The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers.
January 14, 2022
The Skim

  • January 14 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
  • Regional Data
  • Today's School Data, as of 4:00 pm
  • Test to Stay
  • Potential Additional Disruption for Students without a Booster  
  • Surveillance Testing Next Week
  • Vaccination Clinic
  • Family Skate Cancelled
  • Admissions: Open House
  • Admissions: Hudson at The Wick
  • Parent Webinar
  • A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
  • Week at a Glance
  • Looking Ahead
Dear Friends,

We look forward to seeing middle and upper school students who want to return to in-person learning on campus next week. If that’s your child, please make sure you have let us know they will be returning to campus by filling out this survey, if you haven't already.

If they didn't test at school today, you will also need to provide proof of a negative COVID test to Angela Sears at AAG (searsa@albanyacademies.org) or Amy McClain at AA (mcclaina@albanyacademies.org) before sending them to school on Tuesday. Students who have recovered from COVID within the last 90 days are exempt from this testing requirement.

Use the same survey to let us know if your child will be learning remotely next week. Our current intention is to assess the viability of remote learning weekly and return us all to in-person learning when the CDC risk metrics return to pre-surge levels.

I wish you a happy long weekend, including a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Warmly,
January 14 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
The Centers for Disease Control uses several indicators and thresholds for the risk of introduction and transmission of COVID-19 in schools. We assess this risk weekly using county data and adjust our mitigation strategies accordingly.
Regional Data
Today's School Data, as of 4:00 pm

Includes results from Tuesday's surveillance testing of Lower School students and employees.

  • Total reported active, positive cases of COVID in Lower School Students: 9 
  • As a percentage of enrollment: 8%
  • New cases reported today: 4
 
  • Total reported active, positive cases of COVID in Middle School Students: 4
  • As a percentage of enrollment: 2%
  • New cases reported today: 0
 
  • Total reported active, positive cases of COVID in Upper School Students: 11
  • As a percentage of enrollment: 3%
  • New cases reported today: 0
 
  • Total reported active, positive cases of COVID in Professional Community: 6
  • As a percentage of all employees: 4%
  • New cases reported today: 5
Test to Stay

Following guidance from NYSDOH, we are developing a "test to stay" option that will allow asymptomatic, unvaccinated students designated as Close Contacts to avoid school exclusion. They will do this through serial COVID testing during the seven days following the date of last known exposure. We will share more information about this next week.
Potential Additional Disruption for Students Without Boosters   
                         
New NYSOD guidance states that “Individuals 12 years and older who are eligible for a booster but not boosted, and who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, cannot participate in extracurricular or after school activities and, aside from school attendance for instruction and bus travel, must adhere to a 5-day quarantine at home."

The practical implication of this guidance is that unboosted Close Contacts over the age of 12 will be unable to participate in co-curricular activities, including sports.
Surveillance Testing Next Week

COVID screening testing will be available for Lower School students and professional community members next Tuesday and Middle and Upper School students next Thursday. We strongly encourage all members of the on-campus community to test while risk transmission is high. More information will be shared about this next week.
Vaccination Clinic, February 1

Another clinic is scheduled for February 1 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm for boosters and second shots. Book your appointment here if you would like to schedule a booster.
Family Skate Cancelled
Due to the rise in cases of Covid-19 in our community, the Family Skate session scheduled for January 15 has been cancelled.
Admissions: Open House

Tell your friends and neighbors! The Office of Admissions is hosting an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. This is a great way for prospective families to learn about our school! Families can learn more on the Admissions Events page of our website (link to: Register for an Admissions Event (albanyacademies.org).
Admissions: Hudson at The Wick

The Office of Admissions will be hosting regional Information Sessions to allow families who live at a distance to learn about our unique programs. Next Thursday, January 2o0th at 5 p.m. we will be at The Wick in Hudson. Current families are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a friend (or two) with them! Please email Admissions@albanyacademies.org to let us know if you are planning to join us!
Parent Webinar on Student Well Being

Please join us for an informational webinar on Thursday, January 27th at 6:00pm for Part II of our Parent Webinar Series where the Albany Academies' team of professionals will continue to discuss student wellness. 

During this session, we will be reviewing the results of our student wellness surveys and you will have an opportunity to speak with the school's counseling team and our partner clinicians from HPA LiveWell. Part of our continued goal is to work collaboratively with parents, faculty, and staff to support overall student well-being and success. 

The panel will also address any questions you may have about parenting through the pandemic and solicit your feedback for future webinar topics.

Date: January 27, 2022
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Webinar ID: 997 9499 7425
A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
Motivation is the value of the month and AA Grade 4 is remembering and honoring Martin Luther King Junior by reflecting on one of his great motivational quotes.
" Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are."
AAG Kindergarten students were looking for Ms. Fredrickson in her igloo office....but found Fred the Snowman instead!!
First and second graders have been enjoying playing a variety of board games during after school enrichment. They have been noticing what makes a game fun to play in anticipation for creating their own soon! 
First and second grade students are having lots fun in the Immersion Chinese Program. This week, they are learning about families and numbers.
On January 12, the History Club hosted Professor Felipe Armesto-Fernandez, The William P Reynolds Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. Professor Armesto Fernandez is expert in a range of fields in Early Modern History including The Age of Exploration, Science and Technology, Colonialism, and Hispanic History, among others.
Grade 4 students in Mr. Neudel's Science Class designed fans to try on their electric motors.
It's time to start thinking about summer! Online registration for summer camp date to be announced soon. We have a variety of camps for students entering Pre-K through twelfth grade! 

New this summer- Join Mr. Johnson for Theatre Camp for grades 9-12 and Instrumental Music Camp for grades 7-12.

Little Leap and Jr. Leap camps (grades Pk-2) reinforce skills while having fun with weekly themed activities. Our Rocketry Camp (grades 4-9) with Mr. Neudel will study the history of rocketry and designing and building rockets. The Leading Edge (grades 9-11) with Mr. Essery will be focusing on team building, problem-solving, college preparation and service projects with Ronald McDonald House. Musical Theatre Camp (grades 4-9) with Mr. Streifert will perform Frozen Jr. Science Academy (grades 5-9) with Ms. Foster and Ms. Lydon will have campers exploring science and the world around us!

We have many new LEAP (grades 3-8) class offerings! Your child can spend the day playing sports, working on summer math and reading, performing some mad science experiments, creating art projects, playing Quidditch or studying animals just to name a few!

Refer a family and receive $25 toward your summer 2022 registration fee!

Join us for a week, a two week session or the whole summer! Program dates and rates are available on our website. The 2022 brochure, LEAP class charts and more information on all our camps will be available on The Albany Academies website soon. Please contact Karin Epstein at epsteink@albanyacademies.org or 518-429-2332 with any questions.

Information about our Sports camps and Middle School English and Math Skills and Upper School Math for credit classes coming soon!
Week at a Glance
Monday, January 17
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - School Closed

Tuesday, January 18
Day 4
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Afterschool Winter Enrichment Programs
3:45 p.m. Upper School Faculty Meeting (Zoom)

Wednesday, January 19
Day 5
7:25 a.m. AA Middle School Faculty Meeting (Zoom)
12:00 p.m. AAG Middle School Meeting (Zoom)
2:20 p.m. Joint Student Council Meeting (Zoom)
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Afterschool Winter Enrichment Programs

Thursday, January 20
Day 6
8:15 a.m. AA Lower School Chapel (Zoom)
11:30 a.m. Upper School Advising
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Afterschool Winter Enrichment Programs
4:00 p.m. Board Meeting
7:15 p.m. College Search Kickoff Event for the Class of 2023 (Zoom)
  • Zoom webinar ID: 98442531250
Friday, January 21
Day 1
3:30 p.m. Ski Club

Saturday, January 22
1:00 p.m. Admissions Open House
Looking Ahead
January 27 CTL Parent Series Webinar
February 2 Admissions Asked and Answered Event
February 3 ARTrageous
February 10 Sophomore Class College Kickoff Night
February 10 Alumni Mid-Winter Dinner
February 12 Snowball Dance
February 14 Professional Development Day (No Classes)
February 21 Presidents' Day (School Closed)
February 22 - 25 Admissions Visiting Week
February 23 Admissions Asked and Answered Event
March 9 Admissions Open House
March 10 Alumni/ae Speaker Series
March 10 CTL Parent Series Webinar
March 16 DEI Forum Meeting