbany men’s basketball

Chili Cookoff

Chili Welcome! If you would like to enter your family favorite chili into the Academies Chili Cook-off but did not register, please feel free to bring your chili tomorrow around noon! Questions? Need a crock pot? Call or text Shellie Carr at 518-698-3124.

Homecoming 2022!

Join us for two fun days of cheering on our Varsity teams! Starting with the AAG Varsity Swimming and Diving team at 4:30 p.m. today and the AAG Varsity Soccer game at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday where breakfast sandwiches, cookies, and spirit wear will be sold, and complimentary apple cider donuts will be available, courtesy of the Alumnae Council. At noon you can taste some amazing chilis at the Chili Cookoff, visit our food trucks (cash preferred), top it off at the ice cream truck (complimentary, courtesy of the AAPA), cheer on the Varsity Football team at 2:00 p.m. (including a special pre-game dedication at 1:45 p.m.), and celebrate the Alumni/ae at halftime.

We can't wait to see you all there! Click here to view the schedule of events.

Admissions Open House - Save the Date!

The Office of Admissions will be hosting an Open House for prospective families on Saturday, November 19 at 11 a.m. We are gearing up for a fun and informative experience for families researching schools for the 2023-2024 school year. Would you like to volunteer? Click here to sign up!

Haunted Hayride

Students in grades 7 and 8 have the opportunity to attend the traditional Haunted Hayride at Double M Ranch in Ballston Spa. The scary good time will include the tractor pulled Haunted Hayride, Walking Undead Maze, Brutality Dangerous Compound, The Last Inn, plus a visit to the gift shop filled with goodies!  

Date: Thursday, October 27

Bus leaves the Academies: 6:15 p.m.

Event time: 6:45 p.m.

Approximate arrival at the Academies: 8:45 p.m.

Registration Deadline: Friday, October 14

The total price of this optional event is $50.00 and includes all attractions at the Double M Ranch, the cost of transportation to/from the Academies/Double M Ranch, and dinner at the Academies including pizza, tossed salad and beverage. If you opt to bring your student directly to Double M Ranch to meet the group at 6:45 p.m. the cost for the student will be the $35.00 entry fee only. Please contact Andrea Faragon at faragona@albanyacademies.org with any questions or to sign up for this event.  

Speed Mentoring Opportunity for Upper School Students

Our Upper School students had a chance to learn about a wide range of careers from our very own alumni and alumnae at our Speed Mentoring Event held on Thursday, October 6. At the event, alumni and alumnae joined us to share their experiences and answer questions in brief tabletop discussions. Students not only learned about potential careers but also got to meet accomplished alumni and alumnae and think about internships, mentoring relationships, and their May projects.

Thanks to the Alumni and Alumnae Associations for sponsoring this event! Pictured here from left to right are: John Scicchitano '88, Thomas (TJ) Conti '97, Dan Quigley '95, P'26, '27, Carol Crummey McCardle '04, Steve Kasselman '05, Ryan M. Caponera, Esq. '02, George Mahoney '82, P'21, '23, Cdr. Joseph Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) '74, Samantha Miorin '10, Isabelle Jansen '10, Lynne Kimball '97, P'29, '31, Kara DePaula '97, Natalie Squillace '14, Mark Spiers '99, P'30, '32, Taylor West '14, Jacob Miorin '12, Carmen (Osorio) Power '04, and John Scott '06.

PSAT Information

October is PSAT month. We will be administering the PSAT exam on Wednesday, October 12.  All sophomores and juniors will be taking the exam on this day - regular classes will not be held the morning of October 12. Students must arrive to school, in full uniform, prior to 8:00 AM. Juniors should report to the AA Field House Gymnasium, and sophomores should report to the AAG Auditorium. Students need to bring two number 2 pencils with erasers and a calculator.  The test will finish by 11:30 AM. All students have been pre-registered for the exam and an exam fee will be charged to each student’s Albany Academies’ account.

A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms

AAG Pre-K students conducted an apple taste test in the classroom. Each girl tried a McIntosh, Granny Smith and a Golden Delicious apple. The students had to decide which apple they liked best and display their choice on a class graph. Each girl cut a paper apple, wrote their name on the apple and taped it to their choice. The results were McIntosh Apple (1), Granny Smith (5) and Golden Delicious (7).

Upper school students in World History I class thoroughly relished debating each other over the merits of domestication in regards to human health, equity and sustainability. 

The 4th grade Beginning Band students are getting creative with ways to remember the names of the lines and spaces on the treble and bass clef staff!

The students in Dr. Brown's section of United States History presented their artwork in a virtual museum tour that concluded a unit investigating American identities.

AAG Grade 7 students in STEM/Technology class designed and built a Foot Orthosis to aid patients with Spastic hemiplegia.

First and Second grade students participating in the Afterschool Enrichment Program Computer Club have been learning keyboarding and mouse skills.

Advanced Photography students Maddie B., Isabelle J., Fionn M., Carter P., and Eddie H., take photographs outside with pinhole cameras. Pinhole cameras are film cameras that don't have a traditional glass or plastic lens; rather, they rely on a very small hole that functions similarly to a lens. The end result is much softer in focus and wider in the angle of view than a traditional camera.

The first graders are learning all about insects and camping. We loved telling scary stories around our classroom campfire! 

AAG Fourth Grader, Abby N. created and presented a slideshow to share with her classmates as well as First Grade. Abby want to inform others about the holiest day in Judaism, Yom Kippur. The girls learned that Yom Kippur is a day to begin again as the Hebrews gather with family and friends to begin their new year.

This week the 2^nd grade class had two very special Guest Readers in the AA Library. Mr. Young read one of his childhood favorites, Where the Wild Things Are, and when the character Max is crowned in the book all of our boys were crowned too!

Mr. Lauricella also read a favorite, The Giving Tree. The boys loved it, and we talked about ways they could give more to their family, friends, neighborhood and school community. 

AAG students elected their Student Council representatives for the year! Congrats to Juliana B. '27, Kylie H. '27, Ruby M. '27, Ava C. '27, Mandy F. '27, Cecilia S. '28, Gabriella E. '28, Sylvia D. '29, Quinn M. '29, Ingrid S. '30, Ellie M. '30. 

First Grade cheered Dana onto a Happy Retirement! Dana has been a member of our maintenance team for the past several years. The Academies community will miss him greatly!

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.

October 10, 2022

Columbus Day & Indigenous People Day (School Closed)

October 11, 2022

Professional Development Day (No classes)

October 12, 2022

Day 5

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

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

8:00 a.m. PSAT (Grade 10- AAG Auditorium; Grade 11 - AA Gymnasium)

8:20 a.m. AAG Lower School Assembly (AAG Auditorium)

9:30 a.m. Case Western Reserve University (AAG College Counseling Office)

12:00 p.m. Admissions Lunch On Us

1:30 p.m. University of California-Riverside (College Counseling Office)

October 13, 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. Hamilton College (College Counseling Office)

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

11:30 a.m. Upper School Advising

October 14, 2022

Day 1

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

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

3:15 p.m. Colby College (College Counseling Office)

October 17 - Fall Pictures Make-Up Day

October 18 - Lower School Coffee Break (Zoom)

October 21 - Bacon Bat & House Day

October 27 - Grades 7 & 8 Haunted Hayride

October 28 - Grades 5 & 6 Social

October 28 - Fall Community Service Day

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

October 31 - Track or Treat (AA Track)

November 3 - AAPA Meeting

November 4 - 5 - Upper School Play

November 8 - Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences (No Classes)

November 11 - Veterans Day (School Closed)

November 14 - Professional Development Day (No Classes)

November 19 - Admissions Open House

November 23 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break (School Closed)