October 21, 2022 There are some important dates and information that I want to share in this issue and some congratulations to several of our alumni and alumnae!

Use of Campus Space Under Review Many of you have been included in meetings or read about the campus-by-division proposal under review. Please take a moment to review the FAQ included here and watch the video to learn more. I welcome your feedback and thoughts.

Bacon Bat and House Day were today! The term “Bacon Bat” was used to describe festive outdoor picnics over a century ago, and AAG adopted the tradition. Bacon Bat was first started in 1911 with the intention of “building school spirit and esprit de corps among the upper school students.” The first-ever Bacon Bat was a full-day competition held off campus. It involved games, laughter, and even a cookout where bacon was made, which inspired the now-famous name of Bacon Bat.

House Day is another favorite event, where our AA students have an opportunity to compete across our lower, middle, and upper school divisions to win points for their houses. Throughout the school year, there are house competitions all working towards the end result of winning the silver cup.

Limón Dance Company Visit The Albany Academies had a very special visit from the world-renowned Limón Dance Company this week.  Middle School and Upper School dancers participated in a modern dance master class taught by Dante Puleio, the Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company.

Lacrosse clinic features elite player We were excited to welcome Charlotte North, one of the all-time leading scorers in NCAA women's lacrosse, to The Albany Academies for the Gait Lacrosse Clinic. Thank you to Jennifer Riitano Levy '93, P'27 for setting this clinic up.

Make your plans for Reunion 2023 We are laying the groundwork for our next reunion, May 18-20, 2023, which will celebrate the classes that end in 3s and 8s and especially the 50th Reunion Class of 1973. Please mark your calendars for the big weekend, and keep checking albanyacademies.org/reunion-2023 for updated information. We are hosting a Zoom meeting for our volunteer Class Co-chairs next Wednesday, October 26, at noon (New York time). If you have volunteered, would like to volunteer, or are possibly interested in volunteering but need more information, kindly RSVP for the meeting HERE. I will send out the Zoom details to all respondents next week.

Frank E. O’Brien III ’84 Memorial Alumni Hockey Game Coming in December The Frank E. O’Brien III ’84 Memorial Alumni Hockey Game will return on Dec. 30, 202. Frank was a three-sport athlete at the Academy, playing golf, lacrosse, and hockey, and was a member of the 1983 NYC Section II championship hockey team. He passed away on December 14, 2007, at the age of 40 after a courageous battle with brain cancer and was inducted posthumously into The Albany Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. All interested alumni hockey players are welcome to join the game. To register to play or to just join us for the reception afterward, please click here.

Admissions Open House Coming in November The Office of Admissions will host an open house for prospective families on Saturday, November 19 at 11 a.m. If you know someone who might be considering The Albany Academies for their child or children, please invite them to attend. We will provide tours of the campus and share the benefits of joining the Academies community. Please share this registration link with anyone who is interested: albanyacademies.org/page/admissions/admission-events

Regional Alumni and Alumnae Gatherings in the planning stages Alydaar Rangwala '11, Chair of the Alumni/Alumnae young leaders program, let us know that plans are being made for Young Alumni and Alumnae regional meet-ups. If you are in NYC please save the date on December 7, location to be determined. More information about meet-ups in DC, Boston, and Albany will be shared in future Happenings. If you live in one of these areas please be sure the school has your current address. Updates can be made at this link - www.albanyacademies.org/stay-in-touch

Alumnae and Alumni in the News Josephine O'Connor '94 and Samantha Miorin ‘10 are performing in plays in the Capital Region community. Josephine is in Murder on the Orient Express at Schenectady Civic Players opening on November 11 (https://www.civicplayers.org/orient-express) and Samantha is in Perfect Arrangement at Albany Civic Theater opening on November 4 (https://www.albanycivictheater.org/reservetickets). Congratulations to both Josie and Sam for their involvement and promotion of the arts in the Capital Region! Margaret Lamar King ’65 was recently inducted into the Albany City School District Hall of Fame. The district established the Hall of Fame in 2009 to recognize accomplished graduates, exceptional district staff people, and community members whose efforts support Albany’s public schools. Margaret is a retired district teacher, coach, and theater director in the school district and was recognized for her many accomplishments during her time there. Congratulations to Mike Murray ‘99, head coach of the Victor Swim Club, for his recent selection as the new president of the American Swim Coaches Association.

Board of Visitors Meeting The Board of Visitors, a group of alumnae, alumni, past trustees, and special friends of the Academies chaired by Neil Murray ‘62, P’99, ‘05, ‘06, met on Saturday, October 8 in the Schellenberger Alumni/ae Center. Part of the half-day program included an excellent presentation from AA Director of College Counseling Jak Bestle and Associate Director Amy McDonald P’19, ‘20. There was also a presentation from Head of School Chris Lauricella updating the group on the Academies’ strategic plan and proposed campus-by-division model. Thank you to the alumnae and alumni who attended, some of whom traveled long distances to be with us: John Assini ‘65, Karen Avery ‘83, Betsy Hamel ‘68, Steve Marks ’65, Wendy Muhlfelder ‘67, Doug North ‘58, Monica Oberting ’91 (remotely), Mike Picotte ‘65, Steve Ranney ‘63, Susie Sneeringer ’72, and Rosemary Walsh ‘77.

Football Team Honors Jim Caird ’52 at the Annual Caird Classic During our Homecoming festivities on October 8, the AA Varsity Football team honored Jim Caird ’52, who passed away this past spring, at a pre-game ceremony by wearing stickers on their helmets with Jim’s initials. It was a touching moment for Cindy Caird who joined us from Florida for the Caird Classic and the Board of Visitors meeting. We are grateful to all of the alumni and alumnae who joined us for the half-time ceremony and to the Alumni and Alumnae Associations for their support.

Please support The Academies Fund For more than 200 years the Academies have relied on our family of Alumnae and Alumni to help support our current students, ensuring that our traditions of excellence and our nurturing community continue to be available for the next generation of leaders. Gifts to The Academies Fund (formerly the Annual Fund) have never been more important. Please include The Albany Academies in your giving plans by visiting boostmyschool.com/academies-strong, or be on the lookout for a letter with a giving envelope in the coming weeks.

Planned Giving Newsletter Coming Soon New from the Development Office next month, we will be debuting our planned giving newsletter, The Academies Legacy. In the issue, you will learn about the power of beneficiary designations and how to time your gift for the greatest impact. This publication will be sent biannually with important information about how you too can support our Albany Academies community in a way that’s enhancing our present and future generations. If you would like more information on how you can join our Academies Society, please contact Silvia Edmonds, Director of Development, at edmondss@albanyacademies.org or 518.429.2414.

Be well and enjoy your weekend. Best,

Ann Wendth Chief Advancement Officer

albanyacademies.org

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