The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers.
May 21, 2021
The Skim

  • CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
  • COVID Milestones
  • Masks at School
  • Uploading COVID Vaccinations to your Child’s Medical Record
  • Student Account Reminder
  • Transportation Reminder
  • Commencement Speakers Announced
  • Parent Gratitude Day - May 26
  • A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
  • FINAL WEEK - AAG Grade 8 Honors Project Presentations
  • Alumni/ae Hall of Fame & Distinguished Alumni/ae Celebration
  • Senior Athletes Recognized
  • UPDATED - Colonial Council Spectator Guidelines for Spring Sports
  • May Project Fundraiser
  • Host Families Needed
  • Learn More About Our Unique LEAP Camp for Grades 3 - 8
  • Caddy Opportunities
  • Free HVCC Summer Courses for High School Students
Dear Friends,

Last weekend we held a series of virtual donor appreciation meetings for endowed scholarships. 

These meetings paired donors and scholars for conversations about the School and a celebration of the endowed scholarship program, which annually awards over half a million dollars in support of more than seventy student scholars. 

They also provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the transformational nature of an Albany Academies education, which I am still thinking about almost a week later.

Donors, many of whom are alumni and alumnae, shared how The Albany Academies was foundational to their future successes. They spoke with near-reverence about the teachers and coaches who had profoundly affected their lives and shared their treasured memories of the School. Time had afforded them the perspective to understand how these experiences had shaped their lives.

A common story among them was the impulse to endow a scholarship in honor of the person that had supported them when they were students, often a parent or grandparent. Regardless of the source of support, donors spoke of a desire to “pay it forward” so the current generation of students could experience the same high-quality education that they did.

Our scholarship recipients confirmed that we are continuing this tradition of academic excellence. They shared how challenged they are at school and how supportive their teachers were in helping them meet these challenges. Even though they are just beginning their life’s journey, students seemed to understand that they were preparing for the same type of trajectory that their benefactors had experienced.

I left these meetings with a profound sense of gratitude, which has stayed with me all week. 

I am grateful for my colleagues in the Institutional Advancement Office who made these meetings possible.

I am grateful to the donors who so generously support these scholarships. 

I am grateful for the student-scholars and their families who were so effusive about the work of the school. 

But more than anything, I am grateful to be part of an exceptional learning community with a proud tradition of changing lives.

Have a lovely weekend,
COVID Milestones

We experienced two COVID milestones this week:

1) 90% of professional community members are now fully vaccinated.

2) A case investigation of a positive individual resulted in no quarantines, as all close contacts were fully vaccinated.
Masks at School

School policies regarding COVID mitigations follow New York State Department of Health’s reopening guidelines. NYDOH and the Albany County Department of Health continue to be the guiding authorities for our COVID mitigations. While the CDC recently announced a new stance on masks for fully vaccinated individuals, we have NOT received corollary guidance from NYDOH or ACDOH. 

Until we do, the School’s current mask policy remains in place regardless of vaccination status.
Uploading COVID Vaccinations to your Child’s Medical Record

As individuals 12 years of age and older receive vaccinations, please use the Magnus Health portal to update an image of your child’s vaccination card to their medical record. This is a secure portal for confidential student health records portal that is only available to our school nurses. Please see the visual guide, below for step-by-step directions to do this.

If you have any questions regarding uploading images of vaccination cards, please contact:
 
Angela Sears, AAG Nurse searsa@albanyacademies.org
Phone: 518-429-2302   
 
Lisa McDonald, AA Nurse mcdonaldl@albanyacademies.org
Phone: 518-429-2403
Student Account Reminder

Please check your student account, located under the Billing tab on Blackbaud/myAcademies, to be sure your account is settled by the end of May. Several “incidental” charges have been added to student accounts throughout the year such as Exam fees, Extended Day care, COVID tests, etc. Please direct any questions to Kim Russ in the Business Office. 
Transportation Reminder

The Albany Academies will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31. However, many of our providing districts will be taking Contingency Days around the holiday and unable to transport Academies’ students on certain days. Academy families who would normally rely on district transportation will need to make alternative arrangements for transportation to and from school on the following dates:

  • Albany City School District - Thursday 5/27 & Friday 5/28
  • East Greenbush Central School District - Friday 5/28
  • Guilderland Central School District - Friday 5/28
  • Schodack Central School District - Friday 5/28
  • Shenendehowa Center School - Friday 5/28
  • South Colonie Central School District - Friday 5/28
  • Troy City School District - Friday 5/28
  • Wynantskill Central School District - Friday 5/28 & Tuesday 6/1

If you have any questions, please contact your home school district.
Commencement Speakers Announced

We are thrilled to announce that Suzanne Walsh ’87 will be the Albany Academy for Girls commencement speaker on June 14 and Tom Tuttle ’84 will be The Albany Academy commencement speaker on June 15. 

Suzanne became president of Bennett College, an all-women HBCU (Historically Black College and University) located in Greensboro, N.C., in 2019. Previously, she was deputy director of postsecondary success for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and also served in leadership roles with the Lumina Foundation for Education and The Heinz Endowments. After Albany Academy for Girls, she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cornell University and both a master’s degree in social work and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Tom is a managing director of Kinderhook Industries, a private investment firm located in New York City. After The Albany Academy, he graduated from Princeton University and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar and Henry Ford II Scholar. Tom established a scholarship at the Academies many years ago and stays very engaged with the program.

We are fortunate that they have accepted our offer to speak to our graduates and their families.
Parent Gratitude Day - May 26
 
The Annual Fund has been a vital tool in supporting our COVID mitigation strategies and keeping our community safe. Please contribute what you can at annualfund.albanyacademies.org/g/parent-gratitude-2021 to help our school finish the year strong. If every family gives something, together we’ll surpass our goal of raising $25,000 during our Giving Day. In these challenging times every gift, no matter the amount, goes a long way.

If you need assistance, please call Joanne DelCarpine at 518-429-2391. Thank you for your support.
A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
To support Academy's core value of Service, AA Grade 1 students planned and completed their own community service project outside of school. Students made donations to the Women's Shelter in Saratoga Springs, the South End Children's Cafe, and the Regional Food Bank. Other students baked and brought treats to local fire and police departments! Great job First Graders! Please click here to view their presentation.
AA Third and Fourth grades took advantage of the beautiful weather and ventured out to do observational drawing of the school’s architecture. 
8th graders in Ms. Crisafulli's English class working together to prepare for a team evidence based in class essay. They were able to choose from the following topics: why do we still read Shakespeare? Why do teachers love/hate Wikipedia? What should physical education look like? (Your experience vs. Traditional physical education classes) 
Middle School Fine Arts Spring Presentation
For those might have missed this past Wednesday's presentation or for those that would like to see the full versions of the highlighted performances, please click here.
The AAG fourth graders finished their Dear America project with a slideshow of each historical event they researched. Congratulations on the culmination of the year long project involving Literacy, Social Studies, Library and Technology! Thank you to Dr. Kim for all of her assistance! 
AA Grade 3 students had the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine while practicing equivalent fractions!
If you could "see" music, what would it look like to you? AAG Sixth Graders learned about synesthetic art and popular artists that used their ability to cross senses to create masterpieces. Inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, we captured the essence of music through line, rhythm, movement, color, form, and more - all while listening to jazz!
Jessica E. '21 has been working with the AAG Physical Education Department to complete her Senior May Project. Jessica intends to study Sports Management at Siena College next year and is getting a good glimpse into the development of our young athletes. The AAG Lower School girls have loved getting to know Jessica and enjoy her partaking in our activities. 
AA Middle School Student Council members were hard at work this week completing their speeches and presentations for the Middle School Closing video during Advising. Their passion and commitment are commendable. We can’t wait to see the final product! 
FINAL WEEK - AAG Grade Eight Honors Project Presentations

The Eighth Grade Honors Project is an optional, independent, year-long endeavor during which students can delve into any topic they choose. They have the option to investigate a brand new area, or pursue an already existing passion about which they feel compelled to learn more. This project is student-designed, and carried out with the guidance of a faculty member. This is an opportunity for students to learn more about a subject, while also learning about themselves. The projects that these students have been working on diligently all year are now finally going to be presented to the MS throughout the month of May! This year, there are 17 8th graders who have completed work on a plethora of topics.

Week of May 24
Charles X. - "A Taste of Chess"
Johner S. - "Is Homework Effective?"
Nikash R. - "How does Music Affect Your Mind and Body?"

Parents of these students may contact Lauren DeGeorgia for Zoom information to view the presentations.
Alumni/ae Hall of Fame & Distinguished Alumni/ae Celebration

We held a virtual Distinguished Alumni/ae and Hall of Fame ceremony last evening to honor some of our very accomplished alumni, alumnae, coaches, and athletic teams. Among the honorees were Coach Scott Young P’21, ’24 and Coach Bonnie Morse-Gillham, Anders Tomson ’85, P’14, ’19, and Trustee Neil Murray ’62, P’99, ’05, ’06. The event was held virtually from the James E. Poole Athletic Facility and was sponsored by the Alumni and Alumnae Associations. Thank you to everyone involved in the special event and congratulations to all of our honorees! Click here to watch the full ceremony.
Senior Athletes Recognized
On Saturday, May 15, the following Seniors on the AAG Varsity Track and Field team were celebrated: Jessica E., Maddie F., Julia Z., Bella M., Nyasha J., and Sara P. Congratulations!
On Monday, May 17, the following Seniors on the AA Varsity Lacrosse team were celebrated: Kaleb B., Seamus F., Tristan N., Theo A., Justin H., Brian K., Dan W., and Christian J. Congratulations!
UPDATED - Colonial Council Spectator Guidelines for Spring Sports

The Colonial Council has issued updated Spectator Guidelines for Spring sports. These guidelines will be applicable to all Colonial Council Schools for athletics.
May Project Fundraiser

Morgan L. ‘21 has been raising money for the New York Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (NYWRC) also known as the Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary, a non-profit organization located in Middleburgh, New York, as part of her May Project. Every year, the NYWRC rehabilitates and cares for 500 to 1,000 different animals, providing food, water, shelter, and care. If you are able to donate, your support would be greatly appreciated during this difficult time. You can learn more at nywildliferescue.org.

Click here to donate via PayPal. Or, you can also donate by sending a check to PO Box 410, Middleburgh, NY 12122 made out to New York Wildlife Rescue Center, Inc.
Host Families Needed for 2021-22 School Year

Host families are needed for athletes who are transferring to The Albany Academies from outside the Capital Region next year. A host family provides safe, caring, and friendly accommodations for these students. A “home away from home,” host-parents serve as authority figures, role models, and extended families to the players. Click here to learn more.
Learn More About Our Unique LEAP Camp for Grades 3 - 8

Are you looking for something safe, unique and fun for your student entering grade 3-8? Our LEAP camp has it all! LEAP runs by the week June 28- August 6. Students choose a block schedule and participate in six classes a day for the week. Block schedules include a variety of science, math, world language, art, games and sports just to name a few!

All programs are co-ed and open to the public, so please share with friends and neighbors. You will receive $25 credit toward your registration when you refer a family! Program dates and rates, LEAP class charts and more information on all our programs is available on The Albany Academies website at albanyacademies.org. Please contact Karin Epstein at epsteink@albanyacademies.org or 518-429-2332 with any questions.
Caddy Opportunities

A local country club is seeking applicants for an inaugural caddie program. Applicants should be 14 years or older and physically capable of caddying. The club will train successful applicants. The time commitment is flexible, with work available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the spring and summer months. This is a unique opportunity for students who would like a flexible part-time job, to work outdoors, and learn and appreciate the game of golf. The position also provides complimentary course access during the week and the ability to compete for available college scholarships. 

Interested students should contact Chris Lauricella via email for more information.
Free HVCC Offers Summer Courses for High School Students

Hudson Valley Community College is offering summer courses for high school students at no cost. More than 50 college-level courses will be offered for rising high school juniors and seniors this summer with an added incentive: tuition and fees will be completely funded through a college scholarship, and textbooks will be provided at no cost for students. Please click here for more information.