April 9, 2020
Dear Friends,
I hope you and your family are healthy and safe during these unprecedented times. The Albany Academies launched our Distance Learning program last week and it is, by all accounts, going very well. Our students are fully immersed, and our faculty members have developed creative ways to engage them, despite being physically separated.
Our teachers are amazing. They’ve embraced Distance Learning and are committed to ensuring students are receiving the excellent education the Academies are known for. Albany Academy English teacher Ben Russell, for example, is recording a video every day and presenting a “poem of the day” for his students. First, he read a Keats poem, the next day it was a Mary Oliver poem. Ben said, “I want to give students something as a distraction from our current situation, for them to know that I am still thinking about them, and that we are still connected despite being physically apart.”
Faculty members are also using their expertise and creativity to support our greater community. When the Academies received a call from alumna Susie Sneeringer ‘72 inquiring about the use of our 3D printer to make protective face shields, engineering faculty member John McNally immediately went to work and has been producing about 25 shields daily in his basement and donating them to local hospitals. You can imagine how proud of him we are!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEWS COVERAGE
.
Despite the many positive things that are happening here, there are families who are struggling because of lost jobs and are in need of financial assistance. We also recognize, now more than ever, the importance of technology and network capabilities. We are committed to helping those Academy families in need and to bridging the gap between actual costs and what tuition covers through the Annual Fund. To this end we will be participating in the “Day of Global Action for Giving and Unity” on
Tuesday, May 5
. More information will be forthcoming.
Before I close, I have a few reminders for you. First, Reunion Weekend has been rescheduled for
June 20 and 21
. Please watch your mail and our website for more details soon. Also, the June Colorado gathering has been postponed. We are looking for a date in early fall and we’ll share that information with you soon.
As always, thank you for your continued support of The Albany Academies. Please stay safe
and be well.
Best,
Ann Wendth
Director of Institutional Advancement
